Kristie J’s review of Playing It Safe (York Bombers, Book 5) by Lisa B. Kamps
Contemporary Romance published by BimHaven Press 21 Feb 18
I’ve long been a fan of Lisa Kamp’s hockey-themed books. I’m up to date on the whole Baltimore Banner series. This book is one of the York Bombers series, a spin-off of the Baltimore series. The Bombers are a farm team for the Baltimore Bombers and home team of some players on their way up to the big league and some players coming to the end of their careers. Playing it Safe is the fifth book in this series and, yep, I’m up to date on this series too.
Our hero, Aaron Malone, is a player on the downside of the mountain. He played some in the big leagues but not that much. He’s a journeyman player. And I think this is one of my favourite books from both series. Aaron is struggling. He’s a newly single dad. He and his wife were divorced and his wife had custody before she died and now he’s looking after his children. While he has a good relationship with his youngest daughter, his oldest teenager daughter hates him. She had wanted to stay with her mother’s parents, but Aaron wants his girls with him, difficult as it’s proving to be.
Savannah Weber is his neighbour, and she has certainly noticed him. Yes, she has. They have had very little interaction, mainly just the nodding and waving kind. But now that he has his daughters living with him, their lives are slowly starting to entwine as she’s there to help him in the world of new fatherhood. Savannah works at home, so she’s available to help with whatever emergency seems to come up. Aaron and Savannah become friends, and though both would like more, it doesn’t seem to be in the stars. Aaron feels he can’t juggle both a relationship and fatherhood. And Savannah isn’t ready for the responsibility a relationship with Aaron would entail.
But the heart wants what the heart wants and that’s the story of this book. There was so much good going on in this story. While, yes, Aaron is very down to earth about it, he doesn’t play for the fame and glory but just because he loves playing. I get the sense he’d be just as happy playing pick-up hockey, but by playing pro hockey he can afford to do for his family. Considering he’s a pro athlete, he has no ego whatsoever and that is so refreshing. And as such he doesn’t think he has much to offer, but Savannah truly sees what a good and caring guy he is. But because she was almost non-existent in her parents’ lives, she doesn’t really want to be one herself. But as she grows closer to Aaron and his girls, she starts rethinking things.
I love this book, I love everything about it. Both Aaron and Savannah are people you route for and want to see happy, Aaron in particular. I love how his teammates rib him about being the old guy on the team.
I love her funny best friend and I love Aaron’s girls – even the bratty one. Even though this is the fifth book in this series, it works very well as a stand-alone.
And another thing I truly appreciate is that Ms.Kamps knows hockey. As a fan of the sport, how about the Gold Knights of Las Vegas, eh? Who would have thought they would do so well in their first season?
Ms. Kamps, as long as you keep writing, I’ll keep reading.
Grade: A
Summary:
Aaron Malone knows one thing: hockey. It’s been his calling and his salvation, seeing him through life’s challenges–from a marriage that should have never happened and a divorce that left him gutted, to the loss of his two daughters when his ex-wife moved out of state. When a tragic accident forces him back into the role of fatherhood, he struggles to be the father his daughters need–even if he’s not the parent they want.
Savannah Weber has everything she wants in life: a successful career, an energetic social life, and a sexy, brooding neighbor who has a recurring part in her nighttime fantasies. What she’s never had is a family of her own–and she’s convinced herself she doesn’t want one. When she sees Aaron struggling to balance life with his daughters, she finds herself being drawn in to help–against the wishes of the two young girls.
They say that two is company and three is a crowd. Can these four come together to make a family and live happily-ever-after? Only if two lonely souls are willing to take a chance instead of playing it safe.
How do you spell character?
No excerpt available.
