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Arizona Raptors #1
Von Küste zu Küste
Als Gegensätze sich anziehen, wird dieses Team von ganz unten in der Liga nie wieder so sein wie zuvor.
Eine Bedingung im Testament seines Vaters zwingt Mark zurück in die Arme einer Familie, die ihn verstoßen hat und macht ihn zu einem Drittel zum Eigentümer eines Hockeyteams, das kurz vor dem finanziellen Ruin steht. Er schaut sich Hockey nicht einmal an, mag es auch nicht und will nichts mehr, als wieder zurück nach New York zu gehen. Dann ist da noch der neue Coach, ein sturer, eigensinniger, irritierender Mann mit einem Überlegenheitskomplex und fragwürdigem Musikgeschmack. Sich mit Rowen anzulegen, wird zur neuen Normalität, aber dazu kommen auch leidenschaftliche Diskussionen und eine alles verschlingende Lust.
Als ihm angeboten wird, eines der schlechtesten Teams der Liga zu einem zukünftigen Mitbewerber um den Cup umzubauen, kann Rowen sich diese Gelegenheit nicht entgehen lassen. Noch nie in seinen zwanzig Jahren Hockey hat er ein Team gesehen, das so schlecht geführt wurde oder Spieler, die so voller Feindseligkeit und Engstirnigkeit sind. Aber etwas an diesem Team und dieser Stadt überzeugt ihn, seine Ärmel hochzukrempeln und anzufangen, alles auseinanderzunehmen. Wenn nur Mark, einer der drei Geschwister, denen die Raptors jetzt gehören, nicht so verdammt stur und doch so verdammt reizvoll wäre, könnte sein Job leichter sein. Es sieht nicht so aus, als ob einer von beiden nachgeben möchte, aber eine Nacht in einem dunklen, abseits gelegenen Hotel verändert alles.
Da viele LeserInnen wohl keine eingefleischten Hockey-Fans sind, habe ich hier eine kleine Sammlung der Hockey-Begriffe, die in diesem Buch vorkommen. Eventuelle Fehler oder Ungenauigkeiten bitte ich zu entschuldigen.
Eine Bedingung im Testament seines Vaters zwingt Mark zurück in die Arme einer Familie, die ihn verstoßen hat und macht ihn zu einem Drittel zum Eigentümer eines Hockeyteams, das kurz vor dem finanziellen Ruin steht. Er schaut sich Hockey nicht einmal an, mag es auch nicht und will nichts mehr, als wieder zurück nach New York zu gehen. Dann ist da noch der neue Coach, ein sturer, eigensinniger, irritierender Mann mit einem Überlegenheitskomplex und fragwürdigem Musikgeschmack. Sich mit Rowen anzulegen, wird zur neuen Normalität, aber dazu kommen auch leidenschaftliche Diskussionen und eine alles verschlingende Lust.
Als ihm angeboten wird, eines der schlechtesten Teams der Liga zu einem zukünftigen Mitbewerber um den Cup umzubauen, kann Rowen sich diese Gelegenheit nicht entgehen lassen. Noch nie in seinen zwanzig Jahren Hockey hat er ein Team gesehen, das so schlecht geführt wurde oder Spieler, die so voller Feindseligkeit und Engstirnigkeit sind. Aber etwas an diesem Team und dieser Stadt überzeugt ihn, seine Ärmel hochzukrempeln und anzufangen, alles auseinanderzunehmen. Wenn nur Mark, einer der drei Geschwister, denen die Raptors jetzt gehören, nicht so verdammt stur und doch so verdammt reizvoll wäre, könnte sein Job leichter sein. Es sieht nicht so aus, als ob einer von beiden nachgeben möchte, aber eine Nacht in einem dunklen, abseits gelegenen Hotel verändert alles.
Da viele LeserInnen wohl keine eingefleischten Hockey-Fans sind, habe ich hier eine kleine Sammlung der Hockey-Begriffe, die in diesem Buch vorkommen. Eventuelle Fehler oder Ungenauigkeiten bitte ich zu entschuldigen.
251 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 29, 2019
318 people are currently reading
720 people want to read
About the author
R.J. Scott
306 books2,707 followersRJ Scott writes heartwarming, passionate MM/gay romance stories where every man finds his happily ever after. When not writing, she enjoys reading books, watching movies, spending time with her family, following Formula 1 (Forza Ferrari!), and cheering on the Pittsburgh Penguins. Email her here: rj@rjscott.co.uk
Find RJ here: Amazon | BookBub | Facebook - Also, Never miss a release
Find RJ here: Amazon | BookBub | Facebook - Also, Never miss a release
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 188 reviews
October 6, 2019
** Not an ARC review** UGH. Sadly, this was a DNF. I can't remember an RJS book with a character I disliked so much. Mark was an absolute sexist, judgemental, snobby, arrogant, tool. I found zero reason for Rowen to feel affection for Mark, let alone fall in love with him.
As a side note, I'm not sure where all these books with families that toss their kids out on their ass when they are underage keep cropping up with trying to garner sympathy for the family as though the kid tossed out owes them forgiveness, understanding and a chance to explain. Sorry, not buying it. Mark owed his family exactly nothing and that they were "hurt" that he wouldn't give them a chance is ridiculous.
Finally, if Mark's dad hated him so much why, why on earth, would he stipulate the terms of that will? What would be the end game here? That loose thread just distracted me too much.
As a side note, I'm not sure where all these books with families that toss their kids out on their ass when they are underage keep cropping up with trying to garner sympathy for the family as though the kid tossed out owes them forgiveness, understanding and a chance to explain. Sorry, not buying it. Mark owed his family exactly nothing and that they were "hurt" that he wouldn't give them a chance is ridiculous.
Finally, if Mark's dad hated him so much why, why on earth, would he stipulate the terms of that will? What would be the end game here? That loose thread just distracted me too much.
September 18, 2019
RJ and VL kick off their latest ice hockey series with a rollercoaster of a ride filled with sharp dialogue and a pair of men who couldn't be more different if they tried.
This is an offshoot of the Raiders and Owatonna series' so there's familiar faces as well as new editions to the roster and I loved them all
Mark is prickly, forced to survive on his own aged just 16, he's forged a successful career and doesn't need the family who failed to support him.
Rowen had a promising professional ice hockey future ahead of him until an undiscovered condition forced him into early retirement.
There's miscommunication between them from the off, but the sparks fly just as hard and neither can deny the attraction.
I loved how much they butted heads while also unconsciously supporting the other through the turbulence of a team that's on the edge of collapse.
This isn't an overly steamy romance, they burn up the sheets a time or two but most is referenced in passing.
Events occur which I won't spoil, but let's just say I'm a vicious bitch who wanted far far worse for one particular #$#@%% defender than he actually gets.
I can't wait to read more about the team the rest of this ice hockey world loves to hate!
#ARC kindly received from the author in return for an honest and unbiased review.
This is an offshoot of the Raiders and Owatonna series' so there's familiar faces as well as new editions to the roster and I loved them all
Mark is prickly, forced to survive on his own aged just 16, he's forged a successful career and doesn't need the family who failed to support him.
Rowen had a promising professional ice hockey future ahead of him until an undiscovered condition forced him into early retirement.
There's miscommunication between them from the off, but the sparks fly just as hard and neither can deny the attraction.
I loved how much they butted heads while also unconsciously supporting the other through the turbulence of a team that's on the edge of collapse.
This isn't an overly steamy romance, they burn up the sheets a time or two but most is referenced in passing.
Events occur which I won't spoil, but let's just say I'm a vicious bitch who wanted far far worse for one particular #$#@%% defender than he actually gets.
I can't wait to read more about the team the rest of this ice hockey world loves to hate!
#ARC kindly received from the author in return for an honest and unbiased review.
October 22, 2019
A new series from a duo of authors I usually enjoy ? A sport romance featuring a Hockey team ? Including age gap and opposite-attract each other ? Sounds good to me, hehehe.
After the sexy romances with minimum angst RJ Scott and VL Locey imagined with the “Harrisburg Railers”, time to switch to another hockey team with a different dynamics: The Arizona Raptors are in shambles : new owners, new staff, money issues, lack of team spirits and a sulfurous reputation.
