Jace Lawless is an overachiever, a go-getter, and determined to accomplish everything he sets his mind to. After serving his country in the U.S. Marine Corps, and receiving his college degree, he’s picked up by a popular minor league baseball team, all while continuing his service in the USMC reserves.
When Jace meets a beautiful, breathtaking single mother named Miranda Cates, it takes him by surprise. Her shady past and beautiful little girl are the conundrum that both confuses and fascinates Jace. He can’t tear his thoughts away from Miranda, and eventually he believes he can win her over with his dimpled smirk and witty charms.
Once Miranda becomes his, the part of him she hated the most – the part he had kept secret from her for so long – rears its ugly head. Will Miranda lean on her friend Cara for support while staying by his side once he tells her that duty is calling… or will she decide she can’t handle it and take her daughter and leave?
Playing the Field is the fourth and final installment of the Duty & Desire series. Contains adult situations and minor scenes of war.
C.J. is a USA Today bestselling author living in Colorado but wishes she was someplace warmer. She loves the SF 49ers and has a weakness for expensive shoes. She’s the author of over 40 novels and short stories that contain both fantasy and paranormal romance with kickass heroines and strong alphas. Having recently retired from a twenty-year career in federal law enforcement, she's looking forward to the next chapter in life.
She can be found on Facebook, Instagram, and on her website, cjpinard.com.
You can also find billionaire romance under her pen, Carolyn Delaney.
Reading order:
URBAN FANTASY/ROMANCE: Enchanted Immortals 1 Enchanted Immortals 2: The Vortex Enchanted Immortals 3: The Vampyre Enchanted Immortals 4: The Vixen BSI: Bureau of Supernatural Investigation Enchanted Immortals Box Set: 4 Books + Novella
PARANORMAL ROMANCE: Unscathed (A paranormal romance novel with Tim O'Rourke)
Soul Rebel (Death's Kiss #1) FREE Soul Redemption (Death's Kiss #2) Soul Release (Death's Kiss #3) Kovah: Soul Seeker (A Death's Kiss Novel #4)
Lotus (Daughter of Darkness) Lotus's Journey Part I FREE Watcher (Daughter of Darkness) Lotus's Journey, Part II Guardian (Daughter of Darkness) Lotus's Journey, Part III
The Lunar Effect (The Ayla St. John Chronicles, #1) FREE The Lunar Curse (The Ayla St. John Chronicles, #2) The Lunar Secret (The Ayla St. John Chronicles, #3) The Lunar Magic (The Ayla St. John Chronicles, #4) The Lunar Promise (The Ayla St. John Chronicles, #5) The Lunar Light (The Ayla St. John Chronicles, #6)
Viper (Nighthawks MC #1) Shadow (Nighthawks MC #2) Phoenix (Nighthawks MC #3) Venom (Nighthawks MC #4) Face (Nighthawks MC #5)
REVERSE HAREM FANTASY: Four Princes (Rothhaven Trilogy, #1) Four Kings (Rothhaven Trilogy, #2) Four Heirs (Rothhaven Trilogy, #3)
CONTEMPORARY/MILITARY ROMANCE Duty & Desire Series: Patriotic Duty Tour of Duty Boots Beneath My Bed Playing the Field
Imperfect Heroes Series: Antihero Above Protection Beneath Broken Beyond Love
After reading Book 3, Boots Beneath My Bed (Miranda’s Story), Playing the Field goes hand-in-hand as the final story of this sweet, contemporary, military romance series focuses on Jace’s point of view, his background with the U.S. Marine Corps and minor league baseball team, as well as his strong feelings for Miranda. If you’re looking for a refreshing, cheeky, fun and romantic read then this is a series for you!
From early on in the story the reader has a sense of just how much baseball and the Marines mean to Jace. As well as both being an enjoyment of his, he is also incredibly talented at both and his skills are noticed. They both play a huge role in his life, but it could all be about to change with Miranda about to enter it.
Not a fan of a military man, as she has been let down more than once, Miranda makes it clear to Jace that she would never date another! This leaves Jace wondering when he should let her know of his background. You can sense his genuine worry of losing her if she found out but knows that she has to know. How can he make her see his point and that he isn’t a player?
We learn that despite Jace’s macho appearance and strong masculinity, he is actually a rather sweet hottie. He is considerate towards Miranda, and yet has the self respect to follow his dream and remain with the Marines until his contract is up at least! But will he be able to convince Miranda to stay with him?
It isn’t too long before Jace realises his feelings for his ex, Samantha, were nothing compared to how he loves Miranda. Not only does he absolute love her delectable, curvaceous body, he also admires her strong will. Yes, Miranda holds his heart both physically and emotionally. And, he also adores her young daughter, Ashlynn, and has a strong sense that he can’t let these ladies out of his life.
Although his relationship is the core of the story, Jace is also tackling nightmares from when he was once deployed. The author writes with such care over these dark and serious events, and yet still manages to keep the read, as a whole, light. As the story continues some of these events are more frequent and add more power as the reader begins to see just how much the Marines mean to Jace, and also how he doesn’t want it to affect a life he longs for with Miranda. This could be one of the biggest battles he has ever had!
Playing the Field is a delight to read and, as the whole series has been, very refreshing! Fans of Duty & Desire books 1 and 2 will also be pleased to hear that Cara and Riley also have an appearance in Playing the Field, as the author carries on a little of their storyline too and how their relationship affect Miranda and Jace (Cara being Miranda’s best friend, and Riley a military man himself with a story to tell of his own). Yes, to thoroughly enjoy I would strongly recommend that the series be read as a whole, as these lives intertwine and each book is from a different perspective. They fit together superbly well and you truly get to see all angles. What a way to honour the military and their families, C.J.!
A copy of Playing the Field (Duty & Desire #4) was provided by the author in return for an honest and fair review.
Ok... I’m just going to jump right into my review. I'm not going to lie... this book was not what I was expecting.
I was kind of confused when I started to read this book. I had to go back and read my review for Boots Beneath My Bed and I had to reread the ending of the book too.
Because, I thought at the end of that book Jace and Miranda were already together. But.... At the start of this book… He's single.
I thought this book would have picked up right where the ending of the last book left off. But… we don’t. This book was a POV book.
We get a retelling of Jace and Miranda’s story. The dating and how they finally get together from Jace's POV.
It was interesting hearing things from Jace's POV. I don't remember him battling demons in the last book. His nightly nightmares were pretty bad. He went through a lot when he was deployed on his last tour.
But… I did feel his POV went on a little too long. We don't get new stuff until 62% in. Don't get me wrong. I thought it was ok to read Jace's POV. But, I was just really looking forward to reading more new stuff about everyone.
For me personally... I would have rather jumped right into the story. Right after their honeymoon or maybe a year after the wedding.
I really wanted more… Cara and Riley. Since the series started with them... I was kind of hoping we would get way more of them. But, What little we did get of them.. I totally devoured it. The ending of the book just warmed my heart! and I was truly happy for Cara and Riley.
Overall... I liked his book. I just felt the beginning of the book wasn't really necessary. I wish the story would have just picked up right when the last book left off. And I think the synopsis should say that this book was mostly a POV book from Boot’s Beneath My Bed. Because, there is only 38% of new stuff. And…That 38% felt kind of rushed.
Ok... I’m just going to jump right into my review. I'm not going to lie... this book was not what I was expecting.
I was kind of confused when I started to read this book. I had to go back and read my review for Boots Beneath My Bed and I had to reread the ending of the book too.
Because, I thought at the end of that book Jace and Miranda were already together. But.... At the start of this book… He's single.
I thought this book would have picked up right where the ending of the last book left off. But… we don’t. This book was a POV book.
We get a retelling of Jace and Miranda’s story. The dating and how they finally get together from Jace's POV.
It was interesting hearing things from Jace's POV. I don't remember him battling demons in the last book. His nightly nightmares were pretty bad. He went through a lot when he was deployed on his last tour.
But… I did feel his POV went on a little too long. We don't get new stuff until 62% in. Don't get me wrong. I thought it was ok to read Jace's POV. But, I was just really looking forward to reading more new stuff about everyone.
For me personally... I would have rather jumped right into the story. Right after their honeymoon or maybe a year after the wedding.
I really wanted more… Cara and Riley. Since the series started with them... I was kind of hoping we would get way more of them. But, What little we did get of them.. I totally devoured it. The ending of the book just warmed my heart! and I was truly happy for Cara and Riley.
Overall... I liked his book. I just felt the beginning of the book wasn't really necessary. I wish the story would have just picked up right when the last book left off. And I think the synopsis should say that this book was mostly a POV book from Boot’s Beneath My Bed. Because, there is only 38% of new stuff. And…That 38% felt kind of rushed.