Great fun read! Lacey and Theo are opposites, he's planner and she's a more of go with the flow kind of girl but what happens in Vegas can really change your outlook! When Theo changes his job he's going to ruffle some feathers in his family, one already at odds so partying his last night in Vegas has him leaving Vegas, but all that happened there isn't staying there! Lacey has has a hard life but she seems to keep a positive swing to life, well that is until her brother's bookies come after her. Theo and his party swoop in to give her a good time which ended with her leaving Vegas a married woman! Fun read with engaging characters, sexy alphas and plenty of steamy parts makes this a great read!

Play to Win is a big old Cinderella fantasy, starting off Kelly Jamieson’s new hockey series about the somewhat dysfunctional Wynn family. We begin with the story of older brother Théo and the cocktail waitress whom fate brings into his life.Théo Wynn has been given an unexpected windfall.  His grandfather Bob – an ex-hockey player and owner of the California Condors team – wants Théo to come work for him as a general manager.  Théo is skeptical – mixing business with family has not worked out for the Wynns; all he has to do is look at the never-ending feud between his grandfather, father and brother over their two competing teams for proof of that. But when Bob offers Théo the opportunity to rebuild the Condors from the ground up without interference, he wavers and agrees to join. Otherwise, Théo wants little to do with most of his big, fucked-up family, much less to live within driving distance of his brother JP, who plays for the California Golden Eagles and is living the dream Théo lost – right down to the fact that he and Théo’s ex-girlfriend, Emma, got together while Théo and Emma were still a thing.   Théo incurred a career-ending injury six months into his pro career, so looking at JP is like looking at the future he dreamed of (well, minus the blatant infidelity).Lacey Olson just had her bank account wiped out by her asshole gambling addict twin brother, Chris.  Distraught, she forces herself to go to in to work at her job waiting tables at a high-end cocktail bar.   When she spies Théo and his friends celebrating his new position in her lounge, she looks at him… and assumes he’s an accountant!When a friend clues her in, she can only hope he’s a big tipper.  They have a pleasant conversation that’s interrupted when her boss fires her for  messing with a receipt (she didn’t), then two bookies show up and try to pressure her into hooking to fulfill Chris’ debt to them, threatening her with worse if she won’t comply.  It’s enough of a fuss that Théo intervenes, and he and Lacey end up spending a night on the town together, sharing life-stories, getting drunk, jumping into pools fully-clothed, and flirting up a storm.  By midnight he’s decided he wants her to go to California with him to pose as his girlfriend so he can make JP and Emma jealous and prove to his family he’s not the loser Wynn brother.  And hell, Lacey has nothing left to lose – in fact, Théo offers her the kind of protection from Chris’ thugs she can’t get on her own.  So when he suggests they take it up a notch with a quickie midnight marriage the idea sounds good to her, but their wedding morning ends with Lacey sobbing over her brother’s betrayal instead of hot sex.  They agree to a friendship and a name-only deal, but both soon begin to yearn for more.As Lacey begins to enmesh herself (awkwardly) with the Wynns and build a new life for herself in California, Théo throws himself into rebuilding the Condors, Emma tries to worm her way back into Théo’s life, and the threat of attack from Chris’ creditors looms. All the while, they try to keep things platonic.  These two are going to have to commit to some fancy footwork to make themselves look like a fully committed couple.  True love might be knocking – but can they also knock down their demons to win it?You have to love a Cinderella fantasy to really lose yourself in Play to Win,  but there’s a lot bubbling along under the surface besides that to keep readers engaged.Théo isn’t your average alpha hero.  Strong and opinionated without being cruel, caring about Lacey and about people in general (even JP who severely wronged him) and able to lose a give-and-take with his wife gracefully, he’s a very compelling, memorable hero.I can’t really say the same for Lacey, who, while having many spunky moments that make her enjoyable and refusing to ever be pushed around by Théo, feels slightly less well-formed, and her real problems come at her from outside places instead of internally (and those problems, incidentally, never properly pay off once she leaves Vegas.  Turns out loan sharks will leave you alone if you leave the city limits!).  She’s daring and sassy and outrageous, but she’s messy and needs help and sometimes it all feels like a front.  I did like that she’s determined to grab her own (minimum wage!) job and continue attending college courses.Théo and Lacey have a charming, easy chemistry, and things don’t happen between them as quickly as you might guess.  They’re at their best when they’re making dirty Beatle song jokes and lovingly ribbing each other.  They mostly bond on a goofy road trip from Vegas to LA and it’s cute.I loved some of the secondary characters – mostly Théo’s mom, Aline, a native French speaker who’s charming, enthusiastic, and drops realistic-feeling malapropisms.But the book has a couple of problems, and those start when we reach LA in the second act and are suddenly inundated with Wynns, presented with their problems, told their backstories, and tossed into their drama without warning.  I know this is an attempt at world-building the universe that will follow, but it’s awkward and sucks the spotlight away from Lacey and Théo.The other problem is Emma.  We can’t have JP be too villainous in having bonked his brother’s girlfriend (and he’s naturally needed as a future hero for the series), so of course, all of the villainous cheating stuff ultimately falls on Emma’s shoulders as she keeps chasing Théo even though he’s married.  When JP and Lacey are caught together behind closed doors later, it’s all a Big Misunderstanding (groan).Other problems – like Lacey’s tendency to end up talking about cocks with her new friends (and no matter how hard they try or how realistic it is, a guy groaning “Lick my balls, baby” during a blowjob scene will never be sexy.) are minor. Ultimately, what keeps Play to Win on the sunny side of a B grade is how good the two leads are to each other – and how much we care about their relationship scoring a win.Buy it at: Amazon/Apple Books/Barnes & Noble/KoboVisit our Amazon Storefront

