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PLAYING FOR KEEPS
Every rebound is a personal challenge. It's no longer time for playing safe. It's time to play for keeps.
Taylor Echols… He was my childhood friend. My bully. My savior when I felt like my life was falling apart. He pieced me back together when I was broken. He made me fall in love with him. But it was all fake. He’s a liar. A user. A man-whore. Selfish and irredeemable. I’m done with him. I’ve hardened my heart and built walls that not even he can jump over. Basketball will always be the most important thing to him. He'll do anything to make sure that he achieves his dream of getting drafted to the NBA, even if it means hurting the people he claims to love. But I'm no chorus-line-girl content to remain in the background playing backup to anyone or anything. I'm a shining star, and I'm going to strut my stuff across Molyneaux University's campus, reminding everyone, including Taylor, that this Prima Ballerina can steal the show with her solo.
Mikayla Hightower… The girl of my dreams. The girl I've wanted since we were kids. Now, the woman that I've lost. She’s my first and only love. And I’ve ruined everything. I screwed up - screwed up big. I unintentionally betrayed and humiliated her in front of the whole Molyneaux University Student body before we'd even stepped foot on campus. She hates me more now than she ever did. But I’m going to rally back from this loss. I’m going to get her to love me again. I’m on the rebound. And this time I’m playing for keeps.
PLAYING FOR KEEPS is a 100,000 word, full-length novel and is part two of a series. No cliff-hanger! Ends with a HEA.
Tropes in PLAYING FOR KEEPS include:
Athlete / Jock Romance
Best Friend's Lover
Friends-to-lovers / Frenemies-to-lovers
Childhood friends
Second Chance Romance
Alpha Hero
Giant Man/Tiny Woman
Recommended for 18+ Content Warning for grief, survivor's guilt, depression, teen drinking, strong language, online bullying, and explicit sex scenes (all sex scenes are consensual and all characters featured in them are over the age of 18).
Taylor Echols… He was my childhood friend. My bully. My savior when I felt like my life was falling apart. He pieced me back together when I was broken. He made me fall in love with him. But it was all fake. He’s a liar. A user. A man-whore. Selfish and irredeemable. I’m done with him. I’ve hardened my heart and built walls that not even he can jump over. Basketball will always be the most important thing to him. He'll do anything to make sure that he achieves his dream of getting drafted to the NBA, even if it means hurting the people he claims to love. But I'm no chorus-line-girl content to remain in the background playing backup to anyone or anything. I'm a shining star, and I'm going to strut my stuff across Molyneaux University's campus, reminding everyone, including Taylor, that this Prima Ballerina can steal the show with her solo.
Mikayla Hightower… The girl of my dreams. The girl I've wanted since we were kids. Now, the woman that I've lost. She’s my first and only love. And I’ve ruined everything. I screwed up - screwed up big. I unintentionally betrayed and humiliated her in front of the whole Molyneaux University Student body before we'd even stepped foot on campus. She hates me more now than she ever did. But I’m going to rally back from this loss. I’m going to get her to love me again. I’m on the rebound. And this time I’m playing for keeps.
PLAYING FOR KEEPS is a 100,000 word, full-length novel and is part two of a series. No cliff-hanger! Ends with a HEA.
Tropes in PLAYING FOR KEEPS include:
Athlete / Jock Romance
Best Friend's Lover
Friends-to-lovers / Frenemies-to-lovers
Childhood friends
Second Chance Romance
Alpha Hero
Giant Man/Tiny Woman
Recommended for 18+ Content Warning for grief, survivor's guilt, depression, teen drinking, strong language, online bullying, and explicit sex scenes (all sex scenes are consensual and all characters featured in them are over the age of 18).
290 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 13, 2022
25 people are currently reading
157 people want to read
About the author
Michelle C. Hillstrom
10 books77 followersMichelle C. Hillstrom is the Amazon Best-Selling author of The Kiss Series, Insomnia, Seducing the Marine, Seducing the Pitcher, FRIENDZONE, Seducing the Vampire, Seducing the Prince, PLAYING FOR KEEPS, and BAT BOYS. She also contributed to and compiled #MeToo: A Collection of True Story Crimes Against Women and The Release of Silence.
She specializes in the New Adult genre with subgenres of paranormal, fantasy, and romance. When she isn't writing, Michelle can either be found creating new recipes in the kitchen, working out at the gym, working her way through her never-ending TBR bookstack, or playing with her dog.
