All of my hard work has paid off and now I have a family to call my own – my best friend Avery and my three boyfriends; Harley, Ash, and Blaise.But with more people depending on me, the stakes have never been higher.I’ve stepped out from the shadow of the Jackal. I’ve laid claim on the men I want and I’m not letting anything get in our way.Easier said than done. We’re being stalked by serial … being stalked by serial killers and sociopaths at every turn, there’s a history teacher trying to bang my boyfriend, and I can’t forget the nightmare-inducing gifts arriving at my door.
Once a lone Wolf, now I’ll do anything to keep the pack safe.
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4.5 Stars… Um excuse me…what?! This series is seriously giving me an anxiety attack, not to mention the fact I often forget that these characters are 17/18 years old! AH! I saw that ending coming but only because I accidently read the start of the blurb for book 4 and WOW. Just wow.
Welcome to the wicked mind of J Bree and her diabolical story telling- hang on tight, it’s gonna get crazy, bloody, and super steamy.
J Bree is a consummate world builder- and the Hannaford world is one as sharp as it is welcoming, full of colorful characters with traumatic pasts, grey moral codes, and ever changing agendas. Lips, her men, and all of the fantastic secondary characters are captivating and magnetic. From the early bully push-pull all the way to the epic, heart stopping devotion that ensues, I could feel the chemistry down in my marrow. And what a heroine- there is no one like Lips- powerful, in control, totally alpha- the consummate survivor and the gritty warrior.
Action is no-stop, twists and turns abound, darkness and danger permeate every page- a total page turner and a wild, addictive ride. But what I loved most was the LOVE- and not just the romance, but the familial love. The love and loyalty this make-shift crew has for each other – a love that supersedes the game, a love that overpowers and controls the game. There is now greater power- the friendships, the connections, the devotion this crew of misfits has for each other. I want to live in this world forever!
HOLY MOTHER OF BOOK LOVERS!
This series is so intense! Surprises around every corner, shocking surprises. I absolutely loved the back and forth banter between all the characters it had me laughing out loud. Then add in Illi and I was laughing so hard I had tears in my eyes. I have fallen more and more in love with Avery, Blaise, Ash, Harley and Lips with every book. I’m alittle worried that Lips may be getting alittle too relaxed. I was so glad when she finally picked one of the guys to give it up to. Lol! I can’t believe she hasn’t been with all three of them by now. They all three sound sinfully delicious. The way they all respect, trust and love her is heartwarming. When things do get hot between any of them she’s with, WOW, does it get really hot! Even my Kindle got warm. When the Author describes the sex scenes it’s like I’m actually watching porn. Lol! I abso-freakin-lutely loved every minute of it. The suspense is so intense it’s like a rollercoaster ride. At times I cried especially when Harley got drugged. And OH the ending! HOLY SHIT! I EXTREMELY RECOMMEND THIS SERIES TO EVERYONE!
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Quick review on this third installment of the best book series I have ever read. In this series we see the slow build of the relationship between Lips, Harley, Blaise and Ash. At the end of the second book the guys declare themselves and their interests in Lips. I LOVE that this third book sets a realistic pace. They don’t just jump right into the smexy times. If you’ve read books one and two then you know some of these guys have some past behavior they need to make up for and to make this realistic there need to be a build of trust, even now that they have decided to start a relationship. I so appreciate that J. Bree gives time for us to see the guys prove themselves to Lips. I also love that the relationships with each guy are progressing at different speeds and on different timelines which adds to the realistic feel and keeps each guy separate and unique. While it’s a slow build at the beginning we get to some super HOT smexy times in this book and the timing feels perfect. It’s hot, it’s beautiful, it’s not just sex for the sake of sex, it’s relationship growth at its finest and you can see how these relationships are playing a role in shaping Lips and helping her meld with her Wolf persona.
This book contains quite a bit of action and build and we get much deeper into Lips life and world as the Wolf. We start to see Lips and the Wolf meld into one new person that encompasses the best of both and we get to see how the guys will really react to that world that she is a major player in. We also get the introduction to Illi in this book who J. Bree just created a new series about. You’re gonna love Illi. This series, although it technically takes place after “The Butcher” in terms of timeline is such a great introduction to Illi and his brotherly relationship with Lips.
