Though I had not read the first two books in this series, I was able to to enjoy this one. However, reading it made me feel like I was meeting my someone's friends for the first time: everybody knows everybody's life story and I was out of the loop.

I requested this on Netgalley because it sounded like no reservations with lesbians and honestly it didn't dissapoint.

It was light fun read with lots of queer characters and very little conflict. The main focus is on how the main characters help each other change and grow and overcome their hang ups. I enjoyed how nice most of the characters were and how everything wrapped up in a neat bow.

I'd recommend this if you're in the mood for a sweet romance and minimal drama.

E-arc provided by netgalley in exchange for an honest review

An honest review thanks to NetGalley. I read this book a few weeks ago and just kept forgetting to write a review. It was a great read, any book that stars a young child and the bonding of a family tugs at my heartstrings. Dante was amazing and her personality and sweetness made this book a wonderful read!

Given all the issues that Takira and Dante are going through, I could easily forgive the author if she had written more angst into this story, I love this story all the more for not going that route.

Both are dealing with family of origin issues, Takira’s employee embezzles money from her, and she is raising her nephew after her sister dies. Dante comes in and helps with the business and nephew, after los in f her own self-confidence at the end of a devastating relationship.

It is ironic - and probably pivotal - that it he Dante’s butchness that saves her, after her former girlfriend tried to destroy her because of it. And it is what attracts Takira.

Dante moves back home, and meets back up with younger friends who she mentored back when she had her butch confidence. These friends, and Takira, build her back up. While she is just helping Takira any way she can, personal and business, and showing her heart.

The chemistry between the two is exciting to watch - you don’t want to miss it! Other characters include couples who got together in previous books - all of which I am dying to read!

I loved Playing With Fire. Dante and Takira are great characters. You might be born into a family that doesn’t love or appreciate you, but you don’t need to keep that family. Go out and find people who appreciate you for what and who you are. I hope we can see more of this family in future books.

This was sooooo good!

The story is about Dante who returns to her hometown after having been away quite some time. A chance meeting with an old friends leads to a job and a place to stay for Dante. Takira, who takes a chance on Dante after their mutual friend persuades her Dante is just who she is looking for as a manager for her restaurant, leads to unexpected companionship for both of them. But Takira’s life isn’t as straightforward as she hopes, when her nephew comes to live with her, and suddenly she finds herself having to learn about work/life balance.

First of all, this book is a total geek dream (and I mean geek in the sense that being a Disney/sci-fi/big kid is totally awesome and good for the soul!). This book, was packed with tropes, like seriously all the best ones, and had everything from references, to cute moments inspired by making sure we all believe in a little bit of magic. It was uplifting and just added a little something extra to this story, like the right ingredients in a secret sauce.

I loved the characters, Dante being butch, and Takira being femme. The book also covered a lot about culture, and society, making sure to deliver important messages about the most important things in life being love, and making your own family, and finding happiness. This was such a strong story, but sweet and endearing. Life, loss, and love being the main factors that drove the plot, built the relationships, and made for a very cute love story. Happiness isn’t necessarily where you are looking for it, sometimes it finds you, and that is certainly the case for the lovely Dante and Takira.

It has Disney – there were no reasons not to love every second of this book!

Both Takira and Dante had emotional baggage, and difficult lives, yet they had instant chemistry and worked well together. With all age gaps of course there was that uncertainty, Dante was certain someone like Takira wouldn’t want her because of her looks and age, and I loved that we got to see these insecurities from a character like Dante. It was so realistic, because she really wasn’t your average butch as they are typically portrayed in lesfic. It was Finn though – Takira’s nephew that really added fuel to their flame and brought them together. I absolutely adored all the characters that made up this cast, but Dante really stood out for me. She was sweet, down to earth, and she believes in magic despite all that has happened to her. She was just wonderful.

Absolutely fantastic! I couldn’t put this book down, thoroughly enjoyed every second.

This truly is a “happily ever after” romance. From the very beginning I was drawn into the story. There are three main characters and a supporting cast of many friends who were main characters in the earlier two books in this series. Readers do not have to read the previous two books in order to enjoy this one. Playing with Fire can stand on its own.

