Sunday's Oldies but Goodies...

Greetings!

This week's Oldie but Goodie is...

Playing for Keeps

by Karen Templeton

Originally Released

October 2003

Joanna Swan, divorced mother of three, is tired. Money is tight, the roof leaks, and her ex is a tad on the forgetful side. Add to that the fact that her car is 10 years old and she hasn't shopped for new clothes in years, and you have a woman who is in desperate need of a little fun. Even she's not interested in anything like that.

Enter Dale McConnaughy. Ex-baseball star and now toy store owner, he spies Joanna out of the front window of his store one afternoon. And he couldn't look away. Her smile, not to mention her head full of unruly red corkscrew curls captures his attention more than anything has in quite a while.

Playing for Keeps tells the tale of Joanna Swan and Dale McConnaughy, two people who have decidedly different approaches to life. Joanna worries about her kids, her home, and her fledgling business selling hand-crafted Santas. She has neither the time nor the inclination for a relationship, but something about Dale draws her like a moth to the flame.

Dale, on the other hand, has decided he is going to live life for the moment. He has no desire for a relationship either, but for entirely different reasons that Joanna. Dale's childhood taught him some painful lessons, and he has sworn off ever letting any woman into his heart.

Slowly, through funny, heartwarming, and sometimes sad scenes, Ms. Templeton has woven a tale about trust, love, and forgiveness, and has done so with a deft hand. Reading the events as they unfold will have you silently rooting for the seemingly mismatched couple and the strong feelings that are obviously there. We see glimpses of Joanna's kids, and through them see an extension of her personality that may not have come through otherwise.

If you are looking for a heartwarming tale that will remind you love can overcome anything, then you need to check this book out.

To find out more about this author and check out her book list, you can visit her website at http://www.karentempleton.com/

Happy reading!