Series Review: Playing Dirty by Pamela DuMond

Series Review: Is this series worth your time? Does it get better as the novels progress? Or does it get worse? Find out below:

Playing Dirty Series

Synopsis for The Client (from Goodreads):

I was an underpaid assistant working at a matchmaking agency, surviving on Insta-Ramen and dreams. How was it possible that I made a love match that resulted in the society marriage of the year?

Christmas season was upon us and I planned on enjoying this gorgeous wedding by drinking too much Champagne, eating 5 star food, and relaxing for a change.

I didn’t plan on running into the smoking hot, tuxedo-clad brick wall of a man.

I didn’t plan on him stopping my fall by grabbing onto my boob and Not. Letting. Go.

I most definitely didn’t plan on this gorgeous man being my new CLIENT.

Joe was heir to the Delacroix Hotel fortune, whip smart, hilariously funny, and so yummy. I was tempted to… good God I wanted to… but sleeping with clients was a big, fat ‘No-No.’

It wasn’t fair that our chemistry was through the roof. Not possible that a guy from his side of the tracks wanted someone as broken as me. Practically a sin that we couldn’t be together.

Weren’t some rules meant to be broken?

Series: Playing Dirty
Author: Pamela DuMond
# of Books: 2 (The Client, The Matchmaker)
Book Order: Connected
Complete?: Yes
Genre: New Adult, Romance, Contemporary, Comedy
Heat Rating: Hot
Point of View: First Person, Alternating
Publication Date: September 2017 – February 2018
Source & Format: Read It & Review It–eARC

**This post was originally posted as a Fresh Friday review of the first book of the series. It has now been updated to include the newest publications in the series.**

Why I Picked it Up / My Expectations:

I was drawn to the premise of The Client for two reasons. 1) I love when couples meet in bizarre ways and 2) forbidden romance. The tension is always thick, the banter is always on point and I just find myself thoroughly entertained by the whole thing!

What I Liked:

–The Banter–

I loved the banter between Charlotte and Joe. I’m always wary when a book says it’s a comedy because I usually find myself not laughing at the jokes. But I definitely had a few chuckles as I read this. If I wasn’t laughing at the witty back-and-forths between them as I was chuckling at the various situations they found themselves in. They had such explosive chemistry the instant they met and I loved every time they were together.

–Charlotte’s Job–

It wasn’t that Charlotte was necessarily a matchmaker that I loved; it was how she interacted with her clients by doing things that were out of her element or being an unexpected badass at whatever activity they were doing. I just found the whole thing to be entertaining.

–Background Stories–

I thought the character development was pretty solid. I’m glad we got to delve into their respective pasts a bit; it just rounds out their characters a little more.

What I Didn’t Like:

—Slightly Misleading Synopsis–

I will say that I thought the synopsis was slightly misleading. When I read it, I thought that these two had one meeting and then the next day, she learns he is her newest client. And that’s not the case at all. There’s a little more build up to that “Oh No!” moment and I actually liked that a whole lot more because you get a little more familiar with the characters before the real magic happens.

My Expectations for the Rest of the Series:

I’m so excited to see what happens in The Matchmaker. I was immediately drawn to Violet’s character in this story and I can’t wait to see the hi-jinks that will ensue during this match!

–May 31, 2018– Book #2: The Matchmaker

This novel just felt far too rushed–and often forced–to be completely enjoyable. I can forgive the craziness of the “whisked on a private jet out of the country” premise and I’ll admit I was on board with it until it was actually executed.

Lustful glances and inner monologues about having sex with the other lead does not a romance novel make. Sure, I got the fact that these two were insanely attracted to the other but there was very little interaction between them outside of those fantasies.

And that’s a shame because these two have incredible backstories. We get a lot of Aiden’s and it is fascinating but Violet never learns about it. And Violet’s need to assert her independence in her family gets cast aside before it can even be built up.

I think the worst part of this story is that just when it looked like some good progress (in terms of development in all fronts) is about to happen, the book wraps up quickly and neatly and in a way that left me completely unsatisfied. Overall, I was very disappointed in this sequel.

My Rating: 3/5

The Client 4/5 | The Matchmaker 2/5

While The Client is the perfect pick-me-up for contemporary romance fans who like a little fun, The Matchmaker falls short in delivering the same experience despite the unique premise.

Read if You Like: in love with client stories, comedic romances
Avoid if You: dislike lighter contemporaries