The Wrong Play by C.R. Jane

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I knew Jace Thatcher was the wrong play the second he set his sights on me.

He’s the school’s star wide receiver. The campus golden boy. The kind of man who takes what he wants and never lets go.

And what he wants…is me.

But I’m not a game to be won.

I have secrets. Scars. A past that’s still chasing me. And the last thing I need is a cocky football player with an obsessive streak and a dangerous smile trying to claim me like I’m his.

Only Jace doesn’t take no for an answer.

Not when he’s decided I belong to him.

Not when my past comes knocking.

Not even when I try to run.

Because Jace Thatcher plays to win.

And falling for him? Might be the worst play of my life.

*Note: Jace Thatcher is a morally grey antihero who is obsessed with his girl and will do anything to keep her. This is a darker football romance.

Chronic Fatigue, Secret Societies, and a Love That Stalks

The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: 💙💜💚❤️🤎
Heat/Steam: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Chemistry: 🧪🧪🧪🧪🧪
Story/Plot: 📕📗📘📙📔
World building: 🌏🌍🌎🌏🌍
Character development: 😋😀😍🤓🥰
Narration: 🎙🎙🎙🎙🎙
Narration Type: Duet Narration

🎧 Audiobook Review: The Wrong Play (The Wrong Player, #2)

Author: C.R. Jane
Genre: Sports romance
Narrators: Lucas Webley and Alexis Page

🦸🏼‍♀️ The Heroine: Riley

Riley’s story begins in privilege but is marked by neglect. Raised in a wealthy household where her parents were more invested in travel and appearances than in their daughter, she grew up starved of affection. Her chronic exhaustion—flare-ups so severe she could barely move—isolated her further, leaving her feeling like an outsider among her peers. Relationships were fragile; her high school boyfriend’s departure barely surprised her, and her next entanglement with Callum, her father’s controlling best friend, nearly consumed her. Callum dictated every aspect of her life until Riley found the courage to escape, carving her independence by applying to a college far from his reach. Her resilience, though quiet, is the heartbeat of her journey.

🦸🏻‍♂️ The Hero: Jace

Jace is the golden boy of Tennessee Tigers football—the wide receiver everyone wants a piece of. Fame has its shadows: stalkers, admirers, and the constant pressure of expectation. Alongside his two closest friends, he’s drawn into the Sphinx, a secret society promising wealth and power. Yet beneath the swagger and spotlight, Jace is searching for something deeper, something real. His charm is undeniable, but it’s his vulnerability—the quiet longing for connection—that makes him more than just a sports romance archetype.

📚 The Plot

College life proves daunting for Riley. A flare-up early in the semester derails her classes, and her unsettling roommate—who watches her sleep—adds an eerie tension to her daily existence. When a classmate invites her to a sorority event, Riley seizes the chance to escape the suffocating atmosphere of her dorm.

Meanwhile, Jace celebrates a victory with his teammates. Watching his best friend Parker fall in love the previous year stirred something restless in him. At the bar, Jace surprises everyone by turning down a flirtatious admirer. Then he sees Riley. In that instant, the noise fades, and he’s struck by a connection unlike anything he’s felt before. Their meeting is electric, setting the stage for a romance tangled in secrets, suspense, and undeniable chemistry.

🌟 Highlights

• Jace’s immediate captivation with Riley feels refreshing in a genre often plagued by aloof heroes. His tenderness and curiosity set him apart.
• His decision to research chronic fatigue syndrome is a standout moment—it shows empathy, patience, and a willingness to understand Riley’s struggles.
• The blend of romance, mystery, and steamy tension keeps the narrative compelling and layered.

⤵️ Low Points

• Jace’s stalker tendencies, while fitting the darker romance trope, cross unsettling lines with hidden cameras and a tracker. It adds suspense but risks overshadowing his otherwise thoughtful character.
• Riley’s fragility, though realistic given her condition and past trauma, sometimes feels overextended. I longed for more moments where she asserted her strength, especially when old ghosts resurfaced.

🎙️ Narration

The dual POV duet narration elevates the audiobook experience. Alexis Paige embodies Riley with youthful authenticity, her voice capturing vulnerability and quiet resilience. Lucas Webley’s deep, husky timbre brings Jace to life with gravitas and warmth. The duet format—male narrators voicing male roles, female narrators voicing female roles—creates an immersive rhythm that makes the story flow naturally. Together, they transform the text into an emotional performance that lingers.

💬 Final Thoughts

This audiobook delivers a romance that balances sweetness with shadows. Riley’s journey from neglect and control toward independence is poignant, while Jace’s devotion and empathy make him a hero worth rooting for—even when his darker impulses complicate the narrative. With suspense, passion, and narration that breathes life into every scene, it’s a listen that will satisfy fans of sports romance while offering something a little more layered.

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