Certainly, let me provide a version without emojis:

I want to express my gratitude to Netgalley, Katie Kennedy, and the publisher for sending me a copy of "Hearts on Thin Ice" to read and review.

Nick Sorensen, a hockey player, is dealing with a traumatic experience, trying to navigate a significant loss as the only survivor. While physically ready to return to the ice, mentally, he's still not in the best place. His apartment is completely empty, with only a single chair and a mattress on the floor.

Alyssa Compton is a talented up-and-coming interior designer, facing a difficult boss but dreaming of starting her own business one day. Alyssa isn't afraid of a challenge.

The two meet unexpectedly, and with a push from Nick's coach, he hires Alyssa to decorate his apartment. Initially rocky, their relationship evolves as they spend more time together, helping each other heal.

I really enjoyed "Hearts on Thin Ice." The character development and the handling of heavy topics alongside a sweet romance that induces laughter made it an engaging read.

Overall, I loved this book and look forward to reading more books by Katie Kennedy in the future!

Thank you to NetGalley and Alcove for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I would recommend it if you're looking for (SPOILERS):
- m/f contemporary romance
- hockey romance
- fixing up a house
- PTSD representation

This was a soft and lovely romance with heavier elements of grief. Nick, the sole survivor of an airplane crash that killed his teammates and best friends, tries to prove he's mending by fixing up his apartment into a home. Alyssa is spunky and ready to dive into the project, and these two instantly connect. I enjoyed how they pushed each other, emphasizing the importance of therapy and portraying the messy reality of grief.

In the frosty world of professional hockey, where blades slice through ice and rivalries ignite like wildfire, “Hearts on Thin Ice” by Katie Kennedy invites readers to lace up their emotional skates and glide into the enchanting romance. This debut sports romance is a symphony of heartache, resilience, and unexpected love, set against the backdrop of frozen rinks and thawing hearts.

Meet Nick Sorensen. Once hailed as the fastest man in hockey, he now grapples with the aftermath of a devastating plane crash that claimed the lives of his closest friends. The ice that once fuelled his passion now threatens to swallow him whole. Physically, he's ready to reclaim his place on the rink, but mentally, he's skating on thin ice. His coach senses the fragility beneath Nick's stoic facade, and it's in this delicate balance that our story begins.

Meet Alyssa Compton. She’s an up-and-coming interior designer with dreams of creating beauty out of chaos. When Nick hires her to transform his barren apartment, which is now a space stripped bare by grief. Alyssa sees it as her chance to prove herself. Her demanding boss, the tantalizing promise of job security, and the opportunity to finally put down roots all converge in Nick's icy abode.

But Nick isn't the cooperative client Alyssa envisioned. He's infuriatingly stubborn, impossible to work with, and harbours secrets as deep as the frozen lakes of his past. As Alyssa battles her own insecurities and navigates the treacherous terrain of Nick's emotions, their interactions crackle with tension. Sparks fly, not just from the friction of clashing personalities, but from the warmth that seeps through the cracks in their icy defences.

Inviting, comforting, and tinged with vulnerability, Kennedy's prose is a cozy blanket on a chilly night. She deftly explores mental health, belonging, and the healing power of love. Nick's struggle with survivor's guilt is palpable, and Alyssa's determination to create beauty from pain is inspiring. Their chemistry simmers beneath every scene, building to a crescendo that leaves readers breathless.

Not just about romance; this book is about resilience and finding solace in unlikely places. Like in the hum of a sewing machine, the scent of freshly brewed coffee, or the warmth of shared laughter. Kennedy weaves these moments into the fabric of her narrative, creating a tapestry of hope and redemption.

The pacing is as brisk as a slapshot, propelling us through Nick and Alyssa's journey. We witness their tentative steps toward each other, the cracks in their icy hearts widening with every stolen glance and hesitant touch. And when they finally collide, the impact is seismic.

The supporting cast adds depth and humour, from Nick's gruff but lovable coach to Alyssa's quirky best friend. Each character contributes to the symphony, their notes harmonizing with Nick and Alyssa's melody.

As the story hurtles toward its climax, Kennedy doesn't shy away from the rawness of grief or the jagged edges of healing. She reminds us that love isn't a magic wand, but a choice and a commitment to thawing the frostiest corners of our souls.

A five-star read that leaves you craving hot cocoa and a cozy blanket, “Hearts on Thin Ice” is a reminder that even in the coldest of winters, love can ignite a fire that melts the iciest barriers. So grab your mittens, dive into this heartwarming tale, and let Kennedy sweep you off your feet.

