❤️

I honestly didn't think I could love this story any more than I already did. Easily on my favorites shelf, this is a perfectly fluffy, low angst, feel good romance that is absolutely, impeccably captured by Michael Ferraiuolo's performance.

I loved every minute of it.

Ferraiuolo's choices for Oliver, Jaime, and Jack's voices were faultless. He precisely captures Oliver's shyness, Jaime's infatuation, and even Jack's wistfulness.

The narration is a brilliant complement to a really wonderful, lovely story.

This is a perfect romance for anyone looking for a lighter, low angst, feel good story with great characters, hot sex, and a perfect sigh-worthy HEA ending.

Highly Recommended!

8 people found this helpful

So Effin' Sweet!!!! 6 stars!

Oh my goodness this is SO effin’ SWEET!

The blurb tells the basics: Oliver, an overweight game designer, has moved to Seattle and has decided to do a make-over with his life.. He hires an escort to teach him how to be a better lover since he was told by an ex that he lacked skill. When Jaime, a very attractive older man, comes over and notices the book he’d brought in to signal the escort, Oliver assumes Jaime is the escort.

Jaime is just a man who’s finally realized his passion leans toward bigger men and he’s finally embracing it and he approaches Oliver out of real interest, not professional, but he realizes that Oliver needs the “paying for it” to overcome his shyness.

Just as can be predicted from the beginning – the deception can only go so far before someone gets hurt.

But… it’s so much more than that. There are layers, and a sad ex and growth and laughter.

**

Unlike SO MANY books with overweight characters – this is NOT A MAKEOVER STORY! Thank GOD! Oliver is PERFECT as he is and Jaime shows him that he can be loved exactly as he is.

Even disguised as “just getting healthy”, books that show the MC changing their bodies and finding love are really telling everyone that only the physically perfect can find love. Even if the author tries to show differently. Cardeno C doesn’t do that and it’s so beautiful!

Another GORGEOUS part of this story is that there is no BIG MISUNDERSTANDING! Instead of drama and angst, we have two grown-ups having conversations about their concerns. Despite the way they met. It was so refreshing!

The writing is excellent as always. I couldn’t put this down and in fact started reading it again as soon as I’d finished.

I highly recommend this to anyone looking for a sweet, somewhat unique, low-angst romance. It’s funny, terribly sweet and somewhat thought provoking.

Highly Recommended

Audio

Michael Ferraiuolo does an excellent job with this. He gives both Jaime and Oliver very calm, serene voices and nobody has any over the top accents to add drama to this lovely story. He’s excellent with pacing, is easy to listen to and adds just the right touch to bring this story to life. Highly recommended.

6 of 5 stars

4 people found this helpful

I liked the narrator....

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

I may have liked it better if I didn't feel like the author was pushing their personal issues with sexism in gaming down my throat. And I was hoping for a fat character who actually liked himself.

Would you ever listen to anything by Cardeno C. again?

Totally. This one just wasn't for me.

Have you listened to any of Michael Ferraiuolo’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Loved the narrator. Characters have unique voices that match their personality (like how shy, insecure Oliver is soft-spoken). I would definitely listen to him again.

What character would you cut from Not a Game?

The "sexist co-worker" characters. They seemed exist solely to show us how mean (straight) boys are in the workplace.

Any additional comments?

These characters have zero chemistry. Their relationship was just awkward and rushed. And Oliver was almost child-like sometimes, which was weird. And oliver's easy acceptance of Jamie's real identity was ridiculous. And the attempt to throw in all current slang phrases reminded me of when my grandma tries to use phrases she learns on facebook (on fleek. Shade. The struggle is real. And on and on) was annoying. Also annoying: basically getting preached to about those sexist dudebros in gaming. Why must we constantly be reminded that basically every straight man at the office was a pig? Plus I just found the story boring.

2 people found this helpful

Sweet!

couldn't put this down. incredible, improbable but believable storyline. characters were so likeable. cardeno c did it again.

1 person found this helpful

Awesome book!

I enjoyed this audiobook, but was not particularly blown away by the narration. This was my first audiobook by Michael Ferraiuolo and I just did not feel like he differentiated the voices enough. I guess I am getting spoiled by all of the narrators who actually do different voices for characters. I don't want a book just read to me, but want an experience. I love this story though so I did like the audiobook as well.

