Playing For Keeps

Rating:
Summary: Longer contemp from this wonderful writer...
Review: A believable premise and endearing characters make PLAYING FOR KEEPS another winner for Karen Templeton. Filled with sexual tension and angst, Karen again writes a tale of ordinary people facing extraordinary odds at finding their happily-ever-after(s). I found the ex-husband's fiancee a tad annoying at times, but understood where she was "coming from". And, some of the scenes with the heroine's ex trying to fix her up were hysterical.

Karen's talent and skill at creating compelling characters, sparkling dialogue, and realistic scenes, makes PLAYING FOR KEEPS a must read for her legion of fans.

Rating:
Summary: a bit long
Review: I could have stood for this book to be a bit shorter. It was fairly predictable, with a surprise about Dale's childhood thrown in. I got a little tired of the "will-they-or-won't they" and was just ready for them to get together already.

Rating:
Summary: a bit long
Review: I could have stood for this book to be a bit shorter. It was fairly predictable, with a surprise about Dale's childhood thrown in. I got a little tired of the "will-they-or-won't they" and was just ready for them to get together already.

Rating:
Summary: a bit long
Review: I could have stood for this book to be a bit shorter. It was fairly predictable, with a surprise about Dale's childhood thrown in. I got a little tired of the "will-they-or-won't they" and was just ready for them to get together already.

Rating:
Summary: fine contemporary romance
Review: In Albuquerque, thirty-two years old single mom of three preadolescent children Joanna Swan has had it with her childish ex-husband. He fails to pay his share of child support, doesn't always show up for the kids and when he does he is late, and now has impregnated his latest girlfriend. At the mall, Joanna's efforts to sell homemade dolls for collectors fail until her mother drags her into the toy store. Owner Dale McConnaughy, former Atlanta Braves superstar, offers her $300 a doll. Meanwhile her mom buys an outdoor play set for her grandchildren.

As Dale and Joanna start seeing each other, they begin to fall in love. However, she feels his carefree attitude is too much like her ex while he mistrusts women after a terrible childhood and the betrayal of his ex. Still with neither wanting anything permanent love forces both to reconsider if he can only trust her with his heart.

Fans of contemporary romance between two wounded protagonists will want to read Karen Templeton's fine PLAYING FOR KEEPS. The story line will delight sub-genre fans, as the lead duo is a nice pair who deserve happiness and can achieve this in the arms of the other. The problems suffered by one of the children add depth and serious parenting issues to the mix, but also takes away from the prime theme though it's intended to provide a dilemma to the romance. Still this is a solid tale that will provide pleasure to the audience.

Harriet Klausner

Rating:
Summary: fine contemporary romance
Review: In Albuquerque, thirty-two years old single mom of three preadolescent children Joanna Swan has had it with her childish ex-husband. He fails to pay his share of child support, doesn't always show up for the kids and when he does he is late, and now has impregnated his latest girlfriend. At the mall, Joanna's efforts to sell homemade dolls for collectors fail until her mother drags her into the toy store. Owner Dale McConnaughy, former Atlanta Braves superstar, offers her $300 a doll. Meanwhile her mom buys an outdoor play set for her grandchildren.

As Dale and Joanna start seeing each other, they begin to fall in love. However, she feels his carefree attitude is too much like her ex while he mistrusts women after a terrible childhood and the betrayal of his ex. Still with neither wanting anything permanent love forces both to reconsider if he can only trust her with his heart.

Fans of contemporary romance between two wounded protagonists will want to read Karen Templeton's fine PLAYING FOR KEEPS. The story line will delight sub-genre fans, as the lead duo is a nice pair who deserve happiness and can achieve this in the arms of the other. The problems suffered by one of the children add depth and serious parenting issues to the mix, but also takes away from the prime theme though it's intended to provide a dilemma to the romance. Still this is a solid tale that will provide pleasure to the audience.

Harriet Klausner

Rating:
Summary: Playing for Keeps is a definite "Keep"er!
Review: Joanna Swan divorced a man who never grew up--she has three children. She doesn't need a man who's more interested in playing than growing up in her life. But somehow Dale McConnaughy is smack-dab in the middle of her life and creeping ever closer to being in the middle of her heart as well. Joanna's just not sure she can afford to fall for a man who doesn't understand the meaning of the word committment. But turns out this time Dale's not playing games...he's Playing for Keeps!

Templeton has a wonderful sense of story and creates characters you can't helping empathizing with...and falling for!

Rating:
Summary: Playing for Keeps is a definite "Keep"er!
Review: Joanna Swan divorced a man who never grew up--she has three children. She doesn't need a man who's more interested in playing than growing up in her life. But somehow Dale McConnaughy is smack-dab in the middle of her life and creeping ever closer to being in the middle of her heart as well. Joanna's just not sure she can afford to fall for a man who doesn't understand the meaning of the word committment. But turns out this time Dale's not playing games...he's Playing for Keeps!

Templeton has a wonderful sense of story and creates characters you can't helping empathizing with...and falling for!

Rating:
Summary: A winning and warm story!
Review: Joanna Swann's life is full of challenges; leaking roofs, three kids, an ex who is good hearted but about as helpful as a hole in the head, a meddlesome mother, and a dog with a paternity suit against him. Romance is not on her to do list, but nonetheless, she finds herself falling for ex ball player turned toystore owner, Dale McConnaghy.

To Joanna, Dale seems to be going through the Peter Pan syndrome, and he may be sexy as sin, but she does not need another child. Dale is not one to take no for an answer though, and with an assortment of unlikely allies, he manages to work past her defenses and into her heart. He was only looking for a fun affair, but what he finds is much more.

***** Dale is worth putting on the list of all time keeper heroes, and this book is one that also makes the keeper list. Real life is filled with romance, as you will see after reading it. Laughter and tears combined with feel good characters to tell a winning and warm story. *****