The friendship between Lips and Avery remains a central theme (I heart these two ladies so hard). One of my favorite quotes from this book:
Harley scoffs and whispers in my ear, “Stop looking at her like you want to f*** her, you’ll give us a complex.” I quirk an eyebrow at him. “If we both swung that way, we’d be F’ing married by now. I would have wifed her @$$ last year.” He roars with laughter.
I sure hope you have started this series. If you haven’t, I’m not sure what else I need to tell you to convince you. 😉
That cliffhanger?!?!?!?! I am stunned! I did not give credit where credit was due while I was reading the last chapter. I thought of how tame it was turning out compared to the end of the previous books. Boy was I wrong! Damn!
I seriously don’t know why I haven’t read this before now! I LOVE this series and these characters so much! This book got a little spicy too! I can’t wait to find out what happens next…
This series just keeps getting better and better. I love, love, love the friendship between Lips and Avery. We get to see the more viscous side of Lips but she still has her vulnerable side. I liked seeing the guys a d Lips really starting to get to know each other, and this start getting steamy I can’t wait to see what happens next – especially after that ending 😉
This book begins with the Jackal trying a power play, he shows up with Luca and Diarmuid and escorts Lips/Wolf to his car. She knows what he’s trying to do and has already set up a play of her own. He wants to know where she’s staying and there’s no way she’s giving that up. With Luca driving she instructs him to take her to the docks. There she springs a surprise of her own, waiting for her is The Butcher of the Bay. His reputation is notorious and even the Jackal is wary of him. Harley is wondering what the hell he’s gotten himself into.
It’s summer break and the Wolf has jobs lined up to fill her coffers and her time until the others join her. Harley will be first returning in only a couple of weeks after visiting his mom, then Avery, Ash and Blaise will be last since he’s stuck with his parents back east. Blaise returns early with the news he’s been disowned and his parents are having a ‘replacement’ baby to be named Blaire. All their parents are seriously screwed up.
Just to make things even more interesting, the Vulture is dead, The Twelve are in lockdown and the Butcher is now inducted into her little family. here’s a lot of stuff piling up within the Twelve. With The Wolf inducting Harley and proclaiming her independence from the Jackal in all things, the Jackal ups his game and puts out a hit on Harley.
As the school year starts there’s a new addition to the faculty one who is not only clueless but a predator of the female kind. She has her eyes on Harley and that just pisses everyone off. Of course there’s also Annabelle who wants all the guys back for her own agenda.
Then there’s a new player that comes into play. It seems Matteo has contacted someone outside the twelve about Harley and also the twins. Known only as the Devil, if he takes the contracts everyone is gone.
However it’s the breaks from school that are in my opinion the most interesting. Avery’s crush on one Atticus Crawford for one. He’s older and although he has interest, he won’t make a real move until she’s legal. They actually have a dinner date with Ash as a chaperone, a grouchy and protective one who doesn’t like the man at all. There’s also the meeting of the Twelve, and some negotiation to be done. The Jackal is about to see more of the Wolf in full independence mode as she reiterates to him that Harley is hers and attacking him is a betrayal not to her but the Twelve. The way she gets Harley’s inheritance back is quite genius even though it stuns Harley.
It’s after that meeting that things ramp up even more when a box addressed to Lips shows up at the doorway of their hotel room. Illi (the Butcher), is certain it isn’t from the Jackal in retaliation for the things said at the meeting since the contents had been that way for at least three days.
All this is just the beginning. Avery has a lot of research to do she needs to get Harley free of the extra work the new teacher has put on him. Annabelle makes a shocking move. More boxes with interesting contents and so much more.
I am really glad this is a completed series cause if I had to wait before reading the next book I might have screamed.
Major Cliffhanger warning!!! This series just keeps getting better and better! The stakes have never been higher. Lips has everything to lose now that she has a family to call her own, a kickass best friend, and three guys that she loves. She won’t let anything get in the way of her happiness. This book is all about power moves and strategic plans to keep everyone she loves safe.
More twists, more action and more steamy! Loving this series!!
This was another good read. There are things I like and dislike about this story but there is never a dull moment in the whole book. No one’s life is safe and that includes members of the Twelve. Asher, Avery, Harley, Blaise and Lips knows how to attract danger but I’m definitely enjoying the new member of the team. Illi and his wife Odie are like a breath of fresh air and I love how Illi’s wife supports him one hundred percent. New players come in to play but the old one are ruthless and they don’t stand a chance. Heads are delivered as presents like it’s a normal gift and a war is on the horizon. I’m excited to read how everything ends.
