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2.91 AVERAGE
2.91 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I enjoyed this book quite a bit. I loved the dynamic between Jack & Poppy. Bonded through childhood trauma where each of them were there for the other at different times of their lives, makes for two kids who grow up forever changed by the other's impact on their own lives. She loved him since she was 7. He was her protector when she became a teenager. Don't get me started on the plot - it was fast paced and unpredictable. Also, the spice was really good. This reads as an interconnected standalone, since the plot is not resolved, but it seems like we will be jumping to a different character's story to resolve the plot. Would read the next one.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with this ARC.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with this ARC.
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I usually love Lora Leigh books but this one missed the mark for me. I liked Poppy and Jack well enough. Their trope is one Leigh writes pretty well imo but the whole reason for Jack being back home and the AI part were just kind of blah and the Epilogue was just ridiculous. That's really what bright this down to a 3 for me. It doesn't mean I'll never read a Lora Leigh book again it just means this one was eh.
The set up for the characters background together was rushed, sloppy, and slim. The author hopped between POVs without signifying it was occurring. The descriptors for things was so cringe
idk how to even rate this wacky shit. the epilogue is still goin but i’m not paying attention. this was like smut meets wannabe sci-fi/action?
prolly 50% smut / 50% plot tho so i got what i came for ;)
prolly 50% smut / 50% plot tho so i got what i came for ;)
First thought: An intriguing storyline. If you’re looking for an action packed, morally grey, dark romance this one’s for you.
Poppy saved Jack when he was 14years old. Then a few years later he rescued her when she was being attacked. He was always there for her, to protect her and keep her safe. Poppy knew she was in love with him that day and will always be. But Jack knew she was too innocent and couldn’t be his.
Now years later Jack many years serving in the Navy Seals he was just given a mission that would take him back home. Him and his team had to intercept a deal and recover a new form of Artificial Intelligence, that threatened the safety of all. His connection in town would be Poppy as she worked for the men secretly brokering the deal. He however couldn’t let her know his mission and to do that he had to play a part and in doing so would betray her.
But when Jack got to town he couldn’t resist Poppy, she was everything he craved and his need to have her and protect her would make this the hardest mission of his life.
This was the first book in a series so after reading the epilogue I can see a vision, but this one just needed a bit more for me and it missed the mark. I don’t do half stars but it was a 3.75⭐️
I personally didn’t like the voice variations of the narrator, the accents were really bad. If she didn’t do accents it would have been better. Recommend book over audiobook for this one!
Literally Themes you’ll find:
* Morally Grey
* Ex Navy Seal
* I’d Kill For You
* Secret Mission
* Artificial Intelligence
* Your Mine
* Dual POV
* Dark & Spicy
Poppy saved Jack when he was 14years old. Then a few years later he rescued her when she was being attacked. He was always there for her, to protect her and keep her safe. Poppy knew she was in love with him that day and will always be. But Jack knew she was too innocent and couldn’t be his.
Now years later Jack many years serving in the Navy Seals he was just given a mission that would take him back home. Him and his team had to intercept a deal and recover a new form of Artificial Intelligence, that threatened the safety of all. His connection in town would be Poppy as she worked for the men secretly brokering the deal. He however couldn’t let her know his mission and to do that he had to play a part and in doing so would betray her.
But when Jack got to town he couldn’t resist Poppy, she was everything he craved and his need to have her and protect her would make this the hardest mission of his life.
This was the first book in a series so after reading the epilogue I can see a vision, but this one just needed a bit more for me and it missed the mark. I don’t do half stars but it was a 3.75⭐️
I personally didn’t like the voice variations of the narrator, the accents were really bad. If she didn’t do accents it would have been better. Recommend book over audiobook for this one!
Literally Themes you’ll find:
* Morally Grey
* Ex Navy Seal
* I’d Kill For You
* Secret Mission
* Artificial Intelligence
* Your Mine
* Dual POV
* Dark & Spicy
Jack Bridger had a rough childhood. In a dangerous home situation, teenage Jack was convinced he would meet his death at his father's hands before he reached the age 15. That is until a 7 year old Poppy shows him his first glimpse of kindness. Time pushes them together and pulls them apart all the way into adulthood, but one thing is certain for the both of them: Poppy and Jack are made for each other.
From the outside, the two are an odd pairing, but there is more to each of them beyond the surface. Poppy is a sweet, kind soul who wouldn't hurt a fly...unless she has to. Jack is a time-roughened ex-SEAL who will cross almost every line in the name of justice...unless it involves Poppy. When Jack receives word that Poppy may be wrapped up in a dangerous drug scheme without her knowledge, he jumps into action and decides this time he will claim Poppy as his forevermore.
This book includes:
- everyone is obsessed with me but IDK why trope
- age gap romance
- second chance romance
- military (he is more of a 007 detective) MMC
- gangs and the cartel
- terminator like cyborg
- FMC with lots of protective older brothers trope
- TW: please check before reading
I have never written so many Goodreads updates on a single book. So many elements of "Play Dirty" took me completely out of the story and prevented any enjoyment. Usually, I can suspend reality for a dark romance, but this time it was just too much.
Here are some of those elements:
- Lack of research on what AI actually is
- Lack of research on how the military works (I think the CIA or a fake mercenary group would have been more appropriate for what the author was trying to achieve)
- Weird verbiage during intimate scenes
- Jack is a hypocrite
- Poppy had like three different personalities that did not mesh
- No chemistry between Poppy and Jack
- Unbelievable sibling dynamic between Poppy and her brothers
While this is my experience I know that "Play Dirty" will be a hit. There will be tons of women who LOVE Jack and get a kick out of all the elements of the book that don’t work for me. Any fans of "Does it Hurt," "Haunting Adeline," "Feathers So Vicious," "Red Flags" and other books that feature twisted romance will eat this up. I predict this one will be a hit.
I received this audiobook as an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley, Lora Leigh, and Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to read and review this book.
From the outside, the two are an odd pairing, but there is more to each of them beyond the surface. Poppy is a sweet, kind soul who wouldn't hurt a fly...unless she has to. Jack is a time-roughened ex-SEAL who will cross almost every line in the name of justice...unless it involves Poppy. When Jack receives word that Poppy may be wrapped up in a dangerous drug scheme without her knowledge, he jumps into action and decides this time he will claim Poppy as his forevermore.
This book includes:
- everyone is obsessed with me but IDK why trope
- age gap romance
- second chance romance
- military (he is more of a 007 detective) MMC
- gangs and the cartel
- terminator like cyborg
- FMC with lots of protective older brothers trope
- TW: please check before reading
I have never written so many Goodreads updates on a single book. So many elements of "Play Dirty" took me completely out of the story and prevented any enjoyment. Usually, I can suspend reality for a dark romance, but this time it was just too much.
Here are some of those elements:
- Lack of research on what AI actually is
- Lack of research on how the military works (I think the CIA or a fake mercenary group would have been more appropriate for what the author was trying to achieve)
- Weird verbiage during intimate scenes
- Jack is a hypocrite
- Poppy had like three different personalities that did not mesh
- No chemistry between Poppy and Jack
- Unbelievable sibling dynamic between Poppy and her brothers
While this is my experience I know that "Play Dirty" will be a hit. There will be tons of women who LOVE Jack and get a kick out of all the elements of the book that don’t work for me. Any fans of "Does it Hurt," "Haunting Adeline," "Feathers So Vicious," "Red Flags" and other books that feature twisted romance will eat this up. I predict this one will be a hit.
I received this audiobook as an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley, Lora Leigh, and Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to read and review this book.
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault