The Wrong Play

The Wrong Player #2

by C.R. Jane

I knew Jace Thatcher was the wrong play the second he set his sights on me.

He’s the school’s star wide receiver. The campus golden boy. The kind of man who takes what he wants and never lets go.

And what he wants…is me.

But I’m not a game to be won.

I have secrets. Scars. A past that’s still chasing me. And the last thing I need is a cocky football player with an obsessive streak and a dangerous smile trying to claim me like I’m his.

Only Jace doesn’t take no for an answer.

Not when he’s decided I belong to him.

Not when my past comes knocking.

Not even when I try to run.

Because Jace Thatcher plays to win.

And falling for him? Might be the worst play of my life.

*Note: Jace Thatcher is a morally grey antihero who is obsessed with his girl and will do anything to keep her. This is a darker football romance.

The Wrong Play is a football romance standalone from USA Today and International Bestselling Author C.R. Jane.

Genres: Sports Romance, Sports, Dark Romance, Romance, College, Football, Dark

546 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 23, 2025

About the author

I'm a wife, mother, and author! Writing has always been a passion for me, and publishing my first series is a dream come true. I drink too much caffeine, never sleep, and my imagination is always churning out ideas. Eva and her men have been in my head for awhile, and I'm so glad to finally take you with me on this journey!

Reviews

[Brittany (Brit.tea.reads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

RTC

[Jess After Dark · Rating 5 out of 5]

My little baby psycho was absolute perfection. Unhinged golden retriever vibes and you’re going to spend the whole book laughing at Jace’s antics. Also, the banter between him, the other guys, and with his brother was probably 90% of my highlights 😂 also, I didn’t originally care THAT much about getting Matty’s book (don’t get me wrong, I WILL be reading it but wasn’t as feral for it as I was for Jace’s) UNTIL THE LAST FREAKING PAGE?!?? Now I NEED IT!! Can’t wait 😍

[Soft Nectarine ~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

happy-go-lucky mmc turns super INTENSE when he meets THE one! ✨🩵 he’s a football star, tech wizz & out-worldly lover and she’s just a girlie chronic illness!

Jace & Riley stumble into each other JUST at the right time. He is on the search for something “more” and she is on the run.

🩵 he is OBSSESSED and that means stalking, hacking, tracking, spying, sleeping under her bed etc.

🩵 they have sex EVERYWHERE else but the bed

✨ golden retriever mmc with dad jokes & overly positive attitude *can be a bit cringy*

🩵 her stress response is to run away so he is endlessly chasing her down

🩵 sick bed & chronic illness rep

Who knew DARK sports romance will had me in such a choke hold! Yes, it’s completely unrealistic but I DON’T CARE! I love the insta love & immediate mmc devotion 🩵 the only really morally grey things that the mmc does is technically for her own good! Like, yes hacking into her bank account is bad but he did pay off all her credit cards, which is…..helpful!

I do HOPE & PRAY that we get a non-traumatized fmc one of these days 🙏 You know just a regular boring girl caught in the sights of a morally grey sportsman. I liked Riley’s character but it was incredibly difficult to read about the ongoing abusive relationship/sexual assaults in her past. Her identity was intertwined with the abuse while I wanted to see more of her being a college girl with special interests & hobbies. I’m rooting for you Riley!

dark college romance
ott possessive mmc
fmc on the run
sex in public spaces
opposite of slow burn
who hurt you
secret society
tw: abuse, SA
found family
HEA

[Darlene I read WAY to many books · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one was wow Riley was preyed on by a Manipulative man (bad guy) who said the right things did the right things to make her believe only he would want a broken girl like her and with her condition she believed it until it was to late. When she finally woke up, she left cut off all ties with her family and moved on.

That's where she met Jace when she was trying to fit in and have fun, and what a one night they had, lol. Jace is the funny joke around the guy who annoys his bromates. They love football and doing trials for the secret society, and for some reason, I feel like Jace were more hard, lol.
Jace was less red flags than Parker lol he did do things to make sure his girl was his, but it was light lol. The chemistry was it with them. Riley did push away a few times due to her past. And I love that when she had a flare-up, Jace was there showing her she isn't getting rid of him.
Wish his revenge against the bad guy was more it felt fast, lol.
I can't wait for Matty and his "stalker."


Saftey- she is manipulated by an older guy who took her virginity, and he was married. Another was one date, nothing happened. Mmc didn't have any woman nothing.

Low angst, No cheating,secondary character, Drama, Sexy times, was a virgin then wasn't/ no ma whore (last book was mentioned he was a manwhore this nothing)


Recommend-yes
Cover-⭐️⭐️⭐️
Heat level-🌶🌶🌶


Prologue
Age gap (between her and the bad guy)
Push away from h
Thoughts of self harm
Manipulation
Chronic condition (fmc)
Non con
Physical abuse
Emotional abuse
Drugging
No condom
Praise kink
Hea
Epilogue

[Kim ♡ · Rating 1 out of 5]

I’m sorry, but I’ve dnf’d at 50% 😩

this book is way to fast paced. I understand that the whole point is that Jace is meant to be unhinged and possessive but Riley is way to happy to be in a relationship, which is so frustrating considering her past relationship she is running from. (Her past relationship that she literally just got manipulated into - the whole prologue was a wild ride and barely made any sense to me tbh)

Jace sneaking into her dorm and sleeping under her bed when they’re supposed to be dating?? You called her your girlfriend 2 chapters ago brother, just ask if you can stay over, don’t be so dramatic.

I feel like the author is trying so hard to make Jace as unhinged and stalkerish as possible but she genuinely just doesn’t know how to write that, so she’s just writing the most dumbest lines and scenes.

Also, Jace talks like he’s 12 and I can’t move past it. The way he refers to his two best friends as his “bestilicious besties” and the line “now that I’ve found the drama to my llama - my baby love” has me cringing so so hard. Like this is a college aged man calling his best mates “bestilicious” ??? let’s be serious😂

AND, the chronic illness?? I feel like it continuously gets mentioned but nothing has even happened to her on page to do with it. Like she got to college and was so sick her first 2 weeks but none of that was on page. She mentions how tired she’s been at work, but again, nothing is mentioned on page of her actually being affected by this.

I’m sorry, I really wanted to love this book but oh my, it’s cringe.

[Mackenzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5⭐️
3/5🌶️

JACE THATCHER THE MAN THAT YOU ARE 😍👏🏼 The most perfect morally grey, completely obsessed, golden retriever to ever exist.

I LOVED this book. It was a little less spicy than some of her other books in my opinion, however the romance? All the little swoony moments? Ugh. I couldn’t get enough. Possibly my new favorite from CR Jane?!?!

- Sports Romance
- Stalking
- Found Family
- Chronic Illness Rep
- He falls first/Boy obsessed
- Secret Society
- Heroine in danger/on the run from her past
- Tattoo for her

[Alexandraa XX · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book takes you on a bit of a dark love story, so get ready! Grab yourself a cup of coffee and settle in because it’s going to be quite the journey 🎞️🗽🍫🍿
As always, this author delivers a deeply emotional tale that truly captures the essence of love. It’s not an easy or simple read😬😬 you really need to immerse yourself and brace for the depth of the story🥺 The hero here is both passionate and determined sooo much!!! SO THE HERO FROM THE BEGINNING IS OVER THE TOP. That’s a warning for you😌 he’ll go to great lengths to be with the heroine, no question about it!!! From the very start, he makes it clear that she is the one for him after their first encounter 😚

After reading a few books by this author, I’ve started to notice some common threads among the characters, especially in this series… It often begins with the heroine, who typically has a much deeper backstory😭 her experiences are usually quite tough 😥 She faces significant challenges right from the start, dealing with family issues and complicated mental health struggles… It's not overly complex, but it’s definitely intricate enough to draw you in 😏 Right from the beginning, we get a glimpse of her personality and her problems, which is great because it helps us understand her character better as the story unfolds…


🚨🚨🚨SPOILER ALERT: In this book the heroine didn’t find out about the hero’s stalking bizarre things he did to the heroine. She never found out and the hero also keep it a secret. (I write this down because the previous book and the previous before that there were scenes where the heroine found out about it. So this one doesn’t have that! Which is very refreshing to see).



Right from the start, we can see that the heroine's perspective is at the heart of her personal struggles, while the hero comes across as quite the ladies' man 😁 HE HAD A HISTORY FOR SURE…
Before this story begins, he definitely has a reputation for being a bit of a player. His first thoughts reveal that he enjoys this lifestyle, but what's intriguing is that beneath it all, he feels an emptiness inside…. He longs for someone special to share his life with, and he wants that person to be just right for him 😌
Not long after experiencing this feeling, he finally meets our heroine!! If you’re familiar with the author’s previous works or even if you’re not, you’ll notice that her heroes are often larger than life when it comes to their affection for their partners 🤩🤩😍😍 They tend to be incredibly possessive and obsessively devoted 😍 AND IT IS THAT MUCH WHEN IT COMES WITH THIS HEROES FROM THIS AUTHOR… Crazy for them is normal!! That intensity is exactly what drew me to this author’s stories in the first place 😏😏 I absolutely love and crave a hero who is soooo passionately protective and utterly captivated by his leading lady 😚😚😚

If you're wondering whether the storyline is worth your time, I’d say absolutely yes 😊 If you enjoy a deep love story where the heroine faces numerous struggles and gradually finds her way with the hero by her side, then this book is definitely for you….
The hero really adds to the charm of the story 😍 his love and dedication for her is sooo amazing it make their romance truly special 💙💙
Just keep in mind that as the story unfolds, the heroine reveals some tough aspects of her past related to someone who caused her a lot of pain growing up 😭 There are moments when she reflects on conversations with this person, and those parts can be quite heavy to read…
So, brace yourself 🦾🦾
it’s an intense journey, but it also keeps you engaged and curious enough to stick around until the very end 🗽

ALSO… One of the most captivating aspects of this book is definitely the intriguing yet perilous secret society that our hero shares with his closest friends 😍😍 It’s not too crazy or too much tho so don’t worry. What’s even more surprising is that his older brother is also a member, but we only discover that later on… When I first encountered the secret society in the initial series, I have to admit I felt a bit uneasy about it 🤣🤣 However, as I started reading this second book and revisited those scenes, my curiosity grew, and now I find myself enjoying them even more 😍 This society isn’t just elite! they genuinely look out for their members, offering support in every way possible😌😌 whether it’s saving lives or providing financial help. Honestly, those scenes involving the secret society are so much fun to read! I really love them😍😍





“I love you, Riley. I love you when you’re strong…I love you when you’re barely holding on. I love you when you push me away, when you fight me, when you try to tell yourself you don’t need me. And I will love you through every single bad day you have…through every single moment where you think you’re too much. You’re never going to be too much for me, sweetheart. You are my fucking world. And I’ll spend every single day proving that to you if I have to.”

💙





‼️‼️‼️TRIGGERS: R*pe, PTSD, bad parents, stalking, harassment, alcohol, secret society scenes, creepy insane roommate from the heroine (thankfully she didn’t insult or touch the heroine), little violence, abused and traumatic stress disorder.

‼️‼️‼️NO VIRGINS.
But both are safe. The hero didn’t say tho how long for him or if he really is safe, which is odd.

‼️‼️‼️DUAL POV.

‼️‼️‼️LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT!

“As I scanned the bar out of pure habit—I saw her.
My entire body fucking locked up. My chest clenched so tight I thought I was having a fucking heart attack.
I felt it before I even processed what I was looking at. A full-body reaction. Like a fucking punch to the gut.” 🥺

When they meet for the first time the hero even claimed the heroine is the one who he will marry and the heroine is “mine”.
I love how they meet again cause it was super romantic for me. The hero literally chase down the heroine and move to her class immediately just to see her and stake his claim🥺

‼️‼️‼️NO CHEATING!

‼️‼️‼️THE HERO IS OVER THE TOP EXTREMELY POSSESSIVE PROTECTIVE MILLIONAIRE FOOTBALL PLAYER ALPHA MALE… He is funny tho, have a great sense humor and have great friendship with family and have great best friends along side him. The hero personality is definitely funny but also smart and have that masculinity in him ~
He used to be a player like manwhor3 but not anymore because he said he was feeling empty. The hero loves to help and makes people around him laugh with his jokes 😄
The hero have a great relationship with his brother as well… And the hero is a genius tech guy like he knows how to hack so much in a computer that’s why he makes a lot of money from 💴

AND HE PROVIDES FOR THE HEROINE 🔥
I love when a man provides…

‼️‼️‼️THE HEROINE. As you can read from above that the heroine have many things going on with her personal life mentally and emotionally… After reading all of her pov i come to the understanding that i sympathize with her… But still it was pretty hard sometimes to read her pov because it’s not an easy one to read! 😥
The heroine’s personality she is definitely an introvert and the hero is extrovert. Because of what she’s been through, it made her extra introvert and doesn’t want to make friends. She doesn’t want that so people won’t ask her questions… She have many insecurities and that does sometimes makes her sad… Overall her pov is not an easy one to read and the heroine here have many struggles. She always thinks so negatively about herself and it made me so sad to see that 😭
She is not sassy and not childish either tho.

BUT THE HEROINE have so many guys liking her like flirting with her! Which is very rare scenes cause sometimes the hero get the attention. But this one the heroine is the one who is actually have many fans who likes her 🥺

‼️‼️‼️NOOO OTHER WOMAN FROM THE HERO SIDE EVER SHOWS UP. NEVER ~ Not a fan or any woman!
The heroine tho have many guys liking her and flirting with her and even asking her on a date! She did go to that date but this is before the heroine and hero is serious. They already have s3x though like twice but not officially girlfriend boyfriend tho. So the heroine did go but eventually the hero found out and crash that date 😂 And it ended immediately… After that one date, no more dates again from other people. It was one time only 😄 And one of the heroine’s ex shows up too but it was handled by the hero.

