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Playing for Keeps: A fake-dating football romance with his sister's best friend
A fake-dating sports romance pairing a guarded football star with his sister's best friend, where the pretending stops working almost immediately. Contemporary sports romance of blurred lines, PR schemes and feelings that refuse to stay fake.
Is it really a fake relationship if the lines are blurred from the start?
Wyatt Brookes lives for football, not the chaos around it. Fearless on the field and guarded off it, he's done with empty hookups and women who only see the jersey. So when his sister's best friend, Ivy, steps in and saves the day, not once but twice, saying yes to her offer of a fake relationship to appease his PR manager is easy. Pretending it's just for show? That’s the riskiest play of his life.
Ivy James has only ever seen Wyatt as a friend, so a pretend romance should be simple. It's not. Not when he's holding her hand, looking at her like she's the only one in the room and dismantling walls she spent years building. Wyatt makes her feel things that are far too real. But he can't truly want her, can he? He's football royalty, and she's just Ivy.
Soon the pretending blurs for both of them, and when shadows from Wyatt's past threaten it all, he'll have to risk everything to prove that this time he's playing for keeps.
Playing for Keeps is the fifth book in the Hope Creek series, for readers who love fake dating, best friend's brother tension and football romance with heart. Perfect for fans of Tessa Bailey, Meghan Quinn and Lucy Score.
Is it really a fake relationship if the lines are blurred from the start?
Wyatt Brookes lives for football, not the chaos around it. Fearless on the field and guarded off it, he's done with empty hookups and women who only see the jersey. So when his sister's best friend, Ivy, steps in and saves the day, not once but twice, saying yes to her offer of a fake relationship to appease his PR manager is easy. Pretending it's just for show? That’s the riskiest play of his life.
Ivy James has only ever seen Wyatt as a friend, so a pretend romance should be simple. It's not. Not when he's holding her hand, looking at her like she's the only one in the room and dismantling walls she spent years building. Wyatt makes her feel things that are far too real. But he can't truly want her, can he? He's football royalty, and she's just Ivy.
Soon the pretending blurs for both of them, and when shadows from Wyatt's past threaten it all, he'll have to risk everything to prove that this time he's playing for keeps.
Playing for Keeps is the fifth book in the Hope Creek series, for readers who love fake dating, best friend's brother tension and football romance with heart. Perfect for fans of Tessa Bailey, Meghan Quinn and Lucy Score.
402 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 19, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
November 24, 2025
great romance!
I always knew I’d love Wyatt’s story, there was just something about his cameo parts throughout the series, but this book was beautiful. Wyatt and Ivy are a match made in heaven and I’m glad they took their blinkers off and worked things out. If you’re looking for the perfect romance series then this is one to delve into.
I always knew I’d love Wyatt’s story, there was just something about his cameo parts throughout the series, but this book was beautiful. Wyatt and Ivy are a match made in heaven and I’m glad they took their blinkers off and worked things out. If you’re looking for the perfect romance series then this is one to delve into.
November 17, 2025
This is such a heartwarming read 🥰🥰
Ivy, Ash’s bff since forever revealed a little secret about Wyatt in The Edge Of Forever, in which Ash hasn’t forgotten 😜
Wyatt, one of Ash’s brothers, has always seen Ivy as her and his sister are bff’s, but after Ivy is coerced into doing something, he starts seeing her in a completely different light ☺️
Soon a ‘let’s pretend’ starts………BUT how will it finish???
I absolutely adored this couple and I know you will too 🥹 and Wyatt knows how to use what he’s got 🥵🥵🥵
Ivy, Ash’s bff since forever revealed a little secret about Wyatt in The Edge Of Forever, in which Ash hasn’t forgotten 😜
Wyatt, one of Ash’s brothers, has always seen Ivy as her and his sister are bff’s, but after Ivy is coerced into doing something, he starts seeing her in a completely different light ☺️
Soon a ‘let’s pretend’ starts………BUT how will it finish???
I absolutely adored this couple and I know you will too 🥹 and Wyatt knows how to use what he’s got 🥵🥵🥵
November 23, 2025
Five stars
Oh my!!! I loved ivy and Wyatt. Their story was just amazing and that ending!!! I just didn't expect that twist on the middle but loved it
Oh my!!! I loved ivy and Wyatt. Their story was just amazing and that ending!!! I just didn't expect that twist on the middle but loved it
February 2, 2026
Book 5 brings us back to Hope Creek with hot football star and brother Wyatts story.
I knew Wyatt would a story it really wanted to read.. infact it was one I needed to read and this was all I needed and more!
Wyatt and I've have known each other for years but for some reason have never quite "seen" each other.. until one nught Ash intervenes and it all begins to change.
I adore these guys together and loved how they let each other in and supported each other so well.
Really sad that our Hope Creek journey is now over though!
I knew Wyatt would a story it really wanted to read.. infact it was one I needed to read and this was all I needed and more!
Wyatt and I've have known each other for years but for some reason have never quite "seen" each other.. until one nught Ash intervenes and it all begins to change.
I adore these guys together and loved how they let each other in and supported each other so well.
Really sad that our Hope Creek journey is now over though!
October 21, 2026
Solid read. Good pace and I enjoyed both characters.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews