Playing For Keeps | Giveaway | Book Review

Hi everyone. Emma was nice enough to send me an ARC of Playing For Keeps and I'm excited to tell you all the deets!

Book Description:

From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, Emma Hart, comes the second book in The Game series, and the story everyone wanted after The Love Game…She's in love with him. He's trying not to love her.

One night changes everything.

Aston Banks never meant to get close to Megan Harper – not even for that one night. Haunted by a childhood he refuses to face, he knew she could break through every wall he’d ever built and tear them down without even realizing she was doing it. 

Betraying Braden by starting a relationship with Aston wasn’t on Megan’s to-do list, but the second she sees a glimpse of someone other than the arrogant ass she’s come to know, she can’t walk away. 

Aston’s childhood is worse than Megan ever guessed, but as he tries and fails to push her away, it’s clear her love is stronger than the demons that cling to him every day. And now, because of it, he finally has to deal with what he’s buried deep down. What he doesn’t want to face. What he’s fought against for so long. 

And they have to do it all without Braden finding out.

Keeping a relationship secret has never been harder. 

**This book can be read as a standalone novel, but reading The Love Game (The Game, #1) beforehand is advised.**

I really like this one. Dare I say I liked it more than The Love Game? Yes! I said it. Playing For Keeps is grittier. It has more meat. It has more drama. It has more depth. Aston has demons, and Megan's light is his way of helping him rid himself of them.

I really enjoyed this book. I give the first half 4 stars and the last have 3-3.5. I really felt like it peaked a bit early, but I like how Emma wrapped everything up in a HEA. 

There is no cliffhanger and you can read this as a stand alone to The Love Game. It is a character spinoff of sorts. 

Now, how about a swoon worthy excerpt from Playing For Keeps. I'm telling you, swoon, swoon, swoon.

ASTON:

“You okay?”

I shake my head. “No. Every time. Every fucking time he brings her up. I thought he wouldn’t in front of you, but he did.”

“He has his own pain,” she says softly. “It doesn’t excuse it, but he does. He feels guilty for what happened to you – that he couldn’t stop it.”

My mind reels for a second and I look down at her. “He told you that?”

She nods, letting her hand drop from my back and standing in front of me. I stop.

“You’ve never let him tell you.” She reaches up and cups my face. “He hurts, too, Aston. You both hurt. It’s not something that will go away, but you can’t let it rule your lives. If you let pain rule you you’ll get lost in it.”

“What if I’m already lost?”

“You’re not lost. You’re hiding, but you’re not lost. I won’t let you get lost.”

I let my hands come up and rest on her back, pulling her into me. “What if there’s no map?”

“Then I’ll get lost with you,” she whispers. “I won’t let you let them win, Aston. I won’t let you get sucked in by those demons. I won’t let that happen. I care too much.”

And she does. I can hear it in her voice.

She wraps her arms around my neck, and I hold her to me tighter, our foreheads resting against each other.

“I’ll try, Megs,” I promise. “I can’t say I won’t, but as long as you’re here, I think I’ll be okay.”

“And you’ll talk to your Gramps? Just once?”

“I’ll think about it. How about we just focus on stopping me from getting lost for a bit?”

“You just need a place to aim for, that’s all. You need a place to go to.”

“Go on then.” I smile. “Give me a place.”

“Okay.” She pauses for a second, closing her eyes and chewing her lip.

“I’m waiting…” I tease her.

Her blue eyes open, shocking me with their vitality. “Aim for the moon, because even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars.”

“I don’t need to aim for the sky. The only star I’ll ever need is standing right in front of me.” I brush my lips over hers. “Maybe the place I need to aim for is nowhere other than where I am right now.”

“Maybe I’d go with you wherever you ended up.”

“Maybe I’d never ask that of you.”

“Maybe you wouldn’t need to ask. Maybe you’ll never need to ask me for anything, because I’ll always be here.”

Want even more Aston and Megan? You can go to Emma website and read the first chapter in Playing For Keeps. Emma even gave us a playlist and a giveaway for the book!

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