What do you think?
Rate this book
Endgame
Delaney, a self-confessed cad and committment-phobe, meets a woman she shouldn't play. However, it's also the one woman she can't resist.
Cover by Book Worm 2017
35,000 words, novella
Cover by Book Worm 2017
35,000 words, novella
73 pages
First published January 1, 2002
2 people are currently reading
289 people want to read
About the author
Meghan O'Brien
44 books1,145 followersBorn in a suburb of Detroit, Michigan, Meghan O’Brien relocated to Northern California in 2005. As a transplant, she enjoys the moderate weather and gorgeous scenery of the Bay Area. Meghan lives with her wife, their son, three cats, three dogs, two snakes and several tarantulas. Yes, it can be just as chaotic as it sounds.
Meghan’s day job is as a software developer, but her real passion is writing. From her humble beginnings creating numerous “books” out of construction paper and crayons as soon as she learned to write, to her several published novels and various anthology contributions, writing is what makes her feel most complete. (from the author's website)
Meghan’s day job is as a software developer, but her real passion is writing. From her humble beginnings creating numerous “books” out of construction paper and crayons as soon as she learned to write, to her several published novels and various anthology contributions, writing is what makes her feel most complete. (from the author's website)
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
October 25, 2017
This beautiful novella is free on the author's website. However, I hate it when good stories have terrible covers. That's why I did a cover that hopefully does this gem more justice.
I read this out of a whim and would never have found it if not for Goodreads.
Enter: The player Delaney, who eats through women like a termite through wood. On the other side, leaning casually against a wall, Hannah, beautiful and vulnerable. Delaney sees, she approaches and ... she is stopped in her tracks.
A beautiful story evolves from there. We follow it through the eyes and perceptions of Delaney, who, after learning of Hannah's terrible fate (she was raped), is in a terrible fix. She's never been in a relationship, she would never sleep with a friend, yet she finds herself offering friendship to a woman she is very much attracted to. How not to hurt someone, who's been terribly wounded? How to find friendship and love? How to commit? How to trust someone? How to trust yourself?
These are the questions that are dealt with in this novella. And to quote from there:
“Fear is just a part of love. Fear that you’ll hurt her, fear that she’ll hurt you, fear at needing another person like you need air. But you live with the fear. You don’t run away from it. You live with the fear because most of the time it’s just joy. It’s right, and it makes all of the fear in the world worthwhile.”
I have seen this expressed often, but this has touched me. Be sure to read this one, if you find the time and if you're not afraid of your heart beating like crazy at one or two parts of it.
I read this out of a whim and would never have found it if not for Goodreads.
Enter: The player Delaney, who eats through women like a termite through wood. On the other side, leaning casually against a wall, Hannah, beautiful and vulnerable. Delaney sees, she approaches and ... she is stopped in her tracks.
A beautiful story evolves from there. We follow it through the eyes and perceptions of Delaney, who, after learning of Hannah's terrible fate (she was raped), is in a terrible fix. She's never been in a relationship, she would never sleep with a friend, yet she finds herself offering friendship to a woman she is very much attracted to. How not to hurt someone, who's been terribly wounded? How to find friendship and love? How to commit? How to trust someone? How to trust yourself?
These are the questions that are dealt with in this novella. And to quote from there:
“Fear is just a part of love. Fear that you’ll hurt her, fear that she’ll hurt you, fear at needing another person like you need air. But you live with the fear. You don’t run away from it. You live with the fear because most of the time it’s just joy. It’s right, and it makes all of the fear in the world worthwhile.”
I have seen this expressed often, but this has touched me. Be sure to read this one, if you find the time and if you're not afraid of your heart beating like crazy at one or two parts of it.
March 1, 2017
Man oh man am I glad for Goodreads friends and recommendations. Thank you Rebecca for putting it on your book list and everyone else I have as friends on here for your ratings. I absolutely loved this novella. Meghan O'brien is one of my favorite authors and I'm glad to have this one brought to my attention. The pacing was great; it wasn't bogged down with unnecessary details or side stories. This was a story about Delany and Hannah and boy what a great one it was. If you get a chance, I highly recommend it. Go to Meghan O'brien's website to find it and take a few hours to read it. You won't regret it.
February 13, 2017
Nicely done. I don't know if I have ever read a book touching on a relationship facing this emotional challenge. Considering its novella length O'Brien gives us enough character development to fall in love with sweet Hannah and hope that Delaney can keep her promise to treat Hannah with the gentle care she deserves.
Finding a small gem (and freebie) like this makes me want to peruse the websites of other lesfic authors to see what short stories they have listed on their home page. Thanks to my Goodreads friends for pointing out this wee jewel.
Finding a small gem (and freebie) like this makes me want to peruse the websites of other lesfic authors to see what short stories they have listed on their home page. Thanks to my Goodreads friends for pointing out this wee jewel.
November 4, 2020
Free on Meghans website.
http://www.meghanobrien.com/?page_id=159
CW: Rape - not shown but it's effects are long lingering for one character, and it's the main element of the story.
Not an easy read, but a deep and meaningful one. What happens when a player falls for a woman who struggles with the physical intimacy she had always thought was the main goal? Delaney realizes the physical is easy, it's the emotional that's hard. Hannah finds the opposite.
