I was able to read an ebook arc of this thanks to NetGalley. A fun romance. Great read. Would read more by this author.

Un libro muy romántico y bonito.
Me encanta la química de los personajes.
Thanks Netgalley and the publisher for my book

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

CW: loss, grief, plane crash

Thank you to Dreamscape Media for giving me the opportunity to listen to this book for review!

Something I love about the romance genre is that it never holds back the tough feelings. All feelings are welcome (with a proper disclosure for those who may choose lighter themes) and anyone can see themselves in a book like this. We may not be professional athletes, or interior designers, but we all feel loss, anxiety over appearances, and love at some point in our lives.

This book had me hooked early, because we enter Nick’s trauma head on. The loss, the injury, the guilt, and the rebuild of a life that is irrevocably changed after a plane crash that cost the lives of his very best friends. The empty apartment with one chair, and a mattress on the floor that brings Alyssa into his life - Nick doesn’t need help decorating, because he’s fine, totally fine. But it was interior designer or go to therapy (where they would not let him drone on about the incredible Wayne Gretzky, thank you very much).

But when Alyssa digs in after drawing up a blue industrial space that Nick hates because he gave no structure, she finds the man he left behind after the plane crash - an art enthusiast, drawn in by colour and lines; someone who refuses to make more than one trip, arms completely filled; a man who is kind, willing to step in, but who doesn’t know how to ask for help because he doesn’t know he needs it.

Alyssa’s job isn’t a dream, but it looks good for her career progression. She also believes her stepdad’s fibs about chickens and potatoes being core hockey lore, doesn’t know Gretzky’s first name, and earnestly designs spaces that feel comforting and inviting for her clients, because she knows what it means to not have a place to call home.

And through all the big feelings, the peeling back of layers of scar tissue, this book has the glimmer of hope and promise that all great romances have. The anticipation, the butterflies, the trust built over Monet and Michelangelo. All the beautiful feelings that are even more beautiful for the contrast they hold with hard pasts. Whether it’s new teammates who are waiting to support Nick when he’s ready, someone stepping in to fill vases with water or don a silly costume simply because you ask, or the fizzle of attraction between two people who both feel a little too messed up, or not ready, or that the timing is all wrong. That’s romance, baby.

Plus, despite the overuse in the genre, many will appreciate the rippling hard muscle of a star athlete described in filthy, naked detail. While I’m over the “ideal male body” romance hero in every book, even I can appreciate the spicy scenes.

With enough hockey knowledge for the sports fan, but not so bogged down for the unfamiliar, this hockey romance is bound to clear your sinuses, make you blush, and kickstart a redecorating plan of your own. I’d highly recommend this is whatever format you prefer, but the audiobook was a blast!

Nick is an experienced hockey player who was recently in a plane crash where he lost his friends and teammates. The tragedy has left him grieving and doubting his life choices. He’s down to a bed and a chair in his apartment, and his couch is concerned.
Nick hires a designer named Alyssa to redo his apartment to prove that he’s fine. As they work together, they start falling for each other.
I really liked that the book focuses on men’s mental health, Nick’s issues are handled with sensitivity. 4 stars.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley, I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I finished this book because I kept wanting more from the characters and got exactly nothing. Maybe not nothing but very little that's for sure. I kept hoping their chemistry would get better but it didn't and I felt extremely frustrated in the end. I liked Nick's character but again, I was wanting more from him and his journey. Quite the "meh" read.

the most easy, enjoyable romance read that every gal wants to stay up late and read!! throughly enjoyed this book - thanks for an ARC netgalley!

Hearts on Thin Ice by Katie Kennedy, Pub Date: June 18, 2024. Rating: 3 stars. This is a heartwarming sports romance about an interior designer and a hockey player who are introduced through a teammate's wife. At the time of introduction, the hockey player is struggling with mental health concerns surrounding being a sole survivor of a plane crash that killed multiple teammates/friends. He is making a comeback with a new team, but is struggling with survivor's guilt and PTSD. He is told by his coach he has a few options to demonstrate he is working on his mental health and one of them is to decorate his apartment. Through the decoration process, feelings spark and the story turns into a spicy, swoon worthy romance. I really enjoyed the mental health representation throughout the novel, but felt at times the overall storyline was cheesy. I liked this one, but did not love it. Thanks to #netgalley and #alcovepress for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

Długo zbierałam się za lekturę - i w sumie mogłabym się za nią w ogóle nie zabrać, a wyszłoby na to samo (albo i nawet lepiej, bo podczytałabym coś innego). To nie jest książka zła, tragiczna, ani nic w tym stylu. Ta książka po prostu... jest. Bardzo liczyłam na maksymalną rozrywkę, może trochę poruszającą i zachęcającą do popłakania, ale niestety nie tutaj.
Nick Sorensen stracił wielu przyjaciół z drużyny hokejowej w wypadku samolotowym. Jako jedyny ocalały zmaga się z problemami zdrowotnymi oraz syndromem ocalałego. Żyje, chociaż wszyscy inni - jego zdaniem lepsi od niego - leżą w trumnach. Nowa drużyna chce mu pomóc, a trener daje ultimatum. Dzięki tym czynnikom poznaje Alyssa Compton, projektantkę wnętrz. Kobieta ma za zadanie odmienić jego mieszkanie, bo na razie on śpi na materacu na podłodze a cała reszta jest godna pożałowania.
No i fajny pomysł, trochę nietypowy. Gdzie nie pykło? Wypadek Nicka został na początku, moim zdaniem, rzucony ot tak. Bardziej jako ciekawostka niż realne, tragiczne przeżycie. Zabrakło mi tam czynników chwytających za serce - tego poczucia, że to serio była jego drużyna i naprawdę ich lubił. Sprawa ze współlokatorem dobrze i niedobrze była odpychana od Nicka, bo choć wiadomo, że musiał to sobie przetrawić, czułam się zbyt odcięta od całej sprawy. Romans był... nijaki. Przepraszam, serio, Alyssa również taką postacią była i nic, co z nią związane, nie wywoływało we mnie emocji - co za tym idzie wszystkie semskowno wzruszające momenty kończyły się jak kijem w piach. Bez rezultatu.
Ogółem nie zachęcam i nie odradzam. Zapomnę o niej po napisaniu tych kilku słów 🥲


