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Playing for the Dark
Las Vegas.
The City of Sin.
What happens here, stays here.
There’s only one man in charge: Marcello Barone, leader of the Italian mafia. He’s ruthless and unhinged. His only weakness? Ellie Dixon.
For the last year she’s maintained her calloused attitude toward men, but at the persistent pursuit from two players of the Vegas Rebels, she finds herself welcoming a little fun.
Nash Hayden, quarterback and number one draft pick, isn’t used to the fast life. As he begins his new life, he finds his devotion to his father falters as his spirituality evolves, contradicting everything he thought he knew from his Texas upbringing.
Zamir Prifti, a wide receiver with Albanian mafia ties, does everything he can to hide the darkness woven into his soul. What he doesn’t know is how far his family is willing to go to get him back.
Will Marcelo’s unwillingness to share sever the connection they’ve formed?
Or will they learn to play together?
**A dark reverse harem with male-male content. This book is only meant for an 18+ audience. Please read the content and trigger warnings on my website.
The City of Sin.
What happens here, stays here.
There’s only one man in charge: Marcello Barone, leader of the Italian mafia. He’s ruthless and unhinged. His only weakness? Ellie Dixon.
For the last year she’s maintained her calloused attitude toward men, but at the persistent pursuit from two players of the Vegas Rebels, she finds herself welcoming a little fun.
Nash Hayden, quarterback and number one draft pick, isn’t used to the fast life. As he begins his new life, he finds his devotion to his father falters as his spirituality evolves, contradicting everything he thought he knew from his Texas upbringing.
Zamir Prifti, a wide receiver with Albanian mafia ties, does everything he can to hide the darkness woven into his soul. What he doesn’t know is how far his family is willing to go to get him back.
Will Marcelo’s unwillingness to share sever the connection they’ve formed?
Or will they learn to play together?
**A dark reverse harem with male-male content. This book is only meant for an 18+ audience. Please read the content and trigger warnings on my website.
425 pages, ebook
Published March 1, 2024
426 people are currently reading
1920 people want to read
About the author
Tilly Ridge
19 books252 followersTilly Ridge is a romance author who resides in the middle of nowhere, Kentucky, with her husband, two kiddos, and two dogs. She loves to dabble in a variety of romance topics, themes, and subgenres, but you’ll typically find her writing in the dark and polyamory sections of the shelves. Tilly can be easily identified by the pink slush clutched in one hand while her laptop is in the other, ready to write whenever the mood—or the character—strikes! In her free time, she enjoys playing sand volleyball in her local rec league. But what she finds most exciting is her podcast, Releasing Romance, where she shares her knowledge and experience about indie publishing, often bringing on guests to discuss the ins and outs of indie publishing from different professional points of view! This podcast is a passion project of Tilly’s as she finds true joy in helping and educating others in a way that is easy to understand.
Join Tilly’s readers group for exclusive BTS, art drops, first looks at pretty much anything, and even chapter-by-chapter releases of her ongoing projects at: Tilly’s Thots
The newsletter is where the fun is, and maybe even a free ebook will hit your inbox after—along with a first look at the big news.
Find everything you’ll need to stay connected at https://www.tillyridgeauthor.com/links
Join Tilly’s readers group for exclusive BTS, art drops, first looks at pretty much anything, and even chapter-by-chapter releases of her ongoing projects at: Tilly’s Thots
The newsletter is where the fun is, and maybe even a free ebook will hit your inbox after—along with a first look at the big news.
Find everything you’ll need to stay connected at https://www.tillyridgeauthor.com/links
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 156 reviews
June 10, 2024
Tillyyyyy I am obsessed with your writing. Playing for the Dark 🔥🥵🥵 These four are my babiessss for real!! Ellie is such a strong, badass FMC! I want to not only be her but hell I wanna be with her too 😂 All 3 of the boys are just 🤌🏼🤌🏼 absolutely perfection but MarcelIo is my favorite….his stalker ass just had me from the beginning. Nash and Zamir OMGGGG their chemistry is just hot asf and the way they are both equally obsessed with her 😍 Playing for the Dark is one of my top reads of 2024!! Deliciously filthy. The plot was 5/5 and the spice was 5/5! That cliffy though 😭😭😭 I need the second book like NOW🥺 Check the trigger warnings first, this is a MUST read!! This baby has everything!! Smut,banter, plot and the chemistry is through the roof.
June 8, 2024
Absolutely filthy and delicious! That ending though!!!! I need book 2 ASAP!
I can’t even pick a favorite guy in this book because I love them all for their own reasons, much like Ellie! The spice is so freaking hot, I was panting reading some of these scenes 🥵🥵
This was the perfect combination of sports & mafia and they blended so seamlessly! Tilly, you did a fantastic job writing this book! There were plot twists that kept me wanting to know what would happen next and just beware, it does end on a cliffhanger but it’s so worth it to read!
It releases on June 20th and if you love unhinged men and why choose, this is the book for you!! Plus it’s on sale until it releases if you preorder the kindle book!!
Thank you so much to Tilly Ridge for the ARC! All opinions are honest and my own.
I can’t even pick a favorite guy in this book because I love them all for their own reasons, much like Ellie! The spice is so freaking hot, I was panting reading some of these scenes 🥵🥵
This was the perfect combination of sports & mafia and they blended so seamlessly! Tilly, you did a fantastic job writing this book! There were plot twists that kept me wanting to know what would happen next and just beware, it does end on a cliffhanger but it’s so worth it to read!
It releases on June 20th and if you love unhinged men and why choose, this is the book for you!! Plus it’s on sale until it releases if you preorder the kindle book!!
Thank you so much to Tilly Ridge for the ARC! All opinions are honest and my own.
June 8, 2024
Ellie, Nash, Zamir, + Marcello
-mmfm
-dark romance
-football romance
-mafia
-stalker romance
-boys obsessed
-foreign pet names...x3
okay these guys have me HEEELLLAAA OBSESSEDDD!! they're all soooo damn obsessed & kinky & dirty i cant get enough!! that cliffy was a little rude but i can't wait for more!!
-mmfm
-dark romance
-football romance
-mafia
-stalker romance
-boys obsessed
-foreign pet names...x3
okay these guys have me HEEELLLAAA OBSESSEDDD!! they're all soooo damn obsessed & kinky & dirty i cant get enough!! that cliffy was a little rude but i can't wait for more!!
July 18, 2024
If this book was marketed as erotica the rating would be different. But this is “a reverse harem mafia sports ROMANCE” according to the subtitle on my kindle. I strugggggled to finish this one and I was really looking forward to reading it, which makes this extra disappointing.
It’s…. Not good. There is too much of everything and nothing happening at the same time. SO MANY tropes, so many nicknames, and in my opinion, too many guys.
We have sports, mafia, stalker, why choose, bi awakening, motorcycle, breeding kink, everyone has “darkness” inside them …. Basically anything that has remotely ever trended in the “dark romance” booktok sphere. It’s overwhelming and because so much is happening, nothing is happening. I felt like this was an erotica with random tropes in the middle instead of a romance story that had a clear plot.
Ellie is not like other girls… except she is? I’m so over that ideal in romance! Being like other people is FINE and just because she has black hair, a rose gold nose ring, and tattoos doesn’t mean she’s unique. She may not be like the stereotypical Barbie, but she’s just like every other alt Barbie! I say that as a woman with tattoos and a nose ring 😐 NLOG feels so misogynistic to me so I just really hate it.
