Faircloud: Book 3
Publication Date: August 22, 2025
Penny Hudson found her family in the people she chose—new friends, found sisters, and one fiercely protective old lady who took her in when she needed it most. Life in Faircloud was never picture-perfect, but Penny survived it with laughter and her favorite music cranked up loud.
Mac Ridley grew up behind the bar at The Tequila Cowboy, always working, always watching. He’s built his life by keeping his head down, stacking tips, and staying far away from anything that could tie him to his father’s messy legacy. Emotions? Not in the game plan.
But when friends and circumstance throw Penny and Mac together, a secret six-month fling turns into something that feels dangerously like more until one mistake tears them apart.
Now, Mac wants a second chance. But Penny isn’t making it easy, and maybe that’s exactly what he needs. Because this time, charm won’t cut it. If he wants her back, he’ll have to prove it with effort, with honesty, and maybe even on his knees.
The man so used to being chased becomes the chaser in The Games We Play: a flirty, fiery, small-town romance about second chances and fighting for the love you almost lost.
What happens when a man used to being the hunted becomes the hunter in M Harley’s second-chance romance, The Games We Play.
I tend to review more cozy murder mysteries, so it was a nice change of pace to get to review this feel-good second-chance romance. I love sexy alpha males and strong women who can be soft and feminine. That combination is my happy place.
While I wasn’t able to read the first books in the series, I was able to follow along without feeling lost. The book was very well written, the plot moved at a nice pace, the characters were real and relatable, and I certainly never got bored.
The sparks between Mac and Penny fly off the page, and I love the dialogue between them—snappy, flirty, and passionate.
Reading the author’s bio, she mentioned there is “nothing better than a love story that lingers long after the last page is turned.” I don’t think a truer statement could have been made. I think that this book fits that euphemism perfectly.
Two old lovers get a second chance at love in The Games We Play in this delightful small-town romance.
M. Hartley is a hopeless romantic with a passion for crafting heartfelt stories about small-town charm and rugged fictional cowboys (with big hearts and big…) When she’s not writing, while drinking a glass of sweet red wine, she can be found doting on her beloved dog, Hank, or indulging in her absurd Swedish Fish addiction. Dedicated to making readers fall head over heels for romance, M. Hartley believes there’s nothing better than a love story that lingers long after the last page is turned.
