Twisted Play

Cruel Games #1

by Poppy Jacobson

A Dark Hockey Romance

Cruel. Merciless. Wicked. If they find out the truth, I’ll lose everything—including my father’s life.

Surgery saved me, but left my family drowning in debt. The man we owe has one demand–destroy the hockey team from within.

Three obsessive, controlling men catch me spying and promise retribution for my sins. Cole is as cold as the ice beneath his skates, and he likes to hurt me. Tristan’s sweetness hides a terrifying possessiveness. And broody, frightening Coach Aleksandr? He hates me with a passion I don’t understand—but his hands tell a different story.

Their brutal touches and degrading commands break down my walls until I can’t tell where I end and they begin. With every cruel game, I fall deeper, tangled in a web of lies I can’t escape.

When you're in as deep as I am, walking away isn't an option. Surviving might not be, either.

Twisted Play is a scorching hot, dark, why choose, college, hockey romance. Eva's story concludes in Vicious Win, Book Two of the Cruel Games duet.

Genres: Dark Romance, Why Choose, Sports, Hockey, Sports Romance, Dark, College

488 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 20, 2025

Reviews

[BONNIE SMITH · Rating 5 out of 5]

Poppy does it again- and this time its hot, hot hockey men.

Her SAVAGE JEWELS series introduced me to the love of mafia romance and now dark hockey romance has my number too.

TWISTED PLAY is the first in her new CRUEL GAMES series, and here we meet Eva. She's a curvy, struggling college student who has been through the wringer. A recent heart surgery survivor and broke, she somehow finds herself in the most unlikely situation: caught up in a blackmail scheme to take down one of the best hockey teams. And this is not just for kicks, its for survival, hers and her fathers lives are on on the line.

Three hockey hunks are introduced and DAMN, are these well written. Cole, Tristan and Coach are so different in every way, but quickly take control of Eva's life. What I loved---- her power over them..

Excellent, even with a cliffhanger that had my jaw on the floor, five stars all the way around. Thank you to Poppy Jacobson for the chance to read this, I am once again hooked on your work.

[Magalie Bonneau · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of all, thank you Poppy and the Smuthood for the ARC 💕

Overall ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice 🌶️🌶️ 🌶️
Main tropes :
-Sports medic FFM x hockey players & coach
-plus size FMC
-dubcon (very dubious)
-praise and degradation
-pierced 🍆
-age gap/power imbalance

I’m a sucker for sports romance (hockey in particular). And you add a bit of darkness and I’m all up in that.

The rythm was quick paced and easy to follow. This was my first book of Poppy and I’m curious to see the rest of her work.

My opinion and Spoilers after this *****

I really liked Eva. The stuff she had to deal with made me emotional. It’s a wonder she didn’t break under pressure.

As far as the boys go

Cole was SO sweet the first time but he turned into a jerk real fast. His degradation became mean, not hot. I wasn’t a fan at all.

Tristan was a bit blend compare to the two others. He’s definitely the golden boy. I liked him.

Alaksandr was the grumpy MMC I expected him to be. I’m curious to see more of him in the second book.

My main issues were

1. There was a lot of emphasis on the fact the FMC was plus sized. I love me a curvy queen and man that worships that but it was mentioned to much in my opinion.
2. I’m not the biggest fan of miscommunication and considering that the main plot is based on lies… well it comes with it
3. I wanted a less predictable ending. For sure shit was going to hit the fan. I wanted to gasp and clutch my pearls.

This was an entertaining read for sure! Can’t wait for the second one.

[Christie Hardin · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC Twisted Play
5 stars
Spice: 3.75/5


This book had me hooked and all up in my feels on page one. Wow. It’s a ride but worth it.

This is a dark, twisted, bullying, degrading, full of kinks, MMMF “romance”. Blackmail and control is a major theme. Check your triggers.

Cast of primary Characters:

Eva Jackson (daughter of Conrad, illness, college student, scholarship, premed, forced apprenticeship with hockey team, DOES NOT DATE, paying off Daddy’s gambling debts is literally life or death, has responsibilities at home beyond her age, holds her head high regardless of her circumstances)

Aleksander (hockey coach, almost 20 years older than Eva, score to settle with Conrad Jackson, he plans to claim Eva as HIS as part of his revenge against her father but he’s also catching feelings, he too has secrets, at the same time he’s really put himself out there for his players)

Cole Carter (son of Jed Carter, college student, hockey player, not close with his family, dad is not a fan of his career choice and is determined to wreck his chances, he also wants to claim Eva as HIS and he wants Tristan too. He can be a real asshat but he also has secrets that go deep. He’s not the cruel person he appears to be).

