Snowed

Boston Rebels #3

by R.J. Scott, V.L. Locey

A second chance at love is all Kyle wants for Christmas, but a dark menace from his past wants him dead, and love is second to staying alive.

Kyle Lourenco has carved out a comfortable life and career for himself in Boston. With the holidays quickly approaching, he’s heading home for the first time in several years. Home to his loving parents and the small Canadian town where he was raised. And home to Christian, his best friend and the first man to steal his heart.

Just as a winter storm begins to blow in, it forces Kyle off the road only miles from home and a dark and sinister force from his past creeps ever closer. His only hope is getting to Christian’s cabin before the evil that has haunted him for years finally catches up to him.

Best friends since they were three, Christian Gauthier grew up next door to Kyle, in a remote mountain town with one stoplight and a forty-mile round trip to the nearest school. When Kyle left town for a shot at a professional hockey career, he took Christian’s heart with him. Even though he knew Kyle was always destined for bigger things, it hadn’t stopped Christian from falling for him as soon as he knew what love was.

With Christmas coming soon and a major snowstorm heading their way, Christian shuts the doors to the family store and heads to his cabin, where he will be on standby as an official volunteer for Search and Rescue. He has never regretted staying in Eagle Ridge, but a near miss on a simple rescue leads him to reevaluate everything, and when Kyle ends up at his door, he knows that guarding his heart might not be the best solution after all.

Genres: M M Romance, Romance, Hockey, Sports, Contemporary, LGBT, Second Chance

187 pages, ebook

First published December 3, 2021

About the author

RJ 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

Reviews

[Cadiva · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well that was a - very good - surprise and nothing like I was expecting from this duo's ice hockey series'

The Boston Rebels books so far have all been very different in tone and style while sticking to the sports romance genre. This one veers far more into romantic suspense than sport, even though Kyle is the goalie for the Rebels.

It's a mostly second chance/forced proximity romance but the suspense element really added to the pacing of the book and I found myself quickly enthralled in what could be responsible for Kyle's night terrors.

I personally thought the plot reveal to be quite plausible, although it then did head off into slightly dramatic, but not unbelievable, territory which amped up the tension big time in the run up to the last few chapters.

The relationship between Christian and Kyle is so beautifully written, each of them is hiding deep seated hurts, and with Kyle's additional anxieties and fears, it adds up to a wonderfully poignant reunion.

I absolutely LOVED how it was so clear from that start that neither of them had moved on. There hadn't been any attempts to "get over" Kyle leaving their tiny Manitoba village to head to the NHL or for Kyle to try and move on from his love for Christian.

Overall this is probably my favourite of the stories in this new interconnected series and I am very much enjoying the different takes RJ & Vicki are going with them.

#ARC kindly received from the authors in return for an honest and unbiased review

[Dani · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not what I was expecting at all!

Why did I choose to read this at night before I go to sleep? I am so going to have nightmares!

There was absolutely minimal hockey in this one, it's more of a murder/thriller story? Not sure, but it was completely different to the rest of the books but in a good way, because being removed from everyone else in the series meant no continuity issues like in every other book of this series 🥳

Cautious about the next Boston Rebel's book because I hate books with royalty in them - it's always some made up tiny European country and as a European it gets fucking old fast 😂

[Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it so, so much! I thought I was walking into yet another sweet RJ/VL collab, with the stranded together and second chance tropes. This ended up being so much more! I truly couldn't go to sleep until I had all the answers. It was exciting and enticing and ensnaring and yet so sweet! True love indeed!

[Kaje Harper · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my favorite so far of the series, although hockey is a minor element of the story. Kyle left his small hometown, and his then-boyfriend, when the chance to play in the big leagues and eventually the NHL, landed in his lap. He's been successful in goal for the Boston Rebels, but nebulous fears that drove him out of his Canadian town aren't gone. Nightmares and inexplicable fears still haunt him.

Things are better in Boston, enough better that going home has always filled him with a vague dread and he's failed to make the trip for several years. But this year, after an injury that will sideline him for months, he's committed to going home for the holidays. Except he arrives in a bad snowstorm, almost hits a moose on the road, and ends up crashing his car.

The nearest house he can walk to belongs to Christian, the guy who wouldn't come with him to Boston. Also the guy he drifted away from, as their long distance try petered out. He assumes Christian has a new, happy life without him, but frostbite and hypothermia drive him toward his lost lover's place.

I enjoyed the forced proximity and second-chances aspect of this. The gradual drifting apart that hurt both of them made sense in context, and wasn't over dramatic. And as the storm turns out not to be the only thing threatening them, I liked the suspense thread and the action aspect of the story. Both were appealing men who really needed a hug, and I was glad they got back together.

[Lelyana's Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Snowed hands down is the best of this series. The suspense element mingled with the 'never stop loving you' between Christian and Kyle made this story different from the previous.
I really liked how much Christian and Kyle love each other and willing to give their love a second chance.
So far, this one is my favorite of this series. Well done guys!

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow….seriously wow!! This story was put together so well, emotionally it had everything!!! My heart was so heavy for Kyle and his life of nightmares of terror, an NHL hockey player who couldn’t run away from them. An injury has him going home for the holidays after years of avoiding going there. The love of his life still lived there, his parents, his night terrors. The emotional journey to healing physically, emotionally and psychologically while falling in love with the only man who held his heart, Christian, was beautifully written.

Christian stayed in their home town, runs the store, helps with search and rescue, takes care of the people who need it. The love of his life left to play hockey and took his heart with him. Now he’s back.

I don’t want to give anything away, but this story, the writing is amazing and you have to read it!! I was so worried about Kyle and why he had such night terrors, Christian being the support he needed, the anticipation of what happened in the past has you only the edge of your seat!!

Get this book!!! RJ and VL have done it again!!

[kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Snowed is amazing! I was drawn in from the first page and couldn't stop reading until I reached the very end.
This story has so many different levels to it. It is layered with pain, fear, hope, love and so much more.
Kyle has struggled since early childhood with a tremendous fear and anxiety towards some unkown entity. When an injury puts his hockey career on hold he decides it is time to finally go home and face the only man he has ever or will ever love.
Christian has made a life for himself that is entirely centered on community and helping those he can. He has never gotten over losing his only love. As an epic storm strands them together they realize that the love is still there and so is the unknown danger.
I was completely enthralled with this story.

[deborah lawson · Rating 5 out of 5]

You want angst? This is THE book for you! Kyle has always been an enigma, so I was excited to learn more about his past. I never expected a childhood mystery wrapped up in the love of a best friend who sacrificed everything for all the wrong reasons. Oh…the lies we tell ourselves just to make it through the day. Does life really ever give us a second change? And just when you think it might, the weird and creepy starts.

[Steph (Teacups & Tropes) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stoked that Marquis’s story is next

But also WHY IS IT ALWAYS GOALIES THAT NEVER GO BACK 😂😭 Can’t be too mad tho because Kyle and Christian were adorbs

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is Book 3 in the Boston Rebels series and Kyle Lourenco, Renco to his teammates gets his story. Kyle was born and brought up in a small town in Manitoba, Eagle Ridge. His life was plagued by nightmares, night terrors which hung over him even when awake and so he left for a life in Boston and his dreams of playing NHL hockey. He also left behind not just his family but his best friend since they were 3 years old and the only love of his life Christian, promising that the distance and his career would not ruin their relationship but Kyle put more and more distance between them, phone calls and texts drying up and not going home in years but the nightmares just followed him to Boston. He was undergoing therapy and also diagnosed with childhood amnesia as he had no memories of the first six years of his life.

Christian stayed in Eagle Ridge. His life was full and he was an integral part of the town, running the family store and a valuable member of the Search and Rescue team. He missed Kyle but his broken heart had mended and he was happy enough if not lonely.

Kyle suffered a life changing injury whilst defending his pipes and after surgery and being put on the injured list for the duration of his rehabilitation he goes home to visit his parents for Christmas. A terrible snow storm and an accident lands him at the cabin door of Christian who takes him in and nurses him while they are cut off from the town.

