Publication Date: March 18, 2025
He might be a player, but she’ll teach him some new rules…
When football-mad Lily’s local club relocates to a city more than 50 miles away, she’s just as devastated as all the other fans. Determined to keep the community’s love of football alive, Lily, along with her dad and sister, sets up a brand-new club, Crawford United, with the dream of making it big.
Everyone is shocked when notorious professional player Ben Pryce shows up out of the blue to help coach the new team. Despite being a top Premier League striker, he’s been temporarily suspended from his team for an altercation with a fan – and his image is in serious need of a revamp.
Within minutes Lily and Ben are clashing like rival teams on match day. But despite their differences, sparks fly – and it’s not long before Lily’s at risk of breaking her number one rule: no mixing business with pleasure.
Ben may have a bad-boy reputation, but might there be more to him than meets the eye?
Funny, sweet and oh-so-steamy, Playing the Field is perfect for fans of Icebreaker and The Cheat Sheet as well as shows like Welcome to Wrexham and Ted Lasso.
For anyone who has binge-watched Ted Lasso multiple times and fallen in love with English football, it’s time to read about a naughty striker and a sassy boss.
Author Becky Ward brings the heat in Playing the Field. The action kicks off after a beloved club leaves the community, spurring Lily into action.
Managing a new club turns into a more complicated process when footballer bad boy Ben Pryce steps up to help coach during his suspension. Ben easily channels the grumpy Roy Kent. He and Lily may generate plenty of chemistry, but the pitch is now her workplace.
Although this is described as a sports romance, the emphasis leans more toward the sports end, with plenty of development devoted to setting up the new club.
The author delivers hilarious zingers, greatly increasing the interaction between the characters. Lily’s internal conflict is a tough one, especially when Ben tosses in a twist.
Playing the Field serves up a forbidden romance centered around English football.
Becky Ward has worked in magazine publishing for over twenty years on titles including OK!, New and The Daily Express supplements. She’s had hundreds of travel features, show and restaurant reviews published.
Playing The Field is Becky’s second romance novel with Avon, an imprint of HarperCollins.