So this story started off a bit different.... Theo and Lacey meet and then 4 hours later they decide to have a quick Vegas wedding. I loved this! Knew it would be a good story going in. And it didn't disappoint!
I enjoyed these two getting to know each other and building a real relationship. Both have some issues they have to overcome... which is easier to do when each bring out the best in the other.

And now I can hardly wait for JP's story. I really hope he is able to reunite with his brother, Theo.

I recommend this story. It is book one in this new series.

The Wynn family is a new series from Kelly Jamieson.
Ooh... hi hey romance book ... score!!
This book has all the components you want in a sports romance... gorgeous studs on the ice and off of it, romance, laughter at times and just deep down a grandson who helps out and lives his grandpa... whatire would you want?
It's a quick read that takes you to where all the action is, on and off the ice!

With “Play To Win” Kelly Jamieson launches her Wynn Hockey series, in which Theo Wynn, son and grandson of hockey royalty, wants to prove himself off the ice.

Hockey is in his blood, so when an injury cuts his career short Theo decides to take an assistant management role with the Las Vegas NHL team. But when his grandfather offers him the GM position in his team, Theo can’t resist the chance to prove his numbers’ skills to his family, particularly his backstabbing brother. He’s only lacking a beautiful woman by his side.

Cocktail waitress Lacey Olson was just doing her job when her brother’s bookies came to collect his debt. Fortunately a sexy stranger intervenes. Unfortunately she now needs a new job and a change in address.

Theo can’t help himself and continues to help her out by offering her to take her with him to California. As they get to know each other over one too many drinks they also decide to get a quickie Vegas marriage, and what starts as a fake relationship turns into a connection neither can deny.

Set against the inner working of hockey management and the sunny LA beaches, the story is a pleasant opposites attract romance of two people who find in each other exactly what they need and would have imagined.

Even though Theo and Lacey’s interactions feel a bit forced right after they get hitched, perhaps because they truly don’t know each other, eventually their relationship flows easily with sweet sexiness. The secondary characters, mostly comprising of the very dysfunctional Wynn clan, are numerous and therefor get a bit lost and I found it difficult to remember who’s who, but there’s certainly enough drama to fuel the entire Wynn Hockey series.

Play To Win is book #1 of the Wynn Hockey series by Kelly Jamieson. It is a standalone contemporary hockey romance, told by both points of view with a happy ending.

What a fun read! Author Kelly Jamieson starts off her new hockey series, Wynn Hockey, with this first book, Play to Win. I always love a good hockey story, and although this wasn’t a “hockey player” so to speak, the main hottie with the accountant appearance, Theo, is a former hockey player, and now the manager of the of the California Condors. Thanks to a slightly dysfunctional family, Theo’s Grandfather is able to convince him to take the position he is offering him.