Rowen is the new coach and Mark is the new owner. It’s quite electric between them: even before meeting, they can’t stand each other. As for their personalities, they couldn’t be more different. Clash guaranteed. But one common goal: they want to salvage the Raptors. And the chemistry between them? I was pleased.
Do not fear: even though it’s a sport romance, it’s not all about hockey; even if not a reader of the previous series, it’s a complete new series, but I was glad for some appearances of my previous book friends. As for the sexy scenes, not many but it’s “dirty” lust before more feels come in the way…I won’t complain. On the contrary, I would have been pleased with more development on that part.
I was well entertained and convinced to follow the adventures of the Raptors.
ARC of “Coast to Coast” was generously provided by the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Personal note : rounded up because I'm fond of this duo and their sport romances !!!
After the sexy romances with minimum angst RJ Scott and VL Locey imagined with the “Harrisburg Railers”, time to switch to another hockey team with a different dynamics: The Arizona Raptors are in shambles : new owners, new staff, money issues, lack of team spirits and a sulfurous reputation.
Rowen is the new coach and Mark is the new owner. It’s quite electric between them: even before meeting, they can’t stand each other. As for their personalities, they couldn’t be more different. Clash guaranteed. But one common goal: they want to salvage the Raptors. And the chemistry between them? I was pleased.
Do not fear: even though it’s a sport romance, it’s not all about hockey; even if not a reader of the previous series, it’s a complete new series, but I was glad for some appearances of my previous book friends. As for the sexy scenes, not many but it’s “dirty” lust before more feels come in the way…I won’t complain. On the contrary, I would have been pleased with more development on that part.
I was well entertained and convinced to follow the adventures of the Raptors.
ARC of “Coast to Coast” was generously provided by the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Personal note : rounded up because I'm fond of this duo and their sport romances !!!
October 6, 2019
This book begins a new hockey series (related to the Harrisburg Railers and Owattana U series) by a favorite writing duo. We previously met the Raptors as the bad guys in the NHL, the team that's out to maim when they can't win cleanly. Now the team owner is dead, and his sons (and daughter, left out of the will) are stuck with trying to salvage the team, despite problems like a contract that keeps them from getting rid of the worst thug among their players.
Rowen is the coach given the difficult task of turning this team around, and riding herd on the personalities it contains. He has several ideas, from hiring a suspended AHL goalie making a living as a metal-musician, to a sharp female assistant coach, to make that happen. And he has half a season to get the team winning, or lose his job.
Mark is the black sheep of the owner's family, the son who was thrown out at 16 for being gay, and who has built himself a successful modeling agency in the ten years since then. Mark has come back home, more to confront the family who let his father dump him out on the street than to really help them out. But he's unable to ignore in the issue of all the people who will be damaged if the team crashes, and he begins revisiting his perceptions of his mother and siblings.
And also tumbles into immediate lust for the new coach Rowen, despite doubting his ability to do the job he was hired for.
This story stands back a little bit from the hockey aspect, despite the coach being one of the MCs. The focus is more on the relationship, and on Mark and his life change from discarded, self-made, hockey-ignoring model and businessman, to someone involved with both his family and hockey. I expect the series will focus more on the team and the game in the future. Several interesting players make an appearance, from the new goalie Colorado and several of the younger players, to Ryker, up for his first season with an NHL team. I look forward to seeing them in future installments. (I was a bit sorry that we never see Ryker dealing with the issue of playing on the same team as the man who badly injured his stepfather. I wished that we got a look at Rowen both cognizant of and dealing with that tension.)
I liked Rowen a lot - he was self-confident, cared about his players, and had a dry, off-kilter sense of humor. He was willing to go out on a limb for what he thought was right, and to take a chance to improve the team. And the hate-sex start to the relationship seemed a better fit for Rowen than for Mark.
I didn't connect with Mark as much as I would have liked in this. His willingness to leap in and make trouble over everything from who the coach should be to the new goalie choice, while barely knowing that hockey has three periods, seemed arrogant and deliberately obstructionist. For a man who built up a multi-million-dollar business in ten years from nothing, we never see him engaged in that business - he cheerfully leaves everything to his second in command, despite the fact that it had to have been some amazing level of drive, charm, and personal connections that let him reach that point. He was casually sexist, despite having come up through modelling. The parts of his personality didn't add up and made him hard to empathize with, beyond the trauma of his being discarded by his family.
I did appreciate that the living members of his family were humanized, not cardboard villains. It was totally understandable that Mark would have problems being around them at first (in fact, I wouldn't have minded a little more grovelling from the brothers - they could have done far more than they did back in the day). The gradual shifting of those relationships was plausible. I didn't like the fact that none of the brothers saw the presence of Aarni - the team thug - as a problem they had to actually work to solve. There were several avenues, up to hiring a private detective to get dirt on him, that might have been tried, so their throwing up their hands felt irresponsible, particularly for Mark who saw first-hand the level of ugly going on.
The last part of the book finally creates the emotional connection that was missing between Mark and Rowen, beyond the banter and the sex. Mark shows some empathy and some responsibility, and it looks good on him. The next book looks like it will involve one of the most likable of the minor player characters, and I look forward to Alex's story, and seeing more of the players and the team.
Rowen is the coach given the difficult task of turning this team around, and riding herd on the personalities it contains. He has several ideas, from hiring a suspended AHL goalie making a living as a metal-musician, to a sharp female assistant coach, to make that happen. And he has half a season to get the team winning, or lose his job.
Mark is the black sheep of the owner's family, the son who was thrown out at 16 for being gay, and who has built himself a successful modeling agency in the ten years since then. Mark has come back home, more to confront the family who let his father dump him out on the street than to really help them out. But he's unable to ignore in the issue of all the people who will be damaged if the team crashes, and he begins revisiting his perceptions of his mother and siblings.
And also tumbles into immediate lust for the new coach Rowen, despite doubting his ability to do the job he was hired for.
This story stands back a little bit from the hockey aspect, despite the coach being one of the MCs. The focus is more on the relationship, and on Mark and his life change from discarded, self-made, hockey-ignoring model and businessman, to someone involved with both his family and hockey. I expect the series will focus more on the team and the game in the future. Several interesting players make an appearance, from the new goalie Colorado and several of the younger players, to Ryker, up for his first season with an NHL team. I look forward to seeing them in future installments. (I was a bit sorry that we never see Ryker dealing with the issue of playing on the same team as the man who badly injured his stepfather. I wished that we got a look at Rowen both cognizant of and dealing with that tension.)
I liked Rowen a lot - he was self-confident, cared about his players, and had a dry, off-kilter sense of humor. He was willing to go out on a limb for what he thought was right, and to take a chance to improve the team. And the hate-sex start to the relationship seemed a better fit for Rowen than for Mark.
I didn't connect with Mark as much as I would have liked in this. His willingness to leap in and make trouble over everything from who the coach should be to the new goalie choice, while barely knowing that hockey has three periods, seemed arrogant and deliberately obstructionist. For a man who built up a multi-million-dollar business in ten years from nothing, we never see him engaged in that business - he cheerfully leaves everything to his second in command, despite the fact that it had to have been some amazing level of drive, charm, and personal connections that let him reach that point. He was casually sexist, despite having come up through modelling. The parts of his personality didn't add up and made him hard to empathize with, beyond the trauma of his being discarded by his family.
I did appreciate that the living members of his family were humanized, not cardboard villains. It was totally understandable that Mark would have problems being around them at first (in fact, I wouldn't have minded a little more grovelling from the brothers - they could have done far more than they did back in the day). The gradual shifting of those relationships was plausible. I didn't like the fact that none of the brothers saw the presence of Aarni - the team thug - as a problem they had to actually work to solve. There were several avenues, up to hiring a private detective to get dirt on him, that might have been tried, so their throwing up their hands felt irresponsible, particularly for Mark who saw first-hand the level of ugly going on.
The last part of the book finally creates the emotional connection that was missing between Mark and Rowen, beyond the banter and the sex. Mark shows some empathy and some responsibility, and it looks good on him. The next book looks like it will involve one of the most likable of the minor player characters, and I look forward to Alex's story, and seeing more of the players and the team.
October 24, 2019
The story was poorly constructed. You can tell when an author takes their time to work with syntax, and when they push out a novel as fast as they can. This was definitely a rush job. But I could forgive all that if the characters were likeable. They weren't. They hated each other from the beginning for no real reason. "I hate him because I once dated a model!" "I hate him because he doesn't have enough coaching experience!" Real mature reasoning, guys.
Mark was histrionic and went from one extreme to the next. His backstory is ridiculous--from homeless to unbelievably rich in what, ten years? Not just rich, but rich-rich...penthouse, Lamborghini, Porsche he barely drives, owning his own modeling agency kind of rich. I don't need my trust fund or shares in the company rich. Oh, and since he has a great team in place, his agency basically runs itself. All by the ripe old age of twenty-six. Wtf? No seriously, wtf? He was homeless for about a week by the way, so now he REALLY knows hardship. Give me a break. Why not just make him older? The authors could've even moved Rowen's age too, if they were so attached to the age gap. Or just make Mark a model instead of a mogul? He could've still had all those things as a supermodel, and it would've seemed more plausible. This is what I mean when I say they took no care with the details of the story.
Mark's personality could use a face lift as well. He knows nothing about hockey, but that doesn't stop him from trying to run everything from the start. He also says some extremely misogynistic things about the team's new assistant coach. He also dresses like an aging lothario, with trousers that "show a lot of ankle" and loafers and gold jewelry. Not doing it for me on any level. Don't even get me started on the family drama or the will stipulations, this review is long enough.
Rowen comes across as arrogant and hard-nosed...that's fine, he's a hockey coach. But he also comes across as a little stupid. Instead of using the flight out to Seattle to speak to one of the new owners sitting beside him (Mark), he goes to sleep. Why not give Mark dossiers on the people you want to hire? Especially if one of them (Colorado) is controversial? He does this "my way or the highway" bit a lot, and it gets old rather quickly.
The first kiss and sexual encounters came out of nowhere. And why on Earth would they be meeting at seedy motels? Why not meet at either of their places?? The declaration of being in a relationship also came out of nowhere. The last we heard of their relationship status, they were still in a hit it and quit it situation. When Mark invited Rowen to a family dinner, I wanted to ask "why?" Are they boyfriends now? I should really know when the couple in the romance I'm reading actually get together.
There are a lot of great hockey MM books, but this is not one of them. Out of respect for those other books, I can't give this more than one star. And I'm being generous.
Mark was histrionic and went from one extreme to the next. His backstory is ridiculous--from homeless to unbelievably rich in what, ten years? Not just rich, but rich-rich...penthouse, Lamborghini, Porsche he barely drives, owning his own modeling agency kind of rich. I don't need my trust fund or shares in the company rich. Oh, and since he has a great team in place, his agency basically runs itself. All by the ripe old age of twenty-six. Wtf? No seriously, wtf? He was homeless for about a week by the way, so now he REALLY knows hardship. Give me a break. Why not just make him older? The authors could've even moved Rowen's age too, if they were so attached to the age gap. Or just make Mark a model instead of a mogul? He could've still had all those things as a supermodel, and it would've seemed more plausible. This is what I mean when I say they took no care with the details of the story.
Mark's personality could use a face lift as well. He knows nothing about hockey, but that doesn't stop him from trying to run everything from the start. He also says some extremely misogynistic things about the team's new assistant coach. He also dresses like an aging lothario, with trousers that "show a lot of ankle" and loafers and gold jewelry. Not doing it for me on any level. Don't even get me started on the family drama or the will stipulations, this review is long enough.
Rowen comes across as arrogant and hard-nosed...that's fine, he's a hockey coach. But he also comes across as a little stupid. Instead of using the flight out to Seattle to speak to one of the new owners sitting beside him (Mark), he goes to sleep. Why not give Mark dossiers on the people you want to hire? Especially if one of them (Colorado) is controversial? He does this "my way or the highway" bit a lot, and it gets old rather quickly.
The first kiss and sexual encounters came out of nowhere. And why on Earth would they be meeting at seedy motels? Why not meet at either of their places?? The declaration of being in a relationship also came out of nowhere. The last we heard of their relationship status, they were still in a hit it and quit it situation. When Mark invited Rowen to a family dinner, I wanted to ask "why?" Are they boyfriends now? I should really know when the couple in the romance I'm reading actually get together.
There are a lot of great hockey MM books, but this is not one of them. Out of respect for those other books, I can't give this more than one star. And I'm being generous.
October 12, 2019
I was so looking forward to this book and the start to a new series but for me, it was fraught with so much cliche. I mean, it’s been set up right from the start why the two men wouldn’t get along. I’d like for once, to not have one MC have a shitty ex who’s exactly like the other MC and hence have them butt heads right from the start. I get that the plot requires both men to hate each other and then against all odds, to fall in love. But it’s such a cheat to do the shitty ex trope. In my humble opinion, I mean.
I also didn’t like that they behaved more like immature children than successful men with years of experience. It felt all very shallow to me. There weren’t layers to the characters. There weren’t smart plots. In fact, I wished they had an ingenious way of sorting out the cancer of the Arizona Raptors that is Aarni Lankinen. But nope...I don’t know if that’s the last we see of him or if he’ll have a chance to redeem himself in this series.
But all in all, not the best I’ve read from these two brilliant authors and I’m rather gutted ☹️
I also didn’t like that they behaved more like immature children than successful men with years of experience. It felt all very shallow to me. There weren’t layers to the characters. There weren’t smart plots. In fact, I wished they had an ingenious way of sorting out the cancer of the Arizona Raptors that is Aarni Lankinen. But nope...I don’t know if that’s the last we see of him or if he’ll have a chance to redeem himself in this series.
But all in all, not the best I’ve read from these two brilliant authors and I’m rather gutted ☹️
July 3, 2021
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), and this is a great start to the series. We're introduced to lots of new characters (can't wait for the book about heavy metal singer / goalie bad boy Colorado Penn) and it looks like the Raptors series to going to be a helluva lot of great reading.
But ... in the midst of all this series building and character introduction, for me personally, the relationship between Rowen and Mark needs a bit more depth and development. While the hot sex at the grossly dirty motel outside of town is all kinds of omigawd, there is so much going in the book that the growth of their relationship is on the back burner through a lot of the book. However, "Coach to Coach" is a great introduction to the Arizona Raptors series and I look forward to reading more! 4 stars.
I received an ARC from the authors in exchange for an honest review.
Visit my blog, Sinfully Good Gay Book Reviews
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), and this is a great start to the series. We're introduced to lots of new characters (can't wait for the book about heavy metal singer / goalie bad boy Colorado Penn) and it looks like the Raptors series to going to be a helluva lot of great reading.
But ... in the midst of all this series building and character introduction, for me personally, the relationship between Rowen and Mark needs a bit more depth and development. While the hot sex at the grossly dirty motel outside of town is all kinds of omigawd, there is so much going in the book that the growth of their relationship is on the back burner through a lot of the book. However, "Coach to Coach" is a great introduction to the Arizona Raptors series and I look forward to reading more! 4 stars.
I received an ARC from the authors in exchange for an honest review.
Visit my blog, Sinfully Good Gay Book Reviews
September 18, 2019
Arizona Raptors, the team hated by everyone and already hit rock bottom. With the three heirs as the new owner and a new coach, will they be able to rise from the ashes. Our beloved Ryker made a few appearances, but our focus is on one Coach Rowen Carmichael and the youngest heir, Mark.
Rowen is an ambitious and no nonsense coach and he is opinionated, egoistic and domineering man, who is a total pain the ass to Mark. From their first meeting, sparks fly and they bicker relentlessly because they can't agree on anything. I enjoyed all the moment they are up on each other nose and wish they would just shut up and make kissy faces.
However, once Rowen and Mark start sleeping together, things sorta fizzle out and the romance took a back seat. The story seems to shift the focus more on the team and Mark's family drama. There was a moment when Mark invited Rowen for a family dinner, which Rowen accepted and all I feel is 'since when they are together?' in the relationship sense and not just fuck buddies. It may feel natural to them to just progress without making a big deal, but I wanted to read more of those pesky feelings that they develop for each other. There was whole load of family drama with Mark, but I didn't see him sharing it with Rowen.
Overall, I feel from the hockey POV, things are solid, but the romance was just okay. Both of them have a common goal of saving Arizona Raptors from further ruin. Rowen want to win some games and Mark need to woo some investor. There are also some clean up that need to be done to the team, especially getting rid of a certain problematic player. There are plenty of scenes that were dedicated to the game, which are engrossing and make me excited for the outcome. It may takes time, but I believe the future is bright for the Raptors.
Rowen is an ambitious and no nonsense coach and he is opinionated, egoistic and domineering man, who is a total pain the ass to Mark. From their first meeting, sparks fly and they bicker relentlessly because they can't agree on anything. I enjoyed all the moment they are up on each other nose and wish they would just shut up and make kissy faces.
However, once Rowen and Mark start sleeping together, things sorta fizzle out and the romance took a back seat. The story seems to shift the focus more on the team and Mark's family drama. There was a moment when Mark invited Rowen for a family dinner, which Rowen accepted and all I feel is 'since when they are together?' in the relationship sense and not just fuck buddies. It may feel natural to them to just progress without making a big deal, but I wanted to read more of those pesky feelings that they develop for each other. There was whole load of family drama with Mark, but I didn't see him sharing it with Rowen.
Overall, I feel from the hockey POV, things are solid, but the romance was just okay. Both of them have a common goal of saving Arizona Raptors from further ruin. Rowen want to win some games and Mark need to woo some investor. There are also some clean up that need to be done to the team, especially getting rid of a certain problematic player. There are plenty of scenes that were dedicated to the game, which are engrossing and make me excited for the outcome. It may takes time, but I believe the future is bright for the Raptors.
October 4, 2019
4.5 stars Mark is furious, his brothers who were never there for him when he got thrown out of the house by his father at sixteen, wants him to come back and help to rebuild the family ice hockey club The Raptors business. No way!
His sister convinced him to take action. And there is coach Rowen Carmichael.
Mark can’t get his eyes off the older arrogant man. Rowen can’t either. They hate each other!
But there is a business to run. Because besides the club is doing bad, there is a rotten apple who is getting uglier and dirtier.
Mark has so much anger in him, anger to his brothers, his dead father, his sick mother and last but not least hate to freaking Rowen Carmichael!
“I closed my eyes, inhaled deeply, and exorcised his highness from my mind.”
I loved both men, I loved the strong language, filthy-mouthed and snarky, witty comments. I loved the passionate ‘hate’ between them. I was so happy for Mark how it all turned out well for him at the end,
The story had a rollercoaster pace, it was entertaining and captivating. I loved the passionate way of writing!
His sister convinced him to take action. And there is coach Rowen Carmichael.
Mark can’t get his eyes off the older arrogant man. Rowen can’t either. They hate each other!
But there is a business to run. Because besides the club is doing bad, there is a rotten apple who is getting uglier and dirtier.
Mark has so much anger in him, anger to his brothers, his dead father, his sick mother and last but not least hate to freaking Rowen Carmichael!
“I closed my eyes, inhaled deeply, and exorcised his highness from my mind.”
I loved both men, I loved the strong language, filthy-mouthed and snarky, witty comments. I loved the passionate ‘hate’ between them. I was so happy for Mark how it all turned out well for him at the end,
The story had a rollercoaster pace, it was entertaining and captivating. I loved the passionate way of writing!
August 9, 2021
Watch out for Raptors on the loose.
It is a tough year for management, coaches, and players. The fans are on their own. The players are confused, the coaches unsure, and the head coach and youngest owner are playing a different game. But time will change things if the team can get rid of a bad player in time. A no trade high priced contract for a bad attitude bad boy player is not what is needed. But a cactus with a white hat and a sheriff's badge may set the example needed.
It is a tough year for management, coaches, and players. The fans are on their own. The players are confused, the coaches unsure, and the head coach and youngest owner are playing a different game. But time will change things if the team can get rid of a bad player in time. A no trade high priced contract for a bad attitude bad boy player is not what is needed. But a cactus with a white hat and a sheriff's badge may set the example needed.
November 13, 2019
The main series of the Scott and Locey hockey universe of which this is the first spin off never lacked appeal despite numerous blemishes, cardinal among them the bland execution replete with poorly-done tropes and a rather thin character drawing; unfortunately, this charm has dried up, leaving us with the barest, most dessicated bones of a story that failed to produce in me anything beyond yawns and irritated grinding of my jaws. Indeed the severely implausible plotting (among the numerous loose ends let me mention the rationale behind the one-year clause in the will; the crazy legal clauses protecting both the new coach and the bully player; the conflicting intel given on the state of the brothers' finances) conspires with the irritating stamp of the protagonists (Mark is a forever yapping Chihuahua whereas pig-headed, self-important and condescending Rowan has the finesse of a Rottweiler and not one romantic bone in his body) and poor romantic values (their journey from frenemies to committed partners is one of fits and starts with no transitions whatsoever in-between, thanks to the jumps in time the narrative indulges in for the sake of what can only have been the writers' laziness) to drag this offering into the gutter. One does not enjoy being force-fed glaring inconsistencies as is the case time and again in this book; all the more so when said discrepancies showcase the utterly contrived stamp of the plotting (we are told that teen-aged Mark has been thrown out of his home by his father because he could not be reformed from gay to straight; this estrangement was never broken by one or the other party until present times; yet Mark's father, as the owner of the local hockey team, is at the same time the unabashed sponsor of several gay charities!! aye sure, and pigs can compose music... by the same token, while Mark's only sister seems to be their father's black sheep, to the point of neither being shown on the family picture in the man's study nor receiving a cut of the family inheritance, their two other brothers really seem close to, and sympathetic towards, the woman). The authors' reliance on the über-tired convention of false assumptions on the leads' part so as to prolong their head-butting as far as possible makes for a tedious and boring read; this is particularly bothersome since both of these characters are flat, unsympathetic, and almost loathsome, particularly Rowan, whose tendency to grandstanding (his POV constantly calls Mark 'young prince', 'princely', 'princeling', 'heir', 'rich boy', and so forth!) and mock-professional stonewalling - not to mention how his bullish ways around smaller, twinkish Mark often degenerate into creepy intimidation of the weak by the strong - rob him of virtually any charm he might have possessed. Oh, and did I mention the lame as fudge dialogues or the insignificant tidbit that the 15-year gap between the two is never ever bridged by common ground, let alone explained upon - despite how unlikely it would seem for a former, 26-year old model to get insta-lust for a forty-something unsophisticated and salf-of-the-earth man, however ungrizzled Mrs Scott and Locey paint him up to be? Last but not least, instances of nigh impossible suspension of disbelief abound within these covers, from Aarni’s antics with Henry and his team mates to Mark's rags-to-riches trajectory (homeless teen at 16, multi-millionnaire owner of a model agency of three hundreds staff and meat heads by 26!). This I call immature writing as its most blatant. I shall not pick any of the upcoming instalments to this series and make richer those ladies who cynically fill up their pages with muscle-bound bullies and chicks-with-dicks in a fashion that might not have been meant to sound offensive, homophobic even, yet certainly feels so to sensitive gay men and even straight women.
September 30, 2019
4.5 stars - I have equally been looking forward and not sure I was ready for this story about the hated Raptors, the mean team in the league, and home to the player who almost took out Ten in the Harrisburg Railers series. I should not have worried though because this dream team author duo came through again in this series opener. The story is basically twofold - Rowen and his coming on board to clean up the Raptors' act; and Mark, being thrown back into the family he was thrown out of all those years ago.
Mark is a great character - forced to make his own way when his father kicked him out (while his mother and siblings stood by and watched). He went from sleeping on the streets of New York to modeling and becoming the successful owner of a modeling agency. His hostility toward the family who now needs him is completely understandable, and I loved how he held his own and that it took a while for him to give in. When he does, he grabs the bull by the horns and immerses himself in the task which puts him directly in front of the new coach, Rowen.
Rowen is equally fun to read. He is a go getter, set in his ways and take no crap attitude was refreshing and just what the doctor ordered to clean up the disease infested Raptors. Unfortunately, just as Rowen wasn't easy to get rid of, as Mark initially wanted, but so to was the festering boil of a player on the team. You just knew he was going to make more trouble before he was taken care of.
Back to Rowen and Mark - crazy chemistry, didn't want to like each other, but couldn't resist. They carried on secretly while trying to do their jobs. They were a perfect match for each other in wits and personalities. Thankfully, the stereotypes were cleared up, some fences were mended, and things seemed to play out as they should have.
So, this was another win for me, obviously. I loved the previous series, and this one is shaping up as well with some interesting characters. I know I was worried for Ryker Madsen (Jared's son and Ten's stepson) having been drafted to a team he was dreading having to play for. But, he is a great guy, and that totally showed through here. He is exactly what this team needs and will hopefully have a chance to really shine in the next season. The colorful goalie, Colorado, is ready to really solidify his comeback as well, so there is a lot to look forward to. Let's go, Raptors!
Review written for Love Bytes Reviews.
September 11, 2023
DNF ~27%
Apparently this is a spin-off series, and I'd barely say it qualifies as a standalone and there was a fuckton of backstory and name dropping from those other series that left me very annoyed. The concept here was a little ridiculous (what is with authors needing to make implausibly young characters 'self-made' millionaires running their own companies?? why are you trying to act like the family that threw out their son for being gay deserves anything at all from him and are somehow the 'good guys'? wtf even is this stupid will stipulation??) which I could have ignored if both the MCs weren't incredibly unlikable. Mark, in particular, felt really weirdly antagonistic towards Rowan for absolutely no reason at all beyond the authors wanting to force a bit of enemies to lovers action in there. He knows absolutely nothing about hockey, and despite supposedly building up his own company from scratch and theoretically being a smart guy who should know about delegating tasks to SMEs, he questions every decision the coach makes even though he knows nothing at all about hockey. It felt so over-the-top ridiculous and made him so incredibly unlikable that I couldn't find the will to keep reading.
Apparently this is a spin-off series, and I'd barely say it qualifies as a standalone and there was a fuckton of backstory and name dropping from those other series that left me very annoyed. The concept here was a little ridiculous (what is with authors needing to make implausibly young characters 'self-made' millionaires running their own companies?? why are you trying to act like the family that threw out their son for being gay deserves anything at all from him and are somehow the 'good guys'? wtf even is this stupid will stipulation??) which I could have ignored if both the MCs weren't incredibly unlikable. Mark, in particular, felt really weirdly antagonistic towards Rowan for absolutely no reason at all beyond the authors wanting to force a bit of enemies to lovers action in there. He knows absolutely nothing about hockey, and despite supposedly building up his own company from scratch and theoretically being a smart guy who should know about delegating tasks to SMEs, he questions every decision the coach makes even though he knows nothing at all about hockey. It felt so over-the-top ridiculous and made him so incredibly unlikable that I couldn't find the will to keep reading.
September 30, 2019
Coast to Coast is the first book in a new spin-off series from these wonderful authors. While it is a spin-off, this book works as a stand-alone and while it is fun to see some familiar faces, you won't be lost if you haven't read the Harrisburg Railers series (but seriously, go read the Railers series, it's SO good!).
This is Mark and Rowen's story. Mark is one of the siblings that have inherited the Raptors team and Rowen is the new coach contracted by the late father to try to rebuild the team and bring them around. There is a lot of family issues, team issues, coaching issues, player issues (you get the idea!).
Definitely a roller-coaster of a read and I was glued to my kindle until I turned the last page. The banter between Mark and Rowen is great and finding their happy together is not a smooth or easy road. A terrific start to a new series and I'll be waiting eagerly for the next book in this series!
***RECOMMENDED***
This is Mark and Rowen's story. Mark is one of the siblings that have inherited the Raptors team and Rowen is the new coach contracted by the late father to try to rebuild the team and bring them around. There is a lot of family issues, team issues, coaching issues, player issues (you get the idea!).
Definitely a roller-coaster of a read and I was glued to my kindle until I turned the last page. The banter between Mark and Rowen is great and finding their happy together is not a smooth or easy road. A terrific start to a new series and I'll be waiting eagerly for the next book in this series!
***RECOMMENDED***
August 9, 2020
Super enjoyable!
September 29, 2019
4.5 stars rounded down to 4 because still no 1/2 stars here on GR and I need to save something for when things get even better...yes, that's when and not if because I have faith and so far this writing duo has not failed me.
Loved this one!!! RJ Scott & VL Locey had definitely scored a winner with this sequel to the Harrisburg Railers...full review to follow soonish.
.Like many others I was more than a little sad when..
'The Harrisburg Railers' came to an end...but all that changed with 'Coast to Coast' the first book in the 'Arizona Raptors', RJ Scott and V.L. Locey's latest series and the much awaited spin off to 'The Harrisburg Railers'.
Before Mark Westman-Reid's father died, he did two things that at first notice most would consider to be more than a little foolish...first... he signed Rowan Carmichael to leave his job coaching university level hockey and move to Arizona to try and save what most would consider one of, if not the worst team in professional hockey...The Arizona Raptors. It would take less time to explain what was good about this team than what isn't. The Raptors are a disaster of epic proportions and the second thing that father Westman-Reid did was in his will because if his brothers can't convince Mark to come home for one year and help them try to save the Raptors...the family will loose everything...well, everyone except Mark that is because when his father rejected him for being gay, Mark made his own way in the world and has managed to create a very successful modelling agency that doesn't depend on the wealth of the Westman-Reid family or the success of a failing hockey team.
I've been anxiously awaiting this newest venture into the world of hockey by this writing duo and I can happily say that I have not been disappointed. 'Coast to Coast' has laid the groundwork for a series that promises to deliver stories and characters that are every bit as enjoyable as we were treated to with 'The Harrisburg Railers' stories.
In 'Coast to Coast' as well as meeting Mark and Rowan we are introduced to the rest of the Westman-Reid family and several members of the Raptors including some that we have met before in both 'The Harrisburg Railers' and 'Owatonna U Hockey' series.
I really liked Mark and Rowan...their personalities, the banter and interaction between them, the way they challenged each other...this pairing worked for me and I'm really hoping that the trend of having characters recur in subsequent stories continues and we get to see more of these two.
Mark may not know hockey, but when it comes to running a successful business he's no slouch and if the Raptors want to have a hope in hades of getting back on their feet they're going to need all the help they can get. It's going to take Mark, his brothers and the sister that is not only determined to see the Raptors turn around as a team but to see her family reunited as well.
The Raptors are a mess and as well as proving to the upper management (code talk for the Westman-Reid family) that he is the man they need to get their team back on track but it's going to take a lot of changes the least of which is getting some fresh blood among the players, losing some of the more toxic veterans on the team...members that those who have read the Railers series will be more than happy to see go the way of the dodo bird and then there's the coaching staff that needs to be sorted out as well...it's going to be a challenging job and then some.
It's not always a given that enjoying a series will mean you like anything that spins off from it, so I'm definitely calling it a win that for me 'Coast to Coast' has gotten this series off to as good of a start as I had with 'The Harrisburg Railers' and I'm already anticipating reading whatever comes next for this team.
************************
An ARC of 'Coast to Coast' was graciously provided by the authors in exchange for an honest review.
Loved this one!!! RJ Scott & VL Locey had definitely scored a winner with this sequel to the Harrisburg Railers...full review to follow soonish.
.Like many others I was more than a little sad when..
'The Harrisburg Railers' came to an end...but all that changed with 'Coast to Coast' the first book in the 'Arizona Raptors', RJ Scott and V.L. Locey's latest series and the much awaited spin off to 'The Harrisburg Railers'.
Before Mark Westman-Reid's father died, he did two things that at first notice most would consider to be more than a little foolish...first... he signed Rowan Carmichael to leave his job coaching university level hockey and move to Arizona to try and save what most would consider one of, if not the worst team in professional hockey...The Arizona Raptors. It would take less time to explain what was good about this team than what isn't. The Raptors are a disaster of epic proportions and the second thing that father Westman-Reid did was in his will because if his brothers can't convince Mark to come home for one year and help them try to save the Raptors...the family will loose everything...well, everyone except Mark that is because when his father rejected him for being gay, Mark made his own way in the world and has managed to create a very successful modelling agency that doesn't depend on the wealth of the Westman-Reid family or the success of a failing hockey team.
I've been anxiously awaiting this newest venture into the world of hockey by this writing duo and I can happily say that I have not been disappointed. 'Coast to Coast' has laid the groundwork for a series that promises to deliver stories and characters that are every bit as enjoyable as we were treated to with 'The Harrisburg Railers' stories.
In 'Coast to Coast' as well as meeting Mark and Rowan we are introduced to the rest of the Westman-Reid family and several members of the Raptors including some that we have met before in both 'The Harrisburg Railers' and 'Owatonna U Hockey' series.
I really liked Mark and Rowan...their personalities, the banter and interaction between them, the way they challenged each other...this pairing worked for me and I'm really hoping that the trend of having characters recur in subsequent stories continues and we get to see more of these two.
Mark may not know hockey, but when it comes to running a successful business he's no slouch and if the Raptors want to have a hope in hades of getting back on their feet they're going to need all the help they can get. It's going to take Mark, his brothers and the sister that is not only determined to see the Raptors turn around as a team but to see her family reunited as well.
The Raptors are a mess and as well as proving to the upper management (code talk for the Westman-Reid family) that he is the man they need to get their team back on track but it's going to take a lot of changes the least of which is getting some fresh blood among the players, losing some of the more toxic veterans on the team...members that those who have read the Railers series will be more than happy to see go the way of the dodo bird and then there's the coaching staff that needs to be sorted out as well...it's going to be a challenging job and then some.
It's not always a given that enjoying a series will mean you like anything that spins off from it, so I'm definitely calling it a win that for me 'Coast to Coast' has gotten this series off to as good of a start as I had with 'The Harrisburg Railers' and I'm already anticipating reading whatever comes next for this team.
************************
An ARC of 'Coast to Coast' was graciously provided by the authors in exchange for an honest review.
September 18, 2019
Mark and Rowen were so different but so alike in many ways; they both wanted the Raptors to succeed for different reasons and they butted heads all along the way. Neither of them knew what to do with the simmering attraction building beneath the surface, which blindsided both of them to be honest. To watch them circle around each other, tearing strips off the other while gradually—and grudgingly—finding some respect for one another was just sublime.
The start to this new series had everything I’ve come to expect from the author collaboration, there was the trademark sharp and often hilarious dialogue (cue Spikes McGhee!), a detailed tale that pulls you into the workings of a hockey team that has you so invested in the outcome that really is a thrill of a ride from beginning to end and never, at any point, did the family drama, tension of the game or in-fighting take focus away from this bloody beautiful and hard won romance. I can’t wait to read more in the series!
Review Copy requested and reviewed on behalf of OMG Reads.
The start to this new series had everything I’ve come to expect from the author collaboration, there was the trademark sharp and often hilarious dialogue (cue Spikes McGhee!), a detailed tale that pulls you into the workings of a hockey team that has you so invested in the outcome that really is a thrill of a ride from beginning to end and never, at any point, did the family drama, tension of the game or in-fighting take focus away from this bloody beautiful and hard won romance. I can’t wait to read more in the series!
Review Copy requested and reviewed on behalf of OMG Reads.
September 23, 2019
A new series creates a new beginning for the Raptors hockey team. Forced to leave his own business in NY, Mark Westman-Reid has no interest in the hockey team his deceased father left to his three sons to manage. Mark's hatred is concentrated on the new coach Rowen. But with hate comes interest and with interest becomes so much more. Can Rowen take the Raptors to a new level? Will Mark find happiness in a job he just wanted nothing to do with? With so much riding on old and new characters this book was just what the reader needed to make it one they will not be able to put down. We get glimpse of Ryker, one of our favorites as well as the defense player we all want to see out of the league. Beautifully written and the perfect beginning of what will become yet another fabulous series.
January 12, 2023
I am not the biggest R. J. Scott fan out there, somehow her writing doesn't seem to work for me. Most of the books I read were not really bad, but at the same time I wasn't really invested in the story, or had difficulties connecting with the main characters.
I already read the second part of the series and found it quite meh...
So imagine my surprise when I really liked this one.
I still have a few complaints, for example the switch from hot sex with the enemy to crazy in love was way too fast and the epilog was a disappointment.
But overall this was a fun story to read, I liked both main characters, the older coach and the young rich owner of the hockey team who really couldn't stand each other from the beginning. Also the trope of a rundown hockey team that needs all the help possible is nice - this already worked in a lot of movies, so of course it works here as well and helps keep the story interesting - maybe the heroes are a little too good and the villains a little too bad, without any shade of gray in between, but while reading that didn't really bother me.
I looked forward to returning to the story and it was interesting and entertaining, so for me this was an above average 3.5 stars read!
I already read the second part of the series and found it quite meh...
So imagine my surprise when I really liked this one.
I still have a few complaints, for example the switch from hot sex with the enemy to crazy in love was way too fast and the epilog was a disappointment.
But overall this was a fun story to read, I liked both main characters, the older coach and the young rich owner of the hockey team who really couldn't stand each other from the beginning. Also the trope of a rundown hockey team that needs all the help possible is nice - this already worked in a lot of movies, so of course it works here as well and helps keep the story interesting - maybe the heroes are a little too good and the villains a little too bad, without any shade of gray in between, but while reading that didn't really bother me.
I looked forward to returning to the story and it was interesting and entertaining, so for me this was an above average 3.5 stars read!
Read
July 27, 2020Forced to become part-owner of a failing hockey team, Mark needs new coach Rowen’s help — whether he likes it or not. But when these opposites clash, sparks fly… Can they come together to find success on and off the ice?
Available on Kobo, B&N, Apple, Smashwords, and Amazon, in all territories.
All buy links available by clicking All Links
Available on Kobo, B&N, Apple, Smashwords, and Amazon, in all territories.
All buy links available by clicking All Links
July 11, 2023
Quick and easy read but the ending seemed really rushed...I know it's a series but I'd have liked to read more about Mark and Rowen
September 28, 2019
I was given a copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads.
This is the story of two men charged with turning around the NHL’s nastiest and least successful franchise. For coach Rowen, it’s a chance to prove himself in professional hockey. For owner Mark, it’s a headache and a responsibility he really doesn’t need or want. The working relationship between these two starts out tense and cold but neither can deny the sexual attraction that simmers between them. If they’re going to turn a toxic team around, they’ll need to learn to work together.
With the Railers happy, successful and mostly coupled up, it’s time for RJ Scott and VL Locey to introduce readers to another team. This series was hinted at when Ryker was drafted to the Raptors. We also know the Raptors from Ten’s horrific attack.
I have to admit that this book didn’t draw me in as quickly as the previous two series did. Mark and his family aren’t particularly likeable at the start and while Rowen is more engaging, he’s nearly as arrogant as Mark. And while I enjoyed the complicated relationship between Mark and Rowen, I really missed the players’ perspectives in the two previous series. This feels like a darker, more serious read than previous books as Mark re-draws his relationship with the family who threw him out and allowed him to live on the streets as a teen and Rowen is given a harsh reality check.
This is a fun read with good hockey action and a behind the scenes look at money and management in a way that previous books have missed. But while I know this is light entertainment, I found odd things jarring in the story. The whole arc around Mark’s fashion business isn’t at all believable and while I like that difficult themes of privilege and entitlement are touched on in this story, I don’t like that Mark uses his family rejection to claim disadvantage. Of course he benefited from his family’s wealth - his trajectory from street kid to wealthy business owner would have been much more difficult without the education and confidence his upbringing gave him. I feel like this story would have worked better if it stayed a hockey romance and didn’t attempt a superficial exploration of more complex themes.
This book is the start of a new series but readers do need to know that it is a spinoff from two previous series - the Harrisburg Railers books and the subsequent Owatanna U stories - I would guess that readers unfamiliar with the other two series would be quickly lost amid frequent references to previous characters and stories. Having read the two previous series, I loved the scenes where the Raptors play the Railers and I love that we get to follow Ryker Madsen through the first year of his professional career.
This is the story of two men charged with turning around the NHL’s nastiest and least successful franchise. For coach Rowen, it’s a chance to prove himself in professional hockey. For owner Mark, it’s a headache and a responsibility he really doesn’t need or want. The working relationship between these two starts out tense and cold but neither can deny the sexual attraction that simmers between them. If they’re going to turn a toxic team around, they’ll need to learn to work together.
With the Railers happy, successful and mostly coupled up, it’s time for RJ Scott and VL Locey to introduce readers to another team. This series was hinted at when Ryker was drafted to the Raptors. We also know the Raptors from Ten’s horrific attack.
I have to admit that this book didn’t draw me in as quickly as the previous two series did. Mark and his family aren’t particularly likeable at the start and while Rowen is more engaging, he’s nearly as arrogant as Mark. And while I enjoyed the complicated relationship between Mark and Rowen, I really missed the players’ perspectives in the two previous series. This feels like a darker, more serious read than previous books as Mark re-draws his relationship with the family who threw him out and allowed him to live on the streets as a teen and Rowen is given a harsh reality check.
This is a fun read with good hockey action and a behind the scenes look at money and management in a way that previous books have missed. But while I know this is light entertainment, I found odd things jarring in the story. The whole arc around Mark’s fashion business isn’t at all believable and while I like that difficult themes of privilege and entitlement are touched on in this story, I don’t like that Mark uses his family rejection to claim disadvantage. Of course he benefited from his family’s wealth - his trajectory from street kid to wealthy business owner would have been much more difficult without the education and confidence his upbringing gave him. I feel like this story would have worked better if it stayed a hockey romance and didn’t attempt a superficial exploration of more complex themes.
This book is the start of a new series but readers do need to know that it is a spinoff from two previous series - the Harrisburg Railers books and the subsequent Owatanna U stories - I would guess that readers unfamiliar with the other two series would be quickly lost amid frequent references to previous characters and stories. Having read the two previous series, I loved the scenes where the Raptors play the Railers and I love that we get to follow Ryker Madsen through the first year of his professional career.
September 18, 2019
This first in a new Ice hockey series, following on from the Harrisburg Railers and Owatonna series'. As one would expect, the story is well written, flows well, interesting characters and lots of potential for the future.
Mark is a fierce character who knows exactly what he wants, I so enjoyed reading about him from the word go. His character is quite empowering, and I loved how he didn't immediately forgive his shitty family, for how they'd treated him in the past. I loved him for his snark and hard headedness.
Rowan has a tough exterior as a coach, and takes no prisoners, but you quickly learn that he's also fair minded and wiley, I laughed at how he went his own way regardless, and got what he wanted. These two together were dynamic, despite often getting so het up with one another. I loved how Rowan often left the inscrutable Mark in a tizzy; Mark really didn't know what had hit him.
The book was a real page turner, and left me reading late into the night. The way in which the authors handled various issues in the story (no spoilers), had my emotions all over the place, wavering from happiness, humour, anger, to devastated, something which I have come to love and expect from Ms Locey and Ms Scott.
This was everything and more, I can not wait to see what these ladies have in store for the other rookies of the Raptors (or Craptors 😁). It's going to be one exciting ride if Coast to Coast is anything to go by.
Despite some evil shit happening, it was fun to dive back into this world and read snippets about some of my favourite characters from past books. Loved it. Ladies, I can't wait for more,
Mark is a fierce character who knows exactly what he wants, I so enjoyed reading about him from the word go. His character is quite empowering, and I loved how he didn't immediately forgive his shitty family, for how they'd treated him in the past. I loved him for his snark and hard headedness.
Rowan has a tough exterior as a coach, and takes no prisoners, but you quickly learn that he's also fair minded and wiley, I laughed at how he went his own way regardless, and got what he wanted. These two together were dynamic, despite often getting so het up with one another. I loved how Rowan often left the inscrutable Mark in a tizzy; Mark really didn't know what had hit him.
The book was a real page turner, and left me reading late into the night. The way in which the authors handled various issues in the story (no spoilers), had my emotions all over the place, wavering from happiness, humour, anger, to devastated, something which I have come to love and expect from Ms Locey and Ms Scott.
This was everything and more, I can not wait to see what these ladies have in store for the other rookies of the Raptors (or Craptors 😁). It's going to be one exciting ride if Coast to Coast is anything to go by.
Despite some evil shit happening, it was fun to dive back into this world and read snippets about some of my favourite characters from past books. Loved it. Ladies, I can't wait for more,
September 29, 2019
Great start to a new series!!
I have been waiting for this book since the last Railers book came out. It does not disappoint.
When the Family Patriarch dies and his will stipulates that his 3 sons must work together for a year as owners of the Arizona Raptor's the youngest brother Mark finally comes home after being kicked out when he was younger. The brothers have to work together to make the Raptors a profitable team and turn their reputation around from being the dirtiest/most hated team in the league so a coaching change is made as the team hits rock bottom.
The chemistry between Mark and Rowan is amazing and very well written. Rowan thinks Mark is a spoiled rich boy who has always gotten his way and Mark thinks Rowan is not the best coach for the job since his professional career was non-existent and his only coaching experience is college hockey.
While Mark and Rowan butt heads frequently trying to work out a way to get along with each thinking their way is best. Mark also needs to make peace with his older brothers who stood by while their father kicked him out.
This book had a lot of emotional moments and some funny moments - one of my favorite lines was when the Raptors played the Railers and Rowan decided to shove their hotshot Rookie(Ryker) up against their hotshot Vet's(Ten) ass.
This books shows how 1 persons decisions/actions and can hurt an entire family for years.
For fans of the Railers series I'll only say that Aarni is dealt with in this book.
*** ARC kindly received from the author in return for an honest and unbiased review
I have been waiting for this book since the last Railers book came out. It does not disappoint.
When the Family Patriarch dies and his will stipulates that his 3 sons must work together for a year as owners of the Arizona Raptor's the youngest brother Mark finally comes home after being kicked out when he was younger. The brothers have to work together to make the Raptors a profitable team and turn their reputation around from being the dirtiest/most hated team in the league so a coaching change is made as the team hits rock bottom.
The chemistry between Mark and Rowan is amazing and very well written. Rowan thinks Mark is a spoiled rich boy who has always gotten his way and Mark thinks Rowan is not the best coach for the job since his professional career was non-existent and his only coaching experience is college hockey.
While Mark and Rowan butt heads frequently trying to work out a way to get along with each thinking their way is best. Mark also needs to make peace with his older brothers who stood by while their father kicked him out.
This book had a lot of emotional moments and some funny moments - one of my favorite lines was when the Raptors played the Railers and Rowan decided to shove their hotshot Rookie(Ryker) up against their hotshot Vet's(Ten) ass.
This books shows how 1 persons decisions/actions and can hurt an entire family for years.
For fans of the Railers series I'll only say that Aarni is dealt with in this book.
*** ARC kindly received from the author in return for an honest and unbiased review
October 6, 2019
DNF @66%
This started great. The tension between the characters, the stares full of hate but also charged with sexual tension, ugh. I am a slut for enemies-to-lovers, alright? Sue me. Don’t sue me, I am poor.
Theeeeen the characters had full on (lame as hell, btw) sex and......I lost interest for anything else lmao.
The plot, at least for me, wasn’t interesting at all since I know shit about hockey, so these two and their tension was what kept me interested in the book. As soon as you had them having sex as soon as 64%? I lost interest. The tension was gone.
Secretive handjobs and blowjobs were fine, those felt dirty.
Also this gem,
“I gave him a wink, then left the bed, padding into the bathroom and flushing the condom.”
This grown ass 40+ year old man just flushed a condom down the toilet. Men are too much. This is like the equivalent of flushing a sanitary pad down the toilet. You just don’t (CAN’T) do that. That made me stop and stare at the wall for a while. I even had to google that to see if the gods have changed the rules or if toilets suddenly grew more powerful and I dint know. Now I am worried that the author flushes condoms down the toilet :/ or does “flushing the condom” means something else skdklsjfld listen, this made me thing way too much.
Anyways, yeah, I dint like this book lmao.
This started great. The tension between the characters, the stares full of hate but also charged with sexual tension, ugh. I am a slut for enemies-to-lovers, alright? Sue me. Don’t sue me, I am poor.
Theeeeen the characters had full on (lame as hell, btw) sex and......I lost interest for anything else lmao.
The plot, at least for me, wasn’t interesting at all since I know shit about hockey, so these two and their tension was what kept me interested in the book. As soon as you had them having sex as soon as 64%? I lost interest. The tension was gone.
Secretive handjobs and blowjobs were fine, those felt dirty.
Also this gem,
“I gave him a wink, then left the bed, padding into the bathroom and flushing the condom.”
This grown ass 40+ year old man just flushed a condom down the toilet. Men are too much. This is like the equivalent of flushing a sanitary pad down the toilet. You just don’t (CAN’T) do that. That made me stop and stare at the wall for a while. I even had to google that to see if the gods have changed the rules or if toilets suddenly grew more powerful and I dint know. Now I am worried that the author flushes condoms down the toilet :/ or does “flushing the condom” means something else skdklsjfld listen, this made me thing way too much.
Anyways, yeah, I dint like this book lmao.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 15, 2024
Reread 2024
Two unlikeable MC's made this one a hard read.
Wanted to like it more
3 stars
I wanted to like this one more than I did.
I love stories with the themes of sports and antagonistic MC’s, the back and forth as they banter really works for me, but at the same time I need them to show a little bit of a softer more vulnerable side as that helps me connect with the character. My problem here was that for over 50% of the book, both guys were extremely antagonistic without the softer side showing, so they were highly unlikeable to me. I didn’t really understand what they saw in each other and why they were together. Rowan was too Dom/Alpha like without the likeable personality to go with it, and Mark was too busy trying to prove to every man and his dog that he was the big man and didn’t need anything from anyone. They were both too busy trying to stamp their dominance on their interactions that those same interactions became annoying and boring to read. Yeah characters can bicker and have barbs at each other, but usually you can see the connection throughout that.
Amazingly enough the secondary characters more than made up for this and that’s what kept me reading on. The younger kids on the team were a highlight and I can’t wait to see what happens in their stories.
Two unlikeable MC's made this one a hard read.
Wanted to like it more
3 stars
I wanted to like this one more than I did.
I love stories with the themes of sports and antagonistic MC’s, the back and forth as they banter really works for me, but at the same time I need them to show a little bit of a softer more vulnerable side as that helps me connect with the character. My problem here was that for over 50% of the book, both guys were extremely antagonistic without the softer side showing, so they were highly unlikeable to me. I didn’t really understand what they saw in each other and why they were together. Rowan was too Dom/Alpha like without the likeable personality to go with it, and Mark was too busy trying to prove to every man and his dog that he was the big man and didn’t need anything from anyone. They were both too busy trying to stamp their dominance on their interactions that those same interactions became annoying and boring to read. Yeah characters can bicker and have barbs at each other, but usually you can see the connection throughout that.
Amazingly enough the secondary characters more than made up for this and that’s what kept me reading on. The younger kids on the team were a highlight and I can’t wait to see what happens in their stories.
September 29, 2019
When I think of mm hockey romance, I think of VL Locey & RJ Scott. So this first book in the new Arizona Raptors series was a must-read for me.
I didn’t think I could hate Aarni more than I did when he appeared in the Railers books. I was wrong. Like, deeply-seated, frustratingly helpless anger and hate. In fact, the character is crafted so brilliantly, I’ve only experienced these feelings about a particular member of the Washington Capitals who shall remain nameless (but rhymes with Dom Filson). And, to quote Forrest Gump, that’s all I’m gonna say about that.
As for the MCs, I felt immediate empathy for Mark and love his journey to reconcile his past with the future he is trying to build. Rowen is bristly — almost reminiscent of Locey’s Vic, but slightly softer. Yet these two work together. Their chemistry is palpable.
I’m not sure I”ll ever hear the words Gila Monster and not get the heebie jeebies again, which is also a testament to the descriptive writing skills of these ladies.
As expected, the series if off to a great start and I cannot wait for book 2 in November.
I didn’t think I could hate Aarni more than I did when he appeared in the Railers books. I was wrong. Like, deeply-seated, frustratingly helpless anger and hate. In fact, the character is crafted so brilliantly, I’ve only experienced these feelings about a particular member of the Washington Capitals who shall remain nameless (but rhymes with Dom Filson). And, to quote Forrest Gump, that’s all I’m gonna say about that.
As for the MCs, I felt immediate empathy for Mark and love his journey to reconcile his past with the future he is trying to build. Rowen is bristly — almost reminiscent of Locey’s Vic, but slightly softer. Yet these two work together. Their chemistry is palpable.
I’m not sure I”ll ever hear the words Gila Monster and not get the heebie jeebies again, which is also a testament to the descriptive writing skills of these ladies.
As expected, the series if off to a great start and I cannot wait for book 2 in November.
September 20, 2019
This story contains many wonderful things and people. It also contains a few I wish were real so I could exact well deserved revenge (throat punches) . However, since it is not to be I will just say that things are handled much to my satisfaction .
Mark and Rowen are two men one would think might not be well suited , on paper, but, boy howdy, are they!
Things in their pasts hurt them deeply, people, hurt them deeply. Together they are amazing......amazingly hot tempered and just plain "turn your fan on high " hot!
I don't want to give a lot away. Know this though, we get to visit with our friends / loved ones from previous books and , if you are familiar with the books connected and the Railers and Raptors, one evil, sick S.O.B as well.
So , come meet Mark, his family..love his sister by the way, Rowen and the rest of the gang. Sit back....smile, laugh, be OUTRAGED....quite a few times, fan yourself and cry while reading this book.
I give this 5 white cowboy hats out of 5.
I was given an Advanced Readers Copy in exchange for my honest review.
Mark and Rowen are two men one would think might not be well suited , on paper, but, boy howdy, are they!
Things in their pasts hurt them deeply, people, hurt them deeply. Together they are amazing......amazingly hot tempered and just plain "turn your fan on high " hot!
I don't want to give a lot away. Know this though, we get to visit with our friends / loved ones from previous books and , if you are familiar with the books connected and the Railers and Raptors, one evil, sick S.O.B as well.
So , come meet Mark, his family..love his sister by the way, Rowen and the rest of the gang. Sit back....smile, laugh, be OUTRAGED....quite a few times, fan yourself and cry while reading this book.
I give this 5 white cowboy hats out of 5.
I was given an Advanced Readers Copy in exchange for my honest review.
October 1, 2019
A Joyfully Jay review.
4.5 stars
Coast to Coast is the first in a new hockey series by the sports loving duo of V.L. Locey and R.J. Scott. If you’re a fan of their Harrisburg Railers series, then this one will be right up your alley. We’re introduced to Mark and Rowan, who both carry a chip on their shoulders. They’re prickly and obnoxious to one another, but I appreciated the opposites attract trope here more than usual. They fall in lust pretty quickly, but it’s the gradual give and take on each side that makes something work. Their relationship reads as believable and I liked the fact that Mark, despite being a strong LGBT advocate, still had to acknowledge some of his issues regarding women in the NHL. We all have aspects of ourselves that need work and it was nice to see a character addressing that and taking action.
Read Sue’s review in its entirety here.
4.5 stars
Coast to Coast is the first in a new hockey series by the sports loving duo of V.L. Locey and R.J. Scott. If you’re a fan of their Harrisburg Railers series, then this one will be right up your alley. We’re introduced to Mark and Rowan, who both carry a chip on their shoulders. They’re prickly and obnoxious to one another, but I appreciated the opposites attract trope here more than usual. They fall in lust pretty quickly, but it’s the gradual give and take on each side that makes something work. Their relationship reads as believable and I liked the fact that Mark, despite being a strong LGBT advocate, still had to acknowledge some of his issues regarding women in the NHL. We all have aspects of ourselves that need work and it was nice to see a character addressing that and taking action.
Read Sue’s review in its entirety here.
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