I have read everything Lora Leigh has written and for the most part loved them except a few outliers. This book as the start of a new series was ok but fell short.

I really enjoyed Jack and Poppy. Would have liked some actual dating to happen instead of relying so much on their past to fulfill the present though. Some weird moments of chemistry but overall good. Poopy was clearly the best of the relationship. She is feisty, demands respect and to be considered an equal. Honestly I enjoyed the other SEAL men more than Jack.

The AI aspect and how they started Jack’s squad was not fully thought through. The ending was like yay AI they were correct and then a couple weird curve balls thrown in that didn’t make sense to the plot of the rest of the 99% of the book at all. Then the squad is going rogue which makes no sense to who the men say they are.

With all that said I would definitely still try the next in the series because I liked the other men in Jack’s squad better anyways. Still love Lora Leigh this one just was a miss for me.

Hi unfortunately I couldn’t get into this book I tried so hard to get through it but made it up to 21% read and still couldn’t get the flow of it. What was hard for me to get into the book was the pov’s changing so much but hopefully others will like it, but I will not post a review on my socials but I will still promote it for the author starting on the 20th of March to get people hyped and hopefully wanting to read and buy the book

3.5 stars

This is a childhood friends-to-lovers story between Poppy Porter and Jack Bridger. Ever since 7-year old Poppy found and took home a beaten up 14 year old Jack, he has been protective over her. Even though he has kept his distance throughout the years, he made sure to keep tabs on her. At 17, Poppy is attacked and Jack was the one to save her. Her feelings towards him definitely grew but Jack didn’t think he was good enough for her so he left and joined the military. Now Jack is back, and he is once again there for Poppy when danger surrounds her. But this time he is not holding back from her. Even though he is keeping secrets of the real reason he is back and it could potentially make her hate him, he is determined to protect her and keep her.

There is definitely a lot happening in this book. The suspense and drama surrounding artificial intelligence and the secrets Jack was keeping from Poppy lowered my rating a tad bit. The chemistry and steam between Jack and Poppy was definitely there. Overall, I enjoyed their story and with the way it ended, I do want to keep on with this series.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Tor Publishing Group for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book. All opinions are my own.

I wasn't sure what to expect with this book, but truthfully this one missed the mark for me a little bit. It felt kind of all over the place. The romance fell flat for me- Jack's NEED to CLAIM Poppy was a bit much and the AI plotline was weird for me. I didn't HATE the book, I just feel like it was not for me.

Play Dirty is the first book in a new series by Lora Leigh, Tempting SEALS, and since I've been reading and loving her novels for years, I was thrilled to receive an advance reader copy of this novel, but I now also wish that I could give this novel more than 3 stars, but I had problems with Play Dirty, and so 3 stars it is.

First, the main characters, Poppy and Jack. Seven-year-old Poppy find 14-year-old Jack out behind a dumpster, beat up, bleeding, and freezing in the cold, and she order him into her house where her parents clean him up, tend to his wounds, feed him, and give him warm clothes--he's stunned by their kindness and generosity because his father is an abusive alcoholic/drug addict, and kindness and caring are alien to him.

Fast-forward about 10 years, Poppy has been waiting for him for all those years, but when he's returned home for short visits in the past, he's barely acknowledged her. Yes, Jack saved her from a would-be rapist when she was 17, but that's as much contact as they've had, and Poppy has loved him from afar for all that time, although at some point she purchased her own home, directly across the street from the house Jack now owns and to which he periodically returns.

During those no-contact years, Jack becomes a Navy SEAL, is threatened with a dishonorable discharge unless he and several other SEALs he knows, who are in the same situation, are tasked with a dangerous mission, and this is where the problems begin. A human-like AI (think Terminator II) is being shipped to his small hometown by some evildoers, possibly Poppy's employeres? Although we're never really told exactly who or why, Jack and his buddies are tasked with finding and destroying the AI before it becomes fully operational. His buddies are also tasked by Jack to make sure that Poppy is kept safe from everyone--another problem because it was hard to figure out who was who in the large cast of characters, which other groups were trying to be the ones to get to the AI first and get a promised huge payoff. They are not above using Poppy as a pawn in this high stakes game of military espionage/power struggle.

Meanwhile, Poppy and Jack finally get it on, as often as humanly and logistically possible. There are few authors who write steamier scenes than Lora Leigh, and I never thought I'd ever say this in a million years, but I found myself wanting fewer sex scenes and more relationship-building, character development, character identification, and a more detailed understanding of who the secondary characters were, who the bad guys were, how they planned to get control of the AI, and why all this subterfuge was going on in this tiny, out of the way location--the town Jack and Poppy call home.

Yes, there's the eventual HEA in your future, but it's not quite an ending, unless you call a cliffhanger an ending, which I don't, and if I was confused before, the cliffhanger left me even more confused as to where Ms. Leigh was going with this story, and these characters, because they don't seem to be part of her next book in the series, or are they? Your guess is as good as mine.

