ARC received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The only other Davis book I’ve read is [book:Starstruck|25159332], which I didn’t love. I enjoyed this more, but it still has some flaws.

The basic premise is that Dante is a restaurant manager who is moving back to Columbia after travelling around following a break-up. Said break-up also messed with her self-esteem and she hasn’t dated since. She’s also butch with a capital ‘b’. Meanwhile, Takira owns her own restaurant, and her manager has skipped town with a pile of her money. She’s also recently taken guardianship of her two year old nephew and is struggling with this as she’s never wanted to be a parent. Dante ends up working for Takira, and this sets the scene for the book.

I hadn’t realised this was part of a series when I requested it, having not read the first two books I can say that this can be read as a stand-alone, but I’d maybe have gotten more from it if I’d read the others first.

Pros first: This features an age-gap, which is one of my favourite themes. Takira is a POC, and she’s written as a strong black woman who knows what (and who) she wants and doesn’t hesitate to go after it. She also doesn’t apologise for her choices either. She also tries very hard to be a good aunt/mother, even when it’s not something she wants to do. Dante is very butch, and likewise is comfortable in her own skin and dresses how she wants. They have a great group of friends and talk to each other about their wants and needs without any stupid miscommunications. There’s no stupid contrived breakups, or overwrought angst here.

There are some cons though. I found the romance to be too sweet, and while we’re told both characters are instantly attracted to each other, I didn’t really feel any great heat between them. There’s also absolutely no drama within the relationship, and not much outside it either. The one character introduced to provide any form of conflict is written so overly buffoonish that I couldn’t wait to see her gone. Takira’s relationship with her mother is also not terribly well-written. Her mother literally appears at the beginning of the book and then right at the end, and all the ‘issues’ they have are magically overcome in one conversation.

There are also two scenes devoted to how Dante/Trent are treated as butch women who look more like men, I applaud the idea behind these scenes (everyone should be treated for who they are, not how they look) but I found both scenes to be heavy-handed.

Dante herself was also just too perfect. She was an awesome manager, friend, adapted to taking care of Finn from the outset, was looking after Takira from the word go, literally did nothing wrong in the entire book. The only flaw she had was being a bit insecure, and even that dissolved the second she got together with Takira.

Overall this was an ok read, I did enjoy it, but found myself rolling my eyes a bit towards the end about how ‘perfectly’ everything was working out. For anyone who just wants a nice, sweet romance though, this would be just the thing. I was interested enough in the other couples to want to try their books, so will gives those a go. 3 stars.

3.50 Stars. This is the third book in the Playing series. I did enjoy it but I do have to admit it is my least favorite of the series. The first two books of the series are really entwined, but you could read this book on its own if you needed too. Personally, I would suggest reading at least book one first. The main characters of that book are secondary characters in this one. Again it’s not pivotal, but book one is the best book in the series and I do think reading this series in order would make it the most enjoyable.

Like all three books, this is another butch-femme romance, in a city that centers around the same group of friends. This book had a slight twist as it also had a 10+ year age-gap between the mains. All three books are very sweet and mostly feel good romances, with very little angst. If you need some sweet uncomplicated romance, this series is a great choice.

While I thought both mains were very likeable, I do have to say I didn’t feel the chemistry as much as in the other books. I liked the characters and wanted them to be a couple, this book just wasn’t as steamy as I expected. The first two books have really good sex scenes, this book was more just average for me, not bad, just average.

This story centers on a woman who owns a busy restaurant, but suddenly finds herself the guardian of a 2 year-old little boy. I can be a little hit or miss when it comes to kids in lesfic. I do have to say the little boy was pretty damn adorable. While I do think it would help if you enjoyed kids in lesfic or at least tolerated them, the kid is so cute you probably wouldn’t mind anyway.

