The York Bombers: First Period Trilogy

PLAYING THE GAME

Playing The Game by Lisa B Kamps is book 1 in the York Bombers Hockey series and can be read as a standalone.

“His legs buckled, finally giving out. He reached for the table, the chair – anything. But his hands were numb, his vision swimming. And then he was on his knees, doubled over in pain, his lungs fighting for air as his mind fought to accept what his heart already knew. What his heart had known as soon as his father had told him. No, before that, even. What his heart had known all those years ago, what he had blocked out and refused to believe.” – Harland

Wow, wow, wow and a thousand more wows! This book is amazing and I experienced so many emotions whilst reading it late last night. I had planned on reading just a couple of chapters but couldn’t put it down and ended up reading it all. The prologue pulled me in from the first sentence as the words used were so descriptive and you could feel how special that moment was for Harland and Courtney. Then wham and you’re hit with a whole lot of different emotions when you move onto chapter 1.

I was crying by the end of chapter 6 as I witnessed the total devastation of Harland having discovered Courtney’s secret of the last three years and the fear this caused Courtney. I had to stop reading for a few minutes because I couldn’t see the words due to crying so hard. Then I was laughing out loud in chapter 12 before having to stop again at the end of chapter 21 because I was crying after witnessing such a precious and loving moment involving Harland and Courtney. I’ve never cried so hard over a book and I didn’t want the story to end. Yes, this is a hockey story but it’s a story more about regret, secrets, love, fear, forgiveness and second chances.

Lisa B Kamps has written a powerful story and I’m excited to see what happens in book 2, Playing To Win, which is Jason and Megan’s story. Then it’s onto book 3, Playing For Keeps, which is Tyler and Jennifer’s story.

“And why was she reacting this way? Pain and hurt and anger and regret and sorrow. And, deep below all of that, a tiny sliver of hope. That was the emotion she needed to crush. Hope? Even now, after everything, her heart could feel hope? She was such a fool.” – Courtney

Lisa B Kamps is one of my favourite authors and I would happily read any book of her’s without even checking the description because you’re guaranteed an amazing journey as you share the experiences of characters who remain with you for days after you’ve finished. I wish I could award this book more than 5 stars because honestly, 5 stars just aren’t enough to show my love for Playing The Game

PLAYING TO WIN

Playing To Win by Lisa B Kamps is book 2 in the York Bombers Hockey series and can be read as a standalone.

Megan Bradley spends most of her time working in her parents bar, which has become a popular hangout for players from the York Bombers hockey team. Megan is drawn to Jason Emory and can’t keep her eyes off him but he doesn’t even appear to see her. Megan settles for admiring him from afar and believes she wouldn’t even stand a chance against the women who surround the players, including Jason, anyway. Then Megan’s friend and work colleague, Haley, suggests that Megan becomes “someone else for one night” to hopefully put her in Jason’s sights. Megan agrees and after a makeover, sets out to achieve one night only with Jason. However, things don’t go quite to plan and suddenly she becomes part of ‘the game’ that Jason’s determined to win.

Jason Emory appears to be succeeding in the goals he set for himself but it feels like there’s something missing. He’s lost all interest in random hookups and wants someone who he can “talk to” and “share interests” with. He wants something more but it’s apparently “too much to ask for”. Then Megan catches his eye one night and he finally feels the connection he’s being looking for but she disappears as quick as she appeared. He sets out to find her but is in for a surprise along with a few home truths during his search and it then becomes ‘game on’ as he’s determined to win like he always has with everything else.

“So…I read it. Not sure I really get it but I liked it. And I think this was my favourite line: “My feelings will not be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire… you.”” – Jason

After meeting Jason and Megan in Playing The Game, book 1 in the series, I was keen to read their story and see if Megan would ever get Jason to actually SEE her as he was so oblivious to her in book 1. Playing To Win felt different to book 1 as it focuses more on the emotions and needs of the two main characters. I loved the change of pace and that Lisa B Kamps focuses on what appears to be totally different topics. However, when it comes down to it, I feel the message in both books is to believe that you’re worthy of the feelings someone else has for you. I also loved how this book included scenes from book 1 to merge both stories and explain what Megan and Jason were thinking/feeling during those moments in book 1.

Megan appeared to be confident about herself, so I was initially confused about her self doubts in regard to Jason but I then realised that it was his continuous inability to acknowledge or see her that caused her to have the doubts, and seeing him surrounded by women every time he was in the bar didn’t help either. Jason only focuses on the things that were important to him or his goals and I suspect this is how he learnt to cope with the stresses of achieving his goal to play professional hockey growing up – he doesn’t deliberately set out to hurt or ignore Megan.

I couldn’t put Playing To Win down and read it all in one go; both common occurrences when books by Lisa B Kamps are involved. Next up is Playing For Keeps, which is Jenny and Tyler’s story. We get hints in this book about how protective Jason is of his sister, Jenny, so I can’t wait to see what Lisa B Kamps has planned because I know it’s going to be good!

PLAYING FOR KEEPS

Playing For Keeps by Lisa B Kamps is book 3 in the York Bombers Hockey series and can be read as a standalone.

Jenny Emory has left everything behind to start a new life. She’s moved in with her brother, Jason, and is trying to find a job but things aren’t as easy as she expected. She’s also feeling lonely as she’s not had time to make any new friends and Jason is focused on Megan. Then she gets the opportunity to spend time with Tyler, Jason’s teammate, and she jumps at the chance but Jason wouldn’t be happy if he found out, so they have to meet in secret. As they spend more time together, Tyler becomes a great distraction for Jenny but secrets have a way of being exposed and Jenny’s now not only keeping one secret, she’s keeping two.

Tyler Bowie always followed the rules and kept his eye firmly set on where he wants to go with his career in hockey but he’s recently become disillusioned and after meeting Jenny, decides it’s maybe time to do things a little different. Despite Jason’s orders that none of the York Bombers players go near Jenny, Tyler invites her out to dinner and she quickly becomes a temptation that he’s not sure he can or even wants to resist. But will Tyler be willing to stand by Jenny and be the strength she needs if secrets are exposed and she faces losing the new life she’s fought hard to have.

“Except look where following the rules had gotten him so far: the same place he had started at. So maybe it was time to…maybe not break the rules. Just bend them. A little.” – Tyler

There’s something about forbidden or secret relationships that draws me in and Lisa B Kamps has written another amazing story that has you feeling for the characters and hoping they get their HEA that they so much deserve. Yes, Jenny and Tyler are keeping a pretty big secret from Jason but I never once believed that they were doing something wrong and loved seeing how they were there for each other when both needed someone. In fact, I kind of hated Jason for how he was and especially how he treated poor Jenny. Had I seen this side of him before reading his story in Playing To Win, then I would’ve considered him an overprotective selfish jerk. I think Megan is just what Jason needs to help him become a better brother and friend.

I really felt for Jenny in this story as she’d had to leave her life behind and start all over again because of one selfish jerk and then she ends up living with another, her brother. Thankfully she has Tyler who gives her the support she needs but he’s got his own issues to deal with and she’s there for him in return. They give each other strength and become a partnership but not before struggling with the feelings each of them experience due to the other. I love this couple and hope to see more of them; just like we’ve learnt more about Harland and Courtney, and Jason and Megan as the series progresses. It’s kind of like getting extended epilogues of their HEA’s.

I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of Playing For Keeps but this review and the rating is based entirely on my own views and experiences of reading the story. Next in the series will be Playing It Up, book 4 in the series, due for release in August 2017. If you haven’t already, get the book pre-ordered because I’m certain it will be another goal score for Lisa B Kamps