PLAY TO WIN is the first instalment in Kelly Jamieson’s contemporary, adult WYNN HOCKEY erotic, hockey, romance series focusing on the Wynn family, owners and operators of the NHL’s California Condors, and the Long Beach Golden Eagles. This is twenty-eight year old, California Condors’ General Manager Theo Wynn, and twenty-four year old Lacey Olson’s story line.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Theo and Lacey) PLAY TO WIN follow the building relationship and marriage of convenience between twenty eight year old, California Condors’ GM Theo Wynn, and twenty-four year old Lacey Olson. Lacey’s brother Chris is in trouble; gambling debts that are now threatening Lacey’s life, threats that see our heroine fired on the night she meets Theo Wynn. Theo Wynn is about to embark on a new career in the NHL but one last night of partying finds our hero coming to the rescue of a woman who isn’t prepared for what happens next. Needing to make an impression upon his return home to California, Theo offers Lacey a ‘marriage of convenience’ in return for helping Lacey as her life spirals out of control. What ensues is the quick Vegas wedding, followed by a move to the coast wherein Lacey will come face to face with the dysfunctional Wynn family, and all of their crazy in-laws, out-laws, and philandering ways.

Theo Wynn has never recovered from his brother’s betrayal, a betrayal that cut deep into the family hold.Marrying Lacey gave Theo a ‘one-up’ on his brother, a brother who was once his best friend and more. Lacey Olson has struggled to make ends meet since the death of her beloved mother but Lacey never expected to find herself on the run, with a gorgeous husband but no promise of a happily ever after.

The relationship between Lacey and Theo is one of immediate attraction but threats to Lacey’s safety and life find Theo guardian and protect of the woman with whom he will fall in love. Theo doesn’t do relationships, not since the betrayal that destroyed his life, but meeting Lacey Olson meant the possibility of a future but a possibility that comes with issues of trust.The $ex scenes are intimate, erotic and seductive without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

We are introduced to a large cast of very colorful secondary and supporting characters including Theo’s brother JP; his ex-girlfriend Emma; and Lacey’s embattled brother Chris.

PLAY TO WIN is a story about a dysfunctional family of hockey players, team owners, and their significant others. There is plenty of fun and drama; secrets and lies; history, affairs, marriages and divorce. The premise will captivate your attention; the characters are energetic; the romance is passionate and intense. The hockey premise is limited to behind the scenes as Theo Wynn struggles to rebuild the California Condors, a team owned by his grandfather but in direct competition with his father’s Long Beach Golden Eagles.

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This was the first Kelly Jamieson book I've read where I kind of struggled to find a connection. I liked these characters, sure, but I never truly felt that intrinsic connection with them the way I typically do with Jamieson''s books. Play to Win was cute, I'm certainly looking forward to the next book in the series, but I definitely feel this one was a bit unmemorable.

It's clear from the start that this series will be about the Wynn family. I loved the family tree in the beginning, but even with that help it's hard to keep everyone apart. There are a lot of unique relationships and the family is quite big, so it was hard to keep them all in mind. I'm sure once I've read a couple more books in this series, I will be a pro.

Play to Win focuses on Théo Wynn. He's always worked hard and is really smart. Théo had a short hockey career, but after an unfortunate injury, he had to work behind the scenes. His grandfather offers him to manage the hockey team he owns. This is a dream for him, but he know it's going to cause a lot of drama in his family.

Lacey doesn't have a lot of family left and when her twin brother messes up once again, things get dangerous. Meeting Théo at her job in Vegas was probably perfect timing, because who knows what would've happened if he hadn't been there? After having a fun night together, he offers her a deal. Come to LA with him and pretend to be his wife. She'll get away from the people after her brother and he won't feel like such a loser seeing his family again.

I was expecting this to be the cliché story we have read a thousand times. And while that happens in many ways in this story, these characters and their story is just so much fun. Lacey and Théo definitely have a connection, but it's not an insta-love one that I can't stand. They're attracted to each other, but while reading we slowly seeing them fall in love. I think that was my favorite part.

Théo is a hard worker and has always had to work hard for everything, so he has a hard time letting go. Everything needs to be planned and just having fun isn't something he normally does. It's fun watching him let loose and enjoying himself with Lacey around.

