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Heartbreaker Bay #7
Playing for Keeps
The seventh in New York Times bestselling author Jill Shalvis's Heartbreaker Bay series, featuring her trademark gift for humour, warmth and romance. Perfect for fans of Jill Mansell, Debbie Macomber, Nora Roberts and Marie Force.
If you're planning on falling in love you'd better be sure someone is there to catch you... When it comes to the confident, charismatic Caleb Parker, Sadie Lane feels the spark - the kind that comes from rubbing each other the wrong way. She's yoga pants, he's a suit. She's a tattoo artist, he's a straight-laced mogul. But after they accidentally co-rescue an abandoned dog from a storm, Sadie sees a vulnerable side to the seemingly invincible hottie.
Caleb doesn't do emotions. Growing up the underdog, he's learned the hard way to build up an impenetrable wall. Perfect for business. Disastrous for relationships. He's never worried about it before - not until he finally gets behind Sadie's armor and begins to fall.
Both guarded and vulnerable, Sadie and Caleb are complete opposites. Or are they? Shocked at their undeniable connection, can they ever admit to wanting more? That all depends on what they're each willing to risk...
Want more warm, funny romance? Check out the other Heartbreaker Bay novels starting with Sweet Little Lies, visit stunning Wildstone, gorgeous Cedar Ridge, spellbinding Lucky Harbor or experience some Animal Magnetism in Sunshine, Idaho in Jill's other unforgettable series.
387 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 22, 2019
1278 people are currently reading
5100 people want to read
About the author
Jill Shalvis
388 books13.8k followersJill Shalvis is a NYT, USA Today, and Amazon Top 100 bestselling author of small-town romance and romcoms, known for big feels, found family, and plenty of shenanigans.
If you love small-town chaos, meddling friends and neighbors, sizzling chemistry, and heroes who fall hard for the one woman they absolutely did not plan on, you’re in the right place. Jill’s books blend laugh-out-loud moments with emotional gut punches, slow-burn tension, and deeply earned happily ever afters.
She writes the stories she loves to read: small-town romance and romantic comedies packed with heart, heat, second chances, grumpy/sunshine sparks, and the kind of found-family vibes that make you want to move right into the pages. Many of her series are perfect for binge-reading, and a number of her books are available in Kindle Unlimited and at major retailers.
When she’s not writing, she’s probably plotting new ways to torture her characters, avoiding laundry, or daydreaming about fictional men and the strong, complicated women who bring them to their knees—and then making them work for it.
You can follow Jill here on Goodreads to keep up with new releases, add her books to your shelves, and discover which small town you want to get lost in next.
If you love small-town chaos, meddling friends and neighbors, sizzling chemistry, and heroes who fall hard for the one woman they absolutely did not plan on, you’re in the right place. Jill’s books blend laugh-out-loud moments with emotional gut punches, slow-burn tension, and deeply earned happily ever afters.
She writes the stories she loves to read: small-town romance and romantic comedies packed with heart, heat, second chances, grumpy/sunshine sparks, and the kind of found-family vibes that make you want to move right into the pages. Many of her series are perfect for binge-reading, and a number of her books are available in Kindle Unlimited and at major retailers.
When she’s not writing, she’s probably plotting new ways to torture her characters, avoiding laundry, or daydreaming about fictional men and the strong, complicated women who bring them to their knees—and then making them work for it.
You can follow Jill here on Goodreads to keep up with new releases, add her books to your shelves, and discover which small town you want to get lost in next.
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December 20, 2018
Playing for Keeps is book seven in the Heartbreaker Bay series by Jill Shalvis. Wow, Jill did it again with this one. I was in love in the first chapter. Not only did I fall in love with these two main characters, but also, I fell head over heels in love with this little dog.
Mercedes Alyssa Lane, otherwise known as Sadie Lane is a struggling tattoo artist. To make ends meet, she also has to work at a day spa, so twelve hour days are her norm. She works in the Pacific Pier Building and has known Caleb for almost a year now. They have several mutual friends. Whenever they are around each other, she feels that there is some sort of a charge between them, so she turns it around and treats him with sarcasm, anything to keep him at a distance, because the last thing she needs is a man in her life, especially a man who regularly wears fancy suits and drives expensive cars. She’s been off of men for three years now and has no interest in changing that.
Caleb Parker grew up sickly and bullied. But he turned it all around and now turns heads wherever he goes. He can’t explain the feeling he gets whenever he is around Sadie. She clearly wants nothing to do with him but there is that zing between them. Then, on a cold, rainy, February San Franciscan night, in the court yard of the Pacific Pier Building, he sees a little dog cowering in a corner. She’s scared to death. Sadie notices as well and between the two of them, they coax the little thing out of her hiding place. They both fall instantly in love with this little sweetheart that Sadie names Lollipop. So the only thing to do is agree to co-parent her.
“You’re not an easy woman, Sadie.”
“I am a handful. But that’s why you have two hands.”
The sparks fly between Caleb and Sadie and they can no longer resist them. But both of these two have built up such walls around themselves that they make it nearly impossible to break through them, especially Sadie. Her past and the way her mother is broke my heart. Caleb seemed like it was a bit easier for him to admit his feelings. But his three sisters who love their little brother to pieces, get involved and nearly ruin it for him.
“I don’t want to ever be the thing that holds someone back.”
“You don’t hold me back. You make life more.”
“More what?”
“More everything.”
So, when you have two main characters that both have some past ghosts to overcome, two overbearing families, and a little special needs dog that wants you to hold her hand, what does that all add up to? A book that will steal your heart, make you smile, make you swoon, and give you all the butterflies you can handle.
I want to add in here a couple of secondary characters that won my heart. First, Ivy, who owns the taco truck at the Pacific Pier Building. She was Sadie’s go to person and she really did come through for her. Then there was Kel, Caleb’s cousin. He lives and works in Idaho and seems like he is a bit of a cowboy. We all know I have a thing for cowboys! It seems like there might be a story there! One I am hoping with all my fingers and toes crossed, that Jill is going to explore in the near future.
So, yes, I loved this book. But I might possibly say that with every Jill Shalvis review. But I mean it every time. If you haven’t started this series, you are truly missing out! Each book can be read as a stand alone but they do have recurring characters. Every book will win your heart and make you smile. A Jill Shalvis book always makes your day just a little bit brighter.
If you want more about this book and so many more, come and join me at Carol's Crazy Bookish World.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/44036...
Mercedes Alyssa Lane, otherwise known as Sadie Lane is a struggling tattoo artist. To make ends meet, she also has to work at a day spa, so twelve hour days are her norm. She works in the Pacific Pier Building and has known Caleb for almost a year now. They have several mutual friends. Whenever they are around each other, she feels that there is some sort of a charge between them, so she turns it around and treats him with sarcasm, anything to keep him at a distance, because the last thing she needs is a man in her life, especially a man who regularly wears fancy suits and drives expensive cars. She’s been off of men for three years now and has no interest in changing that.
Caleb Parker grew up sickly and bullied. But he turned it all around and now turns heads wherever he goes. He can’t explain the feeling he gets whenever he is around Sadie. She clearly wants nothing to do with him but there is that zing between them. Then, on a cold, rainy, February San Franciscan night, in the court yard of the Pacific Pier Building, he sees a little dog cowering in a corner. She’s scared to death. Sadie notices as well and between the two of them, they coax the little thing out of her hiding place. They both fall instantly in love with this little sweetheart that Sadie names Lollipop. So the only thing to do is agree to co-parent her.
“You’re not an easy woman, Sadie.”
“I am a handful. But that’s why you have two hands.”
The sparks fly between Caleb and Sadie and they can no longer resist them. But both of these two have built up such walls around themselves that they make it nearly impossible to break through them, especially Sadie. Her past and the way her mother is broke my heart. Caleb seemed like it was a bit easier for him to admit his feelings. But his three sisters who love their little brother to pieces, get involved and nearly ruin it for him.
“I don’t want to ever be the thing that holds someone back.”
“You don’t hold me back. You make life more.”
“More what?”
“More everything.”
So, when you have two main characters that both have some past ghosts to overcome, two overbearing families, and a little special needs dog that wants you to hold her hand, what does that all add up to? A book that will steal your heart, make you smile, make you swoon, and give you all the butterflies you can handle.
I want to add in here a couple of secondary characters that won my heart. First, Ivy, who owns the taco truck at the Pacific Pier Building. She was Sadie’s go to person and she really did come through for her. Then there was Kel, Caleb’s cousin. He lives and works in Idaho and seems like he is a bit of a cowboy. We all know I have a thing for cowboys! It seems like there might be a story there! One I am hoping with all my fingers and toes crossed, that Jill is going to explore in the near future.
So, yes, I loved this book. But I might possibly say that with every Jill Shalvis review. But I mean it every time. If you haven’t started this series, you are truly missing out! Each book can be read as a stand alone but they do have recurring characters. Every book will win your heart and make you smile. A Jill Shalvis book always makes your day just a little bit brighter.
If you want more about this book and so many more, come and join me at Carol's Crazy Bookish World.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/44036...
January 21, 2019
Favorite Quotes:
Sadie listened with half her brain, the other half wandering off.
Sometimes life really bit a girl on the ass. Thankfully she had enough padding there to take the hit.
“So she can be bribed.” “You just fed her a fortune in fancy cuts of meats and cheeses,” she said. “Anyone could’ve been bribed with that. Hell, I’d have jumped into a stranger-danger van for that.”
“She dumped me. Twice. Women should come with instructions.” “What would be the point of that?” Sadie asked. “I’ve never actually seen a man read any instructions.”
He sighed. “It’s hard to meet the good ones.” “That’s because they don’t usually frequent the dives you frequent. Go to Target. The female to male ratio is ten to one and they’re already looking for things they don’t need.”
Rocco offered his fork with a grape on it. She shook her head. “I don’t consume wine in pill form.”
She’d long ago taught herself how to take a mental step back from her family and treat them like . . . well, entertainment. She was no longer part of the circus but just an audience member.
My Review:
Every time I have finished a Jill Shalvis book I remind myself of the objective to clear my calendar and read the rest of her listings, which would take a chunk of time, as she has been quite the busy bee; Goodreads lists thirty books to her credit. I was late to this party but I have every intention be that nightmare type guest that never leaves. I am greedy and want them all, past, current, and future works. I am totally enamored. I adore her clever wit and humorous banter as much as her insightful observations and emotive reflections. Her writing is so stunningly agile she can have giggle-snorting and sniffling on the same page. Playing For Keeps was a heart-clenching tale yet well-balanced with levity, swoon-worthy romance, and sumptuous sensuality. I delight her wordplay and worship her altar of used printer cartridges.
Sadie listened with half her brain, the other half wandering off.
Sometimes life really bit a girl on the ass. Thankfully she had enough padding there to take the hit.
“So she can be bribed.” “You just fed her a fortune in fancy cuts of meats and cheeses,” she said. “Anyone could’ve been bribed with that. Hell, I’d have jumped into a stranger-danger van for that.”
“She dumped me. Twice. Women should come with instructions.” “What would be the point of that?” Sadie asked. “I’ve never actually seen a man read any instructions.”
He sighed. “It’s hard to meet the good ones.” “That’s because they don’t usually frequent the dives you frequent. Go to Target. The female to male ratio is ten to one and they’re already looking for things they don’t need.”
Rocco offered his fork with a grape on it. She shook her head. “I don’t consume wine in pill form.”
She’d long ago taught herself how to take a mental step back from her family and treat them like . . . well, entertainment. She was no longer part of the circus but just an audience member.
My Review:
Every time I have finished a Jill Shalvis book I remind myself of the objective to clear my calendar and read the rest of her listings, which would take a chunk of time, as she has been quite the busy bee; Goodreads lists thirty books to her credit. I was late to this party but I have every intention be that nightmare type guest that never leaves. I am greedy and want them all, past, current, and future works. I am totally enamored. I adore her clever wit and humorous banter as much as her insightful observations and emotive reflections. Her writing is so stunningly agile she can have giggle-snorting and sniffling on the same page. Playing For Keeps was a heart-clenching tale yet well-balanced with levity, swoon-worthy romance, and sumptuous sensuality. I delight her wordplay and worship her altar of used printer cartridges.
January 28, 2019
****IT'S ALIVE!!!****
He wasn’t just a billionaire in a suit
When it comes to love, I have been known to be a little insecure at times. For years I saw my hubby with rose-coloured glasses. To me, he’s handsome, smart, caring and sweet. I thought every woman in the world would want him for their own. We’re so different, he is sporty and doesn’t read (WEIRD!!) and survives with little to no sleep. Finally, after 21 years of marriage, the rose-coloured glasses have a few smudges on them. He’s still bloody awesome but he’s not perfect. Seeing Sadie fight her insecurities and believe in Caleb’s love was something I could relate to. Her rose-coloured glasses needed a few smudges to see him clearly…suit and all.
It did not surprise me that Sadie questioned Caleb’s attraction. Sadie appears a little rough around the edges, is stubborn and a wee bit prickly. Caleb on the other hand, he’s a suit-wearing hottie with a successful empire and plenty of money in the bank. So very different but there’s this underlying buzz that neither can deny. Sadie’s hesitant to take their attraction too seriously as she’s not willing to put her heart on the line. Only thing is…Caleb’s Playing for Keeps…
I absolutely LOVED Caleb. After reading the little snippet at the end of Hot Winter Nights I predicted that Caleb was going to be the book-boyfriend for me. My heart melted at his thoughtfulness. I was swooning when we had his POV and I got to see him convince Sadie that her prickly barbs would not deter him. I loved it when he developed his own prickly barbs when it came time to deal with Sadie’s family. To be honest, I would have loved to see a few more interactions with Caleb and Sadie’s mum. I wanted to see him put on his Knight-In-Shining-Armour costume to fight the wicked witch. OK, she wasn’t that bad, but geez, she definitely rubbed me the wrong way.
I wouldn’t say Lollipop stole the show, but she came pretty darn close. Who wouldn’t fall in love with a three-legged puppy that’s had a rough trot up until the minute Caleb Parker found her on a cold and rainy night? Her devotion to her knew co-owners is so cute and I loved that with a little whining, she had them both giving into her. I loved the hand-holding to calm her fears in the car and the sitting on their feet to gain their attention. So cute!!
Sadie and Caleb were interesting, and I found them refreshingly real. I understood Sadie and Caleb’s tolerance of family interference because I could completely relate. What seems intrusive and meddling was done out of love for Sadie and Caleb. Sadie’s family couldn’t understand her, but constantly worried for her health and well being. Caleb’s family have been his carers, providers and protectors since the time he was a sickly kid. Even with all his success, he’s still their little brother.
I absolutely loved Playing for Keeps. It was an emotional story that dealt with two characters that faced challenges in their youth. Caleb has proven himself by becoming successful and repaying his family for all their sacrifice, love and support. Sadie, while still in the process of becoming successful, is finally coming to accept and love herself, scars and all.
In true Jill Shalvis fashion, she drags all of my emotions to the surface. I was sniffling like crazy towards the end of the story and then smiling like a loon by the end. While reading I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough but when it was finished, I was wishing I’d taken my time. Her books are never long enough. A new snippet (The Lemon Sisters, Wildstone Series) at the end has given me something to look forward to. Although, I was kind of hoping that it was going to be Ivy, from the Taco Truck’s turn. Fingers crossed, it may still happen.
If you haven’t tried a Jill Shalvis yet…DO IT!!
Stacey is Sassy, received a complimentary copy of this story. The copy provided is not the final copy and may be subject to edits and changes.
He wasn’t just a billionaire in a suit
When it comes to love, I have been known to be a little insecure at times. For years I saw my hubby with rose-coloured glasses. To me, he’s handsome, smart, caring and sweet. I thought every woman in the world would want him for their own. We’re so different, he is sporty and doesn’t read (WEIRD!!) and survives with little to no sleep. Finally, after 21 years of marriage, the rose-coloured glasses have a few smudges on them. He’s still bloody awesome but he’s not perfect. Seeing Sadie fight her insecurities and believe in Caleb’s love was something I could relate to. Her rose-coloured glasses needed a few smudges to see him clearly…suit and all.
It did not surprise me that Sadie questioned Caleb’s attraction. Sadie appears a little rough around the edges, is stubborn and a wee bit prickly. Caleb on the other hand, he’s a suit-wearing hottie with a successful empire and plenty of money in the bank. So very different but there’s this underlying buzz that neither can deny. Sadie’s hesitant to take their attraction too seriously as she’s not willing to put her heart on the line. Only thing is…Caleb’s Playing for Keeps…
I absolutely LOVED Caleb. After reading the little snippet at the end of Hot Winter Nights I predicted that Caleb was going to be the book-boyfriend for me. My heart melted at his thoughtfulness. I was swooning when we had his POV and I got to see him convince Sadie that her prickly barbs would not deter him. I loved it when he developed his own prickly barbs when it came time to deal with Sadie’s family. To be honest, I would have loved to see a few more interactions with Caleb and Sadie’s mum. I wanted to see him put on his Knight-In-Shining-Armour costume to fight the wicked witch. OK, she wasn’t that bad, but geez, she definitely rubbed me the wrong way.
I wouldn’t say Lollipop stole the show, but she came pretty darn close. Who wouldn’t fall in love with a three-legged puppy that’s had a rough trot up until the minute Caleb Parker found her on a cold and rainy night? Her devotion to her knew co-owners is so cute and I loved that with a little whining, she had them both giving into her. I loved the hand-holding to calm her fears in the car and the sitting on their feet to gain their attention. So cute!!
Sadie and Caleb were interesting, and I found them refreshingly real. I understood Sadie and Caleb’s tolerance of family interference because I could completely relate. What seems intrusive and meddling was done out of love for Sadie and Caleb. Sadie’s family couldn’t understand her, but constantly worried for her health and well being. Caleb’s family have been his carers, providers and protectors since the time he was a sickly kid. Even with all his success, he’s still their little brother.
I absolutely loved Playing for Keeps. It was an emotional story that dealt with two characters that faced challenges in their youth. Caleb has proven himself by becoming successful and repaying his family for all their sacrifice, love and support. Sadie, while still in the process of becoming successful, is finally coming to accept and love herself, scars and all.
In true Jill Shalvis fashion, she drags all of my emotions to the surface. I was sniffling like crazy towards the end of the story and then smiling like a loon by the end. While reading I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough but when it was finished, I was wishing I’d taken my time. Her books are never long enough. A new snippet (The Lemon Sisters, Wildstone Series) at the end has given me something to look forward to. Although, I was kind of hoping that it was going to be Ivy, from the Taco Truck’s turn. Fingers crossed, it may still happen.
If you haven’t tried a Jill Shalvis yet…DO IT!!
Stacey is Sassy, received a complimentary copy of this story. The copy provided is not the final copy and may be subject to edits and changes.
January 22, 2019
4.5 ”Follow Your Heart” Stars!
(ARC provided by Social Butterfly PR)
Caleb Parker is a confident, charming, charismatic gorgeous man living in San Francisco. He's a hugely successful, well known venture capitalist who seems to have the midas touch in business. He's driven when it comes to his career, but never has put much effort into his personal life. He doesn't date much or do relationships. Then one evening he rescues an abandoned dog with a beautiful woman named Sadie Lane, and everything changes. They have mutual friends in common, so they occasionally ran into each other. Every time they crossed paths they seemed to rub each other the wrong way. She always was too busy judging him to really see him, but he'd been fascinated with her since they met. She was temptation walking. A ridiculously sexy, edgy tattoo artist who was also opinionated, sarcastic, and stubborn. They were polar opposites, but he still wanted to get to know her better.
Sadie Lane is a fiercely independent, incredibly private woman who rarely lets anyone get too close. She works two jobs, and had long ago given up on men, and was working on herself. She tried to keep her dark parts hidden, and built up a tough outer shell to protect her heart. Then she suddenly finds herself co-parenting a dog with a know it all, buttoned up suit named Caleb Parker. He was everything she wasn't, and completely out of her league. He was heartbreakingly beautiful, and disarmingly sexy. Then to top it all off he was also a dog whisperer. She hated how attracted she was to him. She had all these preconceived ideas about him that were wrong. He was actually a great guy and super kind, and shockingly could handle her sass without blinking an eye.
-He never could take his eyes off of her.
-He knew what he wanted, and he wanted Sadie.
-“Come at me, babe. Give it your best shot. Fair warning, you might like what you find.”
-The gentleness and obvious affection with which he touched her always dissolved the best of her intentions.
-What his body did to hers and how he looked at her... She’d never experienced anything like it.
-I kept feeling all the little broken pieces of my heart give themselves to you.
Caleb & Sadie are both dangerously attracted to one another, and didn't know what to do about all these new feelings. Neither particularly liked emotions or commitment. Sadie was the first woman who didn't want anything from Caleb. She continually pushed him away, but he was patient with her. She made him feel something he'd never felt, which was vulnerable. He was slowly becoming convinced she was meant to be his, but Sadie isn't used to trusting or people loving her for who she is. Will either be willing to put their heart on the line for love and risk it all?
I really enjoyed this story and love this series. I've read 24 books by Jill Shalvis, and the Heartbreaker Bay series is one of my favorites! I have been so looking forward to getting Caleb's book, and he didn't disappoint. It was everything I wanted and more. A delicious billionaire with a beautiful heart. Just loved it!
***NOW AVAILABLE***
https://amzn.to/2WbXMQf
(ARC provided by Social Butterfly PR)
Caleb Parker is a confident, charming, charismatic gorgeous man living in San Francisco. He's a hugely successful, well known venture capitalist who seems to have the midas touch in business. He's driven when it comes to his career, but never has put much effort into his personal life. He doesn't date much or do relationships. Then one evening he rescues an abandoned dog with a beautiful woman named Sadie Lane, and everything changes. They have mutual friends in common, so they occasionally ran into each other. Every time they crossed paths they seemed to rub each other the wrong way. She always was too busy judging him to really see him, but he'd been fascinated with her since they met. She was temptation walking. A ridiculously sexy, edgy tattoo artist who was also opinionated, sarcastic, and stubborn. They were polar opposites, but he still wanted to get to know her better.
Sadie Lane is a fiercely independent, incredibly private woman who rarely lets anyone get too close. She works two jobs, and had long ago given up on men, and was working on herself. She tried to keep her dark parts hidden, and built up a tough outer shell to protect her heart. Then she suddenly finds herself co-parenting a dog with a know it all, buttoned up suit named Caleb Parker. He was everything she wasn't, and completely out of her league. He was heartbreakingly beautiful, and disarmingly sexy. Then to top it all off he was also a dog whisperer. She hated how attracted she was to him. She had all these preconceived ideas about him that were wrong. He was actually a great guy and super kind, and shockingly could handle her sass without blinking an eye.