Dzięki NetGalley za egzemplarz do recenzji!

I enjoyed this story. I read it awhile ago and forgot to send the review. Tonight I am getting caught up on my reviews. Hockey Romance stories are always a fun and easy read. I will read more by this author in the future.

Hearts on Thin Ice has a great blend of romance and drama. You could FEEEEl the chemistry between the characters!

First of all, thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.
I love romances, and sport romances with hockey are one of my favourite things ever so, when I saw this cover and read the synopsis, I was really excited to begin the book.

Unfortunately it wasn't that good for me. I didn´t hate it, but I couldn't find me addicted while reading either. Sometimes I had to force myself to read, because I thought that it had great potencial.

Well, I love the fact that it is written in dual pov, and the couple it's cute, so I could find me enjoying some parts. The author also talks about some important topics that could turn the reading a little more heavy but, for others, it could turn it more enjoyable.

Overall, it´s a good book, and a good option if you don´t know what to read and like sport romances like me.

While I had a fun time and the book dealt with some great topics, the dialogue at times was cringey. Also I don’t fully understand how the title fits into the story

Nick was the sole survivor of a plane crash that killed his best friends (and teammates). His team wrote him off after the accident and he moved to Detroit to play for the Red Wheels. While physically, Nick heals from his injuries, mentally he is struggling. When his teammate finds out Nick is living in an apartment with essentially no furniture (other than a mattress on the floor and a chair in the living room), his coach orders him to either furnish his apartment or go to therapy.

Alyssa is an interior designer and loves what she does. Unfortunately her boss is an absolute witch, but Alyssa puts up with her to build up her reputation. She plans to open her own business one day. When Nick’s teammate recommends Alyssa, Nick hires her to design his apartment. As the two spend time together, sparks begin to fly.

I really enjoyed this read! It's a first time read for me by this author and her writing style easily kept me in the story. I loved the characters and the overall vibe of the story.

Unfortunately, this book felt like it still needed a lot of work.
First, the MML's backstory was very traumatic and specific, almost to the point of being unbelievable, unrelatable, and hard to navigate. It felt like he makes very little progress throughout the book and has no emotional maturity.
Alyssa was slightly more likeable and had more drive behind her, but again, lacked depth and growth.
Their chemistry was barely there and their communication was bad.
All in all, there was very little that made me care about what happened to these characters. It also felt like making him a professional hockey player had zero impact on the actual story and that the author just did it to try and fit a currently popular niche.

Hearts on Thin Ice is not a light hearted hockey romance despite the cover. It is a story of trauma and recovery and was heartbreaking during a lot of it. Despite the trauma, it had a lot going for it and a lot of potential - healing journey, finding love after loss, and a side of home decorating. But wow these two characters needed to talk, there was so much miscommunication throughout the whole thing that it was distracting and infuriating. I did like the book actually until the last 1/3rd when I think it went off the rails. Huge declarations of love, making decisions for the other person without talking, etc. I really dont think this couple will last past the book.

i think i’m half half on this book

there’s certain parts of this that i feel like is super cringey and frustrating to read, to the point where i feel like skimming

but the last 30% is so good? especially when they decided to flesh out the backgrounds of the characters (plus petty nick is the BEST)

i’m not sure what i feel about the relationship - the constant miscommunication is so annoying, plus i don’t know if i feel the chemistry much

but all the mental health talk & scenes were so good and i’m so glad those had a full story arc!

I appreciate what they author was *trying* to do - a fun romance with some deep themes. Unfortunately it just wasn't executed that well. I needed a lore more chemistry from the two mcs. There was also a few too many over the top scenes (ahem - looking at you pirate party) for my liking.

Over all - not bad, not great.

Hockey romances are my kryptonite. This wasn't my favorite but I did still have a good time with it!

This is meant to be a romcom between Nick and Alyssa, a hockey player and an interior designer.

I was anticipating a sports romance similar to Tessa Bailey of Hannah grace but this one was a bit different. This one focuses more on the trauma of the two characters instead of the sports side which was a bit much at times. I expected more build up, more comedy, and overall more chemistry between the characters. It felt a bit forced to me and the chemistry just wasn't there.

I would have liked some more developed characters and overall just better romance, the pirate sex scene was a bit forced and weird. Honestly I think these characters should have stayed friends because it was just a bit off for me the entire book (I skipped the sex scenes because it wasn't it for me)

Thank you NetGalley, Dreamscape Media, and Katie Kennedy for this ARC