While I did enjoy this book, I do have to say that I recommend the first two books in the series much more. If you are looking for a sweet, butch-femme romance, I absolutely recommend giving book one a try. Davis is an author that I seem to always enjoy her books. For some reason I forget about her a bit though. I need to change that because her books are worth the read.

I struggled a little bit to get into this book. The writing didn't grab me early on and I it felt a little to reliant on pop culture references. Movies, music etc. For me personally, this is a bit of a turn off.

The character personalities were good. I found I did enjoy each person. Both main and side characters were entertaining.

Overall though, the story just didn't engage me and I found myself skimming the last couple of chapters.

This is my first book by this author that I have read. It is also part of a series which I didn't realise to begin with. However, it can be read as a stand-a-lone book.

I absolutely loved this book. Great characters (I am in love with Takira), Great story line, Pace is just about right and I loved all the secondary characters, especially Trent.

Book was received by the Publisher via Netgalley and I am voluntarily leaving my review.

This is the third novel in Davis’ ‘Playing’ series but can quite easily be read as a standalone. It’s not what I expected but I enjoyed it nonetheless. Dante Groves returns to Columbia having left many years previously with her then-girlfriend. Tired and hungry, she enters Takira’s restaurant only to bump into one of her good friends from the past. In explaining why she’s returns she also mentions that she’s looking for work and has lots of experience as a manager.

As it happens, Takira’s needs a manager and once Takira herself interviews her she has one less worry. Takira’s life is changing too. She is about to become the primary guardian to her two and a half year 0ld nephew and her workaholic tendencies are going to need adjusting.

Along with a really gentle pace and story, there are many things I enjoyed in this novel. One is that there is a lovely ethnic diversity among the characters. Added to that is that there is also diversity in body type and differing presentations of dress relating to orientation. Dante is a shortish, butch woman who dresses in men’s clothing because that’s how she feels comfortable with herself. While many of the characters are gay or gay friendly, it was great that it wasn’t all a gay utopia. In having to fight some bigoted views, Dante’s right to express who she is through her clothes was beautifully expressed and thought provoking.

The only other books I’ve read by Davis were from the ‘Wings’ series and this is nothing like those high-octane, action-packed, paranormal adventure stories. This is a low-angst, slower story of two women trying to find the value in themselves and the hope that they’re enough for each other.

Book received from Netgalley and Bold Strokes Books for an honest review.

Playing with Fire is the 3 book in the Playing series. I did not read the previous two but it doesn't seem like you need to read it in order to follow this one. It might be helpful to know a little more about some of the other characters, but doesn't appear to be necessary. Dante Groves moves back to her home town and immediately comes across one of her close friends at a restaurant called Takira's. Dante has been running ever since her heart was broken a few years ago. She is quickly introduced to Takira Lathan who is the restaurant's owner and who is currently looking for a new manager after her former manager runs off with all of her money. Dante ends up interviewing for the job on the spot and is hired.

Overall I liked what this story represents. A child coming into his own after being neglected by his birth mother, trust, confidence and love. All three MCs (I consider Finn to be a MC) have some sort of issue they need to work out and by the end they do. I just wish this one was more interesting. I found it moved slow, was more wordy than it needed to be and maybe sort of boring. Takira and Dante seemed to be attracted to each other, but I didn't feel the chemistry between them. For me it's not enough to state they found each other appealing, it's the construction of the story after they see it other that shows the chemistry. There is some sex in the book was done nicely. Also there wasn't alot of angst in this one so if that is your thing you will not get it in this book.

So this wasn't a complete bust. I liked the story line and because of that I will rate it 3 stars.

Enjoyable read that makes a person think about assumptions and stereotypes. When a story has you thinking and learning, in my opinion, that is a good thing. Dante Groves, is quite the strong and quiet type. She has been loved, so she thought and feels protective of her heart and keeps her distance from further attachment. Takira Lathan, successful restaurant owner with a single focus; to be a successful restaurant owner. Takira is such a wonderful character. I enjoyed how her character evolved throughout the read. I enjoyed that she was a person of color and it did not overshadow the story lines. The secondary characters provided an interesting perspective as the story unfolded in positive as well as not so positive ways. Nice and sweet with little angst.

