REVIEWED by Jen B.

TITLE: Deep Edge

SERIES: Harrisburg Railers #3

AUTHORS: R.J. Scott and V.L. Locey

PUBLISHER: Love Lane Books

LENGTH: 196 Pages

RELEASE DATE: December 1, 2017

BLURB: 

One man’s passion, another man’s lies. Can love fix even the darkest of hearts.

Trent Hanson is a figure skating phenom adored by millions around the world. His whole life has been dedicated to the sport he loves even when the sport – and his own family – have turned against him. From the playground to the Olympics to his parent’s living room, Trent has fought against bullies and homophobes to be the out and proud gay man he is. But the constant fighting has left Trent tired, lonely, and skittish. All those fears will have to be shelved though when he’s hired to spend the summer working with the Harrisburg Railers ice hockey team. Who would have guessed that the man fate has decided to pair him off with is Dieter Lehmann, all-around sex god and a man who seems to have everything to prove and doesn’t care who he hurts to get what he wants.

Dieter has spent too many years languishing in the minors and a secret addiction to prescription painkillers means his career is in a downward spiral. His ex is blackmailing him and he’s close to walking away from it all. But when he’s called up in the run for the Stanley Cup to cover injuries he has a taste of what it’s like playing in the NHL and he realizes that a place on the Railers roster is what he wants more than anything. More than listening to his heart, and even more than caring for the infuriating figure skater who gets under his skin. When he crosses the line to get what he wants, he knows he has lost his way. He has to change, but is it too late for both his career and any chance he might have at love?

 REVIEW:

I have really been enjoying this series.  While it is definitely centered around hockey, with the MCs all being a part of the Harrisburg Railers, it is not overloaded with hockey.  Not that I would mind if it was, but for those who aren’t extremely well versed in the sport, this is a great series to whet your whistle.  It picks up pretty much where the last book left off, though it could probably be read on its own.  I definitely recommend reading the prior books though, to get you up to speed on the various characters and get to know the makeup of the team as well.

After Ten and Jared came out in the last book, the team is just at the start of the off season, with many of them being encouraged to take part in a reality tv series that will double as a summer conditioning camp.  The main players all decide to participate and take the chance to learn something, hone their skating skills and hopefully gain an edge that will get them closer to their goal of winning the Stanley Cup.  Olympic figure skater, Trent, is the one chosen to lead them on this challenge.

Trent is a bit down on his luck after his stepfather ran off with all of this money.  He runs a skating rink that caters to LGBTQ youth giving them a safe haven and a place to be themselves and sparkle as much as they want.  After all, who better to show them that it’s ok then the fabulous and glittering Trent?  He has never let anyone dull his shine, and even though he is pretty low on happy at the moment, he doesn’t compromise on that part of himself.  He’s reluctant to accept his role on the series, big jock hockey players being nothing he wants any part of, but the money is too much to pass on.

Dieter is one of the Railers who was called up to cover injuries.  He has just been offered a one-year contract, but he has some issues.  Namely, he has his own injury, which initially led to an opiate addiction.  He about had it kicked, but it resurfaced again.  He hits it off with Trent, but Trent recognizes right away that Dieter has a problem, having faced an addicted boyfriend and the issues with his stepfather.  He is reluctant to get involved, but Dieter gets a hold of things pretty quickly and sets things right with Trent.

These guys were really sweet together.  Dieter loved everything about Trent and in fact encouraged him to always go full out with his style.  And Dieter showed Trent that big hockey players weren’t all bullying jocks.  Throughout the taping of the show, the team all showed Trent a new side of things, which started from the get go when they all pretty much embraced him and took his abilities seriously.  I loved watching them all interact, and it made me love this rag tag team even more.

The big Russian goalie, Stan, has been one of my favorites from the start, always making sure everyone ate properly, taking Ten’s side and joining in the Pokemon games, etc.  I am a huge goalie fan as well, so I was super excited to see he is the star of the next book, which I cannot wait to get my hands on!  If you are a hockey fan of any level, you should definitely check this series out!

RATING: