Playing with Fire

An absolutely unputdownable and addictive crime thriller

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Pub Date 03 Mar 2022 | Archive Date 30 Jun 2022
Head of Zeus | Head of Zeus -- an Aries Book

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Description

If you love Kimberley Chambers and Martina Cole don't miss out on the brand new, absolutely unputdownable series by Stephanie Harte!

All debts must be paid. In blood.

When underworld loan shark Davie Saunders is gunned down at his daughter's wedding, his loved ones are sure that a rival East End crime family is responsible. Davie's widow and daughters must now step up and take control of Davie's empire, but from the beginning it's clear they're in way over their heads.

Shy bride Mia has no experience of giving orders, self-centred middle-child Kelsey is more concerned with keeping her affair with bodyguard Todd a secret, and baby of the family Scarlett is very firmly kept out of the business while she finishes her education.

But all three sisters, as well as ex-model mum Amanda, are determined to do whatever it takes to get what they're owed.

Underestimate them at your peril...

Readers love Playing with Fire:

'I'm just getting my breath back. Kept me gripped to my seat from the first to the last page' NetGalley Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'So many twists that keep you captive' NetGalley Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'Excellent page-turning gripping read these get better and better. Stephanie you smashed it as always!' Lucybooks26, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'Addictive gripping... I loved it so much I read it in 24 hours... 5 stars from me' Goodreads Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'Outstanding gangland thriller that's had me totally hooked from page one, through each hard-hitting disaster and every twist and turn, until the shocking and unexpected conclusion' NetGalley Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'Amazing... Keeps you wanting more. So many twists that keeps you captive. Brilliantly written. Next please' NetGalley Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'Brilliant and the build-up was even better, I hope this author continues writing amazing books as she could become one of my favourite ones' Goodreads Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'Blood and gangland across all the pages, absolutely thrilling excellent book... You will become engrossed within every character's life' Goodreads Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'So so good gripping twisty and very addictive... So good I think this is the best yet from this author' NetGalley Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'Wow this book was very fast paced, with almighty twists that will shock you to the core, right to the end, I loved it from start to finish. Brilliant... Will grip you into such a gripping read. Fantastic all the way' Goodreads Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'Devoured this book in 2 days. Absolutely loved it... Twist at the end not at all what I expected... Hard to put down' NetGalley Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'Love the author love the book, absolutely outstanding, can't wait to read more' Goodreads Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

If you love Kimberley Chambers and Martina Cole don't miss out on the brand new, absolutely unputdownable series by Stephanie Harte!

All debts must be paid. In blood.

When underworld loan shark Davie...


Available Editions

EDITION Ebook
ISBN 9781800245808
PRICE $6.99 (USD)
PAGES 384

Available on NetGalley

NetGalley Shelf App (EPUB)
Send to Kindle (EPUB)

Average rating from 31 members


Featured Reviews

If you're a fan of Martina Cole and Kimberley Chambers you'll love this latest book by Stephanie Harte!

This was a gripping family saga detailing the need for the Saunders girls to step into the breach when their Dad is gunned down at Mia's wedding. They do so surprisingly well despite the family business being debt recovery which involves the use of brute force and violence. Add into the mix vengeance, affairs, deceit and a stabbing and you'll be flying through this book in no time. There's definitely the potential for follow up books too so I'd love to see each of the daughters being the feature of their own novels.

Go out and buy this book, you won't regret it!

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Oh my goodness what a book. I'm just getting my breath back. This kept me gripped to my seat from the first to the last page. Personally, this was Stephanie's best for me.

Davie Saunders runs a debt collection agency and is a part-time gangster, He keeps his wife and three adult girls in perfect princess mode they want for nothing.

His daughter Mia is planning her perfect wedding in a Scottish pink castle.

But on the day of her wedding tragedy strikes and the girls' lives change forever. Can they step up to the challenge?
With a lot of twists and turns, this fast pace book will definitely keep you guessing.
Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this excellent book. xx

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This was a enjoyable read, lots of twists and turns, a great gangland book. This is the first book in the Saunders family saga and I hope there is more to come

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Loved this book! Loved the unique story, loved the characters. It kept me suspenseful and hooked from the first page!

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All debts must be paid in blood…. Love the author love the book absolutely outstanding! A perfectly paced and beautifully observed story...