This book was different from the previous two in as much as Renco was injured at the beginning of the book and so it was not so much about the hockey but centred more on his troubled life, nightmares and the sense of evil surrounding him. Finding out that the evil was very real and not just in his head and Kyle and Christian fighting for their lives made this book a real page turner. Kyle and Christian were a lovely couple and I was routing for them and their HEA.

I received an ARC from the authors for an honest opinion and I really enjoyed this book. Oh and Die Hard is a Christmas movie!

[Kendra Patterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC received from the authors for an honest review.

Kyle and Christian were friends since they started walking. They grew up doing everything together and finding trouble. When puberty hits they find that they each love the other as no one else can. When Kyle gets a chance to play professional hockey in Boston Christian encourages him to go. Little does he know that their relationship won't last the distance. Kyle has been having nightmares since he was little. He doesn't remember what happened to start them and therapy has gotten him nowhere. When he's injured on the ice, he heads home to Canada to heal. He needs more mental healing than physical if truth be known. He knows how to drive in a Canadian snowstorm buy when you throw a moose into the situation things get dicey. So Kyle has to decide if he wants to risk freezing to death sitting in his car waiting for rescue or walking for help. Either way could be his ending.

This book is well written with no notable errors in spelling, grammar or punctuation. For me the first half of the book is so slow going that I was wondering if they were ever going to work things out. It dragged and I was getting ready to start skimming when things kicked up a notch. The way the book is written, I was beginning to think that Kyle was Schizophrenic but the truth finally starts coming out. The mystery once it starts is really good. I would've liked some closure on why the baddie was doing what he was but it's okay as is. I really liked the ending and how they were able to work things out. This is a really good series and I'm looking forward to the next book.

[LeeAnn · Rating 5 out of 5]

So many layers to this story!
Memories from the past of a friendship turning into love , then heartbreak.
Kyle and Christian always had each others back...ALWAYS.
People grow and change. People leave.
But the love these two shared would never die and neither would ever love another.
But something in Kyle's past haunts him. Literally stalks him in his dreams, causes him such anxiety that he is physically affected. The thing is, he can't remember. There is a void in his memories that he is unable to fill .
As the two men reconnect and work to be "them" again , a threat from the past rears it's ugly head.
Ok. Now, I need to say that parts of this scared the heck out of me, made me cringe and nearly jump out of my skin .
Other parts made me tear up while other parts are smoking hot.
But at the base of this story is an amazing love story.
We get to see some of the MC's from the books connected to this one which is one of my favorite things these authors do for us when they tell us these wonderful stories.
I HIGHLY recommend this story.
I recieved an Advanced Readers Copy so I could give my honest review.
Shout out to Christmas, family, and snowstorms.
5/5 🏒🏒🏒🏒🏒

[Elle Kay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Scott and Locey are back at it again and this series just keeps getting better and better. Take the expected romance, add in a fabulous back-story of first love/soulmates and then shake it up like crazy with some intrigue and tension.

The end product is Snowed (Boston Rebels #3) and it is wonderful. Boston goalie Kyle “Renco” Lourenco is haunted by demons, which results in frequent nightmares. Back home, he left his best friend/first love Christian Gauthier. Christian is very busy being needed by the town, as proprietor of the store and Search and Rescue volunteer.

The setting of Eagle Ridge, MB - a fictional town outside of Churchill and home of many polar bears, adds to the drama; while it’s snowstorms aid the forced proximity storyline. There’s also a helpful moose that gets things rolling. After all, it couldn’t be a second chance romance if their paths didn’t cross again.

Locey and Scott execute the story delightfully and show their prowess in creating vulnerable characters with real challenges.

[Jackie Ziegler · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one was a bit different. A bit more on the suspense side and I loved it.

Kyle is the goale for the Rebels, when he gets injured he decides to go home to Manitoba, the one place he has avoided at all costs. Christian is one reason he avoids going home, as he holds Kyle's heart in his hands.

Christian loves Kyle but he hasn't seen him in years and now he is home. When Kyle ends up on his doorstop injured he takes him in and helps him. Wondering how his life has been they talk but Christian is bitter Kyle left. When the nightmares begin for Kyle the only one who can stop them is Chrstian.

When danger looms around them will they not only survive will they find love again?

[Laurel Looney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Snowed is amazing. It starts of with Kyle and your heart breaks for him. Then you meet Christian and your heart breaks for him. This story gives you excitement, suspense, lots of snow (lol) but most importantly love. Kyle and Christian are best friends, turned lovers, both heartbroken and then their hearts are one. Seriously it was a great read and I’ll definitely read it again.

[Tammi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one is definitely different than the other hockey books produced by these two. I don't want to spoil the story so I will just say the trapped in a snowstorm trope is a little different this time around. I did wish the story was a little longer. There is a lot of emotional baggage to unpack. I received an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

B- (It was more a C+, but the suspense plot towards the end was pretty well done.)

I think I found this in an m/m author giveaway or reduced price from a link in RJ Scott's newsletter. It seemed interesting, and overall it was entertaining. I liked the characters and the suspense plot was interesting, although it did seem to come out of nowhere. I mean, I'd guessed that Kyle had seen something traumatic as a child that his mind had buried to protect him, but it was still pretty intense for what I thought was a second chance hockey romance. Thankfully I like mysteries and suspense stories.

Alsthough the wordsmithing is objectively good, I wasn't crazy about the wordiness of the story. There were long descriptions and internal thoughts, often interrupting a more active scene. That included a dozen or more internal discussion by both men on their earlier parting of the ways, and even then the reasons for it still weren't clear. They were both supposedly passionate about each other, yet neither one could see clear to keeping the relationship going.

[Nicole · Rating 2 out of 5]

Trigger warnings for murder, violence, trauma, poor mental health, hospitalization, etc. This was so different from the other books. There was basically zero hockey playing and it was more of a mystery/horror story. When this is in a hockey series, I expect hockey. There wasn’t even a huge romantic plot. It was basically just angsty and creepy.

I was excited to see Kyle (Renco’s) character since goalies seem to be one of my favorites, but his character was pretty lackluster compared to Stan, Colorado, etc. I liked Christian overall, but I’m not sure why he didn’t follow Kyle if he was Kyleromantic. These two have only been with each other, which was sweet.

This was just not for me. I wanted more about the Boston Rebels and they were maybe in a couple chapters for short amounts of time. 2-2.5 out of 5 stars?

[Ruthie Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

~~I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads ~~

This is the third book in the Boston Rebels series, and let me tell you it takes a bit if a departure from previous books in this talented duo's ice hockey stories ... it is fabulous, but definitely an unexpected plot twist!

Always happy when first loves and best friends get a second chance at love, and even more so if they are snowed in a cabin together to remember just how much they mean to each other. Both Kyle and Christian are mature enough to understand that they both made decisions which affected their future, although Kyle's absence from home for several years needs explaining. Be ready to feel deep sympathy with one of them at that revelation!

As more of Kyle's childhood fears come back to haunt him, there may just been an answer to those missing years. Very dramatic to have such a plot twist in the story ... go read it and see what I mean!

Excellent addition to the series, and reminder that a hockey career isn't forever, and could be changed by Christmas!

[Alexa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was just not good. Super hard to connect with the characters and the twist was so far-fetched.

[Claire Melanie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This plot was utterly ridiculous. The stars are for the first part of the book.

[Edga · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, that was totally unexpected!This book, the third of the series, is less MM sport romance, and more suspense/mystery. Not that I'm complaining. As is usual with these two authors, it totally drew me in from the beginning and got its claws into me until the very end. I didn't put it down until I'd finished.

Packed with suspense and a heartwarming love that could've melted the surrounding snow, I had to know what would happen next, and why Kyle is so fearful. He's so isolated and shrouded in fear, always looking over his shoulder. Christian is so charming, kind, and protective, just like a warm blanket. I loved how he looked after Kyle.

I adored both Kyle and Christian, the history between them shaped the story and their feelings. The story was tender and terrifying at the same time, the uncertainty and underlying threat, quite creepy at times. A first class read. Recommend the whole series, but I consider this one my favourite so far.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third book in the series. It's a great second chance romance. Kyle is finally back home for the holidays and he's already struggling. Being stranded during a snow storm with the man who was his best friend and the love of his life proves to be interesting. I loved watching these two reconnect, but it's not all sunshine and roses. There are some scary intense moments in this one. Kyle's past is lurking in the shadows waiting. I had to read through my fingers at some points. This definitely gets the blood pumping in more ways than one. Kyle and Christian grew up as best friends and then more, but life drifted these two apart. Now it's put these two back into each other's orbit. You can instantly tell they still have feelings for one another. They have a connection that can never be broken unless someone does it for them permanently Buckle up and enjoy the ride Kyle and Christian take you on.

[EQUUS · Rating 5 out of 5]

This wasn't what I was expecting at all and all I was hoping for. It kept me on my toes from the page one and I couldn't put it down. To be honest, second chance romance/friends to lovers is not my favorite thing and I decided to read this one because I love these authors. They have yet to write a book that I didn't enjoy - probably not happening (lol). The romance part was done beautifully and it's in perfect balance with other elements of the story which are forced proximity, mystery suspense, thriller, action and are usually my favorites. Sports element of the story is on a sidetrack this time, but that's perfectly okay in this case. Although this book is a part of the series it can be read as a standalone with no trouble at all - you won't feel like you are missing something important at all. This book is actually one of my favorites from this author duo. Highly recommended!

[Jodi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is by far my favorite in the Boston Rebels series.

Kyle and Christian get a second chance. Ever since Kyle left their small town for the NHL neither has been able to move on from the other.

I loved the stranded angle to get them to communicate. The suspense in the story made it a fun read as it wasn’t the normal storyline you usually get from RJ and VL.

Kyle finds that his nightmares have a reason and it’s not just in his head. Christian is a great partner to Kyle and glad they got their HEA.

Not a lot of hockey in this book,but thoroughly enjoyed it!!

~~~ ARC provided by Author for honest review ~~~

[J · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 rounded up to 3 stars. Sorry, but this book just didn't do it for me. Set in Manitoba, Canada, the story follows an injured NHL hockey goalie as he heads home to recover from his injuries and see the family and the man he left behind to start his career in Boston. This goalie has been having bad dreams and hallucinations for years and he is still beset with them as he returns home.

The story turned into a mish mash of different storylines that were as hard to follow as the adventure that took place during a huge snowstorm that involved a serial killer. This one was just not my cup of tea.

[Mandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! I don’t remember the last story that hooked me in so strongly, I could not put this book down until the end.
Kyle and Christian are both wonderful characters and totally adorable. This was the story of their second chance at love after Kyle left Christian to start his hockey career, and it was full of moments that were sweet, angsty, exciting and steamy all of which had my heart either swooning or racing.
This was a great addition to the series and once again I’m hanging out to read the next one.
I was gifted an ARC of this book to read and this is my honest and voluntary opinion.

[Tracy Perry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book, I read it in one sitting because I couldn’t put it down, so good!! I loved Kyle & Christian. I love second chance at love books ! I had cried some, my heart hurt and I so want to hug those men… The book was a hurt comfort with, angst, steam and suspense that had your heart racing and eager to turn the page. It was amazing game had a happy ending which I loved. I can’t wait for next book in the series!

[Kathy Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the third book in the Boston Rebels series. It is a MM hockey romance. I can’t lie, I don’t think this pair of authors has written a MM hockey book that I have not loved, and this joined the long list of favorite reads for me. This was a great story, with wonderful characters. The pace was spot on; I had a hard time putting the book down. I can’t wait for the next installment.

[Cynthia Osborne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliantly done. Had me guessing until the end. Kyle and Christian are fantastic together. Both have a long relationship with each other and their family is connected from childhood. The emotions from both characters left me absolutely reeling.

It is part of a series and older characters come in.

I did receive an Arc for a review.