But I don’t like it that the heroine didn’t tell the hero immediately about that ex. She did tell him but it was after weeks tho 🙄 Her reason is she was scared 😓

‼️‼️‼️NOOOO DRAMA WITH OW ~ I hate ow drama so thankfully this one doesn’t have that! IT HAS OM drama but not too much and not too annoying… And most of the drama is about themselves tho.

‼️‼️‼️ IT HAS SEPARATION before they’re official and after they’re already officially together…
Before, it happened like twice when the heroine was pushing the hero away for stupid reasons, actually. And after they were already in a relationship, it happened once, but the heroine is actually the one who is running away 😫
All the separation is caused by the heroine, as she’s the main reason for the separation 😣 The hero never, ever wants to separate from her.
His exact word is “I’ve come to a decision. You should carry me around in your pocket. Just—fold me up, shove me in there, and keep me close at all times. That way, we’ll never have to be apart again.” 😜


‼️‼️‼️THE HERO IS ABSOLUTELY COMPLETELY SOOOOOOO OBSESSED AND WANT THE HEROINE ON ANOTHER LEVEL 😍😍 OVER THE TOP!!! FROM THE BEGINNING HE IS THAT SOOO DEDICATED AND OBSESSED WITH HER 💙💙
HE SAID I LOVE YOU FIRST TO THE HEROINE 💙💙💙
Where do i even begin….
From the very start, it's clear just how obsessed the hero is with the heroine…. He’s already declared her to be the love of his life and his girlfriend, even imagining their future together with shared last names 😄 After their first encounter, he becomes almost like a shadow, tracking her down on campus, going through her dorm room to see her things, and even taking some of her belongings to keep in his room as mementos 😜 He’s all about caring for her 🥺 physically, mentally, and emotionally… without any hesitation. The way he adores watching her sleep, holding her close, and showering her with compliments shows just how deeply he feels for her 🥺 His thoughts are consumed by her; he can’t help but follow her around using his tech skills! like tracking her phone or monitoring what she does😜 He even move to her class which is a freshman class 😂
There was even that moment during a big game when he sprinted across the field just to ensure she was safe, completely unfazed by all the eyes on him. After they got intimate for the first time, he painted her name on his cheek before a game as a bold statement that she belongs to him 💜💜 And let’s not forget when he kissed her on the kiss cam right before kickoff! 😍
AND HE IS DEFINITELY THE MAIN PURSUER IN THIS RELATIONSHIP…

“Inside were things that should not be there. My favorite brand of socks. A sleep shirt that looked suspiciously like it was my size. Even the same type of hairbrush I used. I moved to the closet next, opening the door, my stomach tightening when I saw hangers. Empty space. Room for me. His bathroom? My shampoo. My conditioner. My brand of body wash.”

“No. I don’t do pity, Riley. You think I love you because you’re perfect? You think I give a shit if you need extra care? I’ll ruin anyone who makes you feel like you’re too much. Even yourself.”

“You’re mine, Riley, Not because I own you, not because I control you, but because you are the best fucking thing that has ever happened to me. And I’m never letting you forget that.”

“This is my angel cakes, babylicious, most fantastical girl on the planet—my girlfriend Riley.”
😄😄🤣

“First down. I popped up, the ball still locked in my grip, adrenaline buzzing through me, and my pulse thundering in my chest. Every yard, every route, every hit—I was playing for her. Knowing Riley was up there watching, those honey angel eyes tracking me, was like pure, uncut dope pumping through my veins. Superman? Fuck that—I was better, stronger, running on her like she was my own personal fuel.”

🥺

“She thought she could hide, push me off, bury whatever this was under two days of silence. But there was no escaping this—no ducking me, no dodging what I’d carved into my skin for her to see. She’d painted my number on her cheek—willingly or not, it didn’t matter—and I’d answered with her name on mine. Checkmate, baby llama.
We wouldn’t go into the fact that I’d been stalking her across the campus the last two days whenever I wasn’t in class or practice. Because, obviously, I couldn’t go two days without seeing her.”


‼️‼️‼️MANY JEALOUS SCENES FROM THE HERO… And only few from the heroine. I think the heroine only got jealous one time when she hear a bit of story from her friend about the hero.

“Let’s talk about how you went on this date just to try and push me away. Again. Let’s talk about what an asswipe that guy was. How you couldn’t stop thinking about me the entire time. Let’s talk about how there’s not a replacement for me. For us.”


‼️‼️‼️NOOO STRIP CLUB,
NOO mean friends,
NOO bullying from friends. NOOO whor3s asking attention from the hero and his friends.

‼️‼️‼️IT HAS a little bit of unnecessary childish drama between the hero and heroine but not too much. And not too annoying ~

‼️‼️‼️THE CHEMISTRY BETWEEN these two is freakin romantic and so adorable and over the top 💜💜
You can definitely feel it!

‼️‼️‼️The heroine and hero is under 20 years old, i think maybe around like 19 years old…

‼️‼️‼️IT HAS PUSHING AWAY from the heroine quite some time like couple of times… But not too much tho. And eventually she gives in…
And the hero never ever everrrr push her away! 🚨

‼️‼️‼️VERY HOT S333XXX SCENES 🔥🔥🔥🔥 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The hero knows how to please the heroine so much and knows how to make her satisfied 😜 They will do it sooo many times… The hero loves the heroine’s body so much!

“I own every damn inch of you, sweetheart. I’m gonna fuck you until I’m carved in your bones.”


‼️‼️‼️They did talked about the past but only from the heroine side. Not the hero side tho ~

‼️‼️‼️HAPPY ENDING….
Engaged 🫶🏼




‼️‼️‼️ i only gave this book 4 stars, while the previous one earned a solid 5 😙
Here’s why: First off, the heroine has PTSD that constantly brings back memories of the person who hurt her 😔 She often finds herself comparing that person to the hero, which I just can’t wrap my head around🥶 That person caused her so much pain, while the hero is there loving and supporting her… there’s a massive difference between the two🙄 even me for a reader knows that difference and she can’t for a while? That’s dumb🫠 and the hero already do so much for her!!!! Why she can’t understand that already🙄 Reading those scenes made me want to roll my eyes and gag at times 😤
2. Second thing that bothered me is that the heroine doesn’t seem to have any standout qualities or talents 😓 It feels pretty dull to me! 😐 I really enjoy strong heroines who excel at something. (Like the previous book i review is Heartless Vows by V.T bond). And then there’s the hero basking in all the glory from his “football champion” status 😪 why does he always get recognized for his achievements while she doesn’t? 🙄 It feels so unfair, especially considering all the struggles she already faces!!! And we read those struggles and not just imagining it 😑
It would be great if she had some skills or talents to showcase as well!
3. Third thing i don’t like about the hero that only couple of times like twice he will brag about himself having woman in the past like doing what to him and what he did to them. He did this like twice and before the heroine actually live with him. And this happens during the heroine pushing the hero away couple of times already. BUT STILL WHY ADD THAT STUPID CONVERSATION!!!! 😥 “And then I got to lick them off,” I said with a grin, before I remembered I hated all other boobs and all other girls, and no one else existed anymore. I was a born-again virgin starting from the moment I’d spotted riley across the bar.” 🙄🙄😅🥴
4. The fourth and final thing I don’t like about the book is that the hero has his elderly female neighbor sending him nude pictures a couple of times! 🤬🤬🤬 She even sent them to his best friend, who lives with him as well! Like, what? And he never told the heroine about it! Never! 😥
That is super crazy and very odd. I know it’s not a bizarre issue to make a big deal out of, but still, it’s just so bad. I don’t like that very much, tho 🥵 I PAY ATTENTION TO THIS AUTHOR SO YOU BETTER FIX THIS ANNOYING SCENES BECAUSE IT AIN’T FUNNY!!!

