Reckless Love

A Small Town, Single Dad, Sports Romance (The Single Dad Playbook, Book 3)

By: Willow Aster

Narrated by: Sean Crisden, Angelina Rocca

A sexy small-town, single dad, friends-to-lovers romance by USA Today bestselling author, Willow Aster

I fell in love with Rhodes Archer the night we met thirteen years ago.

We made a pact that night to never cross the just-friends zone.

However, Rhodes crossed that line by kissing me recently, and I can’t get over it.

I’ve loved him, ached for him, craved him for years, but I've never wanted to ruin what we have.

And now, when I’m a cheerleader for the Colorado Mustangs and he’s their superstar tight end, we’re not even supposed to be in the same room, let alone be together.

But, he is everything to me.

And that includes my godson, Rhodes’ adorable three-year-old son, Levi, who I love as my own.

It’s impossible to stay away from each other. And I don’t want to when I can still feel his lips on mine and the lingering touches between us.

The lines have blurred, and rules are being broken…

I just hope we aren’t being too reckless and break each other’s hearts in the process.

Reckless Love is book three in The Single Dad Playbook series. Each book can be listened to as a standalone.

©2024 Willow Aster (P)2024 Willow Aster

Awesome FTL!

This book has everything I love in a friends to lovers book: a strong foundation, mutual pining, “it was always you”, and unconditional protection and love. I had kind of fallen in love with Rhodes throughout the other few books in this series, so suffice to say his sweetness with Elle had me plummeting straight to obsession. The way Rhodes, Elle, and Levi form the absolute perfect family warmed my heart. This is such a sweet story, and I loved the audio!! Angelina Rocha and Sean Crisden were so enjoyable to listen to. Their charisma and honeyed performance added so much to the experience!

Amazing listen!

Book three and it's just as good as the first two! Willow Aster has a knack for pulling me into her books. This is Rhodes and Elle and their friends to lovers story is impeccable. Friends through college they had a pact to be just friends. Now years later, Rhodes is fulfilling his dream of playing professional football and is single dad to Levi. Elle is a cheerleader for the team Rhodes plays for and also pens spicy novels with a pseudonym. There is a strict non-fraternizing clause in her cheerleading contract and this is killing her and Rhodes as she is a big part of his son's life as well as their own friendship. But does this keep the two from seeing each other? Elle and Rhodes had a truly beautiful friendship, though to me it was obvious their feelings for each other. It slowly burns and when it catches, it's fire! I loved their story, and especially Levi! So cute. It's a fun listen!

Sean Crisden and Angelina Rocca are the story tellers and these two know how to tell it! Crisden is Rhodes and he is sweet and sexy. And as a dad, he is perfect! Rocca is Elle, at times a bit clueless when it comes to Rhodes's feelings, but loyal and ready to fight for what is hers. I loved these two together, loved the way their voices complimented each other and truly enjoyed their narration.

It’s Always Been You

Reckless Love is the third book in the Single Dad Playbook series. This is a small town, sports romance, friends to lover, single dad romance. Rhodes and Elle have been best friends for 13 years. Elle is a cheerleader, a secretly successful romance author, and a daughter of a pastor. Rhodes is a football player who pined for Elle since they first met in college, but Elle kept them in the friend zone as she didn’t want to loose him as a best friend. Both had the mentality of “it’s always been you, only you”.

The timeline of the story was a past/present duel timeline, which was confusing at times. There was other woman/other man drama as their exes couldn’t take a hint. They longed for each other, but nothing really happened until she had to move in with him due to a creeper. Once they got together, that was it. There was no third act break up. The friend group still felt like a family in this installment of the series. I enjoyed the audiobook. Angelina Rocca and Sean Crisden did a phenomenal job with the dual narration. The book was a good time!

Loved how Rhodes loved Ellie.

This was a sweet friend’s to lovers romance. It’s also small town and sports romance. I enjoyed Rhodes and Ellie. Loved their relationship. Loved how close the bond was. There was a lot of pining. Also loved the part Levi played in the story. I loved how Rhodes parents were there to help him whenever needed. I very much disliked Ellie’s parents. I did enjoy how Ellie stood up for herself. Loved Ellie’s secret identity. Love the single dad’s playbook and the role it played in the story.

Great story!!!

I absolutely loved the third book in The Single Dad Playbook! Rhodes and Elle's journey was everything I hoped for and more. Their chemistry, their struggles, and their love story were so beautifully written. This series has truly become one of my all-time favorites, and I’m so thrilled they finally found their way to each other. Such a perfect pairing! 💜💙

Another great book in the series

✨ ALC Review ✨
Reckless Love by Willow Aster
📚 ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
🎧 🩷 🩷 🩷 🩷 🩷


I am absolutely loving this series. This book is no different. The audiobook was fantastic and I thought the narrator did a great job. I love the flashbacks throughout the story and being able to get a glimpse into their pasts and how everything began. I loving The Single Dad Playbook Series and I'm looking forward to the next book.

