Title: Ryker
Authors: RJ Scott & VL Locey
Series: Owatonna U Hockey #1(Harrisburg Railers Spin-Off)
Genre: M/M Romance
Release Date: September 26, 2018
Cover Design: Meredith Russell
Summary:Ryker is hockey royalty, Jacob is a poor country boy. Can two vastly different people find common ground and become the men they want to be?
Ryker comes from a long line of championship-winning hockey players. Playing college hockey to develop his game is his only focus, and nothing will stand in the way of him working to become the best player. He has no room for relationships, people that point out his flaws, or anyone who calls him on his dreams. He certainly has no place for love, and meeting Jacob is nothing but a useful distraction on the side. After all trying to get his Owatonna Eagles teammate into bed is less work and more play. When tragedy rocks his family, his charmed life crumbles, and the only person he can turn to is the same one who claims to hate him.
Jacob Benson has only known hard work and stifling conservative values his whole life. Born and raised in the small rural community of Eden Crossing, Minnesota, he’s the only son of a hard-working but struggling dairy farming family. Jacob is using his skills in hockey to finance his way to an agricultural science degree. These four years at Owatonna U. will probably be the only time he has to enjoy life, gain acceptance about his sexuality, and live openly before his inevitable return to the farm. Running into a pretty rich boy like Ryker Madsen is putting a damper on his enjoyment of life away from home. Ryker’s flip, conceited, carefree attitude grates on Jacob’s every nerve. So why, if Ryker is everything he dislikes, does he want nothing more than to explore the sinful dreams that his annoying teammate stars in every night?
Ryker Madsen comes from hockey legends, not exactly a silver spoon but not a hard upbringing either. Jacob Benson is from a small farming community in Minnesota, a land where hockey is steeped in tradition. When the two meet at a month long hockey camp for the summer, lives are changed. Ryker begins to look at himself through Jacob's eyes and the two find a connection beyond hockey. When they meet again on the ice at Owatonna University after Ryker transfers in, will they be able to reconnect or just make nice for the sake of the team?
WOW! I could really end my review with that one word, Ryker is just WOW! In this first entry in the new and sure-to-be-a-hit spin-off of the Harrisburg Railers, we are reacquainted with Ryker Madsen, the son of Coach Jared Madsen who we originally were introduced to in Changing Lines(Harrisburg #1). We never really saw a lot of Ryker throughout the original series but it was enough to realize he was a strong independent player who, perhaps didn't take for granted where he came from but wasn't really looking at all the pluses from outside eyes. When he meets Jacob at hockey camp he gets a chance to see himself from the other side. It was a nice change of pace to see a young character who was open to seeing someone else's angle without getting super defensive causing undo drama. No one likes to have their faults pointed out to them but most people can step aside(eventually) and accept some level of criticism for what it is: a chance to change. In my opinion it can be an overused plot point to have unnecessary drama created in that situation so I really liked how the author's dealt with this element realistically.
As for Jacob, well I'm from a small farming community in Wisconsin, western Wisconsin to be more specific and only minutes away from the Minnesota border so we have always been kind of held hostage by the Minnesota media so I am very familiar with the state's love of hockey. I remember well the uproar when the North Stars were sold and moved to Texas as well as the excitement and celebrations over getting an expansion team in the Wild. So even though I am not a hockey fan I can say with very little doubt that the authors' portrayal of Jacob's love of the sport and it being his opportunity to further his education and help the family farm is pretty spot on. I will say I had my doubts about whether I would like Jacob's parents but they turned out to be decent folks(that's as close to a spoiler in that area that you are going to get from me😉😉).
I really won't speak too much on other little factors seeing as this story partially coincides with Goal Line(Harrisburg #6) and I don't want to spoil anything for those who haven't read that one yet. I'll just add that Ryker is a tale with engaging characters, lovely settings, and the right blend of drama and romance. If asked whether you need to read Harrisburg Railers first my answer would be probably not. However, if you are asking what I would personally recommend then I say read that series first. As I said, this story partially coincides with Goal Line but plot wise you don't have to know the Railers individual stories to enjoy this spin-off but there are mentions of team members and I just think the atmosphere as a whole flows better knowing all their journeys but you won't be lost if you start with Ryker.
Blogger Note:
There is not as much hockey details in this one as in the Harrisburg Railers series but there is enough that I feel this blogger note needs to be added to this review as well. I feel the need to mention that I am NOT a hockey fan. I don't dislike it but if all the hockey arenas in the world were to disappear tomorrow, I would not miss the sport. But also as with the Harrisburg Railers, I think my non-love of the sport and my love of the series says more to the authors' talents than anything I can come up with. They manage to write the story with just enough hockey lingo with the ins-and-outs of the game for the reader not to be lost and yet doesn't make the non-fan feel talked down to all while bringing us a lovely entertaining romance.
RATING:
Saturday's Series Spotlight: Harrisburg Railers
RJ’s goal is to write stories with a heart of romance, a troubled road to reach happiness, and most importantly, that hint of a happily ever after.
RJ is the author of the over one hundred novels and discovered romance in books at a very young age. She realized that if there wasn’t romance on the page, she could create it in her head, and is a lifelong writer.
She lives and works out of her home in the beautiful English countryside, spends her spare time reading, watching films, and enjoying time with her family.
The last time she had a week’s break from writing she didn’t like it one little bit and has yet to meet a bottle of wine she couldn’t defeat.
She’s always thrilled to hear from readers, bloggers and other writers. Please contact via the following links below.
V.L. Locey loves worn jeans, yoga, belly laughs, reading and writing lusty tales, Greek mythology, the New York Rangers, comic books, and coffee. (Not necessarily in that order.) She shares her life with her husband, her daughter, two dogs, two cats, a flock of assorted domestic fowl, and three Jersey steers.
When not writing spicy romances, she enjoys spending her day with her menagerie in the rolling hills of Pennsylvania with a cup of fresh java in hand. She can also be found online on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and GoodReads.
RJ Scott
BOOKBUB / KOBO / SMASHWORDS
EMAIL: rj@rjscott.co.uk
VL Locey
Ryker #1
B&N / KOBO / SMASHWORDS
Harrisburg Railers Series
B&N / KOBO / SMASHWORDS
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