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Playing the Field #3
Matchup
Enemies. Friends. Lovers. Rivals.
Hendrix
When I’m signed onto the Los Angeles Rubies, I only have two prove I have what it takes to play professional football, and stay far, far away from Tahegin Ellingsworth—a fan-favorite NFL cornerback, the League’s golden boy, and the most ridiculously happy-go-lucky guy to ever exist. Everyone loves and flocks to him, but I want nothing more than for him to disappear. Seriously. Off the face of the Earth would be great.
I recognize Tahegin for the privileged spoiled brat he is—even if his actions, both in public and behind closed doors, perplexingly seem to be the polar opposite.
Unfortunately, it becomes impossible to ignore him when we are forced to room together at away games for the duration of my rookie season. Late night conversations morph into a friendship, then possibly into something more. I’m beginning to feel things for him that I have never felt for anyone before, but as problems arise one after another, the universe apparently determined to keep us apart, I’ll have to choose whether or not this potential relationship is worth the repercussions.
Tahegin
Hendrix Avery has to be the grumpiest and most infuriating guy I have ever met, but despite the rude words he spits at me, I find our late night conversations intriguing. For some insane reason, I want to learn more about him, even if I am nervous to let him see the me that I try to hide from everyone else. Something must be wrong with me because I find myself wanting to spend more and more time with him, and our budding friendship drifts dangerously into unknown territory.
Despite it all, I’m willing to give us a try, though the threat of a trade and potential exposure of our growing relationship looms like a dark cloud over our heads. I have always forced myself to be the optimist, but with every odd pitted against us, I am concerned how this is going to play out.
And here I thought my only obstacle would be getting the ever-grumpy, enigmatic Hendrix to smile for once.
Matchup is a MM American football romance and contains a grumpy/sunshine dynamic between a rookie wide receiver and a cornerback, with a guaranteed HEA. Though it is book 3 in the series, Matchup can be read and enjoyed as a standalone.
Hendrix
When I’m signed onto the Los Angeles Rubies, I only have two prove I have what it takes to play professional football, and stay far, far away from Tahegin Ellingsworth—a fan-favorite NFL cornerback, the League’s golden boy, and the most ridiculously happy-go-lucky guy to ever exist. Everyone loves and flocks to him, but I want nothing more than for him to disappear. Seriously. Off the face of the Earth would be great.
I recognize Tahegin for the privileged spoiled brat he is—even if his actions, both in public and behind closed doors, perplexingly seem to be the polar opposite.
Unfortunately, it becomes impossible to ignore him when we are forced to room together at away games for the duration of my rookie season. Late night conversations morph into a friendship, then possibly into something more. I’m beginning to feel things for him that I have never felt for anyone before, but as problems arise one after another, the universe apparently determined to keep us apart, I’ll have to choose whether or not this potential relationship is worth the repercussions.
Tahegin
Hendrix Avery has to be the grumpiest and most infuriating guy I have ever met, but despite the rude words he spits at me, I find our late night conversations intriguing. For some insane reason, I want to learn more about him, even if I am nervous to let him see the me that I try to hide from everyone else. Something must be wrong with me because I find myself wanting to spend more and more time with him, and our budding friendship drifts dangerously into unknown territory.
Despite it all, I’m willing to give us a try, though the threat of a trade and potential exposure of our growing relationship looms like a dark cloud over our heads. I have always forced myself to be the optimist, but with every odd pitted against us, I am concerned how this is going to play out.
And here I thought my only obstacle would be getting the ever-grumpy, enigmatic Hendrix to smile for once.
Matchup is a MM American football romance and contains a grumpy/sunshine dynamic between a rookie wide receiver and a cornerback, with a guaranteed HEA. Though it is book 3 in the series, Matchup can be read and enjoyed as a standalone.
383 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 15, 2024
120 people are currently reading
218 people want to read
About the author
Ajay Daniel
7 books67 followersAjay enjoys writing romance stories (with a sprinkle of steam, smutt, spice, or whatever word tickles your fancy) where the main characters fall in love. Sometimes the main characters are opposite genders, and sometimes they're the same. Sometimes there are two, and sometimes there are more. Ajay doesn't discriminate because, between consenting adults, love is love. It doesn't need a fancy definition or strict guidelines of what should and shouldn't be, and who is anyone to judge? When the characters appear and offer their story, taking over the author's thoughts be it day, night, during the work day, driving, or trying to accomplish chores around the house . . . Well, Ajay is just going to write it for them.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
November 27, 2024
The name Tahegin deserves a place on the “Tragedeigh” subreddit.
