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.

Cardeno C. takes a taboo subject and weaves it into a beautiful love story.  I truly enjoyed this book

The romance between Ben and Micah was very sweet, extremely steamy, and believable. There were quite a few excellent conversations between not only Ben and Micah, but also with Ben and his brother and brother's friends. ... The narrative of this story was wonderfully engaging, providing the reader with the sense that they are living the story. I loved this book and highly recommend it to those who enjoy character-driven romances.

Wonderful heartfelt story ... Once I started I couldn't stop. It never fails to amaze me how much depth, feeling and emotion Cardeno C. packs into a story. The characters are always likeable and easy to connect with, the stories flow and while there are issues to muddle through, they aren't filled with an overwhelming amount of angst. ...I loved the deep meaningful conversations smattered throughout the book... Cardeno C. doesn't just tell you what the characters are feeling, you experience it along with them...Lots of love here in many forms, and when you turn the last page you feel good and want to go back and start all over again.

I absolutely ADORED these guys. ...They're a very cute couple... I really loved the fact that this was such a slow burn romance. At first, they're just friends. ...This story had a really nice, slow pace to it that fit the characters and their relationship well. It wasn't about sex for them but instead about love. It was so sweet!...I adored the characters and their slow development from friends to lovers. By the end of the story, I felt like I knew them. This is a sweet, slow-burn romance that is just that… a romance. It was light and funny in some places and just heavy enough in others but most of all, it was engaging and had a nice flow to it. I already feel the urge to re-read it!!