Playing for Keeps

It’s all fun and games until fake starts to feel like forever…

I might be Chase Sullivan—beloved star player with golden retriever energy and arms tailor-made for cuddling—but I’ve sworn never to open my heart to anyone. I can’t risk hurting someone. Not after the way my parents hurt me.

But I am a good friend. And my childhood best friend Serena’s controlling ex has my hands curling into fists. Serena wants the big, white picket fence love story. And this gigantic jerk won’t let her find it.

I don’t date, but I’d make a fake exception for Serena. A muscly footballer playing her protective boyfriend should be enough to warn her ex off. And hey, if not, I’ll just have to put those muscles to work in a more direct way… preferably against his face.

But on our first public ‘date’, when my lips touch Serena’s, when her gorgeous blue eyes flutter closed as my hand tangles in her long blonde hair, something like panic creeps through my chest. Letting people down runs in my genes. I can’t do that to Serena. I won’t.

As the dates we go on feel less fake and more real, so do the feelings I’ve worked so hard to chase away. We’ve always wanted completely different things. But do we both want the one thing that counts—each other?

Playing for Keeps is a fun, steamy, friends-to-lovers sports romance, perfect for fans of Liz Tomforde, Stephanie Archer and Elsie Silver. The third in the Oakwood Ranch series, it can also be read as a standalone.

Readers are OBSESSED with Playing for Keeps:

“Wow oh wow… Incredible. I absolutely flew through it… From the first chapter it had me hooked… Absolutely PERFECT… Made me tear up… So captivating… Had me wanting to keep reading late into the night… HIGHLY recommend… Truly amazing.” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Swoon-worthy… Bingeable… I loved it!… Fast-paced, full of witty banter, LOL moments and spicy scenes… Right from the start, I was hooked… LOVED… Amazing.” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Oh God, I’m obsessed!… Genuinely so sweet and funny—you’re right there, falling for them and getting butterflies… I guarantee you’ll lose track of time once you start.” harusenaread, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Oh, these two destroyed my heart and my emotions in one swoop… I loved this book so much… Like soooooo much… Fantastic… Brilliant… Push[es] every button on a readers’ heart.” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“I know that if I’m picking up a Bella North book, I’m not leaving my sofa until I’m done. I fell in love… Sublime… Witty… Made my heart melt… Obsessed.” thelitwhisperer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Okay but this was seriously cute!!… Chef’s kiss… So real… So swoon-worthy… Fun… Heartfelt… Just hit different… Left me smiling and dying for more!!… ADD. THIS. TO. YOUR. TBR.” NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐

“I started today and finished it a few hours later… Everything I wanted it to be… Made me giggle… So adorable… I think at this point I’d read Bella’s shopping list!… I loved it!” shhreads, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“This book!!! Honestly, I adored it… Delivered everything I love… Delicious… So good… Engaging from start to finish… I flew through it… Such a fun read… I loved everything about it.” lanainfiction, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

TROPES:
🌶️Friends to lovers
🌶️Fake dating
🌶️Sports romance
🌶️Golden retriever boyfriend
🌶️Slow burn
🌶️Workplace romance (sports star vs cheerleader coach)
🌶️Found family