1 person found this helpful

A definite must-listen for M/M romance fans!

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 with one of the main characters, Oliver.

Oh my goodness, Oliver is just so sweet and adorable. He's insecure, extremely self-conscious and not at all confident in himself, with the majority of these things being caused by the size of his body (all of these things struck a huge chord with me). Then we have Jaime, who is the exact opposite, and is Oliver's dream guy in pretty much every way. They meet under some interesting and unique circumstances, setting up some complications for their relationship right from the start.

What Oliver doesn't realize? He's Jaime's dream guy too-something Jaime has to help Oliver understand and accept. This is complicated by a little...well, maybe not so little...secret that Jaime has.

It is so heartwarming to watch the relationship develop between them, especially as we watch Jaime help Oliver open up. And while things between them are sweet and evolve slowly, there's also a nice bit of spice to complement that as things grow ever more serious for the two of them. I loved every moment of their interactions, though for me once Oliver discovers Jaime's secret, it felt less strained than I expected given what Jaime was hiding.

Not A Game is classic Cardeno C. storytelling at its best, and was a 4.5-star read for me. I'd recommend this for any M/M contemporary romance fan, and it's for those readers 18+ due to the M/M sexual content. I hope we get to read more from this world, as I'd love to get Jack's story as well! As Jaime's best friend and somewhat pining ex, I'd really like to see him get his own HEA :-)

The narration: I thought Michael Ferraiuolo did an outstanding job with Not A Game. His smooth, even voice and well done characters kept my head in the story--even when I was listening at work. He did an excellent job bringing Oliver and Jaime to life, and made me love them both even more I truly enjoyed listening to his narration of this book, and am now looking for what other stories he's narrated. 5 stars for the narration!

1 person found this helpful

SPECTACULAR!!!

I love this book the story the narrator, oh my gosh! I don't even think I can write a review, just get the dang book cause it is good and the narrator makes the sex scenes soooo gooooooood, if I could blush I would have several times! the dialogue between the main characters was so relaxed nothing seemed rushed it was a sweet story. this is exactly what I needed I have been picking alot of duds lately and this book was like a breath of fresh air (I know it's super cliché) but it was, trust me buy it, use a credit whatever just get this freaking book you won't be disappointed.

1 person found this helpful

A Really Lovely Romance

This was one of my first Cardeno C. stories and it holds a special place in my heart. A really sweet romance (with plenty of heat) and terrific characters, Not a Game is one of my favorites.

Audio beautifully performed by Michael Ferraiuolo, back in 2016 so it's one of his earlier ones too - I just love the voices he uses for these guys. And his expression is lovely.

Oliver and Jamie

Oliver is one of the sweetest, kindest, most selfless characters I've read in a long while. He also has a poor view of his own worth. Positive no guy could be interested until he loses weight and gains some skills in bed. Jamie grabs hold of the chance to get to know Oliver. I like how insightful and in tune he is to Oliver's needs and motivations. His attraction for Oliver is from the first glance and only becomes more intense as they spend time getting to know one another. These two have chemistry and Jamie is determined to fix the misunderstanding he's allowed to grow between them. The ending is sheer perfection.

Audiobook: fantastic narrator

Sweet

This was an all around sweet story. I liked that the characters weren't perfect specimens of male beauty, although I think Jamie might have been close! I thought there would be a bit more drama when the thruth was revealed, but Oliver is such a sweetie I should have known better. I liked how patient Jamie was with Oliver, he really took the time to make sure Oliver knew how special he was to him, that he truly cared about him. It was nice to see Oliver gain a little confidence as the book went on, with Jamie there as support. I really enjoyed their love story.
Not A Game was a feel good bit of escapism, perfect for the times we're in.

Michael Ferraiuolo does a fine job with the narration- his voice is very soothing. He was able to give Jamie and Oliver their own distinct voices so I never had trouble differentiating who was speaking. I loved how he was able to portray Oliver's vulnerabilty. Secondary characters were also done really well. A very enjoyable listen all in all!