Description
Cruel. Merciless. Wicked. If they find out the truth, I’ll lose everything—including my father’s life.
Surgery saved me, but left my family drowning in debt. The man we owe has one demand–destroy the hockey team from within.
Three obsessive, controlling men catch me spying and promise retribution for my sins. Cole is as cold as the ice beneath his skates, and he likes to hurt me. Tristan’s sweetness hides a terrifying possessiveness. And broody, frightening Coach Aleksandr? He hates me with a passion I don’t understand—but his hands tell a different story.
Their brutal touches and degrading commands break down my walls until I can’t tell where I end and they begin. With every cruel game, I fall deeper, tangled in a web of lies I can’t escape.
When you’re in as deep as I am, walking away isn’t an option. Surviving might not be, either.
Twisted Play is a scorching hot, dark, why choose, college, hockey romance. Eva’s story concludes in Vicious Wins, Book Two of the Cruel Games duet.
Shelley Drinkel –
✨🎧✨ Audiobook Review ✨🎧✨
This is the first book I’ve read/listened to by poppy and I loved every second! The narrators were fantastic, bringing their characters to life perfectly and portraying the emotions, obsession and tension perfectly, keeping me hooked throughout.
Savannah Thomas is fast becoming one of my favourite female narrators, her performance was flawless, I felt so pulled into the story and invested in Eva’s journey, her emotions, strength and everything she had to go through was portrayed in every word from Savannah.
The male narrators, Kayden Lukakis, Julio Maxwell & Ash Beverly, were equally as flawless. They are all new narrators to me but I will be listening to more of their work.
I really enjoyed the story… why choose ✅ possessive/obsessive mmc’s ✅ dark college hockey ✅ age gap ✅ praise/degradation ✅ what’s not to like? I became so invested in the story, the tension and chemistry between the characters had me hooked and then it ended on a cliffhanger and I now need book 2 asap! The audio of book 2 is on preorder and I cannot wait to listen!
Thank you to Poppy and Adler Audio for the alc copy.
Debra LW –
Twisted Play by Poppy Jacobson was absolutely a five star read and listen for me… I read and listen at the same time. From the very first chapter I was completely hooked and found myself unable to stop listening and when I wasn’t I was getting withdrawal symptoms. The story delivered the perfect mix of emotion, tension, passion and story for me, making it a real unforgettable book that I just know I will go back too.
The hockey setting was exciting but it was the relationships, their loyalty, emotions and connections that truly made this story shine for me. Every character felt well written and I found myself rooting for them from beginning to end… just willing the why choose to be kind to me! And the nicknames.. oh your have to read.. I loved them!
The audiobook was phenomenal… truly! The narrators absolutely outdid themselves by bringing so much life and emotion to every chapter and scene. Their performances added that extra layer to the story that made it impossible not to become invested in the characters and their journeys, which at times had me gripping my reader so tight or squeaking. They captured the chemistry and vulnerability as well as intensity perfectly, making this one of those audiobooks that lives rent free in your head for a good while.
Savannah Thomas (Eva) had me feeling her desperation, while Julio Maxwell (Cole) had me feeling the commanding control and emotion with his amazing vocal ability.
Ash Beverly (Alek) made me feel that smooth control and had me melting at his accent and each Malyshka or baby girl and Kayden Lukakis (Tristan) had me feeling that caring controlled affection that was the balance we all needed as we listened!
You all had me listening into the small hours and I was very addicted! All the time making the story Poppy Jacobson wrote even stronger!
Now that I’ve finished Twisted Play, I desperately need the next book… that ending!
I am not ready to leave these characters behind and I can’t wait to see where the story goes from here.. I know how I want it to end and I need to knowwwww!
If you’re a fan of hockey romance, kink and why choose, emotional romance, truly compelling morally grey characters and incredible audiobook narration, I highly recommend giving it a listen! It has some strong themes/triggers such as dub or non-con, blackmail for sex and kinks… so check these first… but if like me you like a little kink then add this to your TBR! (Oh I felt the praise kink 🥵)