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Body Count
The Game: the Surgeon and the MMA Fighter
From the author of the #1 Kindle bestselling TikTok sensation BODY COUNT series comes a dedicated telling of the game.
--
I entered the game. He already chose me.
If I go into that basement, I'll be prey. That's the twenty men hunting five women.
Whoever catches me will claim me—right there on the floor—and I'll be his for thirty days and nights. No refusals. No limits.
As a successful, focused professional, I have no business indulging in this dark fantasy. But I can’t resist. Not when he might be there. The man who fuels my most forbidden obsession.
If it's not him who catches me, I'll lose more than just the game.
--
For all those who adored the game in the inimitable Body Count series, meet Malachi and Emmeline, the surgeon and the MMA fighter you read about in Arran's Obsession. This is a dark romance novella with the relevant warnings listed in the front of the book.
--
I entered the game. He already chose me.
If I go into that basement, I'll be prey. That's the twenty men hunting five women.
Whoever catches me will claim me—right there on the floor—and I'll be his for thirty days and nights. No refusals. No limits.
As a successful, focused professional, I have no business indulging in this dark fantasy. But I can’t resist. Not when he might be there. The man who fuels my most forbidden obsession.
If it's not him who catches me, I'll lose more than just the game.
--
For all those who adored the game in the inimitable Body Count series, meet Malachi and Emmeline, the surgeon and the MMA fighter you read about in Arran's Obsession. This is a dark romance novella with the relevant warnings listed in the front of the book.
185 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 15, 2025
297 people are currently reading
1578 people want to read
About the author
Jolie Vines
52 books2,857 followersJOLIE VINES is a romance novelist who lives in the South West of England with her husband and young son.
From an early age, Jolie lived in a fantasy world and is never happier than when plot dreaming. Jolie loves her heroes to be one-woman guys. Whether they are a huge Highlander, a touch starved earl, or a brooding pilot, they will adore their loved one until the end of time.
Her favourite pastime is wrecking emotions then making up for it by giving her characters deep and meaningful happy ever afters.
Want to contact Jolie? Drop her a line at jolie [at] jolievines.com, or find her in her Facebook Fall Hard reader group. She loves hearing from her readers.
Sign up to her newsletter to be the first to hear about new releases, giveaways, and promotions. https://www.jolievines.com/newsletter
From an early age, Jolie lived in a fantasy world and is never happier than when plot dreaming. Jolie loves her heroes to be one-woman guys. Whether they are a huge Highlander, a touch starved earl, or a brooding pilot, they will adore their loved one until the end of time.
Her favourite pastime is wrecking emotions then making up for it by giving her characters deep and meaningful happy ever afters.
Want to contact Jolie? Drop her a line at jolie [at] jolievines.com, or find her in her Facebook Fall Hard reader group. She loves hearing from her readers.
Sign up to her newsletter to be the first to hear about new releases, giveaways, and promotions. https://www.jolievines.com/newsletter
Ratings & Reviews
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 199 reviews
October 27, 2025
I had so much fun reading this!! I love this world and I'll take any chance to read about it and I definitely wanted to read more about the game!!
This was dark, short and so hot!! The predator-prey aspect of the game is so fun and seeing it again, this time with two people that deliberately went into the game to find each other ahhh, it was so good!!
I loved Emmeline and Malachi, the surgeon and the MMA fighter, the perfect combination. They were absolutely obsessed with each other, so focused. Malachi was incredibly possessive and a little stalkerish, but so sweet. Emmeline went after what she wanted and she wanted him since the first time she saw him.
I loved his daughters, one adorable, one badass. We even got a little action. Wish it was longer, but it still delivered on everything and the spice was great.
This truly was an amazing addition, I'm looking forward to the next novella, it sounds even better!!!
This was dark, short and so hot!! The predator-prey aspect of the game is so fun and seeing it again, this time with two people that deliberately went into the game to find each other ahhh, it was so good!!
I loved Emmeline and Malachi, the surgeon and the MMA fighter, the perfect combination. They were absolutely obsessed with each other, so focused. Malachi was incredibly possessive and a little stalkerish, but so sweet. Emmeline went after what she wanted and she wanted him since the first time she saw him.
I loved his daughters, one adorable, one badass. We even got a little action. Wish it was longer, but it still delivered on everything and the spice was great.
This truly was an amazing addition, I'm looking forward to the next novella, it sounds even better!!!
May 15, 2025
I am such a greedy book whore for Jolie Vines!
I'll devour any book she writes, and then just want more.
Her Body Count series was perfection, so when I heard of this upcoming release I was super excited. And it did not disappoint ❤️
Now, The Game: The surgeon and the MMA fighter is kinda a spin-off from the Body Count series, a little shorter read. But just as filthy and spicy as the others 🤤
Here we meet Emmeline and Malachi (books main characters ) both are part of "The Game" which, if you don't know, is where a club puts 5 women in a basement with 20 men!
And then it's a free for all. As the men fight each other to 'claim' said women (don't panic, it's all consensual) and the first guy to physically dick down a lady wins her and vice versa.
Now myself personally, love this!
And if I wasn't married (and it actually existed) I would sign up so freakin quickly 🥵😂
Anywho.. Emmeline and Malachi are hot shit together, the spice is on point, and the poscessive, OTT, stalker ways of Malachi are even hotter.
I adore him in every way 😍
There's not a crazy amount of drama and I don't want to give much away. So I won't go on.
But if you haven't read any books by Jolie Vines, then start immediately!!
Go with Dark Island Scots, then the Body Count series and then this little beauty.
But there are loads other, so just read them all.
You won't regret it.
Now someone sent me details, if they have knowledge of this game actually existing.
Then someone sent me details on how to convince my hubby to let me take part 🤫🤫
I'm joking.. kinda 😉❤️
I'll devour any book she writes, and then just want more.
Her Body Count series was perfection, so when I heard of this upcoming release I was super excited. And it did not disappoint ❤️
Now, The Game: The surgeon and the MMA fighter is kinda a spin-off from the Body Count series, a little shorter read. But just as filthy and spicy as the others 🤤
Here we meet Emmeline and Malachi (books main characters ) both are part of "The Game" which, if you don't know, is where a club puts 5 women in a basement with 20 men!
And then it's a free for all. As the men fight each other to 'claim' said women (don't panic, it's all consensual) and the first guy to physically dick down a lady wins her and vice versa.
Now myself personally, love this!
And if I wasn't married (and it actually existed) I would sign up so freakin quickly 🥵😂
Anywho.. Emmeline and Malachi are hot shit together, the spice is on point, and the poscessive, OTT, stalker ways of Malachi are even hotter.
I adore him in every way 😍
There's not a crazy amount of drama and I don't want to give much away. So I won't go on.
But if you haven't read any books by Jolie Vines, then start immediately!!
Go with Dark Island Scots, then the Body Count series and then this little beauty.
But there are loads other, so just read them all.
You won't regret it.
Now someone sent me details, if they have knowledge of this game actually existing.
Then someone sent me details on how to convince my hubby to let me take part 🤫🤫
I'm joking.. kinda 😉❤️
May 2, 2025
5⭐|5🌶|38%🌶frequency
OMG. This was definitely a perfect late Christmas present 🤩 Because Jolie gave this novella for fr33 in her Facebook group (one of many reasons to join the group 😉). But now it's finally published for everyone, AND it will have even MORE words than the fr33 version had 🥳
Everyone who has read Arran's Obsession knows about The Game he organizes in his club. A game to claim your woman. A Primal play. But the men have to fight for their women.
It's a novella, and there isn't much time to have much other stuff except for the whole game. Because there are the rules for after the game 😉 And still Jolie did an incredible job to put a storyline between all the 🌽
The connection between Emmeline and Melachi is just 💥
They are both crazy. And I mean really crazy... 🙈 But that makes them so perfect for each other. Even though their worlds are completely different. I mean, honestly, an MMA fighter and a doctor. On the other hand, she could fix him after a fight 🤣 But Melachi doesn't lose 😉 Neither in The Game nor in his fights 😎 But he isn't what people would think an MMA fighter would be like. He is a wonderful dad, and he generally cares a lot about the people he loves.
Follow me on IG for more
https://www.instagram.com/minnie.love...
OMG. This was definitely a perfect late Christmas present 🤩 Because Jolie gave this novella for fr33 in her Facebook group (one of many reasons to join the group 😉). But now it's finally published for everyone, AND it will have even MORE words than the fr33 version had 🥳
Everyone who has read Arran's Obsession knows about The Game he organizes in his club. A game to claim your woman. A Primal play. But the men have to fight for their women.
It's a novella, and there isn't much time to have much other stuff except for the whole game. Because there are the rules for after the game 😉 And still Jolie did an incredible job to put a storyline between all the 🌽
The connection between Emmeline and Melachi is just 💥
They are both crazy. And I mean really crazy... 🙈 But that makes them so perfect for each other. Even though their worlds are completely different. I mean, honestly, an MMA fighter and a doctor. On the other hand, she could fix him after a fight 🤣 But Melachi doesn't lose 😉 Neither in The Game nor in his fights 😎 But he isn't what people would think an MMA fighter would be like. He is a wonderful dad, and he generally cares a lot about the people he loves.
Follow me on IG for more
https://www.instagram.com/minnie.love...
November 14, 2025
Cerrah ve MMA Dövüşçüsü aka Ağustosböceği ile Karınca 😄
Arran's Obsession’ nun içerisindeki küçük bi olayın novellaya evrilmiş hali. Alakasız iki kariyer sahibi iki kişinin aynı düzlemde içgüdüleri sayesinde denk gelmesi ay ne cümle kurdum be..
Kadın Cerrah, hayat yok kariyer var. 35 yaşına gelmiş ama geriye baktığında elinde bir şey yok, bir gün Divine’ daki bir oyunu duyar, katılmaya karar verir ve olaylar gelişir. Kısa ve tatlı bir okumaydı bu yazarı seviyorum 💗Bazı yerlerde atma Ziya olsam da bu kısalıktaki kitaptan yüksek beklentilerim yoktu.
Arran's Obsession’ nun içerisindeki küçük bi olayın novellaya evrilmiş hali. Alakasız iki kariyer sahibi iki kişinin aynı düzlemde içgüdüleri sayesinde denk gelmesi ay ne cümle kurdum be..
Kadın Cerrah, hayat yok kariyer var. 35 yaşına gelmiş ama geriye baktığında elinde bir şey yok, bir gün Divine’ daki bir oyunu duyar, katılmaya karar verir ve olaylar gelişir. Kısa ve tatlı bir okumaydı bu yazarı seviyorum 💗Bazı yerlerde atma Ziya olsam da bu kısalıktaki kitaptan yüksek beklentilerim yoktu.
May 16, 2025
A pulse pounding, and downright filthy good time! So happy to be back in Deadwater with new characters, but the same pulse pounding insanity that the Body Count Series is know for.
🥊 MMA Fighter
🩺 Surgeon
🥊 Dark Romance
🩺 Spicy Basement Sex Game... 😅
🥊 Light Stalking (the show we care!)
This novella is a spinoff story from Jolie's Body Count series. In Aaran's Obsession (the first book), you hear this elusive story about a surgeon and an MMA fighter finding love in this mysterious game where 20 men quite literally beat each other to a pulp to claim one of 5 women. And by "claim" I mean ✨ bow chicka bow wow ✨ in this warehouse basement to seal the deal while the entire thing is live streamed throughout an adjoining club 👀 The game is vicious, ruthless, and downright filthy. And apparently all of Jolie's fans (including myself) screamed so loud to hear these two's story that Jolie actually wrote it as a treat for us all. AND BOY WAS IT JUST THAT! 🤭
I love that Emmaline and Malachi were so obsessed with each other even before they entered the game. I would obviously love a story where the couple meets for the first time in the actual game, but this was a nice surprise.
The game itself had me on the edge of my seat. I obviously knew that the two of them were going to find each other, but it was scary there for a minute!
Although this is a spinoff novella, I see no reason why you couldn't read as a standalone. It doesn't spoil anything about the series other than I guess elements of "the game", but honestly I feel like it might entice you to read the rest of the series anyways.
I wanted back in this sex basement so bad and Jolie DELIVERED with this. This was just pure and simple fun! Honestly Jolie could write a million novellas of different couples coming out of this basement and I'd read them. The concept is just so fun! (& depraved, insane, & downright filthy but still fun lol). I also love an author who listens to their readers and delivers! Because this was 100% fan service, and I appreciated it so much 🥹🙌🏼
I can't wait for more Skeleton Crew and basement shenanigans later this year when the series continues! 💗
🥊 MMA Fighter
🩺 Surgeon
🥊 Dark Romance
🩺 Spicy Basement Sex Game... 😅
🥊 Light Stalking (the show we care!)
This novella is a spinoff story from Jolie's Body Count series. In Aaran's Obsession (the first book), you hear this elusive story about a surgeon and an MMA fighter finding love in this mysterious game where 20 men quite literally beat each other to a pulp to claim one of 5 women. And by "claim" I mean ✨ bow chicka bow wow ✨ in this warehouse basement to seal the deal while the entire thing is live streamed throughout an adjoining club 👀 The game is vicious, ruthless, and downright filthy. And apparently all of Jolie's fans (including myself) screamed so loud to hear these two's story that Jolie actually wrote it as a treat for us all. AND BOY WAS IT JUST THAT! 🤭
I love that Emmaline and Malachi were so obsessed with each other even before they entered the game. I would obviously love a story where the couple meets for the first time in the actual game, but this was a nice surprise.
The game itself had me on the edge of my seat. I obviously knew that the two of them were going to find each other, but it was scary there for a minute!
Although this is a spinoff novella, I see no reason why you couldn't read as a standalone. It doesn't spoil anything about the series other than I guess elements of "the game", but honestly I feel like it might entice you to read the rest of the series anyways.
I wanted back in this sex basement so bad and Jolie DELIVERED with this. This was just pure and simple fun! Honestly Jolie could write a million novellas of different couples coming out of this basement and I'd read them. The concept is just so fun! (& depraved, insane, & downright filthy but still fun lol). I also love an author who listens to their readers and delivers! Because this was 100% fan service, and I appreciated it so much 🥹🙌🏼
I can't wait for more Skeleton Crew and basement shenanigans later this year when the series continues! 💗
July 22, 2025
I picked this up after reading Arran mentioned one of the couples who were successfully matched by “the game “. Novellas don’t usually do it for me but I enjoyed this one. A quick romance read with a lot spice. Definitely worth reading if you enjoyed the Body Count series.
May 16, 2025
Qué puedo decir, esta es la mierda que a mí me va
August 3, 2025
3.5 stars
Not overly dark for the most part. Obviously ridiculous but entertaining.
Not overly dark for the most part. Obviously ridiculous but entertaining.
May 20, 2025
This felt like a perfect little appetizer before Skeleton Crew (which I can´t wait for)
May 8, 2025
I LOVED getting another story for a couple from the game. What a fantastic book.
There is just something about Malachi that TICKS every box! He’s strong, obsessive, protective, loving AND he cooks 😍😍
And Emmeline - she’s just a sweetheart.
I loved their chemistry, the attraction. The obsession they both had. Such a great connection. How they fought for each other
Must read!
There is just something about Malachi that TICKS every box! He’s strong, obsessive, protective, loving AND he cooks 😍😍
And Emmeline - she’s just a sweetheart.
I loved their chemistry, the attraction. The obsession they both had. Such a great connection. How they fought for each other
Must read!
December 4, 2025
This was the perfect little novella to give you a taste of the Body Count series. I loved this novella and devoured this book in a day (also helps it’s not many pages). It’s spicy, possessive and the dose you need to refresh your palate.
The characters knew from the start they wanted each other at random brief “meetings” and found a way to get to each other.
I haven’t read this series but I can tell you, I definitely will now.
The characters knew from the start they wanted each other at random brief “meetings” and found a way to get to each other.
I haven’t read this series but I can tell you, I definitely will now.
May 15, 2025
5⭐️ 4🌶️
Want a spicy primal novella?
This is it.
I immediately sunk into this and devoured every word.
The two main characters are both instantly likeable and as obsessed as the other.
Yes this attraction at first glance (strong freaking primal level need!) and I loved it.
I enjoyed getting more of the game - in which 20 men are let loose in a basement to hunt down the 5 women (it’s all consenting and they’ve signed up).
I adored seeing the time after the game too and how these two spent their contracted month together.
If you’re into primal k!nk this one is for you!!!
Want a spicy primal novella?
This is it.
I immediately sunk into this and devoured every word.
The two main characters are both instantly likeable and as obsessed as the other.
Yes this attraction at first glance (strong freaking primal level need!) and I loved it.
I enjoyed getting more of the game - in which 20 men are let loose in a basement to hunt down the 5 women (it’s all consenting and they’ve signed up).
I adored seeing the time after the game too and how these two spent their contracted month together.
If you’re into primal k!nk this one is for you!!!
July 4, 2025
2.75 🌟
Concept: 🙂↕️
Execution: 🙂↔️
Concept: 🙂↕️
Execution: 🙂↔️
August 4, 2025
5/5 ⭐️
3/5 🌶️
Novella
Insta-lust/love
FMC surgeon
MMC MMA fighter
Primal play game
Great short read! Good spice!
3/5 🌶️
Novella
Insta-lust/love
FMC surgeon
MMC MMA fighter
Primal play game
Great short read! Good spice!
December 15, 2025
short, smutty but not enough tension in my opinion.
November 28, 2025
⭐ 4/5 🌶️ 4/5
Spicy little novella from the body count series that follow a pair of contestants from ‘the game’. Enjoyable, well written, love a HEA 🥰
Spicy little novella from the body count series that follow a pair of contestants from ‘the game’. Enjoyable, well written, love a HEA 🥰
May 13, 2025
I got an ARC copy….
A surgeon, an MMA fighter, and just a sprinkle of the best kind of stalking—sign me up.
This novella is like a shot of espresso with a whiskey chaser: fast, bold, and a little unhinged. Our workaholic surgeon’s built an empire with steady hands and zero time for distractions— until someone worth googling late at night popped up. Meanwhile, the MMA fighter could knock you out or make you swoon—either way, you’re begging for more.
Jolie Vines serves up high heat, chaotic flirting, and just enough "light stalking" to keep it spicy without calling the cops. If you’re into intense vibes and drama in under 150 pages, this is your kind of wild ride.
A surgeon, an MMA fighter, and just a sprinkle of the best kind of stalking—sign me up.
This novella is like a shot of espresso with a whiskey chaser: fast, bold, and a little unhinged. Our workaholic surgeon’s built an empire with steady hands and zero time for distractions— until someone worth googling late at night popped up. Meanwhile, the MMA fighter could knock you out or make you swoon—either way, you’re begging for more.
Jolie Vines serves up high heat, chaotic flirting, and just enough "light stalking" to keep it spicy without calling the cops. If you’re into intense vibes and drama in under 150 pages, this is your kind of wild ride.
May 23, 2025
4,5/5 ⭐ 3,5/5 🌶️
Waouh, perfect novella. Good job, Mrs. Vines. Now, excuse me, I have to go and re-read Arran's obsession 😅
Waouh, perfect novella. Good job, Mrs. Vines. Now, excuse me, I have to go and re-read Arran's obsession 😅
May 20, 2025
UPDATED! I devoured the original version of this novella. I love Malachi and Emmaline. I would love a whole book series devoted to them. They captured my heart start to finish. I love that they have a compatible type of crazy. I finished the expanded novella recently and it just made me love this couple even more. I am so excited to read the upcoming installment of "The Game."
March 1, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Great little story from the body count series, the game really does something to a couple and I hope the author brings the game back in the next series.
May 15, 2025
Very hot, very steamy and very addictive! As a surgeon, Emmeline is used to taking charge in a crisis situation, making the decisions and taking responsibility for the results, good or bad. She has no private life to speak of, but she wants to change that and will have the time to do so when she takes on a consultant position. When she hears about The Game, she is intrigued enough to want to know more, and to take the steps necessary to become one of the ladies being chased by twenty lust filled men. Her fantasies have been filled with a certain hot and sexy MMA fighter after seeing a part of his last interview on TV. She is not looking for staid, safe and slow. Rather Emmeline wants to be caught and claimed by someone who will take the reins and not stop until they are both satisfied. Someone like Malachi.
Lucky girl gets just what she wants. Malachi is intrigued and interested in being part of “The Game” too, even more so after he catches a glimpse of Emmeline during the interview process and hears her voice. MINE is all he is thinking and feeling and he makes sure that not only are they part of the same game, he is the one to catch and claim her. He lives up to his nickname of “Warrior.” Mutual obsession gives way to an almost feral need for each other and unbridled passion. Think supernova hot with plenty of sparks that they are in danger of burning down everything around them.
I loved the mutual obsession, the superheated chemistry and the soul-deep connection between them. I also love that he isn’t intimidated by a super smart woman, that he treats her like a queen and is over-the-top protective and possessive. I love that Emmeline isn’t afraid to go after what she wants, to steer away from safe and easy to take a chance on an unorthodox and uncertain path to love. Their story has a few twists, but they discover that they can get through anything together. As I stated at the beginning, this book is addictive! It is one I will be reading again and again.
I give this book two thumbs up, five big, beautiful stars and my highest recommendation.
Lucky girl gets just what she wants. Malachi is intrigued and interested in being part of “The Game” too, even more so after he catches a glimpse of Emmeline during the interview process and hears her voice. MINE is all he is thinking and feeling and he makes sure that not only are they part of the same game, he is the one to catch and claim her. He lives up to his nickname of “Warrior.” Mutual obsession gives way to an almost feral need for each other and unbridled passion. Think supernova hot with plenty of sparks that they are in danger of burning down everything around them.
I loved the mutual obsession, the superheated chemistry and the soul-deep connection between them. I also love that he isn’t intimidated by a super smart woman, that he treats her like a queen and is over-the-top protective and possessive. I love that Emmeline isn’t afraid to go after what she wants, to steer away from safe and easy to take a chance on an unorthodox and uncertain path to love. Their story has a few twists, but they discover that they can get through anything together. As I stated at the beginning, this book is addictive! It is one I will be reading again and again.
I give this book two thumbs up, five big, beautiful stars and my highest recommendation.
August 24, 2025
Crazy, Unhinged, and So Perfect Together
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐️
Heat Level: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
📚E-BOOK📚 & 🎧AUDIO🎧
I’ve been in a bit of a book slump lately, and I’m not sure why I hit such a dry spell. Thankfully, The Game: The Surgeon and the MMA Fighter by Jolie Vines (narrated by Allie Rose and Lucas Webley) was exactly the kind of dark, immersive story I needed to get my groove back. I listened to the dual narration audiobook for full immersion, which was a great choice.
This novella doesn’t rely on an overwhelming amount of drama, but it ties seamlessly into the Body Count series while standing strong as its own story. The trope is unhinged yet exciting, and I was hooked from the start.
The connection between Emmeline and Malachi is electric. They are both unhinged in the best possible way, which makes them a perfect match despite coming from completely different worlds—an accomplished surgeon and a ruthless MMA fighter. Their obsession with one another, even before entering the game, added intensity and depth to their dynamic. While I would love to see a version where the couple meets for the first time inside the game, this twist was a pleasant surprise.
The game itself had me on edge. Even knowing the outcome, there were moments where the tension was sharp and I found myself holding my breath. Jolie Vines balances the darker elements with an addictive, thrilling pace that made it hard to stop listening.
Although this is technically a spinoff novella (book 3.5 in the Body Count series), it can easily be read as a standalone. It doesn’t spoil much beyond teasing the concept of “the game”—and if anything, it’s likely to draw readers deeper into the rest of the series.
Dark, obsessive, and undeniably intense, The Game: The Surgeon and the MMA Fighter is a gripping addition to this world. I would love to see more stories like this in the future.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐️
Heat Level: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
📚E-BOOK📚 & 🎧AUDIO🎧
I’ve been in a bit of a book slump lately, and I’m not sure why I hit such a dry spell. Thankfully, The Game: The Surgeon and the MMA Fighter by Jolie Vines (narrated by Allie Rose and Lucas Webley) was exactly the kind of dark, immersive story I needed to get my groove back. I listened to the dual narration audiobook for full immersion, which was a great choice.
This novella doesn’t rely on an overwhelming amount of drama, but it ties seamlessly into the Body Count series while standing strong as its own story. The trope is unhinged yet exciting, and I was hooked from the start.
The connection between Emmeline and Malachi is electric. They are both unhinged in the best possible way, which makes them a perfect match despite coming from completely different worlds—an accomplished surgeon and a ruthless MMA fighter. Their obsession with one another, even before entering the game, added intensity and depth to their dynamic. While I would love to see a version where the couple meets for the first time inside the game, this twist was a pleasant surprise.
The game itself had me on edge. Even knowing the outcome, there were moments where the tension was sharp and I found myself holding my breath. Jolie Vines balances the darker elements with an addictive, thrilling pace that made it hard to stop listening.
Although this is technically a spinoff novella (book 3.5 in the Body Count series), it can easily be read as a standalone. It doesn’t spoil much beyond teasing the concept of “the game”—and if anything, it’s likely to draw readers deeper into the rest of the series.
Dark, obsessive, and undeniably intense, The Game: The Surgeon and the MMA Fighter is a gripping addition to this world. I would love to see more stories like this in the future.
May 16, 2025
We all know that the body count series was only a teaser for our appetite of this amazing universe. While we wait for the Skeleton Crew to release this fall why not enjoy a fun, fast paced, steaming jump back into all of the fun.
The Surgeon and the MMA Fighter gives us a new perspective of The Game and what might entice people to join. Emmeline is a busy surgeon that seems to have it all, but with her busy job she just doesn't have time to date. She longs to find someone who will take care of her outside of work, like she takes care of everyone during the day. When she hears about The Game, she is intrigued and wonders if this is the answer to all her darkest dreams.
Malachi is at the top of his game. He is the top MMA fighter, but his personal life leaves something to be desired. He wants to find a woman of his own that he can care for and love. He is determined to join The Game to try to find it.
When Malachi and Emmeline bump into each other during the interview process sparks fly. Malachi knows that she is the one that he wants. Should he face 19 other men in the Game to try to win her for himself to try to find her outside of the Game and hope he can win her heart?
Will they be able to make things work outside of The Game or are they meant to only have each other for a short time? How do they make it work with work, kids, and danger lurking in the dark?
This was a fast, fun, and steamy read. I loved catching a glimpse of some of our favorite characters and getting to see different desires that drive people to enter The Game. I cannot get enough of this series in any shape or form. If you have not already read the Skeleton Crew books, what are you waiting for? Check them out today and check out the Surgeon and the MMA Fight today.
The Surgeon and the MMA Fighter gives us a new perspective of The Game and what might entice people to join. Emmeline is a busy surgeon that seems to have it all, but with her busy job she just doesn't have time to date. She longs to find someone who will take care of her outside of work, like she takes care of everyone during the day. When she hears about The Game, she is intrigued and wonders if this is the answer to all her darkest dreams.
Malachi is at the top of his game. He is the top MMA fighter, but his personal life leaves something to be desired. He wants to find a woman of his own that he can care for and love. He is determined to join The Game to try to find it.
When Malachi and Emmeline bump into each other during the interview process sparks fly. Malachi knows that she is the one that he wants. Should he face 19 other men in the Game to try to win her for himself to try to find her outside of the Game and hope he can win her heart?
Will they be able to make things work outside of The Game or are they meant to only have each other for a short time? How do they make it work with work, kids, and danger lurking in the dark?
This was a fast, fun, and steamy read. I loved catching a glimpse of some of our favorite characters and getting to see different desires that drive people to enter The Game. I cannot get enough of this series in any shape or form. If you have not already read the Skeleton Crew books, what are you waiting for? Check them out today and check out the Surgeon and the MMA Fight today.
November 3, 2025
𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐈 𝐬𝐚𝐰 𝐲𝐨𝐮, 𝐈 𝐤𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐲𝐨𝐮'𝐝 𝐛𝐞 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐞.
✧ ᴘʀɪᴍᴀʟ
✧ ᴍᴀꜱᴋꜱ
✧ ꜱᴜʀɢᴇᴏɴ & ᴍᴍᴀ ꜰɪɢʜᴛᴇʀ
✧ ꜱɪɴɢʟᴇ ᴅᴀᴅ
✧ ꜰᴏʀᴄᴇᴅ ᴘʀᴏxɪᴍɪᴛʏ
✧ ᴛᴏᴜᴄʜ ʜᴇʀ & ᴅɪᴇ
ꜰᴏʀ ᴀʟʟ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴏᴍᴇɴ ᴡʜᴏ ᴋᴇᴇᴘ ᴄᴏᴏʟ ᴄʜᴇᴇᴋꜱ ᴡʜɪʟᴇ ʀᴇᴀᴅɪɴɢ ꜱᴍᴜᴛ, ɪ ᴋɴᴏᴡ ʏᴏᴜ'ᴅ ɢɪᴠᴇ ᴛʜᴇᴍ ʜᴇʟʟ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ꜱᴀᴍᴇ.
𝐌𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐢 𝐇𝐮𝐧𝐚𝐧. The Warrior.
Thirty-five.
MMA Fighter.
Six-five.
Tattooed.
Dark blond hair with clear, pale-blue eyes.
Two daughters: Maisie and Petra.
Ｍａｌａｃｈｉ ☠︎ 𝐈 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐫𝐚𝐳𝐲.
𝐄𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐬.
Thirty-five.
Surgeon.
Tall and elegant.
Auburn hair and brown eyes.
Ｅｍｍｅｌｉｎｅ ❥ 𝐈 𝐡𝐚𝐝𝐧’𝐭 𝐲𝐞𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐝 𝐦𝐲 𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐭. 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐈 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐦𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐫 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐨𝐫.
The Game is held in the basement of a nightclub—twenty men, five women, and one brutal rule: it doesn't end until every woman has been claimed.
Ｅｍｍｅｌｉｎｅ ❥ “𝙸 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚍𝚘𝚌𝚝𝚘𝚛’𝚜 𝚕𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚐𝚎 𝚖𝚒𝚍𝚠𝚊𝚢 𝚝𝚑𝚛𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑 𝚖𝚢 𝚜𝚑𝚒𝚏𝚝. 𝚃𝚠𝚘 𝚐𝚞𝚢𝚜 𝚏𝚛𝚘𝚖 𝚘𝚛𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚙𝚊𝚎𝚍𝚒𝚌𝚜 𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚊𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚌𝚘𝚏𝚏𝚎𝚎 𝚖𝚊𝚌𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚎, 𝚍𝚒𝚜𝚌𝚞𝚜𝚜𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚊 𝚙𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚎𝚗𝚝 𝚠𝚑𝚘’𝚍 𝚜𝚞𝚏𝚏𝚎𝚛𝚎𝚍 𝚊 𝚋𝚊𝚍𝚕𝚢 𝚋𝚛𝚘𝚔𝚎𝚗 𝚊𝚛𝚖. 𝙷𝚎’𝚍 𝚋𝚎𝚎𝚗 𝚒𝚗 𝚊 𝚏𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚊 𝚠𝚘𝚖𝚊𝚗, 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚒𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚗𝚘 𝚌𝚊𝚜𝚞𝚊𝚕 𝚋𝚛𝚊𝚠𝚕. 𝚃𝚑𝚎𝚢 𝚍𝚎𝚜𝚌𝚛𝚒𝚋𝚎𝚍 𝚊 𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚍 𝚘𝚏 𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚜𝚝, 𝚛𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚌𝚒𝚝𝚢. 𝙸𝚝’𝚜 𝚙𝚑𝚢𝚜𝚒𝚌𝚊𝚕. 𝚃𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎’𝚜 𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚜𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚒𝚗𝚟𝚘𝚕𝚟𝚎𝚍. 𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚎𝚗 𝚑𝚞𝚗𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚗.”
Emmeline didn’t expect her life to collide with this world, but when Malachi spotted her leaving the office of Divide and Devine, he couldn’t look away. What started as curiosity quickly turned into obsession. Now, he’s in The Game, and he has only one goal: claim Emmeline.
Ｍａｌａｃｈｉ ☠︎ “𝙸 𝚌𝚕𝚊𝚒𝚖 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚊𝚜 𝚖𝚒𝚗𝚎, 𝙴𝚖𝚖𝚎𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚎.”
Once a woman is claimed, the rules change. Each new couple must follow strict guidelines for the next thirty days—bound together, whether they want it or not.
But for Malachi and Emmeline, what starts as a twisted chase might become something far more dangerous: a fixation neither of them expected.