Tristan Baptiste (Cole is his best friend, college student on scholarship, hockey player, his brother worked 3 jobs to pay for his college / hockey dreams and is committed to getting him to the NHL. He also wants to claim Eva as HIS and he wants Cole too. Underneath it all, he has a good heart)

Conrad Jackson (former hockey player, alcoholic, gambler, debts owed to bad players in organized crime, ruined the hockey career of Aleksander)

Jedidiah Carter (aka the devil, purchased Conrad’s debts from other crime bosses, using Eva to gather all the information he needs to derail his sons carer and fuel his gambling business, he has plans for his son and will take down whoever / whatever his son cares about to manipulate him)

I found myself putting a character “in a box” and then a few chapters later, that box didn’t fit anymore.

Note this book does end on a cliffhanger. I can tell you it will be worth the wait as I know Eva’s men will track her down. It’s all about what happens after they find her and maybe who finds her first as I suspect Jed will be coming for her too.

I have mixed feelings as to how I hope this ends. On one hand I want Eva to end up with one of the guys (Tristan is my favorite, Aleksander could keep her safe or maybe someone else on the team will rise up). She deserves to be worshipped for the queen that she is and removed from her desperate, crappy situation.

On the other hand, I hope she burns it all down.

Lastly, Chapter 56! No other words needed.

Thank you Poppy Jacobson and The Smuthood for the opportunity to read and review an advanced reader copy.

[BookishMarineMama03 · Rating 5 out of 5]

A new to me author and she did not disappoint! Twisted Play, a dark hockey, why choose, MMFM, age gap romance that I absolutely devoured in less than 24 hours, it was so good!

Eva-In a horrible position finding out her dad has gambled and now owes a ton of money and it will be up to her to pay it back. One of my favorite tropes in a book, a FMC that is curvy and owns it.And finally realizes it’s ok to fight for herself!

Alex-Hockey coach and in his 30’s. The perfect example of a Dom.
Cole-The classic rich and popular jock who fights his true feelings for her
Tristian-The golden retriever, the sweetheart jock who just wants to please her

I loved the innocence Eva presented, the realization of kinks and the issues in her head she dealt with being ok to be with more than one man. I loved the praise she ate up. The beginning of figuring out feelings between two of the guys. The chemistry between these 4 is off the charts! The scenes are so HOT🔥

The ending is a cliffhanger and leaves you saying omg! I can’t wait for the second one!!

Rate: 5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 5/5🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
🏒Dark Hockey Romance
🔥Dark College Romance
🔥Why Choose
🔥Boys Obssessed
🔥Age Gap
🔥Praise/Degradation kink

*THANK YOU Poppy Jacobson and The Smuthood for my ARC!🖤

[ashlee ❤ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eva, Alekdandr, Cole + Tristan

-dark hockey romance
-whychoose romance
-student coach x playerx2
-unhinged obsession
-degradation + praise
-blackmail

damnnnn this really was full of blackmail all the way around full stop! i hated how eva would constantly try to downplay what she had with everyone even tho she even herself said she liked it & fully consented & enjoyed it. but would be like “oh but it’s not real” like uhhh…girl only cause you keep saying that. but damn that cliffhanger is gonna cause some problems & i can’t wait to see how everything is resolved.

[Roo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Twisted Play by Poppy Jacobson

This book is…I don’t even think I have the words to describe it! This one is hot, full of blackmail, and all around delicious! This is a dark hockey romance, and I will say I read *very* full sports romances but the promise of a Poppy Jacobson plot had me needing to check this one out!

We have our FMC Eva who is a struggling college student and one of my new favorite FMCs! She is curvy and has gone through a lot of stuff! Next we have our MMCs Cole and Tristan who are blackmail kings and Alek the hockey teams coach! These boys are all absolutely *obsessed* with Eva!

An absolutely lovely dark hockey romance that might just have to make me continue branching out into sports romances!!

5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
3🌶️🌶️🌶️

[Jurnee Mccarty · Rating 5 out of 5]

RTC!!

