Game On

At this point, I really should know better than to think I can pick up another book in Navessa Allen’s Into Darkness series without collecting yet another Book Boyfriend. Josh already destroyed my standards, Junior certainly didn’t help, and now Tyler comes strolling in wearing a devil mask, running an illegal gambling operation, plotting revenge, and waving his red flags around like he’s some kind of matador. Apparently, my inner BookDragon is part bull because here I come charging straight toward him.

Tyler is a calculating, manipulative man who’s built an underground gambling operation while pursuing a revenge plan that’s consumed far too much of his life. Stella, meanwhile, is an independent tattoo shop owner who has absolutely no intention of letting him steamroll his way through her life. They can barely tolerate each other, but the attraction between them is impossible to ignore. Their personalities clash, their conversations are full of sarcasm, and neither seems particularly interested in backing down. Naturally, I was entertained.

Tyler is exactly the kind of morally questionable character I enjoy reading about. He’s arrogant, controlling, stubborn, and completely aware that he can be an asshole. This man doesn’t simply hold a grudge. He gives it a business plan, a budget, and long-term growth projections. But beneath all that arrogance and anger is someone carrying a tremendous amount of grief and emotional baggage. His past has shaped the way he approaches life, and I appreciated that Navessa allowed us to understand his behavior without necessarily excusing it. He’s not some misunderstood sweetheart who just needs the right woman to fix him, and I wouldn’t have wanted him to be.

Stella was equally enjoyable, particularly because she has a life and identity outside her relationship with Tyler. She’s worked hard to establish her own business, has complicated family relationships, and lives with chronic gastritis. I particularly appreciated how Navessa handled her illness. It doesn’t conveniently disappear whenever the story needs Stella to be perfectly fine, but it doesn’t define her entire personality either. It’s part of her everyday reality, something she has to manage alongside everything else life throws at her. That attention to detail made her feel more realistic, and I liked that her independence didn’t mean she was somehow immune to vulnerability.

What I enjoyed most about Tyler and Stella’s relationship was that their attraction didn’t magically erase their problems. The banter was sharp, the chemistry was fantastic, and their constant attempts to get the upper hand were hilarious. But beneath all that sexual tension were resentment, secrets, and some serious trust issues. Both characters made questionable decisions, and there were moments when I wanted to reach through the pages and knock their heads together. Still, their reactions generally made sense given their personalities and experiences. I appreciated that Navessa didn’t rush them into a perfect relationship simply because they couldn’t keep their hands off each other.

Tyler’s character development was particularly satisfying because his biggest obstacle wasn’t winning Stella over. It was learning to recognize how much his need for control was affecting the people around him. He’s spent years allowing anger and revenge to dictate his decisions, and changing that mindset doesn’t come naturally. I liked that his growth required more than an apology or a sudden declaration of love. He had to confront his mistakes and understand that good intentions don’t automatically excuse bad behavior. Give me a morally questionable disaster of a man all day long, but if you want me invested in him, make him capable of recognizing when he screws up and actually doing something about it.

I also enjoyed that Stella had her own emotional struggles to work through. She’s strong and independent, but that doesn’t mean she’s immune to being hurt or making poor decisions herself. Her family relationships and personal experiences have influenced how she approaches trust and vulnerability, and I liked that Navessa gave both characters room to grow. Neither of them is perfect, and I wouldn’t have wanted them to be. Their flaws are part of what makes their relationship so entertaining, especially when those flaws force them to confront things they’d rather avoid.

Outside the romance, Tyler’s underground gambling operation and revenge plans bring plenty of danger, secrets, and suspense into the story. I appreciated having something substantial happening beyond the relationship because, as much as I enjoy a good spicy romance, I still need an actual storyline to keep my hyperactive squirrel brain entertained. The consequences of Tyler’s decisions also give the story some emotional weight, reminding us that beneath all the sarcasm and sexual tension, these characters are dealing with some genuinely difficult situations.

And then there’s the spice. Good grief! Navessa certainly knows how to turn up the heat, and Game On is no exception. There’s BDSM, brat play, power exchange, voyeurism, sharing, and multi-partner dynamics, so there’s definitely no shortage of variety. What I appreciated was how the intimate scenes revealed different sides of Tyler and Stella, particularly when it came to exploring trust, boundaries, and vulnerability. The spice was plentiful and adventurous, but it complemented the story rather than replacing it. Although, with this much heat, I’m beginning to think Navessa should include a complimentary bottle of water with every book.

I also loved spending more time with the familiar faces from the Into Darkness series. Their friendships bring plenty of humor and chaos, but there’s also a genuine sense of loyalty beneath all their questionable decisions. The returning characters fit naturally into Tyler and Stella’s story without taking it over, and I love that each book adds something new to this wonderfully dysfunctional little family. At this point, I’m beginning to think found family is less of a trope and more of a group survival strategy.

My biggest criticism was the pacing around Tyler’s revenge plans. While I enjoyed the suspense, there were stretches where his elaborate scheming took more attention than I felt it needed. His habit of making assumptions and charging ahead without considering that he might be wrong also tested my patience. I understood why he behaved that way, but that didn’t stop me from wanting to smack some sense into him. Tightening up a few of those sections would have left more room for the emotional moments between Tyler and Stella to develop naturally.

Still, I had a ridiculously good time with this book. Navessa has a talent for creating characters who are deeply flawed, occasionally infuriating, and somehow impossible not to love. I especially appreciate that she continues giving each couple their own story rather than recreating what worked in the previous books. Tyler and Stella aren’t another Josh and Aly or Junior and Lauren, and that’s exactly how it should be.

WOULD I RECOMMEND GAME ON?

Absolutely! If you enjoy dark romance with morally questionable men, strong women who refuse to tolerate their nonsense, enemies-to-lovers tension, revenge, sharp banter, and adventurous spice, Game On is worth adding to your TBR. Just be sure to check the author’s content warnings, because some genuinely heavy subjects are hiding beneath all that humor and chaos.

MY FINAL VERDICT:

Game On was another five-star read for me. It wasn’t completely without its frustrations, particularly when Tyler’s scheming got a little carried away, but I was thoroughly entertained from beginning to end. I laughed, got frustrated, became emotionally invested, and finished the book looking forward to spending even more time with this wonderfully damaged group of characters. Tyler didn’t knock Josh off his throne, but he certainly earned himself a place among my favorite fictional red flags.

And really, Tyler summed himself up better than I ever could: “Misbehaving is so much more fun.”

My inner BookDragon wholeheartedly agrees.

Final Book Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5) | Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ (5/5)

CONTENT & TRIGGER WARNINGS

I strongly recommend reviewing the author’s content and trigger warnings before reading Game On. The story explores revenge, manipulation, organized crime, violence, emotional trauma, and complicated family relationships. It also contains explicit sexual content involving BDSM, dominance and submission, brat play, voyeurism, sharing, and multi-partner dynamics. Some of these subjects may be uncomfortable or triggering, so please review the author’s complete warning list before diving in.

NOTE: This review reflects the digital eBook version of Game On as read on July 22, 2026, and may not reflect any revisions, corrections, or updates made to subsequent editions.