Ryker (Owatonna U Hockey #1)

Title:  Ryker (Owatonna U Hockey Book 1)
Author(s): RJ Scott, VL Locey
Publisher:  Love Lane Books
Release Date: September 24, 2018
Page Count:  196
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Read book blurb here

FYI: "Ryker" is in the "Harrisburg Railers" series universe and runs concurrently with that series, but it easily read as a stand-alone. Although if you haven't read Harrisburg Railer's #6 "Goal Line" please be aware there ARE spoilers for that book here.

When Ryker Madsen and Jacob Benson meet at a Canadian hockey camp, sparks fly ... eventually. For Jacob, hockey is the means to an end and his dream is not playing in the NHL but rather getting his agricultural science degree at Owatonna U so he can return to the family farm in Minnesota. His hockey scholarship pays for college and he needs to improve his skills at the hockey camp to ensure his spot on the Owatonna Eagles team.

Ryker is third-generation hockey, with his grandfather and father having played in the NHL. He's already drafted by an NHL team and the camp is merely to polish his skills. Ryker is immediately impressed by the big strong Minnesota farm boy, while Jacob hates that Ryker has been given everything on a silver platter and doesn't understand the struggles other deal with. But when the roommates finally get past all their preconceptions, their slow-burn romance is all kinds of wonderful. This plot just grabs you from page one and carries you off in a great blend of young love and hockey.

Christmas Prince (The Christmas Angel #7)

Title: Christmas Prince (The Christmas Angel Book 7)
Author: RJ Scott
Publisher: Love Lane Books Ltd
Release Date: December 2, 2018
Genre(s): Contemporary Romance, Holiday
Page Count: 146
Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5

Read book blurb here

"Christmas Angel" is set in the small fictional country of Montaunoit (think Monaco). Having been to Monaco two years ago, I though the author did a wonderful job of creating the principality complete with a castle hewn from the mountainside, an oceanographic museum overlooking the sea (just like Monaco), etc.

At the beginning of "Christmas Prince," Raphael is a bit stalkery when he outbids Marc for an auction lot just because he is interested in him and lures him to Montaunoit to create a installation featuring an aspect of Montaunoit history pulled from the extensive archives. But once Marc gets past his (IMHO, justified) anger at being treated like a Victorian heroine and Raphael realizes he is overstepping a bit, their relationship grows slowly (very slowly) into a very sweet romance, full of moments together in a snow-covered winter wonderland, lovely holiday events, secret passages, and a warm family Christmas with Raphael's parents and siblings. The sex scenes here are not graphic or extensive detailed, but the chemistry between Raphael and Marc is strong and so beautifully portrayed.

RJ Scott beautifully creates this tender romance that has a touch of magic, courtesy of a Christmas angel that brings the two men together, and it is a sweet heartfelt read for the holiday season. Plus bonus points for the epilogue set three years later that perfectly completes the story. 4.5 stars for "Christmas Prince."

Neutral Zone: A Railers Christmas Story (Harrisburg Railers #7)

Title: Neutral Zone: A Railers Christmas Story (Harrisburg Railers Hockey Book 7)
Author: R.J. Scott and V.L. Locey
Publisher: Love Lane Books Ltd
Release Date: November 25, 2018
Genre(s): Contemporary Sports Romance, Holidays
Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5

Read book blurb here

FYI - this is not a stand-alone book and you'll want to read at least Book #1 and #6 in the Harrisburg Railers Hockey series (and maybe Ryker Book #1 in the Owatonna U Hockey series) to get the background on Mads and Ten.

Ten is in rehab recovering from a brain injury (suffered at the end of Book #6) and Mads is back home in Harrisburg with the team. There's a beautiful balance here between Mads wanting to wrap Ten in bubble wrap and protect him from harm while hoping that Ten will return with confidence to his former glory on the ice. And Ten struggles with loneliness and the fear that he will never regain fluent speech/thought or balance sufficient to return to hockey.

But all this worry is firmly grounded in the abundant love and admiration that Mads and Ten have for one another. I love how there is little manufactured angst here, but rather a lovely mix of hockey, family, hope and love (with a low steam level, which feels appropriate here). I highly recommend reading "Neutral Zone" and give it 4.5 stars.

Scott (Owatonna U Hockey #2)

Title: Scott (Owatonna Book 2)
Author: R.J. Scott and V.L. Locey
Publisher: Love Lane Books Ltd
Release Date: March 27th 2019
Genre(s): Contemporary Romance, Sports
Page Count: 50,000 words approx.
Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5

Read book blurb here

I really enjoyed "Ryker," the first book in the Owatonna U series, and particularly loved the hockey action as well as its link to the authors' wonderful Harrisburg Railers series.

First off, while I like "Scott" I miss the relative lack of on-ice hockey action. Sure, I realize this book focuses on Scott's inner turmoil and recovery, but throw me a bone here! I would have loved a few hockey scenes since the authors do such a great job of capturing the action. But they do an equally good job of exploring what has brought Scott to this point in his life. He's been suspended from playing hockey for a year due to steroid use, he is basically homeless, he has purposefully cut himself off from his friends on the Owatonna Eagles team, he has been shunned by his hockey-obsessed father, he continues to grieve for his dead brother Luke; Scott is at an incredibly low spot in his life.

Save the Date (Harrisburg Railers #9)

Title: Save The Date (Harrisburg Railers Book 9)
Author: RJ Scott, VL Locey
Publisher: Love Lane Books Ltd
Release Date: June 30, 2019
Genre(s): Contemporary Romance, Hockey
Rating: 5 stars out of 5

Read book blurb here

Ten and Jared are getting married and everyone is in on the fun - Adler plans the bachelor party, Trent becomes the wedding planner from Hades (but of course, puts together an absolutely perfect wedding day), the Rowe brothers and their extended family all sit down for an interview, Stan gives a speech from the heart, Ryker and Jacob make an appearance, Ten and Jared get their hockey puck cake, and there's a wonderful sexy honeymoon on the Aegean Sea to cap everything off.

There's humor, fun, sweetness, sex, family-family, hockey-family and some truly beautiful touching moments.

I have so much love inside me for him, right? He's the perfect man for me. He grounds me when I need tethering, and he lets me fly when I need freedom. He laughs with me and at me, holds me when things are bad, and dances with me when things are good. He's the world to me.

And not to be topped, Jared's vows include:

I fell in love so fast, so hard ... you were the best thing to happen to me. Ten, I have you in my heart right next to Ryker. You know that, right? [...] And then you fell to the ice ... and every part of me hurt with you when they picked you up and took you away. I can't imagine a life without you, so please know that if you ever fall on the ice again, I will always be there for you, bringing you home where you belong.

I really adored every page of this novella, feel it is the best book of the Harrisburg Railer's series, and is the perfect ending to the series.

Coast to Coast (Arizona Raptors #1)

Title: Coast to Coast (Raptors Book 1)
Author: R.J. Scott and V.L. Locey
Publisher: Love Lane Books Ltd.
Release Date: September 29, 2019
Genre(s): Contemporary Romance, Hockey
Page Count: 199
Rating: 4 stars out of 5
Blurb: Read book blurb here


For Harrisburg Railer and Owatonna U Hockey fans, the Arizona Raptors series is a welcome addition to R.J. Scott and V.L. Locey's hockey universe. Ryker Madsen is now playing with the Raptors and since the Railers will play the Raptors throughout the regular season, you'll see familiar faces along the way. But even if you have never read a book in either series, don't worry - this books works as a stand-alone with new characters.

The blurb provides a lot of detail, so suffice it to say the family drama between the Westman-Reid siblings and the dysfunctional Raptor organization go hand-in-hand here, as Mark has to make the Raptors' dysfunctional organization viable, while at the same time confronting old family heartaches.

Add in a sizzingly sexy relationship with head coach Rowen Carmichael (imagine Liev Schreiber),

Across the Pond (Arizona Raptors #2)

Title: Across the Pond (Raptors Book 2)
Author: R.J. Scott and V.L. Locey
Publisher: Love Lane Books Ltd.
Release Date: November 10, 2019
Genre(s): Contemporary Romance, Hockey
Page Count: 199
Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5

Blurb: Read book blurb here


"Across the Pond" is the second book in the Arizona Raptors series, a tie-in to the Harrisburg Railers and Owatonna U series. As part of the continuing efforts of the owners and coaching staff to turn the Raptors around, Sebastian Brown is brought over from England to raise the team's media profile and is immediately bowled over by gorgeous 22-year-old player Alejandro Garcia, thinking he would be the perfect poster boy to repair the team's tarnished image.

Alex loves his close-kind Catholic family, but struggles with the "toxic machismo so many Latino males grow up with" and is absoulutely terrified about coming out to his family. Alex copes by acting cocky, macho, and above all straight:

Fuck. I so hated this. Hating it didn't keep me from doing it, though. I wiggled into the skin of a straight Latino man, pasted on the smile the ladies liked, and sauntered into party central.

But no matter what he does, "sexy and foreign and whiskery" Sebastian intrigues him and once Alex admits to himself that he is gay, his relationship with Sebastian very slowly evolves as he tentatively explores his sexuality. There are kisses, frottage and a sexy shower scene, but Alejandro still has a firm grasp on his v-card.