Thank you to NetGalley and Alcove Press for a temporary e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I loved the development of Nick and Alyssa's relationship. I wish we had more time to see them fully together before any rifts. Also, the third person threw me off a bit in this novel, but it was enjoyable still! They both had great individual development that was admirable.

Thank you to NetGalley and Alcove Press for an ARC of this book!

I really wanted to get invested in Hearts on Thin Ice, because I LOVE a good hockey romance, but this book didn’t hit the mark for me. I can appreciate the spotlight on men’s mental health, which is not often talked about. The pacing felt very rushed, there was minimal hockey, and for me, the characters lacked chemistry and all around development. I was going into this thinking it’d be a light hockey rom-com given the Icebreaker comp and the cover, but that’s on me. I can see what the author was trying to set up, and I have no doubt that in the future, she’ll hit the mark.

This is not to say someone else wont enjoy it, though! Your mileage may vary.

🏒 Hearts on Thin Ice by Katie Kennedy
4.25 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The storyline of this book is so touching, and the way the characters were so supportive of each other made me so happy. The way grief is such a symbol of importance and a constant in this book was so refreshing (even though it was quite sad). Nick's past is absolutely heartbreaking, but the way they pushed each other to be their best and get through their own hurdles was very inspiring. I loved the way Nick and Alyssa connected, and how they were continuously there for each other. If you want a heartfelt hockey romance that's also kind of sad, this one is for you.

Thank you to NetGalley and Katie Kennedy for an ARC in exchange for an honest review 🤍

⭐️⭐️.5/5 (rounded to 3)

Thank you, Net Galley and Alcove Press for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book.

Hearts on This Ice was a nice rom-com with a good dose of unexpected grief in it.
Nick had an unanticipated story, that I found very sad and hard to approach. The author tried to thread carefully, but not always the result was optimal (mine opition obviously). He is grieving and not allowing himself to live at all after a plane accident takes the lives of his teammates and best friends leaving him the only survivor. He goes by with nothing (like literally no furniture in the house), wants nothing, and cares almost just about hockey.
When his coach threatens to make him go to a therapist if he doesn´t have his place redecorated, he decides to ask Alyssa for help.

I did enjoy this book even if sometimes the story was crazy (like the party and the pirate costume?!? A little too much for me).
Generally, I liked the couple and the way they connected. I think it was very cute.
The main problem I had, and why it took me almost a week to finish, when I usually take a day or two for a book like this´s the writing. In some places it was bad. I didn´t know what the author meant and why she decided to write it that way.

Thank you so much Netgalley and Alcove Press for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review!

Nick Sorensen is a professional hockey player who was left the lone survivor of a plane crash. Moving forward with his life and career, he has to navigate through immense trauma and loss. His apartment is completely empty, save for a single chair and a mattress on the floor. Here comes Alyssa Compton, an up-and-coming interior designer who dreams of starting her own firm in the future.

The pair meet, leading up to Nick hiring Alyssa to decorate his apartment. The more they spend time with each other, they start to get to know one another while simultaneously helping each other heal.

This book was cute. However, I did feel like the characters weren’t fully fleshed out or developed. I also think that they just didn’t really work well together; I just don’t think they had chemistry.

I will be honest and say that when I looked at the cover, I expected a fluffy story. You can bet I was surprised that this book tackled a lot of heavy topics which isn’t what I usually gravitate towards when I read romcoms. The cover makes it look like a lighthearted hockey romance which I would say might be misleading for some readers.

Moreover, the miscommunication trope is usually a hit or miss for me and unfortunately, this book was a miss. On another note, I do love a good slow burn romance but for this, I just needed the stakes to be higher which is probably too much expectation for a romance book.

Although this book wasn’t for me doesn’t mean others won’t enjoy it or resonate with it. Ultimately, this just wasn’t what I was looking for in a romance book which hindered my enjoyment in reading.

2,5 ✨

"Hearts on Thin Ice" definitely spins a different yarn compared to the usual romance fare. It's got this unique vibe that's kinda cool and original. The story promises some heartache, which got me intrigued right off the bat.

HOWEVER.

Unfortunately, "Hearts on Thin Ice" falls short of its potential. I believe the entire narrative feels hurried, lacking the necessary pacing to allow readers to fully engage with the story.

Despite promises of heartache, the emotional depth is lacking, and it left me searching for the poignant moments that were promised but never delivered.

Also, the characters failed to capture my interest. They feel underdeveloped, lacking the complexity and depth needed to truly resonate with both myself and the story. The absence of chemistry or connection between the main characters further detracts from the overall impact of the story, which made it difficult for me to become invested in their journey.

The writing style comes across as superficial, failing to evoke the depth of emotion or thought required to make the story compelling. This lack of depth extends to the exploration of heavy topics, which feel more like shallow inclusions rather than meaningful story bridges. Overall, it struggles to deliver a satisfying reading experience... It left me feeling disappointed and yearning for more substance.

"Hearts on Thin Ice" had potential, but, for me, it missed the mark big time.

Thank you to NetGalley, Alcove Press and, of course, Katie, for sending me the arc of this book in exchange for an honest review. ❤️✨

Super cute. I didn’t think I’d be into books like this but I really enjoyed it a lot. I couldn’t put it down. If you’re looking for something that will cleanse the palate and give you smiles, this is it.

Workplace Romance, along with MMC from sports and the importance of good mental health, well this was enough to convince me pick up this book and k am glad that I did.
It was a well paced romance book with well penned down characters. The characters were amazing and each was given sufficient scope to contribute to the book that really made my reading experience more wonderful.

CW: death (recounted), plane crash (recounted), PTSD, homelessness (recounted), divorce

I would like to thank NetGalley and Alcove Press for providing me with a free e-ARC of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I really wanted to like this book a lot. Lately, I’ve been interested in reading hockey romances and I’ve always been a fan of workplace rom-coms. When I happened to cross this title on NetGalley, learning that it’s a comp for Icebreaker, I instantly requested it.

However, after finishing the book, this book quite wasn’t it.

Not that there was anything particularly bad about the book, but it was just missing that wow factor. Sure, Kennedy’s scene execution needs some work and there were chapters in there that I don’t think were really necessary for the book. I just honestly feel like this book wasn’t executed to the best that it could be.

That doesn’t mean I liked absolutely nothing about this book. One of Kennedy’s strengths for this book is the positive mental health rep for Nick. I liked how Kennedy took the time to dive into Nick dealing with survivors’ guilt and how that influences his character development. Likewise, I do think that Kennedy has the potential to develop her craft further into a really good book someday. Unfortunately, I don’t think this book was it, but I do feel that she has plenty of room to grow as an author.

This is a sweet, hockey romance. Instead of a beach read, this would make for a great mountain or ski resort read. While dealing with heavy issues like PTSD and child homelessness it still remains a light and fluffy read.

Thank you to Netgalley and publisher for the ARC in exchange for a review.

Thank you Alcove Press and netgalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

You know I can never say no to a hockey romance so I was very excited to read this! I thought this book was cute but lacked the hockey aspects of a "sports romance", but that could simply just be my personal preference of enjoying the actual hockey part of a sports romance. I also felt it hard to connect with Alyssa and Nick. I didn't truly believe in their love, it didn't feel genuine and real to me, it was surface level infatuation at best. I did enjoy when the book explored Nick's feelings of trauma and healing, however I felt it was also very surface level and could have been explored at a deeper level.

Overall, it was still a cute read but I just wanted more!!

Hearts on Thin Ice: ★★★☆☆ (3)

Pub date: June 18, 2024!

I received this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was a fun quick read. Nothing super deep but s great beach read.

3/5⭐️
Hearts on Thin Ice is a cozy contemporary romance with just a dash of spice and hockey. The story takes on past trauma within both the main characters and takes us on their journey to healing while also exploring their romance with each other. Nick is a golden retriever NHL Hockey player who adores art and has a crippling case of survivors guilt. Alyssa is a quirky and warm perfectionist who does Interior Designing. This book was a bit hard for me to get into a first because it is written in Third person(I'm more used to first person) and the more observational nature of that POV just make it a little harder to get connected with the characters but once I was able to make that connection it was an easy and fun read! The world building in this book is beyond beautiful because of the strong art influence throughout the book. As someone who appreciates art, the way colors and light are described was vivid. Every space was thoroughly brought to life down to the decorations and appliances present. I feel the art influence in this book shines through much more than the hockey aspect. I feel the book did a great job with exploring grief and trauma in a way that was unique and very genuine. If anyone has ever lost someone they can understand that grief really can just hit you out of no where. One minute you are happy and enjoying life and the next you are sobbing and feeling guilty for cracking a smile. This book did make me tear up a few times and when a book can make me emotional I think it shows the author did a good job getting you invested in the characters and their story. There were sweet, tragically beautiful, moments that I felt really caught my heart. I think overall this is a great debut novel and a book that many will be able to enjoy and connect with.
*Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher Alcove Press and Katie Kennedy, the author, for allowing me to read this eARC*

Thank you to NetGalley and Alcove Press for providing a DRC of this title for review.