Lacey is a struggling waitress is in a complete bind, thanks to her worthless brother. Theo propositions her to leave town with him and get married…and hmmm…why not?

The beginning of this story was kind of overwhelming with the introduction of all the characters, but once it got into the storyline I was really hooked. This story had threats, fake wedding, family dysfunction, love, rescue, hockey players, hockey, and heartbreak… everything to make for a great read! I am excited and looking forward to this new series! I would certainly recommend this one!

Yes please! Kelly does it again with another winning book to begin the Wynn hockey series.
You kind of know you're in for a thrill ride when the beginning of the books list the cast of characters for the series and what a list it was!
I loved this book so hard. By the numbers, a little OCD and way to organized meets Lacey while out at a bar in Las Vegas with other members of the hockey team. Theo was offered a chance to revive a losing team back in California by his Grandfather and after some negotiation, with Grandfather decides to take on the job. He's up for the challenge and determined. While out at the bar he saves Lacey from a bad situation that was not her doing, but that of her brother who has a gambling problem. After their mother died it was just the two of them and Lacey constantly bails him out. That is until he clears out her bank account and tries to pimp her out with some scary men whose sole aim is to take her. Theo intervenes and in one amazing night, they marry and head to California. Theo wants to return home with a beautiful woman on his arm after his younger brother beds Theo's girlfriend. Brother and ex are still in a relationship and it's clear that his crazy family doesn't approve of what his brother has done. The family is flat out crazy and fun and Lacey fits in. She's the yin to Theo's yang. Living together starts to change Theo, he's a little scared as the feelings seem to start to grow, their chemistry was off the chart from the beginning but Theo held back until he couldn't any longer. These two were great together. The plot was fantastic, the story flowed even with the crazy cast of characters it was easy to remember who was who. I loved Lacey and Theo together. I can't say enough good things about this book. I loved it. Kelly has yet written the first book of what I know will be yet another winning series. I can't wait for the next book.
More than 5 stars.

After a side lining injury forced him to retire from hockey Theo Wynn found another way to experience success in the hockey world, by being the general manager of his grandfather's Los Angeles Condors. His new job has come with a painstaking cost though, when you go head to head against your fathers team it tends to ruffle feathers and stir up loads of drama amongst the family. But he's not about to back down from them, he plans on showing him that he can be as relevant off the ice as he was on it. The only thing he is missing to complete the happy little picture is a beautiful wife to dangle off his arm.

Enter Lacey Olson, the moment he comes to her rescue at the lounge she is slinging drinks in, he knows he has found his missing link, she is beautiful, and looking for an escape. Now he just has to figure out how to convince her to play along, and keep the sparks bouncing around between them at bay!

Play to Win kicks off a sexy new hockey romance themed series from Ms. Jamieson, and I have to say she picked the perfect starting point with Theo! His story was all kinds of steamy and dramatic, it tugged on the heartstrings, and kept me engaged the whole way through. It also laid a foundation for future installments, and left me aching to learn more about this family! I am excited to see which one of Wynn family members graces the pages of the next installment, this family really has an interesting story to tell. And a whole lot more healing and making amends ahead of them... which means lots more emotional heart squeezing stories to come!! Highly recommend this one, it's a perfectly crafted romance loaded with swoons and feels!!

I requested an advance copy of this title from NetGalley, and I am voluntarily leaving my honest and unbiased opinion.

Lacey grabbed me, she is tough as nails, dealing with a brother who gambles after losing her mother to cancer. She is working as hard as she can to make ends meet but her brother keeps making it impossible. When some bookies are suddenly after her for some ‘favors’ to repay his debts, she finds help in an unlikely person. Theo is celebrating his new job and finds himself connecting with the waitress, Lacey. Something in her eyes, even as she carries herself with confidence, grabs him. When he sees her in a bad situation well, he plays the white knight. Who knew that would include a marriage proposal? Can this marriage of convenience turn into something more? This romance kept me entertained and guessing on what would happen next. Lacey has to find her path in Los Angeles while Theo dives into his new job with determination. The chemistry Lacey and Theo have feels natural as her free spirit helps Theo relax. I wanted Lacey to find love and know that she is worth being loved after everything she had been through. I voluntarily read an ARC of this book and this is my honest review.

