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Laurie Boris
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Playing Charlie Cool (Trager Family Secrets Book 3) Kindle Edition

by Laurie Boris (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.1 out of 5 stars 116 ratings
Charlie Trager knows he’s lucky to have a successful career as a television producer, supportive friends and family, and Joshua — the man he loves. But Joshua is struggling with an election and a spiteful ex-wife threatening custody of his children. Can Charlie’s plan save their relationship?
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  1. Book 3 of 3
    Trager Family Secrets
  2. Print length
    253 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publication date
    September 30, 2014
  5. File size
    1.9 MB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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 See full series
There are 3 books in this series.
This option includes 3 books.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A realistic and amusing look at LGBT issues in a modern world.... The writing was flawless.... a brilliant showcase on how to create a great manuscript." - Awesome Indies

"Woodstock author Boris sets her latest comedy of manners, errors, and unmannerly errors in Manhattan's political and media circles. Joshua Goldberg just came out and quit his political job. His beloved, TV producer Charlie Trager, is eager for their real lives to begin. They'll have to hurdle more than a few excruciating barriers first in this funny, touching tale, third of Boris's linked Trager novels." - Chronogram

From the Author

Questions about the series order? This might help. The three stories that make up the Trager Family Secrets series happen in chronological order.
 
However, I wrote Don't Tell Anyone first, in the women's fiction/lit fiction category. Then readers contacted me wanting to know more about Charlie and his mysterious congressman (I was curious as well), so I wrote The Picture of Cool to tell the story of how they met. But Charlie still had more to tell me, so I wrote Playing Charlie Cool. This novel starts chronologically after Don't Tell Anyone ends, but it picks up the thread of Charlie's romance with his Mr. Right-Maybe.
 
The books don't need to be read in order, although some readers like to do that. Books Two and Three can be read as stand-alone stories. Some readers like to start with The Picture of Cool and continue the romance with Playing Charlie Cool. Your choice. I don't judge.
 
So...
 
Book 1: The Picture of Cool (a short prelude to events that happen in Book 3)
Book 2: Don't Tell Anyone (what happens to Charlie's family)
Book 3: Playing Charlie Cool (picks up Charlie's love story after the events of Book 2 have concluded)
 
Thank you, and I hope you enjoy the stories. However you choose to read them.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00MQ6MDWY
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Laurie Boris (September 30, 2014)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 30, 2014
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1.9 MB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 253 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.1 out of 5 stars 116 ratings

About the author

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Laurie Boris

Laurie Boris

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Laurie Boris has been writing fiction for thirty years and is the award-winning author of nine novels. When not playing with the universe of imaginary people in her head, she enjoys baseball, reading, and avoiding housework. She lives in New York's lovely Hudson Valley.

* Find Laurie on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/laurie.boris.author

* Keep up with Laurie's blog at http://laurieboris.com/blog/

* Follow Laurie on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/LaurieBoris

Customer reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars
116 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book enjoyable from the first page, with one noting it's a love story for everybody. They appreciate the character development, with one review highlighting the portrayal of both Charlie and Josh. Customers describe the book as likeable and emotionally engaging, with one mentioning they can relate to the characters' experiences.

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27 customers mention "Story quality"25 positive2 negative

Customers find the book's story engaging from the first page, describing it as believable and a love story for everyone.

"Charlie and Josh's story is so very good, and yet so very complex. Adam-Josh (as he is called since Charlie has a brother named Adam, also.)..." Read more

"...It was very well written but did not have a shock factor or sudden twist to really draw me in. I still give it a thumbs up though." Read more

"...It was a well written story with mildly interesting characters and one mystery man...." Read more

"...But it's a love story for everybody. *** Originally published at Rursday Reads." Read more

19 customers mention "Character development"19 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the character development in the book, with one customer particularly noting how well Charlie and Josh are portrayed.

"...What an emotional and humorous book! I could not put it down!! The price is perfect right now - absolutely FREE for the eBook...." Read more

"...It has gay characters that I found believable and could relate to being a gay man myself...." Read more

"...New York ordinary but still ordinary. Melanie was interesting character, I liked her (I liked all the characters even if they bored me to tears) But..." Read more

"...I loved this book. Boris does such a great job at portraying both Charlie and Josh that you just can't help but hope that they can figure out a way..." Read more

9 customers mention "Enjoyment"9 positive0 negative

Customers find the book enjoyable and likeable, with one customer noting it's a good stand-alone story.

