I’ve lost everything... but now the reigning king on campus threatens to destroy what's left. After tragedy strikes, a scholarship to Hallowed Saints University could be my salvation.
As the poor scholarship student among the rich and privileged, my plan is simple.
Ace senior year.
Don’t get noticed.
And steer clear of Carter Grisham.
With his smoldering gaze, NFL-bound talent, and senator father, Carter is untouchable.
And he’s convinced that I blackmailed my way into HSU.
One misstep into his path and sparks ignite--revealing secrets we've both tried to keep from everyone.
When stolen moments turn into something real, I find myself falling for a man who I'm not certain will catch me.
I’ve already survived one life-altering loss. But Carter Grisham might just be the total destruction I never saw coming.
Hidden Games is a full-length stand-alone college football romance, including the following tropes--
Enemies-to-LoversSecret RelationshipJealousyMutual PiningTouch Her and UnaliveFound Family
This sports romance book had me binging all weekend!❤️
This is a college football romance, about a poor, orphaned girl who gets a scholarship to one of the most prestigious universities. She’s a sheep among wolves. Other students think she blackmailed her way into the school, specially the star quarterback, Carter Grisham.
I looove enemies to lovers romance! Carter is cold, dark and broody. Exactly my type of book boyfriend! He doesn’t trust Evie, but he can’t resist the pull he feels towards her. It’s a slow burn romance and the build up is amazing! After the scene where she pepper sprays him because he’s stalking her, I couldn’t put the book down! Carter falls first and hard, he becomes possessive, protective. Everytime he throws her over his shoulder I screamed a little.
Found family is also one of my favorite tropes and his teammates: Grayson, Cole and Jack all become close friends and protective of Evie. I hope Brandy writes a book for every single one of them! 😍
Thank you to the author for gifting me a copy for review!
4⭐️ is this borderline soap opera drama with every trope possible? Yes. Did it scratch the itch and mood that I was feeling & read 500 pages of this in less than 24hrs. Also yes! Do i recommend? Ehhh, it’s pretty cheesy. Am i going to be reading Jacks story in December when it comes out? For sure lol
“I’m not letting you go ever again. You’re mine. Forever. Got it? I don’t care what anyone threatens you with or what baggage we still have to work through. We figure this shit out together from here on out.”
Absolutely loved this book. If he isn’t like Carter then why should you date him in the first place. From the first moment they met each other there was no way they wouldn’t have ended up together. I loved how Carter was willing to do everything for her even though Evie expected nothing from him! And best side character goes to Jack. His relationship with Carter and Evie was just gold. Love them all!!
“I want to wake up to you every single morning and hold you every night until we fall asleep.” His eyes warmed to gold. “You’re the person I need by my side for the rest of my life and the person I want to have children with. What I’m saying is, Evie Stone, will you marry me?”
Plot twist was also on point. It kind of reminded me of Garett and Hannah in the Deal, but this book went even further. And even though you kind of expected the plot twist from the first few pages on, you didn’t expect everything that happened!
And once again, I realized I was home already because I was standing by his side.
This read was long, but it did come full circle. I’m not usually a fan of the bully type trope, & I had many moments of eye rolling for the fmc, but I wanted to see where this went. The main reason why I don’t jive with this trope is because I can’t stand the “I hate him with the fire of a thousand suns” & literally the next breath is “seeing her touch him breaks my heart”. And those sentiments were definitely present here. I did like how Carter wanted to move past what was expected of him being a senator’s kid—good & bad expectations. But it took a girl like Evie to show him his true potential. And when he let Evie in, his life improved exponentially. At least until his ex & family got involved again. The angst was strong with this one & I did like watching Carter & Evie slowly transition from bully/enemy to lovers. And their love was so pure & perfect. There were some plot twists that I saw coming, but the revelation was life altering in context. And I will say, the antagonist here was written well enough that I completely despised the girl 🤣.
When reading this, I was waiting for tension and angst and the enemies-to-lovers that I was advertised. So though this was a fun book to read, I feel like the story could’ve been done better at 400 pages, and it’s definitely NOT an enemies to lovers. It’s more like an insta-love with a hint of annoyance from each end. I think I would’ve liked the book better if I was told it was an insta love, not an enemies-to-lovers, but besides that, I though their relationship was cute, and it was a very stereotypical broke-girl-rich-guy story.