4.5 stars. I loved this book. It was suprising and exciting to see old friends from Playing Passion's Game. I had no idea this book tied into that one. It worked just fine as a stand alone if you haven't read the afore mentioned title. This was a great romance about healing and new life from tragedy. I happily await the next book from this author.
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Strong, mature characters embracing their feelings (good, bad and indifferent). An awfully attractive African-American MC, Takira Lathan. Dealing head-on with stereotypes. Good chemistry. A lovely relationship wherein the MCs talk to each other about themselves, their insecurities, their feelings and even what they like sexually. This book has a lot going for it.

Takira (35) runs a successful restaurant names after herself. But her now-absconding manager has just taken away a bulk of her money, leaving her in a very difficult place. Added to that, without warning, Takira has become the de facto guardian of her nephew, Finn. Dante Groves (49) has literally just driven into town, her erstwhile hometown which she had left because of her ex-girlfriend, Chloe. Chloe systematically decimated Dante’s self-belief and self-confidence before cheating on her. In the aftermath of the break-up Dante, who works as a manager (when she works), travelled around for a couple of years before heading home. First stop on entering hometown: Takira’s, where Dante meets an old friend via whom she meets Takira, and before you know it, Dante is Takira’s new manager and they are sharing an apartment (as roommates).

We liked almost everything about this book – the pacing, the people, the chemistry – almost. The thing that really got a bit much was the whole butch-building, butch bromance, butch baiting and butch defense. There was just way too much belabouring on the butch factor. Yeah, Dante is butch, we get that but that practically became all that Dante is.

Despite that, this is a lovely angst-free read.

This is the third in a series - set in the same town with recurring characters but thankfully not a continuing story line that would leave you lost if you didn't read the other two books. This works well enough as a standalone but there were a number of secondary characters (from previous books) that had obviously larger backstories.

A nice romance between Dante, an older butch who returns to her hometown after travelling for years and recovering from a bad break up, and Tanika, a workaholic restaurateur who is struggling to rebuild her business and take on the care of her young nephew.

It was a nice change to see such a old-school butch character in a lesfic - and Dante's character bucked the traditional stereotypes with gentle but wounded soul. Tanika was actually a bit harder to get a read on - but they worked as a couple, especially with the inclusion of the too sweet for words nephew, Finn. The inclusion of young Finn (and his best bud Harley) gave the story some humour and sweet moments that helped define the MCs.

At times there was a bit too much tell - mostly through the dialogue - as backstories and motivations came spilling out in longish dialogue scenes.

'ARC provided by both NetGalley and The Publisher in exchange for an unbiased review'

**'Sometimes the writer who overloads an opening passage is simply afraid of boring the readers.A respectable anxiety,but nothing is more boring than confusion..'

3.5stars!
Full disclosure; I did not read the first two books in this series -- so at first glance 'PLAYING WITH FIRE' appears like a light entertaining read and can be read as a stand alone. But I do not think this author was aiming to just entertain readers, rather her goal was to be persuasive with her storytelling and seductive with her narrative.
Sensitive and heartwarming, Ms.Davis's 3rd series also spins a tale of forgiveness, family dynamics, close-knit friendships and second chances.
While Takira finds distraction in having a crush on her new manager (Dante) and taking care of her nephew (Finn) plus overlooking her restaurant's duties, her preoccupation with the cause of her twin sister's accident and her mother's demeaning behavior towards her, still continues to haunt her.
With Dante, who has shut herself off from ever getting into a new relationship because of being hurt in the past so with some healing of her heart and bonding with Finn she did open herself up for a new Love.
Of course there had to be a brighter spot somewhere because the correlation to all their friendships was evident throughout the storyline.
As to Takira, her goal moving forward is to be a much better auntie and friend -- and to stop letting the restaurant be the center of her attention.
Together they (Takira & Dante) revealed all their past mistakes in dealing with exes, will try to avoid infidelity,deceit and shame, be open to voicing their true feelings and be a source of comfort for each other.
A few noticeable paragraphs in this book could be the storylines of anyone you as a reader might know. Here, both Dante and Trent are recognizable butches -- who never denied their sexuality or habits and accepted being labeled as 'manly'
It is a candid 3rd series about renewed commitment, thriving romance and the tried-and-true secrets of happily-ever-after.

