Playing for Keeps — LuAnn McLane

Cricket Creek, Kentucky, is a sweet river town known for its theater, shopping, and cuisine. However, tough times are crushing tourism -- until a hard-hitting baseball team headed by three hometown heroes begins to revitalize the community one inning at a time....

Olivia Lawson is peeved when Noah Falcon roars back into Cricket Creek after all these years, thinking he can take the lead opposite her in the community theater's summer play. When she was his English tutor in high school, she crushed on the hotshot ballplayer, while he barely noticed her.

This time, Noah has certainly taken notice. Back in his beloved hometown to hone his acting skills to regain his role on a popular soap opera, Noah's working hard to make the show a hit -- and thoughts of the prim yet sexy Olivia have added a real authenticity to his part in the romantic comedy. But Noah knows that one successful run of summer theater isn't going to turn the economy around for Cricket Creek. He's serious about helping the town -- and crazy about Olivia. How can he prove that this time he's not just playing around -- he's playing for keeps?