From USA Today bestselling author, L A Cotton comes an angsty YA/NA hate-to-love romance. Cocky football players, school rivalry, and the girls who get in their way. Get ready … The Raiders are back! Felicity Giles has a list.Lose her virginity.Meet her knight-in-shining-armor and fall in love.Have the best senior year a girl can have. The only problem? Her knight isn’t a saint, he’s a villain, … the best senior year a girl can have.
The only problem? Her knight isn’t a saint, he’s a villain, and she’s pretty sure he’ll destroy her before ever handing over a piece of his heart.
Jason Ford has a plan.
Win State and go down as one of the most successful Quarterbacks in Rixon Raider history.
Head off to college and pursue his dream of being drafted to the NFL.
Avoid the girl under his skin. Felicity Giles, his stepsister’s best friend and perpetual pain in his ass.
She’s annoying as hell.
Quirky.
She’s a game to him, nothing more.
Until his arch rival comes after him and the few people he cares about … and Felicity gets caught in the crossfire.
And suddenly hating her feels a whole lot like falling in love.
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So. Much. Drama.
This book had it all! Hostility, a rivalry that became downright dangerous, lustful feelings, denied attraction, broke hearts, angsty characters, loyalty and unbreakable friendship.
I was so pumped to get a story focus on Jason freaking Ford! He was the arrogant, brooding, QB1 that didn’t take crap from anyone, especially his new step sister. He anticipated her tricks and was always one step ahead. But he didn’t see the silent player in the game until to was too late.
Felicity aka Flick aka Fee was the ultimate best friend, ride or die BFF and was so likable. Her character made me smile every time she appeared in the story. I just adored everything about her, even her poor judgement and desire to break away from her seemingly perfect life and expectations. She was so spirited and quirky!
I wasn’t sure I’d ship these two but by the end of the book I was hooked! Something about their differences and unlikely companionship won me over. I fell hard for Jason’s desire to put aside his past ways and focus on getting the girl who changed him. For once, he put someone else first and in a big way!
This book was such a delightful read and I really hope the author continues the series, because I NEED a happy ending story for Asher!!!! He deserves the spotlight after being the best wing man ever.
5 stars
Reviewed by Lisa
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The Game You PlayRixon Raiders book by L. A. Cotton and as much as I loved Hailee and Cameron…Jason and Felicity stole the show. The emotions that are invoked just grab you and stick. I don’t think I have felt that intensity reading before. So well written that I couldn’t put it down.
The drama of high school is stronger than ever. School rivals, family issues, pressure mounting, friend dynamics altered can only mean one thing, one hell of a story!!!!
Felicity has started her senior year with a list that she needs to accomplish before she graduates and as each item is crossed things start to change. Feeling a little out of control takes her on a path she didn’t know was possible.
Jason had his life mapped out. He was going to be the best of the best and move on from Rixon. But when a certain girl starts to get under his skin and his life starts spinning what could go wrong? Or could it go right?
Amazing written with a storyline that just keeps getting better.
*4,5 stars*
We have met Jason and Felicity in the first book of this series and already got some of the gist of how they met and how it would go but it’s a whole other story when you finally get to read it and take in what both are going through. It’s not always easy living your life under pressure, especially in high school but if you have good people in your corner, you can get through it. It’s just how you proceed with everything that can either knock you down or you get on with… I’ve enjoyed this book and hope we get some more in this series 🙂
Felicity has made a list of things that she still wants to do before she graduates from high school but now that her best friend has a relationship with one of the star players, she feels a bit out of place. When she gets involved with the lead star player of the team, he gets more and more under her skin although she’s trying to stay away from his ‘cuz Jason is just bad news. But her heart and her mind seem to be wanting different things and when she is also figuring out what to do next with her life, there’ll be some hard choices to make…. Jason has always dealt with the growing pressure of being the star of his team and trying to keep his head above water but with Felicity coming seemingly closer, he doesn’t know what to do and with a looming threat over his head, it’ll be hard to keep his distance from her. But the need to protect her and his family will become hard to bare and he may be ending up losing everything he’s worked so hard for. Will he be able to stand through it all?…
I really loved book 2 in this series. From the end of book 1 I could not wait for Felicity and Jason’s story and to see what journey these two would take us on.
I really didn’t like Jason in book one…. AT ALL…. He was everything a bully and a-hole could be. He was awful to Hayley, and quite frankly mean to Felicity in this book too. But slowly throughout this story he redeemed himself. Don’t get me wrong… he was still an a-hole… still a very bitter guy full of anger but focused on football and his future. But the more we learn about him and understand him the more you will get it.
