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In the sizzling hockey romance that has taken TikTok by storm, the star goalie discovers the family he’s always wanted when he falls in love with a single mother.

The third book in the globally popular Playing for Keeps series.

Can he leave the past behind to forge the future he’s always wanted?

When it comes to dating, Adam Lockwood wouldn’t know luck if it hit him in the face. After a failed relationship and a string of dates gone wrong, the thought of being vulnerable with someone is terrifying—most women only see his fame. But when his dog runs into Rosie Wells, a beautiful woman with a blush as pink as her hair, she doesn’t seem to have a clue who he is, and Adam seizes the opportunity as a chance to finally be himself.

Rosie has her hands full as a single mother and fourth-year veterinary student, and she certainly wouldn’t know a hockey player if she ran into one. She doesn’t have time to date, and she’s fiercely protective of her little family. But when a chance encounter leads her to Adam, she knows it’s worth risking her heart.

The only problem? Adam is used to wearing a mask—he’s a goalie, after all. And as he holds onto a secret that threatens to unravel him and destroy his new family, they’re both at risk of losing more than ever before.

512 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2023

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Becka Mack

9 books9,365 followers

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5 stars
35,155 (49%)
4 stars
22,178 (31%)
3 stars
9,969 (14%)
2 stars
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731 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 6,682 reviews
Profile Image for Maditales.
622 reviews32.7k followers
October 19, 2023
Things that don’t make sense to me: a 10 inch dick
Profile Image for Iqra.
550 reviews4,747 followers
June 28, 2024
Adam is the personification of a warm hug, it’s true 🤧💗💘🦋🩵✨🧸


─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──

Edit: after reading 23% I physically cannot binge it bc this book deserves to be SAVOURED ✋ it’s just too good

***

UPDATE: ADAM IS FINALLY COMING HOME ON 1st AUGUST IM SCREAMINGGGG-

Watch me go missing for a day… 🤭

***

Update: we have a cover and it’s a bit… hmm i don’t know if I like it or not lol.

***

AAAHHHH!!! THIS IS NOT A DRILL. ADAM IS COMING HOME. MY PRECIOUS 😭😭

Adam falling in love with a single mom just *screams* Adam Lockwood. He’s so freaking wholesome 🤭🔫

Ughhhhh I just wanna hug him, bag him and then keep him in my basement forevermore ☹️☹️
Profile Image for Lilyya ♡.
486 reviews2,987 followers
August 13, 2023
DNF 25%

i think the fact that olivia’s height haunted me in this book’s first chapter was already a bad omen.


first of all, i wanna say that i dove into this book with absolutely 0 expectations and 0 prejudice toward the author’s writing. i had a really, really bad experience with 'Consider Me' and i hoped that the cringy, too sweet dialogues would vanish with the author’s 3rd book but oh, how wrong was i.. i think i just need to call it a day and admit that BM’s writing style is not my cup of tea.

now the plot: at the 24% mark, the hero has already met the heroine’s son and they went on their 5th date. I’m not an insta-love girly but i was willing to give the book a chance because of the single mom part. for a -nearly- 500 pages long contemporary romance book it felt too rushed and everything happened too quickly. but so far in the book i didn’t get attached to the protagonists and kinda disliked the mmc after he openly lied to the fmc when she asked him about his profession.

I didn’t like how the single mom arc was handled. i wanted to give up after reading the first two chapters because of the writing but i thought that i should wait until the kid is introduced into the picture to really judge the book and see if it deserves a fair chance after all. it simply did not.

also wanted to add that the poor man got slapped in the face the same day by his ex in the morning and his date at night.. this part was so so unnecessary plus I’m not a huge fan of banalized violence.

wanted y’all to. enjoy one of the chapters title : ADAM’S ROAD TO HOPE: ONE MAN’S JOURNEY TO PUSSY PALACE 💀
~•~•~
is it a bad idea to give becka mack a second chance ? probably.. but im craving a single mom romance so here we are.
Profile Image for Liani ♡ (semi-hiatus).
50 reviews280 followers
July 1, 2024
˗ˏˋ 5 / 5 ★’s for this precious book ´ˎ˗

𓏲 ₊♡𓂃“I've waited too long for this, a partner to walk through life with, a love I haven't had to earn but simply deserved. Because, fuck, we all deserve to be loved without condition.”⋆𓂃ִֶָ ⊹˚


I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: there’s nothing better than a good hockey romance to warm your heart, and this book just confirms it💖 I’ve read a couple of hockey romance books before, and this one is my favorite so far. Better than that, and let me rephrase it- this entire series is my favorite hockey romance, and I know I’ll read it again🌷💕

────── ⋆⋅💗⋅⋆ ──────

𝓣𝓻𝓸𝓹𝓮𝓼 / 𝓣𝓸𝓹𝓲𝓬𝓼:

🌷 insta-love
🌷 dual POV
🌷 single mom
🌷 found family
🌷 animal lovers
🌷 hidden identity
🌷 friends to lovers
🌷 hockey romance
🌷 cinnamon roll mmc
🌷 no third act breakup
🌷 mental health rep (anxiety)
🌷 sensitive topics: body shaming, foster care, parental death, grief, insecurities, self-love

────── ⋆⋅💗⋅⋆ ──────

💐“If I'm your happy ending, you're my heaven. There's nothing else I need from this world. I could live here forever, in this place where I'm yours and you're mine. There's never been anything more beautiful than this version of paradise. I'm certain of it.”💐


❥𝓜𝔂 𝓽𝓱𝓸𝓾𝓰𝓱𝓽𝓼💭 ˖⁺. ༶ ⋆˙⊹

➴ I had the best time reading this book💞 knowing Adam from previous books, I knew that his book was going to be heartwarming, and let me tell you this: it didn’t disappoint me💅🏼❤️‍🩹 this book is so cute, sweet, funny, and something comfy that it made me feel calm and so happy. I just couldn’t stop reading it until I finished it.

➴ I need to say this first because I know many people don’t like it and is the whole insta-love trope. Adam and Rosie literally started dating and fell in love from the moment they saw each other, and I think that was in the first 1-5 chapters. Their love story started very quickly, but honestly? I didn’t mind one bit about this fact. I’ve read other books with insta-love, and sometimes I don’t like this trope. But in this book? it was quite the opposite, and I loved it. Everything felt so sweet and healthy, and maybe cheesy, but sometimes that’s all I need.

➴ Adam and Rosie had their own insecurities for past experiences that broke them and made them feel like they didn’t deserve anything good or that they would never find it. It was a long journey to overcome these insecurities to understand that they are so worthy of acceptance and love for being just the way they are. I loved the way they helped each other feel comfortable in their own skin and love themselves first. They were so sweet, gentle, respectful, supportive, patient, caring, and loving with each other❤️‍🩹

➴ Rosie struggled with anxiety, and I loved how Adam always validated her feelings and thoughts and never made her feel bad about it. On the other hand, I loved how Rosie made Adam accept himself and showed him that he was so worthy of being loved without having to change anything about himself. The people who really deserve you will accept you as you are and will always look out for your well-being. These factors were something they helped each other understand. It wasn’t easy, but they slowly began to learn and accept it. For me, this was a really beautiful thing to read.

➴ I loved how they were strengthening their relationship and family. From the beginning, they were so sure that they wanted to be with each other for the long haul, and they worked for it and to be worthy and healthy for each other. Also, Adam as a daddy? it. was. everything. 🛐 he didn’t hesitate to accept and love Connor as if he were his own son and their scenes were so cute. And the scenes with the animals? perfection.

➴ the found family in this series is literally everything. They love and support each other through good times and bad times, and they are so funny. I loved reading all the crumbs of the previous couples and how sweet and strong all their relationships and found family are. Blood doesn’t necessarily make a family. Sometimes, a family can be the people you find on the journey of life and those who support, accept, and love you no matter what. And this series is literally the definition of this lovely lesson and I just love them so much.

💐“I mentioned we love super hard in this family, right? Any more and it'd be downright suffocating.” Suffocating? But it's the opposite. These people, the way they love so openly and without limits, it's so goddamn refreshing. I've been searching my entire life for these people, for this kind of love, and I didn't just find it in one person; I found it in a whole group of them. Surrounding myself with their love is like coming up for air at the last moment, having life breathed back into you.”💐


➴ new favorite hockey romance series? YESS✔️💖

────── ⋆⋅💗⋅⋆ ──────

Many quotes just because I love them

⋆˙⟡ “Nothing worth having ever comes easy, does it? We want the calm, but sometimes we have to brave the storm to get there.” So real😌✨

⋆˙⟡ My past is not my future. I'm allowed to be scared, and I'm allowed to choose to move slowly, so long as I move. ❤️‍🩹

⋆˙⟡ “I'd like to watch the sunset with you while we lie together.” As someone who is completely obsessed with looking at the sky, if someone tells me this… I’m DEAD. Blushing. Falling hard. When is the wedding? 🛐💍

⋆˙⟡ She's my version of paradise. And you’re mine, Adam💘

⋆˙⟡ “But what matters most, Rosie, is that you're your own first choice. Love yourself for exactly who you are and where you're at, mistakes, imperfections, and all. The people who are going to choose you will love all your pieces, not just some of them.” Thiss >>

⋆˙⟡ “Every single thought leaves my body, except...wow. How fucking lucky am I? I found you, and somehow, you chose me. I get to keep you.” And I want to keep YOU, Adam. You’re perfect😭💖

⋆˙⟡ “I like you for everything you are, all the pieces you've shown me, and the ones you try to hide too. I know our insecurities exist for a reason, but there's nothing you need to hide from me.” The way he loves her and wants her to love and accept herself too💕

⋆˙⟡ “I don't want to waste my time asking pointless questions, imagining a life where you're anywhere other than right next to me. I want to spend my days giving you the love you've always deserved, the kind you've dreamed of, and I want to show you how thankful I am for giving it back to me. You're mine, Rosie, and I'm yours. That's all I need to know. That's why I'm staring at you.” Marry me, Adam. Please and thank you💞

⋆˙⟡ “We have to get comfy with the uncomfy parts of ourselves before we can really know who we are and love that person, before we can let someone else know and love us. I want to know you, but I want you to know you more. Then you can share that person with me. Okay?” Rosie is the sweetest and kindest, and they definitely deserve each other💗

────── ⋆⋅💗⋅⋆ ──────

Anyways💜🦋 I absolutely loved this book and enjoyed every page I read. I’m obsessed with this found family and team of hockey players. They’re the best, seriously💗 now I can’t wait until July to read Jaxon’s book💕

𓏲 ₊♡𓂃I'd give her anything, whatever she wants, because as she stares up at me like I'm the sun in her sky, I realize she's mine. She's everything bright and good in my world, and in this moment, I'm so fucking thankful.⋆𓂃ִֶָ ⊹˚


────── ⋆⋅💗⋅⋆ ──────

˚˖𓍢ִ໋💗 ·˚ pre-read ˚ · ˖ nothing's better than a good hockey romance to warm your heart💕
Profile Image for Giorgia Reads.
1,331 reviews2,035 followers
August 7, 2023
2.5 stars

Sappy. That’s the first thing that comes to mind to describe this book.

The heroine’s repeated monologue of “I have never been loved, and that’s all I ever wanted” got pretty old, pretty fast.

Overall, there’s wasn’t much plot here. A lot of side characters with “funny” (depends on what you find funny) antics and a lot of melodramatic sentiments coming from both main characters.

I personally am not a fan of woe is me. Feels icky.
Don’t get me wrong, I like the emotional turmoil and the angst that comes from a hard life (like Rosie’s) but I just don’t like how she constantly acts like she’s the most unfortunate person on earth. Get a grip. Life’s a bitch to many people. She sometimes acted like she was the only one to have had a hard time and an emotionally traumatic experience. She isn’t, and she needed to stop with the self pity.

I mostly picked this book up despite the disaster that Consider Me was because I love the single mom trope. That’s a sure way to make me read it, but unfortunately I don’t know why, but I didn’t buy Rosie in her mom role. There was something missing. It felt like her kid was written in as a prop to add stuff to the plot, I didn’t feel their connection as much as I would have liked.

Adam was okay. I don’t know what to say - I didn’t really care that much for him. I could take him or leave him. Sure, he was a good guy, but I don’t know .. he didn’t didn’t interest me.

And lastly and probably most importantly, the relationship between those two, made me feel nada, zilch. I couldn’t care less if they got together or not. They just didn’t make me care. I think they suit each other cause they’re both cheesy and needy, but I can’t say I enjoyed reading the development of how they got together.


Also, can you believe that they still made jokes about Olivia’s height and her perfectly miniature self? Yeah, her height is a character in itself at this point. I skipped book 2 so I don’t know if that was a theme there too but GEEZ, there needs to be some new material.
Profile Image for monica ✨ romantasyreader.
573 reviews948 followers
August 1, 2023
“You didn’t throw my whole world off balance. You centered it. It was like you were my gravity, and every moment I was with you, everything settled into place. My fears, my insecurities, my hopes, and my dreams. I was at peace with everything, as long as you were by my side.”

Did I absolutely SOB during the last 10% (and other points along the way) during this book? Yes. This is Becka’s best, most beautifully written book and it’s hands down one of my forever favorites. I have NO NOTES. This was the easiest 5 star rating I’ve given since Icebreaker.

Adam is perfect. Rosie and Connor are perfect. The chaotic Vipers family is. perfect.

This book is full of so much fucking love that I was besideeeeee myself. Adam and Rosie were both in the foster care system growing up, and while their circumstances were different, the marks from their childhood were mirrors of each other. As an adoptee, I can’t begin to express how deeply I felt their emotions and had such similar thoughts about what makes a family. The two of them saw each other, and chose each other, at each moment that they needed each other. And the way the Vipers family (AND HANK!!) welcomed Rosie and Connor with open arms?! Please. Between the Halloween and Christmas holidays and every little moment in between, I was cackling, kicking my feet, and crying the happiest of tears.

This book is a masterpiece.

Thank you to Becka for an arc 💙 THIS BOOK IS OUT NOW 💙
August 7, 2023
don't mind me, i keep being an indecisive ass and changing the rating. just go on with ur lives and act as if u never saw me xoxo

hi and welcome
(this is not the actual review yet, i’m still absolutely insane at this moment so y’all have to sit ur asses down and wait for that xoxo)

First of all I’d like to thank some people.
To my delulu brain who made reading 536 pages possible in one day.

To time, a social construct that doesn’t exist within the tight bonds i hold over reading

To my body who is now suffering because i forgot to eat all day👍🏼 i cannot promise it won’t happen again

To my non existent sleep. There is no one really to thanks as it is, quite literally, non existent

To my tear ducts who worked overtime today. y’all the real heroes

To jaxon who went dressed as Ginger spice girl, adopted a cat and went full on Winston from New girl. I love u my man, u better end up witj that camera woman

To Adam who brought more daddy to the table than i thought was possible

and lastly,
to me.
for being awesome and literally abandoning anything i had to do today so i could just lie down in my bed and cry over some ink on paper. ur my real homie🫶🏼

rtc





pov me sitting on my bed when this drops at 12am:
👁💧👄💧👁
🧍‍♀️🧍‍♀️🧍‍♀️🧍‍♀️🧍‍♀️🧍‍♀️
Profile Image for ikram.
239 reviews425 followers
Want to read
February 21, 2023
oh i just KNOW adam’s book is going to serve i’m so ready for this 🫡
Profile Image for Desiree.
343 reviews50 followers
October 30, 2023
HOLY FREAKING SHIT!!!! I LOVED EVERY SINGLE WORD OF THIS BOOK!!! It made me cry happy tears and sad tears. And the found family?!?! I forgot how much I missed this world, especially the found family!! EVERYTHING about this book was PERFECTION!!! Like Garrett and Carter bickering every time Garrett brought up Jennie. Carter’s theatrics whenever he popped up. The group chats. Especially the one with Adam and all the girls. How nervous both Adam and Rosie got in each other’s proximity. Bear, Piglet, and Dinosaur. Connor and Lily. How flirtatious Adam was when he wasn’t nervous. Adam’s BDE. How after they first met, he went back to where she worked to hopefully find her so they could go for a walk again, AND SHE made an extra sandwich for him, just in case he was there. 😭😭. How Connor called him Dada the second he laid eyes on him😭😭. How perfect of a family they were, including the found family. How they always supported each other and were there for each other without hesitation. And just how Rosie and Adam are LITERALLY made for each other. OOH, and the chapter titles!! I forgot how much I loved those. And the little sneak peek we got of Lennon and Jaxon. I almost forgot, the pepper scene made me SOB, it hit way too close to home.

If you are unaware of this world, please start it!! The first book is about Carter and Olivia. Book two is about Garrett (Carter’s best friend and teammate) and Jennie (Carter’s sister). And this book is about Adam (Carter and Garrett’s best friend and teammate) and Rosie. Book four will be about Jaxon (all of the aforementioned men’s best friend and teammate) and Lennon. And the final book will be Cara (Olivia’s best friend) and Emmett (all of the aforementioned men’s best friend and teammate).

After Adam got out of a long, toxic relationship, he’s trying to find his happily ever after. And all of his attempts have been puck bunnies who only care about his money and reputation. One day, he stumbles upon Rosie after his dog, Bear attacks her face with kisses, when she was walking one of the dogs at the shelter she volunteers at. And wowzers, there was an instant connection. Will he tell her his real identity? Will she accept him? Will he accept her for something that’s driven others away? Go read and find out!!!!

*Warning, I may overload this with a BUNCH of quotes. Sorry not sorry. And beware of potential spoilers*

Favorite quotes/scenes:

“Jennie’s about to take me for a ride.” (Garrett)
“fuck. u.” (Carter)
“Rather fuck ur sister.” (Garrett)
“i’m gonna fucking kill u” (Carter)
“Dad??? This is where you interject.” (Emmett)

“You know, Rosie. I wasn’t having the best day when I ran into you. Or rather, when my dog tackled you to the ground. Maybe he knew what he was doing, though. Because my day got a hundred times better after you fell into it.”

“Ireland, baby, look! Look at Daddy! Watch what I can do!” He presses his feet against the pool wall and launches himself backward, flipping underwater, emerging with a gasp. “Did you see me, princess? Did you see Daddy? Ten outta ten, right, baby?” (Carter)
“Wasn’t watching.” (Adam)
“Aw, man.” Carter slaps the water and swims away.

“You’re my favorite brand of trouble. Want to know why?” (Adam)
“Why?” (Rosie)
“Because I’ve never wanted to be so deep in it as I do now that I’ve met you.” (Adam)

“I could float through the rest of my life content in knowing I’ve held perfection in these arms.” (Adam)

“Please don’t ever try to convince yourself any part of you isn’t just right, because to me, it’s everything. You. Are. Everything.” (Adam)

“I’d give you some if I had them, but Jennie lets me fuck her raw.” (Garrett)
“Yeah I do, baby!” (Jennie)
“Take that back.” (Carter”
“No.”
“I said take it back!” Carter shouts, pinning Garrett to the ground.
Garrett rolls on top of him. “And I said no!”
“You can’t have unprotected sex! You might accidentally have a baby!” (Carter)
“Proof I fucked your sister! And don’t call your daughter an accident!” (Garrett)
“Ireland, baby, Daddy loves you! You were a happy surprise!” (Carter)

“I’d give her anything, whatever she wants, because as she stares up at me like I’m the sun in her sky, I realize she’s mine. She’s everything bright and good in my world, and in this moment, I’m so fucking thankful.”

“I just want to be perfect for you two.” (Adam)
“I don’t need perfect. I need the mess, the chaos, all your fears and your insecurities. I’ve given you mine, and you’ve walked me through all of them. Let me walk with you through your chaos.” (Rosie)

“Ready to spend your days waiting on a woman, huh?”
“If that woman is you? Absolutely. I’m gonna marry you someday, after all. Batman always gets the girl.”

“He’s squeezed himself into every crevice of my life, and everything feels so full I’m nearly ready to burst.” (Rosie)

“I want her to know how I feel about her. How utterly devoted I am to her. How mind-blowingly in love with her I am.”

Connor’s wearing a tiny version of my jersey, big headphones covering his ears, and when Rosie points to me, a smile ignites his face. He slaps at the glass as I stop there. “Dada! Hi, Dada!”
“Hi, buddy. I’m so happy you’re here.”
“Hockey!” He points at my stick. “Dada… pay… hockey?”

“What are you afraid of, Rosie?”
“Losing you. Connor’s is the only love I’ve ever got to keep.” “You can keep mine. It belongs to you.”
“Promise?”
“Swear it.”

“Loving you came so naturally, like all these years I’d been saving it just for you, and when you walked into my life, all I wanted to do was hand you my heart and tell you to take it.” (Rosie)

“The second I saw you with that little boy, I knew my heart was yours. You’re everything I was looking for.” (Adam)

“It’s Carter’s world; we’re all just living in it.”

“Do you wake up every day and think to yourself, ‘What can I say to Rosie today that’ll make her fall even more in love with me?’”
“Pretty much. I need you head over heels if I have any hope of getting you to change your last name one day. Every morning I wake up and ask myself how I can get us one step closer.”

“If I’m your happy ending, you’re my heaven. There’s nothing else I need from this world. I could live here forever, in this place where I’m yours and you’re mine. There’s never been anything more beautiful than this version of paradise. I’m certain of it.”

“Can I give you something to help you feel better?”
“I’d like that.” Two tiny, gentle hands cup my cheeks, and I close my eyes as Lily presses featherlight kisses across my nose.
“There. Butterfly kisses.I think Connor’s the luckiest kid in the world. He’s got the best mama.”

“You didn’t throw my whole world off balance. You centered it. It was like you were my gravity, and every moment I was with you, everything settled into place. My fears, my insecurities, my hopes, and my dreams. I was at peace with everything, as long as you were by my side. With you, I found my gravity. That’s worth so much more than my chaos.” (Adam)
Profile Image for Lara Siefken.
4 reviews3 followers
August 3, 2023
What a snooze-fest. First of all, I really wanted to love this book because I really liked the first two in the series. But this one? Basically, two people falling in love in chapter 2 who continue to recite SACCHARINE monologues to each other troughout the whole book. Other than that? Nothing! No major hick-ups, every possible conflict gets resolved within 2 pages and the story is just bland overall. I started skipping whole paragraphs of Rosie and Adam telling each other how perfect they are.

Additionally, the character of Rosie really didnt make much sense in my eyes. She has been so much and is still such a naive and trusting person? Why did she let her child stay with his OBVIOUSLY TERRIBLE father? Why is she so desperate for outside-validation? At some point it got quite annoying.

Extra point because I loved Adam and really appreciated the groups dynamics.
Profile Image for Eleanor .
287 reviews585 followers
August 15, 2023
I was hesitant to read Unravel Me because I didn't exactly enjoy the first book and I skipped the second one due to an OW scene; this was the last chance I was giving this series. While I did almost give up in the first 15% because of how nauseatingly sweet Adam was (I was seriously embarrassed for him); the man was an absolute SIMP from the beginning. I am so glad I continued reading because after Rosie and Adam get to know each other a little and Rosie's son, Connor, makes an appearance, I couldn't get over how perfectly they suited each other and wanted to make their relationship work. Adam was 100% committed to making Rosie and Connor his family.
The whole book features found family throughout in many different ways and I loved how beautifully it was done; I don't cry often but this book had me in tears. That epilogue seriously had me balling my eyes out. I can definitely see how some people wouldn't be able to get over how the beginning is insta-lovey, but if you can, I seriously recommend this book. 🤞 Becka Mack doesn't let me down with Jaxon, but I would love to see another MC that isn't a manwhore from her because Adam had my whole heart!


~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~
No one is more shocked than me by the fact that I actually liked this. RTC!
Profile Image for Katherine.
48 reviews4 followers
August 2, 2023
3.75 I know it’s just my cold heart so take this with a grain of salt, but this was just a liiittle too sickeningly sweet for my taste. So many cheesy one liners that I just kinda rolled my eyes at. Garrett and Jennie still have my heart.
Profile Image for priscilla.
295 reviews220 followers
August 3, 2023
the things that came out of rosies mouth at time were CRINGE
Profile Image for Allison.
133 reviews9 followers
August 5, 2023
one of most anticipated reads of the year and it was disappointing. i loved the tropes and the premise, but it just fell flat

- a 15 mo old doesn’t know that many words unless he’s some kind of baby genius
- unnecessary ow drama in the last 15% that also felt rushed
- another very inexperienced heroine w an experienced hero
- multiple sad dog scenes ??? why
- can rosie stop crying all the damn time pls
- dialogue felt flowery
- was adam with an ow or not at the party in the beginning?
- garrett and jennie throwing their relationship in everyone’s face
- rosie leaving her baby with her shitty baby daddy knowing how indifferent he seems towards their child
- insta-lovey for two people w trauma towards relationships
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for claudia.
232 reviews27 followers
October 17, 2024
Golden boy. Notorious serial dater. The NHL’s most eligible bachelor. That’s what the headlines say about Adam Lockwood, at least. He wishes he could say they’re not accurate, but truthfully? He doesn't even know who he is anymore. Between a soul-crushing ex-girlfriend and a never-ending queue of dates gone wrong, one thing has become obvious: Adam no longer wants to be Adam Lockwood. So when Adam's dog decides to play matchmaker, taking down Rosie Wells. Adam couldn't believe his luck that she didn’t have a clue who he was. Adam knows he should tell her but for once in his life, someone sees him as the man behind the goalie mask. Rossie offers her heartache, laughter, and her son. But Adam? He's holding on a little too tightly to the pieces he is scared to give up, the ones she may not like. His deepest desires become his biggest fear, and Adam is terrified Rosie will unravel him. One small lie becomes a secret hanging above his head, but what if there's one hiding around the corner?

Rosie and Adam clicked from the very beginning. Finding each other was like putting two pieces of puzzle together. Adam was someone who had so much love to offer and Rosie needed someone to show her how loveable she was. The chemistry this brought was undeniably good.

"You know, Rosie. I wasn't having the best day when I ran into you. Or rather, when my dog tackled you to the ground. Maybe he knew what he was doing, though. Because my day got a hundred times better after you fell into it."

I'm not really sure what was going on with Adam being shy for one second and then confident. I liked the shy boy aspect I think Becka should have run with that and made Rosie the confident one instead just to switch it up from the other books. The personality switch from Adam was a little poorly written. But Adam and his cocky mouth has everyone blushing.

"Jesus listen to you. And you were gonna give them these noises?" He cocks his head, tsking. "No, these are all mine, trouble."

"I'd kiss every fucking inch of this body, worship it all, make it my only religion if you'd only let me. What do you say, trouble? You gonna let me?"

"Such a pretty mouth, begging so nicely. You don't have to beg though. I'd never say no to you."

"That's my loud girl. Tell them who you belong to."

"You feel like being a bad girl tonight, huh? That's okay. I don't feel like being all that nice."


I loved how accepting Adam was with Connor. He was one hundred per cent committed to making the three of them his family and it was so cute. The found family trope was so beautifully written I adored that Becka made Rosie a single parent, it is a trope she does so effortlessly perfect. Honourable mention for Adam Lockwood being such a DILF.

"Now I get two for the price of one."

"I like being here. I have no plans of leaving. You're a package deal, Rosie. That doesn't scare me. I'll tell you as often as I need to until you believe it."

"Connor is a million times more important. There is nobody as important to me as you and that little boy."



Rosie was simply iconic, the way she spoke about Adam is what everyone has been thinking since the first book. She was absolutely great nothing this woman could do would annoy me.

"What do you think buddy? Wanna ride in Adam's truck?" Cause Mama wants to ride something else of Adam's.

I was so obsessed with these two together. They truly fell in love because of the people they were. It wasn't based on money, fame, attraction, and lust. It really was because of the way Adam would treat Conner, and how Rosie fell for the real Adam despite his flaws or insecurities.

"Was there any other option? Choosing you? Because it didn't feel like a choice; it just felt right."
"Like it was meant to happen? Me and you? That little boy out there?"
"Like we were lost, and you pulled your truck over to the side of the road and asked if we needed a ride. We climbed in and never left."
Adam grins against my cheek, "I like that. You were made to ride in my passenger seat."


Adam just had a way with words when it came to reassuring Rosie. You could tell he so desperately wanted it to work he knew she was the one for him so he had to fight for her.

"This, Rosie," he murmurs, pressing my palm above his pattering heart. "It's all for you."

"You're not my first choice, Rosie. You're the only goddamn option.">

I knew Adam's love language would be acts of service. What he did for Rosie was so heartwarming. Making a room for Connor, opening the Stardust Lane Scholarship in honour of her parents when she lost hers for having a child, planting peonies at Rosie and her parent's tree with their initials in their camping spot, having a peony garden at his house so she feels at home, and reading co-parent books. From book one, I knew the way this man would show his love was through his actions and I am elated Becka ran with that.

The side characters in this book were so strong. So much love for Marco, Archie, Jax, Bev and Cara. They really did carry and need an honourable mention.

I loved it when Adam was showing off his family! That man was so damn proud of what he had and he genuinely was holding them close to his heart.

"So, do I see myself settling down with her? Yeah, I really do. And starting a family?" Adam looks directly into the camera, and for a moment, it feels like he's looking right at me. "We already have one, but I can't wait to keep building it."

A round of applause for how Adam deals with Brandon. The bollocking was so deserving I was waiting for someone to tell Brandon off and I am more than glad Adam was the one to do it.

"You shut your goddamn mouth and quit acting like those two walking out this door and never looking back won't be the worst thing that'll ever happen to you. Because I promise you, it fucking is. You're only gifted something like this once in a lifetime, and somebody else is going to appreciate and love the beautiful family you were given, the same one you took for granted."
"Who?" Brandon struggles to ask. "You?"
"Yeah. Me."


This scene had to be my favourite it was so heartwarming! I was grinning throughout. It genuinely shows how good of a man Adam is.

"My only goal in this life is making sure you spend the rest of your days knowing, without a doubt, how loved you and Connor are. If I Succeed, I'll have lived this life right."

The epilogue went beautifully. They completed their family with additions and I couldn't have been happier. Yes, this book was very insta-love but I needed a book like this because of my recent read so there's no complaining. I think I read this book at the perfect time I'm not sure if I would have had the same reaction if I read this book at a different time. There is nothing to criticise apart from Adam's character being a little all over the place but it is understandable after Courtney.
Profile Image for Alix Sadler.
51 reviews
August 2, 2023
I really don’t like the fact that these 26 year olds are acting and talking like they are 6. Just a no from me. This had so much potential and it made me cringe every 5 seconds.
Profile Image for isy.
264 reviews619 followers
September 2, 2023
So... I don't really know my exact thoughts on this book, but I'm going to do my best to, you know, try and express my feelings.

I LOVE this group. I love their scenes together hanging out, I love their friendships, I just love THEM. They MAKE THESE BOOKS. The whole series would be nothing without this group of friends (like literally but I hope you guys get what I mean by this not literally to). Does that make sense? I don't even care at this point.

The first 200 pages of this book were pretty hard for me to get through. The trope is "like at first hike"... which when you take away the fancy phrasing, it legit just means insta-love, so going into it my expectations where pretty low. In case you didn't know, I HATE insta-love. I hate it I hate it I hate it. But anyways, yes they were insta love. The first date he went all out with a picnic and cute lights and shit and they had deep, meaningful conversations that made me want to puke.
That was basically the first 30% of the book. Them going on dates and having deep conversations and falling in love. Blah blah blah.
At that point I seriously thought it was going to be a 2 star read lol.
LUCKLYYYYYY after that little conflict in the middle with his career and stuff did make things go better for me.
They "slowed down" idk if I would even really call it that, but after that something switched and I started enjoying it a lot more.

The ridiculousness of the way they talk and how in every freaking chapter they are having a deep convo or talking about their insecurities or just the overall flowerly, cringiness that is the couple was still there, but you gotta expect that going into a BM book. They are going to talk weird and not realistic and they are going to reassure reassure reassure over and over and over again.

Also, the dog was dirty move Becka. That was just MEAN.
Profile Image for Mackenzie.
377 reviews901 followers
August 1, 2023
This is book #3 in the Playing For Keeps Series following Adam & Rosie. We have met Adam in the other books of this series, he is the star goalie for the Vancouver Vipers NHL team. After being cheated on by the woman he was going to propose to, Adam is tired of dating & is ready to find his person. Well one day while out on a hike with his dog, Bear, they run into Rosie — a single mom in school to become a veterinarian. They really hit it off & end up having more in common than they think.

I feel like we waited forever for this book & I was so excited but unfortunately this one just fell flat for me for multiple reasons.

1. The book had too many similarities to other hockey romances. Plain & simple.
2. I am not an insta-love girly. I liked Adam but found that he was obsessed with Rosie right from the get go & was already in love by like 30%.
3. I feel like Adam’s personality was so up in the air. He would be super dominant in the bedroom & a big dirty talker even before they made it to sex, but then we would see his conversations with his friends before their first date & then again before they had sex & he acted as if he was like a virgin teenager. His personality just seemed very contradictory to me.
4. I don’t want to spoil anything but basically the scene where things eventually blow up with Rosie’s baby daddy did not sit well with me. I’m not sure if it’s because I’m a mom to two toddlers but that made me sick to my stomach. I’ve never had a trigger in a book before but that part really got to me. I totally get that it was part of the storyline to make her baby daddy look bad but it bothered me a lot. & to add to that, the fact that Rosie barely even bat an eye at what happened there but nearly broke up with Adam over a minor detail really just irked me.
5.Rosie was way too trusting in my opinion for a single mom who has been through what she has. I didn’t relate to her whatsoever.

Overall, I liked the premise of the story but there were just a lot of things about this book that really bothered me. My favorite parts were when they were all together as a friend group because they are an incredibly funny group think but since it’s a romance novel, that shouldn’t have been my favorite. I liked Adam & Rosie but Garrett & Jennie have my heart in this series.

Tropes:
- Sports Romance
- Single Mom
- Insta-Love
- Found Family
- No 3rd Act Breakup

3/5⭐️
2.5/5🌶️
Profile Image for Jen ♥.
1,330 reviews605 followers
December 21, 2023
adam fvcking lockwood era is here!!!! 😍😍😍


probably some spoilers below, so please skip this review if you don't like them ✌️


“You’re not my first choice, Rosie. You’re the only goddamn option.”



so, i stayed up until 3 AM because i have to, no, i need to finish this book, and mind you, it was a thick one! 500+ pages isn't a joke, hahaha. was it the sensible thing to do? of course not, i have a job the next day, but i know caffeine will help me pull through. 😂 was it worth it, though? definitely, 1000%!!!

idk how to explain all the emotions i've felt reading adam and rosie's story. it was so overwhelming (in a good way), heartfelt, hopeful, and adorable. i think they're the most awkward and clumsy couple i've ever read, but these traits made them so much more likeable and lovable for me. it was so funny reading them being flustered whenever they're together or how they always blurt out things without thinking and make them embarrassed afterwards.

but what i loved the most between them was the genuine connection, honesty, and openness when everything finally came out. the maturity of these two is so refreshing, and there's nothing more i love than reading characters who talk things out and resolve issues/problems in a loving and respectful manner.

there are a lot of tropes included here, but "found family" is my favorite one. i love the camaraderie between the puck sluts (emmett, carter, garett, adam, and jaxon) and how they've become friends and brothers for life. there's nothing like carter and his oversize ego, and i love his DILF moments 😂 or how garett always annoys carter by talking about jennie, and jaxon for being a softie when it comes to mittens and to his friends.

also, the wives and girlfriend who rally behind adam and are always there to give him a little push and tips on how to make his moves with rosie. they are just the supportive bunch of people that you would want on your side, and i'm happy that adam has them. and as for rosie's team, she got archie and marco. i'm glad that both mcs here have friends who really care and want the best for them.

aside from those friends, i think what makes the story even sweeter are connor, lily, bear, piglet, and dinosaur. 🥰 it's so adorable reading daddy adam and how he embraced that role wholeheartedly, and i agree with the girls, adam is the bigger dilf than carter 🤣 maaan this guy is the epitome of a green flag (except the part of hidden identity, but he made up for it anyway). can i have my own adam??? is it too much to ask??? 😭😂

as for the issues they've faced, i'm not a fan of ow/om drama if i could i would avoid books like the plague that have this content. buuuuut i also know that in this story, that is very much needed for the mcs to finally move on and to leave behind those toxic people. more importantly, to heal from the negative impact they left on adam and rosie. like i said, i don't like brandon and courtney's existence, but they're still somehow significant to the story. and i'm truly and deeply satisfied that adam and rosie finally took that step to kick out those awful human beings from their lives.

i also don't like lying in my books, even if it's by omission, and i get where adam is coming from, but i would've liked for him to open up to rosie a little bit earlier in the story rather than letting his lie fester for way too long (too long that rosie found out from her friend). he made up and asked for forgiveness for his mistake in the story anyway, so i guess it's all good in the end.

overall, i enjoyed reading adam and rosie's story. it made me laugh, cry, hope, swoon, angry (courtney!! brandon!!) but most of all i feel the encompassing love between the mcs, and side characters in this book. would i wish for this to be at least a few pages less? yes, i honestly think some of the inner monologues are way too long, and there's a lot of things happening. but it is what it is, and i still enjoyed every minute of it. this is surely going to be one of my top 10 books for this year.


book info:
- no cheating
- om (not really, but connor's father is in the picture, and brandon is an asshole, btw, doesn't give a crap about his son)
- ow (fucking courtney, being the evil witch herself, causing ruckus in the story, but this was handled so beautifully, so adios satan's mistress)
- death of a loved one (parents and animal)
- mental rep (anxiety/ocd)
- hidden identity
- matchmaking dogs
- cute babies and children
- found family
- temporary breakup?? (rosie asked for space when she found out adam's real job, and this lasted for two weeks)



Self note: jaxon and lennon's book is the next one, and i'm praying that they're both players!!! 😂 readers know that jaxon is a manwhore and is so proud of it. so, in my mind and i want to manifest that lennon is sexually active just as the same. cuz if she's not, their story will be just like carter & olivia version 2. also, i want jaxon to fall so fast, hard, and deep with lennon that he won't know anymore which way is up or down 🤣



----- thoughts before the book release -----

is it possible to die from jealousy???? because i am 😭 the arc reviews are driving me wild and i really really really want to read adam's book like right now. 😭🤣
Profile Image for rapha.
249 reviews26 followers
Read
August 12, 2023
dnf at 33% this was so insta lovey, ew. and why tf did they talk like fucking children?!!!
Profile Image for 24 ᥫ᭡..
280 reviews26 followers
September 22, 2024
4.5 ⭐️

I love this whole series.

The only thing about this book is that there should have been more build up to their relationship but other than that it was perfect.

She falls asleep in his car so he goes around the block 8 times. 😩

We need a second gen !!

Profile Image for casey.
425 reviews121 followers
August 11, 2023
♾️ / 5!

Reading this book felt like being back home again. It was absolutely worth the wait and nothing short of perfection 🤍

Despite knowing I would already love this book no matter what, nothing could have prepared me for how amazing it really was. I was only a couple of pages in before I was already dreading it ending. Adam & Rosie’s story is all about two people who are afraid to love for different reasons and navigate that together, regardless of all the ups and downs. They both deserve the very best after their heartbreaking pasts, and that’s exactly what they give each other. Adam & Rosie are so perfect for each other and deserve one another in all the best ways possible. I adore them with everything in me.

Throughout this book, Adam & Rosie showed me in so many different ways what love should be like. There’s just something so beautiful about two strong people being vulnerable and finding a safe space within each other. Adam & Rosie were two people who just wanted to be chosen for who they were, and they were so adoringly cherished and unconditionally loved by the other person like it was second nature 😭 It warmed my heart to see them grow individually and together. And don’t even get me started on all the moments with Connor (Rosie’s son) and their pets. Nothing could have prepared me for how easily and flawlessly Adam fits into the role of a DILF. Adam & Connor had some of the most precious moments I’ve ever read.

Another thing I wasn’t prepared for was how much I had missed these characters. There were so many hilarious and wholesome moments with the friend group that I just couldn’t get enough of — and you already know I was eating up those CarterOlivia & GarrettJennie crumbs! It’s very evident that a found family has built up since the beginning of this series and that there is so much love found within these pages, both by the author and with these characters. I want to hug them all and wish them all the happiness in the world (and I'm emo because I would do anything to be in this friend group) 🤧

Overall, I don’t think anyone is ready for how PERFECT Adam is — seriously, there is not. a. SINGLE. flaw. with this man — and there are not enough words to describe how much I adored this book. I’m not much of a crier, but I found myself experiencing a roller coaster of emotions and sobbing with happy/sad tears multiple times throughout this book. This series and the characters in it have healed my soul in ways I didn’t think were possible, and I’m grateful to have read these books at this stage in my life 🥹 I owe Becka Mack my life at this point for writing my comfort series / characters. I’m so excited for the next book & whatever else she writes.

Thank you so much to Becka Mack & Wordsmith Publicity for an ARC of this book. I’m so honored to be a part of this release 💌
Profile Image for Erica.
577 reviews819 followers
December 7, 2023
UPDATED TO ADD CW. It is a spoiler, but I highly recommend informing yourself of it before reading the book.

This series is a comfort series for me now. The characters are so funny and their found family dynamic just warms my heart. This was my favorite of the series so far! Adam is SO sweet and supportive to Rosie, it brought tears to my eyes several times. You could read each book on its own, but reading it as a series is just so much better.

- Single mom
- No third act breakup
- Spicy time in front of a mirror
- Adults actually communicating like adults
- FMC healing from a toxic ex

Spice:
Profile Image for Hannah.
27 reviews1 follower
August 2, 2023
ngl this was a let down, i get you want a story to be healing/found family but dear god these ppl were professing their love for each other within their first meeting. it got to the part where whenever adam & rosie were talking and i saw big paragraphs i just skipped ahead until they got shorter. ALSO with a friend group as well written as this one why was there barely any content until the book was half over??? and i get its cute for the baby to say dada but after looking at this man once???? yeah i’m sorry but what?
Profile Image for logan.
388 reviews3,409 followers
August 8, 2023
i enjoyed this one! adam is such a golden boy just looking for the right girl, someone he can finally trust. i loved learning more about him. rosie is so perfect for him, and man did her story make my heart break for her at times. she has so much love to give, and is the best mom! connor is adorable and his relationship with adam is so cute i could scream.

all the moments with the rest of the friend group were everything i could've wanted. seeing carter & ollie as parents and garrett & jennie as a happy couple was so sweet. and this is a book for dog lovers!!! every single moment w the dogs from their meet cute to the very end brought me so much joy!!

the beginning felt a little fast/insta-lovey given both of their trust issues, i think i expected it to be a little slower since it was such a long book, but i was still able to enjoy their development. the drama at the end felt a little unnecessary since it was over so quickly and pretty inconsequential, but over all still an great book!
Profile Image for Pinky.
560 reviews582 followers
November 22, 2023
Trigger Warnings:

This is the third book in the Playing for Keep series, the first being Consider Me and the second being Play With Me. I recommend reading the books in order cuz they’re all amazing, YOU HAVE TO READ CARTER’S BOOK CUZ HE’S MY FAV. Carter and Ollie are adorable and Garrett and Jenny are too. I NEED Emmett and Cara’s book and I can’t wait to see Jaxon fall in love. I can’t lie, this book put me in a huge reading slump. Despite me loving Adam, he just seemed too unreal ya know? And I know it’s fiction but it just took me out at times. It was good to see healthy discussions but it felt too fake at times. There were a lot of cringey moments with Adam hitting on Rosie early on. But I loved Adam, Rosie, the kids, and the pets.


This follows Adam, a famous goalie on a hockey team who was cheated on by his ex. His friends have all found the loves of their lives and he desperately wants someone as well. But every person he dates wants to be with him for his fame rather than for him. That is until he runs into Rosie at a park, she has no idea who he is and he likes that.

“If I’m your happy ending, you’re my heaven. There’s nothing else I need from this world. I could live here forever, in this place where I’m yours and you’re mine. There’s never been anything more beautiful than this version of paradise. I’m certain of it.”

Now for spoilers


Stay safe folks!
Profile Image for Rachael 🥀.
583 reviews38 followers
June 27, 2024
Reread June 2024: Adam is still perfection. 🥺

- - - - - - - - - -

All I can say is: PERFECTION. 🫶🏼

Adam is perfect.
Rosie is perfect.
Connor is perfect.
Bear is perfect.
Piglet is perfect.
Lily is perfect.
The Puck Sluts are perfect.


💕 💓 💞
It’s like Adam took one look at my heart and said, “This is what you want? Let me give you more.”
💕 💗 💞


Fuck Courtney and Brandon though. 😤
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