I'm actually surprised to realize this, but this is my first read of a Lesley Davis novel! I honestly didn't realize that this book is the third in a series either until I opened up GR to review. Looking back, some of the secondary characters and side conversations make quite a bit more sense now, but it definitely wasn't an issue for me to pick this one up as a standalone novel.

Good stuff first... I loved that Davis wrote a strong woman of color for a lead character! MC Takira is everything you want to see in a main. She's got her head on straight with her life goals, specifically, her restaurant, and she steps up when her sister dies and she ends up being the caregiver for her 2 1/2 year old nephew, Finn, out of nowhere. She's unashamedly attracted to more masculine butch women, and doesn't give a single f#$% regarding what others think about her attraction to MC Dante, who is quite a bit older than her. This is also an age gap story, and although I can't remember exact ages, I do remember Dante being almost 50 and Takira is in her mid 30's.

MC Dante is also a wonderfully strong character, but she's more of the strong silent type, leading by example. She's the stereotypical butch character who cares for everyone and everything wholeheartedly even with her own broken heart. She immediately connects with Takira's nephew Finn, and their camaraderie is heartwarming.

Unfortunately, there's also a bit of bad in this read... While I loved these two characters on paper, I realized about halfway through that I wasn't feeling any kind of connection to them whatsoever. More than that, I didn't honestly feel or see any kind of connection with them together. Davis told us about their feelings for each other instead of showing it. The nail in the coffin for me was the speed in which the "I love you" was said once the two finally admitted their attraction to each other.

This is a decent read, and I did enjoy it, but I'm not sure that I can honestly say that I would recommend it. I loved that Davis gave us a strong woman of color and paired her with an unapologetically butch character, but the bad outweighed the good for me in this read. 3.25 stars.

**Many thanks to Bold Strokes for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.**

#PlayingWithFire #NetGalley

Dante has returned to her home town after a disastrous relationship and traveling around for four years after it. Feeling ravenous, she pulls into a diner that wasn't here before she left.
She'd no sooner walked in when she hears her name and finds an old friend. They have a quick catch up, she meets her friends family and is introduced to the owner.

Takira is at her wits end. Her sister has died, her manager stole money and took off and she is about to take custody of her nephew. Fate lands Dante in her restaurant and with her friends help, ends up hiring her as the new manager. Dante also needs accommodation and Takira ends up with a new roommate.

Though neither will admit it to each other, their attraction is both instant and mutual. Dante seamlessly fits in to the restaurant and as roommate to Takira's sad, wounded little nephew.

Dante has a lot of self doubt and with the help of her friends and Takira, is able to realise she is worthy of love from her friends, her lover and herself.

I absolutely adored this book. It was full of amazing characters who are part of Columbia's LGBT community and staunch sci-fi lovers and gamers. I really felt for Dante, her ex girlfriend did a number on her and the way her friends support her and build her up for who she is and what she has done for them in the past was so well written. It is clear her friends adore her and are so happy she is home.

The way Dante softly takes charge of helping Takira fix the wreck her ex manager left, her little acts of service for others, without expectation, her support of Finn, Takira's nephew and love of Disney movies would endear her to any reader.
Takira is a workaholic with an estranged relationship with her twin and her mother. She is stressed, worried and out of her depth in her estimations. Dante never wavers in her confidence that Takira can handle it all.
Their relationship happens slowly and is so mutually supportive.

