At first, I did not think I was going to like this book. It starts with little Poppy saving Jack from an alleyway. Then moves to teen Poppy whom Jack saves from her trauma. They go their separate ways, and eventually, Jack ends up back in their hometown. Jack is now an ex-seal coming home to do a job. Little does Poppy know it involves her and he can’t tell her the full truth. Jack knows if she asks him the right questions he can’t lie to her. Throughout the book, you grow to enjoy the characters and their love for each other. The spicy scenes were not a disappointment either! This book does have some trigger warnings as it does talk about attempted sexual assault. If you can get past that I highly recommend this book. Thank you Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the complimentary audiobook. I enjoyed reading this book for my first book ARC

I could not finish this book. I typically love a second chance romance and don’t mind the military element but the romance wrung empty for me. I adore spice and this spice felt out of place and not in line with the plot. And the plot was all over the place and i couldn’t follow it. Was this trying to be romantic suspense? Maybe - I couldn’t tell.

Trigger Warning: Sexual Assault

This book is toted as a friends to lovers trope, but to me, that's not what this book was at all.

This was an insta-love story.

We start with our protagonist, Poppy, getting attacked by a boy who's bragged earlier on in the book that he was going to do it (which, there's a lot to say about that in and of itself). So, we find Poppy in the midst of an attack by this boy (it's not terribly graphic, but it is on the page), and she stabs this attacker--with a knife that was given to her by the male lead, Jack--and the attacker dies. Cue Jack, the white knight who helps her hide the body.

And then, after this traumatic experience, what does Poppy do? She kisses Jack.

... Poppy was just sexually assaulted, and her response is to kiss another guy.

This scene basically sums up how the relationship is between Poppy and Jack for the rest of the book. No matter what is going on, Poppy is absolutely smitten and lets Jack do whatever he wants. The insta-love wasn't it for me, and Jack's behaviour (sneaking into her house and... smelling... her vibrator) was definitely NOT it for me.

The narrator was well-picked, and Leigh's writing is decent, but the plot/relationships in this book just did not come together for me.

Well, that was interesting. This is the first book that I have read by Lora Leigh, though I could have sworn I've picked something up of hers in the past, but scrolling through her books it looks like I've just looked at the covers and have not picked anything up.

This book starts with a 7-year-old Poppy finding a 14-year-old Jack, hiding behind a dumpster beat up and cold. The young Poppy brings Jack home and her parents fix him up with a hot meal and new clothing, this will forever change who Jack is. We then cut ahead 10 years and see a 17-year-old Poppy who is clearly in love with Jack, and trying to get his attention, though he just shows up at parties with Poppy's brothers to make sure she doesn't get in trouble. Things happen and Jack avoids Poppy until we reach the present day. This is 8 years in the future and where the bulk of the story takes place. The plot of the book is sex, and the spicy scenes are where most of the thought seems to be, but the subplot is Jack working for homeland security finding this smart AI that can destroy the world. So this team of disgraced SEALs is sent to this small town in Kentucky to shut down this operation. Somehow Poppy is drawn into all of this, it doesn't really make sense why but she is. There is a lot of murder, even more sex, and the build-up to more of these books, my guess is be each SEAL will get their own book. The ending of this book is interesting, not the sexy ending but the AI ending. It is straight out of left field and I am not sure what to think about it.

The narrator did a great job, this could have used a dual narrator, but as it was it was pretty alright. Overall, the book is geared to the spicy reader with a bit of plot to keep everything interesting. There was lots of repetition with the broody Jack and the in-love Poppy, but that was ok. The story was engaging and set itself up for some interesting sequels.

Story was good but I could not really get into it. The spice was spicy but I couldn’t get into the scenes because of the narration. Poppy’s view point was done well but Jacks voice was just not it for me.

Loved it! Play Dirty is the first in a new series by Lora Leigh. It gave me solid vibes of her earlier Nauti series and I enjoyed all of it. The novel spans the life of its main characters Jack and Poppy, from the day they met, at 14 and 7, through to adulthood and present day. Over the years, they have always been drawn to each other and each has saved the other at some point, which you will get to read. When Jack returns home, seemingly dishonorably discharged from the military, they find themselves right back into the push/pull of their relationship. Poppy is a firecracker and so much fun. Jack is the broody bad-boy that Poppy can’t help but want.

This was my first foray back into a Lora Leigh novel in a long time and it won’t be the last. I very much enjoyed this story. The author does not shy away from some very tough situations and I felt they were handled well. I read this book as a combo of e-book and audiobook and thought both were solid. The narration is excellent and definitely comes across as true to the story. Highly recommend this book and new series. I already can’t wait for book 2!

Oh so spicy and mysterious. Jack comes back to save the woman he has been in love with since he was 14 years old. To save himself from a dishonorable discharge he agrees to do an opts that is off the books so he can have a free life.