"...is a well written book that involves politics, family and the entertainment field...." Read more

"...coming out and confusion over what to do once you have with grace and poise. Great book on human emotions...taking your time and taking chances." Read more

"Excellent characters, likeable, believable and real. Such a great tale with actual conflict and true feelings...." Read more

"...skills and an engaging plot, and you'll have three cool books to keep you entertained." Read more

5 customers mention "Emotional content"5 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the emotional content of the book, with one customer noting they had no problem relating to the characters' experiences.

"...What an emotional and humorous book! I could not put it down!! The price is perfect right now - absolutely FREE for the eBook...." Read more

"...I have no problem relating to his experiences...." Read more

"...Instead, you see a stripped-down, honest, emotional look at two people trying to successfully navigate not only a romantic relationship but all of..." Read more

"...Great book on human emotions...taking your time and taking chances." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • 2kasmom
    5.0 out of 5 stars Charlie is worth reading!!
    Reviewed in the United States on March 12, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    Charlie and Josh's story is so very good, and yet so very complex. Adam-Josh (as he is called since Charlie has a brother named Adam, also.) Is very much the love of Charlie's life. Only he is virtually untouchable since he is in the public eye and has to protect his children.

    Charlie is a producer for daytime television and has plenty of divas of his own to take care of during the day. At night, he wonders how he can be so alone in the city that never sleeps. Joshua is a man in the middle of a divorce, since he was honest with his family about his feelings and does not want to hurt his family or himself anymore.

    Charlie and Josh barely get any time together, schedules and other priorities keep them apart so much. They text and sometimes get to talk on the phone. Josh has been making the rounds and circling the globe doing promotions that his father has asked him to do.

    Then when they try to talk about feelings? Well - never the two shall meet. Josh keeps his close to the vest since he has so much to lose. But will he lose Charlie if he does not tell him soon what he feels for him?

    Charlie is not sure whether to keep waiting for Josh or just move on. His feelings are real and it hurts to see him in just stolen moments when he feels like a leftover in Josh's life. Good thing Charlie has such good friends and family around him.

    I was absolutely bowled over by a book who could put it so right! I felt like the characters were real and I was experiencing their love story unfold as I read. What an emotional and humorous book! I could not put it down!!

    The price is perfect right now - absolutely FREE for the eBook. This book is the 3rd book in The Trager Family Secrets series but my personal opinion is it was the best!!
    One person found this helpful
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  • Bruce Gmys
    4.0 out of 5 stars Very good
    Reviewed in the United States on April 3, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I did not read the previous book in the series but I feel I got the gist of the story without doing so. It is a well written book that involves politics, family and the entertainment field. It has gay characters that I found believable and could relate to being a gay man myself. I will probably read more stories from this series in the future. I only gave it four stars because nothing in the book really surprised me. It was very well written but did not have a shock factor or sudden twist to really draw me in. I still give it a thumbs up though.
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  • Karin Mazaki
    3.0 out of 5 stars Blah
    Reviewed in the United States on March 26, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    I was bored for the first 20 chapters and only held on for the final 19 to find out how things ended for Charlie and Josh. Frankly, I was a bit disappointed. I hoped for more from Josh. Sure we got the big splashy moment at the end to seal the romance. But I wanted more from a future Congressman. I wanted so much more from the character, the better half of the couple. I don't know anymore about Josh at the end of the book than I did at the beginning. Every time he popped up I hoped for some background, some history, something from his point a view about Charlie, his parents, or even politics. But sadly Josh remained a mystery. Which is probably why I was so interested. After all, Charlie, his family, his friends and co-workers were all so ordinary. New York ordinary but still ordinary. Melanie was interesting character, I liked her (I liked all the characters even if they bored me to tears) But I knew more about her than the main character's boyfriend. I knew more about his sister-in-law who was more of a sibling than his actual sibling. It was a well written story with mildly interesting characters and one mystery man. If the author ever writes about the closeted-gay-son-of-a-Senator-who-marries-and-dumps-his-wife-for-a-man, let me know. Because that sums up all I know about him.
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  • Lynne Cantwell
    5.0 out of 5 stars A love story for everybody.
    Reviewed in the United States on October 3, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    Charlie Trager's back, and this time he's playing for keeps.

