nitzan_schwarz
Written on Jul 20, 2019
The seventh in New York Times bestselling author Jill Shalvis's Heartbreaker Bay series, featuring her trademark gift for humour, warmth and romance. Perfect for fans of Jill Mansell, Debbie Macomber, Nora Roberts and Marie Force.
If you're planning on falling in love you'd better be sure someone is there to catch you... When it comes to the confident, charismatic Caleb Parker, Sadie Lane feels the spark - the kind that comes from rubbing each other the wrong way. She's yoga pants, he's a suit. She's a tattoo artist, he's a straight-laced mogul. But after they accidentally co-rescue an abandoned dog from a storm, Sadie sees a vulnerable side to the seemingly invincible hottie.
Caleb doesn't do emotions. Growing up the underdog, he's learned the hard way to build up an impenetrable wall. Perfect for business. Disastrous for relationships. He's never worried about it before - not until he finally gets behind Sadie's armor and begins to fall.
Both guarded and vulnerable, Sadie and Caleb are complete opposites. Or are they? Shocked at their undeniable connection, can they ever admit to wanting more? That all depends on what they're each willing to risk...
Want more warm, funny romance? Check out the other Heartbreaker Bay novels starting with Sweet Little Lies, visit stunning Wildstone, gorgeous Cedar Ridge, spellbinding Lucky Harbor or experience some Animal Magnetism in Sunshine, Idaho in Jill's other unforgettable series.
- ISBN10 0062741888
- ISBN13 9780062741882
- Publish Date 22 January 2019
- Publish Status Active
- Publish Country US
- Publisher HarperCollins Publishers
- Imprint Collins
- Format Paperback (US Mass Market)
- Pages 384
- Language English
Reviews
Lorelei's Lit Lair
Written on Jun 20, 2019
Lots of family drama, passionate love, humor and an adorable pet!
thebookdisciple
Written on Jan 22, 2019
Can a girl with scars and baggage really be with a billionaire who has his life together? Playing for Keeps is an opposites attract type story with 2 people who have way more in common than they think initially. Caleb, AKA Suits, grew up poor, sickly, and bullied. He made sure his family never struggled again as soon as he was able. Sadie, AKA Mercedes, never fit in with her family and they never stopped reminding her of it. She is trying to make it on her own, but each day is a struggle.
Sadie has walls that Trump would be envious of. This girl is so closed off its like trying to escape North Korea (all right, no more political comparisons). She is broke and struggling to build her tattoo clientele, but she is also proud and stubborn. Her family hasn't been kind to her and she struggled with mental health issues. Now, she tattoos people who want to cover up scars, which is amazingly cool. I had trouble really liking Sadie because, honestly, she is VERY judgmental. I found this ironic given how her family judges her, but she thinks she knows Caleb from the start and makes some pretty judgmental comments disparaging him even though he has been nothing but nice and honest. Caleb calls her out on it, which I thought was great. She does admit to this character flaw, and that helped me warm to her.
The thread that ties these two together is what totally won me over though: Lollipop, the 3 legged dog! Caleb and Sadie's relationship grows from their "co-parenting" of a rescue dog. As a dog lover myself, and someone who has 2 rescue dogs, I agree with Lily about this: You can tell a lot about a person by how they treat an animal. I loved seeing these two kind of use Lollipop as a reason to see each other. Sadie doesn't want to admit her feelings, so she literally and figuratively hides behind Lollipop. Caleb is so sweet to this dog I could hardly stand it.
Playing for Keeps will tug at your heartstrings whether you are an animal lover or not because Caleb and Sadie will warm your soul! Their story is filled with past hurt that has to be overcome, but that makes the journey so sweet.
- POV: 3rd
- Tears: no
- Trope: opposites attract
- Triggers: Sadie was a cutter; Caleb was bullied as a child
- Series/Standalone: standalone within an interconnected series
- Cliffhanger: no
- HEA: yes
Going Down Easy by Carly Phillips, Driving Whiskey Wild by Melissa Foster, Everything She Wanted by Jennifer Ryan, ...then you will probably like Playing for Keeps!
See full review on The Book Disciple
Nadz@Totally Addicted to Reading
Written on Jan 19, 2019
The story featured two individuals from different social standings but who both experienced trauma from their past. From the moment I met Sadie, Caleb and their adorable pup I knew I would love them. Although sometimes Sadie frustrated me with her actions.
Sadie is a struggling tattoo artist, who works at a day spa to make ends meet. She has no interest in relationship as her last one ended on a bad note. She has no interest in a man especially one who dresses in fancy suits and drives expensive cars. Caleb Parker should be avoided at all costs, as he is the epitome of these traits.
