Desert Dreams by RJ Scott & V.L. Locey

When danger stalks their new home, it’s only their strength as a couple that keeps them safe.

Ryker misses Jacob every day he’s away. At the start of a new Raptors season with everything to play for, Jacob, the desert ranch, and their small menagerie of animals have become an oasis of peace in a turbulent world. He’s never ridden a horse, he’s never considered how much this place would mean to him, but suddenly he’s forming a connection with a mare called Tops and loving every moment of this new life. Balancing hockey with his love for Jacob, he feels that nothing can ever go wrong.

With his life finally on track, Jacob is pouring all of himself into the dream he shares with Ryker. Putting the final touches on Mountain Vista Ranch, a halfway home for troubled LGBTQ youth and their families, fills his heart with pride. When their first clients arrive, he finds himself drawn to the small family and their plight. Little does he or Ryker know that the darkness the newcomers have fled from is following them.

Don’t miss our reviews of other books in the Owatonna U Hockey series!
For book one, Ryker, click HERE.
For book two, Scott, click HERE.
For book three, Benoit, click HERE.
For book five, Valentine's Hearts, click HERE.

 

 

Book 6
Buy Links

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~  Also Available with KindleUnlimited  ~

 

 

“This is Max.” Jacob held the phone out to me. “He looks like a happy kid,” Jacob murmured.

I glanced at my husband to see the light in his eyes. One day he might want kids—surrogacy, adoption, somehow, we’d be extending our family—and how could we do that if I was traded up to Montreal or Vancouver and he was here in Arizona?

“He’s the best.” Jack beamed. “All four of the kids ride, and because of Max we have a horse therapy program for children at the D.”

Of course, they did, because Jack clearly had a grip on his life and could work magic, and managed to have his whole world on an even keel.

“We’re uncles,” Jacob said proudly. “Show Jack a photo.” He looked at me pointedly.

I could see the tension bracketing his eyes. I was fucking up, and he’d been planning for this visit for weeks. After all, it had been Jack’s Legacy Ranch that had inspired Jacob.

“Sorry, yeah.” I scrolled to a picture of little Charlotte on my cell, my heart swelling with love at seeing her cheeky smile, and showing Jack who made all the right noises, and called her hella cute. She was hella cute, and in that particular photo, she was in a tiny Raptors shirt that I’d sent to Dad and Ten.

“I’m actually kind of her big brother, Jacob’s like an uncle, but biologically—it’s complicated.”

“Life always is.” Jack laughed. “And that’s your team?” he asked, smiling at me, waiting for me to give the best answer I could think of.

“Yeah, the Arizona Raptors, in Arizona.” Duh. The fuck, Ryker?

“I never get that.” Jack wrinkled his nose. “I get ice in Canada, that’s perfectly okay, I mean, it’s cold. But we have a team in Dallas, you know them, yeah?”

“There are only thirty-two teams, so we play them.” Jeez, way to sound condescending.

Jack shook his head. “Ice. In Dallas. Makes as much sense as ice in Arizona.”

 

 

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Sarah – ☆☆☆☆☆
I love the little Jacob and Ryker interludes to the Rebels/Railers/Owatonna series. This is a short, sweet moment where we get to see Jacob and Ryker welcome the first guests to their ranch.

Jacob and Ryker feel like proper grownups in this book but they’re just as wonderful together as they always have been. There is a little bit of comedy from Stan and a surprise appearance by Jack Campbell-Hayes. Add a tiny bit of hockey drama and this very short novella is complete.

The ranch has been set up to support vulnerable members of the LGBT, so it isn’t a surprise that the first family to arrive tugs at our heartstrings. I love seeing Jacob grow in confidence at the ranch and I love both Jacob and Ryder with their first guests. This is an easy, satisfying read that fans of all three interlinked series will enjoy. New readers need to start at the very beginning with the first Harrisburg Railers story.