So, diehard Lora Leigh fans will probably eat up this novel like candy, but this Lora Leigh fan wanted to be left satisfied by the end of this novel, but all I was left with were more questions and uncertainty. I wish I could say I loved this book, but I know that Ms. Leigh is capable of better. I sincerely hope that happens in the follow-up to this novel.

As mentioned at the outset, I read an advance reader copy of this novel. The opinions stated are my own.

As I delved into the pages of Play Dirty, I couldn't help but feel the undeniable chemistry between Poppy and Jack. Their connection sparked with intensity, but as their story unfolded, I found myself yearning for a deeper exploration of their relationship. While Poppy's fiery personality and Jack's 'Fifty Shades of Grey' allure kept me on the edge of my seat, I couldn't shake the feeling that their bond needed more depth to truly resonate.

Amongst the steamy scenes, which were undeniably hot, I noticed some repetition that left me craving more variety. Additionally, the frequent shifts in perspective felt like a whirlwind, pulling me between viewpoints at rapid speeds.

In essence, Play Dirty offers a thrilling mix of highs and lows, perfect for fans of military romance with a twist of covert operations. While there are areas for improvement, such as the need for deeper character exploration, the undeniable tension between Poppy and Jack and the well-crafted spicy moments ensure it's an entertaining read for spicy romance lovers.

I don’t often get the pull to explore contemporary romance, but give me a childhood friends-to-lovers protective hero story and I’ll melt. Unfortunately this book wasn’t exactly as advertised, and the hidden aspects contained some of my more detested tropes.
Surface level, the synopsis for Play Dirty describes a woman in trouble seeking help from her childhood friend and long-time crush after they have spent years apart. What isn’t disclosed is that for a good chunk of this book the female protagonist, Poppy, doesn’t know she’s in possible danger and Jack, her former crush now turned undercover government agent, is there to seduce her for information. I hate a hidden identity plot, and this felt way too close to that, but somehow with more lying. Having all this occur and Poppy be unaware of it also felt like it stunted her character. A character that never felt that well-developed to begin with because the majority of her personality and devotion to Jack was because he comforted her after an attempted SA—yep, the “hero” of this novel is a guy looking to emotionally manipulate a naive trauma-bonded victim. But it’s cool y’all. He wants to protect her.
Admittedly, had this not been an ARC, I probably would have DNF’d it. Yet, because I did finish it I can confidently say that nothing that occurs in this narrative justifies Jack’s initial motivation. Ultimately, I would not recommend this.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishing group for an advanced copy of this book for an honest review.

This book was not for me. The storyline was confusing and all over the place. I found myself frequently having to go back and re-read parts to understand what I had missed.
It felt very rushed and unedited.

I’ve read quite a few of Lora Leigh’s books over the years: Dangerous Games, Hidden Agendas and Reno’s Chance.

Unfortunately for me this book was a miss. The timelines are all over the place and made it hard to follow. Additionally I did not love her decision to insert Poppy and Jack having a romantic moment after she almost gets SA. I get the desire to express closeness but it was a miss for me.

I would like to thank Net Galley and Tor Publishing Group for the ARC.

Play Dirty presents a promising romance premise but falls short on several fronts.

Primarily, the narrative rushes Jack and Poppy's connection, lacking the necessary time for their chemistry to blossom authentically. Jack seemed suddenly interested in Poppy and her acceptance of it lacks depth. While trying to portray Jack as 'Fifty Shades of Grey' he came off as too controlling and overly possessive. If the story had allowed these two characters to develop and form a bond and the chemistry it would have given the right amount of steam to their relationship.

While initially steamy, their intimate scenes lose their impact due to the lack of chemistry between the characters. Furthermore, these scenes become repetitive, with repetitive dialogues and actions.

How can I forget the jumping POVs!!? The frequent shifts in point of view, switching abruptly between Jack and Poppy, confuse the reader, making it challenging to follow whose thoughts are being conveyed.

Too many characters and too little plot made it weak. The too much technical jargon also made it hard to understand at certain points. I felt the AI part somehow didn't sit well with the story.

Overall, this book didn't quite live up to my expectations.

I would like to thank Net Galley and Tor Publishing Group for the ARC.

A friends-to-lovers story with a broody misunderstood Navy Seal, sign me up!

I had the pleasure of reviewing the book and the audio. I really enjoyed the story and the narration. The story follows the FMC, Poppy, and the MMC, Jack. Poppy and Jack have a bond that many others can't understand. They are bonded and intertwined by their experiences. Jack's possessiveness and drive to protect Poppy mixed with the love and confidence that Poppy holds for Jack creates the perfect romance novel with just the perfect amount of spice. This story has it all- friendships, love, danger, betrayal and more tied up in a pretty bow. The Epilogue also revealed a twist that I never saw coming!

