Never Play Fair

Sidney Evans #2

by Leah Cupps

Can Sydney find her FBI boyfriend in time, or will this gamble be here last?
Instagram Influencer Sydney Evans has seen and lived her share of photo-worthy experiences, but now, she’s found herself entangled in a situation she never saw coming.

After her FBI agent boyfriend, Alex, disappears while working a case involving a notorious Latin gangster, Vincent Estavez, the Department of Defense is forced to change tactics. Determined to bring down Estavez and the illegal online casino crime ring he’s been running by any means necessary, the FBI orchestrates an operation to infiltrate the gangster’s stronghold.

But Sydney only has one motivation for her own investigation: find Alex before he becomes collateral damage.

Desperate to locate her boyfriend in time, she flies to Costa Rica and is forced to seek help from an unlikely ally: her criminal ex-husband, Jack. He may be the last person she wants to see, but she’ll do whatever it takes to find Alex alive.

But Sydney isn’t the only one with a motivation against Vincent Estavez.

Never Play Fair is a fast-paced standalone thriller. If you like real-world issues, lavish socialite parties, and electrifying twists and turns, then you’ll love Leah Cupps’ provocative cozy mystery.

234 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 1, 2022

Reviews

[Paula Phillips · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sydney Evans is back again and this time she may be unharmed physically, but truth be told she is still suffering from PTSD and a whole lot of traumatic baggage, and sadly in her personal life too as her grandmother has died, one of her best friends is now no longer talking to her and the other is dead. Her ex-husband came back from the dead, her ex-brother-in-law killed her best friend and tried to murder her and her other friend and now her new boyfriend FBI agent Alex Birch is MIA after being sent on a mission to Costa Rica. All Sydney wanted was to curl up at home and be cut off from the world, but when she arrives home the FBI is waiting for her. They need her to contact Jack and help her locate Alex. Sydney is then thrust back into a world; she had hoped to never be a part of again and made to do things to survive. I have to admit I didn't care much for any of the other characters including Alex. I just felt so much for Sydney, as they are making her relive the pain over and over again and messing with her emotions and feelings, not to mention putting her in an impossibly dangerous situation with her already-developed diagnosis of PTSD. Crazy right? I do hope they leave poor Sydney alone after this or she may just be like her namesake Sidney Prescott from the Scream, where the nightmare just is never-ending and no matter how hard she tries to run from it, they just keep pulling her back into the mix of things. Never Play Fair, book #2 was another action-packed read that kept the reader intrigued as the pages were one bang after another. I now have the prequel of this series to read and looking forward to it as hoping to have a bit more of an insight into Jack and Sydney's marriage before it went South and Jack faked his death.

[pawsreadrepeat · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy for free and am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you Leah Cupps and Xpresso Book Tours. I'm excited to be a part of this tour. Now for my review ...

Never Play Fair is the second in The Sydney Evan series. This author is new to me, and I enjoyed this twisty thriller filled with an eclectic cast of characters who make for one fast paced ride. Despite being the second book, this book could easily be read as a standalone. There was enough background included that I did not feel like I was missing out.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and was engaged from start to finish. The descriptions are vivid, and I felt like I was alongside Sydney as she frantically searched for her missing boyfriend. The writing style flows nicely and is full of red herrings and twists you won't see coming. I'll be circling back to read book 1!

I recommend this book to who loves twisty thrillers told from multiple POVs. I look forward to reading how the characters grow as this series evolves.

[Piper · Rating 4 out of 5]

Never Play Fair by Leah Cupps

This is the second book in the Sidney Evans series. Sydney still getting use to what happen last year and struggling with PTSD. Now her boyfriend is missing will Sydney be able to find him with the power of Soical media. Put in a dangerous situation to save Alex. After meeting her ex husband again Sydney believes Jack can help her find her man.
It was enjoyable seeing the pov from both angles of the spectrum.
This would be great for someone who enjoys slow paced reading. Would recommend for those that enjoy thrillers and mystery.

#NetGalley #bookstagram#bookreview #LeahCupps #Neverplayfair #thriller #Mystery

[Chantal Riley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Never Play Fair by Leah Cupps was a bit of a slow starter but damn once the prison van crashed, it was full steam ahead.

I picked it up based on the blurb and boy did it deliver

Filled with interesting characters, plot twists and plenty of action, this mystery thriller was the perfect quick Saturday night read.

Read if you enjoy:
♦️ Suspense
♠️ Plot twists
❤️ High stakes
♣️ FBI mysteries

[Ainun Zahra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you so much Netgalley and Leah for the advanced copy!