Ｍａｌａｃｈｉ ☠︎ 𝙰𝚐𝚊𝚒𝚗𝚜𝚝 𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚘𝚍𝚍𝚜, 𝙸’𝚍 𝚐𝚘𝚝 𝚎𝚡𝚊𝚌𝚝𝚕𝚢 𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝙸 𝚠𝚊𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚍.
𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚘𝚗𝚕𝚢 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚛𝚝.
𝙸 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚊𝚕𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚍𝚢 𝚘𝚋𝚜𝚎𝚜𝚜𝚎𝚍 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝙴𝚖𝚖𝚎𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚎 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚑𝚊𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚠𝚊𝚕𝚔 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚝𝚒𝚐𝚑��𝚛𝚘𝚙𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚋𝚛𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚘𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚓𝚘𝚞𝚛𝚗𝚎𝚢 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚖𝚎.
Malachi and Emmeline shouldn’t work because on paper, they’re opposites. She’s polished, composed, and career-driven, with her life mapped out in clean lines and sharp decisions. He’s a brutal fighter with a reputation for violence and no interest in playing by society’s rules. But somehow, they fit.
Ｍａｌａｃｈｉ ☠︎ “𝙸’𝚖 𝚊 𝚏𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚎𝚛. 𝙼𝚒𝚡𝚎𝚍 𝚖𝚊𝚛𝚝𝚒𝚊𝚕 𝚊𝚛𝚝𝚜. 𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚞𝚛𝚐𝚎𝚘𝚗 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝙼𝙼𝙰 𝚏𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚎𝚛. 𝚆𝚎 𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚖𝚎𝚊𝚗𝚝 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚎𝚊𝚌𝚑 𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛. 𝙸 𝚔𝚗𝚎𝚠 𝚒𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚎𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚍 𝙸 𝚜𝚊𝚠 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚛𝚎𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚜𝚎 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚌𝚎𝚛𝚝𝚊𝚒𝚗𝚝𝚢 𝚘𝚗𝚕𝚢 𝚐𝚘𝚝 𝚜𝚝𝚛𝚘𝚗𝚐𝚎𝚛.”
Emmeline never pictured children in her future, yet the idea of becoming a stepmother lit something in her. Something tender. Something real. She spent years pouring herself into work, chasing success to fill the silence. Still, it wasn’t enough. Malachi gave her what she didn’t know she was missing: chaos, but also purpose. Not the kind found in boardrooms or on paper, but the kind that roots itself deep, that demands everything, and gives back something like belonging in return.
Ｍａｌａｃｈｉ ☠︎ 𝙴𝚖𝚖𝚎𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚎 𝚌𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍𝚗’𝚝 𝚋𝚎 𝚕𝚎𝚏𝚝 𝚒𝚗 𝚊𝚗𝚢 𝚍𝚘𝚞𝚋𝚝 𝚊𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚎𝚗𝚍 𝚘𝚏 𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚛𝚝𝚢 𝚍𝚊𝚢𝚜. 𝙸’𝚍 𝚜𝚑𝚘𝚠 𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚌𝚛𝚊𝚣𝚢 𝙸’𝚍 𝚝𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚌𝚎𝚊𝚕. 𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚘𝚛𝚕𝚍 𝚠𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠 𝚜𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚖𝚒𝚗𝚎.
Overall, I really enjoyed the novella and the deeper look it gave into this couple that was briefly referenced in Arran’s Obsession. It added layers to the world and characters in a satisfying way. I also loved the connection between Emmeline and her friend—the redhead who was also mentioned in Arran’s Obsession.
Ａｎｎｉｅ ✧ “𝙸 𝚝𝚘𝚕𝚍 𝚑𝚒𝚖 𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚖𝚢 𝚏𝚊𝚞𝚕𝚝𝚜 𝚏𝚒𝚛𝚜𝚝. 𝙸 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚗 𝚕𝚒𝚏𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚖𝚢 𝚝𝚘𝚙 𝚝𝚘 𝚜𝚑𝚘𝚠 𝚑𝚒𝚖 𝚖𝚢 𝚋𝚎𝚕𝚕𝚢, 𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑 𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚊𝚒𝚍 𝚒𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚞𝚗𝚗𝚎𝚌𝚎𝚜𝚜𝚊𝚛𝚢. 𝙷𝚎 𝚜𝚊𝚒𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚢 𝚝𝚛𝚢 𝚝𝚘 𝚖𝚊𝚝𝚌𝚑 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚙𝚘𝚝𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚒𝚊𝚕 𝚙𝚊𝚒𝚛𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝚞𝚙 𝚊𝚜 𝚋𝚎𝚜𝚝 𝚊𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚢 𝚌𝚊𝚗. 𝙵𝚘𝚛 𝚎𝚡𝚊𝚖𝚙𝚕𝚎, 𝚒𝚏 𝚊 𝚠𝚘𝚖𝚊𝚗 𝚒𝚜 𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚙𝚕𝚎𝚝𝚎𝚕𝚢 𝚊𝚐𝚊𝚒𝚗𝚜𝚝 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚖𝚘𝚛𝚎 𝚌𝚑𝚒𝚕𝚍𝚛𝚎𝚗, 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚑𝚊𝚕𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚎𝚗 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚢 𝚠𝚊𝚗𝚝 𝚊 𝚋𝚊𝚋𝚢, 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚢 𝚙𝚛𝚘𝚋𝚊𝚋𝚕𝚢 𝚠𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍𝚗’𝚝 𝚙𝚞𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚖 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚊𝚖𝚎 𝚐𝚊𝚖𝚎. 𝚂𝚊𝚖𝚎 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚖𝚎. 𝙸 𝚜𝚊𝚒𝚍 𝙸 𝚍𝚒𝚍𝚗’𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚗𝚝 𝚊 𝚝𝚠𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚢-𝚢𝚎𝚊𝚛-𝚘𝚕𝚍 𝚌𝚊𝚝𝚌𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚖𝚎, 𝚜𝚘 𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚊𝚒𝚍 𝙸’𝚍 𝚋𝚎 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚐𝚊𝚖𝚎 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚘𝚕𝚍𝚎𝚛 𝚐𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚕𝚎𝚖𝚎𝚗. 𝙸 𝚑𝚊𝚍 𝚗𝚘 𝚒𝚍𝚎𝚊 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚢 𝚊𝚛𝚛𝚊𝚗𝚐𝚎𝚍 𝚒𝚝 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝.”
Annie, the redhead, was claimed by a tall man with brown hair and a neatly kept beard. He had a more polished presence compared to the others, which made him stand out. I really hope we get a novella about them, too. I’m already intrigued by their dynamic!
Ｅｍｍｅｌｉｎｅ ❥ 𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚋𝚞𝚣𝚣𝚎𝚛 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚋𝚊𝚜𝚎𝚖𝚎𝚗𝚝 𝚍𝚎𝚖𝚊𝚗𝚍𝚎𝚍 𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚊𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗 𝚛𝚎𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚗 𝚝𝚘 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚌𝚛𝚎𝚎𝚗𝚜.
𝙾𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚊𝚒𝚗 𝚘𝚗𝚎, 𝙰𝚗𝚗𝚒𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚊𝚛𝚖𝚜 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚒𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚕𝚕𝚒𝚐𝚎𝚗𝚝-𝚕𝚘𝚘𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚐, 𝚋𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚍𝚎𝚍 𝚖𝚊𝚗 𝚠𝚎’𝚍 𝚙𝚒𝚌𝚔𝚎𝚍 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚑𝚎𝚛. 𝙷𝚎 𝚌𝚊𝚛𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚍 𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚒𝚗 𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚊𝚛𝚖𝚜 𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚍𝚘𝚘𝚛, 𝚙𝚊𝚜𝚜𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚊 𝚌𝚑𝚎𝚎𝚛𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚌𝚛𝚘𝚠𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚒𝚗𝚌𝚕𝚞𝚍𝚎𝚍 𝙿𝚎𝚘𝚗𝚒𝚎 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝙹𝚊𝚌𝚘𝚋.
𝙰 𝚕𝚊𝚞𝚐𝚑 𝚏𝚕𝚎𝚠 𝚏𝚛𝚘𝚖 𝚖𝚢 𝚕𝚒𝚙𝚜. 𝙼𝚊𝚕𝚊𝚌𝚑𝚒’𝚜 𝚓𝚘𝚒𝚗𝚎𝚍 𝚒𝚝, 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚑𝚎 𝚛𝚘𝚕𝚕𝚎𝚍 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚑𝚞𝚐𝚐𝚎𝚍 𝚖𝚎. 𝙰𝚕𝚕 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚛𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚘𝚛𝚕𝚍.
𝙰𝚕𝚕 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚎𝚡𝚊𝚌𝚝𝚕𝚢 𝚊𝚜 𝚒𝚝 𝚜𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚋𝚎. 𝙸 𝚌𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍𝚗’𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚒𝚝 𝚝𝚘 𝚜𝚎𝚎 𝚖𝚢 𝚏𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚗𝚍 𝚊𝚜 𝚒𝚗 𝚕𝚘𝚟𝚎 𝚊𝚜 𝚠𝚎 𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚎.
ᴀʀʀᴀɴ'ꜱ ᴏʙꜱᴇꜱꜱɪᴏɴ〘ʙᴏᴅʏ ᴄᴏᴜɴᴛ, #1〙★★★☆☆
ᴄᴏɴɴᴏʀ'ꜱ ᴄʟᴀɪᴍ〘ʙᴏᴅʏ ᴄᴏᴜɴᴛ, #2〙★★★★☆
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ᴋᴀɴᴇ'ꜱ ᴘʀᴇʏ〘ꜱᴋᴇʟᴇᴛᴏɴ ᴄʀᴇᴡ, #2〙 ᴊᴀɴᴜᴀʀʏ 29, 2026
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➤ “ʟᴇᴛ’ꜱ ᴊᴜꜱᴛ ꜱᴀʏ ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ’ꜱ ᴀ ꜱᴘᴇᴄɪᴀʟ ᴡᴏᴍᴀɴ ᴏᴜᴛ ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ ꜰᴏʀ ᴍᴇ, ᴀɴᴅ ɪ ᴄᴀɴ’ᴛ ᴡᴀɪᴛ ᴛᴏ ᴄʜᴀꜱᴇ ʜᴇʀ ᴅᴏᴡɴ.”
➤ ᴛᴀʟʟ ᴀɴᴅ ᴇʟᴇɢᴀɴᴛ, ꜱʜᴇ ʜᴀᴅ ᴀ ᴘʜᴏɴᴇ ᴄʟᴜᴛᴄʜᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ʜᴇʀ ᴇᴀʀ ᴀɴᴅ ᴀᴜʙᴜʀɴ ʜᴀɪʀ ᴜᴘ ɪɴ ᴀ ᴛɪᴅʏ ʙᴜɴ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ɪ ɪᴍᴍᴇᴅɪᴀᴛᴇʟʏ ᴡᴀɴᴛᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴍᴇꜱꜱ ᴜᴘ.
➤ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡᴏᴍᴀɴ ɴᴇᴇᴅᴇᴅ ᴀ ᴘʀᴏᴛᴇᴄᴛᴏʀ ɪɴ ʜᴇʀ ʟɪꜰᴇ, ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴡᴀꜱ ꜰᴏʀ ꜱᴜʀᴇ. ꜱʜᴇ ʜᴀᴅ ᴘᴇᴏᴘʟᴇ ᴛᴀᴋɪɴɢ ᴀᴅᴠᴀɴᴛᴀɢᴇ ᴏꜰ ʜᴇʀ ᴀʟʟ ᴏᴠᴇʀ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘʟᴀᴄᴇ.
➤ ʜᴏᴡ ᴡᴀꜱ ɪᴛ ɪ ᴀʟʀᴇᴀᴅʏ ᴋɴᴇᴡ ᴛʜᴇ ꜱʜᴀᴘᴇ ᴏꜰ ʜɪꜱ ʟɪᴘꜱ ᴡʜᴇɴ ᴛʜᴇʏ ʜᴀᴅ ɴᴇᴠᴇʀ ᴛᴀꜱᴛᴇᴅ ᴍɪɴᴇ ᴜɴᴛɪʟ ᴛʜɪꜱ ᴍᴏᴍᴇɴᴛ?
➤ “ɪ ɴᴇᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴄᴏᴍᴇ ꜱᴏ ɪ ᴄᴀɴ ɢᴇᴛ ʏᴏᴜ ᴛʜᴇ ꜰᴜᴄᴋ ᴏᴜᴛ ᴏꜰ ʜᴇʀᴇ, ʙᴜᴛ ɪ ꜱᴡᴇᴀʀ ɪ’ʟʟ ᴛᴀᴋᴇ ᴛɪᴍᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴅᴏ ᴛʜɪꜱ ʀɪɢʜᴛ ᴏɴᴄᴇ ᴡᴇ’ʀᴇ ʜᴏᴍᴇ. ɪ’ʟʟ ᴡᴏʀꜱʜɪᴘ ᴇᴠᴇʀʏ ᴘᴀʀᴛ ᴏꜰ ʏᴏᴜʀ ɪɴᴄʀᴇᴅɪʙʟᴇ ʙᴏᴅʏ.”
➤ ᴇᴍᴍᴇʟɪɴᴇ ɢᴀᴠᴇ ᴀ ꜱᴏꜰᴛ ᴍᴏᴀɴ. ꜱʜᴇ ꜱʜɪꜰᴛᴇᴅ, ᴀɴᴅ ʜᴇʀ ʜᴀɴᴅ ᴛʀᴀᴠᴇʟʟᴇᴅ ᴅᴏᴡɴ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇᴛᴡᴇᴇɴ ʜᴇʀ ʟᴇɢꜱ. ꜱʜᴇ ᴛᴏᴜᴄʜᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴛʜɪᴄᴋ ʙᴀꜱᴇ ᴏꜰ ᴍʏ ᴅɪᴄᴋ ᴡʜᴇʀᴇ ɪᴛ ꜱᴘʀᴇᴀᴅ ʜᴇʀ. “ʏᴏᴜ’ʀᴇ ɪɴꜱɪᴅᴇ ᴍᴇ.”
➤ “ꜰᴏʀ ᴀ ᴡᴏᴍᴀɴ ᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘɪɴɴᴀᴄʟᴇ ᴏꜰ ʜᴇʀ ᴄᴀʀᴇᴇʀ, ʏᴏᴜ ɴᴇᴇᴅ ᴀʟʟ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ʜᴇᴀᴅꜱᴘᴀᴄᴇ ꜰᴏʀ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴊᴏʙ. ꜰᴏʀ ᴇᴠᴇʀʏᴛʜɪɴɢ ᴇʟꜱᴇ, ʏᴏᴜ ɴᴇᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇ ᴏᴡɴᴇᴅ. ʏᴏᴜ ɴᴇᴇᴅᴇᴅ ᴀ ᴍᴀɴ ᴛᴏ ᴛᴀᴋᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ʀᴇɪɴꜱ ᴀɴᴅ ᴅɪᴄᴋ ʏᴏᴜ ɢᴏᴏᴅ.”
➤ “ɪ’ᴍ ɴᴏᴛ ᴀ ʀᴇᴀꜱᴏɴᴀʙʟᴇ ᴍᴀɴ.” ɪ ᴘᴜɴᴄᴛᴜᴀᴛᴇᴅ ᴍʏ ᴡᴏʀᴅꜱ ᴡɪᴛʜ ʜᴀʀᴅ ᴛʜʀᴜꜱᴛꜱ. “ɪᴛ’ꜱ ɢᴏɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ᴛᴀᴋᴇ ᴍᴇ ꜱᴏᴍᴇ ᴛɪᴍᴇ ᴛᴏ ʜᴀɴᴅʟᴇ ʜᴏᴡ ɪ ꜰᴇᴇʟ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ʏᴏᴜ.”
➤ “ᴏɴᴇ ᴛɪᴍᴇ ᴡᴇ ᴡᴇɴᴛ, ɪᴛ ᴡᴀꜱ ᴡʜᴇɴ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ɢɪʀʟ ꜱᴛᴀʙʙᴇᴅ ʜᴇʀ ᴍᴀɴ ᴡɪᴛʜ ʜᴇʀ ʜᴇᴇʟ.”
➤ “ʏᴏᴜ ᴅɪᴅɴ’ᴛ ʜᴇᴀʀ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ɪᴛ? ʜᴇ’ꜱ ꜱᴏᴍᴇ ʙɪʟʟɪᴏɴᴀɪʀᴇ, ᴀɴᴅ ꜱʜᴇ ʜᴀꜱ ᴀ ᴛᴇᴍᴘᴇʀ ꜰᴏʀ ᴅᴀʏꜱ. ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ꜱᴛɪʟʟ ꜰᴜᴄᴋɪɴɢ ᴡʜɪʟᴇ ʜᴇ ᴡʀᴇꜱᴛʟᴇᴅ ʜᴇʀ ᴛᴏ ʜɪꜱ ᴄᴀʀ, ᴄᴏᴠᴇʀᴇᴅ ɪɴ ʙʟᴏᴏᴅ. ɪ’ᴠᴇ ʜᴇᴀʀᴅ ꜱᴛᴏʀɪᴇꜱ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ᴛʜᴇᴍ ꜱɪɴᴄᴇ.” ᴀɴɴɪᴇ ɢᴀꜱᴘᴇᴅ. “ᴛʜᴇʏ’ʀᴇ ꜱᴛɪʟʟ ᴛᴏɢᴇᴛʜᴇʀ?” “ᴏꜰ ᴄᴏᴜʀꜱᴇ. ᴀᴘᴘᴀʀᴇɴᴛʟʏ, ꜱʜᴇ’ʟʟ ꜱᴛᴀʟᴋ ɪɴᴛᴏ ʜɪꜱ ᴍᴇᴇᴛɪɴɢꜱ ʙᴇᴄᴀᴜꜱᴇ ʜᴇ’ꜱ ᴘɪꜱꜱᴇᴅ ʜᴇʀ ᴏꜰꜰ, ᴀɴᴅ ʜᴇ’ʟʟ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ʜᴇʀ ᴏᴠᴇʀ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴏɴꜰᴇʀᴇɴᴄᴇ ᴛᴀʙʟᴇ ᴀʟᴍᴏꜱᴛ ʙᴇꜰᴏʀᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ᴇxᴇᴄꜱ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ʜᴀᴅ ᴀ ᴄʜᴀɴᴄᴇ ᴛᴏ ꜱᴄᴀᴛᴛᴇʀ.”
✧ ᴘʀɪᴍᴀʟ
✧ ᴍᴀꜱᴋꜱ
✧ ꜱᴜʀɢᴇᴏɴ & ᴍᴍᴀ ꜰɪɢʜᴛᴇʀ
✧ ꜱɪɴɢʟᴇ ᴅᴀᴅ
✧ ꜰᴏʀᴄᴇᴅ ᴘʀᴏxɪᴍɪᴛʏ
✧ ᴛᴏᴜᴄʜ ʜᴇʀ & ᴅɪᴇ
ꜰᴏʀ ᴀʟʟ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴏᴍᴇɴ ᴡʜᴏ ᴋᴇᴇᴘ ᴄᴏᴏʟ ᴄʜᴇᴇᴋꜱ ᴡʜɪʟᴇ ʀᴇᴀᴅɪɴɢ ꜱᴍᴜᴛ, ɪ ᴋɴᴏᴡ ʏᴏᴜ'ᴅ ɢɪᴠᴇ ᴛʜᴇᴍ ʜᴇʟʟ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ꜱᴀᴍᴇ.
𝐌𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐢 𝐇𝐮𝐧𝐚𝐧. The Warrior.
Thirty-five.
MMA Fighter.
Six-five.
Tattooed.
Dark blond hair with clear, pale-blue eyes.
Two daughters: Maisie and Petra.
Ｍａｌａｃｈｉ ☠︎ 𝐈 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐫𝐚𝐳𝐲.
𝐄𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐬.
Thirty-five.
Surgeon.
Tall and elegant.
Auburn hair and brown eyes.
Ｅｍｍｅｌｉｎｅ ❥ 𝐈 𝐡𝐚𝐝𝐧’𝐭 𝐲𝐞𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐝 𝐦𝐲 𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐭. 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐈 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐦𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐫 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐨𝐫.
The Game is held in the basement of a nightclub—twenty men, five women, and one brutal rule: it doesn't end until every woman has been claimed.
Ｅｍｍｅｌｉｎｅ ❥ “𝙸 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚍𝚘𝚌𝚝𝚘𝚛’𝚜 𝚕𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚐𝚎 𝚖𝚒𝚍𝚠𝚊𝚢 𝚝𝚑𝚛𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑 𝚖𝚢 𝚜𝚑𝚒𝚏𝚝. 𝚃𝚠𝚘 𝚐𝚞𝚢𝚜 𝚏𝚛𝚘𝚖 𝚘𝚛𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚙𝚊𝚎𝚍𝚒𝚌𝚜 𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚊𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚌𝚘𝚏𝚏𝚎𝚎 𝚖𝚊𝚌𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚎, 𝚍𝚒𝚜𝚌𝚞𝚜𝚜𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚊 𝚙𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚎𝚗𝚝 𝚠𝚑𝚘’𝚍 𝚜𝚞𝚏𝚏𝚎𝚛𝚎𝚍 𝚊 𝚋𝚊𝚍𝚕𝚢 𝚋𝚛𝚘𝚔𝚎𝚗 𝚊𝚛𝚖. 𝙷𝚎’𝚍 𝚋𝚎𝚎𝚗 𝚒𝚗 𝚊 𝚏𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚊 𝚠𝚘𝚖𝚊𝚗, 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚒𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚗𝚘 𝚌𝚊𝚜𝚞𝚊𝚕 𝚋𝚛𝚊𝚠𝚕. 𝚃𝚑𝚎𝚢 𝚍𝚎𝚜𝚌𝚛𝚒𝚋𝚎𝚍 𝚊 𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚍 𝚘𝚏 𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚜𝚝, 𝚛𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚌𝚒𝚝𝚢. 𝙸𝚝’𝚜 𝚙𝚑𝚢𝚜𝚒𝚌𝚊𝚕. 𝚃𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎’𝚜 𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚜𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚒𝚗𝚟𝚘𝚕𝚟𝚎𝚍. 𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚎𝚗 𝚑𝚞𝚗𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚗.”
Emmeline didn’t expect her life to collide with this world, but when Malachi spotted her leaving the office of Divide and Devine, he couldn’t look away. What started as curiosity quickly turned into obsession. Now, he’s in The Game, and he has only one goal: claim Emmeline.
Ｍａｌａｃｈｉ ☠︎ “𝙸 𝚌𝚕𝚊𝚒𝚖 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚊𝚜 𝚖𝚒𝚗𝚎, 𝙴𝚖𝚖𝚎𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚎.”
Once a woman is claimed, the rules change. Each new couple must follow strict guidelines for the next thirty days—bound together, whether they want it or not.
But for Malachi and Emmeline, what starts as a twisted chase might become something far more dangerous: a fixation neither of them expected.
Ｍａｌａｃｈｉ ☠︎ 𝙰𝚐𝚊𝚒𝚗𝚜𝚝 𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚘𝚍𝚍𝚜, 𝙸’𝚍 𝚐𝚘𝚝 𝚎𝚡𝚊𝚌𝚝𝚕𝚢 𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝙸 𝚠𝚊𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚍.
𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚘𝚗𝚕𝚢 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚛𝚝.
𝙸 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚊𝚕𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚍𝚢 𝚘𝚋𝚜𝚎𝚜𝚜𝚎𝚍 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝙴𝚖𝚖𝚎𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚎 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚑𝚊𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚠𝚊𝚕𝚔 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚝𝚒𝚐𝚑��𝚛𝚘𝚙𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚋𝚛𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚘𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚓𝚘𝚞𝚛𝚗𝚎𝚢 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚖𝚎.
Malachi and Emmeline shouldn’t work because on paper, they’re opposites. She’s polished, composed, and career-driven, with her life mapped out in clean lines and sharp decisions. He’s a brutal fighter with a reputation for violence and no interest in playing by society’s rules. But somehow, they fit.
Ｍａｌａｃｈｉ ☠︎ “𝙸’𝚖 𝚊 𝚏𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚎𝚛. 𝙼𝚒𝚡𝚎𝚍 𝚖𝚊𝚛𝚝𝚒𝚊𝚕 𝚊𝚛𝚝𝚜. 𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚞𝚛𝚐𝚎𝚘𝚗 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝙼𝙼𝙰 𝚏𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚎𝚛. 𝚆𝚎 𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚖𝚎𝚊𝚗𝚝 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚎𝚊𝚌𝚑 𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛. 𝙸 𝚔𝚗𝚎𝚠 𝚒𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚎𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚍 𝙸 𝚜𝚊𝚠 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚛𝚎𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚜𝚎 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚌𝚎𝚛𝚝𝚊𝚒𝚗𝚝𝚢 𝚘𝚗𝚕𝚢 𝚐𝚘𝚝 𝚜𝚝𝚛𝚘𝚗𝚐𝚎𝚛.”
Emmeline never pictured children in her future, yet the idea of becoming a stepmother lit something in her. Something tender. Something real. She spent years pouring herself into work, chasing success to fill the silence. Still, it wasn’t enough. Malachi gave her what she didn’t know she was missing: chaos, but also purpose. Not the kind found in boardrooms or on paper, but the kind that roots itself deep, that demands everything, and gives back something like belonging in return.
Ｍａｌａｃｈｉ ☠︎ 𝙴𝚖𝚖𝚎𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚎 𝚌𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍𝚗’𝚝 𝚋𝚎 𝚕𝚎𝚏𝚝 𝚒𝚗 𝚊𝚗𝚢 𝚍𝚘𝚞𝚋𝚝 𝚊𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚎𝚗𝚍 𝚘𝚏 𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚛𝚝𝚢 𝚍𝚊𝚢𝚜. 𝙸’𝚍 𝚜𝚑𝚘𝚠 𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚌𝚛𝚊𝚣𝚢 𝙸’𝚍 𝚝𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚌𝚎𝚊𝚕. 𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚘𝚛𝚕𝚍 𝚠𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠 𝚜𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚖𝚒𝚗𝚎.
Overall, I really enjoyed the novella and the deeper look it gave into this couple that was briefly referenced in Arran’s Obsession. It added layers to the world and characters in a satisfying way. I also loved the connection between Emmeline and her friend—the redhead who was also mentioned in Arran’s Obsession.
Ａｎｎｉｅ ✧ “𝙸 𝚝𝚘𝚕𝚍 𝚑𝚒𝚖 𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚖𝚢 𝚏𝚊𝚞𝚕𝚝𝚜 𝚏𝚒𝚛𝚜𝚝. 𝙸 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚗 𝚕𝚒𝚏𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚖𝚢 𝚝𝚘𝚙 𝚝𝚘 𝚜𝚑𝚘𝚠 𝚑𝚒𝚖 𝚖𝚢 𝚋𝚎𝚕𝚕𝚢, 𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑 𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚊𝚒𝚍 𝚒𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚞𝚗𝚗𝚎𝚌𝚎𝚜𝚜𝚊𝚛𝚢. 𝙷𝚎 𝚜𝚊𝚒𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚢 𝚝𝚛𝚢 𝚝𝚘 𝚖𝚊𝚝𝚌𝚑 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚙𝚘𝚝𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚒𝚊𝚕 𝚙𝚊𝚒𝚛𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝚞𝚙 𝚊𝚜 𝚋𝚎𝚜𝚝 𝚊𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚢 𝚌𝚊𝚗. 𝙵𝚘𝚛 𝚎𝚡𝚊𝚖𝚙𝚕𝚎, 𝚒𝚏 𝚊 𝚠𝚘𝚖𝚊𝚗 𝚒𝚜 𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚙𝚕𝚎𝚝𝚎𝚕𝚢 𝚊𝚐𝚊𝚒𝚗𝚜𝚝 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚖𝚘𝚛𝚎 𝚌𝚑𝚒𝚕𝚍𝚛𝚎𝚗, 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚑𝚊𝚕𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚎𝚗 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚢 𝚠𝚊𝚗𝚝 𝚊 𝚋𝚊𝚋𝚢, 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚢 𝚙𝚛𝚘𝚋𝚊𝚋𝚕𝚢 𝚠𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍𝚗’𝚝 𝚙𝚞𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚖 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚊𝚖𝚎 𝚐𝚊𝚖𝚎. 𝚂𝚊𝚖𝚎 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚖𝚎. 𝙸 𝚜𝚊𝚒𝚍 𝙸 𝚍𝚒𝚍𝚗’𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚗𝚝 𝚊 𝚝𝚠𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚢-𝚢𝚎𝚊𝚛-𝚘𝚕𝚍 𝚌𝚊𝚝𝚌𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚖𝚎, 𝚜𝚘 𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚊𝚒𝚍 𝙸’𝚍 𝚋𝚎 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚐𝚊𝚖𝚎 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚘𝚕𝚍𝚎𝚛 𝚐𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚕𝚎𝚖𝚎𝚗. 𝙸 𝚑𝚊𝚍 𝚗𝚘 𝚒𝚍𝚎𝚊 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚢 𝚊𝚛𝚛𝚊𝚗𝚐𝚎𝚍 𝚒𝚝 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝.”
Annie, the redhead, was claimed by a tall man with brown hair and a neatly kept beard. He had a more polished presence compared to the others, which made him stand out. I really hope we get a novella about them, too. I’m already intrigued by their dynamic!
Ｅｍｍｅｌｉｎｅ ❥ 𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚋𝚞𝚣𝚣𝚎𝚛 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚋𝚊𝚜𝚎𝚖𝚎𝚗𝚝 𝚍𝚎𝚖𝚊𝚗𝚍𝚎𝚍 𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚊𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗 𝚛𝚎𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚗 𝚝𝚘 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚌𝚛𝚎𝚎𝚗𝚜.
𝙾𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚊𝚒𝚗 𝚘𝚗𝚎, 𝙰𝚗𝚗𝚒𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚊𝚛𝚖𝚜 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚒𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚕𝚕𝚒𝚐𝚎𝚗𝚝-𝚕𝚘𝚘𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚐, 𝚋𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚍𝚎𝚍 𝚖𝚊𝚗 𝚠𝚎’𝚍 𝚙𝚒𝚌𝚔𝚎𝚍 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚑𝚎𝚛. 𝙷𝚎 𝚌𝚊𝚛𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚍 𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚒𝚗 𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚊𝚛𝚖𝚜 𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚍𝚘𝚘𝚛, 𝚙𝚊𝚜𝚜𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚊 𝚌𝚑𝚎𝚎𝚛𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚌𝚛𝚘𝚠𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚒𝚗𝚌𝚕𝚞𝚍𝚎𝚍 𝙿𝚎𝚘𝚗𝚒𝚎 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝙹𝚊𝚌𝚘𝚋.
𝙰 𝚕𝚊𝚞𝚐𝚑 𝚏𝚕𝚎𝚠 𝚏𝚛𝚘𝚖 𝚖𝚢 𝚕𝚒𝚙𝚜. 𝙼𝚊𝚕𝚊𝚌𝚑𝚒’𝚜 𝚓𝚘𝚒𝚗𝚎𝚍 𝚒𝚝, 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚑𝚎 𝚛𝚘𝚕𝚕𝚎𝚍 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚑𝚞𝚐𝚐𝚎𝚍 𝚖𝚎. 𝙰𝚕𝚕 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚛𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚘𝚛𝚕𝚍.
𝙰𝚕𝚕 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚎𝚡𝚊𝚌𝚝𝚕𝚢 𝚊𝚜 𝚒𝚝 𝚜𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚋𝚎. 𝙸 𝚌𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍𝚗’𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚒𝚝 𝚝𝚘 𝚜𝚎𝚎 𝚖𝚢 𝚏𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚗𝚍 𝚊𝚜 𝚒𝚗 𝚕𝚘𝚟𝚎 𝚊𝚜 𝚠𝚎 𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚎.
ᴀʀʀᴀɴ'ꜱ ᴏʙꜱᴇꜱꜱɪᴏɴ〘ʙᴏᴅʏ ᴄᴏᴜɴᴛ, #1〙★★★☆☆
ᴄᴏɴɴᴏʀ'ꜱ ᴄʟᴀɪᴍ〘ʙᴏᴅʏ ᴄᴏᴜɴᴛ, #2〙★★★★☆
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ᴛʜᴇ ɢᴀᴍᴇ: ᴛʜᴇ ʙɪʟʟɪᴏɴᴀɪʀᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ꜱᴘɪᴋᴇᴅ ʜᴇᴇʟ ᴀᴘʀɪʟ 1, 2026
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ᴋᴀɴᴇ'ꜱ ᴘʀᴇʏ〘ꜱᴋᴇʟᴇᴛᴏɴ ᴄʀᴇᴡ, #2〙 ᴊᴀɴᴜᴀʀʏ 29, 2026
ᴛʏʟᴇʀ'ꜱ ʀᴜʟᴇ〘ꜱᴋᴇʟᴇᴛᴏɴ ᴄʀᴇᴡ, #3〙 ᴍᴀʏ 28, 2026
➤ “ʟᴇᴛ’ꜱ ᴊᴜꜱᴛ ꜱᴀʏ ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ’ꜱ ᴀ ꜱᴘᴇᴄɪᴀʟ ᴡᴏᴍᴀɴ ᴏᴜᴛ ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ ꜰᴏʀ ᴍᴇ, ᴀɴᴅ ɪ ᴄᴀɴ’ᴛ ᴡᴀɪᴛ ᴛᴏ ᴄʜᴀꜱᴇ ʜᴇʀ ᴅᴏᴡɴ.”
➤ ᴛᴀʟʟ ᴀɴᴅ ᴇʟᴇɢᴀɴᴛ, ꜱʜᴇ ʜᴀᴅ ᴀ ᴘʜᴏɴᴇ ᴄʟᴜᴛᴄʜᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ʜᴇʀ ᴇᴀʀ ᴀɴᴅ ᴀᴜʙᴜʀɴ ʜᴀɪʀ ᴜᴘ ɪɴ ᴀ ᴛɪᴅʏ ʙᴜɴ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ɪ ɪᴍᴍᴇᴅɪᴀᴛᴇʟʏ ᴡᴀɴᴛᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴍᴇꜱꜱ ᴜᴘ.
➤ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡᴏᴍᴀɴ ɴᴇᴇᴅᴇᴅ ᴀ ᴘʀᴏᴛᴇᴄᴛᴏʀ ɪɴ ʜᴇʀ ʟɪꜰᴇ, ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴡᴀꜱ ꜰᴏʀ ꜱᴜʀᴇ. ꜱʜᴇ ʜᴀᴅ ᴘᴇᴏᴘʟᴇ ᴛᴀᴋɪɴɢ ᴀᴅᴠᴀɴᴛᴀɢᴇ ᴏꜰ ʜᴇʀ ᴀʟʟ ᴏᴠᴇʀ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘʟᴀᴄᴇ.
➤ ʜᴏᴡ ᴡᴀꜱ ɪᴛ ɪ ᴀʟʀᴇᴀᴅʏ ᴋɴᴇᴡ ᴛʜᴇ ꜱʜᴀᴘᴇ ᴏꜰ ʜɪꜱ ʟɪᴘꜱ ᴡʜᴇɴ ᴛʜᴇʏ ʜᴀᴅ ɴᴇᴠᴇʀ ᴛᴀꜱᴛᴇᴅ ᴍɪɴᴇ ᴜɴᴛɪʟ ᴛʜɪꜱ ᴍᴏᴍᴇɴᴛ?
➤ “ɪ ɴᴇᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴄᴏᴍᴇ ꜱᴏ ɪ ᴄᴀɴ ɢᴇᴛ ʏᴏᴜ ᴛʜᴇ ꜰᴜᴄᴋ ᴏᴜᴛ ᴏꜰ ʜᴇʀᴇ, ʙᴜᴛ ɪ ꜱᴡᴇᴀʀ ɪ’ʟʟ ᴛᴀᴋᴇ ᴛɪᴍᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴅᴏ ᴛʜɪꜱ ʀɪɢʜᴛ ᴏɴᴄᴇ ᴡᴇ’ʀᴇ ʜᴏᴍᴇ. ɪ’ʟʟ ᴡᴏʀꜱʜɪᴘ ᴇᴠᴇʀʏ ᴘᴀʀᴛ ᴏꜰ ʏᴏᴜʀ ɪɴᴄʀᴇᴅɪʙʟᴇ ʙᴏᴅʏ.”
➤ ᴇᴍᴍᴇʟɪɴᴇ ɢᴀᴠᴇ ᴀ ꜱᴏꜰᴛ ᴍᴏᴀɴ. ꜱʜᴇ ꜱʜɪꜰᴛᴇᴅ, ᴀɴᴅ ʜᴇʀ ʜᴀɴᴅ ᴛʀᴀᴠᴇʟʟᴇᴅ ᴅᴏᴡɴ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇᴛᴡᴇᴇɴ ʜᴇʀ ʟᴇɢꜱ. ꜱʜᴇ ᴛᴏᴜᴄʜᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴛʜɪᴄᴋ ʙᴀꜱᴇ ᴏꜰ ᴍʏ ᴅɪᴄᴋ ᴡʜᴇʀᴇ ɪᴛ ꜱᴘʀᴇᴀᴅ ʜᴇʀ. “ʏᴏᴜ’ʀᴇ ɪɴꜱɪᴅᴇ ᴍᴇ.”
➤ “ꜰᴏʀ ᴀ ᴡᴏᴍᴀɴ ᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘɪɴɴᴀᴄʟᴇ ᴏꜰ ʜᴇʀ ᴄᴀʀᴇᴇʀ, ʏᴏᴜ ɴᴇᴇᴅ ᴀʟʟ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ʜᴇᴀᴅꜱᴘᴀᴄᴇ ꜰᴏʀ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴊᴏʙ. ꜰᴏʀ ᴇᴠᴇʀʏᴛʜɪɴɢ ᴇʟꜱᴇ, ʏᴏᴜ ɴᴇᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇ ᴏᴡɴᴇᴅ. ʏᴏᴜ ɴᴇᴇᴅᴇᴅ ᴀ ᴍᴀɴ ᴛᴏ ᴛᴀᴋᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ʀᴇɪɴꜱ ᴀɴᴅ ᴅɪᴄᴋ ʏᴏᴜ ɢᴏᴏᴅ.”
➤ “ɪ’ᴍ ɴᴏᴛ ᴀ ʀᴇᴀꜱᴏɴᴀʙʟᴇ ᴍᴀɴ.” ɪ ᴘᴜɴᴄᴛᴜᴀᴛᴇᴅ ᴍʏ ᴡᴏʀᴅꜱ ᴡɪᴛʜ ʜᴀʀᴅ ᴛʜʀᴜꜱᴛꜱ. “ɪᴛ’ꜱ ɢᴏɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ᴛᴀᴋᴇ ᴍᴇ ꜱᴏᴍᴇ ᴛɪᴍᴇ ᴛᴏ ʜᴀɴᴅʟᴇ ʜᴏᴡ ɪ ꜰᴇᴇʟ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ʏᴏᴜ.”
➤ “ᴏɴᴇ ᴛɪᴍᴇ ᴡᴇ ᴡᴇɴᴛ, ɪᴛ ᴡᴀꜱ ᴡʜᴇɴ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ɢɪʀʟ ꜱᴛᴀʙʙᴇᴅ ʜᴇʀ ᴍᴀɴ ᴡɪᴛʜ ʜᴇʀ ʜᴇᴇʟ.”
➤ “ʏᴏᴜ ᴅɪᴅɴ’ᴛ ʜᴇᴀʀ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ɪᴛ? ʜᴇ’ꜱ ꜱᴏᴍᴇ ʙɪʟʟɪᴏɴᴀɪʀᴇ, ᴀɴᴅ ꜱʜᴇ ʜᴀꜱ ᴀ ᴛᴇᴍᴘᴇʀ ꜰᴏʀ ᴅᴀʏꜱ. ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ꜱᴛɪʟʟ ꜰᴜᴄᴋɪɴɢ ᴡʜɪʟᴇ ʜᴇ ᴡʀᴇꜱᴛʟᴇᴅ ʜᴇʀ ᴛᴏ ʜɪꜱ ᴄᴀʀ, ᴄᴏᴠᴇʀᴇᴅ ɪɴ ʙʟᴏᴏᴅ. ɪ’ᴠᴇ ʜᴇᴀʀᴅ ꜱᴛᴏʀɪᴇꜱ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ᴛʜᴇᴍ ꜱɪɴᴄᴇ.” ᴀɴɴɪᴇ ɢᴀꜱᴘᴇᴅ. “ᴛʜᴇʏ’ʀᴇ ꜱᴛɪʟʟ ᴛᴏɢᴇᴛʜᴇʀ?” “ᴏꜰ ᴄᴏᴜʀꜱᴇ. ᴀᴘᴘᴀʀᴇɴᴛʟʏ, ꜱʜᴇ’ʟʟ ꜱᴛᴀʟᴋ ɪɴᴛᴏ ʜɪꜱ ᴍᴇᴇᴛɪɴɢꜱ ʙᴇᴄᴀᴜꜱᴇ ʜᴇ’ꜱ ᴘɪꜱꜱᴇᴅ ʜᴇʀ ᴏꜰꜰ, ᴀɴᴅ ʜᴇ’ʟʟ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ʜᴇʀ ᴏᴠᴇʀ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴏɴꜰᴇʀᴇɴᴄᴇ ᴛᴀʙʟᴇ ᴀʟᴍᴏꜱᴛ ʙᴇꜰᴏʀᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ᴇxᴇᴄꜱ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ʜᴀᴅ ᴀ ᴄʜᴀɴᴄᴇ ᴛᴏ ꜱᴄᴀᴛᴛᴇʀ.”
June 20, 2025
First of all, ma’am… where do you get off writing a man like Malachi? Because I was over here straight-up licking my Kindle every time we dipped into that man’s head.
*fans self dramatically and sips water like it’s communion*
Now I won’t lie, the start was a little slow, but once it picked up? Oh honey, it took off. I was screaming—screaming—at my screen when it looked like someone else might get their hands on our good doctor. My soul left my body for a moment. Emmeline and Malachi are carved for each other, no debate, no second thoughts. They snapped into place like fate had already signed the papers.
There is something about primal play that scratches a very particular part of the brain. Jolie Vines understands this on a spiritual level, and she delivers it like a sermon. She don’t miss.
Now let me tell you, I needed this to be a full-length novel. I want to know more about this game, these people, the mess, the magic, the aftermath. I’m invested. I’m intrigued. And yes, I am absolutely asking for a friend. It's me...I’m friend.
And Malachi? Whew. This man has every right to be a brute, but instead he shows up as a loving father, a wild animal in the ring, and a man who worships in the bedroom. He treats Emmeline like royalty from the jump. He is not phased by her degrees, her job title, or her bank balance. He’s not here to compete—he’s here to complement. He knows what he brings to the table, and he pulls out her chair like a gentleman and a beast all in one breath.
A fierce, sexy, and satisfying read. Five stars and a towel, please.
*fans self dramatically and sips water like it’s communion*
Now I won’t lie, the start was a little slow, but once it picked up? Oh honey, it took off. I was screaming—screaming—at my screen when it looked like someone else might get their hands on our good doctor. My soul left my body for a moment. Emmeline and Malachi are carved for each other, no debate, no second thoughts. They snapped into place like fate had already signed the papers.
There is something about primal play that scratches a very particular part of the brain. Jolie Vines understands this on a spiritual level, and she delivers it like a sermon. She don’t miss.
Now let me tell you, I needed this to be a full-length novel. I want to know more about this game, these people, the mess, the magic, the aftermath. I’m invested. I’m intrigued. And yes, I am absolutely asking for a friend. It's me...I’m friend.
