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.

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.

Lost in Indigo (Colors of Love #1)

Title: Lost in Indigo (Colors of Love Book 1)
Author: V.L. Locey
Publisher: Self-Published
Release Date: July 10, 2018
Genre(s): Contemporary Sports Romance
Page Count: 233
Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5

Read book blurb here

Color me somewhat conflicted about this first book in V.L. Locey's new "Colors of Love" series. On one hand, I love the premise - Mat is a hot older hockey player who falls madly in lust / love with genderflux Indigo, a college student. Afer Mat badly injures his leg during a playoff game, he decides to spend the summer at his off-season home on one of The Thousand Islands in the St. Lawrence River. Indigo ("Born the year [Mat] played [his] rookie season with the Surge") is the caretaker's son and is hired to spend the summer as Mat's gardener / nursemaid.

Mat is completely blindsided by Indigo and although he wishes he could "....grow a pair and be honest. With yourself and those around you" about the feelings that Indigo arouses in him, Mat has a lifetime of experience in hiding "so deep in the closet I'm finding Christmas presents." Their relationship is intense and very sexually charged, but outside of the bedroom difficulties arise.

Touch of a Yellow Sun (Colors of Love #2)

Title: Touch of a Yellow Sun (Colors of Love Book 2)
Author: V.L. Locey
Publisher: Self-Published
Release Date: February 27th 2019
Genre(s): Contemporary Romance, Hockey
Length: 88,600 words approx.
Rating: 4 stars out of 5

Read book blurb here

"Touch of a Yellow Sun" is the second book in the "Colors of Love" series but can easily be read as a stand-alone; there is no carry-over from the first book with the exception of one very minor character.

Marek Hafer is a hockey player whose skill set involves cheap hits and making his opponents angry enough to draw penalties. He played in the NHL but after one of his patented dirty hits ended a player's career, Marek's career spirals down until he finds himself in the ECHL in a smallish town in Pennsylvania. He knows he's been hired to stir things up and play the guy fans love to hate. As the book begins, Marek is definitely an un-self-aware jerk who chooses to ignore the consequences of his actions and tells himself he's fine with being hated - hey, he's doing his job and still gets to play hockey.

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.

Tales of Bryant

Title: Tales of Bryant
Author: V.L. Locey
Publisher: Self-Published
Release Date: April 9, 2019
Genre(s): Contemporary Romance
Length: 35,000 words approx.
Rating: 4 stars out of 5

Read book blurb here

"Tale of Bryant" is a set of four short novellas following a year in the life and love of struggling college film student Isamu and wealthy executive Brian. Their love story begins in NYC's lovely Bryant Park and this setting has a role in each of the stories.

The romance between Isamu and Brian is deeply sensual and very erotic, and since Isamu's camera goes everywhere with him, much of their lovemaking is filmed:

I was all kinds of into having our love and passion captured on film. We'd made hundred of shorts over our months as a couple. Most were edited into one long rambling flick of sex, passion, and love that - to the trained eye - had changed since spring. There was more depth of feeling in our expressions now when we were making love. I guess that's what changed. It had grown from slaking a need to making love.

The passion between Isamu and Brian really drives the plot, but at times Brian acts like a bit of a jerk, and since we really don't get an insight into his background until the fourth story, it's hard to really get a sense of what drives his personality. Also Isamu is way too stubborn about not accepting help at times; however, the author does a beautiful job of showing this couple go through good times as well as bad and taking those difficult steps to make their relationship work.

The flow of the story feels just right and the ending beautifully caps off this sweet and sensual romance. 4 stars for "Tales of Bryant."

Nine Small Sips (A Tales of Bryant Novella)

Title: Nine Small Sips : A Tales of Bryant Novella
Author: V.L. Locey
Publisher: Self-Published
Release Date: June 12, 2019
Genre(s): Contemporary Romance
Page Count: 108
Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5

Read book blurb here

Having read V.L. Locey's "Tales of Bryant" with its sweet short vignettes telling Isamu and Brian's love story, I was looking forward to their wedding in "Nine Small Sips." But .... I cannot completely love this book since I can't get past Brian being a total jerk.

Now, granted Brian and Isamu are madly in love with one another and sexually they burn up the sheets every time they are together, and damn it, their wedding does turn out perfectly after they overcome a lot of angst from their families. But Brian makes various comments throughout that I find very demeaning to Isamu and completely unnecessary:

"Just handle this like a man. You're going to have to grow some damn fuzz on your balls sometime if you ever want to be a successful director."

"Did you wake up and decide being a dick was next on your agenda?"

"Now stop being so fucking melodramatic."

Brian didn't feel the need to be in constant contact during the day. It was a sign of a weak and insecure man if they acted clingy.

Otherwise, I liked the plot, loved the sizzling chemistry between the two, thought the story moved along at a perfect pace, and that honeymoon was definitely worth the wait. This would have been a 4.5 star rating if it hadn't been for Brian's .... asshat-ery. 3.5 stars.

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.