Veronica – ☆☆☆☆
I was so happy to be spending more time with Jacob and Ryker. Newly married, they are living on a ranch in Arizona, preparing it as a haven to troubled LGBTQ youth and their families. Given what Jacob and Ryker have been through, you’d forgive them for taking time for themselves, but this is what they want to do.

The very first people to stay at their farm are teen David and his family, escaping domestic violence and it brings danger to the ranch. Enter Maksim, a Russian security expert courtesy of their friend Stan. He is charming and entertaining, and he made me chuckle. Maksim's unique ways, together with some lovely romantic moments between Ryker and Jacob, provide some light to this story that deals with some heavy subject matter.

What David and his family are going through is awful and it made for difficult reading at times. But this story was worth it to get to the epilogue, which I adored and had me crying happy tears. A big thank you to the authors for continuing this series so we can spend more time with the characters we love.


Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
This is the sixth book in the series and, if like me, you are a big fan of this series, and those interconnecting ones written by this talented duo of authors, you will be very happy on the catch ups as well as the story itself.

It is so lovely to see that Jacob and Ryker now have their plans of a safe haven ranch turning into reality in the Arizona desert. They may be married, older, and more responsible, but still, they have a lovely joy of life and uncertainty of youth – it is utterly understandable and very endearing. They are true to themselves, and deeply invested in being the best they can be for each other and in their chosen roles in life.

I loved the humour drawn from the animals of the desert, as well as those on the ranch itself. It helped to counteract the very serious issues raised by the family in need which comes to stay. It also provided a haven for Ryker from the intensity of the ice hockey arena.

There are some wonderful cameos, but no one will be surprised to know that Stan makes the biggest impression!

 

 

USA Today bestselling author RJ SCOTT has written over one hundred romance books. Emotional stories of complicated characters, cowboys, single dads, hockey players, millionaires, princes, bodyguards, Navy SEALs, soldiers, doctors, paramedics, firefighters, cops, and the men who get mixed up in their lives, always with a happy ever after.

She lives just outside London and spends every waking minute she isn’t with family either reading or writing. The last time she had a week’s break from writing, she didn’t like it one little bit, and she has yet to meet a box of chocolates she couldn’t defeat.

Connect with RJ

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Instagram  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads
Facebook Group: RJ Scott – Special Secret Group

 

USA Today bestselling author V.L. LOCEY – Penning LGBT hockey romance that skates into sinful pleasures.

V.L. Locey loves worn jeans, yoga, belly laughs, walking, reading and writing lusty tales, Greek mythology, Torchwood and Doctor Who, the New York Rangers, comic books, and coffee. (Not necessarily in that order.) She shares her life with her husband, her daughter, one dog, two cats, a pair of geese, far too many chickens, and two 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 one hand and a steamy romance novel in the other.

Connect with V.L.

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Instagram  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads
Facebook Group: Vicki’s Vixens

 

 

ARC provided by

Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Desert Dreams (Owatonna U Hockey #6) by RJ Scott & V.L. Locey to read and review for this tour.

Valentine's Hearts by RJ Scott & V.L. Locey Release Blitz

Will broken hearts replace the wedding they dreamed of?

Ryker's heart has space for three things—his family, hockey, and Jacob. As their wedding grows closer, it seems that nothing can stand in the way of an idyllic celebration, surrounded by friends and loved ones. But things appear to be changing; Jacob is forging a future that might take him away from Ryker, and Ryker alternates between pride and fear when a new man comes into his fiancé's life. A hockey season from hell has him doubting his life choices, but worse, he's driving Jacob into another man's arms. How has their perfect life suddenly gone so wrong?

Life has certainly thrown many twists and turns in Jacob's path. Most of the goals he’d set for himself as a teenager had to change, but one has remained constant: finding his heart's desire and marrying him. That aspiration was reached when Ryker said, "I do." Planning their wedding was meant to be the best time of their lives, but Jacob unwittingly puts his trust in the wrong man and finds himself in danger. Is their love strong enough to survive the fallout?

