The Player & the Game

Playing with the popular adage “Don’t hate the player, hate the game,” Ellis continues her Gibbons Gold Diggers series (begun in Can’t Stand the Heat) with a solid and sympathetic story. Stephanie Gibbons is a successful real estate agent and one of her mother’s best students in the art of chasing and manipulating wealthy men. When the game gets turned around on the player, however, Stephanie must look deep inside herself to plan her revenge—with the assistance of sexy private investigator Keith Hendricks. Familiar familial themes are presented without judgment, and there’s a surprising depth to the slightly overused plot that encourages readers to step back from their own prejudices and see things from the “player’s” perspective. Smart, sexy dialogue and a hint of mystery will satisfy both series fans and new readers. (Sept.)