The Keeper (Playing To Win)

Loved this one. I'm new to this author and will be looking at reading her other books since it seems she has built quite the world with other characters.

But first things first: Spice: 🌶🌶/🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶(2.5/5) Medium burn 🔥 Standalone, possibly interconnected though M/F first person POV Violence/gore (3/5) there isn't a lot of violence but the few scenes it exists are a bit graphic Tropes: friends to lovers, childhood crushes, big loving families, rich girl/rich guy, hockey, pro figure skater, slight age gap, virgin, gets married while drunk in Vegas

Premise in a nut shell: best friends since teens, each with secret crushes on the other, the two main characters have a little too much to drink in Vegas and wake up married. He refuses to get an annulment and is willing to do anything to convince her to give their marriage a chance.

Thoughts: this had the potential to be angsty with some of the subject matter but the author managed to write this in such a way as to keep things relatively light weight. This was a pleasure to read, literally. Everyone is likeable and friendly and fun or funny. The main make character is a sweetheart with just enough edge to bot be corny. The main female character is sweet and smart and brave. All the side characters are detailed and unique and worthy of spinoff which I suspect there are quite a few already that I just haven't read yet. I enjoyed every page.

I have not read the 1st generation of Kroydon Hills books. This was my introduction to this group. I don't know if I had trouble with the side characters because of that or I am just getting worse with keeping track of them and such. The description does let you know it is the 2nd generation and a standalone. As I was reading, I did wonder if it would have been better if I read the other books first because you know there is more to the story and a past to it, by the end of the story I felt like I knew all the details I needed to enjoy this story and have the full picture of this couple. Saying that if I read other books and that gives me a little more to their story it will be enjoyable and could have me re-reading this story - that will not be a problem!

I read this book in one sitting. I did not want to stop reading and stayed up late to finish it. I woke up still smiling over this book and very happy I read it,

You read very quickly that it is both of them that have hidden feelings for each other and that made me smile over this book a little more. They have been through so much together and you see how strong their friendship is. She is the one that doesn't remember, and he is patient with her to remember and doesn't let it hold him back. This book shows how much patience, love, support and devotion these two have for each other. Everyone deserves to have his level of devotion to her, in their own partner.

If you want swoon from beginning to end, this is the book for you!

Easton and Lindy have a bond that hold them at such a good, trusting friendship and they’ve never crossed any lines.

For Lindy’s birthday, they are in Vegas with their friend group and watching Lindy flirt with other men makes Easton snap and…..they’re married. Only Lindy doesn’t remember how it happened and not wanting to ruin their friendship, she wants an annulment but Easton refuses to give it to her till she remembers their wedding day.

This was so good. It was cute, sweet, and fun. I love books with good, strong friend groups. I am obsessed with Easton. Did I mention he’s a goalie and plays Hockey? I loved Lindy. She’s an Olympic figure skater, the youngest in her family, who needs her family to see her as the adult she is.

This book was fabulous! I absolutely loved it!

Enjoyed how Easton & Lindy’s love story unfolded. They had great heat. Really appreciated their character development and the weaving of side characters (family & friends) into the mix. Loved the banter and humor throughout. Most of all I could feel the love all the characters had for each other. Looking forward to reading more from this author. Thanks Bella for a great story.

Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Couple: Easton & Lindy ❋❋❋❋❋❋❋❋❋❋ ❝In my dreams, I couldn’t save you.” “In my dreams, you always do,❞ I tell him with brutal honesty because honesty is the only thing we’ve ever been able to offer each other ❋❋❋❋❋❋❋❋❋❋ I was nervous starting this series, because I wasn't ready to let go of the OGs. I didn't know if I could transition to the kids being grown ups. I should have known Bella would make it easy, and even better this book was filled with the family I've come to love. I loved Easton and Lindy as a couple, after experiencing a traumatic event together it bonded them and they each became the others person throughout the years. They had quite a few obstacles ahead of them after a wild night in Vegas, but I loved how strong Easton stayed for the both of them. I will say the only disappointing part was the "It's always been you" It really only applied to Lindy, definitely not Easton but he used it quite a bit. I'm excited to continue with the next gen.

This hockey romance has a lot of drama and heart. The banter between Lindy and Easton is engaging. The twist from the Vegas wedding was perfect. I loved how the friends all supported them, but the family had to be convinced. The only downside is it seemed like the family characters were from previous books that I hadn’t read. The book is definitely a good stand alone on its own.

This book was infuriating. Idk how to rate it. The writing obviously is a 10! But the character of Lindy was a 2 at best. 50% through the story and the most standing up for herself she did was running away. Idk. Not my favorite writing style when people constantly run from their problems and act as if they’re incapable of speaking up for themselves. My favorite line was when Easton said “Princess . . . I love you being a Hayes. But a few days ago, you weren’t even sure you wanted to be married. You can’t run away from your family forever. And when you decide you’re ready to be mine, I’m gonna need it to be because you want me, not because you don’t want them.”

Mostly because I started to feel like he was okay accepting her scraps and that line reassured me that he knew his worth.

Also the notion that she needed to fix everything with her family because she is the youngest irritated me. It’s such an out dated way of thinking. The “adults” should know how to communicate. So if she’s the “child” they should know how teaming up on her would make her react. “For every action there is a reaction.” Pretty simple. But honestly even that was contradicted when her mother called her and she still went to ignore the call until Easton intervened.