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Playing with Fire by Stephanie Harte was an enjoyable read and a great book to take on holiday. It was fast pace with lots of great twists and turns throughout. Davie Saunders is an underworld loan shark a hard man, he is married and has three beautiful daughters. Everything was perfect Mia his eldest, is getting married to a man of her dreams. Her father Davie and her mum Amanda are happy for her.
Mia's sisters Kelsey and Scarlett. are all excited for Mia's wedding in Scotland. Mia always wanted a winter wedding, what could go wrong?

Bang!!! A gun is fired and someone falls!!!

Everyone is shocked!

This day should be perfect and the best day of Mia's life! Someone has been shot!!!

Why? and who?

Mia, Kelsey and Scarlett want to step up and look after their father business, but they don't have a clue how to run it.
They have always been cared for by their father. If they wanted something their father gave it to them.

Will they succeed and carry on where he left off?

Or will they loose everything?

I highly recommend this latest book I loved it.

Big Thank you to NetGalley and Head of Zeus for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review

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I’d like to thank Head of Zeus and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘Playing With Fire’ written by Stephanie Harte in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

In Davie Saunder’s’ line of business in debt collection and money laundering it’s not surprising he has enemies but when tragedy strikes and he dies from a single gunshot wound to the forehead following his oldest daughter Mia’s wedding in Scotland, someone needs to be made to pay. Davie’s three daughters, Mia, Kelsey and Scarlett, know nothing about his business but together with Davie’s wife, ex-model Amanda and Rio his loyal friend and minder, they decide to take over control of his business.

‘Playing With Fire’ is the fourth novel I’ve read by this author and in my opinion is by far the best. The story is well-written and very gripping as the three sisters barely out of their teens and each with her own strengths and weaknesses, come face to face with their father’s enemies. It’s an outstanding gangland thriller that’s had me totally hooked from page one, through each hard-hitting disaster and every twist and turn, until the shocking and unexpected conclusion is reached. This is the first thriller featuring the Saunders family and is outstanding in the characterisations and narrative which has made it an easy and extremely enjoyable read. I’m hoping this is just the first part of a long and exciting series and am looking forward to reading more of this family.

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Amazing book. Keeps you wanting more. So many twists that keeps you captive. Brilliantly written. Next please.

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A good book to read with a good plot and characters that go together it also has twists and turns and fans of the author will love it.5*

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Loved this book but sorry about late review had internet . Would highly recommend this book and hope there is a second book to follow up this one .

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The is the second title I have read of the above author, it doesn’t disappoint, the plot was brilliant and the build up was even better, I hope this author continues writing amazing books as she could become one of my favourite ones

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Davie saunders is a loan shark and is gunned down at his daughters wedding. Amanda ,davies widow and his 3 daughters make the decision to run the underworld business with trusted rio.Are they biting off more than they can chew? Do they get their revenge for their father?? Its cracking. Highley recommend

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Davie Saunders lives in London with his wife Amanda and his three daughters Kelsey, Mia, and Scarlett. He loves them dearly. He runs his own Debt Collection agency and part gangster but keeps most of his business details secret from his three girls. Who has never wanted for nothing, until the day of Mia’s wedding when he is shot dead at the ceremony?
When Mia and Kelsey find out the truth of their father’s business, at first their mother thinks that they will shy away from the truth, but they want to seek revenge for their father’s death. Who they think has something to do with the Colemans after the retaliation of their father killing and getting rid of one of them, they try and shield the youngest sister Scarlett and want her to carry on with her university course. But Scarlett is not happy with the situation. But is soon distracted by CJ who she meets while shopping. Who Killed Davie and why?
Thank you, Head of Zeus for a copy of Playing with Fire by Stephanie Harte. This is another addictive gripping, Gangland thriller the author she never disappoints. I loved it so much I read it in 24 hours. I really like the Saunders family. Each one of the girls are different with their strengths and weaknesses but all have the same goal. This had an ending that I wasn’t expecting. I hope that this story continues. I like to see how the story pans out. 5 stars from me.

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Davie Saunders is an underworld loan shark a hard man but a loving husband and father to his wife Amanda and three daughters,Mia,Kelsey and Scarlett.
When his gunned down at Mia's wedding Amanda and the girls need to step up and take control of business.
Mia is shy and has no experience of the business but can she surprise everyone?
Kelsey is head strong and likes to get her own way,she's having a secret affair with the family bodyguard.
Scarlett is the baby and they want to keep her in the dark about what really goes on in the business.
They will stop at nothing to find out who killed Davie.
Another gripping story by the author.
Id like to read more about the Saunders women,I think there's more to tell especially about Mia's husband Jack I didn't trust him.
Thanks to Netgalley and Head of Zeus for the ARC

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i very much enjoyed this is so so good gripping twisty and very adictive. Davie and Amanda Have 3 daughters Kelsey. Mia and Scarlett. his family is everything to him. Davie owns his own debt collection agency but he a bit of a gangster he and a loyal and very close friend Rio collect the money .Dave employs a new bodyguard for his daughters. Todd has caught the eye of Kelsey and she always get what she wants then disaster strikes the family wont say no more but so good i think this is the best yet from this author.

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Davie Saunders is gunned down at his daughters wedding
And his loved ones was sure that a rival East End had done it
Dave widow and daughters must take a firm stand
But all the sisters should get what there owned
I had an ARC

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Davies Saunders is a loan shark with 3 daughters one of which is getting married in a remote Scottish castle. Someone manages to shoot Davie and a rival firm are suspected which obviously means there are consequences. However, they also have a few trucks of their own up their sleeves. Davies daughters decide they want to take over his business to help seek revenge. I found thus book easy to read and gripping but don't think it should've ended when it did. It felt like it was cut short

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London family the Saunders, dad Davie runs his debt collection agency business, his beloved wife Amanda and three darling daughters, Mia ,Kelsey and Scarlett are his world and don't want for nothing, hiring bodyguard Todd Evans who straight away starts a relationship with Kelsey, then on the eve of his daughter Mia's wedding in Scotland Davie finds out and fires him, the wedding itself will change this family as Davie is shot down nothing will ever be the same again, Davie is no longer the bread winner, and the daughters were ready to fight and carry on their dads legacy and take on the business, they had a big job and finding their dad left countless enemies in the Debt agency and also money laundering, scores needed to be settled with the Colman family.
Wow this book was very fast pace, with almighty twists that will shock you to the core, right to the end, I loved it from start to finish. A brilliant stand alone that will grip you into such a gripping read. Fantastic all the way.

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A very enjoyable read with a great plot and some fantastic characters. Nice twist at the end that I didn't guess. My only criticism would be that at times it was difficult to keep up with the timeline as months could be covered in one chapter and then the next six chapters covers one day!

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Brilliant
Thought this title was going to be.
The as usual crime fiction.
But no I was very surprised and I enjoyed this book to read immensely.
Thanks

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Devoured this book in 2 days
Absolutely loved it
The storylines have you hating and loving the characters
Twist at the end not at all what I expected
Thank you for allowing me to read before publication date
I would highly recommend this book
Well written and hard to put down

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I loved these sisters, who want to rule the family business, but ar a young age are they out of their depth, my favourite was Scarlett.

Stephanie has a great style of writing and has become one of my firm favourites.

Another excellent page turning gripping read these get better and better.

Stephanie You smashed it as always!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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Absolutely enjoyed this book.loved the way that this was written. Was an easy read
5****
Would recommend this to others

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Let me start by saying (as my review may portray differently), I enjoyed Playing With Fire. It was an entertaining, quick read and I was constantly eager to continue reading at every given chance!

That being said, there are definitely a few things I picked up on which I wasn't particularly found of:

Firstly, I found it was repetitive in the sense that we were constantly being fed information we already knew. Secondly, the concept of time was quite bizarre. We were skipping forward months and months over just a few pages. It left me wondering what had happened between then and now! Finally, and whilst this doesn't bother me so much, I know it will irk others: It was rather unrealistic! Given what we'd learnt about the characters, I questioned the decisions they made.

Whilst I know this will probably sound like a negative review, let me reinforce the fact that regardless of the points noted, I did enjoy the read and I'm looking forward to any future releases from Stephanie Harte.

Thank you to NetGalley and Head of Zeus for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review 📖

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Firstly thank you Netgalley for this ARC
Love the author love the book absolutely outstanding, can't wait to read more

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