The Narrator did a good job with pacing and matching the voices of the characters which I believe were from West Virginia. I absolutely adored Poppy's voice. She sounded like a sweet little southern belle. The Narrator was also good at creating distinct voices for the male and female voices. I read and listened at the same time and feel like listening to the audio added to my reading experience.

If you're looking for a quick read or a well narrated book, give Play Dirty a shot!

Play Dirty is a good fit for those seeking a passionate and protective romance featuring childhood friends reuniting under dangerous circumstances, with a strong emphasis on trust and possessiveness.

The opening of this book instantly pulled me in, bouncing between two high stress events early on in the characters life was an intanst attention grabber. This also gave me a good understanding of the characters' backgrounds, motives, and deep connection. However, once we made it to present day, I felt the story slowed down immensly. There were many side characters, who slowed the story development without adding to the plot.

Overall, the tension between the two main characters kept me interested and left me wanting more. The plot was enjoyable and the spice was so well done!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is a steamy romance featuring an ex SEAL and the girl who loved him since he was young and abused. Now years later they're brought together again but this time he's not going to let her go despite the lies he'll have to tell her to do his job.

The romance part of this book was just ok for me, lots of steam and open door romance. The AI storyline lost me completely. I wanted to love this one but unfortunately it didn't work for me. Others who understand AI a bit more will enjoy this one more then I did!

There's not much I can say here other than, this won't be coming into my Library or read by my students.

What did I just read? The storyline was so confusing. I had no idea what mission Jack was on and I had no idea what all of the AI talk was about. I was confused the whole time. The relationship between Poppy and Jack was just weird. He was an egotistical, controlling man. He treated her like she was property. The pet names he called her were very cringy. The book was also full of very vivid and descriptive sex scenes that I wasn't expecting. I felt that this storyline was a little overdone. I don't typically choose to read those types of books, so I wasn't expecting it to be so spicy.

⛓️BOOK JAIL with no chance of parole🔥


I came real close to giving up halfway through because of how much talk there was about his mission and AI (SO much AI talk it almost turned into a tech case study) and so much subplot but it was short enough to be over with it in an evening. now let me explain why this is going straight to book jail for the rest of its life 👹


- tied her up to the bed and started 👅 her BEFORE she woke up ‼️‼️ the police has been dispatched to their location

- 50% chapters at either one's place and 50% chapters at the bar. they barely set foot any other place it's like the budget was too low to get another location except it's not a movie but a book 🤑

quotes time, let's pull out the receipts 📜🧐


- the line "like a ninny.” do I need to say more

- "She’d expected him to grip her arm and tug her after him; men liked to do that where women were concerned. Instead, he surprised her again by holding out his hand to her." you don't understand he's a GENTLEMAN for not dragging her out by her hair 🔥‼️

- “I’m fucking tired of this argument.” He dropped his hand from her neck. “Wash that crap off." yes girl hurry remove your (neck) makeup asap‼️ bro acting like her pimp🙏

- "Unlike most women, she truly didn't believe her lover needed to live in her pocket or her in his." GUYS she is NOT like other girls 🤗

- "Poppy, I could bathe in the blood of anyone that dared to attempt to hurt you and step out of it feeling good about myself and what I'd done." the only good quote in there tbh I smiled a lil

- "Grief could be a terrible thing, Poppy acknowledged after-" 🫨 an intellectual!! a philosopher!!! inspirational quote of the day💯😩


as always, no hate to the author, to each their own and this just wasn't my own........


[review posted on goodreads]

Play Dirty is a captivating story full of passion and an enthralling encounter between an alpha male and a resilient yet vulnerable woman. This story truly captivated me as it seamlessly blended action, scorching romance, and suspense. From the very first page, Leigh effortlessly grabs hold of your attention, leaving you yearning to devour every word until the final page. I eagerly anticipate the release of the second book in this remarkable series. Thank you to the publisher and author for allowing me to share my thoughts on an ARC copy of this book.

I found the majority of this book well written. I felt like the beginning of the story felt a bit rushed and the latter and bit drawn out. The equalization of the story could be better.

A few icks….. Sugar baby as a pet name…..likely just me…..but none the less……ick! Secondly, him being 14 and her being 8 when they first meet. This inherently I know isn’t pedophilia but when he continues to discuss him being hers from the moment they met…….it gets real pedo real quick. She could have been 12 or closer in age but the gap at that age, I don’t think can be over come.

I will reserve posting by review until after the book is released.

Overall I think this book will potentially land well received in darker romance reader groups as the spice was well-written and included many on-page scenes. However, for me, I just wanted more explicit consent between the two main characters, especially given her background of being a SA survivor (rescued by her now love-interest). There was also next to no character interactions to allow for a connection/relationship to develop so the characters felt one dimensional to me and I had a hard time being invested in the spice.

I appreciate the opportunity to try this one, but unfortunately it was not for me and I will not be featuring on my socials.