Member Reviews

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

There wasn't very much chemistry between the two main characters, but there were other parts of this book that I enjoyed a lot.

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This story follows Nick and Alyssa. Nick is a professional hockey player who recently went through a traumatic event. He lived through a plane crash, he was the only survivor, his five best friends and team mates died in the crash. After months of recovery Nick is ready to play again, this time on a new team.
Alyssa is an interior designer hired to decorate Nicks new apartment. She has an evil boss that she’s trying to prove herself too as well as some past trauma of her own she’s still working through.

The two butt heads a lot to start, but eventually begin to help each other through their traumas.

This story was a lot heavier in some parts than I had been expecting but balances it out with plenty of humor and romance and even spice

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As a fan of hockey romance, this was a good time! I really enjoyed the plot and the way the story moved along. My biggest hang up, though, was I struggled to really care about the characters. The chemistry just wasn’t really there for me.

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Thank you so much to Alcove and NetGalley for this eARC in exchange of an honest review!

There were some solid moments here and I enjoyed that she was able to pop in some funny moments throughout the book. This book had a lot more substance than other hockey romances I've read, and I appreciated the detail and care she went into when talking about trauma, PTSD, and mental health.

The main issue I had with this, was that I didn't find it to be romantic whatsoever. The chemistry was lacking between the two main characters and I found a lot of their dialogue to be childish.

I enjoyed the discussions of art history though! This story was sweet, but just fell flat for me in a few areas.

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He’s a hockey player dealing with incredibly difficult things and she’s his new interior designer whether he likes it or not.

This book was just okay for me. I liked the story and the idea but something was just missing for me. I needed a little more between the characters I think.

Thank you Alcove Press and NetGalley for the ARC.

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Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an early copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.

I’m a sucker for hockey romances and while I did enjoy this book,,,it really didn’t have much hockey in it. So for that reason it fell a little flat for me. Also, they are suppose to be grown ups correct? Some of their behavior and constant fighting made me feel like I was reading about high schoolers.

I do think all around, it’s a pretty enjoyable read though. I really liked Nick’s character. This book made me cried within a few chapters and also made me laugh a lot. I think a wide variety of readers will like this.


Tropes:
-past trauma
-sports romance
-found family

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I really wanted to love this. The premise was exactly what I enjoy– hockey players and work-place romance. However, I just could not connect with story or the characters. The plot felt like it dragged at some parts, so chapters were merely page fillers and added nothing to the story. The characters lacked chemistry, and I found it hard to even want them to get together.

That being said, I did appreciate the fact that there were some conversations about mental health. We got to see Nick's struggles with PTSD and how he eventually healed from it. It's definitely deals with a heavier topic compared to other hockey-romances but I think the right target audience/reader would appreciate what this book was trying to do.

2 stars.

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I really enjoyed reading Hearts on Thin Ice. I enjoyed the romance of the book, but the reason I gave 4 stars instead of 5 is that there were some deep subjects in this book that if explored deeper, would have made for a much better, more believable story. I guess that if what you are looking for in a romance book is light for the most part, you will enjoy this book. I just wish the author had taken a deeper look at the trauma that both main characters had experienced in their lives. Still, a strong 4 stars for the love story. Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy.

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This book was pretty good. I felt SO many emotions, by 20% I was bawling my eyes out. Not my typical sport romance, I wasn’t a huge fan of the miscommunication. The character growth between the MMC & FMC was good, but their growth separately was phenomenal.

It heavily touched on survivors guilt, ptsd, healing & finding ones self again.

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Kennedy introduces readers to Mia and Jake, two captivating protagonists whose chemistry leaps off the page. As they navigate the highs and lows of training and competition, Mia and Jake's romance unfolds with heart, humor, and genuine emotion. Kennedy's prose is as graceful as a skater's movements, capturing the beauty and intensity of the sport while also delving into the complexities of relationships and personal growth. With its engaging characters and enchanting romance, "Hearts on Thin Ice" is a perfect read for anyone who loves a story about following your dreams and finding love in unexpected places.

