This was my first read by this author and I am very much not disappointed haha. This was a truly heartfelt and well developed romance that had me really engrossed from beginning ‘till the end.

The sports romance trope is one I mostly always love anyways and this one was no exception haha. Then there’s also a second chance romance element and it’s a hook.line.sinker for me, lol. I’m doing gooood on those kind of romances I tell you. And it was really really well developed; I’m excited!

I’m super stoked to get into more books by this author in the future and would definitely recommend picking this one up if you want to dive into a beautiful developed and addictive romance story that has a 2nd chance romance and sports elements.

I'm sorry. I didn't get a chance to download this book before it archived so I won't be able to offer feedback.

Ahhh Rick and Amy! I really enjoyed this book and Rick and Amy came out delivering such a witty, fun, and sexy read. Rick is somewhat down on his luck and Amy had her own demons to bear. Watching these two dance around their feelings for one another and support each other was really well written along with some fantastic love scenes. Really loved their story.

Overall the story worth 3.5 star, the story is simply a love story with two broken hearts and they tried to believe in love again. Ending with happily ever after is what most readers would love. Missing a bit of chemistry in the story, but still a very good one. Would recommend to lovers who broke up and don't believe in love again. Everyone deserves a happy ending.

It's not every book I try to get through it a quickly as possible - in a good way! The story moved along quite well, and there were just the right amount of details, drama, heartbreak, and steam! It was very easy to get invested in Amy and Rick, and everyone else for that matter. I like that it was well written, flowed extremely well, and of course, the HEA. I don't always read my books on a "every chance I can get" kind of way, but with this one I did - standing in line, waiting at the doctor's office, right before bed, sneaking in some time before I go to work, etc. It was great!

Playing for Keeps is a sweet, second-chance story about two people who both need not only a second chance at love, but also at life.

Amy Vaughn is a hard-working, determined young single mom. When her father died when she was 16, her life spiraled down hill. Some things were the result of bad choices on her part, but mostly her situations were from just being dealt a crappy hand in life. But now she’s the mother of an adorable, precocious eight year old son, and she’s determined to do what’s best for him. Her current goal - to save enough money so they can move out of the state of California - has her moonlighting as a cocktail waitress at a trendy San Francisco nightclub.

Rick Taylor had everything going for him: a career as a professional baseball player, a marriage to his high school sweetheart, and a child on the way. Then in a matter of a few months he lost it all. Three years later he’s crawled from the pit of hell to get his position back as the starting catcher, with no thoughts of having anything else in his life. But a chance meeting with a beautiful, friendly cocktail waitress has Rick thinking maybe it’s time he move on from the loss of his wife and child.

I enjoyed watching Amy and Rick’s relationship develop. Amy is not interested in getting involved with anyone, but Rick is kind and patient with her. I really loved how this was a couple that was open and honest about what they were thinking and feeling - so often we (as the reader) know what the hero and heroine are thinking and feeling through their inner monologue, but the hero and heroine are in the dark. It was refreshing to see a younger couple talk openly about the good - and the bad - instead of holding in it, as you would typically read in a young adult romance.

I also really liked Amy’s son, Danny. He added humor and cuteness to the story, and I felt he was characterized very well. So often children in books are not portrayed very accurately, but I think the author did a great job with Danny. I enjoyed watching Amy be his mother, and it was sweet to see his relationship develop with Rick.

Even when things fell apart between Amy and Rick, I still felt like this was a sweet story. There were no awful words exchanged, no shouting. Just hurt because of how things were handled. These were two really good, kind people who had been kicked around by life and belonged together. It just took a little bit of time and perspective to find their way back.

Was this an amazing book? Not really. But it was well written, and I really liked the hero and heroine, as well as the side characters. It’s never a waste of my time to read a sweet story about people finding love when life has kicked them to the ground. I don’t have much interest in going back and reading the first five books in this series, but if the next one is about Amy’s best friend, Jade, and Rick’s teammate, Trey, I’ll definitely want to read it!

* thank you to NetGalley and Alison Packard for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review

Cute, but fairly predictable story.

My heart broke for Rick and what he went through with his wife. The way everything reminded him of her, the way he still struggled with memories of her and how their families still remained tangled. He had to hit rock bottom after a tragic loss like that before he could get back up.