Don’t miss our reviews of other books in the Owatonna U Hockey series!
For book one, Ryker, click HERE.
For book two, Scott, click HERE.
For book three, Benoit, click HERE.

 

 

Book 5
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
Smashwords

 

 

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Sarah – ☆☆☆☆☆
I’m not a wedding fan. I’m definitely not a Valentine’s Day fan. Even though I felt committed to reading Ryker and Jacob’s wedding story, I was expecting at least a little bit of sentimental schmaltz. The darker elements in this story were a very welcome surprise. I love this book. The books in the three series leading up to this book have made me laugh, cheer, and sometimes hold my breath in suspense. This is the only one that has made me ugly cry.

I don’t want to reveal any spoilers. Ryker starts this book as a bit of a bridezilla who is losing his form on the ice. It’s not Ryker at his best – but it is definitely Ryker at his most vulnerable. And while Ryker is in full blown angst mode, Jacob is quietly becoming more and more stressed by the seemingly impossible demands of his pushy boss.

Jacob has always faded into the background in this series, but this is his book. He’s wonderful. Like Ryker, we see Jacob at his most vulnerable here. We also see his dogged resilience.

Brought together by a crisis, this book allows Ryker and Jacob to demonstrate the strength of their connection without any sentimental schmaltz at all. This is a beautiful short story and I love the way the author even manages to mention Jack Campbell-Hayes at the end.


Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
This is the fifth book in this much loved series – and I would recommend that you look at the interlinking series (Arizona Raptors and Harrisburg Railers) and decide where you want to start, there is so much goodness for you to discover if these hockey romances are new to you. For fans of RJ Scott, there is an additional treat at the very end, as the Texas series gets a nod too!

Jacob and Ryker are looking forward to their wedding, but with very different budgets in mind. Jacob is now working in research, and living with Ryker, but his memories of losing the family farm due to lack of funds makes spending a fortune on a celebration feel all wrong. Add in a demanding boss wanting Jacob's attention and Ryker lacking success on the ice, and the men are not in the happy place that we like to think of them.

Whilst Charlie helps Ryker sort his head out, Jacob suffers a horrible incident, which is heart-breaking and upsetting. I felt it was clearly signposted to us, and so though awful, that somehow helped me prepare. It was really carefully dealt with, and everyone came together to support them both.

The wedding was fabulous and I am sure that you will enjoy how everyone contributes to make it special. A moving story, thank you to both Scott and Locey.


Veronica – ☆☆☆☆
I was so looking forward to spending more time with Jacob and Ryker, expecting some Valentine’s fun. What I got was tension and buckets of angst. Jacob’s new job is putting demands on his time, making it hard for the men to spend time together, and Ryker doesn’t trust Jacob’s new boss.

I was so worried for Ryker and Jacob. I couldn’t see an easy way to resolve the issues they were facing. Unfortunately, a terrible event puts their issues on the back burner and makes what the men had been arguing over less important. The twist in Valentine’s Hearts was so hard to read and had me in tears.

I won’t give away the ending, but I will say it felt a little simplistic even if I was happy by the end. Valentine’s Hearts is a difficult read at times, but I was still happy to be spending time with Jacob and Ryker and I hope we get to see them again.

 

 

RJ SCOTT is a USA Today bestselling author of over 140 romance and suspense novels. From bodyguards to hockey stars, princes to millionaires, cowboys to military heroes to every-day heroes, she believes that love is love and every man deserves a happy ending.

Connect with RJ

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Instagram  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads
Facebook Group: RJ Scott - Special Secret Group

 

 

USA Today bestselling author V.L. LOCEY – Penning LGBT hockey romance that skates into sinful pleasures.

V.L. Locey loves worn jeans, yoga, belly laughs, walking, reading and writing lusty tales, Greek mythology, Torchwood and Doctor Who, the New York Rangers, comic books, and coffee. (Not necessarily in that order.) She shares her life with her husband, her daughter, one dog, two cats, a pair of geese, far too many chickens, and two 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 one hand and a steamy romance novel in the other.

Connect with V.L.