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I loved Hearts of Thin Ice by Katie Kennedy. This is different from other hockey romances I have read as it was extremely sweet and dealt with deeper problems which I appreciated. The beginning was bit tough to get through but once I did, it was an easy, quick read. I loved the character growth and all of the teammates support. Overall, I wish there was another book to follow with this couple. I will say I was frustrated that they did not get together until the end but it made it even better when they finally did!

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I wasn't expecting to go through so many emotions with this book!

It's pretty heavy from the get-go; Nick Sorensen was the only survivor of a small plane crash carrying him and his best friends. He feels tremendous survivor's guilt and is forced by his new coach to furnish his apartment and attend regular therapy appointments to help himself heal. This is where interior designer Alyssa Compton enters the picture, as she works with him to furnish and paint his apartment. Through this process, they share their experiences and help each other recognize their need to process and move on from their past traumas the best they can.

The found family between Nick and his new teammates was my favorite part of his character development.

I really enjoyed this quick read, but I do think the flow was a little choppy at times. I also wish Alyssa and Nick had a little bit more chemistry.

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Sadly this book just wasn't for me; I unfortunately couldn't get into the writing style or connect to the characters

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dnf @ 43%.

the writing is not bad, maybe a little bland. i personally feel no connection to the characters or their backstory, nor do i feel a lot of chemistry. there are a LOT of descriptions which i don’t really care for. it’s slow-paced, but not really slow-burn (it doesn’t feel like it’s leading up to anything). the cover screams silly little hockey romcom, but the book is actually trying to be a lot more serious. trigger warnings for grief & poverty. i could probably finish this if i really pushed myself, but i don’t really want to. i would recommend this to people who feel like reading a heavier novel with a little bit of romance.

thank you netgalley for the arc 💚

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DNF
I really wanted to like this book as I love a good hockey romance but I just could not get on board,
Nick Sorensen is a pro hocky player and he falls for interior designer Alyssa Compton when he hires her to decorate his apartment.
I think i definitely judged a book by the cover with this one as I was expecting a light and fluffy romance but the author tackled a lot of heavy topics in this book. Which I was not expecting.
From what I read, (51%) i took that this is a slow burn romance, though however I do think there was not much chemistry between the characters. And I don’t think I really connected with them as much as i wanted to.
I do however think this book will reach its target audience, but it just wasn’t for me.
Thank you to Netgalley and Alcove-Press for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

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Hockey romance, yes please!! Dual POV, even better!
Survivor's guilt plagues Nick, and he isn't coping well after a devastating plane crash. He's so sweet, and such a goofy character, but has baggage. Hearing him remember his best friends is refreshing. The beautiful bond the players have with each other is truly great. His friends being there for him was so nice, no questions asked.
Alyssa has such shame attached to her childhood, thanks to her mother. Overcoming this and asking for help is such a great character building. I loved her friendships as well:such understanding and sweet friends! I do wish we learned a bit more about her brother. Overall, I enjoyed this! Read it in 2 days! (Yes, there is spice and some language)

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Thank you to NetGalley and the publishing group for this advanced copy for an honest review.

I enjoyed this book quite a lot. The main characters - Nick and Alyssa - were quite likeable. This book is not like a traditional sports romance book. They’re very little hockey and just a little spice. The narrative was more plot driven which I quite enjoyed. However, some parts were a little over the top and I felt we’re not necessary.

I would recommend this book to anyone who is new to the genre.

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Workplace romance
Sports romance
Hockey player falls for interior designer
Mental Health
Finding your place in the world
I really wanted a better connection between the characters to make this romance believable. I do struggle with the miscommunication trope. That being said this was a great debut!

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This is my first time reading this author. I enjoyed the 2 main characters- Nick and Alyssa. There was more of a plot than your regular sport romance. I enjoyed it and will look for more books by her. Thanks for the advanced copy NetGalley. #NetGalley #HeartsonThinIce

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Thanks to Alcove Press and NetGalley for my advanced copy!

This was a sweet hockey romance. I felt so much for both Nick and Alyssa’s backstories, and I loved how they pushed each other to be better, almost stumbling into the conclusion the other person wanted them to make all along. This story tackles tough topics with sensitivity, charm, and humor. Loved!

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