It was a nice quick read, a bit predictable but engaging all the same. I knew I would like it from the blurb. Mysteries involving family members or loved ones have always piqued my interest. It's their reactions that intrigue me, how each detective or police officer react when people they love are at risk. In this case, it's actually the FBI agent boyfriend who was missing and it's up to Sydney, an Instagram influencer to save the day. I think I love Alex. Since I didn't get to see him in action much, (he's a prisoner in most parts of this book) I can't tell for sure. But if Alex is half as caring as Sydney believes, this man is a gem.

Now my feelings for Jack and Ethan are complicated. I totally misread Ethan (Not very happy about that). His character isn't hard to understand once I knew their backstories. I can't say I like him very much but I applaud the last decision he took. It was brave. On the other hand, Jack actually earned a soft spot in my heart. He may have done a lot of bad things but I daresay he's good brother. We all mess up every now and then, no?


I wish I had read the previous book because there are a lot of references and I felt like I was missing out a lot. It didn't pose any problem in understanding the story tho. The fun part is I didn't realize this Leah is the same Leah who wrote the Harley James series. After finishing the book when I saw her picture, I was like wait, whattttt. Anyways, good book! Recommended ❤️

(Btw, great cover.)

[Karen Siddall · Rating 4 out of 5]

A truly explosive follow-up to WHAT LIES IN PARADISE!

Never Play Fair, the second book in the Sydney Evans series is the explosive follow-up to the exciting series debut, What Lies in Paradise. Though this entry can be read as a standalone, reading the previous book first is recommended. Sydney is emotionally-spent after caring for her grandmother during her final months of life, but truth be told, her PTSD from a wedding fiasco in Jamaica had already worn her down. She and Alex have a romance that has quickly gotten serious; however, Sydney is second-guessing her feelings and ability to commit to a relationship again after what she'd gone through with Jack.

Jack is back, and so is his brother, Ethan. The story unfolds not only from Sydney's point of view but that of the two brothers as well, and readers are privy to the guys' more honest thoughts and feelings. I loved this triple view of the events occurring in the story.

The action got going quickly, and the story flew by without slowing down. The prologue is an absolute attention-grabber! There are also some very tantalizing glimpses of Costa Rica's west coast that give the action a sultry, noir feel at times.

With a fascinating triumvirate of characters providing the narrative and a plot that takes off like a speed boat, I recommend NEVER PLAY FAIR to mystery readers who enjoyed the first book in the series and those who like fast action, good guys that aren't so good, and stories featuring online gambling.

[Ron Jr. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Never Play Fair: An intriguing, addictive mystery novel
This is the second book in the Sydney Evans Series but it can definitely be read as a stand alone. First and foremost, this author is all about face pacing and leaving out the fluff. The book is not long, and I was able to read it in one sitting. The constant action made it hard to put down. The main character was interesting and unique being an Instagram Influencer. It is something that will appeal to the modern reader. Sidney is thrust into a dangerous adventure due to her ex-husbands past deeds and she forms a suspicious relationship with the FBI. All the makings of a fun story are sprinkled in. A South American king pin, the FBI, and a set of morally compromised twin brothers are just a few of the cast of characters that keep this thrill ride going.

[Sandra Lopez · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sydney Evans was just looking for a little peace and quiet, especially after what she went through last year. The last thing she wanted was another visit from the FBI with the news that her boyfriend, an agent for them, was missing in Costa Rica.

The narrative was rather engaging; however, it draws too much attention into the setting and the emotional state, which can dull the anticipating and impede the progression. Although it had an interesting premise, at times, the plot can be hard to follow because there’s so much strenuous detail that doesn’t really fulfill the story.

Overall, story was not as exciting as I expected, but it was a good, solid effort by the author in adult suspense, although, to be perfectly honest, she should really stick to middle grade adventure.

A fairly nice read.

[Shirley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Second book in this series which brings closure to Sydney's and Jack's story. Although you wouldn't need to read book one to enjoy this book, I highly recommend that you do. Full of suspense, lies, betrayals and twists you won't see coming. Who survives and who dies as Sydney is approached by the FBI to assist them to draw out the criminals and help locate a missing agent? Is the risk too great for her own survival or will she relent and help? Danger lurks around every corner as the story unfolds. Some editing needs done but since I received a free copy before the final published edition, they may all be corrected. Recommend. Received an ARC and this is my voluntary honest review.

