Friends with benefits—it never works. Someone always ends up wanting more.What happens when both want more, but neither will tell the other?Richard Murphy has been in the NHL for fifteen years, playing the game he loves. But with retirement looming in the next few years, he’s ready to settle down and start a family. There’s only one woman he wants that with, but she’s put him firmly into the … him firmly into the friends—with benefits—category. Can he change her mind and heart, and prove to her he’s playing for keeps?
Madison O’Neal has been a lover of sports since she was young. She and her dad bonded over them, both during and after her mother lost her battle with breast cancer. Her love of sports led to a successful career as a sports agent. As much as she loves her job, what she really wants is a family—and someone to call her own. But the one man she’s head-over-heels in love with has her in the friends—with incredible benefits—category.
Can Madison and Richard find their way through the murky waters of friendship and become the lovers they secretly want to be?
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After many years of being friends with benefits, Madison and Richard both wanted more. But both were afraid to tell each other and loose their friendship.
Loved it. It was a sweet read. You see they’re both so in love with each other but afraid to make the next step.
It was a little slow building but so happy to see they get their Happily Ever After.
It was great to see the other couples in this series.
Samantha Lind hits it into the net with PLAYING FOR KEEPS, the third book in the Indianapolis Eagles series. Fifteen-year NHL veteran, Richard Murphy, and sports agent, Madison O’Neal, have been friends with benefits for years, not realizing that they both want more from their relationship. Neither one wants to make the first move for fear of jeopardizing their friendship. This contemporary sports romance is suitable for adult audiences.
I really enjoyed this story. Samantha Lind does a great job with her character development and plot. I like that Madison and Murphy met because she started walking his dog for him. I also, appreciate that she is not his agent; although she does represent a few of his teammates. The two have a wonderful friendship. I love their text and conversations. They have been friends for eight years. Everyone knows that they are perfect together, except them.
I appreciate that Madison is friends with Kinley and Becca from books one and two. The three have a close friendship and support one another. I found it amusing how they helped kickstart the couple into realizing they want to be together as a couple. They face some interesting challenges. PLAYING FOR KEEPS was realistic and heartfelt. It was stimulating from beginning to end. I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.
I love, love, loved Richard and Maddy! Friends, then lovers, for years, they both hid their true feelings from each other, out of fear that it was one sided! So much time wasted!
Maddy is a sports agent, a strong, independent woman, in a male dominated field. She knows who she is and what she wants from life. But her love life is just…complicated! She and Richard have had a friends with benefits relationship for years, and she has slowly developed feelings for him. Feelings she thinks have no chance of being returned. She has lived in limbo for a long time, neither moving forward in her relationship, nor moving on to something else.
Richard is a professional hockey player. He has strong feelings for Maddy, wants more with her, wants everything with her, but will take whatever she will give him. He doesn’t want to rock the boat, for fear that he will loose it all.
This story takes the friends to lovers theme to a whole new level! I love supportive Richard is when Maddy’s life spirals out of control. They are so perfect for each other! I love how, even though this is a sports romance, that isn’t the focus of the story. It’s about romance, and how a real love is about support and family. And did I say that I love, love, love Richard and Maddy?!?
I have enjoyed this series from the very beginning, but this was by far my favorite. I really enjoyed the storyline, the characters, and of course the hockey. I have been looking forward to Murph’s story since we first met him, and this friends with benefits to lovers story didn’t disappoint.
Murph, or Richard as we now know him, is one of the good guys. I fell hard for him. He was loving and faithful. He was there through the good times and the bad. He was sweet and hot, strong and kind. I loved that he knew just how good he had it with Madison and was ready to play for keeps.
I completely fell in love with Madison. She was a strong woman. She knew what she wanted, and she was prepared to go after it. She faced hardship head on and was always there for those she cared about regardless of what she had going on. She understood what it was like to be with a hockey player, and while it was hard, she didn’t waver.
Together, these two were perfect. They complimented each other well and fell into an easy relationship. While life wasn’t always easy, and they were forced to face a very hard situation, since they had been such good friends for so long, they knew what to expect from each other. I loved that when times were hard, they were there for each other and found ways to support one another. I absolutely love that we got to see them together as a couple for so much of the book. Lind definitely doesn’t give us a HEA and quickly wrap it up. Instead, we really get to see their relationship grow and develop. We got to see what life for them was like and things progressed.
I love that the hockey in this series isn’t so in depth that you need to be a fan to understand and follow the book, but it is there enough to be more than a backdrop. I love the team aspect and getting to know the other players. I love seeing the way they really are like a family both for the players who spend so much time together on the road and the WAGs (wives and girlfriends) who spend so much time away from them. It makes for a great series that leaves me wanting more after each and every book. I love that Lind continues to check in with the other players and we get updates on all the other relationships as we read each new book.
This book is a standalone, but I definitely think it is fun to read in order and get updates on the other characters throughout the series. However, even if Playing for Keeps is the first one you read, you will be able to easily follow along and enjoy the story. I definitely recommend checking it out.
I received an advanced copy of this book with no obligations to or expectations from the author.
Richard and Madison are facing off one friend with benefit to another. Madison has an incredible relationship with the man she loves. It’s just too bad he has no idea she loves him and just considers her an excellent booty call. Madison wants nothing more than to start her own little hockey team with Richard, but currently that is nothing but her wildest fantasy. Richard knows what he wants and who he wants, but he just doesn’t want to risk everything by confessing he caught feels! It was just supposed to be easy with Madison, but Richard is hopelessly enamored and wants a picket fence suburb life with her. Can these friends have their cake and eat it too?
I voluntarily read an advance reader copy of this book.
They were best friends. Best friends with benefits for years. Somewhere along the way it changed. They both changed in how they feel but ae too scared to change or that the feelings aren’t mutual. Watching these two play the game is almost painful. One thing they don’t have any issues with is the passion they share. When times get tough Madison is going to need him like never before. They both have some big decisions to make. Love these two and am so glad to finally read their story. They are strong and successful and head over heals in love.
Great story from this author who skillfully blends eroticism with a great story. A story that keeps you turning the pages and wanting more. Great read.
Friendship can be the perfect foundation for romance as long as both parties are honest about their feelings before it is too late.
Madison and Richard have been friends for many years and are always there for each other. She takes care of his dog when he is away and he cooks her delicious dinners when he comes home. They never spend the night together; never cuddling in a warm bed, never sharing their hopes and dreams. Someone always goes home, and they are alone once again. Madison has been in love with Richard forever, but she can’t wait around for him to decide how he feels. With the help of her girlfriends, she makes a decision that could change her life forever. Richard knows that he needs to pour his heart out to Madison and doesn’t know what to do, so he asks his teammates for help.
Will it be Madison or Richard who confesses their feelings first and finally makes plans for the future?
I love the Indianapolis Eagles series and I had been looking forward to Madison and Richard’s story for a long time. They are briefly mentioned in the other books, and I was always curious as to how they met and what their relationship was all about. They may have started out as friends but when you have met your other half, true love is never far behind. Samantha has given us a passionate and heartfelt love story that brought a smile to my face and warmed my heart, and I can’t wait to read the next book in the series, “Protecting Her Heart.”
I stopped reading this book early in, I could not get into the story as I felt it was too wordy, the story is not written well
This is not the first book in the Eagles series but could easily be read as a stand-alone!
Well written !
Miscommunication has a way of messing things up and it was no different. I was beyond frustrated with Richard and Madison even though I could understand why they had such a hard time admitting their feelings. I love friends to lovers tropes though and I loved that this was a quick but sweet and steamy read.
This is the 3rd book in this remarkable series, and is Richard and Madison’s story. Rick has been an NHL player for the last 15 years, and Madison is a sports agent. With his retirement on the horizon, and the friends-with-benefits relationship he has with Madison, will they be able to deny their feelings for each other? This is a well written flawless story which is sweet, heartbreaking, and a riveting tale which had me enthralled throughout this addictive page turner, and I cannot wait to read more in this amazing series!
