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Review

WOW! JUST…. WOW. SUCH A BEAUTIFUL BOOK!!!

I’m such a sucker for the fake relationship set up, so this was a winner for me before I even started. But it soon became clear to me that there is so much more to this book. The way they initially came together is a little weird, but is an indicator of how screwed up these two characters are at the beginning of the story, and a great starting point for some major character development.

Colt and Cheyenne are two very real, very honest (and yes, screwed up) characters. Cheyenne has some trauma in her past, while Colt is dealing with some major stuff in his present. With their fake relationship fizzling out but developing into a tentative friendship, both of them are looking for a way to deal with their pain, and they turn to each other, finding a way to be together in a way that helps them forget about all of the drama in their lives. But this quickly develops into more as two people who never let anybody close, discover that they actually make each other’s lives better.

I grab her arms and pull her toward me. Now she has her arms wrapped around my waist and we’re chest to chest. She’s laughing and I almost want to laugh with her. For a second it feels real and okay. The knot in my gut loosens and I’m not scared to breathe.

Amidst the funny banter, and some gorgeously tender moments, the romance develops slowly and realistically.

“I thought this was a game,” I remind him.
“Not anymore and you know it. Everything else in my life is all fucked up. This is the only thing that’s real.”

And watching them both realise that they’d finally let somebody in and fallen for each other was just magic.

I don’t know how in the fuck we got here, but somehow this game is more real than anything else.
And I want it.
I fucking want it.

I fell in instant love with both Colt and Chey. The interactions and dialogue between them is incredibly real and with the story being in both of their POVs, we get right inside of their heads to see what they are going through, and it’s sensational. I could very easily put myself in their positions and understand everything that they were feeling. They were both honest with each other, and there was no stupidness at all. And not once did I want to smack either of them (believe me – this is a rare event that should be treasured!).

This isn’t a fucking game anymore. No charades here. I don’t know exactly what to call it, but whatever it is, it’s ours. I’m going to latch onto it. And never let go.

This is a beautifully written, very emotional read. The things that the characters go through are intense and heartbreakingly tragic (I was in tears for an entire chapter!). But there is enough humour, lightness and swoony romance to balance out the heavier stuff nicely. The highlight of the book for me was watching them go through everything they went through together, leaning on each other, but still standing strong, it was just beautiful.

We may have been brought together because of a stupid ass game. Or because we were both screwed up, or needed to change, but we got somewhere important and that’s the only thing that counts.

I absolutely loved this story, and read it in one sitting, unable to put it down. It was my first book from Nyrae Dawn, and I can’t wait to read more from this incredibly talented author.

4.5 stars!

 

The Games series