REVIEWED by Jen B.
TITLE: Benoit
SERIES: Owatonna U Hockey
AUTHORS: R.J. Scott and V.L. Locey
PUBLISHER: Love Lane Books
LENGTH: 192 Pages
RELEASE DATE: May 17, 2019
BLURB: When the lines between career and love blur, will Ethan and Ben find a way to create a future that will work for both of them?
Senior year is here, and everything is on the line. Benoit’s time to shine in the crease is now, and he’s going to do everything he can to make sure those professional scouts take notice. He’s earned a great reputation for his skills in the net, and his laid-back demeanor is his key to maintaining his cool when things get heated in the goal crease.
As the Eagles roar into a new season, Ben’s laser-sharp focus is shattered by his attraction to Ethan Girard, the team’s new defensive consultant. Trying his best to ignore the budding friendship that’s taking a hard, fast turn into something far more passionate, Ben is determined to keep his mind on the sport he loves and not let his feelings for the handsome older man creep into his performance. But love, like hockey, is wildly unpredictable, and soon Ben finds that he’s unable to distance himself from Ethan who is slowly and surely working himself into his heart.
Famed Boston defenseman, Ethan Girard, isn’t stupid. Celebrating his thirty-second birthday in the emergency room after breaking his leg, and with a warning that healing will be a long process, he knows he has to think about his future. He was drafted at eighteen, and he’s never known anything but hockey, but with no contract in place yet for the new season he considers that maybe it’s time for him to hang up his skates for good.
Volunteering to help out with the Owatonna Eagles fills his time, but from the moment he lays eyes on goalie Ben, he knows his world will never be the same again. Falling in lust is as easy as stealing his first kiss, but Ben refuses to engage. Has Ethan finally met his match?
REVIEW: In this installment, we have two guys at different stages in their hockey careers. Benoit is an up and coming college goalie with a promising career ahead of him. He has one goal – make it to the NHL to secure his future and financial security to be able to help his family, including his ailing father. Ethan is taking a break from his NHL career to recuperate from an injury and is contemplating his retirement. While home in Owatonna, he takes on a volunteer job coaching/mentoring Benoit’s team.
I love how the guys are all connected in this series. Benoit is a roommate of Scott and Ryker (the previous two books); and Ethan was a teammate of Tennant’s older brother (Tennant and Jared Madsen are from the Harrisburg Railers and are Ryker’s dads). The connections all feel plausible and natural, as opposed to made up to fit the story.
Benoit and Ethan are instantly attracted to one another, but there are a few hurdles for them to face before they are both on the same page, mostly from Benoit’s side. He is already dealing with the stress of school and staying focused on his game and doesn’t want to add to the list of things already lined up against him – he is a black gay/bisexual Canadian in a predominantly white/straight sport. There is also the age gap and the fact that Ethan is coaching his team, although he is only a volunteer. But, thankfully, most of these things don’t stand in the way for too long, and Ethan ends up adding the extra support Benoit didn’t’ know he needed. One thing I loved was seeing Ethan find happiness at the next stage in his life. He was truly happy watching Benoit succeed, and given his own experience, his understanding in what it takes for that to happen.
There is the added stress of someone stalking Benoit, which I felt the story could have actually done without or that it could have been a bit more believable. Nonetheless, it brought the guys even closer and helped solidify their relationship. I wasn’t wowed by this pairing for some reason, but there was enough interaction with the other guys to make it an enjoyable read overall. It showed the others and how they are dealing with their various issues, such as Scott and how he is making out since he took charge of his own life outside of hockey. It also nicely sets up the spinoff series, which I am really excited about. Ryker is about to head to the Raptors, the team that picked him up in the draft and the one with the worst reputation in the league. It also happens to have the guy who almost ended Tennant’s career, and Ryker is having some major anxiety about fitting in and dealing with all of that. I have been hooked on the original series from book one, totally enjoyed this one as well, and can’t wait to see how it all plays out in the upcoming Raptors series!
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