• Playing for Keeps

  • By: R. L. Mathewson
  • Narrated by: Fran Jules
  • Length: 7 hrs and 33 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (4,471 ratings)

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Playing for Keeps  By  cover art

Playing for Keeps

By: R. L. Mathewson
Narrated by: Fran Jules
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Editorial reviews

R. L. Mathewson's ear for witty dialogue and tension-filled scenes is on full display in her audiobook Playing for Keeps. Haley, young and easily pushed over, has finally decided she's had enough and it's high time she takes charge of her life. When she spies her annoying neighbor ruining one of her flowerbeds, she finds her first opportunity to take charge. The only problem is, Jason, the troublesome neighbor, has a look and physique that could melt a popsicle in January. Performed by Eileen Stevens with a sultry energy, Playing for Keeps is a perfect for remedy for those cold, late nights.

Publisher's summary

Done with being the world's biggest pushover, Haley decides that things are going to change starting with the aggravating neighbor who has too much charm and not enough restraint. What she didn't expect was to be sucked into his world, but Haley has a game plan and she won't let herself forget just what the bad boy next door is capable of.

The last thing Jason expected was for his little shy neighbor to go Rambo on him over some ruined flowers. After he decides to take her under his wing he can't help but that notice that she fits very nicely in his life. Now the only left is to convince her that this is anything but a game.

©2011 R.L. Mathewson (P)2013 Audible, Inc.

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What listeners say about Playing for Keeps

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  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

What a fun sexy contemporary romance!

This story was sweet, romantic, and fun! The characters were lovable & I enjoyed the playful interaction between them. The story line was simple, and although it wasn't action-packed, I did not want to put this book down. Jason Bradford loves women, just doesn't love them enough to start a relationship with him. After five years of getting the cold shoulder from his neighbor, he is delightfully surprised to find out she is a baseball fan, cooks sinfully delicious goodies, and a total blast to hang with. As a unique friendship develops, both Jason and Haley find themselves dating each other without actually dating one another, only time will tell if it will develop into something more. Jason and Haley are adorable, sweet and kept me laughing out loud throughout the entire book. Jason is absolutely delicious and his obsession for baked goods was freaken hilarious. Haley is your typical shy bookworm but she's got a lot of sass and fire underneath it all and it was really great to see her come out her own shell. The off the charts chemistry between these two was simply irresistible and steamy as hell. The characters are both wacky, and their behavior is off the charts unbelievable. This is a real feel good, pick me up type of book, that'll have you laughing in no time. Loved it!





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38 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Silly

After a battle over property lines that results in getting swarmed by wasps, Haley and Jason find friendship and eventually love. Of course, the fun part was the in between. With lots of LOL bits and plenty of sweet moments too, you get a great little romantic comedy. It reminded me a lot of Wallbanger, in formula. Enemy neighbors to good friends to love and a HEA. I really liked the epilogue too! One thing did kind of bother me though, how in the hell is Jason not fat!

“How dare you touch my cookies, you bastard!” Jason said in utter disgust before popping the cookie into his mouth and heading back to his house.
“Damn those looked good, too,” Brad grumbled.
Haley sighed. “Don’t worry I have a second plate on my counter.” The words were barely out of her mouth when Jason abruptly changed course and headed towards her house.
“Well, there was,” she said, watching Jason walk into her house like he owned it. A minute later he walked out of her house, carrying both plates and the gallon of milk she had in her fridge. He headed back to his house, but not before he glared at Brad. “You cookie thieving bastard,” they heard him mutter.

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26 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Wanted to like it

I wanted to like this story but found myself increasingly disliking the characters. By the end I wasn't sure if I cared if they got together or not. Jason's pet phrase for Haley of Little Grasshopper also became way overused and annoying to hear. Narrator was ok but there were multiple times that the scene shifted with no break in the reading so it wasn't apparent that time or location had changed and it was confusing trying to figure out what was happening. Overall, disappointing.

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22 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Love, Love, Love the Bradford Men

This is one of my favorite series. The Bradford men crack me up. I love Mathewson's writing style and pace of the stories. I can't imagine anyone except Fran Jules performing these stories. Fran Jules ROCKS the Bradford Family.

The family trait of the Bradford's, including uncles and cousins is their ravenous appetites and love of food. Their antics against each other cause them to be banned from restaurants, food delivery services and of course all-you-can-eat buffets.

They tend to fall in love with women who are the opposite of what they envision to be their perfect wife. They also tend to bicker with and aggravate these women. I love how the Bradford men will take a statement or argument with their girlfriend/neighbor and turn it around to benefit them.

There's also a lot of sex. The Bradford men are extremely persistent in getting their way in the bed.

I go to these books after listening to an emotional draining story or dark suspense thriller or if I'm in a book rut. These stories also take on real life issues like being overweight, being a foster child, various medical issues but everything always works out with a HEA.

These books are well worth the credit or dollars.

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15 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Immature characters

I thought Playing for Keeps would be a fun read, but soon found the characters too immature to be engrossing. When 2 adults who teach high school can live next door and work in the same school & not be able to have 1 mature conversation about their differences in 5 years, I started to get bored. Then instantly they are best friends and sleeping together (without sex) and each is too insecure to believe he/she is lovable. Felt like a bad teen romance...

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13 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

Too cheesy and terrible writing

This story started out promising but got way too cheesy and annoying. Sounded like a bad teen romance written by a teenager. I heard “his little grasshopper” one too many times and had to stop listening. The characters are completely unbelievable (a grown man getting angry over people stealing one of his cookies?) Hopefully I can return this.

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12 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Meh

Wasted 5hrs, not sure how it has such high reviews. The characters are so immature! The story lines are annoying and not done well. The narrators guy voice made me roll my eyes so many times! I tried. It was free. I like the sex scene

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9 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Overdone!

If you took out the words my little grasshopper this book would be 2 hours shorter! Enough already!!!

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9 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent read

If you could sum up Playing for Keeps in three words, what would they be?

Funny,well written ,adult

Who was your favorite character and why?

Both Jason and Haily

What does Eileen Stevens bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Excellent voices brings you into story it moves so fast I laughed so much

Who was the most memorable character of Playing for Keeps and why?

Jason well rounded

Any additional comments?

Read or listen to this book I recommended highly very well written and funny real life situations

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8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

Couldn’t get through first 10 minutes

Had to stop. Couldn’t take the cheese. Not sure if it was the words, the narrator or a combination. Definitely not for me!

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6 people found this helpful