Kimber's review posted at Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews 
 4.5 stars 
 The Player, the final installment in the Game Maker series is one steamy-a** read and will no doubt be a fan favorite, but then really - what would you expect from another one of those hotter than sin Sevastyan brothers? Not only did Kresley Cole make good on her promise to be the sexiest book she's ever written, it's also the most intense, and that intensity lasted throughout. Once I started this book, it KILLED me to have to put it down. Sleep is overrated, I couldn't agree more. 
 Vice (Victoria) is a con artist who works for the family business in Vegas. One of their cons landed them in deep with a notorious cartel. In a last-ditch effort to settle the very large debt owed them before the deadly deadline, Vice is asked to scope out the rich, sexy Russian, Dmitri. Since she's had trouble with her last five cons, she's starting to doubt herself and her abilities to seal the deal, so she's determined to get his attention and prove her value to her family. What she doesn't know is he's already set his sights on HER. From the very moment he sees her, he's willing to do anything to make her, his. Oh, you sweet cray-cray man. 
 Let the games begin! 
 Anyone who has read the first two books knows Dmitri has a dark and gloomy troubled past. Patiently waiting for his book and full backstory has been short of excruciating. Not only did I want to know his tormented past, I wanted him to find someone who could bring him out of the darkness, love and understand him (thank you Vice). I guess you could say I'm a total sucker for a tortured hero, and KC wrote the perfect one. Of course, he wouldn't be half as interesting if he wasn't also possessive, domineering, jealous, and demanding. Yes, he's all those things, but oh so much more. His ability to trust, and the level of trust he's capable of showing after all he'd been through, floored me. His giving, caring and sweet sides are reasons enough to fall completely in love with him, but you're in store for much more from this multi-layered complex character. 
 Shady meets crazy indeed! 
 I adore Kresley's sense of humor and her imagination. She took a somewhat crazy, geeky, sexy, eccentric, self-made billionaire with ties to the Russian mob and made me fall in total flove with him. Not to mention, a beautiful, shady con artist who was really protective of her man, before he was HER man. Their journey is emotional, unconventional and seems to be on the fast-track, but never fear, these two are PERFECT for each other and the torridity of their nakey times will leave you fanning and panting all the way to your SO or the sex store, whichever one you can get to first. Seriously, it's what the naughtiest fantasies are made of. 
 I loved this story, but I have a confession to make. It threw me for an unexpected loop. Half way through I presumed to have it figured out, then changed my mind, then was shocked at the end with the twisty-twist. The fact it was unpredictable added to the enjoyment of the journey. I'm also not happy about this being the end of the series. For one, I've fallen in love with ALL the Sevastyan boys, their mates, families, and friends. Hint-Hint, Jess deserves her own book dang it! And two, KC has got this whole EROTIC thing down. Why stop with just three books? I needs more! 
 The Player can be a standalone book, but listen to me when I say, you DO NOT want to miss the first two. The entire series is hexing and addictive, full of emotion, humor and steam, and Kresley Cole is a genius user of words. 
 Review copy provided for an honest review.