It’s always a great day when a new hockey romance from Kelly Jamieson hits my Kindle. Play to Win is the first book in her series about a hockey dynasty and there is so much to like about it!

First and foremost, if you’re a hockey fan and a romance fan and you look for the two to come together in a story in a smart way, Kelly is the author for you. I’m pretty sure I sound like a broken record, but she always integrates the game so well into her story that hockey and romance go hand in hand. There are so many sports romances that you could easily remove any reference to sports and it wouldn’t affect the story at all. Not so with Jamieson’s books, especially with Play to Win, where readers get a look at the inner workings of hockey management.

In Play to Win, Jamieson lays the groundwork for a dynastic series. The Wynns are hockey royalty and legendary for being just a bit crazy. When Theo is hired by his granddad, Bob, to be general manager of the California Condors it creates a new rift between Bob and his sons Matthew and Mark. Throw in Theo’s much younger aunt and uncles, a brother that betrayed him, and a cousin or two and you’re looking at an endless amount of down and dirty storytelling to come. Truthfully, I couldn’t get enough of this family and wanted more, more, more.

I loved Theo. A former athlete who suffered a career-ending injury, he’s returned to his first love: numbers, statistics, and analytics. He’s carrying quite a bit of insecurity on his shoulders, especially after he finds his girlfriend and brother in a compromising position. Already a workaholic who feels he needs to prove himself, Theo digs deeper into his career with no time for fun or spontaneity. Being in his head (as with all of Jamieson’s books, Play to Win is told in alternating 1st person POVs} was so much fun-if you like stats, which I do. Honestly, I could have read about Corsi and Fenwick and the salary cap until I was blue in the face. That Jamieson made it entertaining and educational was just perfect. Truthfully, I know I can always count on her for this.

Lacey Olson is the woman who turns Theo’s life upside down. They meet in a rooftop bar in Las Vegas where she’s working as a waitress and a few hours later they’re married. It’s this sort of spontaneity that she brings to Theo’s life, pulling him out of his shell, leading him to reconnect with his family. That it’s his idea to get married proves just how big an impact she has on him. Lacey has her own family issues, which result in her saying yes to Theo and running away to California. But, what I really liked about these two as a couple is that they’re perfect for each other despite being at completely different places in their lives. Theo has a plan, Lacey is just deciding on one.

While there’s a bit of angst towards the end, the road to romance between Theo and Lacey is pretty cut and dry. They’re great together, but I found them a bit boring as a headline couple. I would have loved a little more conflict instead of feeling like much of their interaction was just a repeat of the chapter before.

Overall, I do recommend this book. I honestly can’t wait to read more about the Wynn family.

3.5 stars. Heat level: 3.5

I was really sad when Jamieson's Aces Hockey series ended, but am quite excited about her new series. We are still in the world of professional hockey, but now we get to see from the point of view of players, coaches, owners, and management. In addition to that, we have the Wynn family, and let me tell you, this family rivals the Ewings of Dallas fame when it comes to delicious family drama.

The stars of this book are Théo Wynn, who in taking the job as GM of his grandfather's team re-enters the dysfunctional world of the Wynns, and Lacey Olson, who was in over her head thanks to her gambling addict brother. Both Théo and Lacey had suffered a few tough years filled with many losses. Therefore, they could connect to each other in more than a physical way, though, there were sparks galore between the two, it was easy to see this paring had some substance.

The marriage of convenience trope is one I enjoy, and the union between these two started in a classic Vegas way. A fun start and a genuine effort to get to know each other plus great chemistry made me buy into this coupling. They were good together, and Lacey was able to easily slide into Théo's world. They just fit together really well, and I know I was rooting for this fauxmance to turn into the real thing.