Caleb grew up poor, sickly and bullied by his peers. He managed, with help from an unexpected source turn around his life. He is now a self-made billionaire and a dreamboat. Something about Sadie keeps pulling him to her, but he recognises she wants nothing to do with him. However, all that changed when one rainy night they both came to the aid of a homeless puppy who saw it fit to claim them both as her owners.
Sparks sizzled between these two, but they fought them to no avail. Love proved the stronger opponent.
Caleb proved to be a swoon worthy hero, which made him the perfect book boyfriend. He is caring, always looking to help persons in need. The more time Sadie spent with him she realised she misjudged him and she could not help but fall for him.
Sadie had a hard time opening her heart to anyone. Her fears went deep, but Lollipop and Caleb had the capacity to melt the hardest of hearts and soon she found herself opening her heart.
Their relationship developed at a good pace but it was not without its obstacles, which was to be expected from two damaged souls plagued by ghosts from their pasts and meddling family members
I enjoyed Sadie’s sarcasm. Sometimes her comments had me laughing aloud. I loved how Caleb held his own with her and never allowed her to scare him away.
Conclusion/Recommendation
Playing for Keeps is a well-written story with well-developed characters that will keep you engaged from start to finish
Sam@WLABB
Written on Jan 12, 2019
This go around we have not ONE, but TWO heavily armored characters. Both Sadie and Caleb kept themselves emotionally detached. Though they sought this form of protection for different reasons, the results were the same - no successful romantic relationships. That was until a three legged dog changed their plans.
As I have grown to expect, Shalvis gave us a fun and adorable doggie meet-cute. Caleb and Sadie had actually known each other for a year or so, but they never really interacted until they decided to "co-parent" a stray dog, Lollipop. I won't lie, Lollipop endeared herself to me, and I loved what she brought out in Caleb and Sadie. She helped us see that softer side of Sadie, while clearly revealing that carefree and loving side of Caleb. It was so wonderful to see all three of them on-page together, and I loved the way Shalvis utilized an awesome dog to ignite this romance.
In case you couldn't already tell, Sadie and Caleb were sort of complicated. Sadie had a lot of pain in her past, which still overshadowed her present, and this made her weary of Caleb and his advances. Caleb had been taken advantage of in the past, and this made his sisters, who he lovingly referred to as "the coven", overprotective of him. Ghosts of their pasts and family drama of their present cause a few bumps in the road, but it was working through those things, that clearly showed these two belonged together.
Sadie was cool, fun, salty, and sassy, but I think it was Caleb, who made me love this story. Though he may have been sort of closed off to most of the world, he loved his inner circle fiercely. He was able to open his heart a lot quicker, than Sadie was, and he was also more vocal and demonstrative. Sadie was not an easy woman for him to love, and I really liked seeing him fight a little for her.
"You're not an easy woman, Sadie."
"I am a handful," she agreed, her pulse kicking into gear. "But that's why you have two hands."
One thing I got a little excited about was the mention, over and over again, of Caleb's cousin Kel. Kel is a character from the Animal Magnetism books, which I adored, and the way he kept coming up was making me think that we might get some crossover action (?). If that's where Shalvis' muse is leading her, I am wholly onboard.
Overall
I definitely got what I have come to expect from Shalvis: a great romance, that was heartwarming, funny, a little emotional, and a little hot. It was stacked with a hero and heroine, who were both interesting and complex, and who I grew to care about. And, don't forget the adorable dog.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
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Linda
Written on Jan 9, 2019
*I received a free copy of [title] from [publisher] via Edelweiss. This has in no way influenced my voluntary review, which is honest and unbiased *Playing for Keeps just might be my favorite Heartbreaker Bay story! I loved Sadie and Caleb so much. And Lollipop was the best rescue puppy ever!
Playing for Keeps just worked so very well for me! Sadie and Caleb both wanted nothing to do with a relationship. And they kind of worked the best using sarcasm towards each other. Until that evening when Caleb found an abandoned, three legged dog in the courtyard. And they somehow ended up co-adopting her.
Caleb had been a bit of a mystery up until now, as he was a little on the outskirt of the friend group. In Playing for Keeps, however, he showed just what kind of a man he was. He's a true hero in many ways. Taking care of other people, helping out wherever he can. As Sadie got to know him, she couldn't help falling for him. Even when there were obstacles - namely Caleb's sisters and their background checks - he continued to pursue her when she retreated.
Overall, Playing for Keeps is a feel good story, with multi-layered characters, and a beautiful romance.