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Instagram  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads
Facebook Group: Vicki’s Vixens

 

 

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Hosted by

Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Valentine's Hearts (Owatonna U Hockey #5) by RJ Scott & V.L. Locey to read and review for this tour.

Benoit by RJ Scott & V.L. Locey Blog Tour

When the lines between career and love blur, will Ethan and Ben find a way to create a future that will work for both of them?

Senior year is here, and everything is on the line. Benoit’s time to shine in the crease is now, and he’s going to do everything he can to make sure those professional scouts take notice. He’s earned a great reputation for his skills in the net, and his laid-back demeanor is his key to maintaining his cool when things get heated in the goal crease.

As the Eagles roar into a new season, Ben’s laser-sharp focus is shattered by his attraction to Ethan Girard, the team’s new defensive consultant. Trying his best to ignore the budding friendship that’s taking a hard, fast turn into something far more passionate, Ben is determined to keep his mind on the sport he loves and not let his feelings for the handsome older man creep into his performance. But love, like hockey, is wildly unpredictable, and soon Ben finds that he’s unable to distance himself from Ethan who is slowly and surely working himself into his heart.

Famed Boston defenseman, Ethan Girard, isn’t stupid. Celebrating his thirty-second birthday in the emergency room after breaking his leg, and with a warning that healing will be a long process, he knows he has to think about his future. He was drafted at eighteen, and he’s never known anything but hockey, but with no contract in place yet for the new season he considers that maybe it’s time for him to hang up his skates for good.

Volunteering to help out with the Owatonna Eagles fills his time, but from the moment he lays eyes on goalie Ben, he knows his world will never be the same again. Falling in lust is as easy as stealing his first kiss, but Ben refuses to engage. Has Ethan finally met his match?

Book 3
Buy Links

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B&N  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Veronica – ☆☆☆☆
Benoit is the final book in the Owatonna U Hockey series, and it is my favourite of the three books. The last few weeks I’ve been struggling with reading more than half an hour at a time but when I picked up Benoit and started reading, I read for several hours straight and got halfway through the book before I even realised it.

Benoit and Ethan are a wonderful couple. I’m not always a fan of big age gaps in my romance novels but the 10 years between Ethan and Benoit didn’t seem to matter. Actually, having Ethan at the end of his hockey career and Benoit looking to start, I actually think helped their relationship because they were really in sync. I loved the way Ethan supported Benoit as he struggled with managing his busy final year at college, hockey, friends, family, and romance, and the appearance of a stalker.

I loved that this story includes characters from the previous books as well as the Railers hockey team. I was thrilled to get to see more of the men of previous book I’ve already fallen in love with. Other things I loved about this story include Benoit’s routine with the ice, which was so cute, and the way the authors describe the hockey games, which was really exciting.

I didn’t want the book to finish because I just wanted to stay with the characters from this series. I was over the moon to see that there will be a spinoff series – Raptors – which has the first book due out in September. I can’t wait.


Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
This is the third in the series, and I would recommend that you read them in order – really just because they are so good, why would you not? Fans will enjoy meeting Harrisburg Railers players too!

Benoit needs to succeed in school and be picked up in hockey, so he works extra hard and concentrates on his future. Now in his last year, he absolutely has to perform at his best, which means no distractions. Of course, one appears, and Ben is really not prepared to miss out on at least a friendship with Ethan. This cautious, measured view is deeply at odds with the chemistry they feel, but both men are very aware of who they are, where they are, and what their priorities must be.

As the story unfolds, we get plenty of exciting hockey, plenty of team dynamics, and the start of something big – perfect escapism at its best.


Sarah – ☆☆☆☆
Benoit’s book brings the series back to hockey. Benoit is talented, driven, and just a little bit mad. Like all the best goalies. And while Benoit is on the cusp of a brilliant career, Ethan is coming to terms with the end of his.

