Review: Taking a Shot by Jaci Burton

Posted March 13, 2012 by Holly in Reviews | 2 Comments

Holly‘s review of Taking a Shot (Play-by-Play, Book 3) by Jaci Burton

If you want to score, you have to get in the game…

The last thing Jenna Riley needs is more sports in her life. While her brothers are off being athletic superstars, she’s stuck running the family’s sports bar, whether she likes it or not. Then in walks pro hockey stud Tyler Anderson. As much as Jenna would like to go to the boards with him, she’s vowed to never fall for a jock-even one as hot as Ty.

Ty, intrigued by the beautiful bar owner, becomes a regular. He senses that Jenna wants to do something more with her life. And as he gains her trust, the passion between them grows, as does Ty’s insistence that Jenna should start living for herself. With his encouragement, Jenna starts to believe it, too…

But first, Jenna has to figure out what she wants, what she needs, who she loves, and if she has the passion and pride to take a shot at having it all-including Ty…

Another good entry in the series. A very spicy read. Jenna and Ty had great chemistry.

Jenna comes from a family of sports fanatics. Her brothers play professional sports and her parents own a sports bar, which she currently runs. Since she’s constantly surrounded by sports, she doesn’t want to add to it by getting involved with another professional athlete. Even if hokey player Tyler Anderson does get her all worked up.

Ty isn’t usually attracted to women like Jenna, but she intrigues him. Even though she swears she wants nothing to do with him, he can tell she’s attracted to him. While he normally wouldn’t pursue a woman who claims to want nothing to do with him, Ty can’t help himself with Jenna. He genuinely likes her and wants to get to know her. Which is, admittedly, a little scary for him.

Over time Ty and Jenna become friends. She decides having a fling with him while she looks for her one true non-sports-liking-or-playing guy to come along. He learns her secrets and tries to help her get out from under the weight of the family bar. Thing is, Jenna is afraid of failing. She doesn’t share her music with anyone, not even her family. So it pisses her off when Ty tries to push her into pursuing her music.

Ty and Jenna have great chemistry. Not only do they burn up the sheets, but they genuinely liked each other. They turned to each other when they were having a bad day and needed to talk, or when something good happened and they wanted to share. I love it when couples become friends first. It makes the HEA so much more believable.

Jenna’s refusal to open up began to bother me as the novel wore on. She was dissatisfied with her life, but refused to do anything to change it. I understood why she got upset with Ty for pushing her, but I was still frustrated by her lack is growth. I guess I wanted it to happen sooner. I enjoyed Ty quite a bit and really felt their romance. I just wish Jenna had opened up sooner.

Surprisingly, Liz and Gavin’s book remains my favorite.

4 out of 5