Both Lacey and Théo were great characters too. I was so happy to see Lacey getting to finally live. She spent so many years caring for her sick mother and addict brother, that she had to give up on her own dreams and enjoyment. With Théo, she was able to chase an actual career, make friends, and have some fun. And, Théo. He was such an interesting hero. He had the body of a professional athlete, but was a nerdy numbers guy. What a perfect combination. And, I must admit, I found him even more attractive, when he was in his element, crunching numbers and negotiating trades.

As this was the first book in a family-centered series, a lot of time was dedicated to catching us up on all the family entanglements. And, wow! This was one really complicated family. I totally appreciated the family tree Jamieson supplied us with, because it helped me get some things straight before everyone made an appearance in the story. The bits and pieces of the background conflicts piqued my interest and have me looking forward to getting the full story.

Overall: A solid start to a series filled with compelling characters, messy entanglements, and LOTS of delectable family drama.

Theo is a member of the Wynn family, a hockey dynasty and he has just accepted a job managing a hockey team. He meets Lacey, a waitress in Vegas who has some serious family issues and they both decide to help each other. Lacey moves to California with Theo and the rest is for you to find out.. I enjoyed this novel, but I did struggle through the first half. The second half of the text was much more enjoyable.

When I saw that Kelly Jamieson had a new series out, I was pumped. I was disappointed when the Aces Hockey series ended. I was also wondering when the next series was going to start. So, when I saw the book up for review on NetGalley, I pounced on it. I am glad that I did. Play to Win is an excellent start to what I hope is going to be an excellent series.

Theo Wynn was forced to give up professional hockey after an eye injury. Not to be deterred, he became the GM of an expansion hockey team based out of Las Vegas. Theo’s grandfather approached Theo with a job offer. Become the GM for his hockey team, the California Condors. Theo accepted the offer but was aware of the backlash that it would cause. When he meets Lacey and hears her story, Theo has a proposition for her. Become his “fake” wife to show his family that he made it. But can Theo keep Lacey at arms length? Or will he fall for her?

Lacey Olson is between a rock and a hard place. Her brother has stolen all the money in her checking account and disappeared. He also tries to pimp her out to his bookie to pay off his debt. She wasn’t expecting her brother’s bookie to show up at her job in a cocktail lounge. She wasn’t expecting the cute customer she was serving to step in and comfort her when she gets fired. She also wasn’t expecting to accept Theo’s crazy proposition. Or have a quickie Vegas wedding. Can Lacey go through with the charade? Or will she fall hard for Theo?

I liked Theo even if I thought he was too uptight. I understood why he didn’t want to jump in the pool with his clothes on. But I didn’t understand why he was so anal about suitcase packing. His horror in watching Lacey pack was amusing. I did enjoy watching his character grow in this book. He went from an uptight, grudge holding guy to a more laid back version of himself. Lacey was good for him.

I loved Lacey. She was one of the most easy going, go with the flow characters that I have read. Not that she didn’t have issues. Because she did. It was the way that she chose to deal with her issues that endeared her to me. She chose to look at the sunny side of things. Even her relationship with her brother (who I didn’t like). But, she wasn’t a pushover. She ruled when she met Theo’s ex. I did a “You go girl“.

Theo’s family wasn’t perfect. They were dysfunctional. Of course, not every family has a suggested gold-digger. Or sons’ suing their father. Or brother’s stealing girlfriends. But that’s what made this book fun to read.

Unfortunately Lacey’s family was all too realistic. Having an addict in your life is draining, emotionally and financially. The author was able to capture it perfectly.

I liked that Play to Win is a romance that didn’t have Instalove. Sure, Theo and Lacey got married the night they met. But the author chose to make up for that by having them build their relationship. Loved it!!

The sex scenes were steamy, once they had sex. I did roll my eyes when Theo and Lacey made the “no sex” pact. That screamed that they were going to have sex, but not right away. When they finally did bump uglies, it was explosive. I also liked how the author had Theo be on the receiving end of something kinky. That sex scene was through the roof!!

I loved the ending of Play to Win. Handsdown, it was one of the better endings that I have read. The talk that JP gave Theo was epic. What Lacey was knitting was epic. Actually, I was laughing my fool head off at that. Then I went to google it. Note to self: Never google that again. Images are forever seared into my brain. But it was the epilogue that made the book. Loved it. I also loved how it set up Book 2. Which I can’t wait to read.

