Playing Dane

Florida East University, Book 1

By: Hannah Gray

Narrated by: Elizabeth Hart, Thomas Oakley

Length: 9 hrs and 17 mins

Publisher's summary

Dane Wade is a breath of fresh air.

Sexy, charming, and with abs that could melt any woman’s panties. With my rules and boundaries in place, he is the perfect person to have fun with to pass the time. As long as he knows it will never amount to anything more. Which he does…I think.

But then boundaries get shattered. Lines get blurred. I know it’s time to bolt before things get harder, and I risk falling deeper. Running away is the only thing I know how to do. And, in my twenty years on this earth, it’s worked for me.

They say you don’t know what you have until it’s gone. They’re wrong. I knew what I had all along. I just couldn’t accept it.

And now…he might be gone for good.

One thing is for sure: it’ll take more than an apology for him to want me back. But saying I’m sorry is a good place to start.

©2022 Hannah Gray (P)2023 Podium Audio

Dane & Layla

After reading Hate You Henley, I wasn't sure how I would feel about Dane's story. But I quickly became obsessed with him. I ended up with so much sympathy for him and what he went through. Dane and Layla were so much fun together. It was an interesting way of telling the story. It took place over many months as they only got together monthly. I was surprised by how much the story overlapped with Hate Your Henley but it was done perfectly. I loved getting to know Layla more and her story and all that she went through. Hannah Gray sure through in some huge surprises here!

Great audio

I just finished the Pick Boys of Brooks University by Hannah Gray and many of the main characters I. These books are mentioned in those books so I thought I would give this series a try. This was a great listen. I enjoyed the narrators and the book had a great story line. I enjoyed seeing Cam Hardy from the Puck Boy series in this book. Layla had a traumatic childhood and it slowly unfolds throughout the book. Dane fell hard and it gave off it’s always been you vibes. I look forward to listening to the next 2 books in this series. A micro troupe for me is a tattoo for her.

This story. This audio performance. OUTSTANDING!!!

IN LOVE with Dane & Layla!!! I may be reading Hannah’s series all out of order but I cannot get enough of her writing!!! This book has some deep topics and had me shedding tears a few times, but also smiling like a fool over a man obsessed with her and shocked at the twists in the story!! This book on audio is simply outstanding and completely captured me into this story!

🏈College Football
❤️‍🩹Broken Independent FMC
🥰He falls first and HARD
🤫Secret Relationship
💕Found family
🖋️Tattoo for her

THE PROLOGUE?? You get a glimpse into the heartbreaking and tragic past of Layla and pieces are revealed throughout the book which I loved!! It kept me turning page after page as her own story developed along her journey of growth!

Dane and Layla!! I love broken boy stories BUT a broken girl with a boy who falls first and wants to save her…my kryptonite!! Dane starts out as not a very likable person but this man REDEEMED himself!! The little things he does as he uncovers more and more about her past…I have never swooned so hard over how caring this man was!!! He has his own battles and past trauma he is dealing with but he puts her at the forefront and finds anyway he can to keep her in his life! The character development in this story was just outstanding for both of them!!!

🎧Audio Review:
Gahhhhh, I just LOVE Thomas Oakley!!!! His voice is so swoony and easy to listen to! His performance feels like you are watching a movie with how realistic he delivers the story! At one point, I felt like he was even talking to me as Dane flirted with Layla and I couldn’t stop smiling!! Also, his actual moaning during the spicy scenes🥵It just added another layer to how amazing he is at performing Hannah’s stories! Elizabeth Hart is the female narrator and while she was a new to me narrator, she did an outstanding job performing this book! She truly brought Layla to life and had me feeling all the emotion that Layla goes through. And her male voice? Just outstanding!! Overall, this is one I definitely recommend on audio as I could not hit pause and listened to most of it straight through!!!

Loved their journey!

I absolutely loved this journey between Layla and Dane! The way he supported her and made her see that she could love again after trauma was everything! What a great listen!!!

This is my comfort book

I have loved this book since the first time I read it. Hannah has a way of making your emotions go all over the place. You’ll go from smiling to laughing to gasping to crying…and you’ll love every second of it.

Dane Wade is the star QB of Florida East University. After a falling out with his brother Weston and his best friend Henley (who is the girl his brother loves), he finds himself feeling empty. But when he meets Henley’s friend Layla, he immediately feels drawn to her for some reason. But she has been broken by life to a point where she refuses to get emotionally attached to anyone. The couple decides to be friends-with-benefits, thinking they can ignore the connection they’ve had from the start. But when their arrangement comes to an end, it’s not as easy as they expected it to be.

I will forewarn you…buy tissues. You will need them.

Playing With My Heart 

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5)    
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ (4/5)      
Audio Rating:🎙️🎙️🎙️🎙️(4.5/5)    
      
Tropes:
College Football Romance 
He Falls First 
Friends with Benefits 
Quarter Back MMC 
Swimmer FMC 
It’s Always Been You 
Fast Forward Timeline 
 
CW:
Domestic Violence 
Miscarriage  
Infertility 
    
Vibes:
There was a ton to unpack in this book. From the complicated history between Dane, Weston, and Keylee to Layla’s trauma filled childhood. It was doused in spicy scenes and off the wall humor. I love the development of our MCs. The care and understanding Dane showed. The determination and boldness Layla possessed. I know it’s a college romance - but I still can’t handle the third act drama. (Yes - I will always rant about this). But that twist ending had me standing up for applause! I was happily surprised that once the drama was resolved-the story continued. You get a true HEA with a fast forward timeline and then the cherry on top is the epilogue. Can’t wait to read Bama’s story!  

Recommended to college sports romance readers who aren’t afraid to read about the hard times.  
   
Audio Notes:
Narrated by Elizabeth Hart and Thomas Oakley. The audio performance was fantastic. Both narrators were clear with amazing tone and voice inflections. They were cast perfectly for this role. There are only a few moments when I couldn’t distinguish which character was speaking. Wonderful listening experience!

The only good thing was Thomas Oakley

The ONLY thing that saved this audiobook was Thomas Oakley. I love his voice and his acting and that's the only reason I stuck with it. The female narrator, Elizabeth Hart really really bad. Her male voice was really hard to listen to. Her acting is amateur at best. The storyline was kind of OK but it I think it is written with teenagers in mind maybe. Don't waste a credit unless you just like listening to Thomas Oakley.