I’m always here for queer representation and a bi awakening is awesome. But Zamirs constant frustration about Nash being a “baby-bi” was annoying. And Marcello randomly throws in how he’s ready to explore “that side of him” in the final 15% of the book came out of nowhere and was so forced.
Beyond content that disappointed me:
All 4 of our characters have an internal monologue problem so we are told everything and shown nothing outside of sex and a few random torture scenes. I have a few highlights where I noted I wished it was on page but I felt that way over and over again.
Because we spend so much time in our characters head, the fact that I could tell none of them apart in their own POV was frustrating. The characters and writing weren’t developed enough to be distinct. They all use the same words and phrases (an overwhelming amount of devouring happens) and that never feels natural to me.
I didn’t understand why these men become obsessed with Ellie or each other! There’s so much lust and limerence but no actual love.
I had high hopes and expectations and this unfortunately did not live up to the hype. It also ends on a cliffhanger for no reason other than to make you read the next one which is my biggest gripe with authors. If you wrote a compelling story, I’d read it anyway without needing to have a storyline finished.
It’s…. Not good. There is too much of everything and nothing happening at the same time. SO MANY tropes, so many nicknames, and in my opinion, too many guys.
We have sports, mafia, stalker, why choose, bi awakening, motorcycle, breeding kink, everyone has “darkness” inside them …. Basically anything that has remotely ever trended in the “dark romance” booktok sphere. It’s overwhelming and because so much is happening, nothing is happening. I felt like this was an erotica with random tropes in the middle instead of a romance story that had a clear plot.
Ellie is not like other girls… except she is? I’m so over that ideal in romance! Being like other people is FINE and just because she has black hair, a rose gold nose ring, and tattoos doesn’t mean she’s unique. She may not be like the stereotypical Barbie, but she’s just like every other alt Barbie! I say that as a woman with tattoos and a nose ring 😐 NLOG feels so misogynistic to me so I just really hate it.
I’m always here for queer representation and a bi awakening is awesome. But Zamirs constant frustration about Nash being a “baby-bi” was annoying. And Marcello randomly throws in how he’s ready to explore “that side of him” in the final 15% of the book came out of nowhere and was so forced.
Beyond content that disappointed me:
All 4 of our characters have an internal monologue problem so we are told everything and shown nothing outside of sex and a few random torture scenes. I have a few highlights where I noted I wished it was on page but I felt that way over and over again.
Because we spend so much time in our characters head, the fact that I could tell none of them apart in their own POV was frustrating. The characters and writing weren’t developed enough to be distinct. They all use the same words and phrases (an overwhelming amount of devouring happens) and that never feels natural to me.
I didn’t understand why these men become obsessed with Ellie or each other! There’s so much lust and limerence but no actual love.
I had high hopes and expectations and this unfortunately did not live up to the hype. It also ends on a cliffhanger for no reason other than to make you read the next one which is my biggest gripe with authors. If you wrote a compelling story, I’d read it anyway without needing to have a storyline finished.
June 20, 2024
While this story was very enjoyable for the spice I found it lacking in other areas. For a while I was very confused on what sort of plot the author was going for. While I know not all books need a plot to be enjoyable there was just something missing. Some of the interactions and relationships felt forced. Maybe book 2 will bring everything together, but as of right now I’m just a little confused on where this plot is going next.
January 14, 2025
Wowza was the spice spicing and the plot plotting!!
You have three mmc and one fmc and yes all.
Two football players one is ex mafia on the same team fall for mmc Ellie. Then walks in her childhood friend who is head mafia … lots of action in all aspects!!
You have three mmc and one fmc and yes all.
Two football players one is ex mafia on the same team fall for mmc Ellie. Then walks in her childhood friend who is head mafia … lots of action in all aspects!!
February 4, 2025
so ridiculous it was funny - common sense was chasing this book… too bad it never caught up 🫡🫡🫡
June 18, 2024
ARC Review - Thank you for the advanced copy Tilly!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
FRIENDS!!! Do you love dark romance? Mafia? Sports? Why Choose? Of course you do!!! Can’t pick a trope? Don’t worry, Tilly Ridge has you covered!!
This is dark sports and mafia why choose with lots of TRIGGERS! (If you go for this one check the list of triggers first!)
Let’s talk characters.
Ellie: She is our sassy, strong, curvy FMC. She’s a cool bad ass bartender, working her way through school.
Mood: Gothy “will f*ck you up” energy
Marcello: Leader of the Las Vegas Mafia. Mood: Unhinged Stalker
Nash: Rookie quarterback for the Las Vegas Rebels.
Mood: Cinnamon Roll
Zamir: Wide receiver for the Rebels and former enforcer for the Albanian mafia. Mood: Doberman (beautiful and trained to attack but also just wants to cuddle)
Let’s start with the obvious. The spice is 🥵🔥🔥🔥. MFMM action and DAMN. Tilly knows what the f*ck she is doing!! What makes it even better are the personalities of the characters and their interactions with each other. They have all been holding back with their feeling for each other, and once that flame ignites, look out. The chemistry is off the charts!
Is there a plot to the spicy book? Hell ya there is! We have a mix of everything that is OTT possessive unhinged energy from a mafia story, mixed with the carnal instant desire of a sports dark romance.
I’m also excited to see a strong, curvy FMC. Sure, she has reservations about her body image as all people do, but the girl is confident in her sexuality and I love that! We have a whole dominance push and pull happening with these characters and I love the way their dynamic flows and changes through out.
The writing pace was good, I think it covers everything you need to know about these characters without getting wordy or long winded. Tilly conveys the characters inner thoughts, desires and past traumas nicely through multiple POVs.
Is there a cliffhanger? Yes, but the journey is worth it!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
FRIENDS!!! Do you love dark romance? Mafia? Sports? Why Choose? Of course you do!!! Can’t pick a trope? Don’t worry, Tilly Ridge has you covered!!
This is dark sports and mafia why choose with lots of TRIGGERS! (If you go for this one check the list of triggers first!)
Let’s talk characters.
Ellie: She is our sassy, strong, curvy FMC. She’s a cool bad ass bartender, working her way through school.
Mood: Gothy “will f*ck you up” energy
Marcello: Leader of the Las Vegas Mafia. Mood: Unhinged Stalker
Nash: Rookie quarterback for the Las Vegas Rebels.
Mood: Cinnamon Roll
Zamir: Wide receiver for the Rebels and former enforcer for the Albanian mafia. Mood: Doberman (beautiful and trained to attack but also just wants to cuddle)
Let’s start with the obvious. The spice is 🥵🔥🔥🔥. MFMM action and DAMN. Tilly knows what the f*ck she is doing!! What makes it even better are the personalities of the characters and their interactions with each other. They have all been holding back with their feeling for each other, and once that flame ignites, look out. The chemistry is off the charts!
Is there a plot to the spicy book? Hell ya there is! We have a mix of everything that is OTT possessive unhinged energy from a mafia story, mixed with the carnal instant desire of a sports dark romance.
I’m also excited to see a strong, curvy FMC. Sure, she has reservations about her body image as all people do, but the girl is confident in her sexuality and I love that! We have a whole dominance push and pull happening with these characters and I love the way their dynamic flows and changes through out.
The writing pace was good, I think it covers everything you need to know about these characters without getting wordy or long winded. Tilly conveys the characters inner thoughts, desires and past traumas nicely through multiple POVs.