The three main characters are Takira Lathan, a successful restaurant owner. At the beginning of the book, we learn that Takira is struggling to recoup financial losses after her ex-manager runs off with money from the business. As a workaholic and a great chef, she does not have a lot of time for her personal life. Takira’s twin sister dies and she becomes the guardian to her sister’s 2-1/2-year-old son, Finn. Finn has been neglected and has many emotional problems. Takira never wanted to have a family and does not know the first thing about raising Finn.

The third main character is Dante Groves, the answer to Takira’s prayers. Dante returns to her hometown after being away for many years. She has a great deal of business experience in the food industry and will be able to help with Takira’s business problems.

Neither Takira nor Dante are looking for a relationship. The bond that seems to bring them together is Finn and the restaurant. I enjoyed how Ms. Davis weaves the slow development of love between Dante, Takira and Finn.

Although Playing with Fire is a romance, Ms. Davis handles many sensitive matters. She addresses the issue of how people may criticize the appearance of a butch. She also has a refreshing description of how some of the characters defend Dante. Finn is a sweet young boy who is yearning for love and affection. The interaction of Finn and Dante is particularly sweet.

The pace of the book is good. I did not want to stop reading and I felt a connection to the characters from the very beginning. This book definitely gets my thumbs up. I rate this with 5 out of 5 stars!

I was given this ARC in return for a fair and honest review.

This reminds me of the saying right time right place. You had me at food and romance both of which I love. Being a cook for a lot of years I related to this book so much. Lesley Davis does a great job I will be checking more from her.

I am typically not a reader of books that involve butch women. I just don't connect with their thinking. This book was not the exception. It is a good plot that is well written with likeable characters. The main characters, Dante and Takira, are anything but your typical main characters. If you like books that feature characters that are your run-of-the-mill lesbian characters, this might be the book for you.
I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I adored this book. This was my first book by the author and I haven't read the other books in the series but this book can easily stand alone. I loved the writing style and the story so much that I know I'll go back to read the other books in the series.

Dante's return to her hometown is nothing like she expected. She pulls in for lunch at a new restaurant in town, and immediately runs into an old friend, and quickly finds herself with a managerial position in the restaurant and sharing an apartment with the boss, Takira. When Takira's last manager runs off with all of her savings, she's more determined than ever to throw herself into her work and earn back what she's lost. But in one short day she's become guardian to her young nephew, and she's hired a manager and acquired a roommate at the same time. As Dante and Takira grow closer, Takira begins to realize there's more to life than just work. Will she accept that love and family can be for her before it's too late?

I loved this beautiful vibrant world created in this story. The wonderful cast of characters, the food, the Disney obsession. It was an incredibly beautiful thing to experience. I adored the way this book was written, I was captivated from the beginning. Dante and Takira's relationship sizzled. Their chemistry was off the charts and they were beautifully well matched in everything else. Gosh, and Finn was just adorable. Dante's relationship with Finn was a beautiful thing to witness.

I would highly recommend this book, even without reading other books in the series. I will definitely be reading more by this author in the future.

I received an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Takira Latham has her own restaurant.  Her previous manager steals money from the restaurant, her sister tragically passes away and Takira is left to raise her nephew, 2 1/2 year old Finn.  Things aren't going so well. Along comes Dante Groves, who's life was suddenly is  turned upside down when she finds her partner cheating on her. When Dante takes over the role of manager in Takira's restaurant, their relationship evolves.

Unfortunately I didn't find a connection with the characters. We were told that there was chemistry between the characters but I just couldn't see it and wasn't feeling it.  What I did love was despite the fact she has little experience with children I loved the way Dante connects with 2 1/2 year old Finn and I particularly liked the dialogue from Dante to Finn. I do like a lot of angst in my romances but unfortunately this book doesn't have a lot of that and in fact the characters fell in love very quickly which I didn't find quite believable .  The diversity of the characters was great, butch/femme, color, age, etc, it wasn't your stereotypical couple and that just made it a more interesting read.
I gave this book 2.5 stars.

This is a sweet, flowing story about two women who have both had their share of heartbreak and doubts in their lives.

