Playing for Keeps

A heartwarming story of love, resilience, and teamwork between two coaches who learn that victory means more than winning the game

De: Wren Sue Maxwell

Narrado por: Virtual Voice

Lauren Morgan used to measure her worth in goals scored and seasons survived. A former athlete sidelined by injury and self-doubt, she’s built a careful life as a youth soccer coach—structured, steady, and safe. But when her small-town team pairs her with Eli Torres, an ex-pro player with a smile that could undo the best defenses, Lauren’s game plan starts to unravel.

Eli is the golden boy who walked away from fame for reasons he doesn’t talk about. Coaching beside Lauren, he finds something he hasn’t felt in years: purpose. She’s sharp, passionate, and utterly unwilling to be impressed by him—which, of course, only makes him want to prove he’s more than a highlight reel.

As the season unfolds, their clashing coaching styles spark tension, laughter, and something deeper neither expected. Between the shouts of the crowd and the quiet moments after practice, they begin to build trust—slowly, carefully, like passing a ball across uncertain ground. But Lauren’s fear of being seen for more than her past might cost her the team, the victory, and the man who refuses to stop believing in her.

Set against the hum of small-town stadium lights, Playing for Keeps is a heartfelt slow-burn romance about rebuilding after heartbreak and learning that love, like soccer, is a game best played with heart. For readers who crave authentic emotion, witty banter, and second chances that feel earned, this story will remind you that the bravest wins are the ones we claim for ourselves.