Reviewed by Valerie
TITLE: Playing Games
SERIES: Franklin U #1
AUTHOR: Riley Hart
NARRATOR: J.F. Harding
PUBLISHER: Self-Published
LENGTH: 6 hours, 36 minutes
RELEASE DATE: September 8, 2022
BLURB:
Brax
Tyson Langley thinks the king in Franklin University Kings is in reference to him. Star lacrosse player and God’s gift to the female and male population, there’s nothing the spoiled jock can’t have.
It’s impossible for us to be in the same room without talking crap to each other. But I also have a secret…as much as I despise Ty, I want him too. I revel in our banter and in never knowing what he’ll say next.
I’ve spent too much time on the wrong side of the law for someone like Ty, though, and if I want to make it through college and escape my past, he’s a distraction I don’t need.
Ty
Braxton Walker needs to learn to lighten up. If you search brooding online, his name pops up. He’s the bad boy with a leather jacket and a scowl. We couldn’t be more different.
Finding ways to annoy him is like the longest foreplay session of my life. And when we end up working together, it gets harder to deny how hot he makes me.
What’s a little hooking up between enemies?
We weren’t supposed to become friends or share secrets. We weren’t supposed to understand each other and all the complicated stuff we’re going through.
I’m used to playing games, only the more time I spend with Brax, the less it feels like playing around and the more it becomes something real.
REVIEW:
“I hate that I want you.” “The feeling is completely mutual.”
I looooove these boys so much! Playing Games is an absolutely fantastic book and even better in audio form. It’s a masterpiece of snark and banter. Voice actor J.F. Harding takes Riley Hart’s clever and witty narrative and knocks it out of the park. He acts out the dialogue – with all its attitude – flawlessly, creating the best audiobook I’ve listened to this year. It’s the battle of sarcasm and banter among quasi enemies that elevate this novel into its own class.
Playing Games is the first book in the multi-author, shared world, Franklin U series. Brax is a college student, a stereotypical brooding bad boy in his leather jacket riding his motorcycle. He’s also a hard-working guy just trying to make it through college on a academic scholarship and tending bar. He hates sports and jocks but star lacrosse player, Tyson, catches his eye. And vice versa. The two of them have spent three years dancing around their mutual attraction in the longest game of foreplay ever.
Uber-popular, rich boy Ty doesn’t know why he’s chasing Brax. He doesn’t want a boyfriend, doesn’t know if he even wants a friend. It’s more than the stratospheric sex, though; they love spending time together. Most of all, Ty loves getting under Brax’s skin and he succeeds in pushing all of his buttons. All the while, feelings are fighting their way into their minds and hearts, making it much more than repeated hookups and not-a-dates. Neither of them wants to like the other but try telling their hearts that.
“Brax glanced my way, his face spelling out a look I was familiar with by now. It said: God, I hate you and You’re so fucking ridiculous, but mixed a little with You make me smile and I have fun with you. I wasn’t sure he’d acknowledged the last two parts yet.”
They become better versions of themselves when together. Brax opens up and allows Ty to see his vulnerabilities, and Ty finds himself talking to his former nemesis about things like his strained relationship with his father – things he isn’t comfortable sharing with anyone else. And they just have so much fun together. Their love language is comprised of insults. Even the sex is playful. There’s some dirty talk, too, which I thoroughly enjoyed.
Interesting family dynamics add depth to the plot with Brax’s loser brother, Ty’s demanding, interfering father, and most of all, Brax’s elderly grandmother. Gran is a standout side character who showers love on both Brax and Ty. She recognizes Brax’s feelings toward Ty even before Brax acknowledges them to himself. Ty and Gran’s mutual love-fest for each other is darling.
I knew this book would translate well into audio because, in the hands of an accomplished narrator, sarcasm and chemistry are conveyed in such an entertaining way. This is the case with Harding. He had a lot of chemistry to work with as these guys are smoking hot together, and not just in bed, but in all their interaction. I have always loved Harding’s sexy narrating voice. He previously narrated one of my favorite MM series so he had a high bar to reach with this one for me. He rose to the challenge. Conversations are very natural. He smoothly portrays a spectrum of emotions from disdain and disgust (at family members, not each other) to attraction, admiration, empathy, tenderness, and love. As the book goes on, his voices start to sound more alike but I never had a problem differentiating Brax from Ty. Overall, it’s an excellent performance.
I haven’t seen this level of snarky banter from Riley in the past and it completely suits her. The dialogue is top-notch and kept me smiling and chuckling the entire time. Mostly, it’s the charming, growing romance between two massively lovable, engaging men won me over. If you enjoy a showdown of enemies to lovers, and the interplay of strong opposites, you’ll love Playing Games. It’s my favorite Riley Hart book ever – hands down – and will definitely land on my Top 10 books of 2002 list.
RATING: 
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