Dante is a lovely butch who thought she knew love, only to have her partner cheat on her, causing her to leave town and travel the world, trying to forget the pain of betrayal.

Takira is a woman who has been neglected all her life, even in the face of her twin sister's wild ways and eventual death. She runs a popular restaurant in Columbia, Missouri, which is also Dante's home town.

Dante returns to town after several years and lands in Takira's restaurant for a meal and to slow down from her constant travel. She and Takira meet for the first time, introduced by a mutual friend. Takira learns that Dante used to be a restaurant manager, which is something Takira desperately needs.

The slow burn starts from the moment these two women meet, and it doesn't let up. This is a sweet well-written story with a good plot and populated with friends and family.

So I was on the fence with this one. I didnt like it or hate it really. It was okay overall. I liked the idea behind the story and the characters didnt do anything that would have kept me from really enjoying it at all.

This is Ms Davis’s third book in her series ‘ Playing’ and like her other two books she doesn’t disappoint. Takira Lathan works hard making her restaurant the best it can be. She has never gotten the support or attention she craves from her mother or for that matter her twin sister. Finding out her manager Claude has quit his job was bad enough but finding out he has stolen her money isn’t something she wanted to deal with, especially now when she finds out her sister Latitia has died in an accident leaving Takira no choice but to take care of her 2 yr old nephew Finn. Being a mother was never in her plans.
Dante Groves though her life was pretty settled until she comes home to find her partner in bed with another woman. She packs her bags and goes on a trip around the world trying to find her place in it. Many people mistake her for a man but she has learned over the years to accept herself as she is, a out and proud butch. But getting tired of the travel she decides to move back to Columbia, Missouri where on her very first day she meets up with her friends Juliet and Trent (Playing Passion’s Game) eating in Takira’s restaurant. And it seems she has come home at just the right time because Takira needs a new manager and it just so happens that is exactly the kind of job Dante’s looking for.
Besides connecting with Trent and Juliet, Dante also gets a chance to reconnect with Scarlet and Bryce from Ms Davis’s second book in her ‘Playing’ series (Playing in Shadow) This is a really a very nice read.
ARC via NetGalley

4.5/5 stars

I absolutely loved this book! Everything from the characters to the writing style and pacing as well as the emotional scenes was fabricated perfectly. I got really attached to Dante and Tamora as well as the adorable little Finn while the story progressed. I like how so many important themes like queer pride, Butch women being equally feminine as other women, separation anxiety, family issues and son on were brought up and elaborated very well in this book.
Dante and Tamora 's romance starts off as a cute and careful one as they dance around each other until it turns into something much more deep, heated and meaningful.

This was an absolutely amazing book, especially a great read for Pride month :)

I really enjoyed this book. This is the third in the Playing Series, Trent and Elton make an appearance in one of Davis's other books, and it is a good one. It can definitely be read as a standalone but having read the others gives you better appreciation of Juliet, Trent, and Harley as well as the other characters from the past. This one is about Tekira, a restaurant owner, and Dante, a wondered coming home to put down roots. They meet at a time that they can both benefit from, Tekira needs a new manager and lo and behold Dante just happens to be an amazing one looking for a job. Through in an unbelievably cute kid in Finn and his and Harley's interaction and it's just perfect.

Now there are some set themes, I think is the right word though maybe not, in this book. One is the older/younger romance. I think the age difference is like 12 years. There is also the butch/femme, which honestly is one my favorites. I love a good butch/femme read. I know some people find them stereotypical but hey I read for the stereotypical and the happy ending not for the complete politically correctness of it all...cause honestly I would love everything in life to be NEW but that's not realistic so why should my reading (stepping off my short soapbox).

Anyways, like previous books in the series there are some obstacles, a little bit of angst, great characters, great "family," and feel good feeling surrounding them. I really enjoyed it and readers of the previous one will too. Definitely my second favorite in the series

All the right ingredients for a solid romance within a community of supportive characters. The children’s voices are well written and have authentic speech patterns (all too often authors write 2 years olds talking as though they are 12 years old). I liked the vulnerability of the butch coupled with the strength of the femme. That was a clever interplay. The only thing I didn’t like was the title; it doesn’t relate to the story very well.

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.