‼️‼️‼️Did I enjoy this book? Absolutely! There were definitely parts that I found tough to handle, and some scenes even made me feel a bit queasy😭😅😁
But in the end, I still finished it and give it 4 stars… The romance, the chemistry, and the hero's deep love for the heroine really stood out for me. Plus, the way he is absolutely sooo obsessively devoted to her just made it all the more compelling to read until the very last page 😌😌












⚡️⚡️⚡️THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR READING MY REVIEW. Even if you hate my review i still say thank you so much cause you spend your time reading this one👻 I’m not a professional reviewer or professional reader. I’m just someone who likes to read novels that is safe and no cheating whatsoever. And many more that i like lol😆 I DID NOT GET PAID TO DO THIS. This is just basically me writing my review based on my personal opinion about the book if it’s safe or what I will write it all down just the way i like it 😏 I realize that my review might come across as pretty direct, and I don't claim to be a professional writer since I'm just sharing my own thoughts. If you find any negativity in what I've said about the book, just remember that we all have different perspectives. What I think doesn't have to align with your views. We all have our own preferences when it comes to books, just like we each have our unique perspectives. You can’t dictate what I should say in my review, and I shouldn’t tell you what to think either… I WILL NOT TOLERATE NEGATIVE COMMENT AND I WON’T EVER REPLIED TO IT. If you still don’t like what i write and my disclaimer here, IT’S A YOU PROBLEM. NOT MINE😙 HAVE A GREAT DAY❤️❤️❤️

[Ꮗ€♫◗☿ ❤️ ilikebooksbest.com ❤️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chronic Fatigue, Secret Societies, and a Love That Stalks



The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: 💙💜💚❤️🤎
Heat/Steam: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Chemistry: 🧪🧪🧪🧪🧪
Story/Plot: 📕📗📘📙📔
World building: 🌏🌍🌎🌏🌍
Character development: 😋😀😍🤓🥰
Narration: 🎙🎙🎙🎙🎙
Narration Type: Duet Narration

🎧 Audiobook Review: The Wrong Play (The Wrong Player, #2)

Author: C.R. Jane
Genre: Sports romance
Narrators: Lucas Webley and Alexis Page.

🦸🏼‍♀️ The Heroine: Riley

Riley’s story begins in privilege but is marked by neglect. Raised in a wealthy household where her parents were more invested in travel and appearances than in their daughter, she grew up starved of affection. Her chronic exhaustion—flare-ups so severe she could barely move—isolated her further, leaving her feeling like an outsider among her peers. Relationships were fragile; her high school boyfriend’s departure barely surprised her, and her next entanglement with Callum, her father’s controlling best friend, nearly consumed her. Callum dictated every aspect of her life until Riley found the courage to escape, carving her independence by applying to a college far from his reach. Her resilience, though quiet, is the heartbeat of her journey.

🦸🏻‍♂️ The Hero: Jace

Jace is the golden boy of Tennessee Tigers football—the wide receiver everyone wants a piece of. Fame has its shadows: stalkers, admirers, and the constant pressure of expectation. Alongside his two closest friends, he’s drawn into the Sphinx, a secret society promising wealth and power. Yet beneath the swagger and spotlight, Jace is searching for something deeper, something real. His charm is undeniable, but it’s his vulnerability—the quiet longing for connection—that makes him more than just a sports romance archetype.

📚 The Plot

College life proves daunting for Riley. A flare-up early in the semester derails her classes, and her unsettling roommate—who watches her sleep—adds an eerie tension to her daily existence. When a classmate invites her to a sorority event, Riley seizes the chance to escape the suffocating atmosphere of her dorm.

Meanwhile, Jace celebrates a victory with his teammates. Watching his best friend Parker fall in love the previous year stirred something restless in him. At the bar, Jace surprises everyone by turning down a flirtatious admirer. Then he sees Riley. In that instant, the noise fades, and he’s struck by a connection unlike anything he’s felt before. Their meeting is electric, setting the stage for a romance tangled in secrets, suspense, and undeniable chemistry.

🌟 Highlights

• Jace’s immediate captivation with Riley feels refreshing in a genre often plagued by aloof heroes. His tenderness and curiosity set him apart.
• His decision to research chronic fatigue syndrome is a standout moment—it shows empathy, patience, and a willingness to understand Riley’s struggles.
• The blend of romance, mystery, and steamy tension keeps the narrative compelling and layered.

⤵️ Low Points

• Jace’s stalker tendencies, while fitting the darker romance trope, cross unsettling lines with hidden cameras and a tracker. It adds suspense but risks overshadowing his otherwise thoughtful character.
• Riley’s fragility, though realistic given her condition and past trauma, sometimes feels overextended. I longed for more moments where she asserted her strength, especially when old ghosts resurfaced.

🎙️ Narration

The dual POV duet narration elevates the audiobook experience. Alexis Paige embodies Riley with youthful authenticity, her voice capturing vulnerability and quiet resilience. Lucas Webley’s deep, husky timbre brings Jace to life with gravitas and warmth. The duet format—male narrators voicing male roles, female narrators voicing female roles—creates an immersive rhythm that makes the story flow naturally. Together, they transform the text into an emotional performance that lingers.

💬 Final Thoughts

This audiobook delivers a romance that balances sweetness with shadows. Riley’s journey from neglect and control toward independence is poignant, while Jace’s devotion and empathy make him a hero worth rooting for—even when his darker impulses complicate the narrative. With suspense, passion, and narration that breathes life into every scene, it’s a listen that will satisfy fans of sports romance while offering something a little more layered.

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[Kendra Renae · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️5 🌶️3

Fierce and reckless. Unyielding and mine. A storm I should’ve feared, but instead, I had run straight into it, finding shelter in the very thing that could destroy me.

I’ve never wanted to be a part of a group chat so bad in my life🤣. No Drama Llamas I volunteer as tribute 🗣️✋🏾

My poor shaylaaaaaa😭. Riley was put through the mf ringer and Jace never played about her the moment he seen her it was wraps and I love a man that knows what he wants 👏🏾.

I ate this right tf up , but CR Jane does no wrong in my eyes I’ve NEVER ranked any of her work under 4 stars she just understands me🤭

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m completely obsessed with this series. Red flag men are my favorite, and these guys are unhinged in the best way possible. The side characters, I freaking love them. CR Jane knows how to write morally grey men, who are crazy but also hilarious. I loved Jace and Riley’s story and I’m already excited for Matty’s book.

