They fake a relationship to save a failing mountain lodge, but as the boundary between a fake and real relationship blurs, things get wild… She manages the lodge during the day and writes steamy romance novels at night… life—perfectly. But now, with the lodge facing financial ruin after its owner fled the country, she’s forced to partner with the last person she wants to work with: Caine Wilder, the famous tennis player.
After his career-ending injury, Caine drinks too much and flirts with anything that moves. But the worst part is, Quinn can’t stop thinking about that shirtless Sports Illustrated cover he did.
When they’re have to pretend to be a couple to secure investors, Quinn sees beneath his playboy mask to the man beneath, and it becomes increasingly difficult to conceal her attraction and keep her well-guarded secret…
She’s Elois Montgomery, the popular romance author, and the sexy main character in her latest novel is based off of Caine Wilder.
He’s a famous tennis player with a recently ruined knee, forced to take over his family’s failing lodge…
Caine has never had any trouble charming women, but the lodge’s beautiful manager is immune to him. No matter what he does, she thinks the worst of him. Despite her open dislike, he can’t stop thinking about her.
Caine’s older brother confronts him and tells him he won’t subsidize the lodge anymore. Caine and Quinn have to make it profitable or the lodge will go under.
Caine is determined to show her that he’s not just a washed-up athlete and that he can help her pull the lodge from collapse. The more time he spends with Quinn, the more he realizes that she isn’t like any woman he’s met before, and the attraction he feels for her isn’t a fleeting infatuation.
For the first time in his life, Caine might have to learn how to play for keeps.
But as secrets and old grudges come to light, it threatens the love that neither of them thought they’d find.
This is the fourth book in the MAGNOLIA VALLEY series. It can be read as a standalone or as part of a larger story line.
- Dreaming of You (Josie & Calvin)
- Destined for You (Ethan & Astrid)
- Fascinated by You (Nora & Alek)
- He was Playing for Keeps (Caine & Quinn)
- Catching Her Wild Heart (Wyatt & Penny)
more
I loved the story of Quinn and Caine! She manages the resort that his family owns and he is a former tennis star that had to end his career because of an injury. It takes place in the beautiful Magnolia Valley in Montana. There are a whole series of Magnolia Valley books, by the way. Quinn is also a romance writer and I thought it was cute that she had written a character based off of Caine because she used to have a crush on him. Now, she is stuck with him living at the failing resort, drunk off his ass all of the time, throwing himself a pity party over his lost career. When his brother gives him an ultimatum, Caine has to pull his head out and work with Quinn to save the resort. In the process, they find out how much they are starting to care for each other, but they both have secrets that may tear them apart. There are many hi jinks and a bad guy thrown in too. This was a really fun book!
This has a well written storyline and wonderful characters. This is about Quinn and Caine and they’re fake relationship. They have intense chemistry together but there are secrets. I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
Quinn is trying to maintain the lodge afloat while writing romantic novels under a fake name. After a very severe injury, Caine is living in their family lodge drinking all the time. When Quinn and Caine must work Together to save the lodge they will need to fake a romantic relationship, but are they ready to face their demons and have a future together?
Quinn considers being in control a way of life. A place for everything and everything in it’s place are words she lives by. What happens when the control freak finds herself facing a change of plans. Enter life of the party, Caine Wilder. His reputation proceeds him. The playboy with an eye for the ladies and a thirst for fun. These opposites are about to learn more than they could have ever dreamed, about themselves and each other. Reed, wraps emotions around her finger with another sweetly, heartstopping romance.
He was Playing for Keeps is the fourth book in the Magnolia Valley series, but reads well as a stand alone. Quinn is the manager of the Magnolia Valley lodge and has just been forced to partner with none other than Caine, the owner’s son and her biggest crush. Caine was a pro tennis player, but after his injury, he’s been floundering. But when this partnership turns into a fake relationship, professionalism comes crashing down and both start to feel real things. But the stress rises and her secret is revealed, can they salvage their budding love?
This book was so sweet, with a steady pace, moments that made me giggle, I loved the dynamic between Caine and Quinn, and had the perfect addition of steamy and dramatic scenes! Caine started the book off being a bit of a mess, not knowing what to do, but I loved that with the help of Quinn and his brothers, he was able to find new talents and strengths, succeed, and even find love. Quinn was protective of her coworkers, had such a big heart, was creative, but had her own insecurities to overcome. I absolutely loved them together, their wit, their give and take, the way they trusted each other, their passion, and how they opened up to the other. I really enjoyed a lot of the side characters – they made me want to start the series from the beginning and I can’t wait to read more! I loved some of the drama, too! Between the vandalism, the investors, and an unsavory foe from Caine’s past, it all led to me flipping pages and loving this book! This book was a great read, full of heart, and left me excited for more!
