Buy: Amazon | Paperback
Review
2.5 stars
The first book in the Plays & Penalties series, this is an enemies-to-lovers, college sports romance that is a well-written debut, but that frustrated me no end with the characters’ inability to communicate.
I started this series by reading book #4, Reverse Pass (not knowing it was part of a series at the time). I loved that book, and was so looking forward to going back and reading the earlier books in the series, but I did struggle with this one.
Firstly, you can read about Mackenzie and Waylon’s first meeting in the freebie prequel novella, Pregame, available on the author’s website. This book starts with Mackenzie already fully hating on the popular football player, but with her best friend also being best friends with one of his best friends, their lives are intertwined. And Waylon also has a bit of a crush on Mackenzie, so he’s making an effort to be around her as much as he can.
It’s like a war in my mind. Want her. Hate her. Want her. My dick and my brain can’t agree. I don’t hate her, not really. I just hate the fact that she looks at me like I’m a creature from the deep that somehow washed up at her feet.
When Mac is invited to an event where her cheating ex-boyfriend will be, she gets talked into taking Waylon along as her fake boyfriend. He’s all for the idea, wanting to prove that he’s more than just a playboy. He does just that, and the two of them actually share a conversation, and it turns out that Waylon is a good guy with a big heart, and is more than Mac thought he was. They become friends, and that attraction between them continues to sizzle.
“I’m so fucking serious, Mac. I know I’m a joke to you. I know you can’t stand me, and it’s real fucking inconvenient for you that your body disagrees with you on that one … But I like you, Mac. I’ve wanted you since the day I saw you, but then I don’t know. It changed over time from just wanting to fuck you. Getting to be friends, pretending to be together…you’re in my fucking head all the time.”
But from here, it’s just a confusing back and forth between friendship, fighting, flirting, sexy time, fighting some more, and then around and around again. They had no idea what they were doing, and frankly, neither did I. They were back and forth with each other so much, never actually talking about their feelings for each other, while Mac is still hanging out with her ex, and Waylon is letting football groupies hang all over him. I honestly had no idea what was going on between them, and though they clearly have chemistry, they just couldn’t get on the same page.
“You and Mackenzie both have the same problem. Instead of just telling each other the truth, how you feel, you keep trying to push the person toward what you think will make them happy. It’s painful to watch.”
Right on!
There were moments of a really great story – the playful banter between Mac and Waylon is lots of fun, and the rare times when they do open up to each other are sweet – but sadly it was mostly overshadowed by the constant back-and-forth of the characters, and their inability to talk to each other and just be honest. There was just too much drama that could have been so easily avoided, and I disconnected from the story.
“What was your wish, Waylon?”
“To hear you say you need me. Not just want, need. That you hate the idea of me with anyone else, the same way I do.”
But having said that, the story does end well, and I was pleased to see these two get their happy ending.
“You fit in my world, Mac. Anywhere you don’t or don’t feel like you fit, I’ll make room.”
There are stories set up for their friends, and having loved the fourth book in the series, I will continue on with the others. This one was just a bit of a miss for me.
2.5 stars.
Plays & Penalties
Pregame (#0.5 – prequel novella) (Waylon & Mackenzie)
Review
Available: Free on Author’s Website
Play Fake (#1) (Waylon & Mackenzie)
Review
Buy: Amazon | Paperback
Delay of Game (#2) (Liam & Liv)
Buy: Amazon | Paperback
About the Author
Maggie loves books, travel and wandering through museums. She lives in the Midwest where you can find her writing on her laptop with her two pups at her side, in between binge watching epic historical and fantasy dramas and cheering for her favorite American (and European) football teams on the weekends. She loves writing dirty athletes and smart women and has a soft spot for writing characters who banter instead of flirt.