One scorching summer in each other’s arms could never be enough.Stanislav “Stan” Lyamin is happy playing for the Railers. The towering goalie is well-loved, respected, and making a home for himself even though that home only contains him, his cat, and his growing Pokemon trading card collection. Stan prefers it that way.He’d given his heart to a man in a secret affair, and that man walked away, … that man walked away, leaving Stan shattered. Now Erik is back in his life, and he has the same tumultuous effect he had on Stan’s heart as before. This time it’s not just a kissable mouth and sweet blond curls that Erik has brought to Harrisburg, there’s a soon-to-be ex-wife and a precious baby.
Despite the vow Stan made to hate Erik forever, he’s now finding it harder and harder to turn away.
Erik Gunnarsson’s dream had always been to play in the NHL, he just never imagined he’d land a contract with the Railers. Who would have thought that fate would put him on the same team as Stanislav Lyamin; the man whose heart he’d callously broken?
Secrets and lies had defined their summer relationship, and the choice that Erik made to end it all haunts him still. In the middle of a messy divorce and with a baby in tow, Erik finds himself back in Stan’s life. Now all he has to do is be the best dad he can be, prove to the team that he deserves the chance to stay on the roster and try his hardest to get Stan to forgive him.
Is it possible to persuade a man who hates you to give love a second chance?
Word Count: 51,000
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Ahhh Stan! We have been given little insights into Stan from the beginning of the series. His personality, the way he LOVES Pokemon, the way he completely and utterly destroys the English language in a way that makes us chuckle, yet fall in love with him more every time he speaks so it doesn’t really matter.
Finally we get to read his story. What makes him tick? Does he have someone to go home to at night? Who IS Lucy and does she take care of all his needs? What of his family? Are they close? Is he able to take care of them like he tries to take care of those on his team “family” The Railers? We also meet Erik and Noah. Just who are these two to him and will they help complete his life outside the rink?
I just loved every thing about this story! We not only get to see into the way Stan’s mind works but his heart as well. It was so incredibly easy to fall in love with Erik and Noah as well…who wouldn’t?
Once again the authors created such a wonderful story that not only gave us the love story of Stan and Erik but also, as usual let us visit with some of the men whom we fell in love with from the previous books. The feeling of family amongst this group of men, having each others backs and just being there, whether needed or not is, as always, a wonderful thing to witness and in a not so strange way, be a part of. By the time I get done with one of these books, I feel as if I have gone along on their journey, have experienced their ups and downs and can participate in the celebration when love DOES conquer all because Love Is Love and it should be celebrated always.
So to anyone who hasn’t read any of these books I suggest you do so! Rj Scott and V.L. Locey do, to quote Bill and Ted , ” a most excellent ” job!
I cannot recommend this enough!
I love hockey romances, and the Harrisburg Railers series are favorites. They could be read out of order, although secondary characters and events do carry over, so probably best read in sequence.
Stan is one the characters I love most in this series – a big, brilliantly-talented Russian goalie with a heart of equal size. This book presented a real challenge for the authors – Stan is not very good at communicating in English, and his errors have been part of the humor of the series, but here his POV carries half the book. So he has to shift between smooth internal thoughts, presumably translated from Russian, and verbalizing or sub-vocalizing in English, with his stumbles and malapropisms. For the most part, I thought that was very well done.
Stan’s sweetness, his big heart, his love of hockey and family and protective spirit really come through in this story.
Erik is a single dad, by intention, taking full responsibility for an accidental pregnancy when the mom didn’t want a child. Erik’s struggles to raise his baby and play the game and figure out where he stands with Stan were believable, tough but not too angsty. He made some choices for baby Noah’s sake, and they weren’t always great ones (and his failure to communicate with Stan at all was not admirable.) But I could understand where he was coming from. The baby is sweet and lets these big guys show their hearts (although the nanny disappeared a bit abruptly from the story, after being substitute mother for so long.)
I had expected a little more angst and drama from the set-up (particularly the citizenship issues that arose didn’t quite click with me in how they played out. US citizenship problems are a tough road, although money helps. Once that issue was brought up, it felt like it deserved a bit more play, especially with both MCs being non-citizens.) But this story is lovely and fun, sweet and fuzzy, and I adore Stan.
I adored this single dad, second chance romance between our favorite goalie, Stan and new winger, Erik. Both men were so heart broken over losing each other that when they finally got together it was magical. I loved that Noah was added to the mix and it was lovely to see Avry fall in love as well. Onto the next book!
4.5 stars
Heat Level: 3.5
A wonderful second-chance romance.
I really enjoyed this story and the interactions between new dad, Erik and big burly Russian teddy bear, Stan. I loved Stan’s broken English, it was hilarious and so endearingly innocent! I liked this story as there was more a focus on the characters, the team members and their interactions together and ‘behind the scenes’ of hockey rather than a big focus on Hockey which helped me as I know next to nothing about Hockey! Stan and Erik have a past and broken hearts to match and I really enjoyed RJ’s and Vicki’s approach to bringing them back together. I found this a really enjoyable, easy read and I didn’t feel like I had to have read the other books in the series to know the characters. Another hit from RJ and V.L.!
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4.25 stars
I ADORE Stan. I have adored him since we met him in book one and I have wanted his story ever since. I love his broken English and how large and intimidating he seems to be, but is truly incredibly caring and selfless.
I love a good second-chance romance and these guys got theirs and then some. Even though Erik having a soon to be ex-wife and baby made things a little more complicated for him and Stan, it ended up being a really sweet part of the story. Baby Noah was sooo cute and sweet and watching Stan with him melted my heart. After the initial discomfort between Stan and Erik, they really moved from awkward and tension-filled interactions to them building their relationship back up again. With Stan’s broken English, there were some pretty funny parts and it was nice that Erik and all of the side characters took it all in stride.
The book ended just the way it needed to. We see some conclusion with some of the things that both Erik and Stan face throughout the book and we see them really solidify themselves as a couple.
*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure, a review wasn’t a requirement. ***
Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team
Ruthie –
This is the fourth book in the series and my absolute favourite so far. It is super sporty, fabulously funny, and yet cute, and crazily, passionately, chemistry laden. I think probably the humour is the real standout for me, although the alpha male Stan talking to his pipes is wonderful too!
Whilst the current events seem precipitous, we understand that there is enough history between Erik and Stan to make everything just fit the timeframe we have. From the impact of Stan’s family, to the fears Erik has about Noah’s mother, we get a sense of how much capacity these guys have for love and commitment. From the rest of the players, and the events on the ice, we see the need for concentration and commitment to their careers and team. Add in the humour, often based on Stan’s misguided use of the American language, and the sexual tension, often given a chance for free expression, and this book delivers.
Thank you Ms. Scott and Ms. Locey – this is definitely one which I will be rereading, especially when I need a broad smile.
Sarah –
This is a fabulous second-chance romance. Stan and Erik fell hard for each other during a summer training camp – until Erik ran off, married a woman, and had a son. Stan has been a favourite character throughout this series and I’m so glad the very strange Russian goalie finally has his own book.
The hockey action in this book is brilliant. Stan is hilarious on the ice. His routines and superstitions are entertaining, and his awkward English is even funnier when we get insight into the thoughts behind some of his more bizarre comments. Erik’s skating scenes are much more serious. He’s been called up to the NHL and he is desperate to prove his worth to his new team.
Off ice, both men are much softer, gentler homebodies than I would have ever expected. Erik’s son is his only priority and he nearly bankrupts himself to keep Noah with him. Stan is a caretaker. He cares for his sister and his mother passionately and he is only too happy to take care of Noah and Erik too.
I really loved this story. I loved that the miscommunications are cleared up quickly and that neither Stan or Erik holds grudges. I loved every bit of dialogue involving Stan. I love the friendships between the players on the Railers’ team and Stan and Erik together are wonderful.
This is another brilliant addition to a story I’ve loved from the start. I can’t wait for the next book!
Veronica –
Stan and Erik’s story is a second chance romance. A year after they had a heated affair at a summer training camp, Erik gets traded to the Railers. He arrives with a new baby and has to face up to his feelings for Stan.
Erik is a good guy, but I think Stan is the star of the story. When I was reading his point of view, I was hearing his Russian accident in my head and I loved his, at times, unintentionally funny broken English. He is scary on the ice but off the ice, Stan is a big teddy bear and is full of love. I adored him, and I just melted whenever he was with baby Noah.
I love that this story isn’t full of drama. It is just the journey of Erik and Stan finding their way back to each other. Things don’t always go smoothly but it is a lovely heartwarming story.
Poke Check is another great addition to the Harrisburg Railers series and I hope the authors write many more of these books because they are so wonderful I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of them.
Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Poke Check (Harrisburg Railers #4) by R.J. Scott & V.L. Locey to read and review for this tour.
Stan, Erik, & baby Noah. Good second chance romance.
Yet, I’m done with this series (at least for now). Because how many gay guys can their possibly be on one team.
This might be my favorite Railers book…. Stan is such an amazing character, and it’s a very rewarding and at times emotional read. Loved it!
Finally… Stan gets a book, I have wanted the big Russian goalie to get a book since book one. This is book four so it wasn’t a long wait. Stan came from Russia to play hockey, now he is all alone in his big house, except for Lucy his cat. He doesn’t understand much and sometimes feels like he is being laughed at, not understanding that his way of translating has things coming out a tad off. What Stan does know, is that he fell in love with Erik a year ago at a training camp, and that Erik just left without looking back. Last thing that Stan had seen was that Erik had gotten married and had a kid now. Erik Gunnarssan’s trade to the Railers, means that Erik will be near Stan again and Erik is unsure how that play out. Erik fell in love with the big Russian, but to ensure he got his son, he had to marry his soon to be ex-wife. Can Stan forgive Erik for turning his back? Can the two make something work of this family of sorts?
I loved this story! I loved Stan and his broken English and how he interpreted things. This was a second chance love story to its finest. With a bit of drama, some freaking off the charts naughty bits, funny moments, and a cute baby. Stan and Erik made for an amazing story and I give this 5 stars.