Lindas Book Obsession Reviews “Playing for Keeps” by Jill Shalvis

Lindas Book Obsession Reviews “Playing for Keeps” by Jill Shalvis, Avon Books, January 22.2019

Jill Shalvis, Author of “Playing for Keeps” has written a delightful romantic and entertaining story. The Genres for this novel are Fiction, Women’s Fiction, Contemporary Fiction and Romance. The time-line for this story is in the present and goes to the past when it pertains to the characters or events in this story. The author describes her characters as dysfunctional, complex and complicated.

What could be better than a storyline about girl meets boy, or boy meets girl and both meet dog? Tattoo-Artist Sadie Lane sees handsome, charismatic  and successful Caleb Parker bending over something and talking quietly. Of course, for all of the animal lovers, it is scared dog. Both of them coax it out, and they decide to keep it. Actually just being acquaintances, they decide to co-parent and share the dog. After taking the dog to the vet, Caleb makes sure that the dog has everything she needs to be comfortable. They do send each other proof of life pictures of the dog when it is each one’s turn to have her.

Both Sadie and Caleb, have their own secretive pasts. Sadie is barely making ends meet, and has the pressure of her sister’s wedding. Caleb does have support from his sisters who tend to investigate any girl he is seeing for his protection. Caleb comes from a hard background as well, and underneath his hard shell is a kind and giving guy. To protect herself from and emotional pain, Sadie plays hard to get, and has a hard shell as well.

I appreciate that the author discusses handicapped pets, emotional problems, family, friendship, communication, love, and hope. I would recommend this enjoyable novel  for readers who enjoy this genre. Happy Reading!