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Well Played
From New York Times Bestselling authors Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward comes a new, sexy standalone novel.
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.
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.
375 pages, Paperback
First published October 25, 2021
2,026 people are currently reading
12.3k people want to read
About the author
Vi Keeland
126 books33.5k followersVi Keeland is a #1 New York Times, #1 Wall Street Journal, and
USA Today
Bestselling author. With millions of books sold, her titles have appeared in over one hundred Bestseller lists and are currently translated in twenty-six languages. She resides in New York with her husband and their three children where she is living out her own happily ever after with the boy she met at age six.
Stop by and meet Vi in her private reader group on Facebook! https://www.facebook.com/groups/ViKee...
Stop by and meet Vi in her private reader group on Facebook! https://www.facebook.com/groups/ViKee...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,454 reviews
October 28, 2021
I have a very low threshold for messy, angsty stories with two privileged characters who should have known better. Presley was irritating, Levi was just a boring ahole and they deserved each other
October 29, 2021
They always tempt me with their covers and then i end up disappointed!!🙄
We have the newest collab between VK and PW with yet another controversial storyline between the H and his brother's ex-fiance who was also his brother's highschool sweetheart which he has a son with, were together for many years even tho he cheated on her twice.😊
Hmm when i first read the blurb i knew it would take A LOT for me to get into this super complicated and dramatic story and it really did. I struggled sm. I was irritated, i rolled my eyes many times, thought of dnf-ing also many times.
You know when you are reading the book but you feel like something is missing? Like the whole history between the MC's is just told in 1 chapter and i felt like i was starting from the middle and have skipped some chapters.
It's much easier when the MC's do not know each other so as you're reading you slowly start to form your own opinion. But here everything was already laid out and the opinion is already formed FOR you if that makes sense.🙄 (i'm bad at explaining ik😖)
I just couldn't enjoy their relationship with so much baggage and history between the H's brother and the h sorry😐 i mean c'mon it wasn't the neighbour it was his brother.
And he becomes a substitute father figure bassicaly to his nephew.
The brother is obviously a trash can, has many problems, the h is a literal angel who does everything for her son even forgiving the first time for his cheating. It's the typical cliche storyline-nothing new here.
They go from being kinda enemies to friends in about 3 chapters which was so annoying. I hoped the enemies part would last at least awhile 🙄which is when i started losing interest bc nothing was happening, they were always lusting for each other then feeling guilty about it-rinse and repeat. Then I started getting bored, their chemistry and connection was non-existent which wasn't really surprising, the spark was not there.
And then the brother showed up, wanted to redeem himself of course and the whole wanna-be love triangle i-want-you-back give me a second chance annoyed me sm. I can't handle such drama(only if it's The Bachelor) sorry.
"Was it possible he had changed and was as determined to get me back as he claimed? Maybe. Might I have caved and been open to giving him another chance if things were different? I couldn’t rule out that possibility".
Yeah the h kinda lost me here🙄 she didn't know what she wanted and kept stringing the H along. Then the H started acting like an idiot in the end and the misunderstandings drove me insane.
😩 their relationship was so messy and overly complicated.
2 stars just bc i liked the kid, he was cute and funny but these adults kept confusing him, poor kid😖
We have the newest collab between VK and PW with yet another controversial storyline between the H and his brother's ex-fiance who was also his brother's highschool sweetheart which he has a son with, were together for many years even tho he cheated on her twice.😊
Hmm when i first read the blurb i knew it would take A LOT for me to get into this super complicated and dramatic story and it really did. I struggled sm. I was irritated, i rolled my eyes many times, thought of dnf-ing also many times.
You know when you are reading the book but you feel like something is missing? Like the whole history between the MC's is just told in 1 chapter and i felt like i was starting from the middle and have skipped some chapters.
It's much easier when the MC's do not know each other so as you're reading you slowly start to form your own opinion. But here everything was already laid out and the opinion is already formed FOR you if that makes sense.🙄 (i'm bad at explaining ik😖)
I just couldn't enjoy their relationship with so much baggage and history between the H's brother and the h sorry😐 i mean c'mon it wasn't the neighbour it was his brother.
And he becomes a substitute father figure bassicaly to his nephew.
The brother is obviously a trash can, has many problems, the h is a literal angel who does everything for her son even forgiving the first time for his cheating. It's the typical cliche storyline-nothing new here.
They go from being kinda enemies to friends in about 3 chapters which was so annoying. I hoped the enemies part would last at least awhile 🙄which is when i started losing interest bc nothing was happening, they were always lusting for each other then feeling guilty about it-rinse and repeat. Then I started getting bored, their chemistry and connection was non-existent which wasn't really surprising, the spark was not there.
And then the brother showed up, wanted to redeem himself of course and the whole wanna-be love triangle i-want-you-back give me a second chance annoyed me sm. I can't handle such drama(only if it's The Bachelor) sorry.
"Was it possible he had changed and was as determined to get me back as he claimed? Maybe. Might I have caved and been open to giving him another chance if things were different? I couldn’t rule out that possibility".
Yeah the h kinda lost me here🙄 she didn't know what she wanted and kept stringing the H along. Then the H started acting like an idiot in the end and the misunderstandings drove me insane.
😩 their relationship was so messy and overly complicated.
2 stars just bc i liked the kid, he was cute and funny but these adults kept confusing him, poor kid😖
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October 24, 2021★★★ WELL PLAYED IS LIVE EARLY! ★★★
(And FREE in Kindle Unlimited!) A scorching hot tale of forbidden love mixed with humor and heart.
Amazon US ➜ https://www.amazon.com/Well-Played-Vi...
Amazon UK ➜ https://www.amazon.co.uk/Well-Played-...
Amazon CA ➜ https://www.amazon.ca/Well-Played-Vi....
Amazon AU ➜https://www.amazon.com.au/Well-Played...
Paperback ➜ https://amzn.to/2WLN1tq
(Limited time release price! Vi Keeland's and my *co-written books only* such as this one are available FREE to read in Kindle Unlimited. Our solo books are wide on all retailers and *not* in KU.)
(And FREE in Kindle Unlimited!) A scorching hot tale of forbidden love mixed with humor and heart.
Amazon US ➜ https://www.amazon.com/Well-Played-Vi...
Amazon UK ➜ https://www.amazon.co.uk/Well-Played-...
Amazon CA ➜ https://www.amazon.ca/Well-Played-Vi....
Amazon AU ➜https://www.amazon.com.au/Well-Played...
Paperback ➜ https://amzn.to/2WLN1tq
(Limited time release price! Vi Keeland's and my *co-written books only* such as this one are available FREE to read in Kindle Unlimited. Our solo books are wide on all retailers and *not* in KU.)
January 11, 2022
I made it over two-thirds, though I've been gritting my teeth for chapters. I'm sorry, but did someone do a brainectomy on these people?
Check my reasoning, if you will. Your philandering ex shows back up after years (5+) of skimping on child support and bad-mouthing you to his family. He's all lovey-dovey and saying things like "I want to earn your trust back" and "I never stopped loving you".
So in this circumstance, do you:
a) ask him how loving you lead to his spending naked time with other women?
b) ask how loving you lead him to years of bad mouthing you to his family?
c) ask him how loving you translated into whinging about what a bitch you are when you ask him to spend time with his son?
d) change the subject and talk about something innocuous so that he maintains the hope that you might get back together?
Is this even hard?!? I'm sorry, but both Levi and Presley are complete morons if they can't draw the equation of "we want to be together because we're perfect for each other and, oh yeah, in love" => "don't bother hiding your relationship from his brother, her ex." This is not a hard equation. And yet...
I was into their relationship until then. I particularly liked Levi stepping up for her son, Alex. It was sweet. Only they're in love at the midway point and I'm all . . . the other shoe, where is it?!? I'm tempted to add a second star for how much I enjoyed them getting to know one another. But then I recall the idiocy and, just, nah.
Check my reasoning, if you will. Your philandering ex shows back up after years (5+) of skimping on child support and bad-mouthing you to his family. He's all lovey-dovey and saying things like "I want to earn your trust back" and "I never stopped loving you".
So in this circumstance, do you:
a) ask him how loving you lead to his spending naked time with other women?
b) ask how loving you lead him to years of bad mouthing you to his family?
c) ask him how loving you translated into whinging about what a bitch you are when you ask him to spend time with his son?
d) change the subject and talk about something innocuous so that he maintains the hope that you might get back together?
Is this even hard?!? I'm sorry, but both Levi and Presley are complete morons if they can't draw the equation of "we want to be together because we're perfect for each other and, oh yeah, in love" => "don't bother hiding your relationship from his brother, her ex." This is not a hard equation. And yet...
I was into their relationship until then. I particularly liked Levi stepping up for her son, Alex. It was sweet. Only they're in love at the midway point and I'm all . . . the other shoe, where is it?!? I'm tempted to add a second star for how much I enjoyed them getting to know one another. But then I recall the idiocy and, just, nah.
October 29, 2021
5 STARS
I will say it for one more time this duo is the best!I haven't read a book of them that I didn't like.This one started funny and I enjoyed it so much!
Levi and Presley’s story has angst, steamy and so swooning.I loved them so hard, they gave me life through their story.They have a great banter that kept me on edge and they were addictive.Levi was everything I wanted.
This is fast paced,heartwarming and steamy. I highly recommend it!
I will say it for one more time this duo is the best!I haven't read a book of them that I didn't like.This one started funny and I enjoyed it so much!
Levi and Presley’s story has angst, steamy and so swooning.I loved them so hard, they gave me life through their story.They have a great banter that kept me on edge and they were addictive.Levi was everything I wanted.
This is fast paced,heartwarming and steamy. I highly recommend it!
December 15, 2021
3 stars
Eh. This was a mix of good and just okay. I didn't love it or hate it, a very middle of the road read for me. It had a bit of a forbidden/angsty element and I liked the hero, but I never truly connected with the heroine or the romance.
Eh. This was a mix of good and just okay. I didn't love it or hate it, a very middle of the road read for me. It had a bit of a forbidden/angsty element and I liked the hero, but I never truly connected with the heroine or the romance.
Audio book source: Audible Plus
Story Rating: 3 stars
Narrators: Andi Arndt & Sebastian York
Narration Rating: 5 stars
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Length: 9h 42m
December 7, 2021
2.5 Stars
Overall Opinion: Boo. This did not work for me. I didn’t ever really feel their connection. I also didn’t connect with the h at all. The big conflict was off page, which I thought was a weird choice, and the time jump at the end felt like the authors were just slapping a bow on it and calling it done. I didn’t even feel tension like you typically do with these forbidden type romances and the heat between them was pretty underwhelming. I just didn’t feel like this was all that developed tbh. And then the author had to , which I find super frustrating because it’s like this need to justify the mcs’ bad behavior! Overall, I struggled and I’m frankly pretty impressed with myself for finishing it 😅
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Presley and Levi’s story. They are both left a B&B when Levi’s grandfather dies. Even though it was technically left to Presley’s son with her ex who is Levi’s brother, she is committed to fix it up and have it running like the grandparents once did. They bump heads at first because of some misconceptions, but eventually become friends with an underlying attraction and lines start to blur. There is some family drama, some sexy times, and some cute scenes with the h’s son…and they get a HEA ending.
Point Of View (POV): This alternated between Presley and Levi’s POV.
Overall Pace of Story: Alright. I never skimmed but it did feel a little slow at times.
Instalove: Kind of, because we don’t really experience a progression of feelings (other than sex)
H (Hero) rating: 3.5 stars. Levi. I liked him more than the h, but I was still kind of underwhelmed with him. I appreciated how he cared for the h and her son.
h (heroine) rating: 3 stars. Presley. Meh. She was just alright.
Sadness level: Low, no tissues needed
Push/Pull: Yes
Heat level: Alright. They have some alright scenes -- but not so much it takes away from the story.
Descriptive sex: Yes
OW (Other Woman)/OM (Other Man) drama: Yes
Sex scene with OW or OM: No
Cheating: Not between mcs
Separation: Yes
Possible Triggers: Yes
Closure: This ends in a pretty good place with what I would call a HEA ending even though I would’ve liked more
Safety: This one should be Safe with exception for most safety gang readers depending on personal preferences
Overall Opinion: Boo. This did not work for me. I didn’t ever really feel their connection. I also didn’t connect with the h at all. The big conflict was off page, which I thought was a weird choice, and the time jump at the end felt like the authors were just slapping a bow on it and calling it done. I didn’t even feel tension like you typically do with these forbidden type romances and the heat between them was pretty underwhelming. I just didn’t feel like this was all that developed tbh. And then the author had to , which I find super frustrating because it’s like this need to justify the mcs’ bad behavior! Overall, I struggled and I’m frankly pretty impressed with myself for finishing it 😅
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Presley and Levi’s story. They are both left a B&B when Levi’s grandfather dies. Even though it was technically left to Presley’s son with her ex who is Levi’s brother, she is committed to fix it up and have it running like the grandparents once did. They bump heads at first because of some misconceptions, but eventually become friends with an underlying attraction and lines start to blur. There is some family drama, some sexy times, and some cute scenes with the h’s son…and they get a HEA ending.
Point Of View (POV): This alternated between Presley and Levi’s POV.
Overall Pace of Story: Alright. I never skimmed but it did feel a little slow at times.
Instalove: Kind of, because we don’t really experience a progression of feelings (other than sex)
H (Hero) rating: 3.5 stars. Levi. I liked him more than the h, but I was still kind of underwhelmed with him. I appreciated how he cared for the h and her son.
h (heroine) rating: 3 stars. Presley. Meh. She was just alright.
Sadness level: Low, no tissues needed
Push/Pull: Yes
Heat level: Alright. They have some alright scenes -- but not so much it takes away from the story.
Descriptive sex: Yes
OW (Other Woman)/OM (Other Man) drama: Yes
Sex scene with OW or OM: No
Cheating: Not between mcs
Separation: Yes
Possible Triggers: Yes
Closure: This ends in a pretty good place with what I would call a HEA ending even though I would’ve liked more
Safety: This one should be Safe with exception for most safety gang readers depending on personal preferences
October 29, 2021
You guys - when I picked up my ARC of this book and was reminded that Levi was a NFL player? There was a little squee out loud in giddiness. Football players are my ultimate catnip and I was SO excited for this one. The blurb also hints at the angst to come and I was here for it.
For the first half of the book, I was completely smitten. I mean, I'm talking goobery smile plastered to my face, butterflies in the belly, heart completely swoony over Levi and Presley's story. It was so adorable and sexy (omg, so sexy *fans self*). The chemistry was top notch and Levi's relationship with Alex just put me completely over the top. This was romance perfection.
And then there was like...a record scratch moment. The conflict is always one of the hardest parts of a romance for me to get through. Half the time I skim through it so I can get back to all the feels I'm here for. I understand that the conflict often enhances the romance and in some ways, that is still true here. For me, however, it went on a little too long unchecked. I was so frustrated with almost every single character for a while and it felt a little bit like the storyline spun its wheels, sticking all the characters in the same quagmire for longer than my greedy, impatient heart was happy with. I wanted more for these characters. I wanted some fire from Presley. I wanted more than one character to get a (well deserved) reckoning and I was a little frustrated how long it took to get to that point.
That said, it was absolutely unputdownable. Even when I was frustrated with it, I was furiously flipping pages to get to the resolution. I am addicted to the way these authors tell their stories, and Well Played was no exception. I was drawn into the angst and the dramatic soapiness of it all, and I wasn't able to step away from the story until the very end.
And what an ending it was! Despite how frustrating I found the conflict, I was so happy with the way things played out in the end. The happily-ever-after was a satisfying balm after the prolonged angst of the love story. It really was so sweet, so satisfying, and I loved Presley and Levi together so much. This story took my heart on a bit of a wild ride, but it was ultimately worth every single bump and bruise on my heart. ~ Shelly, 4 Stars
***
I love a good forbidden romance, there’s just something about two people falling for each other even when they shouldn’t that gets me every time. And that was something I just loved about Presley and Levi—that they absolutely shouldn’t have fallen for each other, but they couldn’t resist the connection, the feelings that they felt for each other. And it was a great slow burn for their relationship to unfold.
My favorite person in Well Played was Levi. He was strong willed, loving, fun, smart, sexy, and just an all-around good guy. I loved his interactions with Alex, how he mended their relationship. And I loved how Levi tried to be considerate about the ramifications the relationship between him and Presley would present once it was out in the open—especially those that involved his brother and his mother. But even knowing what could potentially happen, Levi still couldn’t stop himself from falling for Presley.
But I did struggle at times with other characters in this story. I would have loved to see Presley take a stronger stand, have a little bit of backbone when it came to dealing with the reappearance of Tanner and all the craziness that came with him. I would have also loved a bit less meddling by Levi and Tanner’s mother—she needed to allow her adult sons to manage their own lives and decisions. And I would have loved to have more of Fern. ~ Missy, 3.5 stars
For the first half of the book, I was completely smitten. I mean, I'm talking goobery smile plastered to my face, butterflies in the belly, heart completely swoony over Levi and Presley's story. It was so adorable and sexy (omg, so sexy *fans self*). The chemistry was top notch and Levi's relationship with Alex just put me completely over the top. This was romance perfection.
And then there was like...a record scratch moment. The conflict is always one of the hardest parts of a romance for me to get through. Half the time I skim through it so I can get back to all the feels I'm here for. I understand that the conflict often enhances the romance and in some ways, that is still true here. For me, however, it went on a little too long unchecked. I was so frustrated with almost every single character for a while and it felt a little bit like the storyline spun its wheels, sticking all the characters in the same quagmire for longer than my greedy, impatient heart was happy with. I wanted more for these characters. I wanted some fire from Presley. I wanted more than one character to get a (well deserved) reckoning and I was a little frustrated how long it took to get to that point.
That said, it was absolutely unputdownable. Even when I was frustrated with it, I was furiously flipping pages to get to the resolution. I am addicted to the way these authors tell their stories, and Well Played was no exception. I was drawn into the angst and the dramatic soapiness of it all, and I wasn't able to step away from the story until the very end.
And what an ending it was! Despite how frustrating I found the conflict, I was so happy with the way things played out in the end. The happily-ever-after was a satisfying balm after the prolonged angst of the love story. It really was so sweet, so satisfying, and I loved Presley and Levi together so much. This story took my heart on a bit of a wild ride, but it was ultimately worth every single bump and bruise on my heart. ~ Shelly, 4 Stars
***
I love a good forbidden romance, there’s just something about two people falling for each other even when they shouldn’t that gets me every time. And that was something I just loved about Presley and Levi—that they absolutely shouldn’t have fallen for each other, but they couldn’t resist the connection, the feelings that they felt for each other. And it was a great slow burn for their relationship to unfold.
My favorite person in Well Played was Levi. He was strong willed, loving, fun, smart, sexy, and just an all-around good guy. I loved his interactions with Alex, how he mended their relationship. And I loved how Levi tried to be considerate about the ramifications the relationship between him and Presley would present once it was out in the open—especially those that involved his brother and his mother. But even knowing what could potentially happen, Levi still couldn’t stop himself from falling for Presley.
But I did struggle at times with other characters in this story. I would have loved to see Presley take a stronger stand, have a little bit of backbone when it came to dealing with the reappearance of Tanner and all the craziness that came with him. I would have also loved a bit less meddling by Levi and Tanner’s mother—she needed to allow her adult sons to manage their own lives and decisions. And I would have loved to have more of Fern. ~ Missy, 3.5 stars
December 16, 2022
3.5 stars
naked twerking aside, im pleased by the fact that Well Played is ~loosely speaking~ indeed (moderately) well played...
despite the premise (the h falling in love with the brother of her ex) that had me unsettled throughout the reading.
i kept waiting for the other shoe to drop and the plot to transport me to Telenovela-verse, but it never arrived. i feel like the characters (despite their stupidity and against their better judgement) handled the situation pretty well. although, i also think the story wrapped up a little too smoothly/nicely. but hey, i thank VK & PW for sparing me the ~d r a m a~ that i’d have otherwise felt annoyed about.
on another note, this type of forbidden romance is not my thing, like AT ALL. however, i feel like this was fairly balanced out by the other tropes, namely single parent and small town setting, that i DO favor greatly. so... celebrate the small victories, right? these duo dont always write the greatest of love stories, but i ALWAYS feel like i owe it to the book cover god to read whatever shit they put out.
(read as an audiobook)
naked twerking aside, im pleased by the fact that Well Played is ~loosely speaking~ indeed (moderately) well played...
despite the premise (the h falling in love with the brother of her ex) that had me unsettled throughout the reading.
i kept waiting for the other shoe to drop and the plot to transport me to Telenovela-verse, but it never arrived. i feel like the characters (despite their stupidity and against their better judgement) handled the situation pretty well. although, i also think the story wrapped up a little too smoothly/nicely. but hey, i thank VK & PW for sparing me the ~d r a m a~ that i’d have otherwise felt annoyed about.
on another note, this type of forbidden romance is not my thing, like AT ALL. however, i feel like this was fairly balanced out by the other tropes, namely single parent and small town setting, that i DO favor greatly. so... celebrate the small victories, right? these duo dont always write the greatest of love stories, but i ALWAYS feel like i owe it to the book cover god to read whatever shit they put out.
(read as an audiobook)
October 24, 2021
4.5 stars!
(ARC provided by author)
-Falling for you was the simplest thing I've ever done.
Presley Sullivan is a 29 yr. old single mom who moves from New York back home to her hometown in South Carolina. She's returning to Beaufort to raise her son in the small town, and she's hoping the place will be good for them, and offer a fresh start. They'll be living in the B&B that her son inherited from his great grandfather. Half of the historic inn was left to her son Alex, and the other half to her son's uncle Levi. He's incredibly attractive, but stubborn and full of attitude.
Levi Miller is an NFL quarterback for the Denver Broncos. The famous athlete is back home for the off season to tie up some loose ends. He was ready to sell his family's property and then head home, but his brother's ex Presley has other plans. She wants to restore are reopen the inn, and they clash at every turn. One run in after another and sparks fly while their living under the same roof. He tries to resist their undeniable attraction, but he's soon in over his head and addicted to the beautiful blond. When he falls for the one woman he shouldn't, things suddenly are very complicated.
-"I'm crazy about you..."
-"Let me show you all the reasons it's right."
-I couldn't remember wanting anything in my life as much as I wanted her.
Well Played by Vi Keeland & Penelope Ward is a sexy, standalone, small town, single parent, forbidden, frenimies to lovers romance. It's sweet, funny, and packed with plenty of swoon and chemistry. As usual this fabulous writing duo delivers an incredible love story with all the feels!
***NOW AVAILABLE***
https://amzn.to/3nqDjpy
(ARC provided by author)
-Falling for you was the simplest thing I've ever done.
Presley Sullivan is a 29 yr. old single mom who moves from New York back home to her hometown in South Carolina. She's returning to Beaufort to raise her son in the small town, and she's hoping the place will be good for them, and offer a fresh start. They'll be living in the B&B that her son inherited from his great grandfather. Half of the historic inn was left to her son Alex, and the other half to her son's uncle Levi. He's incredibly attractive, but stubborn and full of attitude.
Levi Miller is an NFL quarterback for the Denver Broncos. The famous athlete is back home for the off season to tie up some loose ends. He was ready to sell his family's property and then head home, but his brother's ex Presley has other plans. She wants to restore are reopen the inn, and they clash at every turn. One run in after another and sparks fly while their living under the same roof. He tries to resist their undeniable attraction, but he's soon in over his head and addicted to the beautiful blond. When he falls for the one woman he shouldn't, things suddenly are very complicated.
-"I'm crazy about you..."
-"Let me show you all the reasons it's right."
-I couldn't remember wanting anything in my life as much as I wanted her.
Well Played by Vi Keeland & Penelope Ward is a sexy, standalone, small town, single parent, forbidden, frenimies to lovers romance. It's sweet, funny, and packed with plenty of swoon and chemistry. As usual this fabulous writing duo delivers an incredible love story with all the feels!
***NOW AVAILABLE***
https://amzn.to/3nqDjpy
October 26, 2021
what? i'm just as shocked as you are.
December 19, 2021
2.5⭐️
What a sexfest!
There were so many things wrong with this book. To sum it up, there was just a lot of sexualization and objectification. I liked the ending, not the epilogue though. That was certainly trash.
What a sexfest!
There were so many things wrong with this book. To sum it up, there was just a lot of sexualization and objectification. I liked the ending, not the epilogue though. That was certainly trash.
October 21, 2021
Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward ramp up the sizzling H-O-T chemistry between NFL star Levi Miller and his brother’s ex in WELL PLAYED.
When Levi inherits half of his grandfather’s old inn along with his nephew, his first thought is to sell. There’s just one problem, Presley, his brother’s ex has moved from New York to Beauford in order to raise her son in their small town and run the inn as a B&B.
While they determine the fate of the inn as live under the same roof, Levi and Presley get to know each other right along his nephew’s. Will the guilt of betraying his brother stop him from being with the woman of his dreams?
This book has all the feels! There were so many hilarious, sweet and sexy moment in this story that had me glued to my eReader perfectly balanced out by angsty ones where I wanted to pause because I felt so sad for Levi and Presley.
Presley is a wonderful heroine. She’s smart, caring, fun, and a great mother. And Levi is a dirty talking, swoon worthy hero, who made my ovaries explode the minute his nephew, Presley’s son Alex told him he was a cruncle (cr@ppy uncle) and he made an executive decision to not only become a great uncle but step in his brother’s absence. I loved every scene with Alex and Levi!
Yes, Presley and Levi have many obstacles to overcome. More than most actually. And so I cheered more than usual for them, loving every minute of how their relationship and romance unfolded.
Well Played is a standalone contemporary romance by Vi Keeland & Penelope Ward. It’s told from both points of view with a beautiful happy ending. Subgenre: brother’s ex | forbidden romance | sports romance
* I was given an ARC of this book courtesy of the author via Give Me Books Promotions. The excerpts are from that copy. I am voluntarily reviewing this title. *
World building: 🐶🐶🐶🐶
Character development: 👤👤👤👤
Plot: 📚📚📚📚
Romance: 💕💕💕💕
Sexiness: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆:⭐4.5⭐️
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When Levi inherits half of his grandfather’s old inn along with his nephew, his first thought is to sell. There’s just one problem, Presley, his brother’s ex has moved from New York to Beauford in order to raise her son in their small town and run the inn as a B&B.
While they determine the fate of the inn as live under the same roof, Levi and Presley get to know each other right along his nephew’s. Will the guilt of betraying his brother stop him from being with the woman of his dreams?
This book has all the feels! There were so many hilarious, sweet and sexy moment in this story that had me glued to my eReader perfectly balanced out by angsty ones where I wanted to pause because I felt so sad for Levi and Presley.
Presley is a wonderful heroine. She’s smart, caring, fun, and a great mother. And Levi is a dirty talking, swoon worthy hero, who made my ovaries explode the minute his nephew, Presley’s son Alex told him he was a cruncle (cr@ppy uncle) and he made an executive decision to not only become a great uncle but step in his brother’s absence. I loved every scene with Alex and Levi!
Yes, Presley and Levi have many obstacles to overcome. More than most actually. And so I cheered more than usual for them, loving every minute of how their relationship and romance unfolded.
Well Played is a standalone contemporary romance by Vi Keeland & Penelope Ward. It’s told from both points of view with a beautiful happy ending. Subgenre: brother’s ex | forbidden romance | sports romance
* I was given an ARC of this book courtesy of the author via Give Me Books Promotions. The excerpts are from that copy. I am voluntarily reviewing this title. *
World building: 🐶🐶🐶🐶
Character development: 👤👤👤👤
Plot: 📚📚📚📚
Romance: 💕💕💕💕
Sexiness: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆:⭐4.5⭐️
Stalk me on FaceBook * Instagram * More reviews
November 4, 2021
3.5 stars?
[{a little spoiler-y below 👇}]
I kinda liked this one. I know that’s such a ringing endorsement, right? But it’s been a while since I’ve even thought that much of this duo’s more recent releases. — Full-length novels that is. I have liked two novellas somewhat recently. Although perhaps it’s because they were short. — Sure, there was still some obvious separation in between kinda liking to loving WP. Still, a win’s a win, even if it’s small. So…
musings
(both +s & -s along with the meh in between)
📌 I am hardly one who seeks out ‘taboo’ tropes as a reader(even taboo ‘lite’-ish tropes), but this one, the whole brother’s ex/ex’s brother, never really bothered me for two reasons. First of all, Presley(h) and Tanner were over beyond five years. Secondly, Tanner was a spoiled, cheating douche canoe & on top of that, let’s not forget a deadbeat dad where the story begins.
📌 Although the previous ‘taboo factor’ didn’t bother me, it still created the most palpable angst I’ve ever felt from this writing duo’s books.
📌 Presley(h) didn’t let Tanner(her ex, H’s brother ) make this become a true love triangle. I found it refreshing she cared about Tanner — not that he deserved it —, but her romantic feelings were done for him. So that was a big positive. Although she & H still went a little overboard being considerate of Tanner’s feelings.
📌 The fact Levi(H) wasn’t a suit with a borderline god complex is a big 👍 (that type being another one of their go-to tendencies — & many others too in the contemporary romance genre —). He also has the stupid cute Cruncle nickname — & yes, I’m leaving it there 😂.
📌 I did like the change of scenery, a southern small town-like locale, instead of their frequent big city-based settings.
📌 Emotional depth was a bit absent in their transition to lovers than I would’ve preferred. If there would’ve been a stronger foundation in the change in their relationship at the start, probably would’ve been one of the biggest keys to go from kinda liking to possibly loving this book.
📌 Enemies-to-lovers. Probably my favorite trope in all of romance…when it’s done right. It was done well for a hot second. That there, the latter, is becoming a growing pet peeve of mine with books advertised as enemies-to-lovers then it lasts all of 4 chapters —if that long with any luck— & then it’s all mooning with lust, as was the case here. I just don’t understand why so many authors flat out surrender the tension of it so quickly. Do they not understand the concept? Do they just not care? It literally takes me out of the story when it’s abruptly cut short with little or no transition. Honestly, it does take time to get over my disappointment & for me to reengage with the story, even then it doesn’t always happen. I did here find my way back into investing here however, so I’ll give WP that at least.
📌 I wish Tanner & Levi’s mother butted out. She meant well I guess, but gave way more than her “2 cents” a few times.
So hopefully that gives you a clearer idea of why I landed at kinda liking this one. It was very much a mixed bag that could’ve been really good with some tweaks & a deeper dive emotionally at the start.
……………………………………………………………………………
__________________________________
……………………………………………………………………………
Aimlessly scrolling through social media, I stop at this cover.
If the title isn’t apropos, idk what is. Cause my first thought was well played as usual by VK(& PW too, but especially Vi). She knows her audience likes & picks covers accordingly so we stop to take a longer look…well played indeed 👏.
Now renovating an inn with a forced proximity trope in the blurb has my interest, so I suppose I better prepare for any possible football inaccuracies(as I do with any football romance) since the hero’s a QB & try not to let them nag at me 🙈.
[{a little spoiler-y below 👇}]
I kinda liked this one. I know that’s such a ringing endorsement, right? But it’s been a while since I’ve even thought that much of this duo’s more recent releases. — Full-length novels that is. I have liked two novellas somewhat recently. Although perhaps it’s because they were short. — Sure, there was still some obvious separation in between kinda liking to loving WP. Still, a win’s a win, even if it’s small. So…
musings
(both +s & -s along with the meh in between)
📌 I am hardly one who seeks out ‘taboo’ tropes as a reader(even taboo ‘lite’-ish tropes), but this one, the whole brother’s ex/ex’s brother, never really bothered me for two reasons. First of all, Presley(h) and Tanner were over beyond five years. Secondly, Tanner was a spoiled, cheating douche canoe & on top of that, let’s not forget a deadbeat dad where the story begins.
📌 Although the previous ‘taboo factor’ didn’t bother me, it still created the most palpable angst I’ve ever felt from this writing duo’s books.
📌 Presley(h) didn’t let Tanner(her ex, H’s brother ) make this become a true love triangle. I found it refreshing she cared about Tanner — not that he deserved it —, but her romantic feelings were done for him. So that was a big positive. Although she & H still went a little overboard being considerate of Tanner’s feelings.
📌 The fact Levi(H) wasn’t a suit with a borderline god complex is a big 👍 (that type being another one of their go-to tendencies — & many others too in the contemporary romance genre —). He also has the stupid cute Cruncle nickname — & yes, I’m leaving it there 😂.
📌 I did like the change of scenery, a southern small town-like locale, instead of their frequent big city-based settings.
📌 Emotional depth was a bit absent in their transition to lovers than I would’ve preferred. If there would’ve been a stronger foundation in the change in their relationship at the start, probably would’ve been one of the biggest keys to go from kinda liking to possibly loving this book.
📌 Enemies-to-lovers. Probably my favorite trope in all of romance…when it’s done right. It was done well for a hot second. That there, the latter, is becoming a growing pet peeve of mine with books advertised as enemies-to-lovers then it lasts all of 4 chapters —if that long with any luck— & then it’s all mooning with lust, as was the case here. I just don’t understand why so many authors flat out surrender the tension of it so quickly. Do they not understand the concept? Do they just not care? It literally takes me out of the story when it’s abruptly cut short with little or no transition. Honestly, it does take time to get over my disappointment & for me to reengage with the story, even then it doesn’t always happen. I did here find my way back into investing here however, so I’ll give WP that at least.
📌 I wish Tanner & Levi’s mother butted out. She meant well I guess, but gave way more than her “2 cents” a few times.
So hopefully that gives you a clearer idea of why I landed at kinda liking this one. It was very much a mixed bag that could’ve been really good with some tweaks & a deeper dive emotionally at the start.
……………………………………………………………………………
__________________________________
……………………………………………………………………………
Aimlessly scrolling through social media, I stop at this cover.
If the title isn’t apropos, idk what is. Cause my first thought was well played as usual by VK(& PW too, but especially Vi). She knows her audience likes & picks covers accordingly so we stop to take a longer look…well played indeed 👏.
Now renovating an inn with a forced proximity trope in the blurb has my interest, so I suppose I better prepare for any possible football inaccuracies(as I do with any football romance) since the hero’s a QB & try not to let them nag at me 🙈.
November 1, 2021
Not sure how I feel about this one. I wanted to love it but I had some issues with the heroine. Why would you let a guy who basically treated you (and the son you had together ) like crap for years (cheating, absentee father, late with child support) back into your life? Yes, he wanted to make amends after finally (maybe?) changing his ways....but isn't it too late after you've fallen for someone else? I know Presley said she didn't want a relationship with him again, but I thought she was kind of wishy washy about it. Tell him in no uncertain terms that you will NEVER have romantic feelings for him again ( unless you want to continue to be a doormat?) I just didn't understand why she thought she owed him anything besides being civil for the sake of their son. Yes, the whole situation of falling in love with the ex's brother was super messy and guilt inducing, but this is a guy who did you wrong. Stand up for yourself (I wanted to yell)!
Oh well, they can't be 5 star reads when I have issues with the characters...
I did love Levi most of the time...
3 1/2--4 stars
Oh well, they can't be 5 star reads when I have issues with the characters...
I did love Levi most of the time...
3 1/2--4 stars
January 16, 2022
DNF
Sadly, I have to shelfed Well Played under DNF. I have to admit that I am not a big fan of Miss Ward and Miss Keeland' s work. In the past, I still can tolerate some of their books, but not this one.
The problem with this book is the dialog happening inside the heroine's head. There are some hero's POV but again, inner dialog. I do not feel any connection or chemistry between the characters. None at all.
Their interaction is rushed and dragged on unnecessary parts.
I got bored really fast. Sorry....
Moving on....
2 stars
Sadly, I have to shelfed Well Played under DNF. I have to admit that I am not a big fan of Miss Ward and Miss Keeland' s work. In the past, I still can tolerate some of their books, but not this one.
The problem with this book is the dialog happening inside the heroine's head. There are some hero's POV but again, inner dialog. I do not feel any connection or chemistry between the characters. None at all.
Their interaction is rushed and dragged on unnecessary parts.
I got bored really fast. Sorry....
Moving on....
2 stars
August 3, 2024
Smexy sports romance!
The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: 🖤💙❤️💚
Heat/Steam: 🔥🔥
Story/Plot: 📕📗📘📙
World building: 🌏🌍🌎🌍🌎
Character development: 🙂🥰☺️😎
Narrator(s): 🎙🎙🎙🎙🎙
Narration type: Dual Narration
The heroine: Presley Sullivan - she grew up in Beaufort South Carolina, dated a football player named Tanner Miller all through high school and she moved to New York with him to go to college. After college, he got drafted by the NFL but had a career ending injury not long into his first season. Presley has been raising their son as a single parent after catching him with other women on two separate occasions. Tanner has been a deadbeat dad with a gambling problem ever since, so when their son Alex inherited half of a bed and breakfast in Presley’s home town, she decided to move down there and bring up her son in the town where she grew up.
The Hero: Levi Miller - he was the Quarterback for the Denver Broncos and the MVP of the last Super Bowl. He is also the older brother of Tanner, and he inherited the other half of the bed and breakfast from his grandfather when he died. He travels down top Beaufort, where he grew up, to sell the inn and is surprised to find that Presley and Alex are there, and that Presley doesn’t want to sell the place. Despite the fact that it is practically falling down.
The Story: Levi doesn’t date much since he has a hard time finding a woman who actually wants to know him and be with him and not a gold digger or someone who just wants to be with someone famous. Presley hasn’t dated much since she broke up with Tanner, since she has been focused on raising her seven-year-old son. When they are living together at the house in Beaufort, they become closer and learn that they didn’t really know each other before. They also find that they are attracted to each other.
I liked the chemistry between these two characters. The sexual tension was pretty hot. There was the added tension of the fact that Levi was the brother of Presley’s ex and her son’s uncle, so he was kind of forbidden. I actually really liked this book. Usually, the exes brother trope bores me a bit because the whole thing revolves around the two main characters being afraid to tell the ex what is going on, and this was that for a bit, but they had their reasons and it wasn’t just that dating your brothers ex goes against bro code.
This audiobook was told in dual points of view via dual narration and was narrated by Sebastian York and Andi Arndt. These two are some of my favorite narrators. Sebastian York has a deep, gravelly voice that sounds so genuine, you can’t help but like him. Andi Arndt has a clear, yet soft voice and has a pretty good voice for male characters as well, she also has the southern accent down pat.
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The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: 🖤💙❤️💚
Heat/Steam: 🔥🔥
Story/Plot: 📕📗📘📙
World building: 🌏🌍🌎🌍🌎
Character development: 🙂🥰☺️😎
Narrator(s): 🎙🎙🎙🎙🎙
Narration type: Dual Narration
The heroine: Presley Sullivan - she grew up in Beaufort South Carolina, dated a football player named Tanner Miller all through high school and she moved to New York with him to go to college. After college, he got drafted by the NFL but had a career ending injury not long into his first season. Presley has been raising their son as a single parent after catching him with other women on two separate occasions. Tanner has been a deadbeat dad with a gambling problem ever since, so when their son Alex inherited half of a bed and breakfast in Presley’s home town, she decided to move down there and bring up her son in the town where she grew up.
The Hero: Levi Miller - he was the Quarterback for the Denver Broncos and the MVP of the last Super Bowl. He is also the older brother of Tanner, and he inherited the other half of the bed and breakfast from his grandfather when he died. He travels down top Beaufort, where he grew up, to sell the inn and is surprised to find that Presley and Alex are there, and that Presley doesn’t want to sell the place. Despite the fact that it is practically falling down.
The Story: Levi doesn’t date much since he has a hard time finding a woman who actually wants to know him and be with him and not a gold digger or someone who just wants to be with someone famous. Presley hasn’t dated much since she broke up with Tanner, since she has been focused on raising her seven-year-old son. When they are living together at the house in Beaufort, they become closer and learn that they didn’t really know each other before. They also find that they are attracted to each other.
I liked the chemistry between these two characters. The sexual tension was pretty hot. There was the added tension of the fact that Levi was the brother of Presley’s ex and her son’s uncle, so he was kind of forbidden. I actually really liked this book. Usually, the exes brother trope bores me a bit because the whole thing revolves around the two main characters being afraid to tell the ex what is going on, and this was that for a bit, but they had their reasons and it wasn’t just that dating your brothers ex goes against bro code.
This audiobook was told in dual points of view via dual narration and was narrated by Sebastian York and Andi Arndt. These two are some of my favorite narrators. Sebastian York has a deep, gravelly voice that sounds so genuine, you can’t help but like him. Andi Arndt has a clear, yet soft voice and has a pretty good voice for male characters as well, she also has the southern accent down pat.
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October 27, 2021
3.5 Not The Waltons Stars
* * * 1/2 Spoiler Free
So by my title, you might figure out I am of the older generation. A reference to the older one time, icon TV series would totally do it. For those who have no idea what I am talking about, this series was about a family during the past that had many siblings, worked hard and in the end always came together with no matter what, with the ending being all of them calling out a good night to each other, and the last one was, "Good Night John Boy".
I reference this concept because this book has its own family drama as part of the center plot.
We have a partially inherited historic inn from a great grandfather, the single mother with a son, and the quarterback whose the other owner of the inn and whose brother is the woman's ex.
Yup, that is the complicated setup for this romance. Add to this snappy dialogue, interest in making this Inn the wonder it used to be, and the quarterback wanting to sell, and moving on.
So a deal is struck, the woman will get this Inn all set up to be successful before the quarterback's season starts. Will it work, who will come out the victor, and will desire take over, and a "forbidden" romance begin.
This is the premise, intertwined family relations, conflicts, love, and caring. Kinda like a steamy Waltons episode.
Well Played
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
~~~~~ Before Reading ~~~~~
September 18, 2021
Oh, My...
I've Been Seduced...
Just By Gazing At This Cover...
Yes, There Is A Story...
Yes, The Set-Up Is Solid...
But I Would Be A Liar...
If I Didn't Admit...
It Is The Cover People...
That Has Me ...
Well Played- October 25, 2021
For more Reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways
* * * 1/2 Spoiler Free
So by my title, you might figure out I am of the older generation. A reference to the older one time, icon TV series would totally do it. For those who have no idea what I am talking about, this series was about a family during the past that had many siblings, worked hard and in the end always came together with no matter what, with the ending being all of them calling out a good night to each other, and the last one was, "Good Night John Boy".
I reference this concept because this book has its own family drama as part of the center plot.
We have a partially inherited historic inn from a great grandfather, the single mother with a son, and the quarterback whose the other owner of the inn and whose brother is the woman's ex.
Yup, that is the complicated setup for this romance. Add to this snappy dialogue, interest in making this Inn the wonder it used to be, and the quarterback wanting to sell, and moving on.
So a deal is struck, the woman will get this Inn all set up to be successful before the quarterback's season starts. Will it work, who will come out the victor, and will desire take over, and a "forbidden" romance begin.
This is the premise, intertwined family relations, conflicts, love, and caring. Kinda like a steamy Waltons episode.
Well Playedhttps://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
~~~~~ Before Reading ~~~~~
September 18, 2021
Oh, My...
I've Been Seduced...
Just By Gazing At This Cover...
Yes, There Is A Story...
Yes, The Set-Up Is Solid...
But I Would Be A Liar...
If I Didn't Admit...
It Is The Cover People...
That Has Me ...
Well Played- October 25, 2021
For more Reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways
October 31, 2021
Presley and her son Alex have just moved back to Beaufort, the town she grew up in. Her son Alex has been left half ownership of the old family inn. The other has been left to Levi, her ex brother in law. Presley was married to his brother Tanner, after meeting when they were young and falling in love.
After Tanner had a football career ending injury he began to spiral down. After breaking her trust one too many times, they went their separate ways. Since then, Tanner has been very intermittent with his contact with their son, often letting him down so moving away is probably for the best for everyone.
Presley knows she has a huge job ahead of her to bring the inn back to its original state but it’s one she willingly takes on, she just knows that once all the hard work is done it will turn back into a very profitable venture. Therefore when Levi comes knocking on the door and declares his intention to sell the inn, they make a bet, one that he believes he can win.
Having Levi around turns out to not be as bad as she thought it would be, after some initial clashing she realises how much Alex has missed having a man in his life. He loves all the one on one attention he gets from Uncle Levi and they quickly form a close bond. Levi is a professional footballer and is only there for summer break, before he returns to his team.
Levi is embarrassed about his lack of connection to his nephew in the past and he means to make up for it going forward. He also finds out that the stories his brother had told him about the reasons for the break up with Presley were completely wrong. He knows that Tanner carries a lot of resentment towards him, his brother has the life he dreamed of having. Instead of making the best of what he had though, he wallowed in self pity and ended up losing everything.
Levi rolls up his sleeves and helps Presley with the inn makeover, the more time they spend together the closer they get to each other. He finds himself thinking differently about his future, one that now includes Presley and Alex. His feelings for Presley are growing each day and things eventually simmer over into more than friendship. They are both riddled with guilt about how right this all feels, knowing they are hiding it from everyone.
When the past comes knocking on their door, life gets real very quickly and some tough decisions will have to be made. Either way, there will be no escaping the heartache. This is a great weekend read, with a nice serving of angst to keep the pages turning
After Tanner had a football career ending injury he began to spiral down. After breaking her trust one too many times, they went their separate ways. Since then, Tanner has been very intermittent with his contact with their son, often letting him down so moving away is probably for the best for everyone.
Presley knows she has a huge job ahead of her to bring the inn back to its original state but it’s one she willingly takes on, she just knows that once all the hard work is done it will turn back into a very profitable venture. Therefore when Levi comes knocking on the door and declares his intention to sell the inn, they make a bet, one that he believes he can win.
Having Levi around turns out to not be as bad as she thought it would be, after some initial clashing she realises how much Alex has missed having a man in his life. He loves all the one on one attention he gets from Uncle Levi and they quickly form a close bond. Levi is a professional footballer and is only there for summer break, before he returns to his team.
Levi is embarrassed about his lack of connection to his nephew in the past and he means to make up for it going forward. He also finds out that the stories his brother had told him about the reasons for the break up with Presley were completely wrong. He knows that Tanner carries a lot of resentment towards him, his brother has the life he dreamed of having. Instead of making the best of what he had though, he wallowed in self pity and ended up losing everything.
Levi rolls up his sleeves and helps Presley with the inn makeover, the more time they spend together the closer they get to each other. He finds himself thinking differently about his future, one that now includes Presley and Alex. His feelings for Presley are growing each day and things eventually simmer over into more than friendship. They are both riddled with guilt about how right this all feels, knowing they are hiding it from everyone.
When the past comes knocking on their door, life gets real very quickly and some tough decisions will have to be made. Either way, there will be no escaping the heartache. This is a great weekend read, with a nice serving of angst to keep the pages turning
January 2, 2022
3⭐️
i kinda knew where this book was going (the whole thing with the ex and now the ex's brother) its just so fucking annoying.
i kinda loved it up until like half way when they started hiding that they are dating. i'm over it, i feel like authors write this trope exactly the same (ex's brother). idk why i thought this would be written differently.
“there's no such thing as not having time for the people you care about.”
i kinda knew where this book was going (the whole thing with the ex and now the ex's brother) its just so fucking annoying.
i kinda loved it up until like half way when they started hiding that they are dating. i'm over it, i feel like authors write this trope exactly the same (ex's brother). idk why i thought this would be written differently.
December 17, 2021
SO many swoony feels, laughs, and steamy moments! Well Played has all that I love- a dynamic writing duo, characters you all for, small town charm, magnetic chemistry, and a mixture of tropes that I live for- small town, slightly forbidden, single parent
Our heroine Prelsey learns her son, Alex, has inherited half of the family B and B- and the thought of restoring this amazing inn back to its former glory sounds like a great gig, except for the fact that she learns the other half has been inherited by her ex’s brother, Levi. Not only do they have that awkwardness to contend with, but they also both have divergent ideas about what to do about the B and B- and getting on the same page is not going to be easy, especially once sparks start flying.
From their very first meet-cute (our should I say RE-meet cute), I loved these two together. The story has a good dose of angst- particularly given Levi’s baggage as it relates to his attraction to his brother’s ex. But we have so many sweet and sincere romance that make this small town romance just super feel-good and heartfelt. And, as usual with these two authors, we have plenty of funny and sexy moments too. Their connection blossoms so authentically and so endearingly, you just fall madly in love with them both- rooting for them to find their own path forward.
Presley is a super likable heroine- she’s clever, loving, got a bit of spunk, and she’s such a wonderful and thoughtful mother. And Levi is everything I want in a Vi-Pen hero- swoony and sexy. Houston, we have a dirty talker! I loved him with Presley, but I also loved how he tries to repair his fragile relationship with Alex, Presley’s son, to be the uncle and father figure he deserves.
Of course, given these dynamics, their path to romance isn’t easy, particularly emotionally- but their connection felt so stable and sure. In the end, all you can do is follow you heart, and stay true to who you are and who you want to be, and I loved the sweet way these two found each other and found a path to do just that. All the sweet, swoony feels!
November 8, 2021
i don't know why i still bother reading any vi keeland/penelope ward book because not even my favorite tropes can make me like their books ugh
December 18, 2021
communal dick trope wasn't aware of it before I picked it up
have to dnf it I just hate this in romance books
have to dnf it I just hate this in romance books
October 24, 2021
Oh, my heart! I want to scream from my rooftop about Well Played, by Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward. Since I'm not going to go up on my roof like a lunatic, I'm going to scream about this book from the comfort of my laptop. I didn't expect ALL OF THE FEELS! Vi and Penelope dialed up feels, heat (thanks for steaming up my Kindle screen), and fun! This all-consuming, forbidden romance is both addictive and intoxicating.
I've said this before, and I'll say it again and again, Vi and Penelope make it impossible to not fall in love with their characters and their co-authored books. I'm happily addicted to their writing! Well Played is 110% Kindle Crack. I'm book buzzed from Levi and Presley. Well Played is on my Best of 2021 Book List.

"That was better than any touchdown or Super Bowl win."
As a reader, I felt like I won the Super Bowl after reading this book. I hugged my Kindle.
I've said this before, and I'll say it again and again, Vi and Penelope make it impossible to not fall in love with their characters and their co-authored books. I'm happily addicted to their writing! Well Played is 110% Kindle Crack. I'm book buzzed from Levi and Presley. Well Played is on my Best of 2021 Book List.

"That was better than any touchdown or Super Bowl win."
As a reader, I felt like I won the Super Bowl after reading this book. I hugged my Kindle.
Shelved as 'dnf-or-didn-t-find-it-interesting'
September 6, 2021I'm such a cover whore
November 30, 2021
This novel is a fresh spin on a few fun romance novel tropes. Single mother Presley moves back home with her son after inheriting an old inn from her ex’s father. But she only inherited half of the inn–the other half went to her ex’s brother. (Her ex’s brother being a professional football star–you can check another trope off there!) He wants to sell, and she wants to bring it back to its former glory. So what do they do? They make a bet, of course! And what is the result? True love!
This book is sweet, but also very angsty. Presley and Levi fight their growing feelings for each other every step of the way, as they’re worried about how Presley’s ex (and Levi’s brother) will react to the news of them getting together.
This book is very entertaining and well-written. All in all, I recommend this novel if you’re a fan of any of the aforementioned tropes!
This book is sweet, but also very angsty. Presley and Levi fight their growing feelings for each other every step of the way, as they’re worried about how Presley’s ex (and Levi’s brother) will react to the news of them getting together.
This book is very entertaining and well-written. All in all, I recommend this novel if you’re a fan of any of the aforementioned tropes!
October 27, 2021
Dnf. Stopped at 44%
While I love these authors I couldn't bring myself to finish the rest of the book. It did not hold my interest. I got too bored. It started great but after that I just couldn't continue with it.
While I love these authors I couldn't bring myself to finish the rest of the book. It did not hold my interest. I got too bored. It started great but after that I just couldn't continue with it.
October 27, 2021
When Presley’s young son inherits half of a hotel when his grandfather passed away, Presley picks up there life in NYC and moves them to a small town & into the hotel. Presley wants to fix up the hotel and make a good life for her son. The other half of the hotel was inherited to Presley’s ex’s older brother, Levi. He’s an NFL star and would rather sell off the property than fix it up. Presley couldn’t be more annoyed by Levi showing up and wanting to sell off her potential livelihood.
So instead of making a decision right off the bat, Levi & Presley make a bet. If Presley can sellout the hotel after fixing it up, she can continue running it. If not, they’ll sell the property to the highest bidder & split the profits.
But somewhere along the way, Levi falls hard for Presley. The only problem? Levi’s brother would never forgive him for dating his ex, let alone fall in love with her.
Well Played by Vi Keeland & Penelope Ward is the latest release by one of my favorite author duos. I loved the setup of this romance and the enemies to lovers trope that was at the beginning, although, I feel the enemies portion could’ve lasted longer before Levi & Presley became lovers. They had great chemistry and both have hearts of gold. My biggest gripe was how much Presley’s ex, Tanner, played a part in this story. His drama was abundant and drawn out. If their romance was a bigger focus during the latter half of the story, this could’ve been a 5-star read for me. 4/5 stars.
So instead of making a decision right off the bat, Levi & Presley make a bet. If Presley can sellout the hotel after fixing it up, she can continue running it. If not, they’ll sell the property to the highest bidder & split the profits.
But somewhere along the way, Levi falls hard for Presley. The only problem? Levi’s brother would never forgive him for dating his ex, let alone fall in love with her.
Well Played by Vi Keeland & Penelope Ward is the latest release by one of my favorite author duos. I loved the setup of this romance and the enemies to lovers trope that was at the beginning, although, I feel the enemies portion could’ve lasted longer before Levi & Presley became lovers. They had great chemistry and both have hearts of gold. My biggest gripe was how much Presley’s ex, Tanner, played a part in this story. His drama was abundant and drawn out. If their romance was a bigger focus during the latter half of the story, this could’ve been a 5-star read for me. 4/5 stars.
October 25, 2021
I feel like it’s more of a 3⭐️, but i really love these ladies who wrote it, so… 🤷🏼♀️
It was too long for this trope. It missed the quick-wit dialogue i was used to from the previous books and I also hated the whole (dragged) situation with Tanner.
It was too long for this trope. It missed the quick-wit dialogue i was used to from the previous books and I also hated the whole (dragged) situation with Tanner.
April 14, 2023
Presley zieht mit ihrem Sohn zurück in ihre Heimatstadt, als sie die Hälfte des Bed & Breakfast von seinem Urgroßvater erbt. Die andere Hälfte geht an Levi, der Bruder ihres Ex-Verlobten, und der möchte die Pension lieber verkaufen, während Presley sie renovieren und dort mit ihrem Sohn leben möchte.
Levi hat keine hohe Meinung von Presley, er glaubt, dass sie nur hinter dem Geld seines Bruders her ist und nun durch den Umzug sein Kind von ihm fernhält. Er selbst ist als erfolgreicher Quarterback immer unterwegs und hat kein Interesse daran, sich um die Pension zu kümmern, aber Presleys Beharrlichkeit und die Erinnerungen an seinen Großvater ändern seine Meinung bald. Und er muss auch erkennen, dass sein Bruder nicht das Opfer in ihrer Beziehung war. Seine Karriere als Sportler ist meistens eher nebensächlich und man merkt, dass er eigentlich eher eine Tendenz zur Bodenständigkeit hat.
Presley will ihrem Sohn Alex nur ein gutes Leben und Stabilität bieten und sein Vater Tanner hat sich da als unzuverlässig erwiesen. In ihrer Heimatstadt sorgt sich sein Onkel Levi mehr um den kleinen Jungen als Tanner es je getan hat und so wird er schnell zu einer Vaterfigur, und die Verbindung zwischen ihnen hat mir sehr gut gefallen.
Für Presley ist immer klar: an erster Stelle steht immer ihr Sohn. Sie war schon immer vorsichtig, wenn es um romantische Beziehungen geht, aber ihre Gefühle für Levi sind unerwartet und kompliziert. Die Missverständnisse zwischen Presley und Levi sind schnell geklärt, aber Tanner steht immer irgendwie zwischen ihnen. Trotzdem haben Presley, Levi und Alex eine süße Familiendynamik, halten zusammen und unterstützen sich gegenseitig.
Levi hat keine hohe Meinung von Presley, er glaubt, dass sie nur hinter dem Geld seines Bruders her ist und nun durch den Umzug sein Kind von ihm fernhält. Er selbst ist als erfolgreicher Quarterback immer unterwegs und hat kein Interesse daran, sich um die Pension zu kümmern, aber Presleys Beharrlichkeit und die Erinnerungen an seinen Großvater ändern seine Meinung bald. Und er muss auch erkennen, dass sein Bruder nicht das Opfer in ihrer Beziehung war. Seine Karriere als Sportler ist meistens eher nebensächlich und man merkt, dass er eigentlich eher eine Tendenz zur Bodenständigkeit hat.
Presley will ihrem Sohn Alex nur ein gutes Leben und Stabilität bieten und sein Vater Tanner hat sich da als unzuverlässig erwiesen. In ihrer Heimatstadt sorgt sich sein Onkel Levi mehr um den kleinen Jungen als Tanner es je getan hat und so wird er schnell zu einer Vaterfigur, und die Verbindung zwischen ihnen hat mir sehr gut gefallen.
Für Presley ist immer klar: an erster Stelle steht immer ihr Sohn. Sie war schon immer vorsichtig, wenn es um romantische Beziehungen geht, aber ihre Gefühle für Levi sind unerwartet und kompliziert. Die Missverständnisse zwischen Presley und Levi sind schnell geklärt, aber Tanner steht immer irgendwie zwischen ihnen. Trotzdem haben Presley, Levi und Alex eine süße Familiendynamik, halten zusammen und unterstützen sich gegenseitig.
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