Book 1,074: Save the Game (SCU Hockey #2) – J.J. Mulder

Book two of J.J. Mulder’s SCU Hockey series finds us once again back on the campus of South Carolina University, but this time it’s not as happy of a story. Trigger warning: sexual assault off page.

We meet Max, the hockey playing protagonist of this novel in book one of the series, Shots on Net, and I knew something was up with him, I just didn’t know what. I thought it was just him figuring things out, but it was so much more than that. Turns out his world was turned upside down when he was drugged and sexually assaulted at a party, and all he can do is keep moving forward through nightmares and insomnia.

Cue Luke, an over-confident bordering on obnoxious, baseball player who plays the field as if there’s no tomorrow enjoying sex and his sexuality as any young horny person might. He also works an overnight job at a diner, where he meets Max on a shift when Max is trying to escape his nightmares. Luke shoots his shot and things go from there.

I’m not usually the biggest fan of hurt/comfort tropes, but occasionally I do like to read them. I think for me there’s always a little too much hiding and not enough honesty between the characters, because rightfully they don’t have to share everything, but it just puts an extra layer of complexity and unknowing that I’m not always comfortable with. I also wasn’t a fan of the way Luke found out about what happened, but there are worse ways that happens in the real world.

Luke’s personality of all or nothing really shone, especially when he sought out the help of a sexual assault counselor without really even knowing what he was doing there. He just knew that he liked Max and wanted to make sure he didn’t do anything to jeopardize that or put Max in a place where he might be uncomfortable. They still have moments of discomfort and even panic, but they definitely find their groove and make the most of it.

Max’s more tempered and quiet personality, trauma aside, was an excellent balance to Luke’s over the top nature. Even as Max came out of his shell there were moments where he sassed Luke back and those were golden:

‘So, hey, are you my boyfriend?’ I ask, and he chokes a little bit because of my unfortunate timing.
‘What?’ he asks, after successfully clearing his throat of peanut butter.
‘What’s our thing? Boyfriends, lovers, partners? Sex cowboys?’
‘Sex cowboys?’
‘I don’t know,’ I laugh, ‘I just couldn’t think of any other relationship terms, so figured I’d make up some of my own. Sex cowboys sounds like it might be a good time.’
‘Sure, if either one of us was a fucking cowboy,’ he says, hand shaking so hard with laughter he has to set his plate on the nightstand. His empty plate, I’m pleased to note. (123)

The scene when Luke (and friend) discover who assaulted Max and the ensuing consequences for everyone involved were really powerful and definitely changed the tone of the novel. Thankfully, Mulder brought it back to a happier place in the end and I’m excited to revisit SCU in On the Edge, book three of the series.

Mulder did an excellent job of walking the walk on vers characters and I always judge authors based on that. Don’t have a character say they’re vers and then only have them in one position or acknowledge one position, so she got points for that. But, she lost a point for copy editing. Someone else did this recently where apparently a character changes underwear mid sex-scene and it just drives me nuts. It’s nowhere near as bad as he infamous “butthole” comment during a sex scene, but anytime you pull me out of a scene it’s a problem:

I adjust my positioning enough that I can do the same thing with my mouth, kissing down to where his boxers are riding low on his hips. I slide my tongue under the waistband and he arches upward again. With my face down by his crotch, I can hardly help but notice how he’s straining at his briefs; the thin fabric leaving nothing to the imagination and the sight practically making my mouth water. (128)

But, I will say, overall for self-published novels the editing has been decent and I can’t really complain.

Recommendation: If you love hockey and romance, then this is a great series for you. You should definitely be aware that sexual assault (off page prior to the novel start) plays a big role in the story. And if hurt/comfort isn’t a draw for you, maybe skip this one. I’m looking forward to the next in the series and even diving into Mulder’s back catalogue.

Opening Line: “People are speaking and machines are beeping.”

Closing Line: “Cute, but let’s be honest. He’s got nothing on Max Kuemper.” (Whited out to avoid spoilers, highlight to read.)