Felicity was wonderful. I loved her kind, sweet nature. Yet her journey isn’t easy too with very high expectations and pressures from her parents. These two are so opposite, yet for some reason the chemistry is there, the sparks fly and they just work!!
These two gave us a brilliant story, full of back and forth. The emotions that run through the storyline were so raw and I really felt every word, even shedding a tear or two! A slow burn romance which packed a punch. Absolutely loved it! Cannot wait for more from this series.
The Game You Play is the second book in the Rixon Raiders series, and I loved it!
Confession time – I really didn’t like Felicity in The Trouble With You. So when I realized she was going to be the heroine in book 2 I was a bit torn. I was so excited about this book and Jason’s story but scared I wouldn’t love it because of her. But this book totally changed my perception and definitely redeemed her in my eyes.
“No one is ever supposed to get hurt but they always do.”
Jason Ford, QB1 and football god of Rixon High, doesn’t care about anything except football. He’s laser-focused on winning the state championships, playing in college and making it to the NFL. He doesn’t have time for distractions, especially relationships. Too bad his step sister’s best friend has gotten under his skin and is throwing a wrench in his plans.
Felicity Giles is quirky, sassy as hell, and determined to make her senior year count. Armed with a list to help break out of her shell, she’s ready to finally forge her own path. She just needs to keep Jason from breaking her heart along the way.
Jase & Flick gave me all the feels, their push & pull, enemies to lovers vibe hooking me from the very beginning. With banter that resembles foreplay and off the charts chemistry, I couldn’t get enough of them. And not only are they learning to navigate each other, but they each confront their own inner demons and grow throughout the book.
This story is completely addicting, and I couldn’t put it down. I loved it so much more than I thought I would, and can’t wait to see what is in store for all these characters in the next book!
After reading The Trouble With You I was so excited for The Games You Play and I was not disappointed. This story is the second story in the Rixon Riders series. It was intense and engrossing and I was hooked from beginning to end with the enemies to lovers theme ongoing in the story.
This novel will take you on a roller-coaster ride of emotions. Your heart will go out to these well-developed characters, the author did a great job portraying their feelings as the story progresses and the pressure they are under becomes more intense. The chemistry between Jason and Felicity was just as intense as the love/hate relationship they had going on.
The story was well-written and fully detailed with some twists and turns you would not see coming. Characters from the previous book all appear in this novel and greatly added to the story.
The Games You Play was a fabulous read and I would highly recommend it to all lovers of YA romance.
WoW !!! It’s all I want to say, because I’m speachless.
This book is my first from this author and what a date it was !!! After reading few paiges L. A. Cotton takes my heart as a hostage, my emotions are still boiling, can’t lie…. I feel captivated, I feel overwhelmed… I feel amazed. This book is nothing less that great story written at the finest.
I don’t want to sountd pathetic but The Game You Paly is one of the best book I’ve ever read from YA roamnces. It was very intense reading, of course with drama in the background, with broken hearts, broken lifes, hard topics to talk about… BUT it was still beautiful story about LOVE.
Love between man and woman, love between boy and girl, love between siblings, friends and every people who care about each other. L.A. Cotton mixed this so perfectly together. It was not easy things but written in really amazing way, which made me read this book really, really fast. I just couldn’t put The Game You Play down. From paige by paige I was devouring every word and breath.
L.A. Cotton knows exactly how to lead her characyters. James and Felicity are perfect heroes. They are young, but in the same place they have old souls in my eyes. Sometimes life has it’s own scenario, but James and Felicity try to do the right things in their opinion, in the right time…. They hate each other or more like, love to hate eachother… they feel chemistry between them, and try to fight it… from hate to love is very thin line, as they say, right?
The Game You Play is definetely everything, what I could expect in YA books. I’m sure that I will come back to this series and this author. Highly reccomendet title!
Five hate/love stars for Felicity and Jason !!!
L. A. Cotton became with this book one of my favorite YA authors !!!
This book is absolutely amazing and I can’t wait to read the next book in this series, Asher’s story (I’m sorry Cam and Jason but I fell in love with Ash, trough reading “The Trouble With You” ).
The opposites attract…
This is totally true for Felicity and Jason !!!
Felicity’s and Jason’s relationship is one of that just explode and from hate there finally come love, what every girl dreams about.
If you’re looking for a book with angst, enemies to lovers trope and YA genre, then this is the book you should read!
Highly recommended!!!
Felicity & Jason are everything. Their story will suck you in and have you begging for more. I am utterly speechless! This book is hands down AMAZING. These words are filled with so much raw emotion they will have your gut turning. The angst will have you on the edge of your seat but the LOVE. The love will totally swoon you.
