Playing for Keeps
Miami Piranhas, Book 1
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Playing for Keeps
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Narrated by:
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Darcy Stark
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By:
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Beth Bolden
About this listen
Sebastian Howard is the best damn cornerback in the NFL.
Or at least he was.
Age and injuries have taken a toll, and while most people have written him off, Sebastian isn’t ready to acknowledge that at only 32, he’s already in the twilight of his career.
He signs with the Miami Piranhas intending to prove everyone wrong, only to realize that the head coach’s son, out-and-proud Beau Dawson, doesn’t believe he can.
Beau is infuriating but brilliant, and when he offers to help him on the field, Sebastian wants to say yes, but there’s one thing stopping him: the unexpected, inconvenient, and all-consuming crush he doesn’t want to have on Beau.
But Beau isn’t interested in playing it safe, with football or with anything else, and soon they’re embroiled in a hot—and secret—affair that would finish Sebastian’s career if Coach Dawson found out.
As Sebastian falls harder for Beau, he begins to realize that actually the worst thing in the world isn’t getting benched, but losing the man he loves.
©2022 Earl Gray Publishing LLC (P)2023 Earl Gray Publishing LLCListeners also enjoyed...
What listeners say about Playing for Keeps
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- ButtonsMom2003
- 20-05-23
Great story!
I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this audiobook. Darcy Stark did a great job with all of the different character voices. This is only my second book by Beth Bolden and I’m really loving this series. Sebastian and Beau make a great couple!
A complimentary copy of this audiobook was provided to me at my request; my review was voluntary and not influenced by the author and/or narrator.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Nette
- 22-05-23
great football story
I have read a few books by this author and have always enjoyed. I enjoyed this low angst football story. There were quite a lot of football talk which is good for someone like me who don't understand it. Footballer Sebastian is nearing the latter part of his career and when he signs with the Miami Piranhas he is encouraged to change his position by the coach's son and assistant Beau it bring some arguments, however they have a lot of chemistry too. Inevitably they end up in bed which is the start of their relationship. I enjoyed this story. The narration was ok but might have been better with two narrators.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- L.D.
- 29-05-23
Love Stats
Playing for Keeps is the first book in the Miami Piranhas series. There is a prequel book before this one, and although you don’t have to read that one first to enjoy this one, I did like reading this series in order. Seb and Beau are a wonderful couple and I really liked how they worked through the obstacles in their relationships and their own professional lives. I don’t know much about football, but I found this really enjoyable and I liked the way the author described the game play. I was very invested in the game outcomes for the characters and for once in my life thought football was exciting. The romance and plot were entertaining and overall a great book.
The audiobook was narrated by Darcy Stark who does a wonderful job. I liked how he brought the characters to life and made the game play feel intense and real.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Vania
- 01-06-23
Beau and Sebastian
Sebastian and Beau’s relationship certainly starts on a rocky terrain. Despite the immediate and undeniable attraction, Sebastian is resistant, to say the least, to Beau’s idea of him changing his role on the field. Add the fact that they work together, Beau is not out and Beau is the head coach’s son, and bot men really don’t want to go there. Except the attraction burns too hot to ignore, and when they start spending more time together, on and off the field, their connection deepens o the point that their whole life/work balance they have known their whole lives, starts to shift. The has low angst side, not too much drama (which I loved), a lot of UST in the beginning and lots of football talk!
I love how strong Beau is; he is used to work hard to prove his worth despite often being dismissed as “just the coach’s gay son” and he has learned to keep his back straight and his chin up; really few things shake him! Sebastian starts out resisting change and clinging to his past; as a biracial (closeted) gay man, he’s used to fight twice as hard to get anything he wants and he doesn’t ‘t want to let go. But I loved that once he realises that Beau’s suggestions have merit, he’s all in and the first one to jump him to promote and support the team!
I liked this book a lot this book and can’t wait to read more stories from the Piranhas guys!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Ida Umphers
- 20-05-23
Wonderful series intro
The Piranhas are going to be a fantastic team to follow if this book is any indication. I loved seeing how Beau's mind worked as he helps his father put the team together and get it working like a well oiled machine. Part of that machine is Sebastian who is dealing with aging out of his days as a superb athlete. He and Beau strike sparks from the beginning and watching their relationship grow from sneaking around from his father the coach to be together to being open and honest was wonderful. Bring on the next book! It's usually a tie for me between reading a book and listening to the audio version, but in this case I have to say I think I enjoyed the audio a tiny bit more. Darcy Stark did such a good job with all these characters I could "see" everything like a movie.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Meph666
- 31-05-23
Great story wonderfully brought to life by Darcy
Playing for Keeps is a great first book of this new series from Beth Bolden. It's a fairly low angst romance with just a bit of drama in the American football department.
Sebastian is being put to work in a different role than he's been playing in his whole career and he's got Beau to thank for the idea, not that he wants to thank him. However, there's no way to stay mad at the guy you're crazy attracted to when you want him so much and his plan actually works out very well, for both Sebastian and the team.
This couple have great chemistry from the start, initially at odds as Sebastian fights against the plan but they soon ignite on page and keep that level going throughout the story. I love how things develop for them and they're both fairly open and honest about what they want. The football is also well written and easy to follow, even for someone who has no clue about it! There is a great team of players here with lots of potential for strong friendships and possible future MC's.
A great read from Beth Bolden, can see this being another hit series for them.
Darcy Stark is a fantastic narrator and really brings out the best of this story and the characters. I found myself invested all over again in the developing relationship between Bo and Sebastian, their emotions about football and each other shining through.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- sarah mitcham
- 01-06-23
More Than A Game.
MM, Sports themed, Contemporary, Romance. Easy listening with great characters, book 1 in the series and can be listened to and enjoyed as a stand-alone with no loss of enjoyment or understanding or as part of the entire series. A great listen which I thoroughly enjoyed, narrated extremely well. Guaranteed HEA.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Amelia
- 30-05-23
What an explosive start to a new football series
It's no secret that I'm a die-hard Beth Bolden fan, and despite not caring a single bit about football IRL I've always loved her football romances. Sebastian and Beau's story was no exception, and though I don't have the same attachment to the Piranhas as I did to the Riptide, I can already tell I'm going to end up loving this team just as hard. I especially enjoyed this story because it showcased more of the team dynamic in football. It was a ton of fun to watch these guys gel into a formidable unit as their season progressed, and I even found myself engaging in the technical discussions of play types and positions because I was just so excited to learn about this new cast of characters. Beau's perspective on football was particularly unique, and it was fascinating to see how his brain worked to put the puzzle pieces of a balanced team together. Sebastian's struggle to accept his new position on the team initially confused me, because I don't understand the stigmas associated with any particular role, but I was still able to connect with the emotions he was feeling. Don't even get me started on how absolutely THRILLED I was to see Beth cranking the heat up on Beau and Sebastian's romance. These two broke the slow-burn mold I've grown accustomed to, and I loved the change of pace. Their relationship journey had all the usual emotional development I adore so much, but with the added bonus of super steamy hookups whenever these two needed to release some energy. Both the romance and the overall storyline came to a highly satisfying conclusion, and I'm already really looking forward to what's next for this team.
**I voluntarily listened to a free copy of this book. This review expresses my honest thoughts and opinions.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Heather Duff
- 24-05-23
Sweet and Sexy
I was excited to listen to Playing for Keeps which was recently released in audiobook, and I was disappointed. This is sweet, sexy and wonderful low-angst (but not fluffy).
A forbidden romance between the coach’s assistant/son, and a star quarterback. Beau’s on a mission to convince Sebastian that it’s time to change positions. Not something he’s eager to do. It becomes a battle of wills that ends up bringing these two together.
There’s a lot of tension brewing besides the work conflict, like the sexual tension, and the fact that Sebastian isn’t out. But these two have a really sweet bond that helps them through it all.
I was cheering these two on, and I’ll continue to cheer for this whole team of underdogs.
Narrator Darcy Stark does a lovely job on this, so if you like audiobooks you’ll enjoy this.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Edga
- 20-05-23
Great start to a new series
I'm gonna start with saying how great this book is from beginning to end because of the amazing character development. I also love me a double point of view, my total favourite, and it reveals Beau as a smart cookie, but both a lovable and endearing hero. He's definitely a down to earth and relatable character. Sebastian is also swoon worthy. I've already added him to my book boyfriend hareem. I adored the way in which he treated Beau, with such care and respect. The chemistry between them was irresistible, and when Sebastian proposes a kind of teammates with benefits arrangement, Beau finds it impossible to turn him down.
I loved the development in their relationship - the trust they built, their connection, and the support they showed one another. I felt that their relationship evolved naturally into something that they were both heavily invested in. They each struggled with personal things and the pressures put upon them, but I loved how they made each other stronger and their feelings gave them courage to follow their feelings. Darcy Stark does a great job bringing the story to life.
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