Amy and Danny are just absolutely adorable. Amy is dedicated to providing for her son and giving him everything he deserves especially after he was bullied at this previous school. She struggles managing to jobs and raising her son by herself.

Sparks fly with Amy and Rick meet, but Rick isn't the only one with a past that could interfere with their relationship.

A sad and funny and really enjoyable read i love rick and amy as a couple and the fact he treats danny like his own cant wait to read jades story

I don’t normally read romance books about sports but the plot seemed interesting to me and I really enjoyed reading it. Playing for Keeps is a second chance romance story about a single mom and a baseball player who are both trying to overcome a difficult past. This book was well written, the characters were likable and the story was entertaining.

This book was ok. I found it a little boring at times. There was something missing in the story, it may have been character development, not sure I just could not connect.

What initially caught my attention was the cover. Being from San Francisco, my eyes immediately zeroed in on the Golden Gate bridge. I was a bit hesitant to read it after realizing that it's part of a series, however, this book completely stands on its own.

If there is one thing that bothered me in the very beginning it was the buildup for the romance between Rick and Amy. The way they meet is fine, the issue I had was with the references to his "hard cock" upon first meeting her at the club. It just seemed put of place. Here we have this character who still wears his wedding ring, even though he's been widowed for three years, and all of a sudden he's so sexually attracted to Amy that he's getting hard? It didn't make sense to me and it continued to make me cringe any time his "hard cock" was mentioned during other times as well, like their cute date in Golden Gate park.

Aside from that, I liked that Amy was a single parent and doing everything she could to be a good mom. Her relationship with Danny was very cute and I loved that he was into science and learning about the weather. I also liked that Rick was getting a second chance with his career, while at the time having a second chance at love and having a family. His relationship with Danny was touching, especially towards the end when things got a little rocky with Amy and Rick. I actually got a little emotional when Danny was blaming himself, which is rare that I ever get emotional over books. So Danny's emotions over the matter were captured really well.

Between Rick and Amy, I think Rick had the most growth out of the two, even though I believe the author intended the book to be more Amy's story than Rick's. I think he really shined since he not only had to learn how to navigate his first relationship after being widowed, but he also had to learn how to be a friend/mentor/father figure to Danny. The side characters like Trey and Jade were enjoyable too and I kept waiting for the two of them to put their differences aside, but perhaps that will be left for the next book in the series? I hope so!

Overall, it was an enjoyable read and it makes me want to check out other books from this author.

It was very much an average/ok read.

The story and characters were good. He was particularly likeable and the attitude to what happened to him marked him down as good guy. It should have been a great read really.

But the pace was worse than a snail and it was all a bit obvious. It lacked any fizz and my interest just waned

❤️❤️❤️❤️ out of 5
Can you really ever go wrong with a sports romance? I’m positively sure the answer to that is no. One of the things I loved most about the book is that it seems realistic in this day and age with a normal courtship that I totally believe! Everyday people going on dates and falling in love. A sweet, beautiful story!
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The story revolves around our heroine, a single mother who balances not only a day job but a night job as waitress to an exclusive club at night. There she meets our hero, a major league pitcher and a widower who loved his first wife and lost her in a car accident, and the chemistry between them is there. Funnily enough our heroine in her day job works for a sports management company that directly deals with our hero and his team. After some awkward clutzy moments that keep literally clashing them together our hero asks her out and she finally accepts. What follows from there is what I like to refer to as a traditional courtship- they go on actual dates and get to know each other and fall in love.
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Ok so the plot may sound a tad boring but it is far from it! When so many books strive to have mystery and action and plot twists, this book follows a couple actually dating and falling in love in a somewhat normal manner (shock horror)! But add into the mix a hero who has genuinely been in love before and losing that almost wrecked him and a heroine who got knocked up from a one night stand and has tried to be the best mother to her 8 year old son, and you have the beginning of a beautiful love story! I have a real soft spot for kids in romance novels (and in real life if I’m honest) and the heroine’s 8 year old is just the cutest! He watches the weather channel and spouts out the funniest weather related fact. Our hero can’t help not only fall in love with the heroine but also her son too, and the relationship that the two form is so touching. This is just a really nice feel good read!

