PLAYED is the fourth book in Jen Frederick's Gridiron series. This friends-to-lovers romance is lots of fun and full of Jen Frederick's skillfully written spice and sizzle. Ara Martin and Ty Masters have been BFFs for the past four years. They've supported each other through good times and bad while navigating through the stresses of college life. Nothing has ever happened to test the limits of their friendship -- until one night. One night, after a few drinks and while on a football victory high, Ty and Ara give in to an attraction that has always simmered below the surface of their friendship. The details of that erotic encounter are told in flashbacks scattered throughout PLAYED, while the main story takes place three weeks after that event. Thankfully, Jen Frederick tells this story with alternating perspectives, since initially Ara and Ty try to hide their true feelings for each other for one reason or another.

When it comes to planning for their careers, Ara and Ty have a lot in common. Ara loves her famous artist dad, but she wants to carve out a career in the art world on her own merits. Likewise, Ty doesn't want to benefit from the novelty of being a twin or ride on his brother's success. Because their friendship is so important to them both, Ara is afraid that becoming sexually involved will ruin their friendship. Jen Frederick does a good job of getting the reader into Ara's head and explaining her fears. Ty has always taken his cues from Ara about the direction their relationship should go in, even though he has found himself increasingly attracted to her over the years. The worry Ara has about being in a dating relationship with Ty is the lack of attention he gives his girlfriends. Most of Ty's focus is on football. While her observations about Ty's past relationships are true, she fails to realize how much attention and time he focuses on her. Once he realizes how Ara really feels about him, Ty becomes an unstoppable force of temptation directed at one woman.

PLAYED is about a beautiful friendship that turns red-hot in an instant and changes everything. Jen Frederick is excelled at capturing the physicality and eroticism in a romantic relationship. Even romance fans who are used to steamy scenes will be wowed at the heat generated by Ty and Ara when they finally find their sexy together. Ty's sleazy agent plays a minor villain in this story, but never really does any damage or shifts focus from the romance. I look forward to reading the next installment in Jen Frederick's deliciously naughty Gridiron series.