[Diana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dang, now that was one heck of a dark hockey why choose romance filled with betrayal and blackmail.
Eva is caught between saving her only family left or destroying the people that love her wholly. But what do you do when everyone’s lies and deceit start to intertwine and come crashing down?
I enjoyed Eva’s growth and finding herself, how different character dynamics blended together and the chemistry and banter. But holy cliffhanger!

Thank you Poppy and The Smuthood for the ARC! 💛

[KayBeReading · Rating 5 out of 5]

Poppy I need you to come to the front of the immediately. Honey the book started off swinging with the dedication, so I knew I was in for a treat. I loved how each MMC was immediately fascinated by Eva and wanted to claim her. The nicknames that each have for are swoon worthy, I don’t know which one is my favorite! Eva is feisty and determined but the moment the praise( or degrading) starts she is a puddle on her knees say “Yes sir” and I am here for it. Alek, is straight up dominance and will put you in your place, in a way that makes you feel peaceful. Cole is a dominant bully that tells you when and where to go but he has a soft spot for our girl Eva( and some others that may need help). Tristian, gives the sweet and kind affection that you make you feel cared for and cherished. But lying underneath all that is some dominance and possessiveness and love all his sides. May I just say I live for the “ Anytime, anywhere, anyway” blackmail. Poor Eva is just being pulled in every direction, she is going through all the emotions and so are her men. Let me talk to y’all real quick about the spicy in this book. The scene with each guy, hot. The scenes with two of her guys, hotter. The scene with all of her guys, I think my kindle caught fire. 🔥 🥵🥵. Each guy provides Eva with something she needs whether she wants to admit or not. When the shhh hit the fan and truth came out it was messy and I loved it. My girl Eva would stand up for herself throughout the story( not strongly) but at the end she let them have it! I was yelling “yassssss girl, gather them together”! Don’t get me started on that cliffhanger, Poppy you ain’t right! Book two needs to hit my kindle immediately! ( Additional note: there are some side characters I’m going to need a story on!)

[Courtney|the.bookcourt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the Smuthood and Poppy Jackson for the e-ARC and opportunity to review!

I can’t believe this is my first ever Poppy Jackson because my oh myyyy. Why choose mixed with dark mafia and hockey?? Yes please!

In Twisted Play we meet Eva, our plus sized hard working FMC who aspires to be in the sports medicine field. But when her father’s severe gambling addiction comes to light, Eva is forced to deal with Jedediah Carter’s blackmail herself to pay off her father’s debts. When she meets Alex, Cole, and Tristan , each with their own form of blackmail, it seems Eva has bitten off more than she can chew. With secrets threatening to be revealed and feelings growing stronger for each of these men, Eva’s world is about to come crashing down and she doesn’t think she’s strong enough to pick up the pieces.

As soon as I read the readers note I was sold on this book. That trigger warning list had my jaw dropped. First off, I love Eva’s character so much. She’s passionate, relatable, and seeing her slowly start to realize she is more than she ever thought possible, was amazing.
Our three gorgeous men, each with their own unique personalities, fighting for control but all willing to do whatever it takes to be able to call Eva theirs.
The story overall is interesting too. I like the mafia ties and as someone who grew up watching hockey, I’m surprised I haven’t gotten more into hockey romances. There are a few things that irked me so to speak. Some of the writing in certain scenes felt a little choppy, just missing some of the flow that other parts had. And while I do enjoy the spice, I do wish there was a bit more tension but that’s just a preference and really doesn’t affect the storyline overall.

Be warned, this ends on a crazy cliffhanger and I’m going to need the next book asap.
Now off to devour the rest of Jackson’s books.

[Lunarbookwyrm aka Phoebe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating 4/5
Spice 4/5

- dark hockey romance
- Plus sized FMC
- blackmail to the max
- brat with doms
- non+ dub con
- coach x players x PT (student)
- feral, obsessed, possessive alphamales
- Why choose
- praise & deg
- a cinch or breeding k!nk
- “crawl to me”
- use of “toy”

If you want unhinged OTT-obsessed men? This has it. Dark hockey romance. Yup, this book is definitely giving! Eva has a lot on her plate; she just survived heart surgery, and now she has the obligation to save her dad and pay his debt to the most evil person in the book. By spying on the hockey team, she’s also being blackmailed by the coach and being blackmailed by some players. Crazy!

Eva really can’t take a breather. Honestly, I enjoyed the book; the start totally got my attention. The characters are messy and layered, each carrying their own dark pasts if some of them are broken literally. *sad face*


Out of all of them, Cole is the certified, unhinged, overobsessed of them all. Tristan? Definitely the sweetest, and my fave honestly, has golden retriever energy! And Aleksandr? One word: daddy. Very intense.

The middle of the book was alright, to be honest…sometimes these men get so tunnel-visioned with their anger that they can’t see past it. The tension felt a bit stuck, but after pushing through the end. The cliffhanger was just ahhh. Well, all I can say is: I NEED THESE BOYS TO LOCK THE FK IN!

If you’re into why-choose dark hockey romance with a hint of age-gap forbidden love involving the coach and a bit of mafia undertones, this book is definitely worth a look!

[Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I could give this more than 5 stars, I would. Poppy is really good at taking multiple tropes, characters, and storylines and blending them together perfectly. It never feels like there is too much going on but yet something is always happening, so you are never bored. Most readers will be able to find something they love in her books. Her characters feel so real because they are not one dimensional. They can be strong yet vulnerable and cruel yet caring. I am not ashamed to say that I am addicted to her writing. I am happy to lose sleep just to find out what happens next. I lost count of the number of times my stomach did that little flip when you read something amazing. 

This dark hockey romance follows the FMC Eva as she tries to juggle an enormous amount of responsibilities, as well as her health, since she has a heart condition. She is confident in her work but has some insecurities when it comes to her curvy body (I love that her character description is clearly described throughout the book). I love her fiesty attitude even as she submits to these unhinged and obsessed MMCs. She may not enjoy all of the circumstances of their relationship, but she also can't resist them.  

Cole, Tristan, and Alek are all insanely obsessed with Eva. They have different motivations for wanting her, but they all will do anything to have her. Even blackmail. Cole and Tristan are working hard to make a career out of playing hockey, and as their coach, Alek is doing everything he can to help them get there. Alek suffered an injury that  ended his own hockey career, and he has worked hard to heal and build a championship team. Cole's father doesn't support his dreams, while Tristan’s family sacrificed so much for him to have a chance to achieve his goals. Eva becomes a wonderful distraction for all of them during a stressful semester/season. 

[Eliza_lovesbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another FIVE STAR read for me this year and it’s a why choose dark hockey romance with age gap and blackmail. Like, “Sir.”

I couldn’t put this one down, I had to know what was going to happen next. Eva is our plus sized heroine (yes, she’s really plus size) and finds herself in quiet the predicament being blackmailed and forced to do unimaginable things by more men than I can count (I mean, I can but you get the idea…). I think was resonated most was Eva is poor and plus size and working hard for a future the world doesn’t want her to have. It hit hard as someone who has always struggled with her weight and grew up very poor. I found my life partner but I wouldn’t have hated being in Eva’s

[Sandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

INCREDIBLE!! Spectacular! Insane, Memorable, Hot , deliciously SPICY! Remarkable. Addictive. Jaw dropping !

I mean what else can I say ?!? Each of these characters are dark, twisted, complex, and need something.. for themselves, from each other… out of life.. it was amazing !! && when it all comes to a head— jaw dropping !

I’m hooked! Thanks Poppy - I will add this to my “ I wish I can read it again for the first time” list 😂

[Sim-fully Ever After · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.75 🌟, 5 🌶️

She’s the bait. They’re the predators. And no one’s playing fair.

In this dark, addictive hockey romance, Eva—a curvy, cash-strapped college student recovering from heart surgery—is dragged into a ruthless blackmail scheme targeting one of the league’s top teams. Coach Aleksandr, fueled by revenge over her father’s past, wants to break her into submission. Star players Cole and Tristan discover her secrets and decide to use them for their own twisted gain.

But Eva isn’t just a pawn. She’s brilliant, bold, and battling insecurities while navigating the dangerous obsession of three powerful men. Aleksandr, Cole, and Tristan are each consumed by her—driven by ambition, trauma, and desire—and she becomes their ultimate distraction during a high-stakes season.

Raw, provocative, and emotionally charged, this story delivers obsession, control, and a heroine who refuses to go down without a fight.

~~~~

Many thanks to Poppy Jacobson and The Smuthood for providing this Advanced Reader Copy. All opinions expressed are entirely my own. ✨

[Ashley Ford · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of smut, degradation, and just wtf moments (because why? How? Really?) for the first 65% of the book. The last 35% the storyline really picks up and now I’m upset I have to wait until April to figure out what the hell happens! The cliffhanger game is strong in this one! Would’ve actually done 3.75 stars if I could just bc it took so long for the story line to hit!! But it hit and it hit hard! And Poppy has left me wanting more! So it’s 4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for me!!!

[Nini]

I got an arc, but my rating/review are my own!

review coming soon...

[Vicky Torelli · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you Poppy for this ARC opportunity!
I enjoyed the characters, but Tristan was definitely my favorite. This book ends on a thrilling cliffhanger and I can’t wait to see what happens next.

[Danique · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️,5
“It felt like falling. Like drowning. Like finding something I never
knew I needed.”

BLACKMAIL, “I should hate it but I love it” vibes, obsessed is an understatement and curves for days.

I feel a bit like Eva, cause my exam brain and my deadlines had me read 21st September into 27th September. So I’m a bit later than I’m supposed to be, I’m sorry. On a positive note; happy 1 week to Twisted Play already for Poppy Jacobson. Still grateful for the possibility to receive this ARC.

When the secret of her dad is unravelled, Eva has no choice but to clean up the mess that her dad made to save her life. What began as working for the man they owe and having to destroy the hockey team from within, quickly leads to blackmail to save her dad upon blackmail to get the job upon blackmail to keep her secrets. Eva is tangled in a web of keeping composure towards the world around her and preventing every single blackmailer from finding out about the other blackmailer, only getting deeper into trouble. Trouble not only with the men, but also with herself. Cause even though she knows every part of this cruel reality is wrong, she is in too deep to walk away. Everything she thought she knew about herself crumbles down and an unknown part of her gets discovered. Until the walls begin to crumble down.

Twisted Play is a steamy dark hockey romance that shows that life and our environment influences the person we become and that in desperate times, people tend to do desperate things. Even if it involves things you never imagined doing.
My first dark romance and my first Poppy Jacobson, but it sure as hell did not disappoint! Poppy has a nice writing style, immediately dragging you into the story. However, I did feel like the plot wasn’t really moving. I know that this is the first part of a duet and that the story will be continued (I need to know how it ends damn it) but therefore this part moved quite slow and with a lot of repeats. I appreciate a curvy FMC, but it was emphasised almost every chance and that was a bit too much in my opinion.
The main characters complemented each other so well, their lives woven into each other in some ways. Soft, yet fierce Eva fighting for her future. Cruel Cole, who is actually a result of the broken boy shielded in armor for his past. Caring Tristan, who is determined to fight for what he wants. And Closed off Aleksandr, turning his back to his family, wanting nothing but revenge to mend the black hole in his heart. The characters really came to life and that was something that really lifted up their story. The complicated character of each and single one of them, their struggles, their wishes, their pain, really made them come alive.
I truly enjoyed reading this one, but the pace had me doubting between 3,5 and 4 stars. However, I need to know how their story will end and I'm definitely looking forward to read that in Vicious Wins, the end of this duet.

If you are a fan of a spicy, why choose dark romance this one is right up your alley. Have to take a cliffhanger with it though, since you won’t know how this ends til Vicious wins comes out, the second part of this duet.

I received this ARC voluntarily and have given my honest opinion about my reading experience.

Tropes to expect
🏒Why Choose
🖤Degrading/Praise
🏒Student x Coach x Player x Player
🖤Curvy FMC
🏒Dark Ice hockey romance
🖤Spicy
🏒Blackmail

[Julianna K · Rating 1 out of 5]

Going into this, I want to be honest—it’s going to be a bit harsh, but I mean it with the utmost respect. The fact that the author wrote and published a book is incredible in itself, and that should never be undervalued. Please don’t doubt your ability—there is talent and clear potential here.
That being said, the story still needs work.