"I have this test," Ivy said and handed Sadie a basket with her two tacos. "No matter how rich or intelligent your are, how you treat an animal tells me all I need to know about you. And look at how he treated your dog."
kimbacaffeinate
Written on Jan 1, 2019
- First Date: Sadie Lane is a starving tattoo artist with a chip on her shoulder and purple dye in her hair. She has seen Caleb Parker around the courtyard and has admired his psyche but the man she has dubbed "suits" is not her type. Yes, she finds him yummy, but she has tested the type and knows oil and water don't mix. When he strolls past her shop one rainy evening bending over something near the alley curiosity gets the better of her. What they find is a soaking wet ball of fur. Caleb decides he will care for mutt, but so does Sadie. This changes the game and I strapped in for one heck of a ride!
- Second Date: Shalvis has this way of bringing her characters to life, flaws, scars and swoon worthy qualities. She makes me care about them. From the way both react to the furball, to their interactions with secondary characters I felt as if I knew them. It wasn't long before I became their cheerleader. The romance from that first kiss to awkward moments sizzled and felt genuine.
- Third Date: The big obstacles in this romance came from trust and character growth. Trouble in the form of family and the characters' own reactions caused issues. We saw and felt genuine growth as the storyline moved towards an HEA. I laughed, sighed and cheered my way through this final date.
Rowena
Written on Dec 21, 2018
stacey_is_sassy
Written on Dec 5, 2018
He wasn’t just a billionaire in a suit
When it comes to love, I have been known to be a little insecure at times. For years I saw my hubby with rose-coloured glasses. To me, he’s handsome, smart, caring and sweet. I thought every woman in the world would want him for their own. We’re so different, he is sporty and doesn’t read (WEIRD!!) and survives with little to no sleep. Finally, after 21 years of marriage, the rose-coloured glasses have a few smudges on them. He’s still bloody awesome but he’s not perfect. Seeing Sadie fight her insecurities and believe in Caleb’s love was something I could relate to. Her rose-coloured glasses needed a few smudges to see him clearly…suit and all.
It did not surprise me that Sadie questioned Caleb’s attraction. Sadie appears a little rough around the edges, is stubborn and a wee bit prickly. Caleb on the other hand, he’s a suit-wearing hottie with a successful empire and plenty of money in the bank. So very different but there’s this underlying buzz that neither can deny. Sadie’s hesitant to take their attraction too seriously as she’s not willing to put her heart on the line. Only thing is…Caleb’s Playing for Keeps…
I absolutely LOVED Caleb. After reading the little snippet at the end of Hot Winter Nights I predicted that Caleb was going to be the book-boyfriend for me. My heart melted at his thoughtfulness. I was swooning when we had his POV and I got to see him convince Sadie that her prickly barbs would not deter him. I loved it when he developed his own prickly barbs when it came time to deal with Sadie’s family. To be honest, I would have loved to see a few more interactions with Caleb and Sadie’s mum. I wanted to see him put on his Knight-In-Shining-Armour costume to fight the wicked witch. OK, she wasn’t that bad, but geez, she definitely rubbed me the wrong way.
I wouldn’t say Lollipop stole the show, but she came pretty darn close. Who wouldn’t fall in love with a three-legged puppy that’s had a rough trot up until the minute Caleb Parker found her on a cold and rainy night? Her devotion to her knew co-owners is so cute and I loved that with a little whining, she had them both giving into her. I loved the hand-holding to calm her fears in the car and the sitting on their feet to gain their attention. So cute!!
Sadie and Caleb were interesting, and I found them refreshingly real. I understood Sadie and Caleb’s tolerance of family interference because I could completely relate. What seems intrusive and meddling was done out of love for Sadie and Caleb. Sadie’s family couldn’t understand her, but constantly worried for her health and well being. Caleb’s family have been his carers, providers and protectors since the time he was a sickly kid. Even with all his success, he’s still their little brother.
I absolutely loved Playing for Keeps. It was an emotional story that dealt with two characters that faced challenges in their youth. Caleb has proven himself by becoming successful and repaying his family for all their sacrifice, love and support. Sadie, while still in the process of becoming successful, is finally coming to accept and love herself, scars and all.
In true Jill Shalvis fashion, she drags all of my emotions to the surface. I was sniffling like crazy towards the end of the story and then smiling like a loon by the end. While reading I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough but when it was finished, I was wishing I’d taken my time. Her books are never long enough. A new snippet (The Lemon Sisters, Wildstone Series) at the end has given me something to look forward to. Although, I was kind of hoping that it was going to be Ivy, from the Taco Truck’s turn. Fingers crossed, it may still happen.
If you haven’t tried a Jill Shalvis yet…DO IT!!
Stacey is Sassy, received a complimentary copy of this story. The copy provided is not the final copy and may be subject to edits and changes.