For me, the characters-especially the main characters-are the driving factor in determining if I like a story or not.  That's one of the reasons I keep coming back to Cardeno C.'s books...I know I'm going to get wonderful characters who are complex and deep, and with distinct personalities.  I'm also going to get characters that are easy to relate to, and that is clearly illustrated here in Not A Game.

Another Highly Recommended Story from The Mates Series by Cardeno C.

Cardeno C.'s books Wake Me Up Inside and Until Forever Comes are well worth the read or listen, too. These paranormal romances are what I've just finished listening to on audiobook and have surprisingly strong writing, interesting characters, and steamy love scenes, all while having good story arcs and a few plot twists that kept me interested. Or maybe I was too hot for Zev to pay attention to much else. Worth the price, especially on Kindle.

Once again the author has given us a story of love that didn't come easy but was so worth the effort.

This may have been a short story, but the intricate plot line and incredible characters made it seem longer. ... Shiloh, like many young adults, didn't fit but instead of the typical plot of showing that the world would be different without him there, it took a completely different twist that the reader would never expect. The relationship between Shiloh and Travis was inspiring as it unfolded in the most unexpected way. Anything more would ruin the surprise and I for one loved this story, having already read it many times!