Lawless Games

by Olivia Yabsley

No good can ever come from two opposites.

Vienna West has never envisioned anything remotely shady for her future.
Until she winds up in an engagement to New York’s most corrupt businessman.
Bound by threats and obligation, she can't help but act out.
But at the scene of her own crime, she meets her match.
A man with the composure of a statue and a face of stone.

Nicolas Harper has always kept a life of discipline behind a mask of apathy.
As a Federal Agent, his world of regulation has never been challenged.
Until her. And her apparent recalcitrance.
Naturally, the heated animosity is instantaneous.
And when he becomes a part of her world, their lives are stuck intertwined.

Quick wit clashes with coldness.
Lies obstruct the truth. Exteriors refuse to crack.
And a gaze too observant threatens to devastate.

The line of the law is blurry, and just like their relationship, everything is proven gray.
Right and wrong doesn't exist—tainted by questionable morality.
But when their games become real, who can distinguish fact over façade?
Because unprincipled as he is, Vienna can’t help but seek refuge in his darkness.
Even if she belongs to someone else . . .

Genres: Romance, Enemies To Lovers, Dark Romance

462 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 12, 2024

Reviews

[peachygirl · Rating 2 out of 5]

To those who said these two were like Christian and Gianna.. what were you smoking???🥲

[sashenka 🖤]

pre-read: I heard 'Christian and Gianna vibes from The Maddest Obsession' so...

[abi turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

“She didn’t know that she was the reason I wanted to live instead of just existing”

I. AM. OBSESSED. WITH. THEM!

I fell in love with Vienna and Harper, I had no clue what this was really even about when I started it apart from it was the authors debut novel and it’s newly released. This is a freaking DEBUT! I loved it so much, it made me laugh, cry and mad. It was over 500 pages but it felt like 200, like I could have kept reading about these characters for ages. I did not want it to end. I got so attached to the characters and I loved their back and forth banter, as well as the character development and the slowwwwburnnnn!!! Also the writing was really good. Just everything about this book had me obsessed.

I can’t wait to see what this author writes next, I will be reading it straight away.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finished this in two days. Got through it sooo quick. Fast paced plot and entertaining character interactions. Could not put it down. Really unique story, loved every second.
Poetic and gripping writing style that had me laughing and crying. LITERAL ROLLERCOASTER.
Am a sucker for strong main characters who’ve really been through it. Vienna and Nicolas deserve the world♾️
Excited for this authors next work plsss I need a book 2

[Daisy May · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honestly didn't know what to think going into this book. Was expecting a simple palette cleanser. No. This was everything and more. I was so invested and loved every moment of this book. The character interactions. The banter. The dialogue. The plot.
CHEFS KISS. And for a debut novel??????? Absolutely insane. Whatever the author writes next, I will RUN to read it.
And Nicolas Harper. The man that you are. Has my heart. I think I might have found my new favorite book boyfriend⭐

[Rai · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is what plagiarism looks like.

Painful to read.

Do not compare them to my dearest Gianna and Christian.

This FMC IS THE DUMBEST PERSON ALIVE. You brought the problem yourself.

Why copy someone else's book and not just come up with something original.

I know the author can do it. Their writing is good. It's just the blatant plagiarism and how they can get away with it.

[j · Rating 1 out of 5]

I CANNOT believe she's getting away with plagiarizing and copying word for word THE MADDEST OBSESSION!!!
Danielle Lori come out of your cave right now!!

[Audrey Kane · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don’t like this. The main character is… kind of annoying. The plot feels… really forced. And the tension between the evil cop (question mark idek) and the main character is… also forced. I simply… fell asleep every time I read it. I’m sorryyyyyy. No for me.

[Jayde · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a little too similar to the Maddest Obsession, but the second half deviated in a good way

I liked it, but a little unoriginal

Protect Nic at all costs, but they're not Christian/Gianna

[Sophie Solomon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVE THIS BOOK. It had me HOOKED from the start. I couldn’t put it down and I loved everything about Nicolas and Vienna. The plot was fast moving and there was action, mystery, romance all in one.

[Xandi Drysdale · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed this book, really looking forward to more from this author!!!!

[Angel Bucci · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wanted to like this

And I did… outside of the blatant plagiarism of Maddest Obsession by Danielle Lori. Like Word For Word at some parts. I’ve read that book so many times I have it practically memorized — and this is the same book down to the sequence of events & dialogue. It’s unfortunate because this author is otherwise so talented and the parts that were unlike Maddest Obsession, like Vienna’s stint in Alaska and the military background of Harper were different and interesting.

[Andreia Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

For once Tik tok did the right thing and I cannot get over this book. I couldn’t put it down since the moment I started, the angst, the characters, everything was perfection. Wasn’t instant love, was a slow burn but I loved it, never got bored. I cannot remember the last time a book grip me so much. I feel so empty that is finished now. It’s unreal it’s the authors debut novel and what a book. I never read an enemies to lovers done it so well, normally after 20 pages they are already in love but not with this one, you can feel the tension.

- Angst
- enemies to lovers to enemies to lovers again
- morally grey MMC
- touch her and die vibes
- found family

Olivia please keep writing because I will read everything you will write in the future and I think Gallo needs his own story 🫢

[Mllejoie🥨 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nicholas made me think of Christian allister but in a shein way 😂 I’m kidding. It was great but I feel like it was inspire by the maddest obession…

[maya a · Rating 3 out of 5]

ur classic "I'm in a shitty relationship but I'm so attracted to this man I can't have." Kinda long and repetitive but enjoyable nonetheless.