-He never could take his eyes off of her.
-He knew what he wanted, and he wanted Sadie.
-“Come at me, babe. Give it your best shot. Fair warning, you might like what you find.”
-The gentleness and obvious affection with which he touched her always dissolved the best of her intentions.
-What his body did to hers and how he looked at her... She’d never experienced anything like it.
-I kept feeling all the little broken pieces of my heart give themselves to you.
Caleb & Sadie are both dangerously attracted to one another, and didn't know what to do about all these new feelings. Neither particularly liked emotions or commitment. Sadie was the first woman who didn't want anything from Caleb. She continually pushed him away, but he was patient with her. She made him feel something he'd never felt, which was vulnerable. He was slowly becoming convinced she was meant to be his, but Sadie isn't used to trusting or people loving her for who she is. Will either be willing to put their heart on the line for love and risk it all?
I really enjoyed this story and love this series. I've read 24 books by Jill Shalvis, and the Heartbreaker Bay series is one of my favorites! I have been so looking forward to getting Caleb's book, and he didn't disappoint. It was everything I wanted and more. A delicious billionaire with a beautiful heart. Just loved it!
***NOW AVAILABLE***
https://amzn.to/2WbXMQf
August 14, 2019
4.5 Stars
Cute puppy dog.
Fabulous couple.
Jill Shalvis wrote it.
Think that about covers why I loved this.
Cute puppy dog.
Fabulous couple.
Jill Shalvis wrote it.
Think that about covers why I loved this.
January 20, 2019
READ MY REVIEW ON THE BLOG
Jill Shalvis is hands down one of my top favorites and PLAYING FOR KEEPS is just another reason why I love her so much. She always puts a serious note into her books although they seem light-hearted with Jill's sense of humor generously sprinkled between the pages. And those themes make me think. Seriously think.
Sadie is the square block that wanted to fit into a round hole when she was a teenager. She didn't fit. Not with her family. Not with her friends. Then she stopped trying and accepted that she's the one not going with the flow but that acceptance came with blood and tears so it is only understandable that Sadie created a wall around herself. A wall with barbwire.
Admittedly, it takes getting used to her. She's abrasive for a long while and even after Caleb and Sadie become close she's quick to judge and condemn. Did I like her? Let me say this: I wasn't her biggest fan in the beginning but when her history came to light I could nothing but empathize with her. Sadie was a resilient and resourceful young woman, prickly, yes, but her bruised heart healed under Caleb's care and patience and I fell in love with her along the way.
“I’m sorry. For hanging up on you.”
“But not for the judging?”
Dammit. “Maybe a little for the judging. But I’m not going to lie,” she said. “I’m probably not done judging you. I mean I’ll try to work on it, but it’ll be a process.”
His mouth quirked. “Fair enough.”
I think the reason why Sadie resonated with me is because she represents a type of woman most of us are familiar with. Her insecurities were deep-seated, and don't we all have those? The ones that rattle us and make us shut down?
Caleb is the charismatic, genius-level-IQ, and a little mysterious entrepreneur I was intrigued by in the previous books and let me tell you - he did not disappoint. He, too, has the penchant to retreat emotionally, making himself vulnerable is a thing of the past. No wonder though, he was a scrawny, a little sickly, poor boy, bullied and antagonized but he grew into a force to be reckoned with. Rich, powerful and enigmatic and deeply private. What people don't know though is that he also has become a caring, thoughtful man, protective about the people in his orbit.
He’d never put it into words before, the restlessness in him, but he did so now. He was sick of being alone. And Sadie knew what that was like.
My most favorite interactions in PLAYING FOR KEEPS were Caleb and Lollipop, the three-legged rescue dog. He was adorable with her, being gentle with her because she was a scared, neglected, abused dog, holding her paw in the car because she was afraid. By these actions alone you get a sense what kind of man Caleb is. He showed the same gentleness and thoughtfulness with Sadie, which resembled Lollipop's demeanor in a way. She, too, retreated when she was scared but Caleb's endless patience, inert kindness and sweetness achieved what therapists couldn't. He broke down Sadie's walls and earned her trust. Their connection wasn't easy because they always challenged each other and it never would be but that didn't make it any less solid.
You make life more.”
“More what?” she asked.
“More everything.”
The one person who drove me batty whenever we got a dose of her was Sadie's mom. What a horrible excuse of a mother. Sadie's inability to trust, her general disposition which, yes, wasn't the cheery kind, was ridiculed in a way. God, I despised her. It made so much sense that Sadie had become the way she was. On Caleb's side were four sisters who were nosy, meddling and a little high-handed. I can't say I liked them a lot but eventually they grew on me.
Sometimes I like you so much I can’t stand it. My heart beats crazy fast when I know I’m going to see you, and then when you look at me, I feel . . .”
“What?” he whispered. “You feel what?”
“Lucky.”
This seventh installment in the Heartbreaker Bay series hits all the spots. Heart-warming, witty but with a serious side note about a troubled young woman and an enigmatic man, it also has a little dose of angst and push-and-pull. I was coming off a book hangover and Jill Shalvis pulled me out of it. This author has become a fixture on my reading list and I always get giddy when I have a new story by her waiting for me. I can't wait to find out who WRAPPED UP IN YOU will be about. My money is on Ivy.
“You look like the rest of my life.”
January 22, 2019
Amazon US * Amazon UK
Playing for Keeps brings readers back to Heartbreaker Bay with Sadie Lane and Caleb Parker. Sadie is struggling to make ends meet while Caleb is a successful businessman, but you know what they say about opposites - they attract. In the case, Sadie and Caleb attract a whole lot of sexual tension hidden under a bunch bickering encounters.
I have to say, if I wasn't already a fan of this series I definitely would be now. I just adored this couple and I loved seeing how all of their arguing turned into something more. That tension quickly turned into something very romantic even as Sadie fought against it, not wanting to put her trust into someone else only to end up hurt. Caleb was so swoon worthy though as he just waiting for Sadie to accept him and wouldn't let her push him away.
Bottom line, these characters made for one brilliant story. Their connection was riveting and had me unable to put this book down once I started. Also we had the added bonus of an adorable puppy and you can just never go wrong with a cute puppy in a book.
ARC kindly provided in exchange for an honest review.
Playing for Keeps brings readers back to Heartbreaker Bay with Sadie Lane and Caleb Parker. Sadie is struggling to make ends meet while Caleb is a successful businessman, but you know what they say about opposites - they attract. In the case, Sadie and Caleb attract a whole lot of sexual tension hidden under a bunch bickering encounters.
I have to say, if I wasn't already a fan of this series I definitely would be now. I just adored this couple and I loved seeing how all of their arguing turned into something more. That tension quickly turned into something very romantic even as Sadie fought against it, not wanting to put her trust into someone else only to end up hurt. Caleb was so swoon worthy though as he just waiting for Sadie to accept him and wouldn't let her push him away.
Bottom line, these characters made for one brilliant story. Their connection was riveting and had me unable to put this book down once I started. Also we had the added bonus of an adorable puppy and you can just never go wrong with a cute puppy in a book.
ARC kindly provided in exchange for an honest review.
October 15, 2025
Sometimes life circumstances and/or an abused drive people apart but utterly adorable puppy with three legs, can bring a two unlikely people together. In Playing for Keeps, Shalvis pens a strong family dynamic that intrudes, aggravates and strongly supports the bonds that form between the reader and the connection to the characters.
In the end, Playing For Keeps completely sucked me. I loved the how these opposites attracted each other finding a common goal that brought them together.
I received this ARC copy of Playing for Keeps from Avon Books. This is my honest and voluntary review. Playing for Keeps is set for publication Jan. 22, 2019.
In the end, Playing For Keeps completely sucked me. I loved the how these opposites attracted each other finding a common goal that brought them together.
I received this ARC copy of Playing for Keeps from Avon Books. This is my honest and voluntary review. Playing for Keeps is set for publication Jan. 22, 2019.
January 25, 2019
Playing for Keeps was a heartwarming love story where opposites attract. With the help of their friends and a dog that quickly stole both of their hearts, destiny seemed to be in the air. I absolutely adore the Heartbreaker Bay Series and I couldn't wait to read Caleb and Sadie's story! While each book can easily be read as a standalone, I highly recommend starting back at the beginning. You don't want to miss a moment with this group of friends and coworkers.
Sadie Lane opened her heart up to us from that very first chapter. The relationship she had with her mother was heart wrenching and she was jaded towards men. But thankfully Sadie was working hard doing something she loved. She was building up her clientele as a tattoo artist, but to make ends meets she also works at a spa. Finances were tight and she was definitely struggling, so I found myself sympathetic to her from that very first chapter.
One dark and stormy night, Sadie found herself helping Caleb Parker rescue a dog. Caleb was someone who had been around Sadie for the last year. They knew mutual people, worked near one another, but Sadie quickly labeled him Suits. She didn't ever stop to think that his past wasn't just a golden spoon. Or how hard he worked to get to where he was. But when they both ended up rescuing a three-legged dog, Sadie named Lollipop, everything slowly started to change.
I have fallen for every single male Jill Shalvis has created, so of course I heart Caleb. While he was in the Forbes top 100 and was labeled a billionaire, he was so much more than that. Caleb was the most kind, patient, compassionate and thoughtful man ever. He loved his family deeply and helped to take care of them. They were such a huge part of his life. And I loved watching how his sisters would meddle in his love life, whoops lol. But Sadie intrigued Caleb from the beginning, and no matter what was thrown at them, he fought for them to be together.
Even though they now shared a dog, Sadie still had her walls up high and was closed off. As they started to spend more time around each other, Sadie realized she judged Caleb wrong. And while she started to share herself with him, it was not always easy. You see, she lacked faith and jumped to conclusions at times with Caleb. It hurt not only them, but me too. Especially when she wouldn't just take a breath and listen. Thankfully Caleb had the most patience ever and thankfully Sadie knew how to apologize and step up her game. Their road to a HEA was an emotional journey, but I kept faith that it would all work out in the end.
Luckily they both had help from their friends, Ivy, Rocco and Spence. Plus Lollipop. Lollipop was so important to this story. Not only did she initially bring them together, but she helped them. She got them to see each other in different ways. She helped them grow as friends and slowly into something more. It didn't even matter that she was really good at interrupting them lol. Lollipop added a ton of heart to this story, she was the hugest star ever! Just don't tell Caleb I said that!
So if you're a fan of Jill Shalvis, this series or stories where a kind man, an adorable dog and a women who's learning how to love and trust fill the pages then definitely pick up this book. This story made me smile so much and this is completely random but I loved Sadie's take on food. I love that she requested In N Out, they're my favorite burgers in the world, and I'm a huge sucker for muffins and everything else she loved too! Playing for Keeps was an adorable love story and I can't wait to see who the next book in this series is about!
*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book, provided by the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*
For more of my reviews, please visit:
He was everything she no longer let herself want.
Sadie Lane opened her heart up to us from that very first chapter. The relationship she had with her mother was heart wrenching and she was jaded towards men. But thankfully Sadie was working hard doing something she loved. She was building up her clientele as a tattoo artist, but to make ends meets she also works at a spa. Finances were tight and she was definitely struggling, so I found myself sympathetic to her from that very first chapter.
“Not interested,”said her mouth.
Her brain though, it was telling her a different story.
He just grinned. He knew. Dammit. She forced her gaze off his body and into his eyes.
One dark and stormy night, Sadie found herself helping Caleb Parker rescue a dog. Caleb was someone who had been around Sadie for the last year. They knew mutual people, worked near one another, but Sadie quickly labeled him Suits. She didn't ever stop to think that his past wasn't just a golden spoon. Or how hard he worked to get to where he was. But when they both ended up rescuing a three-legged dog, Sadie named Lollipop, everything slowly started to change.
He’d taken Lollipop to a pet park. He held her hand whenever she got scared. Damn. The man was dangerous to her heart and soul.
Which made him the very opposite of perfect . . .
I have fallen for every single male Jill Shalvis has created, so of course I heart Caleb. While he was in the Forbes top 100 and was labeled a billionaire, he was so much more than that. Caleb was the most kind, patient, compassionate and thoughtful man ever. He loved his family deeply and helped to take care of them. They were such a huge part of his life. And I loved watching how his sisters would meddle in his love life, whoops lol. But Sadie intrigued Caleb from the beginning, and no matter what was thrown at them, he fought for them to be together.
“I keep telling you, there’s no this.”
“Are you sure?” Very slowly and carefully, clearly giving her plenty of time to get away if she really wanted, he stepped into her, making her extremely aware that she now stood hemmed in between the alley wall and his body, neither quite touching her.
Even though they now shared a dog, Sadie still had her walls up high and was closed off. As they started to spend more time around each other, Sadie realized she judged Caleb wrong. And while she started to share herself with him, it was not always easy. You see, she lacked faith and jumped to conclusions at times with Caleb. It hurt not only them, but me too. Especially when she wouldn't just take a breath and listen. Thankfully Caleb had the most patience ever and thankfully Sadie knew how to apologize and step up her game. Their road to a HEA was an emotional journey, but I kept faith that it would all work out in the end.
When he was gone, she looked at Lollipop. “Okay, maybe I see a tiny bit of why you heart him so much. But just a little bit, mind you.”
Luckily they both had help from their friends, Ivy, Rocco and Spence. Plus Lollipop. Lollipop was so important to this story. Not only did she initially bring them together, but she helped them. She got them to see each other in different ways. She helped them grow as friends and slowly into something more. It didn't even matter that she was really good at interrupting them lol. Lollipop added a ton of heart to this story, she was the hugest star ever! Just don't tell Caleb I said that!
“Okay, fine,” Sadie said. “I know what I have to do.”
Ivy narrowed her eyes. “Do you really?”
“Sure.”
Ivy shook her head. “You don’t have a clue, do you?”
Sadie’s eyes filled. “No,” she whispered.
“You follow your heart.”
So if you're a fan of Jill Shalvis, this series or stories where a kind man, an adorable dog and a women who's learning how to love and trust fill the pages then definitely pick up this book. This story made me smile so much and this is completely random but I loved Sadie's take on food. I love that she requested In N Out, they're my favorite burgers in the world, and I'm a huge sucker for muffins and everything else she loved too! Playing for Keeps was an adorable love story and I can't wait to see who the next book in this series is about!
*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book, provided by the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*
For more of my reviews, please visit:
January 10, 2019
Title: Playing For Keeps
Series: Heartbreaker Bay #7
Author: Jill Shalvis
Release date: January 22, 2019
Cliffhanger: no
Genre: contemporary romance
Accidentally on Purpose was my first read in this series, and Elle and Archer have remained my favorite couple since then. I officially have a new leading couple because Caleb and Sadie unexpectedly swept me off my feet. I adore Jill Shalvis' humor in her books. You can always depend on her to deliver belly laughs and chuckles galore. Playing for Keeps didn't skimp on the humor, but there was an added depth of emotion in this book because of Sadie's history. I know some readers said that it took them some time to warm up to her because of her standoffish attitude, but that wasn't the case for me. Even though it took some time to soften her sharp edges, I could always identify with where she was coming from and feel for her.
After the previous book, I was really looking forward to seeing these two characters who've been in the background trading snark finally connect. On the surface they seem to be the epitome of two opposites attracting, but as we got to know them better we discover their similarities as well. Sadie is a tattoo/permanent makeup artist with two jobs, struggling hard to make ends meet. She's tattooed, has brightly dyed hair, and doesn't let very many people get close to her. She has trust issues a mile wide, especially when it comes to men.
Yes, he was fun, flirty, and charming, but she was highly suspicious of all those things. Her idea of fun, flirty, and charming meant being as sarcastic as possible. It’d done the trick too, scaring men off for years.
Sarcasm is her weapon of choice in deterring any unwanted attention. A previous boyfriend caused her to slip into old unhealthy habits, and that experience scared her away from romantic relationships. But when she faces off against Caleb, he gives back every bit as good as he gets. In fact, not only was he charming, but he seemed to be charmed by her attempts to scare him off. It wasn't until a three legged dog named Lollipop came into the equation that they actually began getting to know one another better. Jill Shalvis is an animal lover, and it really comes through in her writing. She often includes pets in her stories, but this dog was almost like another main character. When Caleb rescues Lollipop off the street, they decide to share "joint custody" so to speak and become doggy parents together. As much as she tried to keep her distance, she was upfront and bluntly honest with him from the very beginning. Which is one of her personality quirks that probably drew him in even more because he has some trust issues of his own.
“I’m sorry. For hanging up on you.”
“But not for the judging?”
Dammit. “Maybe a little for the judging. But I’m not going to lie,” she said. “I’m probably not done judging you. I mean I’ll try to work on it, but it’ll be a process.”
His mouth quirked. “Fair enough.”
Sadie has always been the black sheep of the family, out of place and misunderstood by everyone. Because of their huge difference in personalities, her mother failed to understand her, and was completely insensitive to her needs. She didn't listen, she nagged her to find a man, and made her feel as if she was never good enough. I couldn't stand how she treated her from the very beginning. Caleb had his own family issues with his extremely overprotective sisters. While their hearts were in the right place, and their actions came from a place of love, they often crossed boundaries they shouldn't have. This causes some friction between the couple at one point, but Caleb doesn't hesitate to set his family straight and make amends.
I absolutely loved this hero and his sensitivity in giving Sadie time to open up to him. He was wonderfully patient and you could tell that he accepted every part of her, even her broken pieces. She's a complicated woman who doesn't easily let people past her barriers, but somehow they were able to find more common ground than either could have anticipated. Maybe because no one cared to take the time to unravel Sadie and really listen to her before. And when he needed someone to carry his burdens, she stepped right up. Their differences and similarities complimented each other beautifully.
His one flaw was probably being too pushy in trying to help her and not understanding her need to take care of herself. At the same time, when you care about someone, it's understandable that you don't want them to have to struggle when there's something you can do about it. With open communication and honesty between them, any issues they had were resolved pretty quickly.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It had everything I look for in a romance novel in one witty, romantic, feel-good package. It's one of those stories that leaves you with a warm glow of happiness after turning the last page. I highly recommend this one to everyone, even new readers to the series. It's a must read!
“I knew the day I met you,” he said. “Which was just under a year ago now.”
“Knew what?” she whispered.
“That I was going to fall for you and never recover.”
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January 3, 2019
4 - "You’re different…" Stars!
We return to Heartbreaker Bay for the seventh book in the series; Playing for Keeps giving us Sadie and Caleb’s story. Star of the show for me, and jelly that held this particular relationship sandwich together was three legged mutt Lollipop a.k.a Poops-a-lot.
"You have your superhero armor… and I have mine"
We have stepped somewhat away from the original crew now, and this far along in the series, Jill has started giving stories to some of the characters who have been more on the periphery of things. Caleb as you would expect is your usual Shalvis type of Hero, plenty going on up top, easy on the eyes in general, and an absolute sweetheart when it comes to the new dog and woman in his life.
He was breaking down her walls one brick at a time-or so he hoped- but he knew he still had a long way to go...
Although Sadie isn’t actually that new in his life, they have been skirting around each other in passing for a good twelve months before connecting over a stray animal that in the end leads them into a joint custody arrangement of sorts. And it doesn’t take Sadie long to realize that Caleb is nothing like her preconceptions of him, and he challenges a lot of the things she believes about herself, in a good way as well.
"You’re a puzzle, one I can’t seem to solve… That doesn’t happen often."
"… You can’t solve a woman."
Closing herself off from the world and life in general has been standard protocol for her over the years, and the issues as to why are pretty deep, deeper than you generally find with a Shalvis novel, and while handled respectively, I hope that the author/publisher have the foresight to add a trigger warning at the beginning of the released book, just so that readers are given the option to decide if they want to follow Sadie’s particular story and the issues it covers.
"I knew the day I met you…"
"…Knew what?"
"...That I was going to fall for you and never recover."
Understandably due to her past and ongoing familial treatment, Sadie is what you would class as ‘prickly’ when it comes to other human beings, and the opposite sex more so especially when a really nice guy, shows her some interest. Her first instinct at everything Caleb does is to initially treat him with suspicion and often misjudge his intentions. I have to admit, although the author as expected gives her readers all the information they need to understand why a character behaves they way they do, Sadie was at points a difficult woman to warm too.
"You don’t scare me…"
That said I pretty much read this book in one sitting (with a nap in between!) there are parts of the book where I was laughing so hard I had to put my Kindle down to wipe my eyes, and the story-line is easy to get along with in general. Shalvis gives great animal, and the entertainment value added from that inclusion, lightened up many points of the story where darkness potentially threatened to overwhelm. Another good addition to the series, and a great start to my 2019 Jill Shalvis reading binge.
"It’s always been you… And it’s always going to be you."
ARC generously provided by the author, in exchange for the above honest review.
We return to Heartbreaker Bay for the seventh book in the series; Playing for Keeps giving us Sadie and Caleb’s story. Star of the show for me, and jelly that held this particular relationship sandwich together was three legged mutt Lollipop a.k.a Poops-a-lot.
"You have your superhero armor… and I have mine"
We have stepped somewhat away from the original crew now, and this far along in the series, Jill has started giving stories to some of the characters who have been more on the periphery of things. Caleb as you would expect is your usual Shalvis type of Hero, plenty going on up top, easy on the eyes in general, and an absolute sweetheart when it comes to the new dog and woman in his life.
He was breaking down her walls one brick at a time-or so he hoped- but he knew he still had a long way to go...
Although Sadie isn’t actually that new in his life, they have been skirting around each other in passing for a good twelve months before connecting over a stray animal that in the end leads them into a joint custody arrangement of sorts. And it doesn’t take Sadie long to realize that Caleb is nothing like her preconceptions of him, and he challenges a lot of the things she believes about herself, in a good way as well.
"You’re a puzzle, one I can’t seem to solve… That doesn’t happen often."
"… You can’t solve a woman."
Closing herself off from the world and life in general has been standard protocol for her over the years, and the issues as to why are pretty deep, deeper than you generally find with a Shalvis novel, and while handled respectively, I hope that the author/publisher have the foresight to add a trigger warning at the beginning of the released book, just so that readers are given the option to decide if they want to follow Sadie’s particular story and the issues it covers.
"I knew the day I met you…"
"…Knew what?"
"...That I was going to fall for you and never recover."
Understandably due to her past and ongoing familial treatment, Sadie is what you would class as ‘prickly’ when it comes to other human beings, and the opposite sex more so especially when a really nice guy, shows her some interest. Her first instinct at everything Caleb does is to initially treat him with suspicion and often misjudge his intentions. I have to admit, although the author as expected gives her readers all the information they need to understand why a character behaves they way they do, Sadie was at points a difficult woman to warm too.
"You don’t scare me…"
That said I pretty much read this book in one sitting (with a nap in between!) there are parts of the book where I was laughing so hard I had to put my Kindle down to wipe my eyes, and the story-line is easy to get along with in general. Shalvis gives great animal, and the entertainment value added from that inclusion, lightened up many points of the story where darkness potentially threatened to overwhelm. Another good addition to the series, and a great start to my 2019 Jill Shalvis reading binge.
"It’s always been you… And it’s always going to be you."
ARC generously provided by the author, in exchange for the above honest review.
January 22, 2019
This review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Books.
I loved this book! This is the seventh book in the Heartbreaker Bay series but it can easily be read as a stand-alone novel. Fans of the series will enjoy checking in with some much-loved characters. I have enjoyed all of the books in this series so I was pretty eager to read this newest installment and it did not disappoint. Once I started reading this book, I didn't want to put it down and felt swept away by the story.
Caleb and Sadie are the focus of this book along with their little dog, Lollipop. The book opens with Caleb and Sadie finding a stray dog in the rain. They both are ready to accept responsibility for the dog and end up deciding to share custody of the pup. Of course, this means that the pair will be seeing a lot of each other as they pass the dog back and forth.
Caleb and Sadie are both great characters. Sadie's past was rather heartbreaking and her relationship with her family wasn't great. I think that learning about her past really gave the reader a lot of insight into her personality. She is very independent and refused to ask anyone for help. Caleb is rich and highly intelligent. He is also a very hard worker and quite generous. He is very close to his family but has spent a lot of his life being protected by them.
I loved watching this pair fall in love. I think that they had great chemistry with each other and I enjoyed all of their interactions. Caleb wants to take care of Sadie when he sees that she needs things but that didn't mean that he thought she wasn't capable. I liked that they both had to give and take a bit and when they were upset they talked about it.
I would recommend this book to fans of contemporary romance. This was a heartwarming romance with fantastic characters and an adorable dog. I can't wait to read more from Jill Shalvis!
I received a digital review copy of this book from Tasty Book PR via Book Funnel.
Initial Thoughts
I thought that Sadie and Caleb were great together. They had a lot of chemistry and seemed to be exactly what the other needed. Lollipop was adorable and I liked how she helped to bring them together. They were both scared at times and their families were not a big help. It was great to see them work together to make a relationship work. I do wonder who the next book will be about....maybe Ivy?
I loved this book! This is the seventh book in the Heartbreaker Bay series but it can easily be read as a stand-alone novel. Fans of the series will enjoy checking in with some much-loved characters. I have enjoyed all of the books in this series so I was pretty eager to read this newest installment and it did not disappoint. Once I started reading this book, I didn't want to put it down and felt swept away by the story.
Caleb and Sadie are the focus of this book along with their little dog, Lollipop. The book opens with Caleb and Sadie finding a stray dog in the rain. They both are ready to accept responsibility for the dog and end up deciding to share custody of the pup. Of course, this means that the pair will be seeing a lot of each other as they pass the dog back and forth.
Caleb and Sadie are both great characters. Sadie's past was rather heartbreaking and her relationship with her family wasn't great. I think that learning about her past really gave the reader a lot of insight into her personality. She is very independent and refused to ask anyone for help. Caleb is rich and highly intelligent. He is also a very hard worker and quite generous. He is very close to his family but has spent a lot of his life being protected by them.
I loved watching this pair fall in love. I think that they had great chemistry with each other and I enjoyed all of their interactions. Caleb wants to take care of Sadie when he sees that she needs things but that didn't mean that he thought she wasn't capable. I liked that they both had to give and take a bit and when they were upset they talked about it.
I would recommend this book to fans of contemporary romance. This was a heartwarming romance with fantastic characters and an adorable dog. I can't wait to read more from Jill Shalvis!
I received a digital review copy of this book from Tasty Book PR via Book Funnel.
Initial Thoughts
I thought that Sadie and Caleb were great together. They had a lot of chemistry and seemed to be exactly what the other needed. Lollipop was adorable and I liked how she helped to bring them together. They were both scared at times and their families were not a big help. It was great to see them work together to make a relationship work. I do wonder who the next book will be about....maybe Ivy?
October 18, 2018
Reviewed for herding cats & burning soup. (posting 1/28/19)
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2pUw63I
Yall know I love me some Jill Shalvis. And I've enjoyed this series quite a bit. But Playing for Keeps and I had some issues. Namely the heroine. Which was frustrating because the hero and the pup? Adorable!
Gist: A homeless pup in need of an owner finds herself...two! Does she care that her new mommy and daddy don't like each other? Nope! She surely doesn't. She loves them and she's not giving either up. So Caleb and Sadie are just gonna have to get along and figure out a way to co-pet-parent. For their new puppy's sake.
The Awesome
Caleb is an amazing hero and person. He's kind, extremely generous, brilliant. He doesn't play games and has the patience of a saint. He takes care of the people around him and is just a good guy and decent human being who has overcome a painful childhood and made something spectacular of himself.
And Lollipop. Well she's just the most adorable little three legged pup. Exuberant, loving, total sweetie pie.
I loved the two of them. Both a little damaged and slow to trust but once you win them over they're yours. They made this book. I would have loved more time with the two.
The heroine had a unique history in that she'd been a cutter.
The Struggle
Sadie. Lord love her but she was an exhausting heroine.
→My main issue was her behaviors...that never changed. She was judgmental, immature, over-reactive. I don't mind a flawed character at all but I want them to grow throughout the book
→ She never cut Caleb any slack. When he understandably misunderstood something (thought she was having sex with someone) and was upset...she was irate because how dare he think that of her!!! (and he apologized). When SHE misunderstood something and blamed him for something someone else did...she was irate with him because how dare he!! (and he apologized for that, too)
→ She did something lousy by putting him into a position where she hoped he'd be judged so she could gloat over their judgmental behavior. I thought that was a really crappy thing to do to someone who's been nothing but kind.
→ After every jerky overreaction on her part the excuse was...she was scared and self sabotaged things. Once...okay. Twice...ugh but okay. But it happened over and over. Ugh. Have some personal growth already.
So, Playing or Keeps was a frustrating read. By the 80% mark I would have been okay with Caleb bailing on the relationship. Sadie just wasn't worth the effort to me. I've read dozens from Shalvis and she's probably my least favorite character and thus my least favorite read. There were still a lot of fantastic elements, though, which is how it got a 3. Caleb and Lolipop? They saved things for me. I just wish they'd gotten a stronger more stable happily ever after.
January 22, 2019
Finally Caleb's book. And Sadies's of course! ☺
Sadie is working at the day spa and at the tattoo shop in our beloved building. And Caleb. He's a bit mysterious. He sold some apps and made a massive amount of money, and now he's got a huge venture capital comany that he's running with his sisters.
Sadie and Caleb have always rubbed each other the wrong way. They're friends with the same people, so they see each other a lot. But it's always weird. But which is - obvious to the reader - their huge attraction. It takes those two - and their new dog - a long while until they realize that there could be something very good and serious between them....
But the reader has an amazing time watching them fall for each other!!!
════════════════
Ugh!
I just love Jill Shalvis stories. This series is sooo adorable!
Such a beautiful city. This amazing building with all its unique residents.
Just perfect.
This was another sweet and sexy and heartbreaking love story.
Both Sadie and Caleb - and their new mega adorable dog - have been through a lot in their lives. But now they're finally all about to find their ever after place in life.
I adored the story. I hope this series never ends!!!!
PLAYING FOR KEEPS was such an adorable and sweet and sexy romance! Run to your nearest amazon for your own Caleb - this one is MINE!
♡
♡
♡
November 8, 2021
Pacific Pier Binası'nı özleyenler bu tarafa alalım...
Serinin 7. kitabı Sadie ve Caleb ile birlikte kısa bir süre sonra geliyor. :)
Yine çok keyifli, sıcacık, samimi ve sevimli bir kitaptı.
Böylelikle bir çevirinin daha sonuna gelmiş olduk.
Geriye bir tek son kitap kaldı. Başrollerde de Caleb'ın kuzeni Kel ve Taco kamyonu sahibi Ivy olacak belli ki. :))
Ve evet, sanırım seri bittiği için biraz üzüldüğümü söyleyebilirim...
Serinin 7. kitabı Sadie ve Caleb ile birlikte kısa bir süre sonra geliyor. :)
Yine çok keyifli, sıcacık, samimi ve sevimli bir kitaptı.
Böylelikle bir çevirinin daha sonuna gelmiş olduk.
Geriye bir tek son kitap kaldı. Başrollerde de Caleb'ın kuzeni Kel ve Taco kamyonu sahibi Ivy olacak belli ki. :))
Ve evet, sanırım seri bittiği için biraz üzüldüğümü söyleyebilirim...
March 17, 2019
3 Stars
Overall Opinion: This was enjoyable, but I don't think it'll be finding its home on my favorites shelf or will be all that memorable in the long run. The interactions with the dog were excellent! I also liked the H's crazy family. The connection was alright, but I feel like there was so much more that the author could've gotten into with their pasts. I was disappointed with the ending too. BUT! If you're looking for a sweet, low angst book about two lonely characters with dark pasts and a lovable dog -- this should be a winner for you!
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Sadie and Caleb's story. They've been acquaintances for about a year when the story begins, but one night they both find a frightened three legged dog that they work together to save. They end up co-adopting the dog together, and after many more encounters and spending more time together they finally give in to the strong attraction they've always felt for one another. There is some family drama, some past secrets revealed, and some sexy times...and they get a HFN ending.
POV: This alternated between focusing on Sadie and Caleb in 3rd person narrative.
Overall Pace of Story: Alright. It did feel a little slow at times, but I never felt it enough to skim.
Instalove: No, but the did have some feelings already developed when the story begins.
H rating: 4 stars. Caleb. I liked him. I appreciated how he fought from his past to create a better life for himself and his family. I also loved his relationship with the dog and his old sensei.
h rating: 3.5 stars. Sadie. I liked her, but I also felt that she was too stubborn and self sabotaging at times.
Sadness level: Low, no tissues needed
Push/Pull: Yes
Heat level: Good. They have some good tension, chemistry, and scenes -- but not so much it takes away from the story.
Descriptive sex: Yes
OW/OM drama: No
Sex scene with OW or OM: No
Cheating: No
Separation: Yes
Possible Triggers: Yes
Closure: This was one of those that had the conflict resolved and then we are directly thrown into an epilogue. I hate that! I like a little more time to feel that they have fully secured their relationship. Some might be fine with calling this a HEA ending, but I'm going to call it a HFN .
Safety: This one should be Safe for most safety gang readers
Overall Opinion: This was enjoyable, but I don't think it'll be finding its home on my favorites shelf or will be all that memorable in the long run. The interactions with the dog were excellent! I also liked the H's crazy family. The connection was alright, but I feel like there was so much more that the author could've gotten into with their pasts. I was disappointed with the ending too. BUT! If you're looking for a sweet, low angst book about two lonely characters with dark pasts and a lovable dog -- this should be a winner for you!
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Sadie and Caleb's story. They've been acquaintances for about a year when the story begins, but one night they both find a frightened three legged dog that they work together to save. They end up co-adopting the dog together, and after many more encounters and spending more time together they finally give in to the strong attraction they've always felt for one another. There is some family drama, some past secrets revealed, and some sexy times...and they get a HFN ending.
POV: This alternated between focusing on Sadie and Caleb in 3rd person narrative.
Overall Pace of Story: Alright. It did feel a little slow at times, but I never felt it enough to skim.
Instalove: No, but the did have some feelings already developed when the story begins.
H rating: 4 stars. Caleb. I liked him. I appreciated how he fought from his past to create a better life for himself and his family. I also loved his relationship with the dog and his old sensei.
h rating: 3.5 stars. Sadie. I liked her, but I also felt that she was too stubborn and self sabotaging at times.
Sadness level: Low, no tissues needed
Push/Pull: Yes
Heat level: Good. They have some good tension, chemistry, and scenes -- but not so much it takes away from the story.
Descriptive sex: Yes
OW/OM drama: No
Sex scene with OW or OM: No
Cheating: No
Separation: Yes
Possible Triggers: Yes
Closure: This was one of those that had the conflict resolved and then we are directly thrown into an epilogue. I hate that! I like a little more time to feel that they have fully secured their relationship. Some might be fine with calling this a HEA ending, but I'm going to call it a HFN .
Safety: This one should be Safe for most safety gang readers
January 21, 2019
I will openly admit to you right now, that I love Jill Shalvis' books. She always has the right balance of humor, steam, and warmth, with just enough heartbreak and drama to keep it interesting. The other thing I love about her companion series are the wonderful groups of found-family she creates, and that was definitely one of the draws for me when it came to the Heartbreaker Bay books.
This go around we have not ONE, but TWO heavily armored characters. Both Sadie and Caleb kept themselves emotionally detached. Though they sought this form of protection for different reasons, the results were the same - no successful romantic relationships. That was until a three legged dog changed their plans.
As I have grown to expect, Shalvis gave us a fun and adorable doggie meet-cute. Caleb and Sadie had actually known each other for a year or so, but they never really interacted until they decided to "co-parent" a stray dog, Lollipop. I won't lie, Lollipop endeared herself to me, and I loved what she brought out in Caleb and Sadie. She helped us see that softer side of Sadie, while clearly revealing that carefree and loving side of Caleb. It was so wonderful to see all three of them on-page together, and I loved the way Shalvis utilized an awesome dog to ignite this romance.
In case you couldn't already tell, Sadie and Caleb were sort of complicated. Sadie had a lot of pain in her past, which still overshadowed her present, and this made her weary of Caleb and his advances. Caleb had been taken advantage of in the past, and this made his sisters, who he lovingly referred to as "the coven", overprotective of him. Ghosts of their pasts and family drama of their present cause a few bumps in the road, but it was working through those things, that clearly showed these two belonged together.
Sadie was cool, fun, salty, and sassy, but I think it was Caleb, who made me love this story. Though he may have been sort of closed off to most of the world, he loved his inner circle fiercely. He was able to open his heart a lot quicker, than Sadie was, and he was also more vocal and demonstrative. Sadie was not an easy woman for him to love, and I really liked seeing him fight a little for her.
One thing I got a little excited about was the mention, over and over again, of Caleb's cousin Kel. Kel is a character from the Animal Magnetism books, which I adored, and the way he kept coming up was making me think that we might get some crossover action (?). If that's where Shalvis' muse is leading her, I am wholly onboard.
Overall
I definitely got what I have come to expect from Shalvis: a great romance, that was heartwarming, funny, a little emotional, and a little hot. It was stacked with a hero and heroine, who were both interesting and complex, and who I grew to care about. And, don't forget the adorable dog.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
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This go around we have not ONE, but TWO heavily armored characters. Both Sadie and Caleb kept themselves emotionally detached. Though they sought this form of protection for different reasons, the results were the same - no successful romantic relationships. That was until a three legged dog changed their plans.
As I have grown to expect, Shalvis gave us a fun and adorable doggie meet-cute. Caleb and Sadie had actually known each other for a year or so, but they never really interacted until they decided to "co-parent" a stray dog, Lollipop. I won't lie, Lollipop endeared herself to me, and I loved what she brought out in Caleb and Sadie. She helped us see that softer side of Sadie, while clearly revealing that carefree and loving side of Caleb. It was so wonderful to see all three of them on-page together, and I loved the way Shalvis utilized an awesome dog to ignite this romance.
In case you couldn't already tell, Sadie and Caleb were sort of complicated. Sadie had a lot of pain in her past, which still overshadowed her present, and this made her weary of Caleb and his advances. Caleb had been taken advantage of in the past, and this made his sisters, who he lovingly referred to as "the coven", overprotective of him. Ghosts of their pasts and family drama of their present cause a few bumps in the road, but it was working through those things, that clearly showed these two belonged together.
Sadie was cool, fun, salty, and sassy, but I think it was Caleb, who made me love this story. Though he may have been sort of closed off to most of the world, he loved his inner circle fiercely. He was able to open his heart a lot quicker, than Sadie was, and he was also more vocal and demonstrative. Sadie was not an easy woman for him to love, and I really liked seeing him fight a little for her.
"You're not an easy woman, Sadie."
"I am a handful," she agreed, her pulse kicking into gear. "But that's why you have two hands."
One thing I got a little excited about was the mention, over and over again, of Caleb's cousin Kel. Kel is a character from the Animal Magnetism books, which I adored, and the way he kept coming up was making me think that we might get some crossover action (?). If that's where Shalvis' muse is leading her, I am wholly onboard.
Overall
I definitely got what I have come to expect from Shalvis: a great romance, that was heartwarming, funny, a little emotional, and a little hot. It was stacked with a hero and heroine, who were both interesting and complex, and who I grew to care about. And, don't forget the adorable dog.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
BLOG | INSTAGRAM |TWITTER | BLOGLOVIN | FRIEND ME ON GOODREADS
November 24, 2020
Me gusto esta lectura pero tambien se me hizo un poco larga, creo que en algunos momentos la trama se volvia un tanto repetitiva y le costaba avanzar.
En lo que respecta a Sadie y Caleb, tengo que reconocer que no me entusiasmaron tanto como espere. Son buenos personajes, y sus personalidades estan muy logradas y son coherentes, sin embargo, por algun motivo, su historia no me llego al corazon.
Tambien me falto mas presencia de los personajes secundarios, en mi opinion, la novela se centra exclusivamente en su relacion, lo que es algo bueno pero le falta algo que le de mas chispa y dinamismo.
En resumen, un romance bonito. No es de mis favoritos pero se deja leer y tiene varias escenas que te robaran suspiros.
2.5 Estrellas!
January 20, 2019
This review was originally posted on (un)Conventional Bookworms
*I received a free copy of [title] from [publisher] via Edelweiss. This has in no way influenced my voluntary review, which is honest and unbiased *Playing for Keeps just might be my favorite Heartbreaker Bay story! I loved Sadie and Caleb so much. And Lollipop was the best rescue puppy ever!
Playing for Keeps just worked so very well for me! Sadie and Caleb both wanted nothing to do with a relationship. And they kind of worked the best using sarcasm towards each other. Until that evening when Caleb found an abandoned, three legged dog in the courtyard. And they somehow ended up co-adopting her.
Caleb had been a bit of a mystery up until now, as he was a little on the outskirt of the friend group. In Playing for Keeps, however, he showed just what kind of a man he was. He's a true hero in many ways. Taking care of other people, helping out wherever he can. As Sadie got to know him, she couldn't help falling for him. Even when there were obstacles - namely Caleb's sisters and their background checks - he continued to pursue her when she retreated.
Overall, Playing for Keeps is a feel good story, with multi-layered characters, and a beautiful romance.
"I have this test," Ivy said and handed Sadie a basket with her two tacos. "No matter how rich or intelligent your are, how you treat an animal tells me all I need to know about you. And look at how he treated your dog."
*I received a free copy of [title] from [publisher] via Edelweiss. This has in no way influenced my voluntary review, which is honest and unbiased *Playing for Keeps just might be my favorite Heartbreaker Bay story! I loved Sadie and Caleb so much. And Lollipop was the best rescue puppy ever!
Playing for Keeps just worked so very well for me! Sadie and Caleb both wanted nothing to do with a relationship. And they kind of worked the best using sarcasm towards each other. Until that evening when Caleb found an abandoned, three legged dog in the courtyard. And they somehow ended up co-adopting her.
Caleb had been a bit of a mystery up until now, as he was a little on the outskirt of the friend group. In Playing for Keeps, however, he showed just what kind of a man he was. He's a true hero in many ways. Taking care of other people, helping out wherever he can. As Sadie got to know him, she couldn't help falling for him. Even when there were obstacles - namely Caleb's sisters and their background checks - he continued to pursue her when she retreated.
Overall, Playing for Keeps is a feel good story, with multi-layered characters, and a beautiful romance.
"I have this test," Ivy said and handed Sadie a basket with her two tacos. "No matter how rich or intelligent your are, how you treat an animal tells me all I need to know about you. And look at how he treated your dog."
January 2, 2019
Co-parenting an abandoned dog is what brings Sadie Lane and Caleb Parker together in Jill Shalvis’s ongoing ‘Heartbreaker Bay’ series—one that I had no idea would be going on and on and on.
And much of ‘Playing For Keeps’ is about bringing down the walls that Sadie has built after an emo-filled teenage-hood and adult-life, complete with barbs, pushing away and a whole lot of questioning when the man for her finally rolls around the corner with his own special brand of baggage that he’s already overcome.
In essence, ‘Playing For Keeps’ is built upon a push-pull between Sadie and Caleb: the former is an expert at lashing out, self-sabotaging good things and running away, while the latter’s supposed proclaiming that he’d been falling for her with her for over a year yet hooking up with other women in the meantime over the past few months (maybe I'm the only one with this hang-up?) didn’t quite make them a couple I could really stand behind.
But in Shalvis’s gentle exploration of emotional self-harm and the scars that don’t really fade is also the implicit message of getting a guy who pursues you no matter how deep your issues run and puts himself out there for you until you finally soften and give in...well, that's the core of romantic fiction that's always been the age-old draw for readers. That much I appreciate, as much as the light-hearted storytelling that Shalvis excels at: emotions are drawn out, though not overly so and conflict is resolved as quickly as they come, leaving just gentle waves that lap at the shore that do no lasting harm, so to speak.
Yet I think the Heartbreaker Bay series is losing its sheen for me. I couldn’t find it in myself to get excited over Sadie/Caleb, even though Shalvis’s writing is as buoyant and rom-com pitch perfect as I remember. Other than the small, irksome bits I can’t seem to let go of when it comes to the characters in question, the anthropomorphising of animals (something that Shalvis does a fair bit) where a pet’s behaviour is tailored to tug at every ‘cute’ heartstring is only something I can take in small amounts.
I’m guessing that ‘Playing For Keeps’ is something a devoted Shalvis fan will enjoy and I did wish that it’d worked better for me.
*ARC by the publisher via Edelweiss
And much of ‘Playing For Keeps’ is about bringing down the walls that Sadie has built after an emo-filled teenage-hood and adult-life, complete with barbs, pushing away and a whole lot of questioning when the man for her finally rolls around the corner with his own special brand of baggage that he’s already overcome.