Sweet, sultry romance in a beautiful setting
He Was Playing For Keeps by Cora Reed is a lovely and well written romance and very enjoyable read. The characters drew me in immediately. It was sweet how they both admired one another without having any intentions of letting the other know. Thank goodness fate intervenes!
Caine and Quinn join forces and as they spend more and more time together, sparks fly, caution is thrown to the wind and wants are explored.
Overall, a well written romance that has steam as well as a little mystery and suspense in it’s plot and beautiful descriptions of the setting. Magnolia Valley sounds like a really great place live.
I read an ARC of this book from Hidden Gems and voluntarily share my review.
I love a fake relationship set up, but I don’t quite know what to say about this sweetly angsty story. After living in Caine’s head for the duration of this book, I’m shocked he’s as well-adjusted as he is. Some people just shouldn’t be allowed near children, and his father, obviously, was one of those people. Quinn spends so much of her time straight-laced and buttoned up, it’s no wonder she’s created her own fantasy world to escape into by writing steamy romances. This duo isn’t a perfect Odd Couple, however they are perfectly complimentary to one another. Quinn is very grounded and goal oriented while Caine is a much freer spirit, prompting each other to embody those neglected qualities a bit more to become their best selves. I also though this was possibly the funniest book yet in the series. I found lots of laugh out loud moments that had people looking at me oddly. I can’t wait to read even more about Magnolia Valley.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through Hidden Gems Books
Cute romantic story with a little bit of “steam”. First time reading this author so this series is new to me and I enjoyed the plot. The characters have depth, enough drama to build up the intensity of the story line and it even has it humorous moments, in my opinion this is very well rounded story so prepare to be entertained. I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation from the author.
This was my first book to read in the Magnolia Valley series. I will be going back to read the other books.
I did like Caine and Quinn. Their chemistry was intense and they really seemed to like and respect each other. I didn’t think with the way Caine started out, there would be anything respectable about him.
I did enjoy reading how Caine and Quinn’s relationship developed. Also how the relationship between brothers evolved. The secondary characters were equally as interesting as the main characters.
The book was full of family drama, secrets, and a mystery. There were also plenty of lighthearted, funny, and sexy times. I would definitely give this book 4.5 stars.
I voluntarily read and reviewed this book received from Hidden Gems.
Another great story set in Magnolia Valley. Caine and Quinn have been circling each other for awhile. They both secretly want the other, but circumstances and fears keep them apart. He has become a drunk since his tennis career imploded. She is keeping the fact that she is a best-selling author a secret.
When his brother all but walks away from the lodge, Caine sets out to prove his brother wrong and make the lodge a success. The only hiccup, he has to work with Quinn. The first thing he does is stop drinking. When investors show an interest, they both are happy, but when something sinister occurs and Quinn has to leave the dinner with the investors, he goes along with the idea that he and Quinn are a real couple (it makes the investors feel like he is more stable).
As they work together, they also get to know one another better and start falling for real. When he messes up, he has to try to prove to her that he didn’t slip. I really liked how she supported him and encouraged him to start teaching others how to play tennis. I also liked how he showed a real interest in her books, before he knew she wrote them. There were some surprising parts, and I would love to read more about his brothers.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest, voluntary review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Book four in the Magnolia Valley series a well-written story that I found myself laughing at somethings. This is Lodge manager Quinn Lawson and former tennis star Caine Wilder’s story which has suspense, drama, an evil man, secrets, and romance. A book I enjoyed reading. I know I want to read the next book if there is one. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Caine is a former tennis star dealing with an injury and Quinn is the manager at his family’s lodge. Caine and Quinn are attracted to each other but they have to work together to find investors to save the lodge. Pretending to date to please an investor leads to a real relationship, but can it survive Caine’s drinking and Quinn’s secret? I enjoyed the storyline. There were some plot twists that kept the story moving. I like this writer’s style and always feel a connection to her characters. I have read all of the books in the Magnolia Valley series and look forward to reading more.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Lodge manager Quinn Lawson is a secret romance author and based the male protaganist of her last book on her boss Andrew’s wildly handsome son, former tennis star Caine Wilder. After Andrew absconds with quite a lot of money, Quinn and Caine work together to get the failing lodge running properly again. When Caine and Quinn are mistaken for a couple by a potential investor who tells Caine “I don’t like to do business with unsettled people”, Caine convinces the beautiful Quinn to be his fake girlfriend. Fake dating soon turns into something more but what happens when Caine finds out that Quinn lied to him?
He was Playing for Keeps is an intriguing, angsty and steamy story full of twists and turns. I can’t wait to read Catching her Wild Heart, Book 5 of the Magnolia Valley series