WycEd Reader's Reviews > Last Defense

Check out our Last Defense Blog Tour post on Wicked Reads.

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Veronica – ☆☆☆
So the positives about this story.

1. I love seeing the Railers play and spending time with the players.
2. Max and Ben's romance is both hot and sweet and easy to enjoy.
3. Ben's crazy great aunts are good value.
4. Bucky, Ben's dog. I love it when our heroes have animals in their lives.

The negative. The story was entirely predictable. The problems they were going to encounter were glaringly obvious, so it lessened the impact of the events and my connection to the story.

I enjoyed Last Defense. It was good, romantic reading requiring little effort on the part of the reader. I'm pleased to see there will be a book 6 in this series because I'm happy to spend more time with the Railers.


Sarah – ☆☆☆☆
Adding cute dogs to a series about hot hockey players feels like a completely unfair manipulation of my emotions. And the details only make the story better. The hockey player in this one is Max, a veteran player heading for retirement and Ben, the owner of the local dog rescue happens to be a grieving widower. Seriously – this book ticks far too many of my romance novel soft spots!

I loved both Max and Ben (though I have to admit that I loved Ben’s dog most of all) – and as always, I loved the Harrisburg Railers hockey team. The romance in this story is sticky sweet and pretty fluffy. Ben and Max both wrestle with a few more serious issues that keep the story from pushing into diabetes territory, but this is a pretty light read. For a hockey story, there is limited hockey action, but the authors capture some brilliant moments between Railers team members.

This is an entertaining addition to a light and fun hockey series. It’s a low angst, moderate heat romance with a few exciting scenes and a great sense of humour. I really enjoyed Ben and Max’s story.


Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
This is the fifth book in the series, and I would recommend that you read them in order to get the full picture of this fabulous team of hockey players, coaches, and friends. Max may be new to the team, but he knows this is last season, so he puts everything into his playing. It is fun seeing previous couples together and being supportive.

The hockey story about getting the Stanley Cup works well, it isn't front and centre, but as soon as the men take to the ice, the tempo shifts up a gear and the pressure is on. Anyone who either reads hockey romances or watches the sport will know that Max's role ensures plenty of on ice aggression and penalties. He does not disappoint!

Ben's world revolves around keeping his animal shelter open and his charges safe and fed. He has a large but cute dog called Bucky, and a fragile heart after losing his husband to cancer. So a big bruiser like Max suddenly being in his life is a bit of shock, but as we see, somehow they fit. It is a complex, slightly nervous relationship at first, but clearly there is a connection which is determined to grow.

As we get both sides of the story, it is clear to us that Max's health issues will cause huge problems to Ben, but we can only watch it all play out. Add in the danger to Ben from his ex-brother-in-law and there is enough angst when on the rink, or home, or the shelter. In the midst of all that they forge a strong bond, have some very passionate encounters, and even move up to waking up together.

This is a lovely story, with plenty of romance, passion, sport, and ultimately, fulfillment. Thank you. Ms. Locey and Ms. Scott. I think that we have to wait till August for the next installment – I am counting down the days!

Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Last Defense (Harrisburg Railers #5) by R.J. Scott & V.L. Locey to read and review.