Lots of extra spicy scenes that captures your attention and makes you go ohhhh yeah.

However the ending blew my mind and I cannot wait for the next one to come out. AI is Jacks mother and he does not know thing.

Okay wow. That epilogue. Is book 2 out yet??

This was my first military trope read and I enjoyed it more than I thought! Jack is the bad miltwry man every girl dreams of. I thought the prologue and introduction to the main characters. The story was very fast paced filled with action, smut, second chances, and even AI. It’s everything you didn’t know you wanted in a book.

Thanks so much NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the advanced audiobook for review.

I have read numerous books by Lora Leigh and this one was so good! Poppy saves Jack's life when they are kids. He returns the favor a few years later when she is being targeted. He becomes a SEAL and he ends up in trouble for being a rule breaker. He is one who isn't afraid to break the rules to protect those who need it. Jack comes back to town and is on an assignment. He ends up with a small team and finds out that someone is out to get Poppy. Poppy is so happy to see Jack again, but her brothers are warning her to stay away from him. They have always had a connection and they soon rekindle it, but Jack has secrets. Jack promises her that no matter what happens, he will save her.
This book had the right amount of hot romance and suspense. I can't wait for more titles from this series. I will be recommending for purchase at my library.
The ending of this book leaves you wanting the next in the series now!
Thank you NetGalley and MacMillan Publisher for allowing me to preview this book as an arc!

This story and the characters were just not as captivating as I was hoping.

Or I guess I liked the storyline but the characters really were an issue for me at times. The obsession that happened so quickly.

The spice was very spicy and interesting but I lost interest a little more than halfway through with the story and the characters. So unfortunately this wasn’t a good fit for me.

Young Poppy finds a beaten young Jack Bridger, in an alleyway and takes him back to her home where her family feeds and clothes him. Jack lives an unfortunate childhood living with a drug addicted father. Jack later rescues Poppy in their late teens. Jack becomes a Navy Seal causing his and Poppy's relationship to become distanced. Jack is offered an opportunity that puts Poppy in the middle of a dangerous mission in which Jack must hide from her. Jack and Poppy's reunion blooms into one of lust and protection and Jack will do anything to protect her knowing that their relationship will likely end once Poppy learns of his true intentions.
The audiobook of this story was meh. I struggled to get really interested in the story line and the characters. There was delineation between characters, I really disliked Jack strictly based on the voice that the narrator used and for me, character voices are key to enjoying an audiobook. The voice used for Jack didn't make me imagine a brawny, attractive, muscular man as described in the book. Jack's voice had me imagining a scrawny, unattractive, balding smoker. I don't mind possessive characters, however, the voice of Jack just totally ruined him as a character and thus, the book itself. Unfortunately, due to this, I don't see myself reading other books in this series.
Thank you Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the complimentary audiobook!

I really couldn't get into this book. I couldn't get used to the narrator. Unfortunately i had to stop listening to it and i don't recommend the book.

This book was lots of fun with jut the right balance of story and spice

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a little different from what I usually read, but still an enjoyable read. An example of how life will keep looping around and giving us more opportunities, second and third chances. Also how one finds themselves obsessed with another individual. Not the best way to go about things. They surprising ending for sure.

This book was sooo good!! So much spice!! Amazing tropes! You must read this!! Listen to it on Audio so good!!

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the ARC. I am a fan of Lora Leigh and feel she can do no wrong and this book was another home run. Our main Character is Poppy and she has had a crush on the neighbor boy since she first met him. Time past and when they cross paths again, wow, sparks fly.

Jack's constant use of "baby" when he is talking to Poppy made me want to hurl. To me it is the equivalent of female characters calling male characters "daddy".

The rest of the book was interesting, I liked the mix of the SEAL team, romance, and the alternating timelines.

Brianna Bronte did a good job narrating the novel and I would listen to books narrated by Brianna in the future.

This book lacked excitement for me. It was just ok. I just felt like the characters were dry and boring. I just couldn’t put my self into the book.

The spice was good, the story was...messy. If you're just looking for a fun, sexy time with friends to lovers, military man, alphahole, and/or possessiveness tropes, this book is for you. However, if you're looking for a romance with solid plots that understand how the military functions or even structure suspense well, this probably isn't the book for you. It was a fun listen, but not a good book, if that makes sense.

As for the narration, I think this book would have benefitted either from clearly demarcated dual POV in the narration, or multiple narrators. This poor narrator is trying to do too many voices and accents and it just didn't always work. She tried, and I don't blame her, because the material definitely didn't help. Making the speaker clearer and not forcing her to switch between sentences but rather between chapters would definitely have helped.

Thank you to NG and MacMillan Audio for an ALC in exchange for an honest review.

This audiobook was just not for me. I couldn’t get into the story because the plot was so far fetched. Also, the narrator and her voices didn’t hit for me.

I was given an Advanced Reader Copy by NetGalley for an honest review.