Blaze and Maisy shared three days of debauchery at the SIGs four years ago, so good that neither could forget. But it was just for fun, so they never sought each other, until they both arrive in Denver for another round of Snow and Ice Games. Picking up right where they left off, the pair shares a greedy lust, spending almost all their private time together. But each knows it’s only for the duration of the games, and real feelings aren’t an issue… right?

Fire on the Ice is the fourth tale to come from the Snow and Ice Games series. This time around, the story features Maisy, the shy, mostly closeted figure skater and Blaze, the loud and proud, polymorous short track speed skater. Blaze and Maisy are polar opposites, yet so much the same. They both work hard for the sport they love; never in the top but always close. They both are sexually insatiable and enjoy being with one another. But whereas Blaze basks in the public eye and loves attention, Maisy shies away, hoping to stay off the radar.

I liked the pairing of Blaze and Maisy. Both have to learn to be better versions of themselves to make the relationship work. They both grow and give, and I enjoyed watching how their union developed over the short, but intense time they spent together. They both make missteps, but instead of these mistakes ending things, they help to bring the couple closer together. I also appreciate the author’s focus on the importance of strong and open communication being the key to a solid relationship.

The only real negative for me was the shear volume of graphic sex. I didn’t ever think I’d write those words, but honestly, after a while, I just skimmed the scenes because I wanted more of the story outside the bedroom. However, the scenes are not gratuitous because the couple’s sexual nature is important to the story. The sex scenes are used to show the common bond and ultimate trust each woman has with/for the other. They are used to show how the pair grows increasingly closer and intimate. But for me, it got to be too much and overshadowed the rest of the story.

Overall, Fire on the Ice is a solid story and sexy romance. I love how strongly Blaze and Maisy support one another. How mistakes are made but forgiveness is granted. How love is stronger than outside circumstances. I love seeing both grow and mature, slaying inner demons along the way.

My Rating: B, Liked It

Podcast episode discussing the book and series can be found here: http://traffic.libsyn.com/womenwithbooks/WWB_Ch.15_Tamsen_Parker.mp3

Maisy Harper is a proper Canadian figure skater. She takes her sport, her practices, and herself seriously. She is constantly trying to live up to her parents’ expectations and she keeps her eyes on the ice and herself out of the press. She is the exact opposite of speed skater Blaze Bellamy, whose fire-red hair and outlandish actions make her front-page news.

Blaze is the media darling of the games, although she’s not even favored to win a medal. She met Maisy at the last Fire and Ice Games when they spent several nights enjoying each other and she hasn’t forgotten one moment of it. Blaze has no shortage of sexual partners and if she finds you attractive, you are fair game.

Blaze and Maisy agree to hook up over the course of the Games as long as Blaze agrees to be monogamous during that time. Blaze likes to have multiple partners, but when asked for monogamy she will indulge for shorter periods of time. Blaze is thinking she might want something more with Maisy, but Blaze still wants the spotlight and one wrong choice could have Maisy walking away for good.

Fire on the Ice is the fourth book in Parker’s Snow and Ice Games series, and I’ll say that I am enjoying the books less and less as the series progresses. I’ve read the series over a short period of time and all of the books read in a similar manner. The books all feature a secret relationship and the characters are all too much in their heads with a tremendous amount of internal narrative that becomes monotonous.

Blaze and Maisy are all about hooking up and that’s what they intend to do during the Games, as often as possible. They have already met so when we catch up with them they are already looking for a repeat performance and I missed seeing that initial meeting. This book is supposed to be intimate as Blaze and Maisy spend a whole lot of time in bed. They are all over each other and share what are supposed to be some deeply personal encounters. Yet, it did not come off as sensual and from my side of the kindle they had no chemistry between them. The issue I found was the same issue I have had with other books in this series and that is an extensive amount of internal narrative. Blaze and Maisy are having these supposed intense sexual moments, yet they are so in their own heads and they are connecting more with themselves than they are with each other. It made the book tedious to get through.

Blaze is completely open with who she is and makes sure that all her partners are on the same page and she has her own definition of poly that works for her. Maisy is not about open relationships at all. Yet, somewhere during the course of the book, Maisy acknowledges what Blaze needs, which is great in itself, but the progression of where or how Maisy changed her mind is not shown and the characters were not as fully developed as I would have liked.

Blaze and Maisy are completely different characters on paper, yet their voices were similar throughout the course of the book. The tone of the book and the voice of the characters were not for me here and as interested as I was for this series, I don’t think this author is a good fit for me.

Fire on the Ice offers an interesting plotline and the promise of an engaging story. This book focuses on Maisy and Blaze. I enjoyed both characters and the opposite attract angle to their personalities. Their physical encounters are packed with intensity but lacked true emotional depth. I went into this book expecting a romance but in reality the book reads much more like a piece of erotica. This is not a bad thing, it's just not what I expected. So in the end I felt disappointed. So badly I wish this book had provided a much deeper depth to these characters, their emotions and their romance.

Man, I was just so disappointed by this book. It’s the fourth book in the Snow & Ice Games series, each of which can be read as a stand-alone. I was particularly impressed by the second book, Seduction on the Slopes, which was m/m, so I guess I was hoping that the f/f book would also be great. Unfortunately, while I liked parts of it, there were also parts I didn’t care for.

“I’m frustrated by my performance today. It’s not so much the losing. That happens and I wasn’t counting on a big win today. My best events are later—the ones that require stamina, not short bursts of speed. But if I can’t win, if I have to get disqualified, I could at least do it in style, in a way that’s going to get me some attention, not in some boring-ass way no one gives a shit about. If I can’t be victorious, I’d like to be notorious.”

Blaze does short track speed skating, which she describes as both “roller derby on ice” and “abbreviated NASCAR on skates.” I liked how ridiculously over the top Blaze was. She’s bisexual and polyamorous, and thrives on attention, positive or negative – to her, it’s validation that she matters. There’s nothing she likes better than being on the front page of all the gossip sites. Maisy, in contrast, is known as Canada’s Ice Princess, both for her figure skating and reserved demeanor. However, in private with Blaze, she’s ridiculously assertive and dominant, which was quite fun. Maisy’s parents consider her “both less and more than” – they view her sexuality as an attention-grab rather than how she is, and are basically disproving if she’s anything other than elegant or perfect.

“Also, it’s Blaze being Blaze. Her body is her currency and she uses it to trade for what she wants. As a fellow athlete, I get it. It’s what we have to offer the world.
It’s not the way I choose to trade mine, and my first reaction to her stunts is always teenage wrinkled-nose disgust. Like, ew, who does that? But my grandma told me once that the first thing that comes into your head is what you’ve been taught, it’s what comes next that’s what you believe.”

Of course, while they may be perfectly compatible in bed, out in the real world is something different. As you’d expect, the practically exhibitionist Blaze and shy, introverted Maisy have to learn how to adapt to each other, and I was extremely happy to see that Ms. Parker had them both compromise, rather than expect Maisy to just “loosen up.” Blaze teaches Maisy that she is enough, just as she is, and that showing the world the person she is inside is better than striving to be a perfect automaton. Maisy teaches Blaze that external validation, while nice, isn't as necessary as validation from yourself and those who love you.

My main problem is that this felt like two separate books. The first half was basically really long, steamy sexcapade, and it wasn’t until the second half of the book that I felt like the characters had any depth. While sex scenes are fun, I usually read romance books for, well, the romance, and it felt like the characters didn’t have any sort of relationship outside of banging each other as much as possible. There’s one particularly sweet scene in the first half of Maisy washing and then cutting Blaze’s hair, which I loved, but a few pages later they’re back to fisting and I was just left wanting less banging and more relationship. The irony didn’t escape me that the point where I actually started really liking the book – the second half – was when they’d broken up and weren’t spending any time together. The first half of the book was like a 2, the second half a 4, so averaging this out to a 3.

Overall, enjoyable, but oddly paced.

I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

DNF at 68%.

Fire on the Ice is the fourth book in Tamsen Parker’s Snow & Ice Games series and can easily be read a s a standalone. Though I recommend you to read the first two books in the series because I really enjoyed them. Haven’t read the third one yet, but will do that as soon as it releases.

This isn’t the first time Maisy and Blaze have a bit of fun together. They first met during the last Snow and Ice Games and had a secret affair back then too. While Blaze is open about her sexuality, Maisy is not. Other than Blaze, only her parents know — and they made her stay in the closet. Maisy looked forward to the SIG’s not only because of the competition but also because this was another possibility to see Blaze again.

They’re familiar with each other both sexually and non-sexually, so getting to know each other happens off-page. I’m a sucker for reading the first time meeting of two characters — I love that attraction and the first spark, the getting to know each other and slow (or sometimes fast) progress of the main characters relationship). All that was missing here. I feel like in some instances it would have helped to have a bit more insight to that. Particularly because they have a very intense sexual relationship that requires a lot of trust. Though this is only a personal preference and I know some people who would really enjoy this story.

I had high expectations for this when I requested it on NetGalley. Partly because I really enjoyed the first books in the series, and partly because it was an f/f sports romance. The sports aspect wasn’t as prominent as I had hoped it would be, but I liked Blaze and Maisy, and liked them more the more I read. Although I would have liked a bit more of the sport, I didn’t really miss it. Fire on the Ice was easily on track to be a 4 star read. I really enjoyed how their perceived roles changed when they were alone with each other. You’d think that Blaze is the more dominant one because she’s very loud and has a strong personality. Maisy is more quiet and keeps herself hidden. Once they’re alone, though, that completely changes.

What I loved about Fire on the Ice was how sex-positive it was. Blaze is bisexual and poly — she loves sex and she wants a lot of it. There is a small misunderstanding in the story that relates to that — but I feel like it was handled well by Parker and it showed some of Maisy’s insecurities. Also Blaze called her out on the spot and they resolved it fast.

As I said this was fast on track to become a four star read… and then Blaze decided she needed more media coverage and attention, so she set up a photgrapher to be there when Maisy and Blaze were watching a sporting event — to take photo’s of the two of them kissing. Of Maisy, who is not out to the public.
That was the moment that I really did not want the two of them to end up with together. And there is nothing Blaze could possibly do that would ever justify or excuse her decision, so I put the book away. This might not be a no-go for everyone, but for me this was like a roundhouse kick to the stomach and I just couldn’t read any more of it.

Fire on the Ice is part of Tamsen Parker's Snow and Ice Games series and showcases the world of female skating from the viewpoints of two quite different characters - Blaze, an extroverted speed skater, and Maisy, an introverted figure skater. Where Blaze is all about getting attention, Maisy shies away from the crowds. In the bedroom it's a bit different though, with Maisy delighting in taking control and Blaze happy to follow suit. They both have goals of winning medals at the games, but can they also take their friends with benefits relationship to another level?

The first half of this story reads more like erotica than like a romance. There's a lot of sex, some of it quite inventive but not really any hint of romance between the two characters. On the plus side it's a very sex positive book obviously, and these two aren't shy in private. On the downside, there's little conflict to keep the reader invested in the characters.

The second half of the story is where the real plot begins for me. There are some good scenes with the sports the ladies are involved in that delve into more technical details. As a fan of watching winter Olympics, and skating in particular, these were well done. Also here is where the characters start to show their real selves, with Maisy concerned about public appearances - not because she has a problem being a lesbian but just because that's part of her character, and Blaze quite the opposite. Blaze makes decisions that cause them some problems, and in the end it's she that has to realize that if she wants to be with Maisy for more than a sexual fling, she'll have to really listen to her concerns. Blaze also prefers poly relationships, something Maisy is prepared to accept even if she isn't poly herself. I have some doubts as to whether the couple would really be happy in the long term because of their differences on that front. Still, we get a happy for now ending for the couple. I think in general, if you're looking for a steamy, easy lesbian read, that's what you'll find here.

This review has been posted at Goodreads, and will be posted at sale sites during release week.

An interesting tale of two people drawn together, but aren't sure that they can be together in any cap act beyond their temporary arrangement. With mixed communications and signals, it is hard to see where their story will go. Will they end up together, or pulled apart?
The two women have very different lives, and personalities, different expectations from the people in their lives effect their behaviors. It was enjoyable watching their stories unfold, separately and together.

