Book Review - Playing For Keeps by Bella North

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Title: Playing For Keeps

Author: Bella North

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Bookouture

Publication Date: 27th April 2026

Rating: 4 Stars

It’s all fun and games until fake starts to feel like forever…

My life revolves around two things: football, and family. Romance? Not so much. But my fans have other ideas. And they’ve turned my easy-going life into a nightmare with their campaign to find me a wife…

My childhood best friend Serena thinks it’s hilarious. She’s always wanted the big, swoony love story, but instead, she has a controlling ex she can’t shake breathing down her neck. And then the solution to both our problems hits me: a fake romance. ‘Settling down’ with Serena will get the fans off my back, and having a muscly football player on her arm should be enough to warn off her ex. Plus, we’re best friends, so what could go wrong?

Our first date is set for the city’s annual charity ball. I’m smug as I imagine how easy my life will be after tonight. Except, when my lips touch Serena’s in front of the flashing cameras, when I hear her soft sigh as I dip her lower, something like panic creeps through my chest. I’m not meant for love—letting people down runs in my genes. I can’t do that to Serena. I won’t.

As the story we’re spinning gets bigger, so do the feelings I’ve worked so hard to chase away. We want completely different things. But I can’t stop wondering: do we both want the one thing that counts—each other?

Playing for Keeps is a fun, steamy, friends-to-lovers sports romance, perfect for fans of Liz Tomforde, Stephanie Archer and Elsie Silver. The third in the Oakwood Ranch series, it can also be read as a standalone.

How are we up to the third of these Oakwood Ranch books already, I swear the first one only just came out the other day! 

It was wonderful to be back on the ranch amongst familiar characters, and for us to finally see if Serena and Chase will ever get together. 

Of course nothing is ever straight forward, despite it being clear they may have had secret (ish) feelings for many years, and when they both need a partner to help solve some problems, it is suggested they may wish to fake date! 

And from there things get very interesting.  We learn all about Chase's insecurities, and Serena's long held dreams and to say in that respect they might be incompatible would be an understatement. 

But they are also best friends, and I loved the will they, won't they of this pair. 

At the same time I also enjoyed the depth of each character, Serena with her highly problematic ex, and Chase and his feelings of abandonment. 

I love the banter of Chase and his brothers in text messages and also loved Serena and the other leading ladies of this series close friendship.  Was good to catch up with everyone, and I now just have one big question on my mind.  Will Mama get her own book, we need more from her. 

A thoroughly enjoyable series, from an author who shines no matter what genre she turns her hand to. 

Thank you to Bookouture and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.