The Mark (The Players Series Book 2)

There are so many layers to this story. The lightest is the laugh-out-loud humor that almost resembles the Keystone Cops in slapstick comedy. Note, if you have a sensitive stomach or a sympathetic gag reflex, you have been warned: vomit plays a large part in this book. Then there's the sweet romantic level where we watch Harry and Laney get close to one another, and Ty and Kate get closer. Then we hit the deep, dark emotional undertow. Harry and Laney have enough baggage to sink an ocean liner and Drew's presence in their life makes a mess of everything they're trying to build together. I kind of like Drew in the previous book. I felt sorry for him. It's going to take a miracle to redeem him now, but I can't wait to see how it comes about.

A lot of us read for escapism, to get away from our daily lives, this story has a LOT of reality in it, a lot of alcoholism, and dealing with alcoholism, which may be a turn off for some readers. There is also a very real struggle going on for Harry, trying to figure out how to be a good friend, and a good person... when his instincts are telling him to change tact, what he's been doing hasn't been helping, possibly has been hurting, but it's the only definition he's ever known of being a good friend.Laney comes in, with a different perspective, telling him he can be a good friend, without enabling his friend's worst habits. I loved her for her calm head, and frankly for the way she freaked out when life just threw too much at her on a work day that was frustrating her to no end. (I did feel aspects of her work situation got... dropped part way through, and didn't feel that was fair to either the characters that sub-plot involved, or the story itself.)I read the books out of order, I started with book 3, Drew's Story, then came back to read about Ty and Harry. Harry's story was well written, balancing the three characters better than any of the other stories, and giving Kate a chance to shine in a variety of ways as well. (She shines in relationship to work, to her relationship with Ty, simply as a person, and in her relationship to Laney.)In the end I think it was the balance across the characters that kept me flipping the pages and really loving this story. I was annoyed as other readers when Harry didn't put Laney front and center in his life... but he also didn't forget about her, or shove her to the background, he got overwhelmed, knew it... and floundered for a moment as his life hit it's ultimate crisis... in this story, as in real life, it's what a person/character does in the wake of that floundering, whether they pull themselves back together, and take the path you hope they would choose, fall apart, or take the path they've always known, not because it is right, but because it is familiar that matters.Harry faces his challenges, with his own unique style, and a lot of what happens in Drew's story is rooted here, so I do think while each story in this series stands alone, Drew's story (The Gamble) is a richer and deeper reading experience with this one as background.

Meh... I did not like what happened towards the end.Spoilers ---- The ending..The H's best friend is an alcoholic. He jumps into the h's bed drunk. She initially thinks he is the H, but quickly fines out that he is not. He attempts to rape her and punches her in the face when she tries to get away. The H saves her before anything happens. Then he puts his best friend first before the h. He does not want to contact authorities or medical help to draw attention to the situation. He feels responsible for his best friend because his alcoholic friend had his first taste of alcohol at his house when they were teens. His other friend (that make up the trio of besties) had to alert the authorities so they could arrest him and seek medical help. The h feels let down that the H did not put her first. The h then shows up and gives him a chance to talk. He tells her that he will stop taking responsibility for anything not directly related to him and then gives her a bracelet. All is well and the h can pursue her Broadway dream.i understand the whole guilt trip with a friendship that dates way back, but what happened to apologizing for not putting her first and protecting her? It was a weird and lame ending and the h should have walked away.

This is a story about friendship among three men who grew up together. According to Harry: Ty is optimistic and grounded, Drew is miserable and Harry is "Normal". The three of them balance one another and this dynamic has worked for years.Their roles regarding friendship also apply to their lives. Ty is a casino/hotel owner who is upbeat and positive. Drew has problems with drug and alcohol abuse as well as severe depression. That leaves Harry - the "normal" one - he works in the film industry and is very successful....he's the fixer. As lifelong friends, their roles have not changed but change is necessary if the friendships are to survive the disaster also known as "Harry."These three characters come together in this book with the introduction of Laney, a forensic accountant who is charged with reviewing the casino books prior to change of owners. She has a boat load of baggage she has been dragging around for a long time and this job gives her an opportunity to unload the burden and move into a happier space. Will she?...let's hope so. She deserves some happiness.The base of the story is about addictions, dependency and co-dependency. Will the situations resolve themselves or will the well-orchestrated dynamic of friendship implode. You have to read the story to find out. It is a mixed bag of tricks - humor, romance, drama and chaos ... and it works!I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I was not disappointed and am in fact looking forward to a follow up to tie up all the loose ends.

I give The Mark by Emma Nichols four stars. This is book 2 of the Players series and should not be read as a standalone. You should read these books in the order Emma wrote them. This book is very well written and is a quick read.Harry Spencer had many reasons to doubt his friendship with Drew but he never once had to question his Friendship and support of his friend Ty. So when his support was needed and he was asked to drive to Vegas he dropped everything and dragged a drunken Drew with him. All of a sudden when a woman falls right at his feet he immediately realizes what is missing from his life.Laney Jenner is in a career she never want and truly hates because it takes her as far away from her dream of Broadway as you possibly can get. Her job as a Forensic Accountant has recently brought her to Vega which made her fall at the feet of Harry. Will spending time with Harry make her life worth living again or will her life continue to be as messy as it always has been. You have to read the book to find out!