In Hearts on Thin Ice, interior designer Alyssa and hockey player Nick team up to renovate his space after the tragic deaths of his teammates and roommate, finding love in the process.

I wanted to love this one but never felt like I really connected with Alyssa or Nick or got a handle on their dynamic as a couple. I know this will definitely find its audience with hockey romance fans (especially those looking for an exploration of trauma and grief), but it wasn't quite a fit for me.

I love hockey romances, so I was ecstatic to dive into "Hearts on Thin Ice." However, while the book held promise initially, it ultimately left me feeling underwhelmed.

I found the chemistry between the main characters, Nick and Alyssa, lacking, which detracted from the romance aspect. Additionally, while I expected more focus on hockey, the story seemed to prioritize Alyssa's decorating – which is fine, but I felt like the book is showcased as a sports romance, which it's not in my opinion.

The rushed pacing, especially towards the conclusion, was particularly noticeable. It felt as though everything was crammed into one final chapter, leaving little room for a meaningful resolution between the characters.

Despite these shortcomings, I did enjoy certain aspects of the book. There were moments that had me laughing and giggling, showcasing the author's ability to inject humor into the narrative. However, even these lighter moments couldn't compensate for the awkwardness I felt during the spicy scenes, which didn’t convince me at all off their affections towards each other.

Overall, "Hearts on Thin Ice" had its moments of enjoyment, but its rushed pacing and lack of chemistry between the protagonists prevented it from reaching its full potential.

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

I liked the back story of the hockey player but other than that it sort of blended with other hockey romances I’ve read. It was fine. I like the cover a lot. Thank you for the copy

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is a situation where the cover does not match the book. If you are expecting a light-hearted hockey romance, this is not it. Expect to cry multiple times and be taken on an emotional journey with a little bit of hockey as well.

Nick is a professional hockey player grieving the deaths of his best friends who passed away in a plane crash that he was also involved in. He was the only survivor of the crash and punishes himself for it daily in ways that may not be noticeable to others but are evident when going to his apartment. His new team coach tells him to decorate his apartment and start living again so he meets interior designer Alyssa.

This may not be the book I was expecting but it was still a solid read.

rep: PTSD
To be honest, I’m having a bit of a difficult time reading this one or even reviewing it. I requested this book on a whim from NetGalley and was honestly really excited about it. I had pretty high hopes and it just didn’t meet the mark for me.
On one hand, this book is very fun hallmark type read that could be read in one sitting, as I almost did lol. It’s one of those romances that doesn’t really take a lot of brain power and is easy to follow along with.
This book follows Nick, who is one of the fastest players in hockey- until a plane crash takes the lives of all of his best friends, leaving him the only survivor. Clearly, it’s safe to say that nick has a lot of trauma to work through but in order to prove he’s fine, he (reluctantly) allows an interior designer to makeover his apartment and make it into a suitable living space and not just empty rooms.
In walks Alyssa, who has also seen her fair share of struggle and trauma, however different they may be from Nicks. Alyssa quickly learned how difficult this job may actually be considering how stubborn Nick is. While both Alyssa and Nick are a bit broken from their past they slowly are able to bring each other back out of their shells.
with all that being said, it was a very beautiful story of two people coming together however, it definitely read wayyy more as a contemporary romance versus a romance while hockey is mentioned it’s kind of background information. This book is also in third person POV from both Alyssa and Nick, so I did find it a bit hard to get into at times or to just feel a deeper connection between the characters. Honestly, this book just felt slightly under developed, there was scenes I enjoyed that I felt should’ve been longer and there was scenes that felt altogether unnecessary and lengthy. This book also had a lot of heavy topics that I just don’t know if they meshed well with the light fluffy short romcom feel of this book, they almost just felt kind of haphazardly thrown in to add more of a plot. I also hate the miscommunication trope and that was definitely overused in this one.
Overall, this wasn’t exactly my cup of tea, but I do think it was good for a debut. I definitely see potential and I can see this author writing some great books in the future, I just wouldn’t go out of my way to recommend this one.

*Thank you NetGalley and team for an eARC of this book an exchange for an honest review. All opinions above are 100% my own!*