I would give Play to Win an Adult rating. There is sex. There is language. There is mild violence. I would recommend that no one under the age of 21 read this book.

I would reread Play to Win. I would also recommend this book to family and friends.

I would like to thank the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review Play to Win.

All opinions stated in this review of Play to Win are mine.

Theo is a very regimented, driven former hockey player, and he's just taken the job as general manager for the team his grandfather owns. Lacey is the cocktail waitress at Theo's farewell night in Vegas.
I liked that their spontaneous wedding gave this book a different formula than most. There were a LOT of characters, I'm sure setting up for the rest of the series, but it did feel like a ton of background and setup info in this book. Also, because of Theo's job and the time being in the offseason, most of the hockey in the book is management meetings and decisions. I've read and enjoyed some of Kelly's other hockey books, and those felt more centered on the couple. Theo and Lacey were sweet together, but I didn't love the last couple pages of the epilogue, and I'm not full of anticipation for the next book.

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

So what do a hot, rich, former hockey player and a seriously funny, spunky Las Vegas waitress have in common you ask?

CHEMESRTY! That's what! 💥POW💥

Toss in a family feud and a couple of mafia thugs into the mix and you have the beginning of Theo and Lacey's story!

Things get even crazier for the pair when they get to California and Theo's family drama comes to light! Then Lacey starts to love his family...

Then more drama ensues and Theo... well let's just say sometimes you don't know what you got till it's gone) (Queue Cinderella! https://youtu.be/i28UEoLXVFQ ) 🤗🤗

Anyway, this is another 5/🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 read from Kelly Jamieson! Plus the gurlll knows hockey and you can't write a good sports romance without a solid knowledge of the sport! 🏒🏒

Ms. Jamieson scores a goal with book 1 of her Wynn Hockey series. Theo and Lacey are brought together under harried circumstances in Las Vegas. While I don't quite understand why he had to marry her to save her from the thugs, it added an element to the book, and an adorable chivalrous hero emerged! The book was a great opposites attract/give-and-take look at romance. I was sucked in from the start and didn't want to put it down. Great job!

This was such a great start to a new series! We have Théo, who is a Prince of Hockey’s Royal Family so to speak, deciding whether or not to take a job with his Grandfather’s team the LA Condors. Grandpa wants to build a winning team and Théo wants the chance to prove he can put that team together. Grandpa also says he can have autonomy to do this. Throw in a night out celebrating and a cute waitress who ultimately loses her job over thugs that want money out of her for her brother’s gambling debts, set this in Vegas and add a quickie wedding. The punchline is a man who plans his spontaneity married to a free spirit and now he takes her home to meet the family that doesn’t know he has a wife.

I giggled, asked WTF and how does this happen, and laughed out loud at their antics. This story kept me reading and I can’t wait to see how it goes with the rest of the family. Will they work out their issues? With a large dysfunctional family, it will be a fun ride!

Loved this book!!! Theo is positively swoon-worthy as the nerdy numbers guy and former pro hockey player and child of hockey royalty. Lacey is a hard working beauty that never had time to be a kid. She is working at an upscale bar when Theo and his friends come in and she immediately captures Theo's attention. From a strange set of circumstances, they end up taking off together to LA, although, since they met in Las Vegas, maybe not quite so strange.....From their unusual beginning a romance began to bloom, even as they both tried to protect their hearts.

If you enjoy contemporary romance with a bit of humor and even more angst, you will love this book. I fell in love with this book from the beginning and was hooked until the very last page. I truly loved the ending just as much as the rest of the book - the author found a way to end the story with a bang....

Put this one at the top of your TBR list. The author is on my must read authors' list. While part of a series, this is a stand alone novel.

Great start to a new series. Theo and Lacey have great chemistry but what happens in Vegas in this case doesn’t stay in Vegas. The Wynn family is highly dysfunctional, but Lacey seems to bring them all together. Love Kelly Jamieson’s other hockey series and this is a great addition to the set.

I love Kelly Jamieson's hockey series. However, this new installment for the Wynn series was a little too much background information. There are so many people in this family which I understand paves the way for more books in a series, but this book focused more on the whole family than just the main characters, both of which I liked.