From the very first pages, I felt disoriented. The pacing was so fast I experienced whiplash, and it took real effort to push through. By around the 10% mark, I found myself genuinely confused about the direction of the plot. Thankfully, I read the author's note, which helped provide some context. But I’ll be honest—if I hadn’t read that note, I likely would’ve DNF’d the book by 5%.

The premise is intriguing: Eva, desperate to save the only parent she has left, makes a deal with a crime boss. That setup alone has a lot of emotional stakes. However, the crime boss’s actual role is vague—there are hints of illegal sports betting and rigging, but nothing is made entirely clear. Then there's Aleksandr, whose involvement with Eva stems from a history with her father, possibly involving Aleksandr’s own ruined career. He uses this as leverage over Eva needing this job, essentially using Eva through abuse of power. On top of that, he quickly begins to exploit her latent submissive tendencies. Frankly, he comes off as more toxic than the crime boss.

Eva’s characterization is inconsistent. She flips between shy and uncertain to suddenly bold and assertive, often without clear development or motivation. It made her difficult to connect with. It feels like the author wanted all the pieces to come together like a well-structured puzzle, but instead, the story feels more like a scattered jigsaw where the pieces haven’t quite clicked.

Then there’s Cole, who can’t seem to take no for an answer. Normally, I enjoy a persistent character who knows what he wants, but here, it borders on obsession. His entire world seems to crumble when Eva’s not around, and it’s screaming co-dependency especially after a one-night stand. This doesn't scream alpha, or sexy.

At about 20%, we get hints of bisexual awareness, which I genuinely appreciated—it added a layer of potential depth to the character relationships. Cole and Tristan, his best friend, seem to have a dynamic worth exploring. In fact, Tristan is probably the only character I actually liked, and with so many characters introduced early on, that says a lot. Unfortunately, his presence alone isn’t enough to carry the story for me.

There is a lot of potential here—for both the author and the story. I just think it would benefit from slowing down and allowing the characters to build more naturally. Rather than immediately focusing Eva's interactions as separate. I’d love to see her connect more authentically with multiple characters at a time, or even the male characters to have encounters with each other. Giving space for emotional growth and relationship development to fill in the gaps and reduce that feeling of being rushed.

At 27% I have DNF'ed this ARC.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow. Okay so i wasn’t really sure what i was expected going into the book except it was a dark romance why choose.

I absolutely loved and devoured this book, the way that Poppy creates each individual character to be so unique and work so unbelievably well together was astounding like top level characters. The plot was exquisite and genuinely executed really well the entire time i was reading i had this lump in my throat for how everything was going to unravel and i think that is a true testament to Poppy’s unbelievable writing style! I will absolutely be reading more of her books. Eva my wonderful fmc was such an amazing character like i cannot even explain i loved the way that her inner turmoil was portrayed and the guilt she felt throughout the book and the way she was expressed as a submissive was just perfect. The men were so so hot! Although they absolutely irritated me and upset me to no end with the blackmail reading from each one of their povs really did help me resonate with the characters and feel so much empathy for them. Alek a personal favourite because honestly we love an age gap and then tristan was an absolute sweetheart. Cole the domineering force of a man was troubled and attractive and really did care for Eva. The BDSM acknowledgement and talks of kink and consent in this book were executed quite well and although following very dark themes and darker aspects of BDSM itself it was executed well within the povs of each and every character and that was a breath of fresh air.
I absolutely cannot wait to read the second book. Thank you so so much for the opportunity to read this arc The Smuthood and Poppy!

[Emi · Rating 2 out of 5]

ARC
My HONEST opinions

**Tropes**
Hockey players
MMFM
Dom/Sub
Blackmail
He falls first… They fall first
Curvy FMC

I was enjoying this book until I wasn’t. I found the dynamic cute. Honestly what kept me reading was hoping something more would happen between Tristan and Cole.

Eva is POOR… and her father is an alcoholic 🤦🏾‍♀️ and it’s a recipe for disaster when something like a heart condition is added to the mix. Eva is ready to do anything to save her father’s life and Jedidiah Carter is ready to take her up on that offer.

Cole is a rich hockey player with a troubled past and even worse he is the son of Eva’s blackmailer.

Tristan is Cole’s best friend and he’s been with Cole for their whole college life. Tristan wants to be more but he’s afraid it could wreck their friendship. With everything he’s been through to pursue an NHL career, Eva is one temptation he didn’t see coming.