Thank you Willow Aster and Valentine PR for the opportunity to ARC read this book

Loved!!!

This was my first Willow novel, and it won't be my last. I loved this story so much. Best friends to lovers in the best way!

Wonderful Story & Listen🎧Compelling & Heartfelt!

It is great to be back in Willow Aster’s “Single Dad Playbook” world again for another amazing novel, a wonderful friend’s-to-lovers romance that captivates your attention and tugs at your heartstrings the entire time. I adored the two lead characters, Rhodes and Elle, and Rhodes’ son Levi, an adorable scene stealer and thief of your heart. The two met at a college party and there was an instant connection, and on that night, they made a pact they stayed true to it, though there have been temptations to break it through the years. Rhodes is a professional football player for the Colorado Mustangs and when Elle, who always wanted to be a cheerleader, became one for his team, except there was a no fraternization policy in place between players and cheerleaders, so it made it difficult, but not impossible to be part of each other’s lives. Though nothing was going to prevent her from seeing Levi, those two had a great relationship and I loved the dynamics between them, despite the baby momma not liking it. Elle’s parents were strict, especially her father, who was a church minister, and both held Elle to a certain standard, and cheering was not okay in their eyes, and while they liked Rhodes they did not like his lifestyle choices. Thankfully, Rhodes’ parents were nothing like them, but were worldly and amazing, never letting fame get to them, and Rhodes didn’t either. This is a romance that was years in the making and the chemistry between them was undeniable, yet they continued to deny themselves, for the sake of friendship. It was great to watch them navigate their friendship, even greater when they finally gave in to their desires and realized their friendship morphed into something so much more. I loved all the layers of this story and how it all played out with a perfect balance of drama, angst, charming and heartwarming moments, heartfelt emotions, and a steamy romance. I also loved Elle’s secret and the single dad gatherings, and their playbook thoughts and moments. Willow Aster, thank you for another wonderful story and emotional rollercoaster ride.

🎧📚🎧  Sean Crisden and Angelina Rocca did a fantastic job bringing these characters to life, humanizing them and giving each a voice that was fitting for a perfect portrayal. Crisden nailed it in his role as Rhodes and Rocca as Elle, both grasping every aspect of their character’s personalty, and they were just as fabulous performing the roles of the side/secondary characters, including the children’s voices. They set the right tone for the story, captured all the characters’ emotions and had you feeling each one. These two made a great narration team, with voices and talent that complemented each other and a performance that elevated the already wonderful story to another level. They are entertaining storytellers and a pleasure to listen to.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 | 🌶️🌶️.5

What an absolutely adorable read! Friends-to-lovers isn’t usually my go-to trope since I don’t always find the dynamic as captivating, but this one totally surprised me—I loved it! A big part of that is Elle, the FMC. She’s a smut author, cheerleader, and reformed preacher’s daughter, and she’s so relatable and likable that I could totally see myself being friends with her. And then there’s Rhodes—hot, a fantastic daddy, and a reformed playboy. Who doesn’t love a reformed playboy?

I listened to the audiobook, and the narrators nailed it. Their voices and narration styles were absolutely perfect for these characters, which just elevated the entire experience for me.

Rhodes and Elle for life <3

Rhodes and Elle are the quintessential friends to lovers trope and I was here for it! These two have been best friends for 13 years and from day one their pull toward each other was magnetic. Through all the obstacles that life threw their way, they always found a way to remain constants in each other's lives. So when Elle makes the professional dance team for the professional football team that Rhodes is a player of, they are contractually required to stay away from each other.

With their lives so interwoven from having all the same friends to Elle being Rhodes' son Levi's godmother, they find it incredibly difficult to be apart. These two have been in love with one another their entire friendship, but neither one has ever made the move into more; until now. Absence makes the heart grow fonder, and after experiencing what its like to truly be away from each other, Rhodes decides to make his move and commit to letting Elle know his true feelings. Elle doesn't want to believe its true that Rhodes feels the same and fights his advances to salvage their friendship, but as time passes her defenses weaken and when they finally give into each other its so sweet and so spicy! The pining and longing in this story is delicious! Also... Bogey forever owns my heart!

Sean Crisden and Angelina Rocca were wonderful on this title. I've heard them both separately but never on a title together and they fit so well. One of the things I love most about narration is no matter how many different characters I might've listened to them perform in the past, when I start a new story their talent transcends and they embody these newest characters, delivering a great performance. I love experiencing all the different types of characters they can play and these two are no different. :)