Playing For Love at Deep Haven – a review

  My first post is inspired by the one and only Katy Regnery (unbeknownst to her!).  I recently read her book and felt the need to give a rather wordy review of it on Amazon.com.  I’ve copied it here ~ Cheers!!

Before I begin to gush about how much I loved this book, I think a little history is in order. I found Katy on Twitter before I’d read any of her books – a little backwards I know. I don’t even remember how I stumbled upon her, but I took a liking to her right away (and her to me if I do say so myself.) Katy is funny, creative, engaging and responsive – four of the things I like most in my Tweeps. I find most authors after I read their books, I say how much I loved it, I get a meek reply and that’s the end. Not Katy. Katy is a special sort of tweeter – the kind that stays engaged and asks really fun questions like “Who gets your motor running, Gideon or Christian?” As I got to know Katy more I realized I really, really needed to read her books.

Like a flash of lightning, Playing for Love at Deep Haven arrived to me via .99 cent offer. It was like fate -how could I resist? My favorite author (who’d I’d never even read) and a cheap deal? What could be better? Anyone who knows me knows I love a deal, and a really good romance novel. I downloaded the book to my Kindle where it (sorry Katy) sat for a few weeks as I finished up the trilogy I was plowing through at record speed.

To say I was addicted within the first two chapters would be the understatement of the century. Never before have the first two chapters of a book engrossed me as this one did – actually not since Fifty Shades has a book captured and held me to tightly. (That’s a lie, there’s another…but I’ll get to that in a minute). The way Katy writes is the way Katy is – funny, thoughtful, engaging and most of all REAL. The thoughts that the main character Violet has running through her mind, and the words she speaks to Zach are words that most of us as women have thought and said many times in our lives.

Speaking of Zach…there has only been one other time where I’ve fallen head over heels for a main character before – Professor Gabriel Emmerson who is so eloquently brought to life by Sylvain Reynard. I bring Reynard up for two reasons – one being I think he is an incredibly gifted writer who captured my heart and imagination with his Gabriel series and two because Katy (in my humble opinion) is right up there with him in terms of talent. Yes Katy, it’s true. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – to as many people as I can – Katy and Reynard write love like no one else can…at least that I’ve read.

Katy, like Reynard, writes, as she calls it, “Sweet Heat”. There is sex in this book. And Lord have mercy is does it have heat. However, unlike other trilogies which shall remain nameless, Katy writes the scenes with such sweetness and love you don’t worry someone might read over your shoulder and cringe at your choice in novel. The love scenes are real, honest and so, so loving you’ll want nothing more than to find your partner and make equally sweet love all night long!!!

There are many reasons I love this book (as I’m sure you’ve gathered) but here are my top three:
Character development – Katy does a phenomenal job of painting the overall picture of the character, then filling in the holes with flashbacks and dialog. Not since reading Reynard have I felt such a connection and understanding of the main characters in a book. (That’s right Katy, I said it again).

Suspense – I don’t mean the “are they going to get killed off by a madman” suspense. I mean the kind of suspense that a true love story carries with it. Will they find their way to one another? Will he accept her? Will she accept him? What happens if it doesn’t work? What about the future? These questions keep you reading (at an incredibly rapid pace) while trying to sort out your own emotions. And delightfully, all the questions are answered! YAY!

Love – The main character in this book really is love. It’s the overriding theme that takes the reader on a journey of self-exploration. We’ve all loved and lost. Many have wondered what it would be like to have a first love enter back into their current lives. I’m the first to admit I’m a sucker for a good love story, and this is a good love story (scratch that…it’s a GREAT love story). But along with this love story comes so much more. SO much realness and truth that you can’t help but fall in love with it.

So, I think it’s clear why my review is 5-stars. Not only do I adore Katy but I adore this book. She’s told me writing this took her out of her comfort zone…well get comfy girl cause I think you just found a new zone to write in- one filled with sweet and lots and lots of heat!!