Lacey has always worked really hard, so actually letting someone take care of her is hard. I think Lacey is really brave though. I can't imagine how hard it was to let her brother face his problems the way she did. After losing everything she's known, she really bounces back. Lacey is caring and smart. She adapts fast and makes friends really easily.

The romance in this book is really sweet and the family drama is extreme! I have never read about a family like this! It's interesting though and I'm curious to see how everything in this family will continue. I also enjoyed the hockey aspects. The romance didn't take over and I even learned some things I never knew. There was a great balance of romance, sports and family.

Play to Win is a book I read in one sitting and I can't wait to get my hands on the next books in this series. If you're looking for a sports romance with great characters, a family with lots of drama, humor, romance and even some hockey, this book is for you!

play to win kicks of kelly jamieson's latest hockey series. if you were worried about missing the aces hockey series, the good news is that the wynn hockey series looks like it's a winner.

i mean i read book one, it totally is a winner. you’ve got some crazy family dynamics, hot hockey players, and some take-no-prisoner women. it’s just absolute perfection.

théo and lacey’s story is impulsive and fun and what works so well is the connection and caring these two characters have for each other from the moment they meet. it’s so easy to fall in love with them and i’m so excited to see where this series and this family goes.

it’s another win, seriously. (not a pun, i swear.)

**play to win will publish on march 19, 2019. i received an advance reader copy courtesy of netgalley/random house publishing group (loveswept) in exchange for honest review.

Oh how I love when one of my favorite authors releases a new book, especially the first book in a new series. The Wynn’s are this author’s new hockey family. Theo has turned from hockey player to numbers guy. So what he needs is a girl to loosen him up. Enter Lacey. Although it doesn’t happen exactly that easily. But boy will you have fun reading how these two come together.

Play to Win is the first book in the Wynn Hockey by Kelly Jamieson. The series is more like a family saga and is not focused on a team as I was expecting. Of course, the family owns a hockey team and most of the characters' occupations have something to do with it, but most of the focus is on the family dynamics. The author was kind enough to include a short introduction of each member of the Wynn family before the story began. The sad thing (for me) is that I am very bad with names and I couldn't remember much. Still, I think that the readers will find it very helpful.

There is a lot of family drama going on in this book, so be prepared! We have some good and healthy relationships like Theo with his mom and some unhealthy like Theo with his brother. There is also the family feud and I don't see that part of the family dynamics to be solved easily. Thankfully we have lots of books to go. I liked Everly a lot and I am glad to see that the third book in the series will be hers. We got a little tease about her and her man in this story, but things didn't go smoothly and I want to see her warm up to the guy who seemed so interested in her. The couple of the second book was also teased and some of the events from the blurb of the second book happened by the end of this one. I love that the author revealed already some of the plotlines for the next books. It shows that she has thought about the series' direction beforehand.

Theo and Lacey had a lot of ups and dows. Mostly ups since they managed to get married 5 hours after they met each other. Lacey was one of the few sane and logical characters and actually helped Theo with his family. She helped in JP's redemption and that means a huge deal because he will be the hero of the next book. I can't exactly root for a guy I don't like. I also liked that Lacey could stand up for herself and wanted to be her own person instead of taking whatever Theo was giving her, emotionally and financially.

Overall, Play to Win was a winner. It served well as the first book in a series where we knew no one and it introduced us perfectly to the rest of the family. Theo and Lacey had a good romance and I was happy with the book.

In this new series from Kelly Jamison. The story opens with Theo Wynn who is the assistant general manager with the Las Vegas Hockey team listening to an offer from his grandfather to run his team in California. Days later he has decided to take the job and with some of the guys from the team, they are at a bar celebrating his promotion where he meets Lacey. She starts off as the table’s server and within an hour or two she has lost her job because her brother owes some guys money, loss of it. He is attracted to her and brings her to their table and they begin to hang out and hours later after a dip in the pool and more drinking. They are at the wedding chapel getting married. His plan is for her to go with him to California and this was his way of making it work. This would be the beginning of his not normal taking time to run the numbers and see all of the possibilities. After another mad dash from the bad guys and of course an unexpected stop that was not part of his plan they make it to California. This begins their getting to know each other as well as her getting to know his family which is beyond dysfunctional. What ends up happening for him is that everyone likes her including his family. So when he screws everything up and he realizes it was not for show he must now think outside of the box and find her to hopefully get her back. This is a very good book with many good characters and a lot going on but it all works for this book.