[Eunoia]

DNF @ 28%

I just tried. Again. And well, I never learned. I only liked one book from the author and after reading a review from this one, i was like maybe I can give myself another chance to try.

I am so disappointed. there might be no actual other women drama as far as I have reached; until where I stopped (at 28%) but everyone has been mentioning the MMC's manho ways. As well as himself on his inner monologues. And I am not into it. I think almost every MMC from this author has been an embodiment of public🚽. daaamn.

I cringed on their first time. He did not use a condom and fmc wasn't even fazed on how it was shoved on her face that he is a manho and they didn't even use protection. uh?!?!

FMC so far was unlikeable, she easily gives in to doing the deed with the MMC and after doing the deed (i think 2x already) is just when her trauma would surface.... well it was written that way. Not being insensitive to trauma but it just feels wrong reading it like.. idk. :/ it just irked me. I don't think that is how trauma works. it bothered me in a way. she is kinda naive too. on the positive note, I liked how she remained strong despite her bad experiences.

MMC is kinda insufferable so far. IDk he was so unfunny to me. Contrary to what I think the author wants his personality to be- funny, quirky, golden retriever vibes, outgoing.

It would be very unfair of me to rate the book so I will leave it at this.

I can see a lot of ppl would enjoy this, unfortunately it wasn't for me. I hope others enjoy reading it though :> esp those who are into possessive, obsessive, insta-love kinda thing going on.

[Mysti · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ugh... this could have been 4 stars at least if it hadn't been so damn long and filled with boring stuff, plus all the repetition. The only thing that made this book better than the last was the fact it was FULL of smutty goodness.

"There it is," I murmured, feeling strangely satisfied.
"There what is?" she asked, still smiling.
"The first laugh. The first step toward our inevitable love story."

Riley St. James (19, chronic illness) has started a new life, at a new college, without telling anyone where she was going. She's relieved to be there, even though she has to struggle to keep her grades up while working two jobs and dealing with her chronic illness that keeps her in bed a lot. This fresh start was mainly to escape the person who groomed and abused her.

Jace Thatcher (21+, star running back, stock trade genius) is celebrating another football win with his mates when he spots a hottie across the room. After celebrating with a little bathroom nookie, Jace realizes he's met the future Mrs. Thatcher!

Some low grade stalking, mild life interference, a lot of stupid crap nobody cares about, dealing with the issues of Riley's past, and then Jace gets his girl.

Jace Thatcher wasn’t a wrong turn. He wasn’t a mistake. He wasn’t some reckless impulse I would regret. He was the safest place I had ever known. And for the first time in my life, I wasn’t afraid of staying.

So good things first.....

SEX: Guys, this lived up to my expectations. The sex was good, with their first time wall session at 16%. Do you know how freaking special that is!! I was LOVING it. And you know what else.... not a damn condom in sight!!! Thank you!!!! Before you complain - it's a damn fictional world - they don't need them. I'll also compliment Jace on all of the excellent oral he provided. Sexually - we all need a man like this.

SPHINX: What a complete and utter waste of our freaking time. First, we have to go through three stupid "tests" that are absolutely MEANINGLESS to our story. Second, the only purpose this organization plays in the story is to conveniently fix the MMC's problems. When the MMC is about to get in trouble for something, or needs something - ta-da! There's a mysterious "you're welcome" or "courtesy of the Sphinx". Give me a freaking break. I absolutely hated ALL of this Sphinx crap.

REPERUCUSSIONS: While the MMC getting caught for his bad behavior usually leads to a 3rd act breakup, I don't like the fact that he never actually has to pay. IDK - I approve of his behavior, but also why should he get everything his way. I'm on the fence about this.

COPYCAT: I read all of the Pucking series and now the second book of this series and it's ALL the same. Same text messages about the same things. Same type of jokes. Same steps of tracking the phone, getting FMC fired from jobs, getting them kicked out of their housing. The only thing that's really changing is the type of the disfunction that FMC has originated from.

TRIGGERS: Riley was groomed by Professor Callum Westwood. (he's an older, married man who seduced her and took her virginity when she was 18. There are flashbacks where you know he's raping her, but it's not describing the rape itself - it's just the words he says to her right before it happens or right after it happens. So there aren't explicit details, but you know what's going on.)

SIDE PIECES: Jagger is Jace's brother. Jace keeps saying he's in the mafia, but we don't know. All the other side pieces are listed in Matty's block.

MATTY: His book comes out next and it's highly implied that he is the one who will have the stalker. As of now, it doesn't look like the stalker's identity has been released. In this book - we have some potential candidates and I want to keep track. This is for my benefit so skip it if you don't want the info. If you have any guesses and want to discuss, let me know.

The only thing we know for sure is that the person appears to have blonde hair and they watch every one of Matty's practices/games. They aren't able to see her face because of the distance. Hell - for all we know it could be a man. Anyway.....
Emma is Riley's creepy ass roommate. We don't know much about her other than all the creepy shit she does.
Darla Pinswallow is Jace/Matty's neighbor and she's described as being anywhere from age "20-40".
Courtney: Matty goes on a date with her, but it's at the very end of the book and is only briefly mentioned.
Tasha: Briefly met Riley and told her she wanted her to join a sorority.
Eddie: Riley's co-worker.

The only semi clue I got was:
Parker grinned, nudging Matty with his elbow. “This could be you. If you just gave in to your stalker.”
“Or Darla,” I supplied helpfully.
That implies Darla is not the stalker; however, they've never actually seen the stalker's face so can't know for sure.

MY GUESS. I think it's Courtney, obviously.

So - take it or leave it - it's got good sex - but the rest of the story is the same.

[Leesha Latchman · Rating 1 out of 5]

I’m sorry, I usually love these books but I was very underwhelmed by this one. Nothing stood out. Everything fell flat to me. It was very repetitive throughout the entire thing. The dialogue was repetitive, the wording was repetitive, the inner dialogue was repetitive. If this review sounds repetitive, that’s because it is…if I never hear or read the words “smirk” and “grin” ever again, it’ll be too soon.

[Janie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jace. My sweet, unhinged, morally grey golden retriever.
I didn’t know I needed him in my life until he came barging in with his slightly toxic tendencies and obsession-level devotion and now? I want one.

And Riley? We love a chronically ill queen! Chronic illness rep in romance books always has me in my feels, and while I would’ve loved just a little more personality from her, she was sweet and held her own with Mr. Stalky Golden Retriever.

Watching Jace slowly build Riley back up after the emotional wreckage left by her ex was heartwarming… even if Jace himself might technically fall under the “red flag with good intentions” category. Let’s be real: if you’ve read Parker and Casey’s book, you already know Jace has a PhD in stalking people he loves. But because he’s funny, loyal, and has the emotional depth of a soggy Labrador trying to be intimidating, we forgive him.

Was this a literary masterpiece? No. Did it make me giddy, have me kicking my feet like a teen with a crush, and fully swooning over a man who absolutely should not be as attractive as he is? Hell yes.

Also, shoutout to the banter between Jace and his brother absolute gold. If he doesn’t have his own book yet, I’ll riot.

