Play With Me

This review may contain spoilers, so fair warning, upon reading the review.

Book Evaluation:
Plot: 🎞️🎞️🎞️🎞️🎞️
World Building:🌎🌎🌎🌎🌎
Cover:📔📔📔📔📔
Hero: 🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻
Heroine:🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️
Intimacy Level: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Relationship Building: 💒💒💒💒💒
Heart & Feels:💞💞💞💞💞
Witty/Banter/Reaction of Laughter: 😂😂😂😂😂
Page Turner Level:📖📖📖📖📖
Narration:🎧🎧🎧🎧🎧
Ending:🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧
Overall View: ✨✨✨✨.5

First Impressions
Play With Me is the second installment in the "Playing for Keeps" series. Its been a while since I read the first book and I show more was nervous to read the second book because the heroine was a character I had seen in Consider Me and she was a bit prickly, in fact she was a bit of a brat or that is the impression I received so yeah I am not a fan of bratty heroine so I was so apprehensive to see if this author would be able to make her work for me and what do you know??? She worked some miracles in this book here because I had so much fun with it. It was so endearing and fascinating and I couldn't get enough of it.

First Line
"I fuckin' told you."

The Main Protagonists
The Hero: Garrett
Professional Hockey Player
Playboy/Manwhore
Alpha Cinnamon Roll

The Heroine: Jennie
Prickly and Sprited
Professional Dancer
Isolated

Summary
Garrett and Jennie are brought together when Jennie's overprotective brother buys her an apartment in the same complex as Garrett and has Garrett being a bit of her protector when he can't be there for her. Even though at first there is some tension, very quickly, a fast friendship forms between them. And those bonds of friendship develop into something hot and heavy very quickly and even though they both know how forbidden it is, they have a secret relationship with each other. At first its just for some hot sex and the fact that they get along so well together, but that spice quickly turns into something sweet and tender. But as the secret is dragged out, Garrett and Jennie will need to decide if a happy ever after can be in their future.

What I Loved
Play With Me was such a deep and sexy romance that I instantly was drawn into. I absolutely had a blast with this one here and Becka Mack threw in the big guns with this one. I still don't know how she was able to redeem this pair for me but most especially the heroine for me because I had the most difficult time with her character in the first book and I honestly was sure how it would have been possible to do this for me. But I have to say, this book impressed so completely with this author's talent of being able to write such a unlikeable heroine and turn her so likeable so QUICKLY. I started liking Jennie almost from the beginning. She is a bit spirited and does act like a brat at times, but once you see why she is so defensive, you can really see why. I was so in tune with her character and felt for her in how she struggles making genuine connections. Garrett is a hero I honestly fell hard so quickly. He is alpha in the bedroom and a cinnamon roll out of it. But he is so protective at times and I respected his character so deeply. We see how much family means to him and the scars that he carries deep inside. Garrett and Jennie are just pefect for each other. They really balance each others strengths and weaknesses. There were so many heart filled moments within their sexy moments and I enjoyed seeing their relationship form so deeply in the most unexpected ways. And if you need great spice in a romance, look no further than Becka Mack. She writes it so spectacularly. I adored it in every way. And considering I normally skim those scenes unless its an erotic romance, then that should tell you how well it was handled. The family bonds were just right in this one. And the epic explosion from the brother was so well built up and if you love that aspect in the brothers best friend trope, trust this author to do it just so well and satisfy you in the end.

What I Struggled With
Jennie's character in the beginning is the ONLY reason this book isn't a five star. It did turn me off for a while until she started to become likeable which took some time.

Narration
The narration was BRILLIANT and so masterful and I never wanted to put this down. Even though I could have easily switched to the ebook, I just didn't want to let go of the narration. So well portrayed and the emotional impact especially was perfection!

Overall View
Play With Me is a stunning addition to the series that is packed with sexual intimacy to curl the toes, banter to endear your heart, and emotion to take captive your soul! A WINNER!

Favorite Quote(s)
you weren’t made to fit in, jennie. you stand out way too much to hide in the shadows.

Book Details (also in my shelves)
Sub Genre: Contemporary Romance
Character Types: Athlete, Dancer
Themes: Slow Burn, Hot Spice, Dirty Talk, Praise Kink
Tropes: Forbidden Love, Brothers Best Friend, Friends To Lovers (with benefits)

Book Perspective
Duo POV

Relationship Conflict vs Plot Conflict
Plot Conflict

Song This Book Inspires
Anti Hero by Taylor Swift

Recommendation For Reading Order
You can read as a standalone

Steam/Spice Explanations

Steamin' up the room -the sexual content is more explicit in the language and tone, heavier amount of sexual scenes. show less

I think after giving this second book a chance that maybe Becka Mack isn’t for me. And that’s okay. Every author isn’t for everyone. The same issues I had with book one were still here. Men talking how they would never talk. The flowery speeches to their loves. And, just how repetitive it all felt. Don’t get me started on Carter from book one. I loved him in book one, but he was incredibly annoying and childish in this book. And I felt like they made Olivia so much meaner than she really is.

What I did like, the relationship that Garrett and Jennie built. It was one of trust and patience. He gave her space and time when she needed it. I love what a softie Garrett truly was.

Book 2 in the Playing for keeps series.

Garrett and Jennie! 💚

I loved the first book. Olivia and Carter were great characters.

Jennie is Carter’s little sister and Garrett is his teammate and best friend.

I thought this was such a hilarious read. I was laughing out loud throughout the whole thing. Garrett being super shy was really sweet and the way he treated Jennie made my heart melt.
I’m excited to read the next book In this series and continue the fun characters.

3.8⭐️ Garrett and Jennie were so cute