In Play To Win by Kelly Jamieson, we are introduced to the Wynn Dynasty and boy are they a crazy bunch! Meet Theo Wynn an ex-Hockey player which happens to be the grandson of a Hockey legend. He’s constantly trying to prove himself off the ice with his brilliant mind and he is a tad rigid and OCD but also SEXY as sin!

Lacey Olson has done nothing but take care of everyone around her since she was 15. She’s worked so many different jobs just to make ends meet. She finds herself looking to get out of Vegas and fast after her brother borrows money from the wrong people.

When Lacey meets Theo and he suggests a quick marriage in Vegas that will help both of them with their problems. First Lacey relocating to L.A. and Theo will be getting back at his brother with a beautiful woman on his arm. What they don’t figure into the equation is the spark they feel between them!

This is my first read by author Kelly Jamieson and I have to say I read this book in a day! I’m not a big sports fan but this story takes us through so much more than just a sport. There’s so many emotions high and low, some twists and turns, and you will fall in love with both Theo and Lacey! Although, Theo came from a big family I didn’t find it hard to keep up with the different characters. The way Kelly Jamieson wrote about these characters made them each have a little something to stand out and remember them by without bogging you down trying to keep up! I CAN NOT WAIT to read the second book in the Wynn Series coming in July! Yes, I’ve already looked because I want to dive deeper into this family and the wonderful characters!

Goodness me there's a lot going on here - several different plot threads, and a scarily wide reaching cast of characters. however, the author manages to pull this all together well.

The writing is decent and the characters are pretty well fleshed out. I mean, don't come to this book expecting it to buck a trope trend - it will give you exactly what you expect. but sometimes, consistent delivery is just what a reader needs.  

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book.

Kelly Jamieson and hockey romance novels just go hand in hand together. Every time I read one of her novels, I just know I am going to love it and can't wait for the next one.
Play To Win is the first book in a new series - Wynn Hockey. I must admit I was confused at the start as to who was who. This family is just so big, and even though at the start Kelly does list all the family members and where they fall in the family tree, it did take me a while to get it together.
One thing though about this being a huge family - I predict there will be many, many books. Yay!!!
Theo and Lacey's story is a trope that has been used time and again. There were times I guess I knew what was going to happen next, but needless to say, I enjoyed every word of Kelly's version.
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced readers copy of this book.

Reviewed by Deborah from <a href="http://www.alphabookclub.org/">Alpha Book Club</a> <br><img src="https://alphabookclub.org/wp-content/uploads/Deborah.png" width="150" height="150" alt="description"/> <img src="http://alphabookclub.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/ABC_Pinterest.jpg" width="150" height="150" alt="description"/>

Lacey and Theo met in a conventional way but they got married in a way that a lot of people tend to do. A night of drinking and feeling sorry for one self can lead to a night they both will not forget. While Theo is out celebrating his new job, Lacey is trying to keep her head above water because her brother has once again upended her life. With Lacey in trouble with her brothers’ bookies and Theo wanted to save face with the family there is something bound to happen that night. Theo comes up with a plan to get married so that he can go home with a woman on his arms to show everyone he has moved on from the ex that did him wrong. Lacey takes the deal because she needs to get away from the people after her because of her brother. After that night though they head to Theo’s home to begin their married life. The come up with a solution to keep their feelings out of it but sometimes the best laid plains fail. Lacey is a girl living her life to survive and when she finds herself falling for Theo it is not met with happiness. Theo is analytical and not about the emotions. He has a hard time figuring out people’s emotions and has hard time dealing with his own. When he and Lacey finally get together in the best way, they find it hard to keep their emotions at bay. Until one day Theo ruins it all and his past comes back to haunt him. Lacey tells him he needs to face the past in order to have a future. When he realizes that there is more to him and Lacey will he do the right thing and fight for her or will he let her stay gone forever. I like heir story and the way the author made each of the characters unique in their own way. Theo was the practical and logical one with Lacey being the one afraid to take risk and living her life trying to survive. They met at the right time and it was slow build in their relationship that I think was perfect for their story. It’s a sweet romance with some family drama thrown in and a quickie wedding to whet your appetite.

Lacey had no idea what she was in for when she met Theo Wynn. He was out for his last night in Vegas before moving to California to start his new job as GM for the Los Angeles Condors. Lacey finds out that her brother is in more debt that she can even contemplate and the thugs after him was to use her as payment. Theo steps in and so begins their journey. Theo was honest and said he wanted Lacey to bring to his next family function so he didn't have to face his brother, JP and the woman he stole from him, Emma. I wasn't quite prepared for the quickie wedding within hours of meeting each other, but for these 2 it worked. They could not have been more different in their life philosophies but they did bring out the best in each other. '

Kelly Jamieson did a great job of showing what a general manager of a hockey team does. Her stories usually center on the players, so this was an interesting change for me. Theo is a numbers guy and he needs that knowledge to help him figure out what he is going to do to get the Condors to be a winning hockey team.

The Wynn family has a lot of dysfunction in it. They sue each other, yell at each other and declare all out war on each other with no shame. In short, they are a hoot to read. There is no filter with them and it is interesting to see how they interact with each other. Lacey only has her twin brother to rely on and, suffice to say, that is not working out well for her. I did like how she made new friends and seemed to put herself out there and now just wallow in what happened to cause her to have to flee Vegas. The fact these 2 learn to depend on each other was pretty significant in this story. I won't give away what happens, but it was a good read. I am quite interested to see where Kelly Jamieson goes with this series.

You have to read this book it is captivating. Awesome story line with a little steamy love thrown in. Theo is a overachiever scared of being rejected and Lacey needs security. Throw in a quick Vegas wedding and then the relationship starts. Will they realize they love each other?

5 Stars ... I loved this book!

Its Théo's last night in Vegas and he's out at the bar celebrating ... he's going to be the General Manager for Grandfather's hockey team in LA. When the waitress (Lacey) gets fired, he talks her into joining his moving celebration. By the end of the night it's just the two of them and he finds out that Lacey's brother has a gambling problem and there are guys after Lacey to get to her brother. Théo and Lacey end up in a quickie wedding so that she can get away from her brother and his problems. And Théo can have a beautiful bride by his side when he returns home to his cheating ex-girlfriend, who happened to cheat with his brother and now they're together.

Théo is just a sweetheart ... I couldn't help but love him. I loved the fact that he wasn't portrayed as a womanizer ... he's just a regular guy. And Lacey ... I couldn't help but be drawn to her infectious attitude. She makes friends easily and has a welcoming way about her. Théo and Lacey just seemed to be the perfect couple. Too bad it wasn't a real marriage. The banter between Théo and Lacey just seemed to realistic. Also there is a great cast of supporting characters that I know will all have stories in this series. Ms. Jamieson sure knows her stuff with hockey. I have read a lot of Ms. Jamieson's book and I have never come across one I didn't like. A great start to a new series and I highly recommend it.

I received an early copy courtesy of Random House-Loveswept through NetGalley in exchange for a honest review.

I always look forward to reading the newest Kelly Jamieson but this one went above and beyond. Cant wait to read the rest of the Wynn family members’ stories. At first seeing the long list of characters I was concerned I wouldnt be able to remember all of them and their relationships but the writing was good enough that it wasnt an issue. I would definitely recommend this title!

Fake marriage becomes a real marriage!

Théo Wynn got a job offer from his grandfather to be the general manager of the hockey team he owned even though he knew this would cause a lot of conflict because of all the family conflict. On his last night in Las Vegas, his friends took him to a bar as a going away party. Waitress Lacey Olson is having a crappy day when her twin brother emptied her bank account because he was compulsive gambler and she was fired from her job waitressing because she didn’t want to sit with the guys her brother owed money to. Théo asked Lacey to marry him temporarily so his family wouldn’t ask him any questions since his brother was now dating his ex-girlfriend.

Lacey is more outgoing and Théo new to his job and busy with the very messy family dynamics make it a very good story with some twits and turns. I already preordered the next two books in the series.

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

Kelly Jamieson is know for her Hockey Romance Series and we are about to start another one. She give us the feel of hockey life without hockey being overpowering and getting lost in terminology.

The Wynn Series is about a family that is all Hockey from team owners, retired players, current players, and many others involved in the sport. There is more than their fair share of hostility and angst in the Wynn family.

Theo Wynn has still made himself a life around the world of hockey even after the accident that ruined his playing career. Being a numbers guy, he was able to use that to work on the analytical side of thing to help with team management. He is a super focused guy who clearly is a workaholic who just needs to leave his insecurities at the office and try and enjoy himself. Ready for the next step in his career he meets Lacey and somehow she has drawn him in and make him step on the wild side. Could this be a new trend?

Born and raised in Vegas, she has her wits about her. She has had to work hard for everything she has. Life has not been easy for Lacey the past two years. The loss of her mother, trying to keep her twin brother on the straight and arrow. She has found herself working many jobs just to stay afloat and to pay off old bills. When her brothers troubles become her troubles, she isn't sure where to turn next, but the handsome Theo who she just met might have an idea.

One wild night and a couple of spontaneous decisions finds Lacey headed to LA. Will this be a short trip or will Lacey find a reason to leave Vegas for good? Can Theo and Lacey pull off this charade? Will hearts get involved when they least expect it?

I am excited to see what we will get next in the Wynn Series.

*** Advanced copy provided in exchange for an honest review.***

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