Alex is Russian and the coach of the Yorkfield uni team, he has a past that involves Eva’s father and when his cousin, Dmitri hands Eva over to him on a silver platter, revenge is the only thing meant to be on his mind, but why can’t he get this delectable curvy redhead off his mind or off her knees 🤭

Honestly the dynamic between Cole, Tristan and Eva became tiring, it was the same bickering over and over again. I found myself skipping paragraphs just to get to the end.

The way all her secrets came out wasn’t the way I pictured it.

4/5 🌶️ the scene between them all at the end was delectable. They got into back moulding scenes really quick 😂

Thank you Smuthood and Poppy for providing an e-copy of this book for my honest opinions.

[Myra · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC REVIEW

I was excited to read this one! And it did not dissapoint!

From the second page (yes, the first was a little confusing) I was all in!
The FMC Dad is in a shitload of debt and she is the only way to fix it, and while this could have been fixed in a standard "horizontal" plotline, this time she has to get a job with the hockey team and spy on their secrets.

Enter the first MMC, the hockey coach, while he made a shady entrance I enjoyed his chapters because they gave me real insight into the kind of person he is and a little bit about his background.

So the FMC now has several directions she is being pulled in, but enter the star hockey A-hole player who is obsessed with her.. but does not want to admit it, and when she turns him down, he finds out about the spying and feeds his obsession without there being feelings, he says.
Enter the Golden retriever with a little bite to it, and the A-hole player best friend, trying to actually impress FMC, who gets pulled into their little "understanding".

And now our FMC is being pulled in a zillion different directions, but her chapters where so well written that her panic and stress really dripped of the page and made me feel as well.

The connections between the MC's are real (even though some would like to believe they are not) and the dynamics are twisted but damn.... I loved it. (its a book not real life, we are allowed to love it).

Can't wait for book 2!

[Big Sho ✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to Quirky Heart PR for giving me the ARC copy of Twisted Play.

This was my first time reading Poppy Jacobson and it was sooo good. It gave everything that makes a dark romance book: spice, plot, multifaceted characters, emotional roller coaster, twisted games and romance. It is a why choose and the FMC, Eva, is caught in a web of blackmail, bullying and betrayal. She also had a serious health condition to deal with as she navigated all of these. She’s brilliant at her job and also book smart which is how she maintains her university scholarship, she has a close knit friend group but hides her problems from them 🤦🏽‍♀️. I liked the premise of the book and the spice was 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🥵🥵🥵🥵
It had elements of:
Dub con
BDSM
Role play
Dom/sub
Praise kink
Degradation kink and more.


The three MMC’s Tristan, Cole and Aleksandr (Two hockey stars and their coach) are all unhinged and obsessed with Eva and will do whatever it takes to have her, this added to the emotional tension in the book. I really enjoyed the dialogue and banter among the main characters, there were several witty moments which was welcome because my girl Eva was going through a lot! The book ended in a cliffhanger that moved me to tears so I can’t wait for book 2!

If you love dark spicy hot romance this is for you, read the TW and get your copy now/ add to your TBR, it is also available on KU. I now have a new dark romance author added to my roaster, it was 5 star read for me.

[Bookish_Shann · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC Book Review

Book Dedication:
‘For the girls who want to be degraded, praised, and choked like the pretty little sl*t I know you can be, baby, I fuckin got you. That’s my good girl’

Hockey Romance that’s a Why Choose with a Curvy FMC?!?! YES PLEASE !!!🔥🔥🔥

OMG! This book! So grateful I got this ARC!
I loved the FMC. My girl Eva didn’t deserve any of what she went through with her heart condition but she’s a brave FMC and took it as a champ!! I loved her personality and ambition!
I loved Tristan and Cole the most!! Tristan the sweetheart he was and Cole because he’s Cole (if you read it you’ll know what I mean😂) the coach was okay for me but I loved how grumpy he was.

The nicknames by them: Sparrow🫶🏽 Kitten🫶🏽 & Malishka🫶🏽

OMG this book had SMUT! The vibrator during the game TOOK ME OUT!😂😭 And don’t get me started on how often she got folded like a 🥨 😂😂😂 and all the degradation and praise !!🔥😮‍💨There is always something happening so you are never bored. I loved the characters. Their backstory. The plot! I enjoyed it all. And it ends on a cliffhanger !!!

Side note: I LOVED THE CONSTANT EMPHASIS ON HER BEING CURVY!🥹🫶🏽