This started great and I was really invested in the first half. After that it just became long and too drawn out. So much of the story was happening off page, Rix wins the Super Bowl, they buy a house, they’re going on dates, Tahegins family’s reaction to their relationship, so much is just being told to us and we’re not able to actually read about these events. The first half had long descriptions of plays and games and then it was like “yep we played and lost, yep we played and won”.
Also there were too many unanswered topics that get brought up and left open; Micah’s career, Lawsons punishment as a ref who was blatantly cheating, was Tahegins staff fired because of his pay cut or because he wasn’t spending time at his house, Tahegins addiction/depression that sort of tapers off at the end, Tahegins agent firing him because he got a smaller contract but she would’ve still been making so much money off him for endorsements that firing him would’ve been so stupid. A few other things that just are brought up and fade away without a conclusion.
Ultimately this was a promising book that lost its way somewhere after 50%. It should’ve been marked as a “slow burn”. There were also a number of grammatical errors that I felt should’ve been caught by an editor, and the flow of a lot of the sentences didn’t work right sometimes. I’m disappointed because the beginning was so good and strong and it petered out to a sad ending, where it just kind of ended. No real wrap up, no epilogue, just we’re publicly dating and bam last page.
Also just looking through the reviews, it’s a bit weird there are no reviews for all the 4 and 5 star ratings.
This started great and I was really invested in the first half. After that it just became long and too drawn out. So much of the story was happening off page, Rix wins the Super Bowl, they buy a house, they’re going on dates, Tahegins family’s reaction to their relationship, so much is just being told to us and we’re not able to actually read about these events. The first half had long descriptions of plays and games and then it was like “yep we played and lost, yep we played and won”.
Also there were too many unanswered topics that get brought up and left open; Micah’s career, Lawsons punishment as a ref who was blatantly cheating, was Tahegins staff fired because of his pay cut or because he wasn’t spending time at his house, Tahegins addiction/depression that sort of tapers off at the end, Tahegins agent firing him because he got a smaller contract but she would’ve still been making so much money off him for endorsements that firing him would’ve been so stupid. A few other things that just are brought up and fade away without a conclusion.
Ultimately this was a promising book that lost its way somewhere after 50%. It should’ve been marked as a “slow burn”. There were also a number of grammatical errors that I felt should’ve been caught by an editor, and the flow of a lot of the sentences didn’t work right sometimes. I’m disappointed because the beginning was so good and strong and it petered out to a sad ending, where it just kind of ended. No real wrap up, no epilogue, just we’re publicly dating and bam last page.
Also just looking through the reviews, it’s a bit weird there are no reviews for all the 4 and 5 star ratings.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 27, 2024
Long, kind of boring, lots of loose ends and confusing plot points, Tehegin’s belly button is frighteningly sensitive - it was just mid.
I’ll say it again here, it really pissed me off that Tehegin had 5 fucking years to pick up any amount of ASL to be able to communicate with his Deaf adopted sister AND HE DIDN’T EVEN LEARN HOW TO SAY I LOVE YOU.
Then we mostly see him signing with Hendrix on and off the field which obviously during the game is a huge no-no, as well as going over rival teams plays together because T was having trouble learning them???? How did he survive for years without Hendrix?
Rage finished. Very annoyed.
I’m somewhat interested in Micah and Aleks’ story but only kind of because we saw them get together in this book. 🤷🏼♀️
I’ll say it again here, it really pissed me off that Tehegin had 5 fucking years to pick up any amount of ASL to be able to communicate with his Deaf adopted sister AND HE DIDN’T EVEN LEARN HOW TO SAY I LOVE YOU.
Then we mostly see him signing with Hendrix on and off the field which obviously during the game is a huge no-no, as well as going over rival teams plays together because T was having trouble learning them???? How did he survive for years without Hendrix?
Rage finished. Very annoyed.
I’m somewhat interested in Micah and Aleks’ story but only kind of because we saw them get together in this book. 🤷🏼♀️
July 24, 2024
Matchup is book three in the Playing the Field series.
This was my second time reading this author and while I didn’t DNF this book like I did the previous one (Hat Trick) it’s that kind of book that you could read once and think ‘yeah that was average’ and never think of again.
This was my second time reading this author and while I didn’t DNF this book like I did the previous one (Hat Trick) it’s that kind of book that you could read once and think ‘yeah that was average’ and never think of again.
August 21, 2025
I loved Tahegin and Rix. I don’t think was really an enemies to lovers because the dislike was one-sided, but I loved how these two worked through their issues and the easy way they fell into cuddling and ASL. I liked the mental health representation. I felt like the first chapter revealed too much but when the forwarned event happened, it seemed to come out of nowhere where. I thought that was supposed to the conflict/drama in the book but then the Super Bowl gets weirdly brushed over and suddenly we have a new conflict and then it just ends. It’s a good book with a HEA but an incongruous and abrupt ending. I suppose it will be sorted out in the next book.