Playing for Keeps by Samantha Lind is a fantastic book! I am enjoying reading the Indianapolis Eagles series so much! Playing for Keeps is the 3rd book in this series. You will need to read the first two books in the series to follow along with Playing for Keeps.
Playing for Keeps explores the romance between Madison O’Neal and Richard “Murph” Murphy. Madison is a Sports Agent and Richard has been playing for the Eagles for some time. Madison and Richard have been friends with benefits for years. Along the way, Madison and Richard have started having feelings for each other, but both are scared to tell the other for fear of ruining their friendship.
Madison makes the decision to begin dating again and end the friends with benefits arrangement with Richard. This throws Richard for a loop!
Will Richard be able to admit his feeling for Madison? Will the pair give having a relationship a chance? Will they have their happy ever after? You will have to read Playing for Keeps by Samantha Lind to find out! This book has plenty of romance and love scenes.
I couldn’t put my kindle down while reading this book. I am also learning a lot about professional hockey by reading this series. Make sure to grab a copy of Playing for Keeps by Samantha Lind! You won’t be disappointed! I am definitely looking forward to reading the rest of the Indianapolis Eagles series.
Super Sweet Story!!!
It was nice to see a friends with benefits unfold into something more. You get to see both parties vulnerable sides as they fall in love, but too scared to admit to each other that is the case.
When they finally come together, it is amazing. I love Richard and Madison’s love. Always there for each other no matter what, especially when Madison had to deal with a personal situation.
It was great to see the other characters in this series make an appearance and see what they are up to.
This is a very enjoyable series and I can’t wait to read more!
Playing for Keeps is another amazing story in the Indianapolis Eagles series. This one was a funny read for me because it is about friends with benefits and we all know that that usually does not end well so I was expecting their to be some angst and everything in between. But what I got was the total opposite and I loved every minute of it.
Richard and Madison have been friends with benefits for seven years. Richard plays hockey and Madison is a sports agent. They decide to be friends with benefits because of their careers and the time they spend away from each other. Then Richard decides he is going to be retiring soon and he wants to settle down and start a family and he knows who he wants he is just not so sure she will be willing to up the anty and be his wife and start a family.
Madison is secretly in love with Richard and always has been but she knows that they are friends with benefits and nothing more. Then her best friends tells her to get out there and start dating so she can find someone to settle down with. Once Madison starts to date and Richard finds out he decides to tell her how he really feels and asks her to be his girl and settle down with him.
But will Madison believe him and give him that chance or will they remain friends with benefits?
“Friends with benefits, 4 stars”
Murphy and Madison have had the perfect arrangement for years. They both have feelings for one another but are afraid to say anything in fear of ruining what they do have. What happens when Madison says enough is enough and she’s ready for more? Will Murphy let her walk away or will he show her his hand?
Finally, a story from Linde I could get with. I love the idea of a friends with benefits style relationship changing to more. The thing I liked about Playing for Keeps is when these two finally move they freaking go for it. There really is no conflict between he two. The story went fast and for the most part hit what it needed to hit.
Plot-4/5
Characters-4/5
Heat-4/5
Writing style-4/5
Overall-4/5
ARC received for an honest review
I have been keen to know more about Richard/Murph and Madison since I started reading this series a couple of weeks ago, and Ms Lind has not disappointed with Playing For Keeps.
This is a sweet, cute read and was a great development of Richard and Madison’s story. They have been best friends / FWB for years and now both wants more – but haven’t told each other (that is the one thing that annoys me – communicate people!). Will they ever make it out of the “friend zone”?
I loved that there was no OTT drama. No puck bunnies jumping out of corners causing grief. No stupid misunderstandings. In fact at times I was wondering if these two were rea? Sometimes they were just too good at being just friends – but this is probably just me!
Richard and Madison “just fit”, and you can’t help but adore them together.
I loved getting more of Scott/Becca and Brian/Kinley and seeing where they were at now. I love the friendships between this group.
Sweet, sexy, fun and cute, Playing For Keeps was just what I needed today.
I can’t wait to see what Ms Lind brings us next.