I loved this story. Rich and Todd are so damn cute together. Rich is big and tough and Todd is smaller, but so much fun. They complement each other perfectly. I can’t wait for the next in the series!

When you sign on to read a Cardeno C. novel, you are positive to get three things in return: first, a romance that is sweet and rewarding; second, a happy ever after that comes with very little angst or troubles; and third, a feel good emotional reward that leaves you smiling long after the novel’s end. Cardeno C. is a master at romance—sweet, sometimes sappy, yet always a complete story where boy meets boy, boy gets boy and they both live happily ever after....This author dares to create a happy ever after for an average guy, with an above average man who desires him. In the end, Not a Game becomes a magical fairytale romance that delivers all the feels and emotions with a twist—characters who are, for once, utterly real and worthy of love.

As with all of this author's work, you are captivated from the first word to the last. ... So, this story is told over a fifteen year timeframe and is told from all three men's POV starting with Charlie's. The way CC was able to set the stage for the story to be told was brilliant for they're not simply telling it. ...This story will pull so many emotions from you; heartache, happiness, triumph, loss; you go through and feel them all with Charlie or Chase as it was. You will absolutely adore these characters, but not all of them and certainly, not right away. ... The journey Charlie takes through life is a painful one, but the roads that he travelled took him exactly where he was meant to be. ... There are so many delicious layers to his wonderful story. The characters and their storylines are blended together perfectly. This book is an engrossing and, at 234 pages, substantial read. I highly recommend this book in addition to others written by this author. This is a definite must read.

I have read every book in this series and let me just say Cardeno C. did not disappoint on this one. This author truly has a way with her words that not only excite you but also leave you feeling really good. There isn't a whole lot of drama or angst in any of these books in this series but one thing you can certainly count on is that there is plenty of steamy scenes to wet anyone's appetite. ...The respect and desire these men have for one another really was captivating. I loved experiencing their day to day struggles and having a bird's eye view watching them overcome their fears and issues. Jason is a very complicated man, he's was married before and has two children. So being able to see how he struggles with his responsibilities and becoming comfortable with being who he really is was very endearing to watch. He comes across as an arrogant man, he's controlling and he has a bit of a temper but I think that truly enhanced his appeal. He is not a man of many words but you could really feel how much he opened up to Abe in ways he never thought was possible. Abe is nothing but amazing. He's supportive, patient and willing to do anything to keep Jason happy and grounded. If you have read any of the previous books in this series you know that there is always a very strong sense of family. This one is…

I like reading a story of any genre that reaches outside the box of what is normal, and this story is a breath of fresh air to the usual paranormal/shifter reader. ... As well as being a sweet, creative love story, Cardeno C. brings a little humor and mystery to this story. I highly recommend it and look forward to reading the next book in the Mates series in the future.