Review: The Dirty Players Duet by Tia Louise

My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Release: December 2, 2016
Genre: Contemporary/Suspense
Mutiple POV - 1st person
Heat: 3.5 out of 5

BOOK #1: THE PRINCE & THE PLAYER

Let the games begin...

Runaway Zelda Wilder will do whatever it takes to secure a better life for her and her sister Ava. Crown Prince Rowan Westringham Tate will do whatever it takes to preserve his small country.

MacCallum Lockwood Tate will do whatever it takes to steal Zelda’s heart…

When Zelda is hired to run a con on the brooding future king, she falls instead for his sexy younger brother, “playboy prince” Cal.

Cal is determined to hold his beautiful player, but it’s too late. Zelda is in over her head with some very dangerous men. Shots are fired and time is running out for the prince to save his player…

BOOK #2: A PLAYER FOR A PRINCESS

From the Mediterranean to the Caribbean, the game continues...

Zelda Wilder is on the run from the ruthless assassins who've decided she knows too much to live.

Reformed playboy MacCallum Lockwood Tate isn't about to let the sexy player who stole his heart get away—if only he could decide whether he wants to save her or spank her for her dangerous choices.

All of the players’ skills are tested in this plot to capture a killer and save a princess.

Cinderella meets Ocean's Eleven in this CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE DUET, featuring secrets, lies, royal high jinks, scams and double-crosses; breathless, swooning lust, cocky princes, dominant alpha future-kings, and crafty courtiers, who are not always what they seem.

Find it on Goodreads

MY REVIEW

The Prince & The Player
This story was definitely intriguing. The plot surrounds four key "players" and the twists and turns definitely kept me at the edge of my seat.

Zelda and Ava had a rough beginning. Orphaned at a young age, they fled an abusive foster home to lead a life on the streets. It didn't take long for Zelda to turn to a life of crime as a sophisticated grifter. As the oldest, she vowed to take care of Ava by any means necessary. Fast forward and they're pulling off petty crimes (Zelda's a con artist and Ava's a pickpocket). On their latest con, Zelda gets set up and the only way to avoid a prison sentence for her and her sister is to help take down the Crown Prince of Monagasco. She's set to play the seductress. And that's where the plot takes a turn lol.

The Crown Prince, Rowan, only has eyes for Ava. Zelda only has eyes for his brother, Cal. This switcheroo made for a ton of chemistry and a lot of sexy times! BTW, I thought Cal was hot AF and I was hoping to get more of his POV. Honestly, the only couple that mattered to me were Cal and Zelda. Rowan and Ava weren't interesting to me and I only cared as an afterthought. That's just me though.

There's intense chemistry, scams, lies, royalty, crazy hot sex scenes, political maneuvering, betrayal, intrigue, suspense, and two pseudo-fairytales that are not quite finished. What happens when the ruse is no longer a priority? What do you call a con who's been conned? I'm diving right in to book 2!!

A Player for a Princess
As much as Rowan and Ava played a role in this duet, again they were superfluous. I never once viewed them as main characters. They were a by-product of the grand romance of Cal and Zelda IMO. I was so happy to see that this second book focused on my favorite couple.

There were plenty of moments of love and romance and sexy times, but I loved how the author had us in suspense from the get-go. It was in between and all around. Once again, it was the best of two worlds - the contemporary and the suspenseful. Although love was at the forefront of the plot, I also felt the terror, anguish, despair, stress and frustration of the characters.

I didn't believe that I could come to care for Cal more than I already did, but I did! He was so phenomenal in this book. His devotion, strength, protection, love, sexiness... he was amazing! Although there were many loose ends at the conclusion of this story, I'm still rating this duet a 5-star read because of Cal. I did enjoy Zelda a great deal, but she couldn't outshine him. As for the loose ends, I have faith that they will be dealt with in some fashion when we get Logan's story in Dirty Dealers and I can't wait. I hope to see more of Cal in that one too!