    Playing Charlie Cool is the sequel to Boris's novella The Picture of Cool (her novel Don't Tell Anyone fills in the timeline between the two), and features the same main characters: Charlie, producer of a TV talk show; and Adam Joshua Goldberg, former New York City mayor's aide, who resigns from that job when he announces he's gay. He and his wife subsequently split. But Adam -- or Joshua, as Charlie calls him -- is leery of making his relationship with Charlie public. For one thing, he and his soon-to-be-ex have two kids. For another, Josh comes from a political family, and his father the senator wants him to run for Congress.

    Charlie's head-over-heels for Joshua, but he's getting more and more tired of waiting in the wings. How long will it be before Mr. Producer Man loses his celebrated cool?

    I loved this book. Boris does such a great job at portraying both Charlie and Josh that you just can't help but hope that they can figure out a way to be together. One of my favorite scenes is the transatlantic phone call during which they hash out Joshua's big speech in Geneva. It shows that their relationship isn't just about the sex -- there's respect there, too, as well as love.

    Yes, Playing Charlie Cool features two gay men as its protagonists. But it's a love story for everybody.
    ***
    Originally published at Rursday Reads.
    5 people found this helpful
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  • Kindle Owner
    5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Follow Up to: The Picture of Cool....
    Reviewed in the United States on October 7, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    I first met Charlie and Adam in the short novella - The Picture of Cool. An excellent short story to introduce these characters and the beginning of their 'dance' towards each other. This next book in their story is excellent. The sights and sounds of NYC shine as do the characters. You laugh and cry along with Charlie as he tries to figure out how to get through to Adam. They do love each other - but Adam is still dragging his feet for a full out committed relationship. He has a divorce to go through and two children to consider. Laurie Boris has done a great job balancing the see-saw action of both Charlie and Adam. the other characters are also very real. You find yourself wanting to be at one of their cocktail parties and interacting with all of them. Nicely summed up at the end too. Well done.
    9 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • AmandaC
    5.0 out of 5 stars Heartfelt and beautifully written
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 11, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    What a wonderful book! I loved the characters and how they were sensitively developed. The emotions were authentic and made you love the characters even when wanting to metaphorically shake them. This book drew me in and I really routed for the HEA. A real pleasure to read. Brava!
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  • Kindle Customer
    2.0 out of 5 stars humorous, engaging but delicate magic touch
    Reviewed in Australia on October 18, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    I liked where Laurie Boris is going with the character of Charlie, in book #2. It's a contemporary theme that could do with some airing, and Laurie as usual treats sensitive scenarios and issues with a humorous, engaging but delicate magic touch. Book #3 explores the story further.
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  • J.R. Bee
    4.0 out of 5 stars Iif a diligent non-romance reader like myself can read and enjoy this I'm sure you can too.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 28, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    I don't normally read romance stories, I just don't, they're not me, BUT I read Laurie Boris's The Picture of Cool because I liked her writing style and then I found myself reading Playing Charlie Cool.

    So if a diligent non-romance reader like myself can read and enjoy this I'm sure you can too.

    I would recommend you read it when you don't want something heavy, it was a good book to wind down at the end of the day with.

    So, what's the story about?

    Charlie and Adam/ Joshua and their struggle with life, society and new love.
    Joshua is in the middle of a divorce from his wife so that he can be with the new man in his life, but with two kids and a political career to think about 'it's complicated' just doesn't seem to cut it. This leaves our Charlie wondering if Adam/ Joshua would really want to go from one serious relationship to another? Is Charlie being played?

    That's all the spoiler you'll get from me, but if you like romance and good writing, or are just after a book to relax with look no further than Playing Charlie Cool.
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  • Kindle Customer
    4.0 out of 5 stars Actually very cool
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 13, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    I bought this book purely because I liked the title - go me being spontaneous! - and I'm so glad I did. Engaging characters, interesting setting, satisfying plot and far more complexity than the average romance. Highly recommended.
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  • Elena A Gestoso
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent!!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 9, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    There is only one word for me to describe this book: Excellent!!
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