Is there a cliffhanger? Yes, but the journey is worth it!
June 22, 2024
*ARC review* Tilly Ridge!!! This book was a mashup of genres I didn't know I needed! Sports and mafia blended gave me the perfect dark why-choose story that sucked me in right away! I went into this knowing it would end in a cliffhanger and I was still taken by surprise! Ellie, Nash, Zamir and Marcello each brought something different to the table, and I found myself loving each of them and their....interests all the same. I appreciated the vulnerability that came from their inner thoughts, the different cultures/backgrounds colored their actions in a way that kept it interesting, and book 2 cannot get here fast enough! For my fellow dark romance lovers, this is the perfect amount of unhinged to keep your heart happy 😉
January 23, 2025
『Writing:』5/5
『Spice:』5/5
『Tension:』4/5
『Sad:』n/a
『Funny:』not meant to be a funny book but absolutely has its moments
『Overall:』5/5
'*•.¸♡ read this if you like ♡¸.•*'
❥ poly rep
❥ bi awakenings
❥s0mn°
｡･ﾟﾟ･Quick Plot･ﾟﾟ･｡
Ellie finds herself in a bit of a predicament when a football player named Zamir attempts to assert himself into her life. Between him, dealing with a stalker, and perusing something laid back with Zamirs teammate Nash, she’s pulled in a bunch of directions & makes sure they all know she’s not going for monogamy anymore.
When the cards start falling, Ellie starts finding out who everyone is underneath it all.
Will she be able to face the darkness in all her men?
*+:｡.｡ Characters ｡.｡:+*
Ellie- strong FMC. Isn’t pick me or naive.
Zamir- cocky football player who is more than he seems.
Nash- golden retriever big boi
Cello- Ellie’s childhood bestie who will go to the end of the earth to protect her.
❣ Quotes❣
…hear her laugh from the door over the music. It takes my breath away every time I hear it, and the smile that comes along with it… I’m pretty sure my soul ties onto hers tighter, no matter who’s bringing that smile to her face.
'*•.¸♡ favorites ♡¸.•*'
I love the dynamics of their relationship & how every character is detailed & unique. Sometimes in RHs/ why choose / poly tropes, it seems like the characters don’t really get their own way to shine or you don’t really get to connect with all of them. Tilly did an amazing job making me feel like I knew the characters and what they brought to the relationship. Their strengths and weaknesses help build their bonds and really give depth to the story.
︶꒦꒷♡꒷꒦︶Summary︶꒦꒷♡꒷꒦︶
I recommend this book! (Make sure you check the TW)
I wasn’t sure what I was getting into when I saw “football” and “mafia” together but I was excited to get into it. I’m glad I tried it! Second books review coming soon.
June 20, 2024
Rating: 5⭐️
Spice: 5🌶️
You’re gonna need a nice cool fan for this one babes, because Tilly didn’t pull back any punches when it comes to this book🤭
I just loved how carefree Ellie was when it comes to living her life & being a badass. Zamir & Nash just trickled into her life but I was LIVING when the guys had already had their first run in with each other lol. The establishment of their relationship was so important for when Ellie became the common factor between them. Then Marcello comes in with his big bad self, he was wild! This man was so obsessed with her since forever & she had no idea. She’s over here collecting them like Pokémon’s🤣🤣
I really loved the development of all the relationships, especially Nash & Zamir. The heat between the 4 of them was so hot, and I was ITCHING for some Nash & Marcello action but I peeped you laying the crumbs lol🤭
The cliffy was CRIMINAL, these men are about to tear up the city😫😫
Thank you SO MUCH for this arc Tilly!!🖤🖤
Spice: 5🌶️
You’re gonna need a nice cool fan for this one babes, because Tilly didn’t pull back any punches when it comes to this book🤭
I just loved how carefree Ellie was when it comes to living her life & being a badass. Zamir & Nash just trickled into her life but I was LIVING when the guys had already had their first run in with each other lol. The establishment of their relationship was so important for when Ellie became the common factor between them. Then Marcello comes in with his big bad self, he was wild! This man was so obsessed with her since forever & she had no idea. She’s over here collecting them like Pokémon’s🤣🤣
I really loved the development of all the relationships, especially Nash & Zamir. The heat between the 4 of them was so hot, and I was ITCHING for some Nash & Marcello action but I peeped you laying the crumbs lol🤭
The cliffy was CRIMINAL, these men are about to tear up the city😫😫
Thank you SO MUCH for this arc Tilly!!🖤🖤
June 20, 2024
Sooo Good!
This book is the perfect combination of a mafia and sports romance.
It's a mmfm why choose, and that makes it soooooo HOT!
Ellie is feisty black cat, that is always ready to put her claws out, and the boys are just perfection.
All the tension that you feel between them just makes you go over the edge, and the banter between them is just hilarious!
And the plot it's excellent, with a fast pace that makes you keep turning page after page.
But be prepared for the cliffhanger that will leave you wanting for more, AND WE WANT MORE TILLY!
I'm sure you will enjoy this book as much as I have because
This book is the perfect combination of a mafia and sports romance.
It's a mmfm why choose, and that makes it soooooo HOT!
Ellie is feisty black cat, that is always ready to put her claws out, and the boys are just perfection.
All the tension that you feel between them just makes you go over the edge, and the banter between them is just hilarious!
And the plot it's excellent, with a fast pace that makes you keep turning page after page.
But be prepared for the cliffhanger that will leave you wanting for more, AND WE WANT MORE TILLY!
I'm sure you will enjoy this book as much as I have because
October 21, 2025
Did I finish this in one day? Maybeee
I didn't know I needed to read a Football meets Mafia meets why choose book but I absolutely did.
Ellie has Nash, Zamir, and Marcello wrapped around her finger and she just she says she isn't picking one, well neither am I. lol
I can't wait to see the dynamic between the 3 MMCs shift, and Cello give into his desires.
The ending of book one has me needing book two right away and have never been so thankful I can grab it off my trophy shelf.
The spice was spicing. I did want at times a little more in the plot, or seeing the football side, but the mafia story seems to be picking up.
I didn't know I needed to read a Football meets Mafia meets why choose book but I absolutely did.
Ellie has Nash, Zamir, and Marcello wrapped around her finger and she just she says she isn't picking one, well neither am I. lol
I can't wait to see the dynamic between the 3 MMCs shift, and Cello give into his desires.
The ending of book one has me needing book two right away and have never been so thankful I can grab it off my trophy shelf.
The spice was spicing. I did want at times a little more in the plot, or seeing the football side, but the mafia story seems to be picking up.
January 23, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️.5
Dark romance. Mafia. Pro-football. Why choose? This book is all of the above. This book is a dark mafia and sports why choose with LOTS of spice.
We have Ellie (our FMC) and Zamir and Nash (our MMCs). Ellie is a bartender who is strong, independent and sassy. She doesn’t take any shit from anyone and isn’t afraid to cause some chaos.
Then we have Nash and Zamir. Nash is the rookie quarterback on Zamir’s football team. Nash is the strong and silent type who has a cinnamon roll personality in every day life. Except when it comes to the bedroom and then his dominant comes out and will take control. Zamir is the veteran football player and former enforcer for the Albanian mafia. He is the protector and isn’t afraid to get his hands dirty if need be.
We are also introduced to Marcello. He is the leader of the Las Vegas mafia. He is also Ellie’s stalker and is completely unhinged. He will sneak into her apartment at night after she has taken her sleeping pills and will 💦 all over her.