I would definitely recommend this book.

This has been a very sweet one. It is the third part of a story that describes the experiences of several women in the city of Columbia, Missouri, city that I am not familiar with so I do not know if it is relevant that it’s developed there. Like the other two books in this saga, in the title is included the word "playing" but there is not much play in the stories, as I can recall. The other two, I read them before being in GR, so I do not have them reviewed, although the memory I have of them is pretty good. As a common denominator in the three books is the marked role in the women that make up each couple, being one very buch, almost androgynous, and the other very femme. But looks can be deceiving.

Focusing on this book, the story is very sweet despite the bitter situations that the two women, Dante and Takira, and Finn, have had to go through. Dante has spent several years away from her hometown, a failed and disapointing relationship included and now returns to try to rebuild her live. By chance, Takira is in need of a manager for her restaurant, since the previous one cheated her financially and left her business almost bankrupt. As the saying goes, Dante is in the right place at the right time and despite Takira's initial reluctance, Dante enters her life to give an unexpected twist to a situation that for Takira was almost insurmountable.

I liked that the book deals with topics that are not usually seen together in the same story and do it with a normality that is quite refreshing. I like Dante's optimism despite her baggage. I like Dante and Takira as a couple. And what I like the most is the family that they finally form with Finn and with all their other friends.

So this has been a very pleasant reading, with few surprises, little anguish and enough passion and love. It is a recommended book on my part.

I received an ARC copy of this book from the Publisher via Netgalley and voluntarily leaving my review.

Dante has been traveling to places she always wanted to go after finding out her girlfriend Chloe that she gave up everything for has been cheating on her. As she decide she done traveling she goes back to her hometown and stop in a new restaurant to get something to eat and runs into a old friend.

Trent thanks Dante for being her mentor because of her she has the family she always wanted. Dante meets Trent wife Juliet and their daughter Harley who is so cute.

Takira owns the restaurant that Dante is dining in all she ever wanted was for her restaurant to be successful she wanted to expand and make a name for herself all that change when her twin sister dies and she left to take care of her nephew Finn and top it all she find out that her manger Claude has been stealing money from her.

When she meets Dante she instantly drawn to her and when Juliet tell her that Dante needs a job she decide give her a interview and like what sees and hire to be the manger and also gave her place to stay.

As Dante helps her manger the restaurant she also help take care of Finn who takes a liking to Dante and they create this family as they start to fall for each other Dante doesn't think she good enough because of the things her ex said. Takira vow to prove to Dante that she is worthy.

Cute Romance had some angst I so thought we was going to really have a problem with Takira ex because she wasn't taking no for answer and I like what Dante said if you find good people keep them close because those are the people who will stick by you. Love the speech that Trent said to the woman in the park and Dante to Takira mother.

No-- you have something in your eye.

In all seriousness this was an amazing book.

It's about Dante and Takira. Dante is just getting over a hard, very hard break up and is back in her home town, she stops in a new restaurant, Takira's. She runs into an old friend, Trent, and she and Trent (and Trent's wife and their daughter) all catch up.

Takira has just gotten robbed by her previous manager (he then fled) and she needs a new one so that she gets to go back to being the owner/chef of the restaurant. She meets Dante, who would be perfect in the job, oh, and they both fall a little bit in love at first sight too.

But, they both have so much baggage and Takira has also just taken on being a guardian to her nephew can they get past all that?

I'm gonna be honest, this got an extra three fourths of a star because it had real butch lesbians as characters in it. Not lesfic butches, but, real ones where they're not just waiting for the 'right woman' in the story to put them in a dress and change them. What was even cooler was that the novel even dealt with that problem in the world too.

I mean, from cuter than anything Finn and Harley to the twisty, turney plot that had me laughing and with dust in my eyes at different times,to the Disney, oh the Disney! IT was an awesome book!!

I received this book via Netgalley thanks to Bold Strokes Books.