How can Daniel convince the man he loves, to stay with him in Ellery?Luke Fitzgerald left Ellery Mountain for college and vowed never to return, but with his father murdered, he has no choice but to return. Luke only goes home to sell off his share of the Ellery Mountain Cabins, but everything changes when he meets the son of the other owner.Daniel Skylar is an ex-soldier who lives every day to … who lives every day to the limit and sees a future in Luke. It doesn’t matter what Daniel says, or how much he needs Luke; Luke isn’t staying once everything is sold off. Surely Daniel can understand that?
NB: This book is a previously published title. This second edition features new cover art and has been re-edited.
Word Count: 32,875
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I love everything about Ellery Mountain! There now I said it. This is my second time with this fantastic story. I love the way RJ makes you feel right at home from the very first. The characters are very real and warm. Even thought this is a stand alone you will find a lot of cross overs in each of these Ellery Mountain stories. Very smooth reading with more than its fair share of those “Wait a minutes!” moments. This is for sure a 10 star read.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I really loved Luke and Daniel! The author did a wonderful job redeeming Luke. After reading the first book in the series, I was left with an image of Luke as a careless, selfish individual who couldn’t even be troubled to come to his father’s funeral. In this second book, we find out there were reasons…lots of reason and deep, dark scars. I love the picture of Luke the author presented in this book, and I can only imagine how hard it was for him to return to Ellery and remember his past. Luke isn’t the only one redeemed here, as the townsfolk have to come to terms with their actions/inaction, too. Plenty of communication and healing takes place. Daniel was fantastic in his care for Luke while still protecting his (Daniel’s) mother. Quite a bit of angst in this one, and everyone has to come to terms with the past and reach for the future. Loved it, and a really great ending.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team
Ruthie –
This is the second book in the series, and I would recommend that you read them in order, as the stories of Ellery Mountain continue through the books. Also, the Friday club keeps on growing! I am going to assume that you have read book one in my review.
The aftermath of Finn’s murderous ex includes one Luke Fitzgerald having to return to Ellery Mountain to claim his inheritance. It turns out that he left under awful circumstances aged 16 and never planned on coming back. We watch on as he struggles with being back – even if only briefly. He meets Daniel Skylar, whose mother owns the other half of the cabin business, and cannot help but be attracted to him. Little does he know then how this man will change his life.
Daniel is the dark and mysterious ex-Marine, who has seen more than he ever wanted to and has a plan to help others who have barely survived service. He is part of the Friday evening group that we met in book one. He is very worried about his mother’s business, and the impact Luke selling to the wrong person could have. He never thought that he would fall for him, especially as Luke has no plans to hang around.
They are so fabulous together, that we have to have faith in Ms. Scott doing the right thing, but Luke is a pretty stubborn character. Luckily ex, Zach, is on the case, and we get the ending that we want – and a call out for Kieran to get his chance soon!
Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of The Teacher & the Soldier (Ellery Mountain #2) by RJ Scott to read and review.
This is an interesting and romantic story. Luke left his hometown because of his father, and he swore he would never go back. But in the he does go back to deal with his inheritance. Daniel grew up in the same hometown, but he’s 4 years younger so he didn’t know Luke well, now he’s acting on his mother’s behalf to talk about the cabins his mother and Luke now own together, and he’s not happy with Luke’s attitude. Luke takes one look at Daniel and in lust, too bad the guy’s a jerk. Daniel doesn’t like Luke, and yet whenever they’re together, all Daniel wants to hold and protect Luke. They end up giving in to the attraction between them, with the agreement that it’s only for 2 weeks, because Luke is leaving asap. Luke has a lot of hatred and resentment towards the people in town, because nobody saw what was happening to him, let alone helped him. But Daniel helps him learn that what he thinks people think about him, is not necessarily what they actually do think about him. It’s a very touching storyline.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. This is my honest and voluntary opinion.
Luke is back to Ellery. His abusive dad was murdered and he gets everything. Which is 50% of Ellery Resort. But the past haunts him and he just wants to settle the paperwork and leave. But then he meets Daniel. An ex-marine with his own nightmares. I really wanted more from this. But I’ll read the next and hope my questions get answered.
Daniel and his mother work in the cabins in the mountains. They feel nervous because they don’t know what is going to happen with the other half of the shares now that the owner has been killed.
Luke can’t forget his abusive father. Even years later he is still living that nightmare again and again. Now that his father is dead, he only wants to sell his part of the cabins and never to see them again.
I enjoyed this book which is the second one in the series. I liked Daniel and his honesty and care for others. Having suffered from PTSD himself, he is able to see it in other people. When he sees Luke, he just feels the need to protect him.
Luke’s father physically abused him and when he turned eighteen he left for college and never came back. His father is murdered and Luke come back to sell his share of Ellery Mountain Cabins so he can start a new life in Colorado. Daniel is an ex-marine who wants to help veterans with their physical and mental issues. Daniel falls for Luke and needs to find a way to make him stay. I really enjoyed this book.
I am so in love with this series!! This is book 2, and I can not wait to read book 3 which I assume and hope will be Kierans series. This progresses the series with previous characters popping in and 2 more characters taking the spot light.
Strong story line that was so well written. Good story flow, with awesome characters who’s heart aches tugs on the heart strings. Engaging dialogue and fantastic description to detail. Written as a 3rd person, mulit pov with a HFN ending (but we all know it will be HEA).
Would I recommend this book? Yes!
Would I read more from this author? Yes!
Sassy Beta Reading and Review
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Nothing is ever as simple as it seems. Luke left Ellery Mountain with a good riddance! Then his father was murdered, & he returns to sell off his part of the cabins. Daniel, Vet, coping hopes to make a success of his Vet initiave business. He knows he needs to coordinate/collaborate with Luke. Can the two guys talk calmly? Will the town facilitate matters for the guys? Can Luke set down and put his luggage away? Can Daniel find peace? Can these two men find a clear path to working together? I received an ARC from Booksprout for a review.
A soldier and his teacher
The Teacher and the Soldier by R.J. Scott is thus far , my favorite .
A short , hot and sexy MM story with hot heroes. A perfect afternoon snack of a read.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Forced to return to sell off his share of the Ellery Mountain Cabins after his father’s death, Luke Fitzgerald stared down at the town situated between Ellery Mountain and Mercury Peak. He had not been home since he was 18. His mother had abandoned him, leaving him with his abusive father until he could escape to attend college. Night was coming to the mountains. Luke had been standing there after his 8-hour drive for hours, waiting for the darkness. There was no way he would drive into Ellery in daylight. A police car pulled up beside his vehicle, and he recognized Corporal Finn Ryan, 5 years younger than Luke. They talked briefly and Luke continued his drive to the hotel.
With his cell phone now charged, Luke scrolled through the dozens of calls and messages as his ex-boyfriend, Zach, tried to reach him. Zach had cheated, but Luke had let things go, suppressed his own wants to keep Zach happy. They had been together 6 years. He sent a text that he was here. Then he deleted all the voicemails without listening to them.
Daniel Skylar, a strong and protective man, was angry. He wanted to start a community outreach program for veterans in Knoxville but was facing push-back based on people’s irrational fears. He would talk to the local hospital in Ellery instead and see if they would have the funding to support this program. Liam Wolf, the chief doctor at St Martin’s Hospital, was a good guy and would listen and perhaps even help. He just wanted the veterans to have the same support that he did when he came back and needed help adjusting – no major trauma stuff, but a place for vets to get some down time, space to think, some medical help. There was so much need for this.
When Daniel meets Luke, he recognizes symptoms he has observed in the shattered soldiers with PTSD. He sees the “real” Luke behind the pain and anger. He seems the man who lacks confidence in himself and needs love, comfort, and healing. It takes time, but when Luke begins to trust, he starts to come out of his shell. With two weeks remaining before the resort business is finalized, can Daniel and Luke begin something that both want? Or will Luke walk away from it all?
This is powerful writing that lets the reader vividly feel the pain and brokenness of the characters we meet. Daniel is strong and caring of others, which is just what Luke needs if he can get over his anger and intimidation. You’ll find this book is something you experience and not just words on the page you read. Grab your copy and let the touching story line into your heart.
Daniel returned to his hometown after finishing physical therapy for injuries related to an IED in Afghanistan. He would live with a limp – but he was still alive. Liam was a doctor who helped him at a small hospital near his hometown.
What Daniel dreams of is providing some kind of a home or outreach program for other returning vets. When one proposal fails in Knoxville, Daniel reaches out to Liam to see if something different might be feasible a bit closer to home.
Another snag appears in Luke. He left town after being badly beaten by his drunk of a father. With the recent murder of his father, Luke is back to settle the estate and move on with his life.
Luke harbors a lot of anger in him more than ten years after he left town. He still feels the betrayal that no one helped him as a teen. Sadly his own coping mechanisms, his denials to himself that all was okay- it helped blind the town. Until the damage his father did was impossible to ignore- and then Luke ran from town, and never came back.
Two men with some damage might just have a chance at a future, if they can cope with their pasts.
Intense KU m/m romance.
I received an advance copy from Booksprout. I read this book on Kindle Unlimited. I have read most of the books in this series on Kindle and Kindle Unlimited.
The author has written another poignant, powerful, grab-you-by-the-feels, slightly angsty, totally awesome, and delightful story. I was hooked from the very first page, and can’t wait to see what happens next.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is a standalone book, but I don’t think I would have enjoyed it as much without having read the first in the series. Daniel had trouble overcoming his PTSD after his military discharge and wants to build a place to live for other veterans like him. The reader is first introduced to him in Book One and explained a lot about his background. The depth to Daniel’s character is missing in Book Two. In The Teacher and the Soldier, he is featured as a main character, who falls in love with Luke. However, the book is more about Luke and his returning to his hometown years after fleeing from an abusive childhood. It is still a good read, like most RJ Scott books are, because the author has a way of making the characters real and someone you want to know. Luke’s torment over his issues with the town, his father and his past are heartbreaking.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is a short and easy read. The characters are as well developed as possible throughout the novella, and the writing style is smoothly done.
Daniel Skylar returned from active duty as a Marine approximately six months ago. His mother owns half of the resort in town, and he is working toward a future project that will benefit other veterans like himself. Now, since the owner of the other half of the resort was murdered, he really needs to get in touch with his son, Luke, to see what his plans are regarding the sale of the cabins.
Luke Fitzgerald, son of Ellery’s infamous town drunk and trouble maker, left town a decade ago with no intentions of ever returning. But, with his life in a tailspin and his father murdered, he decides to face down his demons on his way to starting over. He just needs to sign some papers and get his half of the resort on the market.
When Luke and Daniel meet, sparks fly, and not all are the fun kind. Luke is wary of everyone in Ellery knowing who he is and what his life was like before he left in the dead of night. However, there is something about the ex-military, tattooed man that has him running hot. When Kieran inadvertently brings Luke to the last place he wants to be, Daniel is the one who calms him down and gets him to safety. Luke also learns a few truths about his past that contradict his own beliefs, but he seems to accept what he is told readily enough.
* Slight spoilers ahead *
When Luke learns he must stay in town longer than expected, Daniel offers his place for the duration. Of course, we have two men who have been celibate for a bit too long, and the result is a very sexy two weeks of fun. However, when the time is up, Luke doesn’t handle the situation with much more than a thanks…even after Daniel puts it all on the line.
But, after leaving town and settling in at a hotel, Luke calls his friend Zach, who quickly gives him a stern talking to. The only question then is, is he too late to make amends? After following his friend’s advice, Luke and Daniel are ready to face their HEA together.
Happy reading!
* I received an ARC of this book from Booksprout and I am leaving my honest review. *
This was another great book from the author. The well-written characters were likable and engaging and the storyline had me at the first chapter. I read it straight through and the end came way too soon.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Luke comes home to take cafe of his fathers estate before leaving again. Luke finds himself drawn to Daniel. Daniel’s mom and Luke’s dad both owned the Ellery Mountain Cabins. Luke wants to sell his half because he wants no connection to the place. Coming home to Ellery has helped Daniel, and he wants to set something up so other veterans can have the same.Will Luke leave in the end or will he stay? Can Daniel show Luke that there is someone that loves him?
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Luke has come back to sell off his legacy now that his drunken father is dead. He wants nothing to do with the town that allowed his father to abuse him for so long. But life has a way of putting people in your path that you need even though you do not think you need anything. For Luke that is Daniel. Can Luke get over the hurt that he feels every time he looks around? Can Daniel show him that Luke is safe and can live again? I absolutely love this series. With each addition the characters get better and better. RJ Scott has once again created a new world filled with hope and love – and really hot men!!!