Michelle was born and raised in Lubbock and served her country in the United States Marine Corps Reserves. She is an advocate for the #MeToo Movement and Animal Rights.
Michelle C. Hillstrom also writes as Michelle Hillstrom and Shellie Christine.
She specializes in the New Adult genre with subgenres of paranormal, fantasy, and romance. When she isn't writing, Michelle can either be found creating new recipes in the kitchen, working out at the gym, working her way through her never-ending TBR bookstack, or playing with her dog.
Michelle was born and raised in Lubbock and served her country in the United States Marine Corps Reserves. She is an advocate for the #MeToo Movement and Animal Rights.
Michelle C. Hillstrom also writes as Michelle Hillstrom and Shellie Christine.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
May 13, 2022
The perfect conclusion to Taylor and Mikayla’s story
One of my favorite parts of this story is how the author Michelle Hillstrom crafts a realistic and magnetic relationship between Taylor and Mikayla like they are two forces destined to be together. Overall, this story's themes of love, guilt, trauma, and forgiveness are compelling and touching.
Michelle's writing puts the reader right into the action, making you root for Mikayla and Taylor's inevitable end, almost as much as the protagonists. With every relationship comes its battles, and Playing for Keeps shows what it really looks like to love someone: it's a daily choice. I love all the supporting characters and how Mikayla is shown having a supportive, loving group of friends, especially after everything she's been through. Everything about Mikayla is inspiring, and I love her character! I'm hoping for some novellas featuring these amazing supporting characters like Raven, Kendra, and Aiden.
The author's use of description enhanced each scene as if the reader was experiencing Taylor and Mikayla's struggles first-hand. Listen, I love this story, and I read it in one sitting because I was immediately sucked in. Congrats to the author of an amazing work! I'm so excited for the next installment in the Friendzone series following Jordan and Mikayla's story. I haven't gotten enough of these characters yet!!!
One of my favorite parts of this story is how the author Michelle Hillstrom crafts a realistic and magnetic relationship between Taylor and Mikayla like they are two forces destined to be together. Overall, this story's themes of love, guilt, trauma, and forgiveness are compelling and touching.
Michelle's writing puts the reader right into the action, making you root for Mikayla and Taylor's inevitable end, almost as much as the protagonists. With every relationship comes its battles, and Playing for Keeps shows what it really looks like to love someone: it's a daily choice. I love all the supporting characters and how Mikayla is shown having a supportive, loving group of friends, especially after everything she's been through. Everything about Mikayla is inspiring, and I love her character! I'm hoping for some novellas featuring these amazing supporting characters like Raven, Kendra, and Aiden.
The author's use of description enhanced each scene as if the reader was experiencing Taylor and Mikayla's struggles first-hand. Listen, I love this story, and I read it in one sitting because I was immediately sucked in. Congrats to the author of an amazing work! I'm so excited for the next installment in the Friendzone series following Jordan and Mikayla's story. I haven't gotten enough of these characters yet!!!
March 17, 2022
The conclusion of Taylor and MK
The conclusion of Taylor and MK was everything I needed and more. I loved the friendships again showcased and I loved the connection between Champ and MK. I hope Raven gets a book a good love triangle would be awesome or Aiden and Veronica get a book too.
The conclusion of Taylor and MK was everything I needed and more. I loved the friendships again showcased and I loved the connection between Champ and MK. I hope Raven gets a book a good love triangle would be awesome or Aiden and Veronica get a book too.
March 18, 2022
Loved this book! Can’t wait for the next one to come out in the series!
April 11, 2022
overall good book
Honestly good book overall
Taylor realized he made a mistake and he tries to win back his girl.
Throughout the book they have flashbacks of Jordan
Honestly good book overall
Taylor realized he made a mistake and he tries to win back his girl.
Throughout the book they have flashbacks of Jordan
July 21, 2022
Miscommunication is key. It always is for a good rom com. It was fun and we'll paced, allbeit a bit cliche at times. I did love the closure with Jordan through Mikayla's dream and I really liked the plot twist with Taylor's father (even though it got an exasperated eye roll out of me). This was a great wrap up to the story. I live a good duology and it was exactly the kind of balm I needed to ease me out of the Hell Verity put me through.
August 26, 2022
As I'm approaching the end of a book in usually composing in my head what I'm going to write in my review. But I'm so caught up in the 5 year gap that all other thoughts have gone out of my mind. So, riddle me this. What did Mikayla do for 5 years??
Story was good though. Although I much preferred book 1.
Story was good though. Although I much preferred book 1.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews