Kayli Evans lives a simple life, handling the daily operations of her small family farm and acting as the primary care-taker for her fourteen-year-old niece. She knows the importance of enjoying each minute, of living life to its fullest. But she still has worries: about her older brother's safety in the military, about the rift between her two brothers, and about her niece's security and making ends meet. And now there's a new worry she doesn’t want: Ian Donovan, her brother's friend.
Ian is a carefree hockey player for the Baltimore Banners who has relatively few worries—until he finds himself suddenly babysitting his seven-year-old nieces for an extended period of time. He has no idea what he's doing, and is thrust even further into the unknown when he's forced to participate in the twins' newest hobby. Meeting Kayli opens a different world for him, a simpler world where family, trust, and love are what matters most.
Lisa B. Kamps is a USA Today Bestselling Author who writes steamy romance with real-life characters and relatable stories that evoke deep emotion. She likes her men hard, her bed soft, her coffee strong, her whiskey neat, and her wine chilled...and when it comes to sports, hockey is the only thing that matters!
Lisa currently lives in Maryland with her husband and two sons (who are mostly sorta-kinda out of the house), one very spoiled Border Collie, two cats with major attitude, several head of cattle, and entirely too many chickens to count. When she's not busy writing or chasing animals, she's cheering loudly for her favorite hockey team, the Washington Capitals--or going through withdrawal and waiting for October to roll back around!
I said in a review of another book in this series by Ms. Kamp, it’s like a see-saw and this is when the see-saw is down. I read it right after Delay of Game and this one was quite a letdown. Those dreaded words apply to this one – IT’S OK (screeching sound) One of the issues was there was no real conflict going on, more just a series of chronological events as Ian Donovan and Kayli Evans get to know each other. While some conflicts such as The Big Misunderstanding can make you want to pull your hair out with frustration, very little conflict causes one to give a small, gentle yawn and turn on the telly to Dating Naked or something.
The gist of the story, he’s a city boy and she’s a country girl (thinking the Donnie and Marie song). There is nothing special about either of them, I found them both rather bland. He’s spending time in the country while looking after his (annoying) nieces. She works the farm they are helping at. There is a bit of conflict when the black sheep brother comes home but the other brother seems to quite like Ian and has no problem with Ian and his sister developing a relationship (sorry – yawn). He’s only home in between deployments as he’s in the armed forces. He has a niece that Kayli looks after (sorry – another one coming – yawn). One thing I did find odd is not once is the mother of said niece mentioned. Oh well, to be honest it didn’t matter that much in the overall scheme of things. They had bonfires and (damn, I can’t stop – yawn) fairs and all the things that happen in the country.
As this book takes place in the summer there isn’t even any hockey type stuff to interest the reader In the hit or miss way of rating, this one is a miss. It doesn’t even move the series along. Oh well, as they say, you can’t win them all.
I cannot get enough of this series! Each of the men are tough hockey players, but with the right woman you see their soft sides. This story brings us Ian and when this single hockey player makes a promise to his sister he never expects her to take him up on it, then the doorbell rings and his sister is dropping his little nieces off before his sister leaves for her month long vacation. Ian thinks he can handle it, but when he starts reading all the instructions that come with his little nieces he sees he now needs to help them with their 4-H project. When he meets Kayli at the farm, he is blown away and isn't sure what he is feeling, but needs to see it through. I loved this strong woman and how she is tough with just enough sweetness to make her someone I would love to hang out with. I especially loved seeing how the previous men are doing with their loves and I look forward to more from this series!
I was disappointed with this hockey read. There was none at all, just about a hockey player looking after his nieces and helping out at a farm and getting to know Kayli. She wasn't impressed with his flashy clothes and car since it's really impractical for farm work. Ian and Kayli don't have much of a personality and the story is on the boring side. No character development, no conflict and no plot.
I liked the main chacter Kayli a lot but most of the story didn't really make sense. Why did the sister dump the girls for a month and go on hols? And with no real prep? No grandparents, aunts, cousins, girlfriends to help this brother? Seriously I didn't buy it?
And why did he fall for?
Lots of potential but not enough done to achieve it.
Good characters, nice story, just nothing that reached out and pulled me in. Very little about hockey, but heroine was interesting, as she ran the family farm
I knew this book was exactly my kind of book as soon as I read the blurb and boy was I right! In fact, I found myself unable to enjoy any other book because I really wanted to read this one. I became lost in this 5 star read on a Saturday afternoon and it was just what I needed to sweep me away from reality. Whilst I love every book I read by this author, there are ones that standout and become my favourites, and Blue Ribbon Summer is such a book. Whilst the story is 'lighter' than some of my other favourites by Lisa B Kamps, it's one that I will definitely have to own in paperback one day so I can savour it again and again.