“If you think I’m playing mind games, then why do you fucking care?” I needed asshole Carter to bring me back down to reality. He swallowed, and heat flooded his eyes as his gaze homed in on my lips. “You know why.”
📖4⭐️
Just writing my thoughts for now. May expand on it later.
I absolutely loved this book! This book was an emotional rollercoaster: from sad to literal laugh out loud moments, giddiness, and anticipation. Some parts were a bit much but overall I really enjoyed this book! I just wish more enemies to lovers trope had played out. This was one of those books where the guy does a complete 180. I didn’t know who to root for Grayson or Carter. I liked how Evie knew what she wanted and didn’t stray.. I’m excited for Jack’s book. He’s such a funny character.
✔️Sports Romance: Football ✔️Enemies to lovers ✔️College Romance ✔️Tight knit friendships ✔️Single POV ✔️🌶️🌶️ ✔️Kindle Unlimited read There are trigger warnings.
The new year began with a delightful dive into a sports romance that delivered on many fronts. The story introduces us to Evie, a lovable and resilient FMC. Despite enduring a tragic event and facing an unwelcoming new environment fueled by misunderstandings, Evie manages to maintain her strength and composure—even if she sometimes has to fake it. Her character shines through in her maturity, her ability to stand up for herself despite fear, and her upfront nature, even when it doesn't put her in the best light. Evie truly embodies a strong female main character, and I found her journey inspiring and engaging.
Then there’s Carter. His initial treatment of Evie left me reeling—hot one moment, cold the next. However, once he realized the error of his assumptions, Carter made sincere efforts to right his wrongs. What stood out most about him was his unwavering love and trust in Evie. He respected her boundaries and wishes, proving himself to be a man deeply in love. Carter’s dedication and his willingness to stand up for Evie were admirable and added depth to his character.
As for the side characters, they were a mixed bag. Jack, the funny and fiercely loyal best friend, was a highlight. His humor and protectiveness toward Evie made him an endearing character. Grayson, on the other hand, felt less compelling. He fit the trope of the guy angling for more than friendship, only to act hurt when rebuffed. While this dynamic can sometimes add tension, Evie’s clear communication about wanting only friendship made his persistence less sympathetic. Then there’s Katherine, the quintessential delusional ex-girlfriend. Her antics were entertaining, albeit predictable.
While the story had much to offer, there were missed opportunities in its subplots that left me wanting more. For instance:
Carter’s Home Life: The strained relationships with his stepmom and stepsister were touched on but never fully explored. It seemed like Carter wanted to connect with his stepsister, but the lack of detail about their dynamic was a missed opportunity.
Evie and the Senator: The connection between Evie and the senator was apparent early on, but when Evie discovers the truth, it’s barely addressed. A single page of explanation felt insufficient for such a significant plot point.
Katherine and Her Mother: After their threats and eventual exposure, their downfall was relegated to a brief mention in the epilogue. How did the senator approach them? How did it all go down?These questions begged for more attention.
The ending, while satisfying in its resolution, felt rushed. Major revelations and conflicts were tied up neatly but lacked the depth and detail they deserved. The build-up warranted a more thorough exploration of the fallout and resolutions.
Despite all of what felt was lacking, the story’s strengths—particularly the chemistry between the main characters made it an enjoyable read. The FMC and MMC had a connection that leapt off the page, and their journey together kept me hooked.
In conclusion, this sports romance delivered a compelling story with strong leads and plenty of chemistry. While the rushed ending and underdeveloped subplots held it back from being truly exceptional, it’s a book I would recommend to fans of the genre. It’s a great start to the reading year.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Omg this was just what I needed!! A first book in a new series by Brandy Silver and it hits with a bang!! It is in a shared universe but can be read as a stand-alone so when book two comes (hopefully soon) you’ll have a new MC but you would have already met them in book one.
I normally read PNR but I do like to mix it up and have a contemporary book break up the routine a bit and this book was it!! This is a contemporary sports romance where we do get a happily ever after, but lots of angst and drama beforehand. Our FMC was in a horrible accident and had to start life over, our MMC is the golden boy football caption with trust issues.
Watching-well reading- the interactions between Evie and Carter really had me equally cheering and screaming at them. Their emotions from the get go were so raw and the chemistry was off the charts. I just wanted to shake them and bang their heads together (all in a good way)! The supporting cast of characters really helped loop you into their clique and become part of the group. You felt every emotion, rooted for the players, and cheered when the villains would fall a bit.
Great descriptions, wonderful characters, and writing that flowed so smoothly and organically. This book does grip you from page one, and throughout the story I was constantly guessing and wondering what was going to happen next. Never a dull moment in this book!! A fantastic debut, I really look forward to the next book!
4.5 Stars~ I was browsing for some recommendations for MMCs that are super protective, and I came across a recommendation on TikTok for Hidden Games. I've never read anything by Brandy Silver, so I don't know if she has a list of publications or if this is her debut novel, but either way, I'm glad I found it. Hidden Games was full of drama, tension, and spice. I'm pretty sure it's a long novel ( I couldn't tell exact page numbers from my Kindle), but I was hooked and never felt the story was dragging.
I could quickly feel the spark between the main characters, Evie and Carter, and as the story and their relationship developed, I felt that connection grow. The protective MMC I was looking for could definitely be found in Carter! I loved their bickering and their banter, and I loved their intensity as much as I loved their soft, vulnerable moments.
The secondary characters felt purposeful to the story and didn't come across as filler characters. I loved how many of them made the Found Family trope come alive. There were a few I felt were intriguing enough for me to want a separate story for them- especially Jack. There was something about Greyson that annoyed me, but I'd still be willing to check out his story if he gets one. I read this book on Kindle Unlimited, and immediately after I finished, I browsed to find a follow-up in the series, only to find out there isn't one until December!!! I'll be waiting!
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TW/CW: death of a parent; car accident; cancer
Genres- Contemporary Romance Sports Romance (Football) College Romance
Tropes- Enemies-to-Lovers Secret Relationship Touch Her and Die Mutual Pining Found Family
As I often feel with romance novels that cross the 500-page mark, Hidden Games was good—but about a hundred pages too long. There’s a stretch in the middle where not much seems to happen. While that may be intentional, mirroring how the FMC feels trapped in her circumstances, it still slows the pacing. The upside is that the extra space makes the relationship feel like it’s actually developing, unlike some romances where the characters meet and seem ready to get married a month later. Also, the enemies-to-lovers angle was barely there; it felt more like a subplot confined to the first act.
I don’t read these books for strict realism, but the most unbelievable part for me was the idea that Katherine had so much influence over so many friends who apparently had no moral compass either. Are we really supposed to believe she could ask—or pay—someone to stage an accident with her ex, or even kill him, and everyone would simply go along with it? And if her plan was to get him back, how exactly was that supposed to work if he was dead? The logic doesn’t hold, and it stretched credibility more than anything else in the story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I had assumed this was a bully/enemies to lovers romance but there was no bullying and they really were never enemies. Mostly it was because of a lie that Carter was told about Evie that made him initially dislike her. But after that was cleared up, the rest of it was just the two of them getting closer and getting to know each other better. There are numerous side characters who are just downright evil and will do anything to stop them from being together, plus there’s a big reveal in the end that I had already figured out in the beginning, and Evie has some issues and tons of angst that only therapy could help her resolve. Then there’s the 3rd act breakup that wasn’t really necessary to the story. I don’t know why author’s still use that tired plot device.
But they’re both sweet, and they have friends who are supportive and will do anything for them. I can’t wait for their books. Told only from Evie’s POV, no cheating but there’s plenty of OW drama, plus family drama. Great story and I’m excited to read Jack’s story next.
Through all my stalking I’ve come to the conclusion that this is Brandy’s first ever book. Firstly, congratulations but more importantly, what an incredible story this is. Evie & Carter’s book ticked so many boxes for me. There were so many twists and turns and so many times I thought I knew what was going to happen next, only to be blindsided again and again. The push and pull between Evie and Carter was simply amazing. But it was when their feelings started to turn into something more was when I thought the story took off for me. These two go through so much, but the way they were written, especially with how raw their emotions were portrayed my heart was both breaking and cheering at the same time. I guess it’s a no brainer that I will definitely be wanting to read Brandy’s next book, I just hope I don’t have to wait too long.
"Through all my stalking I’ve come to the conclusion that this is Brandy’s first ever book. Firstly, congratulations but more importantly, what an incredible story this is. Evie & Carter’s book ticked so many boxes for me. There were so many twists and turns and so many times I thought I knew what was going to happen next, only to be blindsided again and again. The push and pull between Evie and Carter was simply amazing. But it was when their feelings started to turn into something more was when I thought the story took off for me. These two go through so much, but the way they were written, especially with how raw their emotions were portrayed my heart was both breaking and cheering at the same time. I guess it’s a no brainer that I will definitely be wanting to read Brandy’s next book, I just hope I don’t have to wait too long."