It was touching and beautiful, emotional and raw. The side characters were also great and supportive, but also meant business and were protective of their friend.
http://www.meghanobrien.com/?page_id=159
CW: Rape - not shown but it's effects are long lingering for one character, and it's the main element of the story.
Not an easy read, but a deep and meaningful one. What happens when a player falls for a woman who struggles with the physical intimacy she had always thought was the main goal? Delaney realizes the physical is easy, it's the emotional that's hard. Hannah finds the opposite.
It was touching and beautiful, emotional and raw. The side characters were also great and supportive, but also meant business and were protective of their friend.
February 22, 2017
Loved it! Every bit of it... I think this would have made a fantastic novel!
November 29, 2017
Beautifully written, very sensitive...I'm seeing M B in a different light, this novella is very different from her usual raunchy stories.
November 22, 2017
4.4 stars. A quick and sweet read and it's completely free. What more can you ask?
April 2, 2017
Absolutely loved it, wish it was a longer book.
September 23, 2019
This book can be so hard to read sometimes but wow it was really good. O'Brien knows how to write and that is a fact. These two; Delaney and Hannah just made it to my list of all time favorite characters
April 4, 2021
It was good, although packed with some heavy issues, the characters were mature and I love the story
April 8, 2017
Incredibly wonderful story with a great buildup (friends first kind of thing) and it's probably one of my all time favorite stories. I've paid for many stories far worse than the ones Meghan offers on her site for free. If you want a slow sweet buildup, without angst or much drama at all. Read this now.
*Edit - About my 4th actual read through before GR had the new read date thing. This is still one of my favorites!
*Edit - About my 4th actual read through before GR had the new read date thing. This is still one of my favorites!
June 30, 2021
I didn’t know what I’m going to expect from the story at first to be honest, and I haven’t even read the description I just know it’s free from Meghan’s website so I read it.
Such a heartbreaking and beautiful novella, it’s a sensitive and heavy topic, but I think Meghan managed it pretty well
TW: detail mention sexual assault
Such a heartbreaking and beautiful novella, it’s a sensitive and heavy topic, but I think Meghan managed it pretty well
TW: detail mention sexual assault
June 16, 2018
This is a touching short novel.
To be honest, I didn't expect a dramatic disclosure about Hannah's past because I simply didn't bother to read the synopsis, knowing that early O'Brien's works are great no matter what.
And this one is great despite being dark and emotional.
To be honest, I didn't expect a dramatic disclosure about Hannah's past because I simply didn't bother to read the synopsis, knowing that early O'Brien's works are great no matter what.
And this one is great despite being dark and emotional.
March 27, 2022
Meghan has beautiful novellas. actually I think she really can write fluffy stuff. She is very talented. And this story is so beautiful. I'm so in love with Hannah and D. They had so much chemistry. Hannah is such a pure soul. I loved it. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
January 20, 2020
Beautiful. I would love this to be turned into a full length novel. O’Brien skillfully and masterfully handles the hurt and healing of the very sensitive subject of rape. I felt the fear Delaney carried of not cause any more pain to Hannah. The struggle Hannah faces of want, so badly to be intimate Delaney, but not being able as of yet to give herself completely. I love the time and patience they gave each other, and the communication they continue to share while they weather their way through to the other side. They are beautiful and I loved their story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 28, 2023
5 stars. Damn, this one hit a little too close to home for me and I definitely got super emotional and worked up but it was well worth the read. The writing was great and the connection both emotionally and physically between Delaney and Hannah was so beautiful and I loved it. It was tender and filled with hope and I really liked both characters a lot. This was handled with a lot of care and emotion and for it to be so short it was well developed and the romance was wonderful.
July 6, 2018
Wow. Just wow. Loved this one. Definitely worth a read. So beautiful and heart-wrenching. This book seriously took me on so many levels: happy, sad, crying, in pain for characters, laughing, smiling too hard at the absolutely adorable FLUFF, etc. it is just a roller coaster of awesomeness y’all.
March 10, 2025
Love the interactions and how they constantly fall in love.
I feel a bit identified with Delaney (not because she's flirtatious, I wish), but because of that feeling of loneliness she feels throughout the book.
I feel a bit identified with Delaney (not because she's flirtatious, I wish), but because of that feeling of loneliness she feels throughout the book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 26, 2017
Really nice story, wasn't longer than necessary and still made me giggle and happy.
May 19, 2019
What a beautiful, emotional, cute, sexy, hot story. I loved it!!! 5 stars.
May 27, 2019
Oh... What an awesome bedtime story. I love bad gal turned around tales and this was well executed and by the seemingly weakest of person.
Great work by O'brien!
Great work by O'brien!
July 3, 2025
The best one
November 24, 2024
The heroines are interesting, they help each other overcome their fears. On the whole, it's not a bad story. But I didn't like some of the descriptions. And at times it's naively written
April 27, 2014
Very emotional, well-written, sweet, heartwarming, a bit uneasy given the misfortune one of the main characters had/has to endure, but above all True Love.
Recommended if you are ok with very emotional stories.
Recommended if you are ok with very emotional stories.
February 20, 2016
Honest, emotional and loving. A total surprise after my experience with the author's other book Thirteen Hours (which I had to walk away from the over flowing sex scenes).
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews