It all started with a bet.
When my young son inherited half of his great grandfather’s historic inn, I decided to move us both to the place where I grew up.
Notice I said half of the Inn. The other half now belonged to Levi Miller, the famous quarterback who had other ideas about what we should do with the property.
We won’t mention that I accidentally injured him during our first meeting, causing him to get eight stitches.
You could say we got off on the wrong foot.
We bickered a lot as we both moved into the property while we figured things out.
He wanted to unload the rundown place which, admittedly, needed a lot of work.
I wanted to restore The Palm Inn to its original beauty and re-open it as a bed and breakfast.
We couldn’t agree on anything. So Levi made me a proposal. One he thought I would surely lose. If I could sell out the place by the time he had to leave for training at the end of summer, he would back off and let me run it.
But in the weeks that followed, we got more than we bargained for while we were living under the same roof.
Levi and I got closer, and before I knew it, my nightly fantasies about the brawny Adonis became a reality. Not to mention, he was so great with my son.
We were in over our heads in more ways than one.
Because not only was he the last man on Earth I should be falling for because of our deal, but Levi was also my ex’s older brother.
And now the inn was the least of my problems.
I love every book that I’ve read by Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward both individually and as a writing team. Well Played, their current release, is another hit for my list. The story didn’t play out exactly like I expected from the blurb and first paragraph. It is a tumultuous romance full of guilt and angst, but by the wonderful epilogue it is just what I needed.
Presley’s son, Alex, inherits half of his great grandfather’s (on his father’s side) historic inn, The Palm. His uncle, Levi, inherited the other half. Presley’s goal, and what she believes Thatcher wants is to return The Palm Inn to its former glory for her son and the town. Levi, a successful quarterback for The Broncos, can’t be bothered. He has a good offer and wants the cash. This disagreement sets up a conflict ending in bet between these two.
While on summer break Levi falls for Presley, his brother’s ex and begins to see her vision. Also, Levi loves spending time with his nephew. Tanner a deadbeat dad wants to change his ways. The situation gets complicated when Tanner comes home with the goal of winning Presley back. Oh my!
There is so much in this story that I love: small town setting, a hero and heroine that I love, ancillary characters that are so much more than the typical support characters, enemies to lovers relationship, a good dose of angst, and more.
Well Played gets another thumbs up from me for Keeland and Ward and this engaging love story. They deliver a fast pace, sometimes funny, sometimes steamy, and totally enjoyable read. Alex, Presley’s son is a hoot.
Alex to Levi. “You’re a cruncle”
Levi “What’s that?”
“Crappy Uncle--cruncle.” “Actually, you’re a better cruncle than you are a quarterback.”
Then there is Fren, the older woman who is a permanent resident of the Inn, and great grandfather’s former lover, who relishes stirring the pot.
“Fern who the hell made you the expert on what’s going on inside my head?”
“Your gramps, actually. You’re just like him. Wouldn’t know a good woman if she smacked her titties in you face. How do you think he and I got together?”
I recommend Well Played for the laughs, heartbreak, and romance! You will love it. Like always I will buy the audio to listen again—it is that good.
5 STARS
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