This book showed me the inner workings of the hockey world and boy was I sooo okay with it. I loved Lacey and Theo’s story and I fell in love with the crazy Wynn family that I so cannot wait to hear more about. This behind the scene story about what goes on in managing hockey teams showed me that it really takes a lot to own a sports team and Theo did a wonderful job in doing so despite getting a little to into it right there are the end. I loved that though Theo rescues Lacey, the author still portrayed her as this strong woman who is more than able of taking care of herself. I loved the main characters dynamics and just everything this book had to offer but that cliffhanger?? It SO left me wanting more.

As the first book in a series, I liked it ok. Sometimes, it is difficult on a first book, because there is time spent setting up the series background in addition to the central plot of the main characters' story. I love hockey romance and feel Ms. Jamieson does a great job with the hockey aspect of the story. I prefer for the main character to be a current hockey player, but did like some nice behind-the-scene stuff regarding the management part of the game, since Theo is a general manager. Speaking of Theo, I never really fell for him. He was nice and all, but never felt swoony enough to make me fall for him. I liked Lacey pretty much and the fact that she tried to stay true to herself. The fake relationship was good even though it started out very fast. I didn’t feel as engaged with the middle portion of the story, but it picked back up again. In a nutshell, I like Play To Win ok, but didn’t love it.

4
This was a roller coaster of a romance. I thought things were a little predictable for Lacey and Théo, but at the same time their chemistry was off the charts. Without saying too much,I thought the blurb seemed a little misleading with Lacey turning Théo’s life into a beach party, which yes there seems to be more spontaneity, but to me it sounded like she was a party animal, when she’s a girl living her life while she can. She isn’t trying to take things for granted, Théo included. They’re made for one another.
I would recommend this HEA if I was asked.

Play To Win is the first in a brand new hockey series by Kelly Jamieson. This new dynastic family is the ‘Wynn’s and it’s one of the biggest and most convoluted bunch of people I’ve ever read about in a fictional story.
Théo is the first of the Wynn’s to get his story. He’s on a night out celebrating with friends because he is leaving Las vegas for a new job the next morning, when he meets Lacey.
Lacey is a cocktail waitress struggling to make her rent when she gets to tend Théo table, and even though they shouldn’t, they are attracted to one another. It’s clear from that first moment that these two are destined to be together.
When Lacey finds herself out of work and in deep water, Théo offers a helping hand, and she soon finds herself in Los Angeles and living the high life.
Théo’s life is changed in many ways when he has spontaneous and lively Lacey under his roof, but it’s what he needs to get his head out of the ‘analytical’ mire his gets bogged down in. Théo is a former NHL player, and has been hired by his grandfather to be GM of his team, so he has a lot on his plate already and adding Lacey is at times more than he can handle. Plus, he has one crazy mixed up family, when a lot of conflict going on.
Théo and Lacey’s relationship may be unconventional at first, but the chemistry is all to real and soon, so are their feelings for one another. But, it only takes one misunderstanding for it all to go sideways and it’s down to Théo to set things right.
I really enjoyed this book, Théo and Lacey make a great pair. They are believable. Sweet and romantic at times and whew! Some of the steamy scenes might make you blush, lol. Great start to a fabulous new series that I can’t wait to read more of. Book 2, In It To Win It, can’t come soon enough.

4 1/2 STARS!

With lots of drama, Kelly Jamieson kicks off a brand new hockey family saga with her latest release PLAY TO WIN. The characters are fairly well developed, and though we have a lot of family to get familiar with, the key players are drawn forward slightly in order to make several of the family members background until their time to shine comes up later. I loved Theo & Lacey's story and look forward to getting to know JP in the next book in the series!

Las Vegas cocktail waitress Lacey Olson finds herself in need of a rescue from some very bad guys her brother is mixed up with. She just so happens to be serving a group of sexy hockey players when it all goes down and one steps forward to defend her honor. Before the night is over, they agree she's coming with him to L.A. tomorrow ... oh and they get married!