Okay, first things first I was super excited to get approved for an ARC of this book. I was all about it. It was posted as a romance and the summary sounded really great. I will fully admit that I have never read anything by Tamsen Parker or in this series so I wasn’t sure what I was going to get. I was going in blind.

This is not a romance. This is pure erotica. So if that’s your thing? GET IT, GIRL!

I was expecting a sweeping story line, sexy scenes, and all the things you get with a romance book. As soon as I started the first chapter, I knew the majority of what I was going to read was sex and I was okay with that, (I consider it research, the little weirdo I am) and kept on reading.

Maisy was very dominant in this and I got the feeling that if Blaze wouldn’t have been down with what Maisy demanded, then that would have been it. No more sex and Maisy would have moved on her merry way.

There were scenes that I was like, what. the. fuck. People do that? I had never read a fisting scene. In all the books I’ve read, M/M, F/M, F/F, this was a first for me. I expected a lot of prep, a lot of foreplay, and a super long drawn out scene. Nope. The face riding scenes? I’m not a fan of. I mean, I know people are into that. I’m not. Simple as that.

What I did appreciate was the fact that toys were written into some of the scenes. Sex isn’t just fingers, tongues and kissing. Those scenes involving the use of toys were freaking hot. It left me a little breathless. I was all about those scenes.

I feel like the little bit of plot that was included was an after thought. “Oh, this is more than three weeks of sex between two women. I should fix that.” There was an over use of some terminology but that is literally me nitpicking, not a big deal. Most people probably wouldn’t notice it.

All in all, it was an okay read. I definitely would have labeled this as EROTICA not romance. So if you like erotica, this is for you. If you like a lot of plot with your sex, probably not for you.

I'm so sad to say this because once I got the book yesterday I start it immediately and I wished it was much better. Unfortunately my problems started very soon, I have problem with the main heroines and also with the steamy scenes that it didn't feel at all like that!Also it was too many!Maybe the problem is that this is my first F/F but I have read before some books in the series and I was excited to start it!!Hopefully everyone will enjoy it more than me!Hope there is another book in the series soon!

Going to keep this rather short. For several reasons, but the main one is that they story is very simple in a complexity aspect.
Maisy and Blaze are combustive. The first time they've been together is at the previous SIGs where they've done does less than stellar and comforted each other with explosive sexual encounter (encounters? I can't remember) after both finished their sessions.

This time they both anticipate the games for two reasons: the games, and each other. And on the day they both arrive at the village they share a fiery kiss that is the super hot opening for a 3 week sexual romance. Parker mentions several times during the story a term, SIG Wife, and at first it amused me, but then I realized it's actually something that happens. And I say - good for these athletes. 

Anyway, back to the story. Maisy is Canada's ice princess. She's composed, very well put together all the time, polite and somewhat robotic. There's a reason for that.

Blaze is anything but. She'a wild card, carefree and outwardly sexual. She'll do anything within legal reason (mostly) to garner attention, mainly mass media attention, in an attempt to get more media time for her athletic profession. 

Blaze agrees to Maisy's stipulation on them being together during the games as long as they're exclusive. Blaze agrees, and then we get about 1/2 a book of steaming hot sex. And then Blaze f$%#s up. That's where the story truly began for me. Where it grabbed my attention. There's just not enough story in this story. The balance between the sexy times and the plot is off, and to me it was noticeable. 

I love all of Tamsen's stories, and I very much enjoyed this one, as well. But it won't be in my top 5 of hers. Yet, I'm recommending it as part of the SIG series. It can't be missed.

oooh i liked this one. it was so steamy. damn. it was a task to kep my face neutral while reading these sex scenes with family members around lol but i did iiiit!

Again, the strength of these books is the character voice. Maisy and Blaze are vastly different people. Maisy's more conservative and shy and Blaze is soo the opposite. Blaze unapologetically loves the spotlight and has made a career out of it, she's also not shy when it comes to her sex life. I loved both characters. How they were so different in general but oh so compatible in the bedroom. Those sex scenes, damn. it's how their relationship started four years ago and how it continued this round of the SIGs so of course there was a lot of sexy times, as they decide that's all their relationship will be til the end of the games (right sure girls...juuust sex, who you foolin>.>)

Of course conflict arises that yeh had me pissed at both women because assumptions were made on Maisy's part, which Blaze called her out for which was amazing! i loved that. and yeh Maisy saw how wrong she was for what she said nice. Thennnn Blaze, *shakes head at her* does something foolish that le sigh i wanted to shake her (these girls I STFG!) so frustrating, but i iked how each didnt just easily accept the other's apology.