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I have a love/hate thing with this book. I love Alison Packard’s Baseball series & I loved this book/what I hate is it’s now 7:00 a.m. & I haven’t been to sleep yet because I couldn’t put this book down. Rick & Amy’s story is sad but sweet, both have tragedy in their past, Rick’s not as distant as Amy but just as horrible. Because of her past Amy has trust issues & this becomes a problem in their fledgling relationship thanks to the ever present spoiled rich girl. I love how the characters have grown throughout the story, both are strong from their battles fought & how history repeating itself causes an awakening of the heart. I also loved Danny, he was so sweet & innocent & very knowledgeable about the weather & Pandas & many other things. I look forward to reading more books in this series. Definitely recommend.

I have read most of the other books in this series and really liked them so I was disheartened to find that I did not care for this one. Rick and Amy are both in places where they do not want another relationship. Rick is a grieving widower and Amy is a single mom with trouble in her past. However when they meet their attraction is instant and suddenly they are willing to see where their feelings lead. It is all a bit rushed but that can be forgiven. However, the road to true love cannot be traveled without trials. Rick must deal with issues from his first marriage which were realistic and could have been really touching if given more attention. Amy's ordeals were over the top especially her interactions with a conniving heiress. They really took away from the heart of the story and time that could have been better spent in developing the relationship between Amy and Rick. Amy's son was a little too cute to be believed. For those wanting to give Packard's books a try, I would not start here.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A somewhat typical format for a sports romance but wonderfully done with such likable characters with exception of wicked rich mean girl. I love San Francisco and could picture scenes as they were described. A very happy ending.

This was a really sweet romance between 2 people who had been hurt by love but in very different ways. I liked that they decided to give love a second chance with each other. The slow way that they got to know each other made sense in many ways. I knew that Amy keeping her past a secret would come back to bite her, but I understood why she didn't. With that being said, Rick's reaction pissed me off mostly because it wasn't a blow up and over it, it was a blow up and stay blown up. I do wonder had he not gotten some news about his dead wife if things might have been different. I was glad that Trey ripped into Rick about things with Amy, it was the start of getting through his head.

The ending to this one was perfect, loved that we got our HEA, but also that Danny got some great news too!

"Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the advance copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review."

This story drew me in from the start. You have Amy who is a single mom, working 2 jobs trying to make ends meet, and then you have Rick who is the baseball player. They both have a secret past that neither want exposed, but eventually, it will all come out. This book is part of a series, but can be read as a stand-alone. I recommend this book!

Baseball + Romance = Must Read

Anytime I see a romance that involves baseball, I’m gonna’ read it. Playing For Keeps did not disappoint! Amy is navigating being a single mother in the best way she can while Rick is learning to cope with his family being ripped from him. With the past haunting both of them, they seem to be the only ones able to pull each other out of self imposed singledom. It was definitely more of an “at first sight” love than it was a slow burn.

The supporting characters were built up enough for their roles in the story with enough focus on Trey that I’m assuming there is/will be a book for his story.

**Spoiler-ish**

One caveat I had was that the end of the book felt rushed. It drives me crazy when the first 70% of the book is building up the story and then you get a rushed climax and brief epilogue. I would have loved to see more about Rick’s transition into step-parenthood, his ex in-laws reaction to the relationship, the public’s reaction, Danny’s biological dad, etc. It just felt like a really quick ending and I was sad to not get more of their story.

This romance involves several standard romance plotlines: the poor single mother working hard to make a good life for her child; the heartbroken widower struggling to recover emotional equilibrium after his beloved wife’s tragic death; and the cruel actions of a extremely spoiled “mean girl.” What helps this story rise above the average romance, for me, was the depiction of Amy’s bright, adorable son, Danny. He is fascinated by the Weather Channel and keeps coming up with interesting factoids about the weather. It was very cute, and also struck me as quite believable that a smart kid would have that sort of obsessive interest. He and his mother had such a sweet, loving relationship. Amy has experienced a lot of bad luck in her life, but she’s remained strong and is learning not to feel shame for what she’s had to do to support her son.

Rick Taylor, a pro baseball player is trying to make a comeback after having gone into a professional and personal tailspin after his wife died. He is just a good guy - not your typical athlete in romance novels who takes advantage of all the women who would like to hook up with a handsome professional athlete. For my taste in sports romances, I would have liked a bit more sports in the book. Otherwise, the guy is a pro baseball player just as a plot device, not as an integral part of the plot. But, overall, this was a pleasant read about two good people who deserve each other.


I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book that I received from Netgalley; however, the opinions are my own and I did not receive any compensation for my review.