I need the second book asap lol

I hope you read and like it !!

[Apryl (inmybookishgirlera) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐️
4🌶️

Dark hockey romance
Why choose
MMMF
Curvy FMC
Dubcon
Age gap
Bdsm

Wow! This book was dark, twisted, full of kinks and lotsssss of spice. Also, bulling, degrading, blackmail and control. Check your triggers.

This is the first book in the cruel games series. Eva is our curvy struggling college student who is broke and just recently survived 2 heart surgeries. She somehow gets caught up in a blackmail scheme to take down one of the best hockey teams. And her and her father’s lives are on the line.

Our 3 MMC’s are introduced and damn🥵Cole, Tristan, and Coach Alek. They are all so different and quickly take control of Eva’s life. But what I loved…her power over them! And that cliffhanger at the end had my jaw on the floor😱

I really liked this one. However, the nicknames they used for her just gave me the ick and they used them a lot😩also the fact that she was plus sized was mentioned too much imo. Other than that if you like dark and twisted I recommend checking it out! This releases 9/20/2025.

Thank you to the author and the smuthood for this ARC!

[Jillian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alright alright alright. I did not expect to be giggling & kicking my feet right off the bat, but here we are.

16% in & i sent this book to everyone i know because it’s already that good & everyone needs to read it.

Hockey, blackmail…so much blackmail & a little sprinkle of mafia thrown in, i mean, what more could you ask for?

The possessiveness plus the sweetness is just too good. 🤌🏼🤌🏼🤌🏼

“It felt like falling. Like drowning. Like finding something I never knew I needed.”

I’m really hoping we get books for Rory, Vi & Sage. We love girls girls. 🥰
Oh, fuck it, i need books for everyone on the team. I’m as obsessed as they are.

“‘I don’t give a shit about Eva,’ i lied” HE LIEDDDD HE LIIIIIIIEDDDDD.

Unhinged, invested…potato, potahto. 🤣

I cannot wait to watch Eva burn the world down for fucking her around so much. My girl’s going to give everyone exactly what they deserve.

My heart is fucking broken. 💔😩 I need the second book like yesterday. Poppy Jacobson killed it. 🤌🏼🖤

[robyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5* - I wanna start by saying a huge thank you to The Smuthood for providing this as an ARC in exchange for an honest review🫶🏻
I enjoyed the first ~40% of this book but halfway through I really didn't get the point😭 The plot just completely went missing and it was more about trying to cram as many "fuck"s into a paragraph as possible, and near the end I found myself just skimming through chapters to finish as quickly as I could.
The storyline had soooo much potential but I personally don't think it was portrayed as well as it could've been💔
I didn't like the FMCs inconsistency, is she shy or is she confident? The only character I actually liked was Tristan, he actually cared about her wellbeing (and he also wasn't a dick🙃)
The book ended on a cliffhanger that I honestly could see coming, but unfortunately it wasn't a good enough cliffhanger to make me want to carry on to read book two... sorry☹️

[Traci_reads_ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Talk about lies, betrayal & blackmail with lots of spice. Eva Jackson has a drunk of a dad who gambles. He gets himself owing the wrong people and Eva is thrown into the hockey world to steal secrets to a bad man who has control over her dad.

Along the way we meet her “coach”, Aleksander who she works and she has no idea he is holding a vendetta against her dad & wants to use Eva to do it. Then we meet Cole, who’s said bad man’s son, he catches her trying to get the secrets about the hockey team & then he blackmails her. We also have Tristan who’s Cole’s best friend who wants Eva & seriously just has a good heart but gets involved in all of this.

I love that our FMC is curvy & these guys are obsessed with her. Ends on a cliffhanger.

What to Expect:
🏒 Obsessed Hockey Players
✨ Student x Coach x Player x Player
💋 Age Gap
🔥 Curvy FMC
😈 Enemies-to-lovers
☠️ Blackmail
🫠 Degradation & Praise

[Tara · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC REVIEW

This story was INTENSE! (please read the trigger warnings before reading the book, i'm begging you)

The rollercoaster really took me for a ride with multiple twists and some drops, especially at the end.

Whereas the main focus of the story was the relationship between Eva, Tristan, Cole and Alek- the plot-story around it was surprisingly good!

The reality of what Eva had to go through is intense. I'm talking blackmail upon blackmail. Which results in heavy, dark sexual elements (once again asking you to PLEASE read the authors note for trigger warnings!!!).

I enjoyed the plot way more than I thought I would. The story is very interesting and the dark elements were a very nice addition to the plot.

I did NOT!!! expect the cliffhanger.
I cannot wait to read book 2 once it gets released because I need to know how the story evolves. 👀