The sports aspect was also pretty intriguing even though i know zero about these winter sports. Well i've watched figure skating before but Blaze's sport, the speed skating i knew nada about and googled after but it sounded so hardcore! I loved how we get a sense of how these women push their bodies as athletes.

Apart from the character personalities shining through in the text, throughout the books i've read in the series so far, the psychology of athletes we get to see as well, was also something i enjoyed.

So i enjoyed Maisy and Blaze a lot and am waiting on the last book in the series

I don't know where to start.. this took some serious pep talks to finish. I've read plenty of F/F storylines, but it seemed like they were trying to hard. And throwing the totally weird play on a poly relationship just sealed the deal.
Taking those things out of the equation you have a classic opposites attracting storyline. Maisy is the straight laced methodical figure skater. Blaze is the larger than life, attention seeking, in your face speed skater. They couldn't be more different, but somehow they click.

I was really enjoying this novel for at least halfway through. Despite the fact that Maisy and Blaze didn't actually talk for like 30% of the novel as they only had sex, I felt that the characters were both unique individuals, with distinct voices and perspectives.

I really liked Maisy - I liked how reserved she was in every situation outside of the bedroom. There, she wasn't anxious or trying to be the person her parents wanted her to be. She could be herself.

I had a love/hate relationship with Blaze. I liked how confident she was in her sexuality, but I also didn't like how she refused to put herself into other people's shoes and understand their perspective. She was also incredibly selfish. There's a scene were she educates Maisy about the stereotypes surrounding bisexual people and really puts her in her place and I was like 'yeah girl!' and then a few pages later, it got really fetishising? Blaze was promising a gossip journalist a "lesbian lip-lock" or a "sex-tape ... with who, I'm not sure, but I'll figure something out." So despite the fact that she knows Maisy is not comfortable talking about her sexuality or sex in general in public, WHICH SHE ACKNOWLEDGES OVER LIKE 3 PAGES, she ignores Maisy's feelings because it will "be good for her image" to have a scandal, and then later kisses her in public, in front of cameras, so she can be the star of a magazine column. That's so gross. I also don't like how she just states that if Maisy wasn't into it - if she were to tell her - then Blaze would just cheat on her and find someone to sleep with and create a scandal. This ain't right. After this scene, my appreciation for this novel decreased and I actively hated Blaze.

Another issue: How Blaze doesn't apologise for what she did to Maisy, but rather claims she's "fighting the patriarchy." Like ... what?? Where did that come from? Blaze clearly acknowledges her decision to kiss Maisy in front of cameras was to create a scandal, and then she gaslights Maisy? She completely invalidates Maisy's feelings and turns this into a 'feminist' issue, when it was really Blaze trying to create a scandal because she knew she wasn't going to win at the Games. Not here for that. So I guess you can say I really, really didn't like Blaze, and when you don't like one of the main characters in a novel, you're probably not going to like the rest of the novel, which is what happened here.

The plot was basically Blaze and Maisy hooking up over the course of the Games, and then realising they want a relationship together. But Blaze is poly, which is something Maisy struggles with, and they have to come to a compromise. I'm really appreciative of the fact that we are getting more and more sexual identities being discussed in romance novels.

All in all, I felt that Fire on the Ice was a disappointing novel. I didn't like one of the MCs, and the sex scenes - while great at the start - started to feel robotic and over the top as the first 10 chapters of the novel were dedicated solely to sex scenes and the characters barely talked. I feel that the book had great potential, but I just couldn't overlook these issues.

Liked the diversity aspect of this book but, I thought it was just okay.

2.5 Stars. I always appreciate a new author trying to write lesfic, but this just didn’t work for me. I had such trouble reading this book. Read the book, put it down. Read more of the book, put it right back down. It took me 3 days to get through a book that should have taken only a few hours.

