PLAYING FOR KEEPS

PLAYING FOR KEEPS                           KATE DONOVAN

When Erica McCall finally gets her big break in advertising, she knows just which spokesperson to pitch: gorgeous football superstar Johnny Spurling. She has followed his career since college and knows he’s perfect for the spot, even though it’s common knowledge his famous family doesn’t do product endorsements, ever. But Erica knows Johnny’s weak spot, and she’s confident she can use it to gain his trust and seal the deal.

Quarterback Johnny Spurling is running out of time. His father’s health is failing, and there’s one last thing he’s asked Johnny to do—settle down and produce a son, before it’s too late. Which means Johnny needs a new kind of girlfriend. No more casual hookups or high-maintenance divas. When his sister-in-law claims to have the perfect candidate, he urges her to set up a postseason blind date.

Then Johnny meets long-haired, long-legged Erica and can’t resist her outrageous proposal—or her. So he decides he’ll do the commercial and have one final, hot-as-hell fling before settling down. They set the ground rules, then proceed to break every one of them as fun turns to the kind of true romance that just doesn’t end with the final touchdown—and with luck, never ends at all.

HUBBY'S REVIEW:

This story begins with up and coming advertising PR, Erica McCall, settling a sexual harassment complaint with executives of the company she works for. Part of the deal is for her to be on the team to pitch a new ad idea to football quarterback Johnny Sparling, who everyone knows does now endorse alcohol commercials. Her pitch though has him thinking differently and also there is an attraction that they both feel during this meeting. She explains to him about her concept for the commercial and how it would be done in a way to not hurt his reputation and he is actually interested. He also knows he promised his father he would settle down and be serious in looking for a long term relationship. He father wanted him to get married and he has a blind date with a teacher after the super bowl. As the story goes along you get the feeling that he is not going to make it for that blind date. He also finds out about the guy in her office that made the sexual harassment towards her. When that same guy says some things about her during a party given by the company he takes care of the guy and the owner of the company finally fires the guy. He helps her to keep her voice and to let her know she did nothing wrong and that as much as they try not to be together they are made for each other. A good book and good characters. I got this book from netgalley.  I give this 4 stars.