Would rate 3.5 but have rounded up.

Fave Quotes

You’re stalking her, aren’t you? Me: I prefer to call it strategically placing myself in her orbit. Matty: You say that like it sounds less insane.

And for the first time, I understood. It was never supposed to hurt. It was never supposed to feel like a cage. It was supposed to feel like…this.

Jace pressed a kiss to my forehead. “Close your eyes, Riley. Just this once, let someone else fight for you.”

[Doom Sunshine · Rating 2 out of 5]

One star was deducted for the use of "unalive."
If the author wants to tackle issues such as rape, emotional abuse and neglect, TikTok verbiage should be left on that platform.

Skimmed most of the book since the monologue and dialogue was very repetitious.

[Chris ˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ · Rating 1 out of 5]

Weak, pathetic, idiotic fmc with no dignity or back bone!😒

[Kellyythoralabatalla · Rating 1 out of 5]

1.8 ⭐
Sabía que era mala idea leerme este libro.

HAY SPOILERS Y MUCHA RABIA. 😡🤢🤮

Primero que todo, otra escritora con patrones. Repite las historias y parece que no conoce las protagonistas fuertes, si no a las "rotas" que necesitan que el MMC las salve.

Primero, ese prólogo es horrible y sí, funenme porque ella es mi mayor problema cuando pensé que iba a ser Jace como manwhore el que iba a odiar.

Ella desde el minuto 1 sabe que todo está mal, no lo quiere hacer pero se obliga a estar con el hijueputa de Callum, que siendo justos, el hijueputa le dice las cosas "correctas" en el momento "correcto". Ella acaba de terminar, por parte de su ex, la relación y pues sumado a que nunca la han hecho sentir querida, termina acostándose con Callum y perdiendo la virginidad. LO QUE ME DA MÁS RABIA es que ella al día siguiente sabe que todo está mal, él está casado, se siente sucia y se arrepiente, pero sigue dejando que el otro se acueste con ella y NUNCA HACE NADA. No nos digamos mentiras, ella en cierto sentido tenía opción y oportunidades de parar eso PERO NO QUISO. Ella dejó que él la convirtiera en la amante, tenía prácticamente la misma edad del papá y sabía que la estaba manipulando y ELLA SIGUIÓ POR UN AÑO ASÍ Y LE DEJÓ QUE LE HICIERA LO QUE QUERIA. Lo entiendo si la hubiera amenazado y ella en ningún momento se hubiera dado cuenta de la manipulación (porque así es que funciona) pero ella lo sabía y ella acordó seguir así.

En la reseña del libro anterior, por el adelanto, pensé que iba a ser fuerte, le iba a ser frente a Jace y me gustaba que esa supuesta protagonista no fuera virgen y hubiera dejado a Jace así. Pero no, no era nada de eso. También otra cosa que me dio rabia es que ella con Jace siguió lo mismo que con él otro, sabiendo que estaba mal volvió a repetir lo mismo y se dejó llevar, donde no hubiera sido Jace, la usan otra vez. Con Jace, y obviamente no es por defenderlo, si se cuestionó que la dejara embarazada, que podía tener enfermedades, que probablemente estaba haciendo eso de acostarte con todo el mundo (cosa que hace) y tratar a todas iguales, AH PERO AL OTRO HIJUEPUTA DE CALLUM NO, CON ESE SABIA QUE TODO ESTABA MAL PERO NUNCA DUDO. Me dan rabia cuando saben que están mal y no hacen nada, ella sabía que estaba casado y también le valió madres. Por supuesto la mayor culpa es del gonorrea este por manipularla pero ella no haciendo nada? DURANTE UN AÑO? NO, NO Y NO. ADEMÁS, ESTABA OBSESIONADA CON ESE CALLUM. Yo sé que si una persona te hace ese tipo de daño no es fácil de olvidar y ciertas cosas te hacen acordar de esos momentos pero aquí exageró. En CADA capítulo de ella, siempre lo estaba recordando, en cada cosa que Jace hacia, lo comparaba con Callum: Jace me dijo preciosa, Callum también me lo dijo. Jace me beso en el cuello, Callum también me besó ahi. Jace me abraza fuerte, Callum también lo hacía. Jace respira, Callum también lo hacia. STOP IT, STOP IT DUMB BITCH 😡😫

Para alguien que dice que está tratando de dejar su pasado atrás, está obsesionada con él, hasta una foto de él tenía guardada ???? 😫 O sea, que putas??. Ah, y la cereza del pastel, cuando le dijo a Jace que estaba ENAMORADA DE CALLUM (cuando ella se dio cuenta que no era amor) y que sabía que todo estaba mal pero que siguió. Además que me pareció que seguía victimizandose hasta el final. Nunca hizo absolutamente nada por ayudarse y ni después de empezar de nuevo no buscó ayuda psicológica ni nada. Cuando vuelve a parecer, no hace NADA y simplemente vuelve a caer. No hay desarrollo del personaje, que se vuelva más fuerte y que afronte las cosas pero nada, no hace nada. Que sí, que le dice que la deje en paz pero ya, solo eso. Vuelve a dejar que la toque y no hace nada???

Pensé que mi mayor rabia iba a ser con Jace por ser un hijueputa perro en celo que mantiene cogiendo. En el libro anterior lo referencian mucho y aquí, gracias a Dios, el ni al principio estuvo con otra. Pero si me disgusto que se tiró como dos comentarios donde estaba recordando que le chupaba las tetas a otra vieja y no sé qué más. Además lo de las fotos que le enviaban, nunca hace nada 🙄. Y ese chiste de venganza contra Callum??? Esperaba que mínimo lo mataran. Cuando leí que estaba buscando información, pensé que iba a regarla y dejar que todo el mundo lo supiera haciéndolo pasar vergüenza, que lo iban a despedir, haciendo que todos hablarán mal y después lo iban a matar pero no, simplemente mando un correo al colegio y ya está 🙄🙄 patético, eso no fue una venganza, dan pena, para todo lo que hizo se merecía algo peor.

Nunca entendí los chistes de Jace, algunas veces me pareció mucho y sin embargo prefería leerme sus pov que los de ella y creandome que nunca esperé decir que disfrutaba más leyendo a un manwhore que a la prota. Eso de la sociedad secreta fue un chiste, no sirvió para un culo, aunque concuerdo que las pruebas de Jace fueron más duras que las de Parker aunque no tuvieron sentido, que se ganaba jugando al póker?? Pensé que era para que ganar el maletín, o qué se ganaba siendo perseguido y que después cuando lo encontraron, lo dejaron ir??? Y lo de la azotea?? No sense.

Yo de verdad me leía esta autora porque era ridícula y buscaba algo para pasar el rato, a lo que no echarle tanta mente, pero solo leeré los otros libros porque me siento comprometida y quiero terminar con todo de una vez. Después de esto, chao autora 👋🏻.

[Alexandra Varga · Rating 2 out of 5]

way to long for no reason

This book is so unnecessarily long with so many plot holes. I didn’t mind the mmc and the love at first sight trope at all, the main characters story was enjoyable at times. The author went on at length at the start of the book that the mmc is morally grey and an “anti-hero” but he was mostly just silly…

Now the real issue was the length because of completely unrelated scenes and the plot holes around the main drama.

