Playing for Keeps: A Heartbreaker Bay Novel

Sadie and Caleb couldn't be more opposite- she's barely keeping her head above water, he wears thousand dollar suits. Although an attraction's been brewing, neither one has ever done anything about it...until one abandoned three-legged pup enters the picture and helps them on their way. There was a lot of push-pull between Caleb and Sadie, mainly coming from Sadie. She has quite a few deep-seated issues that keep her from ever really letting her guard down. It made for some tough times between the two, as Caleb wanted nothing more than to be all-in with her. Luckily Lollipop to the rescue! With the precious pooch bridging the distance between them, Sadie is "forced" to spend time with Caleb and slowly, very slowly, begins to open up. I admit to being frustrated by Sadie at times, wishing she wasn't so difficult. But once we learn everything she's been through, the walls she's put up and her standoffish behavior is more understandable. When Sadie finally let herself "be" I really enjoyed how she and Caleb were together. Caleb really is quite awesome- so kind, caring, and wanting to help with no expectations. Caleb, Sadie, and Lollipop all had their obstacles to overcome, but when you've got love, anything is possible!

3.5 Stars, rounded Sadie is one of the ‘newbies’ in the Pacific Pier building, working at the spa and in the tattoo shop. Caleb – a part-time partner of Spencer who owns the whole shebang is a force to be reckoned with in his own right. But, being who she is, and more than a little closed-off and hedgehog-prickly, Sadie calls him Suits, in a not so endearing way. But one night with the rain pouring down she spots Caleb tucked in a corner, waiting patiently, looking into the shrubs. Soaking wet, speaking softly and ‘shushing’ her when she calls out to ask what he’s doing, she can hardly believe it when he coaxes out a 3 legged dog, obviously starving and maltreated, but determined to make Caleb her human. Much as Caleb gently coaxed Lollipop into his arms, he works the same magic with Sadie. He’s intrigued by her smart mouth and the shadows she sees in her eyes, but he’s also got a ton of ‘issues’ he doesn’t want to share so he does expect that when she’s ready she’ll do just that. But, he’s so perfectly patient and I’m wondering how he’s not utterly bruised – because despite her claiming to be far more mature than the angry 15 year old she once was – Sadie has a TON of growing up to do, and her ability to run first and think through things later is more than frustrating. In fact, she was running for 90% of the book – funny how it took EVERYONE else in her little group (her boss at the tattoo parlor, her friend Iris with the taco truck, and even her co-pet-parented 3 legged dog Lollipop had more sense when Caleb tripped over his own two feet, or didn’t bare his soul at the first moment. Hey -neither one of them was truly irretrievably broken, and Caleb has done more with his life than navel gaze and act petulant every time family called, but it felt like he was on an endless treadmill of tests – and it would have to take something truly special to make him take all that time. I loved him, debated on slapping her more than once, and wanted to have a dog that needs to hold hands when she goes for a car ride. I thought that perhaps this would be the book that made me think I can’t read another in this series, but nope – there was just enough alpha from Caleb (particularly with Sadie’s parents) to keep me interested in his character and heart, and when Sadie finally got it – after a serious talking to from both Iris and some rando customer mentioning his wife’s romance novel learning – they have a difficult, and not always smooth path on the way to happily ever after. I only hope that Sadie grows up enough to realize what a gem Caleb is – and I can’t help but think his sisters (also known as The Coven) will have more than a fair share of influence on that. I love this series – and while this wasn’t a favorite book in the series – there always has to be one – right? Oh – and did I mention that Caleb always thought he was allergic - like epi-pen level allergic to dogs? Yep – quite a start to a co-pet-parenting moment there.

I loved this book! I loved it so much I hope Jill writes another book about Caleb, Sadie and Lollipop. Sadie is a hoot even though she had a dark upbringing, Caleb is the man every woman wants and Lollipop is the glue that holds them together. This is a book you don’t want to miss! I received this ARC in exchange for a fair and truthful review.