I really love the connection between Benoit and Ethan. Benoit is all stress and tension at the start of this story. Family responsibilities weigh heavily and he doesn’t allow himself a life beyond hockey. At 32, Ethan hasn’t ever allowed himself a life beyond hockey so despite the age difference, the connection between them terrifies both men equally.

Benoit’s shared house pulls characters from previous books into the story and Ethan’s connection to characters in the Railers books pulls in even more characters. The result is a book that feels comfortable and familiar. There’s a little bit of dramatic suspense in this story which is new to both series – and I think it works really well.

Benoit’s experiences as a black athlete are pretty grim but news headlines continue to highlight the racism experienced by too many athletes. I really like the way the authors introduce this theme and I love the strength we see in Benoit’s character.

Between the suspense and Benoit’s high stress, high pressure personality, this book isn’t quite as funny or as light as some of the previous books. Ethan is a more easy-going character but he’s working through some pretty big issues of his own. But Ethan and Benoit are both pretty wonderful and I really enjoyed this story.

Also Available in the Owatonna U Hockey Series

Book 1
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
B&N  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo

For reviews & more info, check out our stop on the Ryker Blog Tour.

Book 2
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
B&N  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo

For reviews & more info, check out our stop on the Scott Blog Tour.

USA Today bestselling author RJ Scott writes stories with a heart of romance, a troubled road to reach happiness, and most importantly, a happily ever after.

RJ Scott is the author of over one hundred romance books, writing emotional stories of complicated characters, cowboys, millionaire, princes, and the men who get mixed up in their lives. RJ is known for writing books that always end with a happy ever after. She lives just outside London and spends every waking minute she isn’t with family either reading or writing.

The last time she had a week’s break from writing she didn’t like it one little bit, and she has yet to meet a bottle of wine she couldn’t defeat.

She’s always thrilled to hear from readers, bloggers and other writers.

Connect with RJ

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Instagram  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads
RJ Scott’s Facebook Group

USA Today bestselling author V.L. Locey – Penning LGBT hockey romance that skates into sinful pleasures.

V.L. Locey loves worn jeans, yoga, belly laughs, walking, reading and writing lusty tales, Greek mythology, Torchwood and Doctor Who, the New York Rangers, comic books, and coffee. (Not necessarily in that order.) She shares her life with her husband, her daughter, one dog, two cats, a pair of geese, far too many chickens, and two 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 one hand and a steamy romance novel in the other.

Connect with V.L.

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Instagram  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads
Vicki’s Vixens Facebook Group

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Hosted by

Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Benoit (Owatonna U Hockey #3) by RJ Scott & V.L. Locey to read and review for this tour.

Scott by RJ Scott & V.L. Locey Blog Tour

What happens when you try to fix the past and end up threatening your future?

Scott is struggling. Grieving the loss of his brother, carrying the weight of his father’s expectations, and getting his ass kicked in the rink, he’s in a downward spiral. He needs a solution and fast, but when his steroid use is exposed, he’s close to losing his place at Owatonna and more importantly, on the Eagles Hockey team. Thrown out of his house, with nowhere to go and no future in sight, he only has one choice; agree to mandatory counseling, random drug tests, and get his act together. Only then will he have a chance at normal. Meeting Hayne, a senior connected to the world through his art, is a shock to the system. Moving in with him is his only option, but falling for the shy artist leaves Scott in an impossible situation, and one he can’t escape.

Hayne has always been that quiet, creative kid who sat in the back of class drawing instead of listening to the teacher. A talented artist, the shy and sensitive young man is struggling with the loss of his childhood friend. Seeing his sadness reflected in his usually colorful paintings, he decides to attend grief counseling and meets Scott, a lost soul in desperate need of light and color in his life. Taking in a homeless hockey player certainly was never part of his carefully orchestrated ten-year plan. But now that Scott is in his life, he’s discovering the joy of this man’s loving smile and tender touch is one of the most beautiful palettes on earth.

Book 2
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
B&N  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Veronica – ☆☆☆☆
College hockey player Scott’s self-destructive behaviour has his world imploding. He loses the plot on the ice, punches his best mate, confesses to his coach that he is on steroids. Hayne is an artist and an art major. He has a lovely, giving soul and he is full of emotion and generosity. As a reader that knows nothing about art, seeing Hayne’s passion and enthusiasm for painting was exciting. I’d never read a character like Hayne before, he is enchanting.

At first glance, Scott isn’t the most likely hero with his life all upside down but Hayne see Scott in a different light. It wasn’t long before I was seeing Scott in a different light too, I wanted to take care of him. This is a romance about two young men who are very different but fit together perfectly. Their romance is beautiful, and I loved seeing them look after each other and at a time in their lives when everything around them was changing.

This story is a good example of why I am so enamoured with m/m hockey romances. It is simply lovely.


Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆☆
This is the second book in the series – and is a really good addition to the family of stories by this talented duet of authors. I would recommend that you read the first book in the series, and even better the Harrisburg Railers books, which links through to this series.

I do warn you that you will need to have a tissue or two to hand! And maybe not for the reasons you might initially expect. A beautiful, tough, and sweet story unfolds through this book, and much like Hayne's painting style, it is by turns frantic, frenetic, and colourful, but then slow, and grey and dark.

Whatever you do, do not be put off by the unlikely star, who does little to make us like him in the first chapter. Be patient, allow the story to be told, and whilst there may be no good reason for that action, mercy is a human trait that should never be forgotten.

I plan on reading this book again, it has many beautiful parts which will bring light and hope to a dull day. Thank you, RJ Scott and V.L. Locey once again.


Sarah – ☆☆☆☆
This was a lovely surprise. Not quite the hockey romance I was expecting, it’s the story of a student who has to rebuild his life when he is given a one-year ban from hockey. Hayne is Scott’s unlikely hero. The athlete and the artist soon find they have more in common than either would ever have expected.

This is a heavier read than I expected. It is grief that initially brings Hayne and Scott together and the boys’ experiences and emotions feel very raw and very real. Other darker themes also weave through the story. So while the connection between Hayne and Scott feels very sweet and almost innocent, this is a pretty gritty read at times.

I love the connection between Hayne and Scott. They balance each other beautifully and their college romance is wonderful. This is the second book in this series, but it is the first one with a real focus on university life beyond hockey. I love the characters and I’m eager for several characters to get their own books.

Also Available in the Owatonna U Hockey Series

Book 1
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
B&N  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo

For reviews & more info, check out our stop on the Ryker Blog Tour.

USA Today bestselling author RJ Scott writes stories with a heart of romance, a troubled road to reach happiness, and most importantly, a happily ever after.

RJ Scott is the author of over one hundred romance books, writing emotional stories of complicated characters, cowboys, millionaire, princes, and the men who get mixed up in their lives. RJ is known for writing books that always end with a happy ever after. She lives just outside London and spends every waking minute she isn’t with family either reading or writing.

The last time she had a week’s break from writing she didn’t like it one little bit, and she has yet to meet a bottle of wine she couldn’t defeat.

She’s always thrilled to hear from readers, bloggers and other writers.

Connect with RJ

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Instagram  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads
RJ Scott’s Facebook Group

USA Today bestselling author V.L. Locey – Penning LGBT hockey romance that skates into sinful pleasures.

V.L. Locey loves worn jeans, yoga, belly laughs, walking, reading and writing lusty tales, Greek mythology, Torchwood and Doctor Who, the New York Rangers, comic books, and coffee. (Not necessarily in that order.) She shares her life with her husband, her daughter, one dog, two cats, a pair of geese, far too many chickens, and two 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 one hand and a steamy romance novel in the other.

Connect with V.L.

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Instagram  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads
Vicki’s Vixens Facebook Group

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Hosted by

Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Scott (Owatonna U Hockey #2) by RJ Scott & V.L. Locey to read and review for this tour.

Ryker by RJ Scott & V.L. Locey Blog Tour

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?

This New Adult book is the first in the Owatonna U Series, a spin off from the best selling Harrisburg Railers Hockey Series.