The mmc has to go through trials for some secret society that the fmc never learns about and has nothing to do with the main story line, yet the book included multiple lengthy chapters about it. Jace’s brother comes into the book multiple times through lengthy text conversations that have nothing to do with the story. There’s also about a 20 page convo between Jace, his roommates, and other character from I think the authors other books (?) that AGAIN has nothing to do with the story that takes place after the main characters story concludes. It felt like the author was adding random stuff with the sole purpose of adding length with no substance.

The main drama surrounds the fmc and her parents friend that abused her before college. The timeline for this doesn’t make any sense because she states it started after she graduated high school yet it lasted a long time, he was trying to convince her where to apply to college, but this story begins when she starts college? What college class takes attendance of class, and forces a student into one on one tutoring with a new professor for “potential” academic performance issues? It just didn’t make sense.

All just felt like the author throwing words on a page for a pay day rather than a story they were trying to tell.

[Kyrié · Rating 3 out of 5]

3⭐️-

cons: off the top of my head, it is gonna be easiest for me to start with the cons. when the book started and they had there first intimate interaction i wasn’t a huge fan. before you say anything, I KNOW I KNOW it’s supposed to be spicy but sometimes the spice OVERSHADOWS the plot and that’s totally what this was.
- spice overshadowed plot
- weak fmc (not a ton of characteristics or development)
- cringe nicknames
- lowkey embarrassing to get caught reading this in public

pros: if you like wattpad, you’re gonna like this. you like insta love OBSESSION, then you will like it. also football guys are so hot so that’s definitely a pro
- football romance!
- engaging enough for me to WANT to read
- although mmc was morally grey he had good intentions

[Olga 🌺 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok!!! It's official! I am hopelessly wholeheartedly and undeniably in love with ♡Jace Thatcher♡. *sigh*

BUT, first things first...

This book has so many tropes that I usually avoid when picking a book, but knowing how much I loved Book 1 I just had to give this a try. And thank God I did because I ADORED this book. Well, basically I adored ♡Jace Thatcher♡ but who cares!

Tropes I dislike:
- Jokester MMC, I can never take these men seriously, even if he is a college boy, it's still not a trait that I like in my MMC.
- ONS: They started their love journey with a ONS. It's a vulgar way, imo, to start it off with someone. (To each his own 🤷‍♀️)
- The MFC is with another man before the MMC and we have front row seats to her relationship with the OM. (BUT in this case it was not a normal relationship, it's complicated, it's sad and it's part of the trauma that she suffers from)
And now back to this masterpiece.
♡Jace Thatcher♡ sees our Riley-girl in a bar. His heart skips a beat. His eyes open wide. His feet start working on their own. Our Baby boy is smitten.
He follows in the footsteps of his brother from another mother, his bestilicious friend, member of the No Drama Llamas and high in Jace's per se ranking. Don't ask me what that's all about. It's a ♡Jace♡ thing 💅.

He's obsessed, he's posessive, he's unhinged, he doesn't take no for an answer and he's head over heels in love with her. There is nothing that he wouldn't do to get Riley.

He invited himself on her behalf 😄:
"Ridiculous is part of my charm, cupcake," he said,
sipping the air like he was already tasting his drink,
his voice dropping flirty and low." And while you're
at it, yes, I would love for you to be my date to
the tailgate tonight. One shot, Riley St. James-
me, you, whatever your choice of beverage is, and
a whole lotta me looking cute for you. Thanks for
asking me out, I accept."
___________________________________________________
Sneaking into Riley's room required two things:
precision and a sucker.

Fortunately, I had Matty, and a very precise, three-
step plan. One that definitely showcased my big
brain.

Step one: Get him to entertain her creepy-ass room-
mate.

Step two: Slip into Riley's room unnoticed.

Step three: Sleep under her bed like a psycho
as nature intended.

Riley 👇

I was swooning.
Like, full-on, stomach-floating, heart-squeezing
brain-melting swooning.

I hear you Riley-girl, I was swooning right along with you.

♡Jace Thatcher♡ is unhinged:
My cameras strategically placed gave me every
angle of the room so I could watch her when I
couldn't be here. There was one trained on the bed
and another covering the entrance. A final one was
in the corner near my dresser, positioned to cap-
ture the room's entire layout.

I should have been satisfied, I should have closed
my eyes and gone to sleep, but I wasn't done.

My fingers curled around the tiny device Jagger had
sent me. Small. Subtle. Undetectable. Just like he promised.

I moved carefully, pressing it against her skin and
firing the tracker beneath the soft curve of her
shoulder. She stirred slightly, a quiet moan escap-
ing her lips. My breath caught, watching her lashes
flutter, but the sleeping pill I'd slipped into her
drink at dinner had done its job. She didn't wake.

😆😆😆🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰

His nicknames for her: babycakes, Mrs. Buttercupalicious, angel face, babylicious, cupcake, Riley-girl.
Dang it ♡Jace♡, now I want my husband to call me Mrs. Buttercupalicious 😒

Now what really really bothered me and what might've kicked a whole star 🌟 out of my rating is the MFC, Riley .

Her relationship with Callum left a bitter taste in my mouth. I mean I understand she is young and I get that her upbringing was all messed up add to her chronic fatigue condition which makes her life anything but ideal. And I do fathom that she needed to be loved and accepted and to feel normal. But she was also totally aware that he was a married man old enough to be her father. And she could've said no or leave it as a one time thing but she let it happen. She stayed. She was even jealous of his wife at some point. I believe she was a masochist and she relished in all this control and obsession and abuse.
Is Callum a controlling abusive monster? Absolutely.
But Riley holds her own share of responsibility. She let it happen and she definitely didn't use the NO card.
She is not blameless in this situation and for that, part of me will never forgive her for it.

Her constant comparison between Jace and Callum just makes me want to pull my hair out. The mere fact that she's putting Jace's name anywhere near Callum makes me believe that Callum was actually a contender for her heart when he was all sorts of wrong. He's a very very bad decision that she made when she was clueless, helpless and plain stupid. Stop comparing how Jace makes you feel with how Callum made you feel.
I smell a bit (a lot) of Stockholm syndrome on you lass. 😒

Back to the No Drama llamas club. The way Parker and Mathew are always trying to climb up Jace's per se ranking is freaking adorable.

Their camaraderie, the way they support each other and got each other's back is chef's kiss 🤌.

There are so many favourite parts in this book but ranking first is the Kiss Cam situation! ADORED IT!!!

And then he says things like this 👇😫: (she asks him why he tattooed her name on his ribs and that's how he answers)

"Because," he murmured, voice quieter now,
rougher. "Your name belongs right here." He
tapped his ribs, just over the ink, just over his heart.