When I saw the premise of this book I was so excited to read it. A figure skater and a short track speed skater sounded great to me. With the Olympics (I love the Olympics) starting next month, what a perfect time to read a winter sports romance. Actually the sports part of this book I enjoyed, it’s the rest of it that didn’t work for me.

The first half of this book is just about sex. It was actually bordering on being porn instead of erotica to me. I draw the difference as erotica being really hot sex scenes with two people that are in love, have feelings for each other, or at least there is some storyline involved. The first half of this book was just sex scenes with two people that I could not even tell if they even liked each other. Not only that, but the internal thoughts of the characters were so crude, I felt like I was reading about two 16 year-old boys. I’m no prude and I can have a mouth on me, but it was so over the top “locker room” type of talk ( I can’t believe I just used the phrase) it didn’t sound like two women, just like a caricature of a horny bisexual and lesbian.

Now I will admit the second half of the book was better. First half 2 stars, second half 3 stars. It was actually when the characters spent some time apart, I started liking the book. It focused on the sports and I found them enjoyable. Then a sort of tiny romance started; I could actually sense some possible feeling being involved. Did it save the whole book for me? No. But it went from being a possible DNF to at least being palatable.

Unfortunately, I can’t recommend this one. There are so many fantastic lesfic book out there that this doesn’t really hold up against them. As I said above, I appreciate Parker taking a chance on write lesfic, it just didn’t work for my personal tastes.

I found this book at turns hot and boring. Which was frustrating for me. I wanted to really enjoy it because I love the Olympics and am dying for a book I can really sink my teeth into about them. I enjoyed this relationship...but didn't find the plot all that interesting to me.

If you’re in the market for an erotic lesfic tale with athletes as your mains, then look no further. This book is exactly as advertised. It’s super hot with witty banter. Blaze and Maisy have great chemistry in the bedroom....their relationship out of the bedroom left something to be desired. Overall this is a hot read. It’s not much on the romance for those that are looking for hotness and romance.

4 stars

Blaze loves living life at a fast pace. She is in the top ranks as a speed skater for the USA, and her sex life is just as charged. Identifying openly as bisexual and polyamorous, nothing is off limits.

Maisy is a Canadian figure skater, always in the top ten but never in the medals. Controlled by parents, coaches and the team managers, she has mastered the quiet acquiescence required to slip through life without standing out. Only Blaze knows this is a ruse.

After a drunken night at the last Snow and Ice Games, Blaze and Maisy commiserated their losses with days of sexual escapades. It has stuck in their minds and both are relishing the thought of getting together again at the current SIG competition.

This was an erotic romance that had some believable interactions and a nice setup. I liked how the characters interacted; there was a good sense of build up even though they got together fairly early in the book. This gave Parker an opportunity to skip over the ‘just met’ introductions, and move onto the second part of a relationship, in which the characters can’t keep their hands off each other but are still trying to work out how they fit together. It’s an interesting place in a relationship to locate a book.

It does also give Parker an opportunity to really explore the sexuality of the characters, and she does this with gusto. The sex scenes are explicit and hot, and there are plenty of them. A sweet romance this isn’t. However, one of the characters was honest about the fact that she was bisexual and polyamorous, and the other is more comfortable being monogamous, so it was interesting to see how the characters managed that.

Knowing several polyamorous friends, I loved seeing that reflected in a book. Even in lesbian fiction, most of our romance books reflect the idea of two people forming a monogamous bond. While that is a common partnering arrangements in most cultures, it is lovely to see another version that is also honest and respectful of the characters.

This is the fourth book in a series by Parker. I haven’t read any of her other books, but it looks like she writes a range of sexually charged romances, mostly hetero, but including characters who are lesbian, gay, bi and trans. It’s an interesting mix.

Parker handles the characters and the erotic aspects well, and I think it must be difficult to do as this is actually really rare in the books I’ve read. I have now bought a number of her other books. Enjoy.

Advanced reading copy provided by NetGalley for an honest review.

I requested all books in this series, and I am sad to report, I didn't really like any of them. There was something off for me, and I can not put my finger on it. The writing was not really my favorite. I couldn't get into any of the books at all.