Theo Wynn might be an offspring of the famous Wynn hockey family, but his playing days are over thanks to an injury and he's just trying to find some other way to fit in. He's had some success in Vegas, and now his grandfather is handing over some of the reins in order to make him the GM of the Los Angelas Condors, but he's going to have to buckle down and work hard to achieve the success he needs. Too bad he has a sexy bombshell of a temporary wife distracting him from work, but she's a great support system when he has to walk into that dreaded family dinner that holds his former best friend brother cozied up to the girlfriend he stole out from under Theo!

Great book that kicks off what should be an amazing new series from this author. I love a Kelly Jamieson hockey romance but with this one we get a different view into the hockey world with insight into team ownership. The Wynn's are hockey royalty and Theo Wynn is taking his place now that his playing days are over. Doing things his way are important so he needs his grandfather off his back. That's how when he meets Lacey in Vegas he comes up with a crazy plan for a fake relationship and a quickie Vegas wedding. That's when the wild ride begins and all he can do is hang on! Don't miss this one. It's a fun read and I definitely recommend it.

There were many reasons this story could have been trite and boring - wed after a knowing each other a couple of hours, money owed to the mob, even the sports angle seems to have been overdone lately. However, Jamieson's writing kept me enthralled from start to finish. She gives a fresh voice to the book that kept me from rolling my eyes as the various elements. Lacey and Theo are genuinely nice in general and to each other. Lacey's infectious likeability is genuine. I was as taken in as was Theo's family. Theo, perhaps because he's as much math geek than gifted athlete, is definitely not a stereotype either. He's not the privileged bad boy you'd expect.

I thought the mob angle would become a bigger part of the story and I usually like some suspense with my romance. However, I actually liked that it didn't become the focus of the book. I liked the lighter topics because the stresses on these two were so well written they alone were plenty to kept my interest.

This book is an especially good read if you're looking for a nice, sweet read. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

reviewed by Jem

I've been a fan of Kelly Jamieson's for several years especially her BAYARD and ACES HOCKEY series so when I heard that she was coming out with another hockey series I was all over it.

PLAY TO WIN is the first in the brand new WYNN HOCKEY series, and boy does it start us off right. Not only do we have two wonderful Main Characters, Lacey and Théo, but we meet The Wynn family and boy oh boy you can tell they are just going to be a ton of fun getting to know!

Théo and Lacey aren't your typical couple where they meet and fall in love and then they get married, nope not at all....and quite honestly that probably makes this story fun to read. You can feel the chemistry between the two right from the start which is always a plus, but there's more than just the chemistry you feel the pain of what each of them are struggling with as well, and quite honestly that makes you never want the story to end. Kelly Jamieson did a wonderful job with not only giving us a great story but a story that has us wanting more of the crazy Wynn family. I for one cannot wait for IN IT TO WIN IT, which is due out in July 2019.

Great start to the new series, I love Théo and Lacey!!! This is an easy book to recommend to all lovers of sports romance as well as fans of Kelly Jamieson. Happy Reading!!!

**I have voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Readers Copy of this book for my Blog, Nadine's Obsessed with Books**

Theo and Lacey meet in Vegas when Theo is on his way out of town to be the GM of his grandfathers hockey team. He likes what he sees when he meets her but knows that nothing can come of it BUT reasons out of their control make it to where she goes with him. They both have their reasons and they both have decisions to make.

Theo feels that he needs to show his family that he knows what he's doing when it comes to being a manager and doing it all with a beautiful woman on his arm. When seeing his ex with his brother he finds that he just doesn't care. The family dynamics in this book make me cringe, laugh, and make me look forward to seeing the rest of the family and their stories.

Will Theo and Lacey realize before it's too late that what started out as helping each other that they're falling for each other? Will they both be able to fulfill their dreams with each other or will they have to go their separate ways to achieve them?

A career ending injury means that Theo is no longer able to play the game he loves, but an opportunity from his grandfather to become the general manager of the hockey team the California Condors seems like the next step. With his new job he will be able to combine his love of hockey and analytics even if his relationship with certain members of the family is strained.