October 13, 2024
4.0 stars
Still a fan of the author. Even if this book could have used a little bit more drama/ excitement.
Hendrix and Tahegins story was very sweet, both characters had depth and it was all well thought out. I also liked the timeline. But still… a little bit more action or drama would have been appreciated.
The sex was well written, for me the right amount. It just was not hot enough- at least for me. Just as a side note, this did not influence the rating.
Still a fan of the author. Even if this book could have used a little bit more drama/ excitement.
Hendrix and Tahegins story was very sweet, both characters had depth and it was all well thought out. I also liked the timeline. But still… a little bit more action or drama would have been appreciated.
The sex was well written, for me the right amount. It just was not hot enough- at least for me. Just as a side note, this did not influence the rating.
July 21, 2024
I enjoyed the story even though some aspects of it felt rushed and not really flushed out. It had potential to be a 4 star if only some things were different. Both characters were like able and felt very different.
Overall I enjoyed this book and looking forward to reading the next one once it been released.
3.5/5 rating
Overall I enjoyed this book and looking forward to reading the next one once it been released.
3.5/5 rating
December 15, 2024
They went to the super bowl, played against each other, and you chose to skip over that entirely?? wth. I had to read a full description of how the conferences work, but couldn't get a single action scene of the Big Game?
This book was, at times, really cute, but it is also way too wordy. And the bellybutton thing was too weird for me. no.
This book was, at times, really cute, but it is also way too wordy. And the bellybutton thing was too weird for me. no.
November 27, 2024
the pacing of this book is everything to me.
just two people getting to know each other inside and out
and the rubies and vikki are assholes for not renewing his contact, dropping him and then taking him back just because he has a boyfriend……that’s just so odd to me
just two people getting to know each other inside and out
and the rubies and vikki are assholes for not renewing his contact, dropping him and then taking him back just because he has a boyfriend……that’s just so odd to me
July 3, 2025
Yeshhh
This book is the best one so far.
I love the romance between T and Rix.
In real life football 🏈 should just be about football. But we know that not always so.
We celebrate the straight players and demonize gay ones. Ignorant fools
This book is the best one so far.
I love the romance between T and Rix.
In real life football 🏈 should just be about football. But we know that not always so.
We celebrate the straight players and demonize gay ones. Ignorant fools
July 31, 2024
It was a nice read. A but long tho, as there is a lot of description
August 1, 2024
4.5 stars. Best one of the series sp far. T & Rix were brilliant
August 16, 2024
I really enjoyed this book. I’m not normally up for the slow burn (which I kinda thought this fit) but I turned out loving it.
September 16, 2024
I was smiling like a damn fool for most of this book.
March 16, 2025
Awesome
I really love Ajays writing style. I loved this book as much as I loved hat trick.
Both characters are loveable.
I really love Ajays writing style. I loved this book as much as I loved hat trick.
Both characters are loveable.
May 13, 2025
I think I enjoyed the last one more because it was MMM but similar to the last one this book was WAAAAAY too long and I tapped out multiple times because of a better TBR
May 17, 2025
3.25 ⭐️s.
January 14, 2026
2.5/5 I liked the first 75% and then I didn’t love how it ended.
February 15, 2025
a good matchup
https://ladiikeiii.wordpress.com/2025...
***Spoilers here and there***
I can’t wait for book for with Micah and Alek. Not only that Kit as well. Can’t wait until he finds his happily ever after. Especially with being traded because that Larson guy.
Besides that I enjoyed this book and felt like T was fit for Rix and brought out the good that others didn’t see in Rix. I liked them together. The friendship they had with both Micah and Alek as eel as Kif. I hope they do fight that ban that was mad when people found out they were dating. Because it’s not cool for them not to play together while they on are the same them and vise versa.. (if they are on separate teams. That goes for others that are dating and on teams.
https://ladiikeiii.wordpress.com/2025...
***Spoilers here and there***
I can’t wait for book for with Micah and Alek. Not only that Kit as well. Can’t wait until he finds his happily ever after. Especially with being traded because that Larson guy.
Besides that I enjoyed this book and felt like T was fit for Rix and brought out the good that others didn’t see in Rix. I liked them together. The friendship they had with both Micah and Alek as eel as Kif. I hope they do fight that ban that was mad when people found out they were dating. Because it’s not cool for them not to play together while they on are the same them and vise versa.. (if they are on separate teams. That goes for others that are dating and on teams.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews