Chart-topper and Grammy winner Malcolm Douglas shows up in
his hometown in Mississippi to the adoring shrieks of high-
school girls. But to Celia Patel, he's the last person she
wants to see. She was his sweetheart eighteen years ago and
he left her behind with the law at his heels. Now she's a
music teacher and the child they made together has been
adopted.
In PLAYING FOR KEEPS Malcolm has an urgent mission - he's
heard that threats have been laid against Celia's judge
father who is trying a major drugs case. Celia herself is a
likely target as well, and Malcolm badly wants to protect
her. But is it just the memory of a girl that has drawn
him back, and will he survive their first encounter?
Malcolm suggests that Celia would be safer if she
accompanied him on his upcoming European tour. Celia,
understandably, has no desire to be made a fool of again.
The singer has bodyguards and armour plated cars, but if
the lady won't even be in the same room as him what good
are they? Maybe, Celia decides, spending a little time
with her ex would bring some closure. Next stop, a
helicopter....
The chaos of publicity and pop concerts comes across well
in this tale, and Celia can't be blamed for feeling
overwhelmed. She barely sees any of the sights but
Malcolm's good friends, and revisiting of the past help
flesh out
the story for making the characters come across as real
people with genuine issues. With so much behind the
couple, a fresh start can't be an option, but they can get
to know each other again as adults. Leaving was not easy
but it worked out well for Malcolm, handing him greater
responsibilities, and Celia has spent years trying to
overcome her resentment - if she managed this so well, why
does she still get panic attacks?
PLAYING FOR KEEPS puts some interesting, believable people
into a difficult situation and Catherine Mann handles it
adroitly, keeping music to the fore - well, music is the
food of love! This is a fine romance, above average in
terms of character and it will be enjoyed by anyone in the
modern music industry or by romance fans everywhere.
In high school, Malcolm Douglas was a bad boy who stole the
heart of small-town girl Celia Patel�as well as her
virginity. But life pulled them apart and just as
well, for
he'd already broken her heart.
Now Malcolm is a world-famous billionaire dedicated to
atoning for his sins. When he swoops back into Celia's
life, he tells himself he only wants to protect her from
recent threats. But the desire between them leaves them as
breathless as teenagers. Will Celia ever forgive him?
Maybe. If he can make today's pleasure erase yesterday's
pain