Lacey’s life isn’t turning out the way she planned. When the trouble that her brother is in becomes her trouble as well Theo steps in to assist. She needs to get out of Vegas and a few drinks later they decide that a marriage of convenience would be the solution to both their problems and where better than Vegas.

Lacey and Theo couldn’t be more different or more perfect for each other. She brings fun to his life which is something he needs while dealing with his drama filled family. This is the beginning of a new series and I look forward to more of the Wynn family.

4.5 stars
Oh my! A sports romance and a friends to lovers story all wrapped up into one!
With a Hitch, featuring Dax and Darcy, is a fun story that is also emotionally touching and sweet.
This is a very character driven story. Dax is the boyfriend that every girl wants. Darcy frequently refers to him as an "unicorn" and he really is; not to mention a good son/brother/uncle/friend. One of the things I loved about Dax's story was the way Ms. Boldt wove real life events into the story highlighting his awesomeness. (As a transplanted Houstonian, I loved seeing the similarities to JJ Watt's efforts post Hurricane Harvey). As great as Dax is, he has just enough in the flaw department to be real.
Darcy is an equally awesome character. She's strong, an entrepreneur who has literally pulled herself up by the boot straps to make a successful life for herself. Add in her selflessness and dedication to her friends and she is someone I would want to get to know better.
It was wonderful to watch Dax and Darcy move from an arranged client/professional relationship to friends to more. The sub plot that ultimately leads to the story's conflict highlighted Darcy's strength and made me like Dax even more.
Add in an awesome secondary cast and this is a series I might just fall in love with. This is the second book in a series, but can easily be read on it's own. I enjoyed With a Hitch so much, I want to go back to read Ditched and am looking forward to the next book in the series.

This the first book in a brand new series. I have followed this author now for quite some time. I loved her writing and the way she weaves a story. This book is no different. It is well written and the pace, in the beginning, a bit slow but it picks up and you find yourself drawn into this hockey family. When I say hockey family I mean all of them.

I liked the people they draw you in. This is a new series so a lot of people are thrown at you to set the pace for the rest of the series. The dynamic of this family, oh my gosh so much drama. I love it I thrive on it. It what makes the book work.

Theo was a player and got hurt so his dream was cut short. He then became an assistant manager on Las Vegas. When his grandfather calls him and offers him the GM position on his team he jumps at the chance.

Lacey was fun to read. She was a great people and I loved her personality. She was honest and so down to earth. There is so much more to these people.

These two have chemistry and I liked reading about the growth of them. They have passion and reading it build was great.

There is so much going on and the turns were great and I look forward to more in this series. This family is dysfunctional and there is some bad blood but what family doesn't have that. Hopefully, when I read the other books I can revisit these two. I feel there is so much more to them as I said.

Charming, Sexy & Entertaining! OMG This series is going to be so, so good. I can’t wait for the next story in this series. Getting to meet all the Wynn Family was quite the treat. You know what they say. That there is a thin line between love and hate. Well get ready to see the drama and how accurate that statement is, in this larger than life family.

Théo Wynn has just accepted a position as General Manager of the California Condors Ice Hockey Team. His whole life he had wanted to play in the NHL and he did, until a injury ended his career. But all his life Théo also had a mind for numbers. So he took his mind for numbers and applied his knowledge of hockey and started a hockey analytic business coast to coast. Now he just needs to prove his worth to his family. So with his last night in Vegas he finds himself at Silk, a high end cocktail lounge where he becomes a knight to a damsel in distress.

Lacey Olson has never been so desperate. Her twin brother is missing along with the money in her bank account. Her twin brother Chris has a gambling problem, and she is sick and tired of enabling him. When she is confronted by two men that want her to payoff her brother’s debt at her high-end waitress job, she knows she needs to get out of Vegas and let her brother clean up his own mess for once. So, when a hot, stranger comes to her rescue after she gets fired, she can’t believe what the stranger is offering. And before the night is through, she is married to him and heading to California.

I loved that the series started with Theo and Lacey’s story. These two have instant chemistry and so much in common. But they are also so open and honest with each other. Their conversation and relationship is heartwarming, sexy and fun. You can’t help but fall for them and root for their HEA!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.