Play Hard: Game Changers Book 3

by A.C. Arthur

Ex-Hollywood stuntman, Noah Jordan doesn’t mind walking the difficult path—he’d done it all his life. From catching a juvie charge, to living the wildlife with money, drugs and sex in the City of Angels, he never backed down from a fight. None of that mattered where Serra Davis was concerned—her rich and privileged upbringing was something his gruff and tumble life on the streets couldn’t beat. His past carried a lot of weight that he’d just pulled himself from under with the opening of the Game Changers sports bar he owned with his brothers by circumstance. No way was he prepared to see Serra again, especially not in his hometown.

Serra Ward was used to giving her clients her all, until she gave the wrong client her heart. Now, the gambling scandal and breakup between one of the NBA’s hottest players and his agent, is at the top of the news cycle and she’s asked to take a leave of absence until the chatter dies down. With her job in limbo, going to visit her favorite person in the world—her grandfather—seems like a no-brainer. Her plan for the next six weeks is to clear her mind of lying, cheating exes, until Noah steps into an elevator with her twelve years after their college love affair abruptly ended. No matter what had changed in all those years, the inferno of desire that burned between them is quickly re-ignited and that elevator becomes a sexy welcome home party Serra couldn’t have planned in a million years!

But this time around Noah and Serra face more than her judgmental family in their quest for happiness and they’ll both have to play the hardest game of their lives to come out on top.

Play Hard is the third book in the Game Changers series, featuring six foster brothers. Each book is a standalone with an HEA. This is a spicy second chance, forbidden love, contemporary romance, which features scenes of an explicit sexual nature and mature language.

253 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 25, 2025

About the author

AC Arthur has worked as a paralegal in every field of law since high school, but her first love is and will always be writing romance. She’s written and won awards for her acclaimed Donovans and Shadow Shifters contemporary and paranormal romance series. Under her pen name, Lacey Baker, she created the quaint small town of Sweetland and wrote the novelization for the Original Hallmark Channel Movie, A Gingerbread Romance.

After years of hosting reader appreciation events, AC created the One Love Reunion, an event designed to bring readers and authors together to celebrate their love of books.

AC resides in Maryland with her family, where she’s currently working on her next book…or watching Criminal Minds.

Reviews

[Dafort · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed Noah and Serra's story. Noah and Serra had not cross paths since their relationship ended in college, until they are stuck in an elevator. As they rekindle their romance, new challenges as well as old issues continue to interfere, making it more the road to love more difficult this time around than it was for them in college. Will they allow family and scandal to continue to keep them apart or Play harder to change the game of love?

Noah & Serra were an interesting couple. They gelled well together even when they initially met in college. I also loved the relationship with Noah and his foster brothers and how their significant others embraced Serra. Serra's family specifically her father & siblings were something else. Again I enjoyed the storyline and flow.

[Kristal Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Play Hard

I enjoyed this second chance romance and loved the chemistry between Serra and Noah. I was glad she finally chose herself and him instead of letting other people control her decisions and realizing that they only wanted control and not to love her unconditionally. Her father and brother were trash human beings and held all the audacity but I’m glad she finally stood up to them and told them to love her and respect her as a grown woman or leave her alone. I felt sorry for hood Noah perceived himself because he truly was dealt a bad hand and still persevered and vowed to protect and treat women with respect. It was good seeing how the “brothers” have each others backs. I’m wondering who will get a story next.

[Gwendolyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a goooddd slow burn of Noah and Serra resurrecting their past, after her old man meddled in their life, while in college.

Don't mess with Noah, unless you want a boot picking. Adrian, the ex of Serra, found out the hard way.
I loved that she stood up to the ex., her brother, and finally her lousy a** daddy.

[Lee Holden, E. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read

Great read, I enjoyed the characters and storyline. Serra and Noah’s, reconnection was unexpected after eleven years. This is an exploration of their past and present actions that shaped their current lives. Serra and Noah’s reconciliation is their journey to forever love and happiness. I look forward to the next game changers installment.

[Barbara Beasley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Play hard.

A.C. has done it again love the themes, the writing and the roll of the story. The love flow of two people with a history and still find that love from years ago. The heart knows what it wants and there is nothing you can do about it.