Felicity wants nothing more than to know what goes on inside Jason’s head, to know the real him and not the facade that he gives everyone else. When she looks into his eyes she knows there is more there and is determined to get to know the real him.
Jason has an amour he wears and walls he has built. The one time he actually thought about caring for someone burned him. Now all he cares about is football and getting to the NFL; that is before her. When his enemy is out for revenge he realizes maybe he does actually care about others. Will he put it all on the line?
The Game You Play is an ABSOLUTE must read!!!
The Game You Play is the second book in the Rixon Raiders series. In book one, The Trouble With You, Jason was a total jerk (edited because I can’t use the word that would better fit him here). I’m a sucker for the broken bad boys and was super excited when I found out book two would be his story!
Jason was raised to be an all-star football player. It’s all he’s ever known. He can’t imagine a life without football. As “QB1” for the Rixon Raiders he is on the fast track to the big leagues and nothing will get in his way and distract him. Then Felicity steps into the picture and his world is turned upside down.
I love Felicity, her quirkiness, and her sass! I knew she would give Jason a run for his money. The way he treated her though, I wanted to smack him in the head. This book was definitely filled with plenty of angst and twists and I loved every moment of it!
4.5 Stars for the fall of the Rixon Raider’s QB1! Football was supposed to be his one and only love and then Felicity happened. Jason’s dream is about to change. Maybe the dream can be more than just football.
Felicity knew he was not the one, but you can’t help who you love. He hurt her more times than she could count. He was callous and hurtful. Cruel and cold. He went out of his way to tear her down and keep his distance. However, her head knew she needed to walk away but her heart didn’t get the message.
Jason was fighting a losing battle. No matter what he did, his heart had it’s own plan. Things were complicated. School rivals would get ugly and sacrifices would need to be made. He just needed to win the playoffs and get to college to play ball. A girlfriend would complicate his dream.
This story is about self-discovery and pushing your boundaries. When you’re young, it’s the time to try things outside your comfort zone, experiment with new experiences, fall in love and chase your dreams. This is that story, with a whole lot of chemistry. Jason was the star player that every girl wanted but only one could ever truly have. Felicy was his endgame.
Oh my stars! 5 are not enough! Cotton knocked it out of the park with this one. We first met Jason and Felicity in The Trouble With You and I loved Flick immediately. Jason I wanted to smack repeatedly. So of course, I was chomping at the bit to get their story.
I don’t want to go into the story as I feel like anything will give something important away. But I will say that Jason and Flick’s story is full of the perfect blend of angst and heat. I highly recommend you pick this one up! I am now a Rixon Raiders fan through and through. I cannot wait to see what Cotton brings us next in this series!
4.5 End game stars
“You’re not a means to an end Giles.
Giles . You’re the end game”
Jason Ford, star football player, he’s cocky, arrogant, he’s the typical high school jock, girls drool over him, boys admire him. Jason is also the son of this crazed football towns previous football star tar from years before. Jason hates that he’s like his father, hates that the sport turned him into a womanizer and a cheat but what he doesn’t realize until he’s heading in the same direction that is until a sassy girl by the name of Felicity comes into his circle.
Felicity Giles, is the best friend of Hailee, just a normal girl, sassy, smart, she’s a girl who makes lists, likes to be organized and she hates pig-headed football stars and bullies, especially Jason, Hailee’s stepbrother who has made their lives hell.
Since Jason’s best friend Cameron and Hailee his stepsister got together, Jason and Felicity have been thrust into the same circles, so it’s no surprise when a lust – hate relationship develops between them.
He’s the boy she shouldn’t want and she’s the girl he doesn’t deserve.
Jason really is a pig, you can’t help but like Hailee more but hate the boy when he pulls her in only to push her away again, leaving her hurt and feeling used, Jason is definitely a guy with issues and a relationship commitment-phobe. In the end, though you will swoon I always love the way an enemy to lovers story goes and I loved how Jason called Felicity Giles, typical guy thing but cute.
I loved the push and pull, the dramas, the football team rivalry, the whole plot was addictive and hot in all the right places and also we still get to see how Hailee and Cameron are getting on. This is the second book in the series and I am already addicted, already wanting to get a taste of Asher’s story, I love it, this is teenage drama at it’s best.
Start the first book today THE TROUBLE WITH YOU if you love teenage angst and high school drama’s you definitely don’t want to miss this series.
THE GAME YOU PLAY is told in first person dual pov and leads to a hea. Each book could be read as a standalone.
