When Rivals Play

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1. THE PEER AND THE PUPPET by B.B. Reid

SYNOPSIS

The Puppet

Borrow the bike. Win the race. Collect the cash. It should've been an easy job. Ran out of town with a broken leg and a lawsuit, my mother's latest flame swoops in like a knight in gilded armor. Blackwood Keep is a place I don't belong, and I'm not the only one who knows. To the boy across the hall, my savior's only son, I'm a stray looking for a bone. He's lord of the manor. King of the academy. And number one on my shit list.

The Peer

I have no intention of becoming a happy family with the social climber and her wild daughter. A bottle of Jameson and a cracked skull gets my problem shipped to reform school, but I didn't bank on her returning. Four's out to get even, and she almost had the perfect plan: expose the privileged kid moonlighting as a gangbanger. She's smart, but she'll have to be smarter. Sending her away won't be good enough this time. I'm going to have to tame the little troublemaker. To the girl across the hall, the one without a name, I'm nothing without my silver spoon. She's lady of the trailer park. Queen of the swamps. And my new favorite pastime.

BOOK REVIEW

The Peer and the Puppet is the very first book in the When Rivals Play series. It’s a standalone romance, however, the series is one story with the ongoing plotline. There are just too many questions left unanswered at the end of the book (and other books in the series) for me to consider it a standalone. So, I would strongly suggest reading all the available books in order to better understand the overall character development.

The story revolves essentially around the world of Blackwood Keep with its privileged inhabitants, rival gangs, and deliciously flawed yet completely addicting characters (Ever and Four, Wren and Lou, Jamie and Bette, Vaughn and Tyra, as well as their fucked-up families). Despite lots of exciting mysteries and mindblowing drama that seem to never end, I would argue that the highlight of the whole series (not only this book) is the presence of strong protagonists.

First things first, Ever and Four were captivating, so different but so perfect for each other. Their first encounter basically set the pace and tone for their inevitable relationship, she kicked him in the balls and from that point onwards the game was so on. It was clear from the very beginning that Four was made of tougher things (she acted and spoke much older than an average high school student coming from a drastically opposite background than Ever’s), and Ever obviously met his match. He pulled the strings and pushed when saw fit but she refused to back down. Neither one held back the feelings which made for an interesting ride, and both of them fell prey to the undeniable chemistry between each other in the end.

“How did I put into words that the mere thought of her not breathing the same air as me made me a little less desperate for my next breath? Could I even trust her with that kind of power?”

The chemistry was angsty and steamy hot. The romance was desperate and unmistakenly dreamy at times. But the story felt incomplete! Moving on…

2. THE MOTH AND THE FLAME by B.B. Reid

SYNOPSIS

The Flame

‘Here lies Louchana Valentine. She was a homeless, orphaned virgin.’ I never cared what my gravestone would say until I landed in deep with a powerful gangster. Lucky for me, my best friend happens to be ruthless too. I should feel guilty that he’s forced to turn on the man who’s been a father to him. Except I’ve always known that Wren’s soul wasn’t as black as he claimed. He was good. He was beautiful. He was mine. He just didn’t know it yet. And with Wren keeping me safe, I’ve got time left to rewrite the end of my story. But if he has his way, ‘virgin’ is already carved in stone.

The Moth

I’ve never known anyone as alluring as Lou. Or as frustrating. Since the night she saved my life and stole my wallet for her troubles, I couldn’t stay away. She became my onus. My light. My… anyway. With nowhere to run, I’m forced to trust someone I never expected. At least with Lou safe in Blackwood Keep—far away from me—I’ll die with my conscience intact. Because she no longer looks at me with friendship in her eyes. Those iridescent blues shine with a different need entirely, and I’ve never been able to deny her.

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BOOK REVIEW

The Moth and the Flame is the second installment in the When Rivals Play series and a continuation of the events that occurred in The Peer and the Puppet. It’s a friends-to-lovers kind of a story with Wren and Lou as main characters. The former fought his obvious romantic feelings towards Lou but still refusing to be free of her, considering the biggest secret which might destroy what they had (no spoiler from me here). While the latter was giving him a really hard time to stick to the ‘besties forever’ plan.

“That’s the basis of human nature, kid. We crave the things we can’t have. Knowing we shouldn’t just makes our desires that much more enticing.”

I loved this pair so much. They were stubborn and fearless for each other, hilarious and oftentimes childish. Lou was a total badass, while Wren (despite being a gangster) was adorable and cute.

It’s so hard to write a review without giving out spoilers though… Let me tell you, even more questions appeared on the surface at the end of this book. So, moving on…

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2.5. EVERMORE by B.B. Reid

SYNOPSIS

Grab your dancing shoes and put on your prettiest dress. It's prom season in Blackwood Keep and forever can't wait any longer!

Four Archer was the toughest girl around. Just ask anyone. She’s the street racing daredevil who brought the King of Brynwood Academy to his knees. But watching her boyfriend fawn over his childhood playmate—even though it was just an act—would be her toughest challenge yet. When jealousy rears its ugly head, Four questions if she can handle playing the sideline.

Ever McNamara has the world at his fingertips, but not even a private jet and a seven-figure trust fund can get him out of this rock and a hard place. When a childhood pact puts their fairytale in peril, Ever must risk it all to keep her.

BOOK REVIEW

This is a novella to tie up some loose strings left from The Peer and the Puppet. It focuses on a single but pivotal event in Four and Ever’s life in terms of their relationship, which reveals who Ever truly belongs to.

This novella directly addresses a crucial problem of the series, I think. It’s clear that money talks and secrets reign in Blackwood Keep, but despite the transformative power each one seems to have, those involved still have a choice. And even though it’s inundated with obstacles and plagued with a slew of second-guessing, the only way the main characters prove themselves is by stepping up when it matters most, even if the backlash from those actions complicate things even more.

3. THE PUNK AND THE PLAYTHING by B.B. Reid

SYNOPSIS

Never trust a nice ass and a smile. That girl is definitely poison. When I first came to Blackwood Keep, I was just looking for a thrill. Instead, I found a beautiful fraud—a tomboy my wildest dreams couldn’t conjure. Bee didn’t just run with boys; she ran the boys. It was only a matter of time before I gave chase. It took one summer for me to win her over and two to lose her forever. My summer love turned ice queen. Without heart or thought, she ruined me. Four years and an ocean between us, I still can’t forget that she chose my cousin… so I won’t. When the clock strikes twelve, you’re mine, Cinderella. It’s too late to turn back time.

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BOOK REVIEW

“I can’t wait to make more music with you, Bette. I missed your terrible poetry.”
Stroking my fingers across his cheek, I lost myself in his brown eyes. “And I love your clumsy notes.”

I think the most appealing part of this book was the flashback love story between Jamie and Bette. Not that I didn’t enjoy their ‘closure’ but seeing the pureness of young love is much more breathtaking than being emerged in sizzling passion and filth (sex scenes in The Punk and the Plaything caught me off-guard but what did I expect from sex-crazed Jamie, I wonder).

It was surprising to find out that Bette was a much stronger character than Jamie. Her mask was the sturdiest among all of the protagonists in the series. Or maybe she was just a better liar, who knows.

Overall, the book was entertaining. It did answer the majority of the left out questions but definitely not all of them. It was also confusing how some of those answers were obtained… There is a need to read the last book in the series in order to understand all the small nuances and obtain answers to the questions hanging in the air.

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4. THE PRINCE AND THE PAWN by B.B. Reid

SYNOPSIS

They were wrong for each other from the start. The jock and the nerd, what a cliché they made. He was the town prince, and she was a nobody. Tyra Bradley was invisible. That is until she told him he needed some manners, and so began their game of cat and mouse. She ran, he chased. It was perfect.

Except Vaughn Rees has a deep, dark secret. Promised to the NFL, but fated for something sinister, Vaughn knows she’s forbidden fruit. To want more is to tempt death. He’s already in too deep.

When a betrayal unravels their fragile ties, the good girl runs as fast as she can. What Tyra doesn’t know? They’re a siren’s song. She can run, but they’ll always be bound. They’re two souls torn apart and mended by fate. And now… Vaughn isn’t the only one with a secret.

BOOK REVIEW

“Because he was proof that no matter which way the water flowed, it would always lead me back to you. You were the definite course.”

From the get-go, it was pretty obvious, at least for me, where the story of Vaughn and Tyra was heading to. To be completely honest, the book was not even near to be perfect for the last installment in the series. I absolutely loved Vaughn and his tortured soul and his efforts to keep those he loved the most safe and secure. But at the same time, I hated certain actions of his and dreaded the inevitable results of them. Tyra was… okay. Their relationship was tender and sweet but oftentimes felt somewhat dragged. The sex scenes were just sex scenes. Nothing more, nothing less (I’m sorry but I really despised their first time together).

Jamie was the one to keep the book light and entertaining, while the main characters were going in annoying circles.

“You were the knight to slay the darkness, my light and salvation. Stubborn and willful to the end, you kept me alive so we could be here now, and for that, I am indebted to you. If my heart is worthy and yours is willing, please let me spend every breath I have left repaying it.”

So, the world of Blackwood Keep came to an end. All of the so deeply loved couples received their HEAs (not all of them were satisfying though, my baby Ever and Four honestly deserved so much better). I feel happy and sad at the same time…

Overall, I liked The Prince and the Pawn and really enjoyed the whole When Rivals Play series. Binge-read it and share your thoughts with me!