In essence, ‘Playing For Keeps’ is built upon a push-pull between Sadie and Caleb: the former is an expert at lashing out, self-sabotaging good things and running away, while the latter’s supposed proclaiming that he’d been falling for her with her for over a year yet hooking up with other women in the meantime over the past few months (maybe I'm the only one with this hang-up?) didn’t quite make them a couple I could really stand behind.
But in Shalvis’s gentle exploration of emotional self-harm and the scars that don’t really fade is also the implicit message of getting a guy who pursues you no matter how deep your issues run and puts himself out there for you until you finally soften and give in...well, that's the core of romantic fiction that's always been the age-old draw for readers. That much I appreciate, as much as the light-hearted storytelling that Shalvis excels at: emotions are drawn out, though not overly so and conflict is resolved as quickly as they come, leaving just gentle waves that lap at the shore that do no lasting harm, so to speak.
Yet I think the Heartbreaker Bay series is losing its sheen for me. I couldn’t find it in myself to get excited over Sadie/Caleb, even though Shalvis’s writing is as buoyant and rom-com pitch perfect as I remember. Other than the small, irksome bits I can’t seem to let go of when it comes to the characters in question, the anthropomorphising of animals (something that Shalvis does a fair bit) where a pet’s behaviour is tailored to tug at every ‘cute’ heartstring is only something I can take in small amounts.
I’m guessing that ‘Playing For Keeps’ is something a devoted Shalvis fan will enjoy and I did wish that it’d worked better for me.
*ARC by the publisher via Edelweiss
February 6, 2019
I recently described another author's books as always ending up less than the sum of their parts. That was my clumsy way of saying that while this other author's prose, dialogue, characterization, themes etc. were all stellar when evaluated as individual components, somehow they came together as disappointingly lackluster novels as a whole. Jill Shalvis's books are actually the exact opposite for me: while objectively the prose, characterizations, plots, etc. tend to hover at or just above mediocre (in my opinion, of course!) if assessed on their own, somehow they magically combine to make for such spirit-boosting, mood-lifting, endorphin-raising books as a whole. As others have noted, some of the subject matter is a bit darker in this one, but I found the book was still full of the warmth, heart, and goodnatured humor that makes her books an auto-buy for me no matter how frustrating I find certain individual elements of them along the way.
I deducted one star for the usual Jill Shalvis lapses in grammar, syntax and punctuation (what is up with her editors?! Certain passages are written really well while others are always marred by misused words, conspicuously absent commas, etc.) I also wish the book had been at least 100 pages shorter, but to be fair, I find myself thinking that nearly ALL romance novels could and should be more concisely and tightly written, so that's certainly not unique to this book! There's not always enough plot to sustain the momentum, and it sometimes feels like our heroine and hero's feelings change arbitrarily rather than based naturally on events that occur in the story, but again...that's true of so many romances that I'm almost immune to that by now :)
As I've come to expect from Jill Shalvis, the book had some memorably amusing and/or insightful lines. I can see why some found Sadie too negative and abrasive, but for some weird reason I love the way Jill Shalvis writes the more seemingly 'bitchy' and attitude-ridden heroines (Sadie, Amy from At Last, Aubrey from Once in a Lifetime, Molly and Elle from this series, etc.), all of whom have secretly loving hearts, of course. Many of the other heroines she writes tend to lack clear and well-defined personalities to me, but I love the way she writes these comparatively 'problematic' heroines who have dark pasts and slowly become more open and ready to love. Maybe it's because we're so used to heroes meeting that description rather than our heroines that I find it so refreshing...?
I can also see why some thought Caleb was 'too perfect', but after reading a bunch of romance novels where I felt like the nearly perfect heroine was way, way, WAY too good for the 'allowed to be a complete and total ass for at least 90% of the novel' hero, I actually liked the subtle gender reversal here, how Caleb was the kind, patient, comparatively optimistic one. And I did find him a more layered character than others did, in part because of his background and his deliciously geeky passion for tech innovation. We get so many of the nearly exact same types of heroes from Shalvis over and over, and Caleb, with his ingenious brain, large bank account and more charming and 'smooth' exterior, was a welcome departure from her usual male characters. (I do like her usual male characters, but they all sort of run together as one identical, interchangeable "semi-alpha blue collar bad ass commitment phobic guy who's stoic but brave, overprotective and with a secretly good heart'!)
As with most Jill Shalvis books, I probably won't reread the entire novel, but I WILL definitely go back to reread a lot of warm, funny, insightful and/or sigh-worthy sections of it, which means I definitely consider it a worthwhile purchase. If you have any interest in reading about a troubled but badass and snarky heroine, a smooth but genuinely sweet and highly intelligent hero, and one of the most adorable fictional dogs you'll ever be lucky enough to meet, I'd definitely recommend Playing for Keeps!
I deducted one star for the usual Jill Shalvis lapses in grammar, syntax and punctuation (what is up with her editors?! Certain passages are written really well while others are always marred by misused words, conspicuously absent commas, etc.) I also wish the book had been at least 100 pages shorter, but to be fair, I find myself thinking that nearly ALL romance novels could and should be more concisely and tightly written, so that's certainly not unique to this book! There's not always enough plot to sustain the momentum, and it sometimes feels like our heroine and hero's feelings change arbitrarily rather than based naturally on events that occur in the story, but again...that's true of so many romances that I'm almost immune to that by now :)
As I've come to expect from Jill Shalvis, the book had some memorably amusing and/or insightful lines. I can see why some found Sadie too negative and abrasive, but for some weird reason I love the way Jill Shalvis writes the more seemingly 'bitchy' and attitude-ridden heroines (Sadie, Amy from At Last, Aubrey from Once in a Lifetime, Molly and Elle from this series, etc.), all of whom have secretly loving hearts, of course. Many of the other heroines she writes tend to lack clear and well-defined personalities to me, but I love the way she writes these comparatively 'problematic' heroines who have dark pasts and slowly become more open and ready to love. Maybe it's because we're so used to heroes meeting that description rather than our heroines that I find it so refreshing...?
I can also see why some thought Caleb was 'too perfect', but after reading a bunch of romance novels where I felt like the nearly perfect heroine was way, way, WAY too good for the 'allowed to be a complete and total ass for at least 90% of the novel' hero, I actually liked the subtle gender reversal here, how Caleb was the kind, patient, comparatively optimistic one. And I did find him a more layered character than others did, in part because of his background and his deliciously geeky passion for tech innovation. We get so many of the nearly exact same types of heroes from Shalvis over and over, and Caleb, with his ingenious brain, large bank account and more charming and 'smooth' exterior, was a welcome departure from her usual male characters. (I do like her usual male characters, but they all sort of run together as one identical, interchangeable "semi-alpha blue collar bad ass commitment phobic guy who's stoic but brave, overprotective and with a secretly good heart'!)
As with most Jill Shalvis books, I probably won't reread the entire novel, but I WILL definitely go back to reread a lot of warm, funny, insightful and/or sigh-worthy sections of it, which means I definitely consider it a worthwhile purchase. If you have any interest in reading about a troubled but badass and snarky heroine, a smooth but genuinely sweet and highly intelligent hero, and one of the most adorable fictional dogs you'll ever be lucky enough to meet, I'd definitely recommend Playing for Keeps!
January 22, 2019
Reviewed for
Wit and Sin
Sparks fly when opposites attract in Playing for Keeps . Jill Shalvis’s seventh Heartbreaker Bay novel has all the humor, heart, and endearing characters you’d expect to find in her books. And when you add in a scene-stealing rescue dog, it’s easy to see why Sadie and Caleb’s book charmed the heck out of me.
Sadie grabbed my heart from the very first page and didn’t let go. She’s a wonderful tattoo artist, she’s strong, independent, and deeply vulnerable. She has a family that doesn’t understand her, and she has scars both physical and emotional that she keeps hidden. Sadie isn’t a perfect heroine – she’s been hurt badly in the past and it’s hard for her to trust, to risk her heart and open up to someone, and that causes her to make mistakes more than once with Caleb. But Caleb has the patience and heart to get through to Sadie. He’s pretty much the perfect hero; he’s got a huge heart, a brilliant mind, and is loyal and protective to the max without ever being pushy. Basically, Caleb is the ultimate book boyfriend. He and Sadie have been dancing around one another for over a year, but each has been holding back. When they co-rescue a dog and decide to co-parent the utterly adorable Lollipop, the barriers start to come down. I loved seeing Caleb and Sadie’s full characters slowly revealed and I’ll leave it to readers to discover what lies beneath the sass and the suits. Their love story is sensual, emotional, and not always easy, but every bump in the road is worth it in the end.
It wouldn’t be a Heartbreaker Bay story without family and friends playing strong supporting roles and I loved both seeing familiar faces and meeting new ones in this story. The bonds of friendship and family are almost as important to Playing for Keeps as the romance and I just adored the quirky cast of characters. So while I finished Caleb and Sadie’s story a well-satisfied reader, their book definitely left me wanting more Heartbreaker Bay stories (Ivy’s in particular).
FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from the author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Sparks fly when opposites attract in Playing for Keeps . Jill Shalvis’s seventh Heartbreaker Bay novel has all the humor, heart, and endearing characters you’d expect to find in her books. And when you add in a scene-stealing rescue dog, it’s easy to see why Sadie and Caleb’s book charmed the heck out of me.
Sadie grabbed my heart from the very first page and didn’t let go. She’s a wonderful tattoo artist, she’s strong, independent, and deeply vulnerable. She has a family that doesn’t understand her, and she has scars both physical and emotional that she keeps hidden. Sadie isn’t a perfect heroine – she’s been hurt badly in the past and it’s hard for her to trust, to risk her heart and open up to someone, and that causes her to make mistakes more than once with Caleb. But Caleb has the patience and heart to get through to Sadie. He’s pretty much the perfect hero; he’s got a huge heart, a brilliant mind, and is loyal and protective to the max without ever being pushy. Basically, Caleb is the ultimate book boyfriend. He and Sadie have been dancing around one another for over a year, but each has been holding back. When they co-rescue a dog and decide to co-parent the utterly adorable Lollipop, the barriers start to come down. I loved seeing Caleb and Sadie’s full characters slowly revealed and I’ll leave it to readers to discover what lies beneath the sass and the suits. Their love story is sensual, emotional, and not always easy, but every bump in the road is worth it in the end.
It wouldn’t be a Heartbreaker Bay story without family and friends playing strong supporting roles and I loved both seeing familiar faces and meeting new ones in this story. The bonds of friendship and family are almost as important to Playing for Keeps as the romance and I just adored the quirky cast of characters. So while I finished Caleb and Sadie’s story a well-satisfied reader, their book definitely left me wanting more Heartbreaker Bay stories (Ivy’s in particular).
FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from the author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
March 12, 2019
Love Jill Shalvis. This book was no exception. The characters were cute, funny, endearing, and real. This is the reason why her books are so easy to read. You get pulled into their world and makes you never want to leave. I can't wait to see what is next.
January 27, 2019
4.5
She calls him Suits. They're living in the same neighbourhood but keep their distance, rubbing each other the wrong way. He's a tech genius who sold the apps he invented and she's a tattoo artist who also work at a spa, doing makeup. Then one day, she sees Caleb hunker down outside in the rain. Curiosity didn't kill the cat but brought her a special dog she'll share custody with the hero.