[Delphia Von Heeder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Never Play Fair is Book 1 in A Sydney Evans Thriller by Leah Cupps. This thriller was so exciting that I couldn't put it down. I really liked how the author told the story from different points of view. I found it more exciting to see the story unfold from Sydney, Evan and Jack's perspective. So much happened in the book and I was not sure who would be alive by the end of the book! I think that Never Play Fair is a must read thriller. I received an arc for free and am leaving my review voluntarily.

[Illustrious Illusions · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Never Play Fair" by Leah Cupps is a sports romance novel that follows the relationship between two characters involved in a competitive world. While the book contains moments of passion and chemistry, the overall execution lacks originality. The plot follows a predictable trajectory, and the character development feels somewhat superficial, hindering reader engagement. However, fans of sports romance may still find enjoyment in the dynamic between the main characters and the familiar tropes explored in "Never Play Fair."

[Joseph R. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alive or Dead

This was an interesting story of changing characters and mystery wrapped in suspense and many different possibilities. The writer kept the story moving and the pace of the action churning until the end. There were different characters and I found that it was really hard to get to who was the one that would save the day. I enjoyed the story and I would recommend this to everyone.

[Cheryl · Rating 2 out of 5]

SO many mistakes

This was the last in a trilogy. The story was good but there were soooo many mistakes in these books. It didn’t seemed to be edited if so many mistakes were not caught.
It so too bad as the story was good and the writing ok. I just hate to read books that have so many mistakes, grammatical, typos, wrong names, holes on the stories, I don’t know how it could be published without good editing.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story was not really engrossing, and predictable. The writing contained many structural errors and some of the sentences seemed poorly constructed. With just a bit better editing, the story could have been more gripping. I do look forward to seeing what else this author has to offer. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Susan A Fieglein · Rating 2 out of 5]

The author tells a good story BUT 1) the grammar is terrible..: she mixes tenses, doesn’t know what a gerund is and mixes up your and you’re 🤬
2)she doesn’t know her setting: Costa Rica has not had a military since 1945 and Quepos is near a famous national park: Manuel Antonio. Granted the jungle grows down next to the ocean, but the park is usually crowded with both Costa Ricans and tourists.

If you’re going to write about countries that are not your own, do your research

[Kristi · Rating 5 out of 5]

An exciting, fast-paced mystery that keeps you engaged and sitting on the edge of your seat. The suspense keeps you glued to the pages making it hard to stop reading. The characters are strong and well-developed. An action-packed storyline keeps the story moving and never dull and boring.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Spiritedbookishbabe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Never play fair is very well written. The book first grabbed my attention when I first saw it on netgalley and then again when I started reading it and never let go. I couldn’t put the book down. I finished it in one day. I for sure am going to recommend it to all my friends on instagram and goodreads

[Shannon Binegar-Foster · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my gosh this one was even better than the first book. Again I was drawn in immediately. I can not wait to see what adventures are ahead for Sydney and Alex.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of this book.

[Dwayne Keller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sydney's boyfriend has gone missing. She is determined to find him. This is a fast paced story with plenty of action. The story is told from the viewpoint of three people. Enjoy this thriller while you follow along with Sydney.

[Lori Bindner · Rating 5 out of 5]

fabulous mystery

Fast paced through the whole book and the twists and turns never stopped. I look forward to reading more of this author’s mysteries.

[Jackie Simons]

Read 10/22

[Tjaša Kirn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could not give less stars. Story was good (as always), I just love her writing style

[Nancy (The Avid Reader) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Instagram Influencer Sydney Evans’s FBI agent boyfriend turns up missing while working undercover on a case. After learning about Alex’s disappearance Sydney plans to find him no matter what.

Sydney’s search for Alex takes her to Costa Rica where she meets her ex-husband, Jack as she believes he can help her find Alex.

We get to see the world that was created for Never Play Fair through the eyes of Sydney, Alex, and Jack. I like stories that are told from more than one person’s point of view. I feel as if I get more of the story that way. I get to see more than one side of the story. I also get to see what is in the mind of the characters and how they feel about what is happening.

Never Play Fair is a fast-paced read that grabbed my attention from the first page. Once I picked it up the action began and had me racing to the end to see where the story was going and how it all was going to end.

Never Play Fair held onto its secrets well revealing them slowly one at a time keeping me in suspense from beginning to end with never a dull moment in between. The twists kept me on the edge of my seat locked into its world as the world around me disappeared.

I would recommend Never Play Fair to mystery and thriller fans! One-click your copy of Never Play Fair today!