Ian and Kayli's story shows that opposites do attract. They technically shouldn't work as a couple, but are actually so perfect for each other. Blue Ribbon Summer is a heartwarming story that's easy to read and isn't full of drama, which is sometimes needed so you can focus fully on the couple rather than everything else that's happening around them. I get the feeling that Blue Ribbon Summer is a hidden gem by this favourite author of mine and I really would recommend that readers pick it up!
Loved Ian Donovan in Alec and AJ'S story (book1) and love him even more after his and Kayli's. The opening to their story was hilarious with his sister dropping off his twin nieces for 4 weeks! Ian calls them she-devils! Unaccustomed to being a "parent", he is even more bewildered by the farm/ranch he has to take them to where they are learning to groom and show cattle! He doesn't know it yet but the she-devils have just sealed his fate and future when he meets their mentor, Kayli. Love overcomes them both although Ian is slow to realize it and Kayli doesn't believe it!
This author has combined two of my favorite things...hockey and romance...and done it well. I recommend! Now on to book 4!
2.25 stars This did not live up to its potential. The story had massive gaps in in where you had to assume things happened but were never told about them. The relationship must have evolved in one of these holes because it went from first meeting to full on in an indeterminate time span across what felt like 1 chapter, if that. I also genuinely hated the hero being left to look after his nieces whom he then moved in to someone else's house within days. Who does that?! Not that this book bothers to show you that, it's a 1 sentence done deal. The basic story line was there, as were the characters. This book just needed more words to round out all the plot points it opened that never went anywhere.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
3 Star Read: It has many redeeming qualities. The characters were likable at best neutral at worst. The writing was much better than expected. I developed an interest that withstood to the end. The plot was nice, somewhat original or had its own unique flair. The writing was good, and the pretense wasn’t half bad, the romance was simmering with few exceptions. The male/female lead showed hints of abuse both verbal and/or physical or signs of spot-on or forced chemistry. It was a tiny bit predictable. Overall, liked it enough, entertaining.
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Blue Ribbon Summer The Baltimore Banner Book #3. I have to say Ian and Kayli's story is my favorite so far. It is the off season for Ian Donovan & he is in charge of his 8 yr twin nieces. His sister Bonnie tells him before she and her husband leave on vacation that Ian is sending on, the only thing he needs to do with the twins is take them to a farm in the country, she made it sound like a summer camp....Ian's world is turned upside down for the better as he and the twins become apart of the Evan's family daily lives. We have Characters and Banner players that we met in the first two stories, interact in Ian's adventure. Lots of surprises wait for you.
I still think the first book in the series was my favorite one. I didn't feel like this one had a lot of resolution. When I read the first one I didn't feel like the book was rushed or anything. It felt just right. The second book was hella unrealistic. And the third one felt rushed and unfinished like the author just gave up on the wrap up. There were so many characters that were not fully developed to their potential. This book definitely missed the mark, but with that said it definitely wasn't the worst book I've read this year.
I am always looking for romance books based around Ice Hockey. What can I say? They are always hot to me. I stumbled across this new author's work and I am very pleased I did. Absolutely loved, loved the stories. Not so much covered on the ice hockey story but a great interaction between the 2 main characters involved in the storyline. The covers to the books are rocking hot and very well done in my eyes. Great job Lisa and I look forward to reading more of your books :)
exactly what I expected. which is really funny because the description of this book convinced me to buy the first two of the series...which I loved! seemed slightly overedited (which I do know isn't a word) something just felt like it was missing...can't wait till the series is redeemed in book 4
This story started out about Ian Donovan and Kalii. Ian's sister ta"
This story is about Ian Donovan. He watches his twin nieces for awhile in the summer. He has to take them for handling lessons. While he is there he falls for Kalii one of the farm owners. They run into a romance. It was a good read.
I just finished this one!!! and I seriously loved it!!! the she devils were awesome and Ian really had a heart of gold despite the fact that the heroine thought he was a player.. but as you read you realize what Ian truly cares about and how he really is! Great book!
What a great read from heartwarming to hot sex scenes this book will make you laugh and cry with all the emotions in between. I really enjoyed it as I have all the other books so far in series and can't wait to start the next one.
Well this book has no hockey in it, just a romantic story involving a hockey player and a farm girl. It was not what I was expecting but it was still good.