When I saw a few reviews saying that this Jill Shalvis was more darker than her usual, I was wary. But I wouldn't say it was darker, just that yes, the humour factor is less present, and some details about the heroine's past are more somber but it was still the same writing style that make me fall for her characters each and every time. Sadie was maybe more abrasive and jaded than the typical heroines. She use sarcasm to keep people away but I don't think she had a bad attitude. Her trust issues are deep and that made her do the one step forward and two steps back routine with Caleb, but it also let her see what a patient and understanding man he is. The hero overcame a childhood of being bullied and even if he liked to think he was closed off to emotions because of that, Sadie gave him the perfect opportunity to show he's very attentive to other's people well being and do every he can to help people. Both MC don't do well with being vulnerable so their leap of faith was even more satisfying to read about.
"Humor me."
"Alright. Well, you're extremely smart."
"Is that it? I'm start."
"Started with the obvious. You're also a sucker when it comes to animals and women who can't always make ends meet. And there's the thing I didn't expect."
"It's that I'm a great kisser, right?"
"It's that you see me."
She calls him Suits. They're living in the same neighbourhood but keep their distance, rubbing each other the wrong way. He's a tech genius who sold the apps he invented and she's a tattoo artist who also work at a spa, doing makeup. Then one day, she sees Caleb hunker down outside in the rain. Curiosity didn't kill the cat but brought her a special dog she'll share custody with the hero.
When I saw a few reviews saying that this Jill Shalvis was more darker than her usual, I was wary. But I wouldn't say it was darker, just that yes, the humour factor is less present, and some details about the heroine's past are more somber but it was still the same writing style that make me fall for her characters each and every time. Sadie was maybe more abrasive and jaded than the typical heroines. She use sarcasm to keep people away but I don't think she had a bad attitude. Her trust issues are deep and that made her do the one step forward and two steps back routine with Caleb, but it also let her see what a patient and understanding man he is. The hero overcame a childhood of being bullied and even if he liked to think he was closed off to emotions because of that, Sadie gave him the perfect opportunity to show he's very attentive to other's people well being and do every he can to help people. Both MC don't do well with being vulnerable so their leap of faith was even more satisfying to read about.
"Humor me."
"Alright. Well, you're extremely smart."
"Is that it? I'm start."
"Started with the obvious. You're also a sucker when it comes to animals and women who can't always make ends meet. And there's the thing I didn't expect."
"It's that I'm a great kisser, right?"
"It's that you see me."
January 22, 2019
Author Jill Shalvis’ Heartbreak Bay series has had its ups and downs for me, and unfortunately Playing for Keeps is one I did not enjoy as much as others. An adorable rescue dog is the catalyst to bring two people who have been in each other’s orbit for over a year both with both keeping their distance. While there were some parts of this book that were fun, sweet, and even sexy I found too much of it to be a bit clichéd and frustrating.
First I’ll say that I liked Caleb quite a bit, it was obvious he’d worked hard to become the man he is and was determined to take care of his family, friends, and apparently people who he came across who needed a hand. He’d struggled as a child and felt a debt to his mother and sisters who sacrificed so much for him. Sadie was a bit of an enigma, at times she had a tough girl attitude but in reality it was obvious that she was quite troubled. I felt like her issues were glossed over and that a lot of them stem from her family not ever really understanding what she was all about. It didn’t help that she had nothing in common with them and that she looked and was built differently and that her mother seemed to be overly insensitive. While she was twenty-eight years old, she had the maturity of a typical teenager which was annoying. I had issues that Caleb claimed he had been falling for her for over a year, yet admits he had been screwing random women during that time. I don’t know but if he was “falling for her” and keep in mind they supposedly had very little interaction during that time, why didn’t he pursue her instead of other women? Caleb did read Sadie very well which was fantastic because to be honest, she was a piece of work. Being a cutter as a teen, it was obvious she had some issues, but Caleb was patient and really tried to understand everything about her AND let her open up at her own pace. Sadie on the other hand continually made assumptions about Caleb, was often rude, overreacted to every little thing, rarely apologized, and it kept happening over and over. I hated that she never really showed much growth over the course of this book. There were some moments between them that warmed my heart and it was easy to see the chemistry between them, I would have appreciated seeing more of them together and less of their obtrusive and overbearing families.
My biggest issue with this book is I felt like I was reading descriptions of YouTube videos that had been over shared on cute, funny things dogs do and internet memes; it wasn’t fresh, it wasn’t new, and it was disappointing.
I’m beginning to feel that the Heartbreak Bay series has run its course, while there was enough good in Playing for Keeps to garner it 3 stars, it was not without problems and for me did not live up to Ms. Shalvis’ normal standards.
September 14, 2019
4.5 'Do Not Even Think About Falling For This Guy' Stars!
Gah! I know I am being repetitive everytime I speak about Jill Shalvis and this amazing series but I always know this woman won't dissapoint me. I freaking adore every single book about the Heartbreaker Bay crew and Playing for Keeps was no exception! It was sweet, adorable, funny, emotional and, of course, sexy.
Caleb and Sadie seem to be opposites but together they become vulnerable and you'll see why they are perfect for each other. And Lollipop, their super-cute dog, just makes it even more entertaining. I loved Caleb and his protectiveness of Sadie, he is such an outstanding hero and both are so strong individually and together (I loved them even more after knowing all about their pasts). I just enjoyed the heck out of this book and I can't wait for the next one in the series!
Gah! I know I am being repetitive everytime I speak about Jill Shalvis and this amazing series but I always know this woman won't dissapoint me. I freaking adore every single book about the Heartbreaker Bay crew and Playing for Keeps was no exception! It was sweet, adorable, funny, emotional and, of course, sexy.
Caleb and Sadie seem to be opposites but together they become vulnerable and you'll see why they are perfect for each other. And Lollipop, their super-cute dog, just makes it even more entertaining. I loved Caleb and his protectiveness of Sadie, he is such an outstanding hero and both are so strong individually and together (I loved them even more after knowing all about their pasts). I just enjoyed the heck out of this book and I can't wait for the next one in the series!
June 2, 2020
Playing For Keeps is probably the most serious in tone, romance from the series so far. Trigger warning for self-harm. I didn’t feel as connected with these two as I have with other couples but I’m still having a blast reading through the series!
January 21, 2019
Coffee dates with Playing for Keeps
First Date: Sadie Lane is a starving tattoo artist with a chip on her shoulder and purple dye in her hair. She has seen Caleb Parker around the courtyard and has admired his psyche but the man she has dubbed "suits" is not her type. Yes, she finds him yummy, but she has tested the type and knows oil and water don't mix. When he strolls past her shop one rainy evening bending over something near the alley curiosity gets the better of her. What they find is a soaking wet ball of fur. Caleb decides he will care for mutt, but so does Sadie. This changes the game and I strapped in for one heck of a ride!
Second Date: Shalvis has this way of bringing her characters to life, flaws, scars and swoon worthy qualities. She makes me care about them. From the way both react to the furball, to their interactions with secondary characters I felt as if I knew them. It wasn't long before I became their cheerleader. The romance from that first kiss to awkward moments sizzled and felt genuine.
Third Date: The big obstacles in this romance came from trust and character growth. Trouble in the form of family and the characters' own reactions caused issues. We saw and felt genuine growth as the storyline moved towards an HEA. I laughed, sighed and cheered my way through this final date.
This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
First Date: Sadie Lane is a starving tattoo artist with a chip on her shoulder and purple dye in her hair. She has seen Caleb Parker around the courtyard and has admired his psyche but the man she has dubbed "suits" is not her type. Yes, she finds him yummy, but she has tested the type and knows oil and water don't mix. When he strolls past her shop one rainy evening bending over something near the alley curiosity gets the better of her. What they find is a soaking wet ball of fur. Caleb decides he will care for mutt, but so does Sadie. This changes the game and I strapped in for one heck of a ride!
Second Date: Shalvis has this way of bringing her characters to life, flaws, scars and swoon worthy qualities. She makes me care about them. From the way both react to the furball, to their interactions with secondary characters I felt as if I knew them. It wasn't long before I became their cheerleader. The romance from that first kiss to awkward moments sizzled and felt genuine.
Third Date: The big obstacles in this romance came from trust and character growth. Trouble in the form of family and the characters' own reactions caused issues. We saw and felt genuine growth as the storyline moved towards an HEA. I laughed, sighed and cheered my way through this final date.
This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
January 21, 2019
Playing for keeps is the 7th novel in the Heartbreaker Bay series. I can't believe this is book 7. The series is still fresh and I don't see it slowing down! I liked the book a lot, but Sadie tired me. She kept pushing and pushing Caleb away and when she wasn't doing that she was running away from him. I don't feel like she treated him fairly and he was swoon-worthy. I don't know if you will fall for Sadie, but I know that you will fall for him at least.
The story was good and my favorite character was Lollipop or as Caleb calls her Poops a lot. I love it when we have animals in the stories and Jill Shalvis seems to have a thing for them too and it works for me. The story flew nicely and easy and I had no trouble reading it. The pace was good and the characters had some development. I wish Sadie's character had a little more growth, but I could live with what we got. Caleb's sisters were great secondary characters and if they have a story I would love to read it. I hated Sadie's mother and I really couldn't understand her. She was almost emotionally abusive to her and I wish she had changed her behavior by the time the book ended.
Caleb and Lollipop will win you over, have no doubt. Caleb is one of the best heroes I had the chance to read about so far and Lollipop is a very cute dog with a sad story. The MC's from the previous books also appear and that made the overall experience even better.
The story was good and my favorite character was Lollipop or as Caleb calls her Poops a lot. I love it when we have animals in the stories and Jill Shalvis seems to have a thing for them too and it works for me. The story flew nicely and easy and I had no trouble reading it. The pace was good and the characters had some development. I wish Sadie's character had a little more growth, but I could live with what we got. Caleb's sisters were great secondary characters and if they have a story I would love to read it. I hated Sadie's mother and I really couldn't understand her. She was almost emotionally abusive to her and I wish she had changed her behavior by the time the book ended.
Caleb and Lollipop will win you over, have no doubt. Caleb is one of the best heroes I had the chance to read about so far and Lollipop is a very cute dog with a sad story. The MC's from the previous books also appear and that made the overall experience even better.
January 24, 2019
I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
I’ve been a fan of Jill Shalvis for some time now and have literally read every single book of hers. Her Heartbreaker Bay series for me has been a mix of good and bad. Some books really impress me with its charm and sexy style whereas some books don’t quite hit home for me. PLAYING FOR KEEPS is one of those books unfortunately.
I really wanted to like it, but there was something off about the heroine that didn’t quite make me fall in love with her. Alone, Sadie does not have the usual spark to her. Her internal conflicts were there, but never really carried out and I thought she acted very differently alone than when she was with the hero, Caleb. So it just felt a bit odd to me sometimes.
I really liked the presence of the dog in this book. It was a nice touch to bring them together, but also create a sense of warmth in the series. If you know me, then you know I love dogs, so this was really perfect timing.
I’m hoping Shalvis’ future books work for me. I really love her Lucky Harbor series, but have yet to find something that she has written that is even better. Hopefully, that book/series will come soon.
*ARC provided by publisher
Reviewed by Annie❤ ♡ Don't want to miss any of our posts? Subscribe to our blog by email! ♡ ❤
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