I really only need one word for my review of Playing For Keeps - Scotsman, and maybe a few fire emojis!!!! The audio version is an absolute aural treat because of that glorious accent and the quality of both narrators. This is another wonderful Sasha Lace story though, and it deserves all the words and stars! Family, empathy, forgiveness, fresh starts, humour, grief and a wonderful redemption arc for a favourite - if you like these elements in a book, then this one is for you.

There are some fun spicy scenes in this book and they play a pivotal role in bringing the story and characters to life. However, there are always tales within tales in this author's stories so to quote the MMC, Alex, "You never know when you walk around in this world, who is doing everything they can, just to hold things together...". I love the emotional maturity Alex shows when he says this and the lesson we can all benefit from : needing to walk in someone else's shoes to really know them and the troubles they are going through, before making a hasty judgement, dismissing them and their problems. More than in any of the other books, I see this as the key theme here, and the author gently shows us the painful reality that can be some people's lives behind closed doors or their brave faces.

Another thing that stands out for me and is a visible and significant factor in moulding both Alex and Lana is the quality of the relationship each has with their sister. Family, whether biological or chosen, is always a strong theme in each of Sasha's books, and I love that! She creates solid characters who display all the good and bad traits of everyday people and are relatable because of it.

This story is Lana's redemption arc and I appreciated her strength even more after learning of her personal difficulties. The situation she was forced into in this book was awful - but well conceived and written. Let's just say I have discovered another character who rivals my distaste for Sean Wallace. This author clearly has a gift for crafting villains!!

I really enjoyed Brodie's inclusion. He's a wonderful boy and brings warmth and humour to scenes. One conversation that made me laugh is when he gleefully points out Alex's 'flaws' by telling his Dad " 'You're not good at Mario Cart and when you try to dance, it's cringe.' ".

Ms Lace has gifted us with a real character driven story, filled with circumstances that test those characters relentlessly, and showcase their growth. I felt anger, grief and loss on behalf of our MC's and celebrated their successes, both career and personal.

This is another enthralling addition to the Playing The Field series and I highly recommend it!

Get ready for the rules breaking and a really fun love story with this one! I absolutely loved the honestly, the realness, and the way the characters were so connetable. Such a s