I have the most epic book hangover right now. There are just no words for the level of awesome The Game You Play is. For starters as hooked as I was to this series thanks to the first book I did not see how Jason could really be redeemed. He was king a#$hole. But the second I started reading this and began to see the world through his eyes all of that changed.
There is just so much more under his cold and cruel surface. So. Freaking. Much. I found my heart absolutely aching for him at times. The more I read the more I fell just as hard as Felicity did for the Raiders’ star player. Felicity and Jason have a story that is filled with angst, drama and life altering moments. There’s not one moment where anything slows down, with L.A. Cotton’s words pulling you deeper and deeper into the lives of these high school seniors in this football obsessed town. I seriously hope we get Asher’s book next because I neeeeeeeed more!
I loved this enemies to lovers story and couldn’t put it down.
Jason Ford brings a whole new meaning to jerk. He is a hot jock on a mission and no one and nobody is going to get in his way. He is the kind of guy I love to hate, and it is such a pleasure when he meets his match in Felicity; she’s quirky, loves making lists, and has her own mission, she isn’t going to be cowed by anyone and especially not Jase.
What an engrossing read? Bad things are about to happen and somewhere along the line unexpected feelings begin to develop and futures are put at risk. A great second book in a series that is destined to become one of my firm favorites… I received an advanced copy of this book from the author.
I really enjoyed this book. I was rooting for Felicity to bring Jason to his knees the whole time I was reading the book.
I LOVED Felicity and Jason’s book!! It had everything I like-some bullying, some football, some drama, and a whole lotta angst! I love that the whole “gang” was there…that we got to see what Hailee and Cam are up to…and I’m hoping we saw who Asher’s girl may be! Another five star read from one of my favorite authors!!
***ARC generously provided Author/Publisher for an honest review.***
Storyline: 4.5 stars
Characters: 5 stars
Heat Factor: 4.5 stars
Overall Rating: 4.5 stars
The Game You Play by L.A. Cotton is book 2 in the Rixon Raiders Series. This is a sports romance centered around football in a small town.
This book as everything a Mature YA/New Adult should be! It was fantastic!
Jase is Hailee’s stepbrother. He’s Rixon’s star quarterback and the golden boy of football. He’s also arrogant and conceited… and sometimes cruel.
Felicity is Hailee’s best friend. She’s sweet and fun. Super supportive. Dead set on completing her list before the end of her senior year she’s determined to lose her virginity and fall in love.
This book is everything! I had to make myself slow down so that I could savor the story because I knew if I read it too quickly, I’d be left with a wicked book hangover.
The writing was spot on. LA did a great job with character development, storyline and angst. The chemistry between Jase and Felicity was hot!!!! Their need for each other was obvious, even if Jase fought it.
I’m very excited to see what’s in store for our last Rixon Raider, Asher! I’m sure L.A. will deliver another touchdown to this amazing series!!
Jason Ford has one focus, one love and on goal in life and that’s football. After one night in New York things change, but will they change for the better?
Jase is the one we all love to hate. He is number one and the quarterback. He is completely focused on football, anything else is just a distraction, but he can’t seem to stay away from Felicity. Who also happens to be his step sisters best friend. Felicity wants to step out of her shelf for senior year, she wants to take chances, but the one thing she doesn’t expect is Jason Ford.
I love the love/hate relationship these two have. Felicity see’s how Jason is and it’s safe to say she feels like she is just a game to him. I love that we get to know a little bit more about Jason, we got to see more of him and peel back more of his layers. There is a lot more to him than what you see on the outside. Despite his jerk exterior, he is actually caring and protective.
I couldn’t wait for Jason and Felicity’s story and this was so much more than I could have hoped for. I loved both of these characters and the depth behind them. Their story sucked me in from the story. It was a beautiful, emotional game they played and one I didn’t want to end.
I can’t wait to see more of all these characters in the next book! A MUST READ!
WOW! if I thought The Trouble With You was gripping and intense The Game You Play was even more!! It was gripping, it was intense and oh so much more.
I wanted to hate Jason so much but I just couldn’t. Yes I wanted to slap him and knock some sense into him but he crept his way into my heart. He had so much pressure on his shoulders and so much anger he didn’t know what to do.
Felicity, oh I loved this girl in this book. I wasn’t a fan of hers in TTWY as I felt she put Hailee in some horrible positions knowing the hatred coming at her from her step-brother but in this book she redeemed herself and embedded herself in my heart.
The chemistry between Jason and Flic was off the charts hot. Somehow she managed to wear down the iron walls he had put up around himself.
I have always been a fan of Lianne’s but this series is my favourite of hers and I am super excited for Asher’s story although I have a feeling with the way she is going she may very well break me with that one.