Playing for Keeps

De: Kendall Ryan

Narrado por: Jason Clarke, Virginia Rose

The first book in the scorching new Hot Jocks series by New York Times best-selling author Kendall Ryan - available in audio first!

I've never been so stupid in my entire life.

Elise Parrish, my teammate's incredibly sweet and gorgeous younger sister, should have been off-limits, but my hockey stick didn't get the memo.

After our team won the championship, our flirting turned physical, and I took her to bed. Then shame sent her running the next morning from our catastrophic mistake.

She thinks I don't remember that night - but every detail is burned into my brain so deeply, I’ll never forget. The feel of her in my arms, the soft whimpers of pleasure I coaxed from her perfect lips....

And now I’ve spent three months trying to get her out of my head, but I’m starting to understand she’s the only girl I’ll ever want.

I have one shot to show her I can be exactly what she needs, but Elise won’t be easily convinced.

That’s okay, because I’m good under pressure, and this time, I’m playing for keeps.

©2019 Kendall Ryan (P)2019 Audible Originals, LLC.

Strong performances dispel any minor story flaws...

I am a big fan of the ‘brother’s best friend/ best friend’s younger sister’ trope and there is nothing I enjoy more than a solid hockey player romance. In Kendall Ryan’s latest Audible original, there is a great deal to enjoy - endearing main characters, steamy love scenes (complete with dirty talking hero), strong bonds between more than just the H and h (I love an extended ‘chosen’ family of friends). And the set up of Owen and Becca, who will lead the next installment, make the reader excited for their story.

However, this story is not without flaws. There were moments of odd pacing because of story threads (two in particular) that are never fully woven into the whole; they’re just left to dangle, which gives the listener pause. Perhaps this is because they are plot devices that typically get more room to develop when they are used in the genre. As they are elements that are meant to aid the the H’s character growth, it would have been beneficial if at least one of them was fleshed out to add a stronger external conflict to the story. Neither of the two scenarios got far past the H’s internal thinking, so they fell kind of flat. Though internal struggle is interesting and certainly leads to growth, allowing one of these to be an external as well as internal conflict would have added some depth to the plot and more depth to Justin as a character.

Still, I enjoyed this listen quite a bit and that is not just because of the narrative elements Ryan got right, but also because she chose the perfect narrators to breathe life into her words. Jason Clarke 🐉 was a perfect choice for Justin; his delivery is enough to make me overlook the previously mentioned flaws. And Virginia Rose 🌹 also does a fine job as Elise, allowing the listener to ignore some of Elise’s less appealing character traits -for example, believing gossip (however briefly) or letting insecurities drive decisions; Rose’s performance saved such moments from cliche.

Overall, I recommend this listen; definitely worth a credit and definitely worth a go to ARP subscribers as it’s included. A solid start to what promises to be a fun series. I will definitely be back for more.

⭐️⭐️⭐️Great⭐️⭐️⭐️

This was such a heartwarming story. There were times I literally laughed out loud and several times I was grinning big.

One of the few things I didn’t like was he ghosted her for 3 months after taking her virginity and leaving her to believe he didn’t remember having sex with her that night. After they aired that out, it was on.

I can’t wait for Becca and Owen’s story....

Sweet and Sexy Romance from Kendall Ryan

Playing For Keeps by Kendall Ryan is a sweet, sexy hockey romance!

Owen and Justin have been friends forever. Elise was Owen’s annoying little sister until one day Justin saw her as someone completely different...sweet, intelligent, and sexy. He wanted her, but he knew he could never have her for two reasons.

She was Owen’s little sister.
Because of his own past, he thought he wasn’t good enough for her.

Elise has wanted Justin as long as she could remember. However, she always avoided that because of his reputation as a manwhore. She isn’t into one-night stands. It’s funny what happens when destiny or fate has other ideas. One night the two cross that line they have drawn in the sand, and the feelings they have for one another grow even more complicated.

The friendship between Justin and Elise laid the foundation for a great relationship, but it wasn’t easy for them to find their forever. Justin has relationship “hang ups,” and he knows dating Elise will definitely affect his friendship with Owen. Elise is afraid to give her heart to Justin just to have him crush it.

There were several things that stood out about the book. Elise and Justin’s story is told from both of their POVs, so I was able to see how they truly felt about one another as well as their insecurities. I liked the way Ryan included things from their past that showed the bond they always had. The cast of secondary characters really added to the book. I really LOVED the fact that Ryan also didn’t follow the same pattern in which a couple fall for each other, then break up, and get back together again. There really wasn’t that sort of angst. It was more about two people falling in love and the fear of giving yourself completely to another person.

I'm pretty picky about the narrators I listen to. Jason Clarke and Virginia Rose were fantastic. They both drew me into the story heart and soul. I listened to it in my car on a pretty long trip, and it made the hours just fly by!

I am a fan of hockey romances as well as a huge fan of Kendall Ryan, and she certainly didn’t disappoint me. She knows how to create chemistry and strike the perfect balance of emotion and steam. I am so excited to read the next book in the series.

Really entertaining

Loved the story, laughed a lot and kind of gut angry with the characters, but obviously had a great time

Love narration, story is okay

Some of the behavior in this story was silly and immature, and I really hated her brother's disgusting behavior and double standards.

guilt free read

Great romance novel with very little drama and very tame sexual descriptions. the characters were likeable although blind about their feelings

Hockey, Friends to Lovers and Best Friend's Sister

Playing for Keeps is the first book in the Hot Jocks series and can be read (or listened to) as a standalone book.

Justin and Owen have been best friends and hockey teammates since they were kids. Now they are on the same pro hockey team and roomates. Owen's younger sister, Elise, and her best friend Becca hang out with them a lot. Sometimes they even clear out last night's puck bunnies from the apartment.

After a big game and lots of celebratory drinks, Justin and Elise have sex. Unknown to Justin, Elise has crushed on him for years. Just recently, Justin has noticed Elise as more then his friend's kid sister, but didn't want to risk his friendship with Owen or Elise looking for more. When she is flustered the morning after, he lets her believe he doesn't remember anything that happened between them. Three months of awkward avoidance follow. Then, after they actually have an adult conversation, they agree to a hushed friends with benefits arrangement.

Now they both have an emotional involvement, neither wants Owen to know and they are tired of not being able to be seen together in public. Can they find their way to a real relationship? This book also sets up for a sequel between Owen and Becca.

a bit repetitive but good

I love Kendall and her stories and this one is bo different. however the dialogue became a repetitive. nothing better than a athlete though!!

Totally off Limits

When you have a horrible childhood and you find a friend whose family accepts you. Things become really tricky when you fall for his little sister

Funny, Sweet and Sexy Forbidden Romance!

This was a funny, sweet and sexy forbidden romance. Elise and Justin have been friends since they were kids. Justin is best friends with Elise's brother, Owen, and the three of them have always been close. Elise and Justin have both harbored secret feelings for the other, until one night with too much drinking, they acted on their feelings. Of course the initial awkwardness afterward was misinterpreted, causing hurt feelings. Now they have a hard time finding that easy closeness they always enjoyed. Justin believes he is bad news for Elise, so when she tries to move on, Justin can't let her go, and is determined to prove he is the only man for her. I loved the interactions between Justin and Elise, they were sweet, awkward, and very steamy. There was some hilarious moments as they tried, and almost failed, to keep their secrets. I was a bit frustrated at times with their miscommunication, but loved how they worked thru their issues.
Narrators Jason Clarke, and Virginia Rose delivered an amazing performance. Their comedic timing is impeccable, and they easily made me feel all the turmoil, angst, fun, and passion between these characters. I was totally lost in their storytelling, and they made this funny, sexy, forbidden romance even more delightful!