There is so much spice. I feel that some of the spice is unnecessary to the story line and that it was just thrown in to say there was spice. However, the spice that took place between all 3 of them was 🥵🔥.
The storyline was good. I enjoyed the direction that story was moving and how all the characters interacted with each other. I enjoyed the growth that took place between Zamir and Nash the most. There is a cliffhanger at the end that will make you want to jump right into book 2.
🌶️🌶️🌶️.5
Dark romance. Mafia. Pro-football. Why choose? This book is all of the above. This book is a dark mafia and sports why choose with LOTS of spice.
We have Ellie (our FMC) and Zamir and Nash (our MMCs). Ellie is a bartender who is strong, independent and sassy. She doesn’t take any shit from anyone and isn’t afraid to cause some chaos.
Then we have Nash and Zamir. Nash is the rookie quarterback on Zamir’s football team. Nash is the strong and silent type who has a cinnamon roll personality in every day life. Except when it comes to the bedroom and then his dominant comes out and will take control. Zamir is the veteran football player and former enforcer for the Albanian mafia. He is the protector and isn’t afraid to get his hands dirty if need be.
We are also introduced to Marcello. He is the leader of the Las Vegas mafia. He is also Ellie’s stalker and is completely unhinged. He will sneak into her apartment at night after she has taken her sleeping pills and will 💦 all over her.
There is so much spice. I feel that some of the spice is unnecessary to the story line and that it was just thrown in to say there was spice. However, the spice that took place between all 3 of them was 🥵🔥.
The storyline was good. I enjoyed the direction that story was moving and how all the characters interacted with each other. I enjoyed the growth that took place between Zamir and Nash the most. There is a cliffhanger at the end that will make you want to jump right into book 2.
June 20, 2024
ᴘʟᴀʏɪɴɢ ꜰᴏʀ ᴛʜᴇ ᴅᴀʀᴋ ᴀʀᴄ ʀᴇᴠɪᴇᴡ
*in my two trulys deep drunk voice* Fuuuuuuck (if you know, you know.)
Tilly has done it again, I remember when she first started writing this book before Masked and Mine was even thought of! It is so goddamn good, and it had me foaming at the mouth for Nash, Zamir, and Marcello. The bi-awakenings, the filth, and everything in this book is superior. I personally loved this more than Masked & Mine and that is saying ALOT from me because M&M is my fanfic 🤭 My baby has to be Nash, I love Zamir and Marcello but something about Nash has me in a chokehold. I absolut-fucking-ely loved the sports mafia aspect and it was one of those books where i couldn't put it down! I knew about the cliffhanger but it just made me even more eager to read the second part of this duet!!!
rating: ♾️⭐️
spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Tropes:
☠️MMFM
🏈Mafia
☠️Pro football
🏈Stälker
☠️Dëgrǎdation
🏈Biřth coñtrol tämpêring
☠️Bi awäkenings
🏈Strong heroine
☠️ 0rgän härvêsting but for ✨good✨
🏈 Sömnöphïlia
as always, check content warnings 🖤
*in my two trulys deep drunk voice* Fuuuuuuck (if you know, you know.)
Tilly has done it again, I remember when she first started writing this book before Masked and Mine was even thought of! It is so goddamn good, and it had me foaming at the mouth for Nash, Zamir, and Marcello. The bi-awakenings, the filth, and everything in this book is superior. I personally loved this more than Masked & Mine and that is saying ALOT from me because M&M is my fanfic 🤭 My baby has to be Nash, I love Zamir and Marcello but something about Nash has me in a chokehold. I absolut-fucking-ely loved the sports mafia aspect and it was one of those books where i couldn't put it down! I knew about the cliffhanger but it just made me even more eager to read the second part of this duet!!!
rating: ♾️⭐️
spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Tropes:
☠️MMFM
🏈Mafia
☠️Pro football
🏈Stälker
☠️Dëgrǎdation
🏈Biřth coñtrol tämpêring
☠️Bi awäkenings
🏈Strong heroine
☠️ 0rgän härvêsting but for ✨good✨
🏈 Sömnöphïlia
as always, check content warnings 🖤
September 2, 2024
This book has a great balance between the plot and spice. A safe space for all kinks, Tilly comes through on her promise of delivering the most unhinged spice, tastefully. I loved reading this book so much that I read it again! I however do wish that it had better inter-chapter flow. It can feel a tad bit choppy sometimes. Overall. Fantastic read
October 4, 2024
❤️🔥 MMFM
❤️🔥 Dark sports/mafia romance
❤️🔥 Stalker & pro footballers
❤️🔥 Bi awakenings
❤️🔥 Strong fmc
❤️🔥 Pcos baddie
❤️🔥 So very spicy
Honestly just read it, it’s soooooo good but if you’re like me and need to know what happens maybe wait until the second book is out to start 😫 this was sooooooo good I’m hooked and need to know right now what happens next damn you evil cliff hanger.
❤️🔥 Dark sports/mafia romance
❤️🔥 Stalker & pro footballers
❤️🔥 Bi awakenings
❤️🔥 Strong fmc
❤️🔥 Pcos baddie
❤️🔥 So very spicy
Honestly just read it, it’s soooooo good but if you’re like me and need to know what happens maybe wait until the second book is out to start 😫 this was sooooooo good I’m hooked and need to know right now what happens next damn you evil cliff hanger.
January 22, 2025
⭐️:3/5
I really loved the characters in this book. I loved the different personality and how well they meshed together even with some fun conflict. I am all for a OTT MMC and we got three in this book. I always love a why choose that has MM in it. A girl loves when her boyfriends are boyfriends. I thought Ellinor was very relatable and I am a sucker for a curvy FMC.
I really loved the characters in this book. I loved the different personality and how well they meshed together even with some fun conflict. I am all for a OTT MMC and we got three in this book. I always love a why choose that has MM in it. A girl loves when her boyfriends are boyfriends. I thought Ellinor was very relatable and I am a sucker for a curvy FMC.
January 12, 2025
Omg I just finished this and I really enjoyed it. Personal football fanatic and feral fan here and this book had it all. The banter was amazing the characters were so entertaining. Looking forward to diving into book 2
June 17, 2024
I really enjoy a good sports/mafia story and I fell in love with this book. Ellie is a strong intelligent woman that knows what she wants and isn’t afraid to go for it. She meets Nash the star Rebel’s quarterback and spends the night and he earns the name Big Boy. Next there is Zamir the Rebel’s WR and Ellie gives him heck because he keeps showing up everywhere and calls him her stalker. There is Marcello, head mafia, long time friend and her secret crush from her childhood. The author gives the background on the main characters and it helps to understand why the story is going the way it does. There explosive action, twists and humor to keep you hooked to the last page. Very well written story that will leave you wanting more.
June 9, 2024
This book is filthy, and funny, and all things good 🙏🏻 I’m obsessed with Nash and all of his mannerisms, and THIS CLIFFHANGER. damnit I need #2 immediately
June 20, 2024
(5/5 ⭐️, 4/5 🌶️)
**FIRST OFF, A REMINDER TO PLEASE CHECK THE TRIGGER WARNINGS BEFORE READING THIS BOOK** Now, on to the review!
This book is raw, beautiful, disturbingly dark, crazy, hot, smutty, emotional, etc. and it will leave you begging for more. Tilly built up a world so unique including pro-football and mafia ties you’ll be wondering why nobody has ever written this before. Ellie, Marcello, Nash, and Zamir are perfectly flawed people but the phrase “one time is not enough” deeply correlates with each of their characters. Nash is my little baby boy and he deserves the absolute best as he navigates what he feels from what he was taught as a young boy by his religious Texan father. His jealously and mistaken hatred for his teammate Zamir brings a perceived rivalry between the two. Zamir on the other hand is his normal free self but the darkness is always looming on the surface willing itself to come out. Just like Zamir, Ellie hides behind a calculated mask that serves to protect her from the torment and resentment she received from a loved one. Ellie swears off men but in comes her unhinged stalker who’s daring moves are only getting bolder. Always there to help his best friend, Marcello, the Italian Mafia’s Don who rules the streets of Las Vegas will do anything for his main obsession, Ellie. The mix of personalities will have you laughing, crying, kicking your legs, screaming, and with your jaw on the floor. Just like her characters Tilly is unhinged and she will definitely have you questioning your interests in new k!nks. You don’t want to miss it. Add it to your TBR, pre-order ASAP, and strap in because it’s going to be a bumpy ride.
**FIRST OFF, A REMINDER TO PLEASE CHECK THE TRIGGER WARNINGS BEFORE READING THIS BOOK** Now, on to the review!
This book is raw, beautiful, disturbingly dark, crazy, hot, smutty, emotional, etc. and it will leave you begging for more. Tilly built up a world so unique including pro-football and mafia ties you’ll be wondering why nobody has ever written this before. Ellie, Marcello, Nash, and Zamir are perfectly flawed people but the phrase “one time is not enough” deeply correlates with each of their characters. Nash is my little baby boy and he deserves the absolute best as he navigates what he feels from what he was taught as a young boy by his religious Texan father. His jealously and mistaken hatred for his teammate Zamir brings a perceived rivalry between the two. Zamir on the other hand is his normal free self but the darkness is always looming on the surface willing itself to come out. Just like Zamir, Ellie hides behind a calculated mask that serves to protect her from the torment and resentment she received from a loved one. Ellie swears off men but in comes her unhinged stalker who’s daring moves are only getting bolder. Always there to help his best friend, Marcello, the Italian Mafia’s Don who rules the streets of Las Vegas will do anything for his main obsession, Ellie. The mix of personalities will have you laughing, crying, kicking your legs, screaming, and with your jaw on the floor. Just like her characters Tilly is unhinged and she will definitely have you questioning your interests in new k!nks. You don’t want to miss it. Add it to your TBR, pre-order ASAP, and strap in because it’s going to be a bumpy ride.
May 8, 2025
I was semi enjoying this book until about the 90% mark where the author threw in an no-consent birth control removal that the MMCs believe "makes sense and will keep the FMC safe" after they double dose her on sleeping meds and have a plan to impregnate her.
Not only was I reminded that removing birth control without discussion or consent is a hard limit for me, that whole concept makes me feel icky. I don't hate the accidental pregnancy tropes, and I'm all for the dark romance - the somnophilia, dubcon, pre-discussed non-non, etc. But MMCs drugging the FMC, removing her birthcontrol implant, replacing it with a tracker, and lying to her face that she had an accident that night and oh no she can't remember what happened!
Immediately no. I had whip lash from how fast that changed the vibe of this book. I generally skip or breeze over the trigger warnings since they rarely bother me, but I did not like the way they played out at the end. It wasn't what I was expecting.
Watch yourselves if you happen to have a sensitivity to any of the above tropes!
Not only was I reminded that removing birth control without discussion or consent is a hard limit for me, that whole concept makes me feel icky. I don't hate the accidental pregnancy tropes, and I'm all for the dark romance - the somnophilia, dubcon, pre-discussed non-non, etc. But MMCs drugging the FMC, removing her birthcontrol implant, replacing it with a tracker, and lying to her face that she had an accident that night and oh no she can't remember what happened!
Immediately no. I had whip lash from how fast that changed the vibe of this book. I generally skip or breeze over the trigger warnings since they rarely bother me, but I did not like the way they played out at the end. It wasn't what I was expecting.
Watch yourselves if you happen to have a sensitivity to any of the above tropes!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 28, 2024
Just wow! This book was amazing and it’s an exceptional start to a new hockey/Mafia series..
First of all let’s talk about the “h” She is badass and she doesn’t take any shit. I love that in a book. I don’t want my h’s doormats. Now as far as the H’s are concerned we’ve got the unhinged psycho/stalker mafia man Marcello (so freaking sexy)
We got a “daddy” Z (double sexy) who takes care of his woman but also “their” baby boy Nash(triple sexy) who completes the harem.
The plot, the character development are amazing even for a new Author like Tilly.
Last but certainly not least the spice? The SPICE?? Oh my god I’m just warning you all:
⚠️dry panties on hand
⚠️ cold showers will be a must
⚠�� have a partner/vibrator/toys close by
Can’t wait for the next one!!
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Highly recommend
First of all let’s talk about the “h” She is badass and she doesn’t take any shit. I love that in a book. I don’t want my h’s doormats. Now as far as the H’s are concerned we’ve got the unhinged psycho/stalker mafia man Marcello (so freaking sexy)
We got a “daddy” Z (double sexy) who takes care of his woman but also “their” baby boy Nash(triple sexy) who completes the harem.
The plot, the character development are amazing even for a new Author like Tilly.
Last but certainly not least the spice? The SPICE?? Oh my god I’m just warning you all:
⚠️dry panties on hand
⚠️ cold showers will be a must
⚠�� have a partner/vibrator/toys close by
Can’t wait for the next one!!
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Highly recommend
November 14, 2024
EXCUSE ME MRS TILLY RIDGE.
Not sure what more I can say here that I haven’t put in your DM’s but here we go.
1. Ellie is living my dream life
2. All of these men are perfection
3. Book 2 needs to drop asap because this cliffhanger is brutal.
But really this book has everything I needed and more to pull me out of a SLUMP.
Not sure what more I can say here that I haven’t put in your DM’s but here we go.
1. Ellie is living my dream life
2. All of these men are perfection
3. Book 2 needs to drop asap because this cliffhanger is brutal.
But really this book has everything I needed and more to pull me out of a SLUMP.
January 20, 2025
★★★.75
I do not know where to start with this book. I am so conflicted as while I love all the characters, it was super-fast paced, so much fun and the chemistry between them all is sizzling. I fear we may have troped to close to the sun. There is just so much going on and I’m yet to decide if it is too much or not.
Let’s start with the characters. We have our FMC Ellie; she is genuine strong and badass FMC. She is fighting for what she wants, she knows who she is and she’s living her life. She grew up kind of within the Italian Mafia, but maybe just family friends with them? Her involvement is unclear other than being friend with Marcello and her dad working for them in their restaurant. She has moments of self-consciousness, but to be honest these seemed slightly oddly placed or maybe just they we’re so quickly passed by to the point where they didn’t really feel like a concern. First of the Guys is Zamir, he’s the seasoned player on the football team, openly bisexual and immediately smitten when he runs into Ellie at the bar she works at even if she is playing hard to get and oh yes, he grew up as an enforcer in the Albanian Mafia.
Next up, We have Nash. Rookie on the same football team as Zamir. He’s fresh out of college, the baby of the group at only 21, and he slings dick like a god. How, I do not know. He’s from south, struggling with the religious aspects of his youth, mainly the approval of his homophobe father and he has a Spanish twang?? How someone can have both a Southern and Spanish accent is beyond me, but there we go. I will fain ignorance. He and Zamir are at each other throats for the first half of this book but turns out they had a bit of a miscommunication, but this was a delight. Nash fancies Zamir and is coming to terms with it by being a brat and Zamir thinks Nash is a homophobe so is riling him up? Genius. Nash has a chance encounter with Ellie at a club and she takes him home, they are casually hooking up and her interruption of Zamir and Nash ‘making up’ shall we say, is what starts the harem rolling baby.
Lastly, We have Marcello. As previously mentioned, he grew up with Ellie, but has distanced himself from her, for her protection for the past 10 years after becoming the head of the Italian Mafia at 21. How does he deal with forcing himself from the women he loves? He stalks her. Pretty aggressively may I add. Some of the things this guy does in this book are out of the realm of my imagination. He is volatile, obsessive and kind of hot. Did I also forget to mention that all three of the men just coincidentally live on the same floor of penthouse apartments in a building Marcello owns? Marcello owns the whole city by the seems of things so that parts not surprising, but Zamri and Nash living next door to each other and not knowing seems a tad insane.
So, as you can tell. It is a lot. I could not keep up with all the nicknames in all the different languages, but maybe that’s just me. Google translate hates to see me coming. I had so much fun reading this book, but I think the sheer number of tropes in this book may have taken it from gritty hard hitting dark romance to a dark romance with a side of silly and this did take my rating down from a 4, to a 3.75. I feel so contradictory saying these things because the things Marcello does in this book, are seriously dark. I’m not talking Zade Meadows here, I’m talking Malachi Vice boarding on horror erotica. Yet, it is still light-hearted in a sense.
My conflict aside, I do heavily recommend this book and I will be continuing with the series. There are perfect plot twists, I was on the edge of my seat throughout. The plot throughout is gripping, I honestly could not have guessed what was going to happen next at any point. There was not a second where I wasn’t invested. The spicy scenes in this book are seriously hot. While the guys may be slightly unhinged, they god damn know what they are doing. The chemistry throughout all four of the characters is off the charts. I also really loved the wording of this one, you can tell it is written by a young person, as to say it’s modern but not so much that it’s taking out of the scene. The writing style is perfect, It was probably my favourite part of the whole book.
So, on to book two we go. I cannot wait after that cliff hanger. It was so speedy; we barley know what’s going on. I NEED MORE.
I do not know where to start with this book. I am so conflicted as while I love all the characters, it was super-fast paced, so much fun and the chemistry between them all is sizzling. I fear we may have troped to close to the sun. There is just so much going on and I’m yet to decide if it is too much or not.
Let’s start with the characters. We have our FMC Ellie; she is genuine strong and badass FMC. She is fighting for what she wants, she knows who she is and she’s living her life. She grew up kind of within the Italian Mafia, but maybe just family friends with them? Her involvement is unclear other than being friend with Marcello and her dad working for them in their restaurant. She has moments of self-consciousness, but to be honest these seemed slightly oddly placed or maybe just they we’re so quickly passed by to the point where they didn’t really feel like a concern. First of the Guys is Zamir, he’s the seasoned player on the football team, openly bisexual and immediately smitten when he runs into Ellie at the bar she works at even if she is playing hard to get and oh yes, he grew up as an enforcer in the Albanian Mafia.
Next up, We have Nash. Rookie on the same football team as Zamir. He’s fresh out of college, the baby of the group at only 21, and he slings dick like a god. How, I do not know. He’s from south, struggling with the religious aspects of his youth, mainly the approval of his homophobe father and he has a Spanish twang?? How someone can have both a Southern and Spanish accent is beyond me, but there we go. I will fain ignorance. He and Zamir are at each other throats for the first half of this book but turns out they had a bit of a miscommunication, but this was a delight. Nash fancies Zamir and is coming to terms with it by being a brat and Zamir thinks Nash is a homophobe so is riling him up? Genius. Nash has a chance encounter with Ellie at a club and she takes him home, they are casually hooking up and her interruption of Zamir and Nash ‘making up’ shall we say, is what starts the harem rolling baby.
Lastly, We have Marcello. As previously mentioned, he grew up with Ellie, but has distanced himself from her, for her protection for the past 10 years after becoming the head of the Italian Mafia at 21. How does he deal with forcing himself from the women he loves? He stalks her. Pretty aggressively may I add. Some of the things this guy does in this book are out of the realm of my imagination. He is volatile, obsessive and kind of hot. Did I also forget to mention that all three of the men just coincidentally live on the same floor of penthouse apartments in a building Marcello owns? Marcello owns the whole city by the seems of things so that parts not surprising, but Zamri and Nash living next door to each other and not knowing seems a tad insane.
So, as you can tell. It is a lot. I could not keep up with all the nicknames in all the different languages, but maybe that’s just me. Google translate hates to see me coming. I had so much fun reading this book, but I think the sheer number of tropes in this book may have taken it from gritty hard hitting dark romance to a dark romance with a side of silly and this did take my rating down from a 4, to a 3.75. I feel so contradictory saying these things because the things Marcello does in this book, are seriously dark. I’m not talking Zade Meadows here, I’m talking Malachi Vice boarding on horror erotica. Yet, it is still light-hearted in a sense.
My conflict aside, I do heavily recommend this book and I will be continuing with the series. There are perfect plot twists, I was on the edge of my seat throughout. The plot throughout is gripping, I honestly could not have guessed what was going to happen next at any point. There was not a second where I wasn’t invested. The spicy scenes in this book are seriously hot. While the guys may be slightly unhinged, they god damn know what they are doing. The chemistry throughout all four of the characters is off the charts. I also really loved the wording of this one, you can tell it is written by a young person, as to say it’s modern but not so much that it’s taking out of the scene. The writing style is perfect, It was probably my favourite part of the whole book.
So, on to book two we go. I cannot wait after that cliff hanger. It was so speedy; we barley know what’s going on. I NEED MORE.
August 12, 2024
***Please note that this review is mainly for my benefit as it is more of a summary of the book and may contain spoilers.***
🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶
• 2 M NFL players
• 1 M mafia boss
• F masturbation
• M masturbation
• MF
• MM
• F to M oral
• M to F oral
• M to M oral
• M to M rimming
• M to F anal play
• M to M anal play
• M to M anal
• DP with cock and finger
• DVP with cock and fingers
• M nipple piercings
• Pierced cock
• Jacob's ladder piercings (7)
• Praise
• Degradation
• Biting
• Spanking
• Choking
• Hair-pulling
• Begging
• Breeding kink
• Stalking
• Felching
• Voyeurism
• Exhibitionism
• Somnophilia
• Face sitting
• Prostate massager
• Butt plug
• Blood kink
• Period sex
• Videochat sex
• Car sex
• Shower sex
1 F masturbation scene
3 M masturbation scenes
23 MF sex scenes
18 MM sex scenes
3 MMF sex scenes
2 MFM sex scenes
2 MMFM sex scenes
Ellinor "Ellie", Zamir, Marcello, and Nash
This book was HOT HOT HOT!
Nash (21) recently signed to be the new star quarterback for the NFL team in Las Vegas.
Zamir (25) is a former Chicago mafia member and has been the star wide receiver for the same team, and there is tension between him and Nash.