"Every breath I take, I want you to be part of it.
Every time I move, I want to feel you with me. I
don't want you on my arm where it'll fade in the
sun. I don't want you on my back where I'll never see it. I want you here, Riley where you can't be ignored. Where you can't be erased." 😢😢

On a last note:
Brooks, one of our running backs snorted nearby.
"There is seriously something wrong with you guys."
I couldn't argue with that. We believed in true love, obviously, and I was proud of that fact. It had gotten me my Riley-girl, after all.
And for her, I'd be wrong, insane, and completely
fucking psychotic every single day if I needed to be.
Because with her, everything was right.

*sigh* fictional men are the best men...

P.S: oh! The Sphinx secret society makes better sense now than in Book 1 and has proven to be useful. The trials my poor baby ♡Jace♡ had to endure are gasp inducing. 🫨

📝 ticking another Bingo square
43) "Hero that takes care with his appearance"
My baby boy ♡Jace♡ has long hair and says that Brad Pitt in Troy wishes he looked as good as he does 🤣
Squares Count: 49


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03┃12┃🔴┃69┃🔴┃🔴┃🔴┃🔴┃23┃🔴
18┃🔴┃22┃🔴┃93┃🔴┃🔴┃🔴┃🔴┃58
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🔴┃19┃🔴┃66┃55┃27┃20┃🔴┃11┃83

[Janie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jace. My sweet, unhinged, morally grey golden retriever.
I didn’t know I needed him in my life until he came barging in with his slightly toxic tendencies and obsession-level devotion and now? I want one.

And Riley? We love a chronically ill queen! Chronic illness rep in romance books always has me in my feels, and while I would’ve loved just a little more personality from her, she was sweet and held her own with Mr. Stalky Golden Retriever.

Watching Jace slowly build Riley back up after the emotional wreckage left by her ex was heartwarming… even if Jace himself might technically fall under the “red flag with good intentions” category. Let’s be real: if you’ve read Parker and Casey’s book, you already know Jace has a PhD in stalking people he loves. But because he’s funny, loyal, and has the emotional depth of a soggy Labrador trying to be intimidating, we forgive him.

Was this a literary masterpiece? No. Did it make me giddy, have me kicking my feet like a teen with a crush, and fully swooning over a man who absolutely should not be as attractive as he is? Hell yes.

Also, shoutout to the banter between Jace and his brother absolute gold. If he doesn’t have his own book yet, I’ll riot.

Fave Quotes

You’re stalking her, aren’t you? Me: I prefer to call it strategically placing myself in her orbit. Matty: You say that like it sounds less insane.

And for the first time, I understood. It was never supposed to hurt. It was never supposed to feel like a cage. It was supposed to feel like…this.

Jace pressed a kiss to my forehead. “Close your eyes, Riley. Just this once, let someone else fight for you.”

[A · Rating 4 out of 5]

Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice Rating: 🌶🌶🌶
HEA: 🌟🌟🌟/3
❗️Safety and Small Spoilers Below❗️



📌 Triggers: Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (on-page; FMC) Sexual and Emotional Manipulation (on-page; by OM) Verbal Abuse by Parents (on-page) Thoughts of Self-Harm (on-page)

📌 No Cheating/Sharing

📌 No OWD: MMC was a manwhore before FMC. And it is slightly mentioned a couple of times.

📌 OMD: OM is a friend of FMC's dad and he coaxes FMC into sleeping with him and losing her virginity. There is no on-page scene of the sex, just the aftermath. All of this takes place in the prologue, however there are flashbacks throughout.
Later on, FMC goes on a date with a guy from class to make herself get over MMC. But, MMC crashes the date.

📌 The FMC does push the MMC away a lot. She also likes to run away. I found this to be repetitive and annoying. However, with her past, it's to be expected. Plus, the MMC constantly pursues her, so it balances out.

📌 No Separation/Third-act Breakup

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jace is Ari Lancaster if he was a college football player with the razzle dazzle of a secret society.

Still ate it the fuck up.

[Angela]

I'm pausing at 40%. I may need to just come back to this. i usually love this author but I'm not in the mood for reformed playboy and a FMC with like sooooo much trauma but complete BBS and 0 self control. the constant " I'm never talking to him again....oh his shirt is off??" back and forth is irritating. I cant do this for another 250 pages.

[n_ow_n · Rating 1 out of 5]

What a disappointment! The blurb made this absolutely tempting to read. And then it all went downhill...

I'm all about the dark themes the author promised ... when they involve the main characters!!! Also, there is trauma (for setting the scene) and there is writing a disgustingly weak female protagonist who makes zero sense and proceeding to torture her over and over and over again! Just for the sake of not judging too soon, I kept on skimming past the first chapter and guess what? That girl still has zero brains and still drops her panties for the same lame lines. I know we're to suspend reality with these kind of books but come on! Give the girl some dignity for a change!!! I can't say anything particularly positive about the guy either. Their whole first encounter made the whole story look cheap and, honestly, unpleasant to read. Nah! This was not dark - this was right down disgusting in a vomit-y kind of way.

The one star goes to the beefcake on the cover!

[g.a.c.writers · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF so crinngeee

[samantha ఌ · Rating 4 out of 5]

when the happy go lucky guy goes absolutely feral for the love of his life

[Medollga · Rating 2 out of 5]

meh 😕

[Intel Chicky Reads Romance (Kara Merideth) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good 👍🏼

Story: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Trope: instalove, stalking
Angst: 😱😱
Smexy: 🔥🔥🔥

The Wrong Play was A pretty good book with a couple of great laugh out loud moments. If you liked the other books, more than likely you'll like this one too. It definitely kept me entertained.

[Amber Goulbourne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book addressed Riley's CFS with sensitivity. As someone with the condition, it really hit home for me. The romance was cute and often funny, while the creep in the story had no redeeming qualities. Plus, there was plenty of spice!

RILEY (FMC)
- Experienced sexual/emotional abuse before college
- Has Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS)
- Struggles with trust issues

JACE (MMC)
- Star college football player
- Falls for Riley and is unhinged and obsessively devoted to her
- Joins a secret society

~ After enduring abuse from an older family friend, Riley leaves for college to find safety, telling no one.
~ She meets Jace, who changes her life in this spicy romance. He obsessively pursues her, working hard to show her she's worthy and keep her safe.
~ His group of friends is just as unhinged and crazy as he is in the best ways.
~ Riley's "odd" roommate and the "Drama Llama Club" added a lot of fun to the story.
*I was cracking up so much that I literally had tears streaming down my face at times.

Feelings:
~ I STRONGLY DISLIKED the abusive professor from her past, who turned out to be an even bigger creep in the end. I was also frustrated by the way her parents treated her, particularly her mother.
~ The Drama Llama Club guys (like the Circle of Trust from The Pucking Wrong Series) were so funny and helped each other out, even when one of them needed help pulling off unhinged, possessive schemes.
~ C.R. Jane's portrayal of CFS was realistic and highlighted its impact on all aspects of Riley's life.

Helpful to know:
~Parker is Walker's brother from The Pucking Wrong Series, and some characters from both series are interconnected.
~Each book features a different couple, but I feel like you get to know them better if you read The Pucking Wrong series and this series in order.

Trigger warnings: non-consent off-page, emotional abuse off-page, stalking, PTSD, detailed moments regarding her medical condition