[Anna Kennedy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lawless games caught my attention from the very first sentence and kept it until the final word. The perfect mixture of romance and suspense, it kept me guessing till the final second. Olivia Yabsley has created the perfect blend of twisting plotline and lovable characters topped off with a witty dialogue.

Vienna and Nicolas are a couple for the ages- Vienna’s sarcastic mouth paired with Nicolas’ deadpan humour create an entertaining duo where the chemistry literally sparks off the page.

The plot has a lot of subtlety that you don’t always find in the mafia/fbi romance genre and what at first appears to be a classic rich heiress falls for fbi agent love story turns into a mystery/ thriller that scratches a lot deeper below the surface.

Classy and sassy, Vienna is a fmc worth reading about and say no more I was in love with Nicolas from the second he stepped out of that car.

This book is an immediate yes and I would definitely recommend to any dark/mafia romance fans

[m · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. Despite the fact that yes, there were a lot of similarities between Christian & Gianna/The maddest obsession, I still really enjoyed the plot - it still had its differences.
However, loved the second half!!! Love, love, LOVE Nicolas. I actually think I loved him a little more than Christian… 🫣
I didn’t enjoy their constant push and pull but I don’t enjoy that in any book really lol
I also found the FMC to be quite annoying with her constant questions and pushing too far with him... But I think I have control issues too lol.
Loved the side characters and enjoyed their little stories 🥹
This book had me giggling & kicking my feet a few times. There were even times I thought I could guess what was going to happen and then… didn’t. So overall, I really enjoyed it. Can definitely see myself rereading in the future!

[Edie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had a really good time reading this book and I loved every minute. The story line was very unique as I have never read anything like it before. I really enjoyed the pace of the plot as it kept me very intrigued and I read it very quickly as I couldn't put it down.
The MMC, Nicolas was protective of the FMC, Vienna from when he first met. I felt like he definitely fell very hard for her and I loved that part, especially reading his POV.
I loved every interaction between Nicolas and Vienna from the start to the end as they have such a great dynamic.

[Nola Freeman · Rating 5 out of 5]

The plot of Lawless Games is so unique, I just couldn’t put this down! Both Vienna and Harpers interactions has me hooked from the start, along with the insane character and plot development shown in Vienna as the book progresses!!
I also just adored the way in which it is written from two perspectives, the time lines matching if not overlapping in some areas!

I am in disbelief that this is the authors debut book!! I cannot wait to see what she writes next as this was truly wonderful!

[Lily · Rating 5 out of 5]

♾️/5
Chemistry off the charts. Strong and funny FMC meets stoic, cold MMC. Always a winner.
Fell in love with the writing style and all of the side characters. Found family is just elite.
💳SO I NEED SPIN-OFFS. NOW. I ALSO NEED ANOTHER BOOK.
This book had me laughing out loud, crying, and throwing it across the room. Safe to say this was the book that rescued me from my slump⏳
Vienna x Nicolas are now my new favourite book couple and i want more of them. pls and thanks

[Kk · Rating 1 out of 5]

This author is obviously a good writer, however, the decision to blatantly copy several scenes from Danielle Lori’s books was disappointing. At a certain point, it felt like I should just put this book down and go re-read the Made series, instead of feeling deja vu every couple chapters. I hope that if this author chooses to publish another book, she will come up with her own ideas instead of copying a popular favorite :/

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Idk where to even BEGIN. Finding an author that writes like this…the slow burn….the possessiveness that is Nicolas…FMC is elite…the TENSION 🥵🥵🥵 honestly this book is ahMAZING. If you love the whole MMC pining after the FMC but in a broody, possessiveness, controlling way then this book is for you. I neeeeed more books like this! Looking forward to what this author publishes next ❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥

[Porsche · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

I really enjoyed Lawless Games, it was smooth, the plot was unique and I loved seeing how Vienna's character developed throughout the book. The writing felt a bit clunky at times and I felt as though the chemistry between the MCs was done well but felt rushed in places. As a debit it is very solid!

[k4kb · Rating 3 out of 5]

temu version of Maddest Obsession, especially the first half. ngl i've tried to find similar vibes to christian and gianna but this was just uncomfortable to read. the second part was better hence the 3 stars not 1 but still didn't make up for the copied scenes from maddest obsession that happened in the first part

[Alina · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5 ⭐️2.5 🌶️ … what a wonderful surprise this book was. Amazing plot, great romance, the tension was sooooo good, the chemistry and banter between the main characters was just amazing. A little dark at some parts, which i also enjoyed.

[Robyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well F me running…I LOVED this book! I downloaded it instantly the moment I saw it pitched. The characters, the twists, the layers, the callbacks throughout..I adored it all. An absolute ten ten. What a debut! Definitely an author who’s work is worth following.

[Yasmine Mahjoub · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sooo if you loved the maddest obsession by danielle Lori you are going to devour this books up🙂‍↕️I loved the slow burn, the banter, the love just everything. Or like Nicolas Harper said: “life doesn’t exist for me without you in it”

[Elsa C · Rating 5 out of 5]

I fear this book cured my slump??????

[Jennifer Horler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Obsessed! Absolutely loved it from start to finish. Cannot wait for more from Olivia ❤️❤️

[Ally Phillips · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️