Ellinor "Ellie" (23) is a bartender at a small neighborhood bar. She's putting herself through business school online. She eventually wants to own her own club. She's had a late start to college because she took care of her narcissistic mother who had ALS until she died.
Marcello (30) has been obsessed and stalking Ellie for years. They were childhood friends. When he had to take over of the mafia, he decided it was best to distance himself from her to keep her safe. She has no idea he even has any interest in her, but she misses how close they used to be.
After a shitty practice, Zamir decides to go have a drink at the bar across from the practice arena. There, he meets the alluring bartender, Ellie, after he is knocked in the head with a beer bottle by a dumbass drunk football fan. After kicking the drunk fan out of the bar, she takes Zamir to the back office to patch him up. Things get a little hot, and he asks for her number so he can see her again. She gives him a fake number. He finds out the next day when he calls her.
Ellie's friend convinces her to go dancing at a new club. Ellie doesn't know that this club is owned by Marcello. There, she dances with hot guy, Nash. Marcello sees her dancing with Nash. She takes him back to her apartment to have a one night stand. They have amazing sex. She gives her real number to Nash.
After having an argument during practice, their coach orders Nash and Zamir to watch footage together and work out their issues. Nash invites Zamir over, and they learn their tension is sexual. Nash has never been with a guy, but Zamir is openly bisexual. The two have sex in Nash's kitchen. While they're going at it, Ellie arrives for her and Nash's arranged date. She quickly puts two and two together, and call clearly tell the two men were just fooling around. She immediately tells them they should resume what they were doing as long as she can watch. They do.
Marcello, who also lives on the top floor of the apartment building with Nash and Zamir, sees Ellie on security cameras entering Nash's apartment. He goes to her apartment and steals her dirty panties.
A lot of things happen, but Nash and Zamir are together as well as with Ellie, and Ellie is also with Marcello. Everyone is happy with this arrangement. The men conspire to remove Ellie's birth control implant so they can get her pregnant. Marcello tells the other two men that if Ellie gets pregnant, than no other mafia members can attack her. They remove her arm implant, and place a tracker in it's spot.
The book ends on a cliffhanger when Ellie and Nash are drugged and kidnapped.
🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶
• 2 M NFL players
• 1 M mafia boss
• F masturbation
• M masturbation
• MF
• MM
• F to M oral
• M to F oral
• M to M oral
• M to M rimming
• M to F anal play
• M to M anal play
• M to M anal
• DP with cock and finger
• DVP with cock and fingers
• M nipple piercings
• Pierced cock
• Jacob's ladder piercings (7)
• Praise
• Degradation
• Biting
• Spanking
• Choking
• Hair-pulling
• Begging
• Breeding kink
• Stalking
• Felching
• Voyeurism
• Exhibitionism
• Somnophilia
• Face sitting
• Prostate massager
• Butt plug
• Blood kink
• Period sex
• Videochat sex
• Car sex
• Shower sex
1 F masturbation scene
3 M masturbation scenes
23 MF sex scenes
18 MM sex scenes
3 MMF sex scenes
2 MFM sex scenes
2 MMFM sex scenes
Ellinor "Ellie", Zamir, Marcello, and Nash
This book was HOT HOT HOT!
Nash (21) recently signed to be the new star quarterback for the NFL team in Las Vegas.
Zamir (25) is a former Chicago mafia member and has been the star wide receiver for the same team, and there is tension between him and Nash.
Ellinor "Ellie" (23) is a bartender at a small neighborhood bar. She's putting herself through business school online. She eventually wants to own her own club. She's had a late start to college because she took care of her narcissistic mother who had ALS until she died.
Marcello (30) has been obsessed and stalking Ellie for years. They were childhood friends. When he had to take over of the mafia, he decided it was best to distance himself from her to keep her safe. She has no idea he even has any interest in her, but she misses how close they used to be.
After a shitty practice, Zamir decides to go have a drink at the bar across from the practice arena. There, he meets the alluring bartender, Ellie, after he is knocked in the head with a beer bottle by a dumbass drunk football fan. After kicking the drunk fan out of the bar, she takes Zamir to the back office to patch him up. Things get a little hot, and he asks for her number so he can see her again. She gives him a fake number. He finds out the next day when he calls her.
Ellie's friend convinces her to go dancing at a new club. Ellie doesn't know that this club is owned by Marcello. There, she dances with hot guy, Nash. Marcello sees her dancing with Nash. She takes him back to her apartment to have a one night stand. They have amazing sex. She gives her real number to Nash.
After having an argument during practice, their coach orders Nash and Zamir to watch footage together and work out their issues. Nash invites Zamir over, and they learn their tension is sexual. Nash has never been with a guy, but Zamir is openly bisexual. The two have sex in Nash's kitchen. While they're going at it, Ellie arrives for her and Nash's arranged date. She quickly puts two and two together, and call clearly tell the two men were just fooling around. She immediately tells them they should resume what they were doing as long as she can watch. They do.
Marcello, who also lives on the top floor of the apartment building with Nash and Zamir, sees Ellie on security cameras entering Nash's apartment. He goes to her apartment and steals her dirty panties.
A lot of things happen, but Nash and Zamir are together as well as with Ellie, and Ellie is also with Marcello. Everyone is happy with this arrangement. The men conspire to remove Ellie's birth control implant so they can get her pregnant. Marcello tells the other two men that if Ellie gets pregnant, than no other mafia members can attack her. They remove her arm implant, and place a tracker in it's spot.
The book ends on a cliffhanger when Ellie and Nash are drugged and kidnapped.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 13, 2024
What did I just read??? It was amazing, but it was also insane 😈😈😈
So we have our fmc, Ellie. Man, I am obsessed with her. She is the best. I love her personality. She is intelligent, witty and beautiful and a total bada$$. Her home life hasn't always been amazing, but she is on the right path to being in control of her life once again.
Our mmc's are Marcello, Nash, and Zamir. Zamir is our beautiful football player who can't help but miss his former life. He's quite mysterious, but that's what draws you in. Marcello, he is darkness personified. He thrives in the darkness, especially in his line of work. Nash, I love this guy so much. He's also on the football team with Zamir, and he has such great energy. He's your golden retriever who can't get enough of Ellie. He hasn't had the greatest childhood. His dad is a real piece of work, and that has kind of led him to where he is.
Ellie, Marcello, Zamir, and Nash fit. They match each other so perfectly. They just make sense in my eyes. I love the chemistry and the way the relationship built between all of them.
The plot was amazing, there is so many dark and twisted secrets to uncover, and I have a lot of questions. Tilly did such an amazing job introducing this world and these characters. I just can't get enough of them.
It does end on a cliffhanger, and it's a big one, so just be mindful of that 😍
Please check your triggers because this beauty is on the darker side...
Oh, also, shout out to Mar, our favourite bada$$ mafia leader, she's amazing. If you know, you know 🖤🖤🖤
Tilly, your writing is amazing! I can't wait to see what you have in store for us next with Ellie and her men.
Thank you so so much Tilly and your beautiful team for giving me the chance to read this story. I am forever grateful to be apart of your ARC team 🙏 All opinions are honest and my own ❤️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶🌶🌶
🎀 why choose with mm
🏈 football romance
🎀 mafia
🏈 bada$$ fmc
🎀 stalker
🏈 possessive mmc's
🎀 spicy scenes
🏈 birth control tampering
🎀 so much more...
So we have our fmc, Ellie. Man, I am obsessed with her. She is the best. I love her personality. She is intelligent, witty and beautiful and a total bada$$. Her home life hasn't always been amazing, but she is on the right path to being in control of her life once again.
Our mmc's are Marcello, Nash, and Zamir. Zamir is our beautiful football player who can't help but miss his former life. He's quite mysterious, but that's what draws you in. Marcello, he is darkness personified. He thrives in the darkness, especially in his line of work. Nash, I love this guy so much. He's also on the football team with Zamir, and he has such great energy. He's your golden retriever who can't get enough of Ellie. He hasn't had the greatest childhood. His dad is a real piece of work, and that has kind of led him to where he is.
Ellie, Marcello, Zamir, and Nash fit. They match each other so perfectly. They just make sense in my eyes. I love the chemistry and the way the relationship built between all of them.
The plot was amazing, there is so many dark and twisted secrets to uncover, and I have a lot of questions. Tilly did such an amazing job introducing this world and these characters. I just can't get enough of them.
It does end on a cliffhanger, and it's a big one, so just be mindful of that 😍
Please check your triggers because this beauty is on the darker side...
Oh, also, shout out to Mar, our favourite bada$$ mafia leader, she's amazing. If you know, you know 🖤🖤🖤
Tilly, your writing is amazing! I can't wait to see what you have in store for us next with Ellie and her men.
Thank you so so much Tilly and your beautiful team for giving me the chance to read this story. I am forever grateful to be apart of your ARC team 🙏 All opinions are honest and my own ❤️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶🌶🌶
🎀 why choose with mm
🏈 football romance
🎀 mafia
🏈 bada$$ fmc
🎀 stalker
🏈 possessive mmc's
🎀 spicy scenes
🏈 birth control tampering
🎀 so much more...
January 12, 2025
🃏Playing for the Dark by Tilly Ridge🃏
“Sports, bikes and fast cars are my only weaknesses — and I might need to add Ellie to that list.”
“No one knows, but the only reason this place even exists is because of the girl laughing at the bar with another man. This is her dream club”
Omg omg omg!! I'm sprinting into the second book because that cliffhanger was rude! This was fabulous, you have danger, unhinged MMC & FMC (yup that's right, they all psycho), football, mafia, why choose and solo much drama! This was all the vibes and more, Tilly will have you blushing and wondering if you need to be checked.
This is the first book I've read by Tilly but I’ll just say this, ill be back for more because I absolutely love her writing, the character development and we also find out about their backgrounds throughout the book as well. Oh oh oh!! And I forgot to say!! There are three nicknames all in different languages for Ellie (cue swoon😱)‼️
Alright alright, heres the gist: Las Vegas is where is all happens, one man is the underground ruler of it all..Marcello Barone, leader of the Italian mafia (ooh, dangerous🗡️). He has a secret weakness. Ellie. Ellie is a badass FMC who doesn't let any man get to her, she deflates their ego’s and laughs in their face’s that is until a certain football star walks into her work. Zamir, the wide receiver with a dark and twisted past.
Tropes:
🏈Mafia
💀Nicknames (x3 for her😱)
🏈Touch Her and 💀
💀Bi-Awakening
🏈Why-Choose
💀Stalker
🏈Football
💀Obsessed MMC’s
🏈Traumatic Pasts & Mental Health Rep
Rating:
⭐⭐⭐⭐.5/out of 5
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/out of 5
Alright enough said, go read it. Your welcome 🫶😏
“Sports, bikes and fast cars are my only weaknesses — and I might need to add Ellie to that list.”
“No one knows, but the only reason this place even exists is because of the girl laughing at the bar with another man. This is her dream club”
Omg omg omg!! I'm sprinting into the second book because that cliffhanger was rude! This was fabulous, you have danger, unhinged MMC & FMC (yup that's right, they all psycho), football, mafia, why choose and solo much drama! This was all the vibes and more, Tilly will have you blushing and wondering if you need to be checked.
This is the first book I've read by Tilly but I’ll just say this, ill be back for more because I absolutely love her writing, the character development and we also find out about their backgrounds throughout the book as well. Oh oh oh!! And I forgot to say!! There are three nicknames all in different languages for Ellie (cue swoon😱)‼️
Alright alright, heres the gist: Las Vegas is where is all happens, one man is the underground ruler of it all..Marcello Barone, leader of the Italian mafia (ooh, dangerous🗡️). He has a secret weakness. Ellie. Ellie is a badass FMC who doesn't let any man get to her, she deflates their ego’s and laughs in their face’s that is until a certain football star walks into her work. Zamir, the wide receiver with a dark and twisted past.
Tropes:
🏈Mafia
💀Nicknames (x3 for her😱)
🏈Touch Her and 💀
💀Bi-Awakening
🏈Why-Choose
💀Stalker
🏈Football
💀Obsessed MMC’s
🏈Traumatic Pasts & Mental Health Rep
Rating:
⭐⭐⭐⭐.5/out of 5
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/out of 5
Alright enough said, go read it. Your welcome 🫶😏
August 6, 2024
Thoughts
When a mutual recommends a dark romance... I have to check it out! I have liked dark romance before so this could be in my lane. With Ellie there were some "not like other girls" moments that made me roll my eyes. I didn't really connect with her which might have been a consequence of so many point of views. Nash was so sweet. I loved him immensely . True golden retriever boyfriend. Zamir is the asshole archetype that I understand why people love but I don't particularly enjoy all the time. He really grew on me throughout the story and I loved him with Nash. Marcello is chief creep! I haven't read a stalker romance I liked yet and unfortunately he didn't break that streak for me either. I did unfortunately this book is a little cringy. The nicknames everyone had for Ellie were also not the cutest when each man did it, and did it very often. I also cannot believe she kept not processing these different nickname meanings, even the one from her stalker?! Ellie and literally everyone in this story were so unserious. I did keep reading because the spice was immaculate. I loved so many different dynamics and kinks explored.
Tropes:
— Why Choose / MFMM
— Sports Romance
— Mafia Dark Romance
Horn Level: 5/5🌶️
Format: Ebook
The Rating
I give this book a 4/5🌟 rating. This review sounds negative but I cannot articulate love insane and fun this book was!
Check out my socials here for more reviews!
When a mutual recommends a dark romance... I have to check it out! I have liked dark romance before so this could be in my lane. With Ellie there were some "not like other girls" moments that made me roll my eyes. I didn't really connect with her which might have been a consequence of so many point of views. Nash was so sweet. I loved him immensely . True golden retriever boyfriend. Zamir is the asshole archetype that I understand why people love but I don't particularly enjoy all the time. He really grew on me throughout the story and I loved him with Nash. Marcello is chief creep! I haven't read a stalker romance I liked yet and unfortunately he didn't break that streak for me either. I did unfortunately this book is a little cringy. The nicknames everyone had for Ellie were also not the cutest when each man did it, and did it very often. I also cannot believe she kept not processing these different nickname meanings, even the one from her stalker?! Ellie and literally everyone in this story were so unserious. I did keep reading because the spice was immaculate. I loved so many different dynamics and kinks explored.
Tropes:
— Why Choose / MFMM
— Sports Romance
— Mafia Dark Romance
Horn Level: 5/5🌶️
Format: Ebook
The Rating
I give this book a 4/5🌟 rating. This review sounds negative but I cannot articulate love insane and fun this book was!
Check out my socials here for more reviews!
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