Omg. This is the most addictive series I’ve read in forever! I can’t get enough. The action and drama just keep on and on until I’m ready to explode. The cliffhangers are brutal. I’ve got to go read more right now!
Play The Game by J.Bree is Book Three in the Hannaford Prep Series. This follows the story of Lips, Harley, Blaise, Ash and Avery.
Where to even begin…
This book right here is a book that I’ve become so intrigued, fascinated, addicted and obsessed with. This book has all the feelings happening, even has all the rough moments, laugh out loud and of course the mother of sexual building sex scenes.
This series right here is a series that is an information loader, I am finding myself highlighting all the main points that happen in this book. I feel like a highlighter junkie right now. It’s not that you can’t keep up, it’s just that I don’t want to not remember all that has happened to these characters so far. This book is like a sickness that is growing inside of me, its finding its way inside of me, making a home and living there. I am living for all these characters so much that I just want to know all there is about them. Peel them back layer by Layer to finally see them at their core.
I didn’t expect this book to completely take over me, I literally could not put this book down and I cannot wait to dive into the next instalment. It’s complex, full of twists and turns that will surprise you at every turn and it tickles the dark parts of my own soul.
To be honest, I have never quite met a character like lips in my whole reading history, she is the definition of bad ass. She is my favourite kind of heroine, she is flawed with questionable morals and is a complete bad ass in her own right and knows her limitations. I have loved watching her development through all these books, she has never known what it has been like to have a family before and know that she has one, she will do all that it takes to protect them. Lips is like a puzzle, she can either be very complicated or easy to learn about, like I said I have loved watching her development in both her relationships but more important herself. In this book we have seen her on a more vulnerable level and I absolutely loved watching those layers of hers stripped back.
The Guys… Ash, Blasise and Harley. They are absolute mighty fine males. I wouldn’t mind being in that sandwich. There is so much chemistry between all these characters that you see growing book by book but in this book it was where it had shined the most.
I am loving how this story does not shine away from violence and how the actual school portion of this book has been in the background. I loved how the two worlds connected. The focus was on the seedy criminal underworld and the powerful players. Lips is one of the twelve, which are crime bosses who control different parts in the underworld according to their strength and set of skills that they have.
Things have gotten crazier, so much stuff happens that you just have to read this book to find out as I do not want to ruin the plot for anyone. Right now it is impossible for me to stop reading this series, I am shocked I could even come up with this review. This is the kind of story that is keeping my attention from the get go.
Whoa!!!! Im so speechless right now!! This series has kept me on the edge of my seat the ENTIRE time!! Book 3 just added the icing on the cake! Soooo many steamy moments and craziness!!! A MUST read!!!! Book 4 here I come!
J Bree has already made me fall in love with all of the characters in this series. Well, the family, anyway. The story woven here is truly one of a kind. We get the basics of a RH, but so much more. The characters are beautifully flawed.
“We’re damaged, we’re broken, we’re desperate, but we’re together and we’re a family.”
— Play the Game: Hannaford Prep Year Three by J Bree
Every book in this series is amazing, but this one is where you start to be on the edge of your seat. The Jackal has very clearly stated what is his and our family isn’t having anything to do with it.
The friendship between Lips and Avery is truly something so special and to watch it continue to grow here is beautiful.
And our boys have finally stepped up and claimed their girl.
But of course, it can’t ever be easy. These characters all have demons chasing them and there is danger around every corner.
I really love where this series is going and I, for one, can’t wait to find out what happens next. Book 4 is going to be one wild ride!
This book is just as good as the previous two. I loved this freaking series. This book has been such a good read. This book and this complete series has been everything I didn’t know I needed. I can’t wait for more.
The Wolf’s job comes more into focus in this book. She’s protecting what’s hers and I love it.
Dang can we say…what the hell. This book has me spinning. I do I t know who’s in who’s side and who’s causing problems but we see some characters change side and some go bye bye. But dang I did not see the ending coming. Once you read that, you’ll have your mind blown!!! Now into the last book. So excited to see how it all ends. I give it 5 stars.
Absolutely AMAZING…As expected I wasn’t let down!! Cannot WAIT for 4! I just love Lips and my love for her grows with each book. Her dialogue with every single character is PERFECT, J Bree is a genius! Freaking awesome series !!!
This is such a great series. The characters are easy to fall in love with. This is one of the best series I’ve read this year. I loved it