Ricochet by River Hale

 

Callum Hayes

The first time I witnessed death was my mother’s when I was eight years old. It devastated me. The second was at sixteen when I stumbled on my stepfather’s body after he was brutally murdered. That one screwed me up in a different way.

Since then, I’ve kept my shadows at bay, my secrets locked up tight. That is until Stone Wakefield joins my college hockey team.

Five years ago, he saw something I meant to take to my grave. He saw me weak, and I hate him for it. I have no choice but to keep hating him so he never sees past my mask again.

Stone Wakefield

Callum hates me, and he does nothing to hide it. While that makes it easy to get under his skin, it presents a problem on the ice. However, the bigger threat is my growing need to protect and possess him.

When I start to wonder if he’s just as obsessed with me as I am with him, I’m not sure if I can stay away. I know I should because I have secrets of my own.

But what if the darkness in both of us is the piece we’ve each been missing?

Callum Hayes is mine. He just doesn’t know it yet.

Ricochet is a standalone dark MM hockey romance with a guaranteed HEA. Specific content warnings can be found on the author's website.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/218675179-ricochet

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My Review: 5/5 Stars

This dark hockey mm romance knows how to keep you on your toes! Callum didn’t have it easy growing up. Not when his mom died and his stepdad decided hurting him was better than taking care of him. And when his stepdad was brutally murdered, well, Callum can’t help but feel relief. Sure, life was going to change again and these things will leave their scars but he can admit that seeing his stepdad’s death was more comfort than horror. But what does bother him is the fact that Stone saw the scars Callum bears. Callum doesn’t like his weakness shown but at least he is moving. Years later, though, Stone is back in his life when he transfers to Callum’s college to play hockey. They’ll be on the same team once more but it’s the last thing he wants. Because even after all this time, Stone can still see Callum’s mask. And that may scare him the most. There is some darkness in Stone and he knows it. A protective instinct that can be too much and a beast that is willing to cross so many lines. But over the years, he has figured out how to tame the beast and control any instincts. Maybe it’s not the best way, but in the end justice will be served. But seeing Callum again threatens the control he has over both of these strong instincts. Stone knows that Callum is meant to be his and vice versa. But can Callum handle all of him? This book was insane! Dark and gritty and there were some solid twists and turns here! I couldn’t put it down which naturally led me to finishing it in one sitting. These characters were so intriguing and complex. I had to know more. If you don’t mind the nitty gritty, then I definitely recommend this!