The book was good overall, I liked it had more of a plot than some other "enemies to lovers" books. The thing I don't understand was why this book was called "enemies to lovers". Like they were not enemies to begin with, the mmc cared about her from the start, he just had some sort of dual personality. Their attraction started like 100 pages in, and they confessed that they liked each other since then. The fmc never denied her attraction towards the mmc, she just found him a little annoying. So I don't really get why its called an "enemies to lovers" when they both just had dual personality. I don't know, maybe it was enemies to lovers, but the enemies weren't really fighting per se, they just argued about the most stupid stuff. I felt it went from enemies to lovers pretty quick. Other than that, it was good. I can't wait for the next book haha.
DNFed at 60%. Story was boring and predictable, sex scenes were so poorly written it killed the book. Instead of saying "I'm coming!" or "I'm so close" she says "I'm almost done!" 😂 Like he's her roommate knocking on the bathroom door or something. Then in another scene the author writes "We started to kiss, he removed my clothes and touched me between my legs" 😬 Creepy! Why do all of the sex scenes sound like possible molestation instead of seduction? That combined with the very obvious "twist" (Oh, this senator is randomly coming to see me in the hospital and wants to pay for me to go to a super prestigious college even though he never does stuff like that and Oh! I was adopted. Crazy about that senator though, wish we could figure out what his deal was 🙄🙄🙄🙄) I lost interest and couldn't keep going.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Thoroughly enjoyed this read. Evie is a character you want to give a big hug to after all she has been through. Her scholarship to Hallowed Saints University via her senator, brings more stresses and strains to her already upturned world. Add in the animosity of Carter Grisham and poison directed at her by the senator's daughter, and Evie has an unenviable time ahead of her. She is intelligent, kind and vulnerable, but she is also determined to succeed. The changes in Carter as the book progresses are intense. His reactions are harsh, but he is capable of learning that things are not always what they seem. This has been a good read which will mean that I will look out for more books from this author. 💖💖💖💖💖
I wanted to make a detailed review cause I found none.
It didn’t feel like an enemies to lovers thing because they were only at odds at the beginning because Kat lied. I would describe it more as a forbidden love or something along those lines (it doesn’t really match either).
They spent most of the book dating and the do break up but it’s all because of a set up kat and her mom make.
I honestly was worried that the break up would have something to do with Carter breaking her heart because maybe he dated her because of a bet at first or something but that was not the case.
I loved Carter he was supportive through it all and she was too as best she could.
Sports Romance, especially football romance is one of my fave genres to read in the contemporary romance genres. I absolutely loved the connection between the characters. You kind of want to hate Carter in the beginning but then he quickly pulls on your heart strings and you can't help but to fall in love with his character. There are so many twists and turns in this story, that each turn of the page brings something new to light and you just need to know more. I really enjoyed this story and can't wait to read the sequel to find out more about the supporting characters from Hidden Games.
I really enjoyed this book. The new year began with a delightful dive into a sports romance that delivered on many fronts. The story introduces us to Evie, a lovable and resilient FMC. I had assumed this was a bully/enemies to lovers romance but there was no bullying and they really were never enemies. Mostly it was because of a lie that Carter was told about Evie that made him initially dislike her. But after that was cleared up, the rest of it was just the two of them getting closer and getting to know each other better.
This book had my mood swings SWINGING. One minute i was kicking my feet and the next i wanted to throw my phone at the wall. Evie and Carter are EVERYTHING. This isnt giving enemies to lovers but i still ate it up. Its such a good quick read and i definitely recommend. JACK, Grayson, Cole, and Samuel are my babieesssssss. The only downside is that the ending felt super rushed and that ho katherine ruined my whole mood.
Omg! I literally have no words for this book! The guy is so cute and kind and thoughtful that I can’t even think when I’m reading everything that he did! Such a cute relationship love it love it love it. There is only one thing that I thought it was strange in the beginning and then I got used to it. It was that you only see the main character thoughts, not the guy thoughts and the girl thoughts,only the main character. But pleaseeee go read it!
My first football romance. I absolutely loved this book. It's not just a cutesie they fall in love and live happily ever after. They go through struggles and people trying to tear them apart but overcoming all obstacles. She lost everything before they met but she finally finds something to help her through her grief.