The Player by Kresley Cole is the final book in The Game Makers series. In this installment of the series we are fully introduced to Dmitri, the younger brother of the three and while we knew he too suffered terrible abuse we didn’t know the extend of it.
If you read book #1 & 2 of the Game Maker Series you have a complete understanding why these Russians have us ladies fanning ourselves. They are just too hot and too alpha. The Player is the final book in the Game Maker Series and it is not less amazing than book #1 & 2. I probably sound like I am rambling and perhaps I am but this book was so hot I had to walk away a few times. Dmitri is rich, powerful and intelligent, the only thing missing in his life is the love of a woman. As his brothers he has suffered immensely in the hands of someone who has supposed to protect him, he also suffered abandonment by his brothers and though their story is entwined every one of them is completely different.
Dmitri has secrets and with every secret there are consequences and the risk of pain and heart break. Dmitri story comes with a very deep and sad foundation. While we have learned of what happened to the brothers when they were kids, we don’t necessarily know the details of Dmitri’s past, we are however given a clear glimpse into his life as a recluse, a loner who does not need or want company. Cole did a superb job in this story, not because she was able to tease us with a predetermined idea of what Dmitri was like, but she was also able to give us a story that explored these characters life in a way in which was not only surprising but also twisted & entertaining.
The Player explores the what if’s in life. It explores the reality of many people, the contradictions of life, the obstacles and the ultimate reality that we have the reigns of our own destiny only if we are ready for it. It also takes us into the world of a woman whose job isn’t necessarily typical. Victoria as well as her family deal in a world of crime and where the next job could easily cost their life. I enjoyed Victoria/Vice, her character is matured, her skills and her street smarts made her unique in a way that I haven’t seen before. Cole managed to explore her mind and her feelings so beautifully without taking away the essence of her good nature and her devotion and loyalty to her family. Dmitri on the other hand gave us mystery, uncertainty and a glimpse into his world that while it wasn’t always clear as to what his end game was we did get to enjoy his machinations, manipulations, his dirty talk, his extravagance, and his streets smarts which allowed him to sneak his way into Vice’s world.
While it is difficult for a reader to get over the lies and nature of Vice & Dmitri’s love story one should also consider that these characters aren’t perfect, their decisions and choices in life determined their present but it didn’t necessarily pre-set their future. I enjoyed how Cole managed to create so many differences between these two characters, from their backgrounds to the way in which they saw life and how they lived it, but while at the same time bringing these characters together in an amazing way that left no doubt as to how and why they both deserve redemption. Dmitri is a fantastic character, conflicted, tortured, manipulative, smart, extravagant and with a deep need for intimacy and closeness that only Victoria can give him.
The Player demonstrate how the interaction between characters is what determines the quality of a story. The interaction between these characters was explosive, beautifully developed and well played out. I enjoyed their sexual escapades and scenes, the details, their dialog and their dirty talk was explosive. Each character gave the story a certain balance, each with their own story to tell and each found on one another the needed support that made it all happen. Of course not without going through the aggravations and conflicts that would make it all worthwhile at the end. This story is fun, perhaps not as dramatic as The Professional & The Master but not less intense and sexual.
Kresley Cole has proven to be at the top of her game, I can’t recommend this series enough. Read The Game Maker series if you want to experience quality story telling and characters that will swoon you with their charisma, sensuality and dirty talk.
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I read every page, poured over every word, gasped and grinned at the twists and turns...
I told myself, when I opened The Player on my Kindle at around 6pm on Friday evening, that I would just get started. Get a feel for the book, and hopefully, be finished by the end of the weekend—children willing.It's now 1:45am Saturday morning, and I just closed it. With only brief breaks as I made dinner, or acknowledged that I actually HAD kids, I read every page, poured over every word, gasped and grinned at the twists and turns, and fell completely in love with Dmitri Sevastyan.To be clear, when I say completely, I mean totally and utterly. Gruff, broken, off-center—and very possibly off-balance—at first glance, this Russian billionaire is not your typical book boyfriend. Except...his protective extravagance, his dirty words and dominant tendencies, and his passionate obsession for Victoria were beyond sexy. Beyond swoonworthy. Dmitri Sevastyan was decadence, indulgence; a dark and scorching hot fairytale Beast come to life in the pages of one hell of a good book.No, wait, not good. FABULOUS. It had me, to borrow a turn of phrase from the con artists that feature in this slightly over-the-top book, in its thrall. I'm the gull. The Player is the grifter. And I have been (happily and willingly) ensnared.And I would be again. There's no doubt in my mind, I will be re-reading this book. Actually, all three of the Game Maker books. Why? Maybe the stellar writing. Perhaps the temperature-rising sex. Possibly the secondary characters that blend humor with emotion, making it easy to fall in love with them. DEFINITELY because the heroes and heroines in these books are sublime. Strong but broken. Smart but plagued by bad decisions and choices. Beautiful but far from perfect.This book now marks three times in a three book series that I've found myself fully immersed in the insane and incredible world of the Sevastyan brothers. And as the clock ticks ever closer to 2am, and my eyelids start to droop (I'm hoping sleep will bring with it dreams of Dmitri), I can say with certainty that the next time I'm faced with a book by Ms. Cole, I'll be sure to start it in the early in the morning, so I'm not finishing it...early in the morning. ~ 5 stars*ARC provided for honest review*Reviewed on behalf of Give Me Books
