I was totally in the mood for some sweet M/M contemporary romance and Not a Game delivered. It so delivered. This one is on the top of my Cardeno C. favorites list. If you need an angst-free, loving romance with some hot sex, Not a Game is perfect.

'Not a Game' is a wonderful, light, feel good read for anyone who doubts that love is the one thing that comes in all sizes and shapes because it's not the package that matters but the heart and soul that resides within.

Positively phenomenal! A unique spin on the friends to lover theme with an amazing relationship-based story. Andrew Thompson and Caleb Lakes meet and become the best of friends while young teenagers. The story takes us through the next 20 years of their lives as they maintain their status as best friends with benefits. The question is whether or not they can ever move past this point. I loved both of these very well developed characters. Caleb was sweet, charming, an amazing friend, and a very strong person. It was adorable how he always had to be dressed to perfection. Andrew is brilliant, graduating from school early and ultimately becoming a top neurosurgeon. He's extremely kind but also very lonely due to his brilliance. He longs for a permanent relationship, but repeatedly chooses men who cheat on him. ... By the time they figured it out, I was crying happy tears! If you enjoy an amazing friends to lovers with benefits theme with great dialogue, strong characters, and an interesting life journey, this more than fits the bill.

It was a sweet, sexy and easy read... I loved the two MC's, I loved the simple, yet not so simple storyline... Some of the brother banter scenes are hilarious and I felt myself flinching and giggling from familiarity. This is a character driven story and it is well written. Not too heavy, if it was a movie it would be a romcom. ... The whole build up and the "normal" development of their relationship is handled beautifully by CC. The evolution of trust and patience is beautiful to read, and Emilio actually listens to some of the advice from his family, especially his sister. The secondary characters featured are strong and in perfect support for Emilio and Spencer. ... The sex was hot and sweet at the same time.

One of the many things that make this particular Cardeno book enjoyable is main character Samuel Goodwin. ...He's like a shifter Mr. Darcy. A shifter Mr. Darcy who hates Korban Keller.....He's never seen any proof that two males may tie together and therefore the possibility doesn't exist for him. Which makes it even sweeter when, after a series of dramatic events, Samuel finally realizes that what he's feeling is love....What I like most about this whole series is the way Cardeno deals with the ever popular shifter mates theme. As I stated above according to the shifter lore found in this series there is only one correct combination that makes up a mating; males and females. But Cardeno shows that not only can two men love each other, two men, even two species within the series, can complete each other..... this book was the fluffy, romantic & sexy good time you can expect from a Cardeno C. book.