And Malachi? Whew. This man has every right to be a brute, but instead he shows up as a loving father, a wild animal in the ring, and a man who worships in the bedroom. He treats Emmeline like royalty from the jump. He is not phased by her degrees, her job title, or her bank balance. He’s not here to compete—he’s here to complement. He knows what he brings to the table, and he pulls out her chair like a gentleman and a beast all in one breath.
A fierce, sexy, and satisfying read. Five stars and a towel, please.
August 30, 2025
Ugh
Find it really hard to believe that a brainy surgeon would agree to sign up for this type thing when they are being filmed & streamed worldwide. No way would she endanger her reputation & entire career.
Author glosses over exactly how rapey the games really are,- 3 men chased the fmc down with intent to f"ck her even though she was screaming & crying & telling g them no.
They also tore her dress off & I cannot for the life of me understand why she's selling this run to her bestie? She's asking her to throw her trust in to some random guys.
Ndas would not save them if they wanted to sued btw
This book isn't as bad as the arran or other one- the mmc wasn't as bad - he didn't force her to be named for 30 days & he made the one lurker in the warehouse turn away while he was f'cking the fmc. Still too much exhibitionism for my tastes.
And having the mma have 2 teenager daughters gave me the ick. Sorry.
Also the mmc told the fmc that he had to go ahead & c"m in the warehouse so they would be allowed to go home
Later on it's mentioned that the couples ha e to tell each other they love each other & have to have some once a day.
My question is who us checking? No one stopped them at the warehouse?
And those 2 grabbing g a room so they could f"ck and watch a chase with her bestie was gross. Please stop with the communal sex toys too. It's gross.
What is it with English & Austealuan authors & this type of stuff?
Find it really hard to believe that a brainy surgeon would agree to sign up for this type thing when they are being filmed & streamed worldwide. No way would she endanger her reputation & entire career.
Author glosses over exactly how rapey the games really are,- 3 men chased the fmc down with intent to f"ck her even though she was screaming & crying & telling g them no.
They also tore her dress off & I cannot for the life of me understand why she's selling this run to her bestie? She's asking her to throw her trust in to some random guys.
Ndas would not save them if they wanted to sued btw
This book isn't as bad as the arran or other one- the mmc wasn't as bad - he didn't force her to be named for 30 days & he made the one lurker in the warehouse turn away while he was f'cking the fmc. Still too much exhibitionism for my tastes.
And having the mma have 2 teenager daughters gave me the ick. Sorry.
Also the mmc told the fmc that he had to go ahead & c"m in the warehouse so they would be allowed to go home
Later on it's mentioned that the couples ha e to tell each other they love each other & have to have some once a day.
My question is who us checking? No one stopped them at the warehouse?
And those 2 grabbing g a room so they could f"ck and watch a chase with her bestie was gross. Please stop with the communal sex toys too. It's gross.
What is it with English & Austealuan authors & this type of stuff?
May 10, 2025
This novella gives you just a taste of what the Body Count Series is. And what a drool worthy taste it is.
I enjoyed this Novella. It’s spicy, possessive and the dose you need to refresh your palate.
Malachi and Emmeline are lust and obsession at first sight. They both have their own type of crazy but when their crazy comes together, it’s complete fire.
These two bring their lives together for a month. They have to live with each other for 30 days, no work, no outside obstacles, just them. And just them, is all they need.
They fall hard and they fall fast.
Malachi takes notice of everything Emmeline says. He tries to help ease her past hurts with future happiness. He’s always putting his girls first and I love that.
Emmeline finally has everything she’s ever wanted. The job, the guy, the family and the support.
It’s a Novella but you still get the character growth and all the goodness of a full length book. It’s flows seamlessly.
You do have a little bit of mystery and I love Malachi’s daughters. They are fierce just like their dad but just as caring as him too.
Thank you so much Liz and Jolie Vines for gifting me an ARC to read. I was help captive from the first word all the way to the last. Definitely a different experience, but a good one.
I haven’t read this series but I can tell you, I definitely will now.
I enjoyed this Novella. It’s spicy, possessive and the dose you need to refresh your palate.
Malachi and Emmeline are lust and obsession at first sight. They both have their own type of crazy but when their crazy comes together, it’s complete fire.
These two bring their lives together for a month. They have to live with each other for 30 days, no work, no outside obstacles, just them. And just them, is all they need.
They fall hard and they fall fast.
Malachi takes notice of everything Emmeline says. He tries to help ease her past hurts with future happiness. He’s always putting his girls first and I love that.
Emmeline finally has everything she’s ever wanted. The job, the guy, the family and the support.
It’s a Novella but you still get the character growth and all the goodness of a full length book. It’s flows seamlessly.
You do have a little bit of mystery and I love Malachi’s daughters. They are fierce just like their dad but just as caring as him too.
Thank you so much Liz and Jolie Vines for gifting me an ARC to read. I was help captive from the first word all the way to the last. Definitely a different experience, but a good one.
I haven’t read this series but I can tell you, I definitely will now.
May 19, 2025
Malachi is an MMA fighter, Emmeline is a surgeon. Their careers make them opposites, but as the saying goes, opposites attract, and in this case, it's with blazing chemistry.
This novella is a prequel/spin-off story for The Body Count Trilogy. The characters are briefly mentioned in "Arran's Obsession" as a successful couple who was paired up during the game that is run in the basement of Arran's club. The story of Malachi and Emmeline is short, but sweet, and definitely spicy. The book covers their relationship in full, from the moment they see each other, through their match and time together, and of course their happy ending!
The characters are well-developed, the settings are clear and memorable, and the story is complete (no cliffhanger).
It is not necessary to read The Body Count Trilogy first because the story covers exactly what the game is and how it puts couples together. If you have read the trilogy first, then you will recognize the surgeon and the MMA fighter from the first book, and you already know how the game operates, so it adds to the experience, of the original story.
If you haven't read the original trilogy before reading this one, and you want to know more about the mysterious city of Deadwater and its residents, The Body Count Trilogy awaits.
Yet another fantastic entry in the Jolie-verse!
This novella is a prequel/spin-off story for The Body Count Trilogy. The characters are briefly mentioned in "Arran's Obsession" as a successful couple who was paired up during the game that is run in the basement of Arran's club. The story of Malachi and Emmeline is short, but sweet, and definitely spicy. The book covers their relationship in full, from the moment they see each other, through their match and time together, and of course their happy ending!
The characters are well-developed, the settings are clear and memorable, and the story is complete (no cliffhanger).
It is not necessary to read The Body Count Trilogy first because the story covers exactly what the game is and how it puts couples together. If you have read the trilogy first, then you will recognize the surgeon and the MMA fighter from the first book, and you already know how the game operates, so it adds to the experience, of the original story.
If you haven't read the original trilogy before reading this one, and you want to know more about the mysterious city of Deadwater and its residents, The Body Count Trilogy awaits.
Yet another fantastic entry in the Jolie-verse!
January 5, 2026
I forgot how much I loved this series and accidentally stayed up until about 4:30 a.m. binge-reading this one 😂. I am such a sucker for a good stalker romance, and this absolutely delivered. Add in an MMA fighter MMC who’s also a single dad and honestly?? That’s the ultimate protective-MMC combo 🥵.
The relationship between them was surprisingly sweet, even with the darker elements. He was so intensely protective without crossing into unlikable territory, and I loved how devoted he was—to her and his kids. That soft-but-deadly energy gets me every time.
The spice was great overall, though I’ll admit I wished some of the scenes were a bit longer. They felt like they ended pretty quickly. I get that it makes sense with the whole “rules of the game = fuck every day” setup, but still… I wouldn’t have complained about more detail 👀.
I also really wish Annie had her own book—I would read that in a heartbeat.
Overall, I loved their dynamic, the protectiveness, and how genuinely connected they felt. This one reminded me exactly why I enjoyed this series so much.
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Tropes:
• MMA fighter / surgeon
• Single dad
• Stalker romance (both of them, but mostly him 👀)
• Touch-her-and-die
• Opposites attract
• Forced proximity (game rules)
• Protective MMC
• Grumpy x sunshine
• “He’s huge”
• Alpha MMC
• Game
The relationship between them was surprisingly sweet, even with the darker elements. He was so intensely protective without crossing into unlikable territory, and I loved how devoted he was—to her and his kids. That soft-but-deadly energy gets me every time.
The spice was great overall, though I’ll admit I wished some of the scenes were a bit longer. They felt like they ended pretty quickly. I get that it makes sense with the whole “rules of the game = fuck every day” setup, but still… I wouldn’t have complained about more detail 👀.
I also really wish Annie had her own book—I would read that in a heartbeat.
Overall, I loved their dynamic, the protectiveness, and how genuinely connected they felt. This one reminded me exactly why I enjoyed this series so much.
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Tropes:
• MMA fighter / surgeon
• Single dad
• Stalker romance (both of them, but mostly him 👀)
• Touch-her-and-die
• Opposites attract
• Forced proximity (game rules)
• Protective MMC
• Grumpy x sunshine
• “He’s huge”
• Alpha MMC
• Game
July 21, 2025
As always the Queen, Jolie Vines has put out another masterpiece.
I loved learning about another couple from “The Game”. This novella follows Malachi who is an MMA fighter looking for love and Emmeline, a surgeon who is tired of mundane men.
Some people do not believe that true love can happen in a nano second, but this book shows the possibility of it. On a personal level my husband and I saw each other at a baseball game one night and never looked back. So I 100% believe in love at first sight.
It was very refreshing to see how Malachi and Emmeline worked out their disagreements. It was quick and honest. The open communication was great. However, my most favorite parts of the book were around Malachi’s daughters. It showed a healthy co-parenting relationship and a realistic view on stepchildren and step parents. I loved every second of it and it filled my heart up with joy.
Don’t get me wrong, I live for the drama, back stories, and promiscuity in all of Jolie Vine’s books. The salacious vibes in this book were a solid 10000/10. The MMC’s possessiveness, chef’s kiss. Who doesn't love a good protective MMC?
The book ends with another game about to begin and I very much hope we get a novella for that one.
As always, I am over the moon and a huge fan and will continue to devour all of the books by her majesty.
I loved learning about another couple from “The Game”. This novella follows Malachi who is an MMA fighter looking for love and Emmeline, a surgeon who is tired of mundane men.
Some people do not believe that true love can happen in a nano second, but this book shows the possibility of it. On a personal level my husband and I saw each other at a baseball game one night and never looked back. So I 100% believe in love at first sight.
It was very refreshing to see how Malachi and Emmeline worked out their disagreements. It was quick and honest. The open communication was great. However, my most favorite parts of the book were around Malachi’s daughters. It showed a healthy co-parenting relationship and a realistic view on stepchildren and step parents. I loved every second of it and it filled my heart up with joy.
Don’t get me wrong, I live for the drama, back stories, and promiscuity in all of Jolie Vine’s books. The salacious vibes in this book were a solid 10000/10. The MMC’s possessiveness, chef’s kiss. Who doesn't love a good protective MMC?
The book ends with another game about to begin and I very much hope we get a novella for that one.
As always, I am over the moon and a huge fan and will continue to devour all of the books by her majesty.
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