Playing Dirty: Leighton U, Book 4

Oh, my goodness, this book was well worth the wait! Theo is struggling to come to terms with the fact his dad not only married his affair partner but also made his biggest rival his new stepbrother. Madden is infuriatingly composed and seems to buy into the new family dynamic without hesitation, which just makes Theo hate him more. And on top of that, the mandatory "family" vacation leaves Theo and Madden having to make nice. With Madden somehow landing in his pocket every time he turns around, Theo is over the whole situation. Except there is a draw towards Madden that he's having an even bigger time resisting, one that leads to a scorching kiss he can't get out of his head. With baseball season coming up, Theo knows it's stupid to get involved with a rival, but spending time with Madden seems to bring out the best in Theo, and he can't deny that Madden is everything he has always wanted. But with his friends breathing down his neck, Theo has to decide what he wants more, to win the school rivalry game and appease his friends, or Madden and everything good that he sees in Theo. As a wise person once said, when it's forever on the line, you have to break all the rules. And as far as Theo is concerned, when it comes to Madden, there's not a single rule he wouldn't break to keep him. I can't believe how much I loved this book. (I mean, I can, because all of CE Ricci's books are amazing). But it came so close to pushing Caught Stealing out of the top spot. I loved Madden so…

Two rivals. Two stepbrothers. Two team pennants. And one good read. Both MCs are awesome. We’ve met Theo since Book 1 and we met Madden in Book 3 when he was on a date with Kason. It’s a good thing Hayes interrupted Kason’s date with Madden or Theo might have had a different significant other for his book. It’s angsty and visceral, raw even. Especially near the end. They do get their HEA by the end of the book. There isn’t an audiobook for this one yet, but if they ever get around to it, I would hope that it is as excellent as the audiobooks for Books 1, 2, & 3. The author has a tendency to misuse the phrase “and I” instead of the correct “and me” as well as misusing the word “redress” when referring to dressing, as in putting on clothes. We dress. We don’t redress.

I devoured Playing Dirty the perfect book—true enemies-to-lovers, forced proximity, forced family, stepbrothers, and hella spicy. I was drawn to Madden and Theo's chemistry from the first page. Their tension, banter, and rivalry—both on and off the field—stand out and are very well written. Theo, Madden, and their teams’ rivalry, including the Penny Play, adds tension as they try to catch each other's school flag. A family trip shifts their relationship, especially for Theo, who realizes: “Denial is not just a river in Egypt” The book kept me engaged through emotional and humorous scenes, especially Madden and Theo's playful, supportive, sexy dynamic. Highly recommend for those wanting a sweet, emotional, and sexy story of love and HEA. I’m about to hit the next book fast.

The continuing saga of Leighton university athletes always leave room for more intriguing storyline and interesting characters. Looking forward to more.

Playing Dirty is book 4 in CE Ricci’s Leighton University series. Each book can be read as a standalone, but I definitely recommend reading all of the books in order. That way the shared universe between the books and the cameos from the other characters/couples can resonate fully throughout the series. The scenes when the other characters make cameos usually end up being my favorite because they’re like catching up with old friends. There are a few cameos in Playing Dirty, and it made me love the book that much more. You’ll have to read the book to find out who makes an appearance! Additionally, the book has these tropes to look forward to: * College Rivalry * Stepbrother Romance * Bi-Awakening * Baseball Romance * Forced Proximity My Review: I read Playing Dirty in one sitting (thank you insomnia) because I got sucked right into the dynamic between Madden and Theo. Their tension and banter is unmatched between all of the couples, in my opinion. Madden and Theo aren’t just rivals on the baseball field; they’re also new stepbrothers after Theo’s father had an affair with Madden’s mother. While Madden wants his mom to stay happy, Theo only sees the pain his father has caused him and his mom. Madden tries more than once to smooth things over between them, but Theo’s walls take time to come down. Layered on top of these issues, there’s also a strong rivalry between their teams, which includes an old tradition called the Penny Play. Will it be the thing that comes between…