Book 1
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
B&N  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆☆
4.5 stars rounded up for a great decision to have a new series linked to the Railers!

This is an absolutely excellent read – and such a brilliant idea to follow the next generation of hockey stars following a Ryker, whose father and lover featured in the Railers’ series (which you should definitely read if you haven't). Having the dynasty in place, and the fact that they had been open about their sexuality, makes this a much less tense read for the wrong reasons and a great read for the right ones.

Although this is set in college days, I would say that many issues are as adult as in any book, but some of the preconceptions are more relevant to youth. Jacob's anger at Ryker's being handed everything on a plate – and Ryker's lack of awareness that this was an issue. It was thanks to that innocence that the future relationship seemed much more real and grounded. It was also a great lesson in differing priorities and wants.

Jacob may have had a hardworking, simple life, but he recognises his obligations to the family ranch and that hockey will pay for him to study and improve the farm. His devotion and dedication to both his parents, his heritage, and his future is inspiring and courageous. It is lovely to see how his relationship with his father grows through the book.

I definitely recommend this book to you – as an enjoyable and hopeful book of two young men who overcome their preconceptions and form a strong bond. I look forward to Scott's story.


Veronica – ☆☆☆☆
Jacob and Ryker come from very different backgrounds. We have a chance to get to know each of them before they meet and I liked both men. Jacob comes from a farming background that struggles with money and has had to work for everything in life and Ryker comes from a hockey family with money and seems to have it all.

Jacob does not react well to Ryker’s wealth and comparative easy life when they first meet at a training camp and end up roommates. I didn’t like Jacob’s jealous judgment of Ryker but because we’d already been introduced to Jacob I understood where he was coming from, even though I didn’t agree with his position. I enjoyed the way Ryker was so interested in Jacob and persistent in getting to know him.

Both men face making decisions about their lives that will affect their futures and I think the authors did an excellent job of portraying two college guys trying to juggle school, romance, hockey, and work responsibilities.

The ups and downs of this romance had my emotions going in all different directions. I wanted these guys to get it together. As is often the case, the harder our heroes struggle to reach the happy ending, the sweeter it is and that is definitely true in this case. When the story came to an end, I felt like it was just the beginning and there would be more to their story. I love Ryker and I very much hope that the authors write further stories about Ryker and Jacob so we can see where their lives go from here.


Sarah – ☆☆☆☆☆
I loved this book! The first story in this new Harrisburg Railers spinoff series belongs to Jared’s son Ryker and his college hockey career. I love the characters in this story and I love the way the new series weaves around the Railers books.

Ryker is fabulous. He’s privileged and loved and so close to perfect that I really wanted to hate him. But he’s also kind and humble and dealing with the pressure of an enormous family legacy. Interestingly, it is Jacob – with the massive chip on his shoulder – who I struggled to warm to. Dedicated and driven, Jacob is quick to judge and he keeps himself apart from the other players. Ryker and Jacob are wonderful together. They have brilliant chemistry, but they are also friends and teammates. I love the intensity of their new adult emotions.

This book is full of everything I love about new adult romance. I love the boys’ dreams, their ambitions, and their sense of potential. I love the intensity of their emotions and the way they wrestle with their identities.

When I requested this story, I didn’t realise it was a spinoff from the Harrisburg Railers books. It starts before the most recent Railers book and I anxiously held my breath through the first three quarters, hoping to learn more about the huge twist at the end of the last book. Sadly, this book doesn’t take readers much further in the Railers timeline, but we do get to see things from a different perspective.

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.

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V.L. Locey loves worn jeans, yoga, belly laughs, Doctor Who, Torchwood, walking, 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, one dog, two cats, two Jersey steers and a flock of assorted domestic fowl.

When not writing lusty tales, she can be found enjoying her day with her menagerie in the rolling hills of Pennsylvania with a cup of fresh java in hand.

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Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Ryker (Owatonna U Hockey #1) by R.J. Scott & V.L. Locey to read and review for this tour.