It's a quick and easy read. The story is really cute but I found it a bit too much at times. I love a hockey romance and I do recommend the book to those who love these types of books!

3.5/5 ⭐️

Nick Sorensen, a hockey star, sees his life forever changed after a tragic plane crash takes his best friends and leaves him as the sole survivor. To prove he’s fine and move past his trauma, he decides to redecorate his apartment. For this, he hires Alyssa Compton, a talented interior designer with much to prove in her career.

Alyssa sees this opportunity as her big chance to establish herself professionally but quickly discovers that working with Nick won’t be easy. Together, they embark on an emotional journey of healing and rediscovery, showing that sometimes, all you need is someone who believes in you.

This novel captures the reader's attention from the start with its premise: a hockey player battling his inner demons and an interior designer trying to forge her own path. It explores themes such as mental health, the sense of belonging, and the search for purpose in life.

The character development is one of the book's strengths. Nick, despite his tough and stubborn exterior, is a deeply wounded character trying to rebuild his life after an unimaginable tragedy. His evolution throughout the novel is sincere and realistic, making the reader empathize with his pain and struggle to overcome it. Alyssa, on the other hand, is a strong and determined protagonist whose passion for interior design and desire for personal and professional stability are palpable.

However, the novel has some points that could have been improved. At times, the story's pace becomes a bit slow, which may cause some readers to momentarily lose interest. Additionally, while the character development is deep, I would have liked to see a bit more romance between Nick and Alyssa. Their chemistry is evident, but their romantic interactions sometimes feel restrained and could have been explored more thoroughly to satisfy readers looking for a more intense connection between the protagonists.

The ending of the novel is very satisfying. The resolution of the plot and the unity of Nick’s hockey team provide an emotional closure. The references to art throughout the book are a great addition, providing an extra layer of depth and appreciation that enriches the story.

Moreover, I’m a fan of the cover and the illustration on it. It reflects the essence of the book very well and adds a visual appeal that I loved.

In summary, is a novel that blends romance, personal growth, and art in a moving way. Although it could benefit from a more consistent pace and a greater focus on the romantic relationship, it remains a recommended read for those who enjoy emotional and well-constructed stories. Nick’s struggle to overcome his trauma and Alyssa’s determination to find her place in the world make this story an inspiring and touching read.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book.

Honestly this book was a bit cheesey in my opinion. It can be so hit or miss with the hockey romance. It was a cute and easy story to follow and you felt like you really got to know the characters. This is the first book I’ve read from this author.

This was a cute hockey romance! I liked the plot centered around Alyssa, an interior designer, helping the hockey star Nick decorate his depressing apartment and heal from his survivor guilt. I also liked the complex, quirky characters that added interest to the story. Nick's interest in art is a surprising twist to his personality and adds charm when he helps Alyssa's brother with the school mural. It also gives Alyssa and Nick a common interest. I thought the nurses' Halloween party was funny with Nick dressed up like the sexy pirate. I found this book a little too spicy for me with several open-door romance scenes I had to skip over. I finished the book quickly because of it! The happy ending was worth all the skipping.

Thank you to NetGalley and Alcove Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

It’s a good story for hockey romance lovers. The main characters were likeable and there was good chemistry between them. I liked the part when they went to the museum. It is a story of new beginnings.
My only note is that there were a few inconsistencies in the story.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me a copy of the book.

I honestly could not finish this book… I just don’t think the writing style was for me, but others may love it!

Cute romance. I’m not a huge fan of sports, but I still liked this sports romance. I think it could have been a bit spicer though.

*3.5

I really liked the two of them together, I just wanted more. I think it would have been better if it was in first person. I also wanted an epilogue where we actually saw them together.

I received an arc through netgalley.

Thank you to the author, Alcove Press and NetGalley, for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. My apologies for the delay in posting this review, I read this a while ago, but am well behind with my reviews and trying to catch up!

This is marketed as a rom-com with an edge - death, grief and survivor's guilt are heavy topics that are introduced gently here. However, the true extent of the brokenness of the male protagonist never quite comes across - it's handled more as "yeah, he went through a hard time, but he'll get over it". I am not an extreme sports fan, but the relationships within the team come across as authentic, and the healing journey of the male protagonist is well done. What does not work for me is the rom-com angle - apart from the complete lack of chemistry, the interactions seemed very immature and I would have liked to see more build-up before they paired up. Overall, an uneven read - the premise was good, but it didn't deliver.

I really wanted to love and enjoy this one - but there were so many parts that came off as very cringe and sometimes even immature. There was such a lack of chemistry between these two characters and I genuinely wanted to just finish this as soon as I possibly could so I could just forget it. There were words and phrases that should absolutely not having been included or used.

I’m a big hockey romance girlie and that’s what initially steered me towards reading this one - however it didn’t quite make the leap to one that I loved.

It felt a little chaotic and jumbled but overall was a read that some might really enjoy. Personally - my adhd struggles when a plot is missing structure so that may have been what set the tone for me.

Thank you netgalley & alcove press for the chance to read early in exchange for an honest review.

I tried. It was so immature and cringe. I hated all of the characters and just didn't care if they got together much less were still alive at the end.

Hearts on Thin Ice was entertaining, but not spectacular. I liked the themes of the story, but there was a lack of chemistry between the leads and things developed way too fast between them.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an e-ARC copy of this book, in exchange for this honest review.

There were some cringe parts of the books that threw me off. For example, "taking a ride on this Jolly Roger" or the use of "engorge"

The story was overall really cute and wholesome.

Yikes. This whole book is sloppy. The big idea is there, but the execution is all bits and pieces. Alyssa and Nick have zero chemistry. Alyssa seems crappy at her job, as do her friends. Nick really should just go to therapy, and this book acts like that is an extreme thing to do. The writing is passive and incredibly simplistic.

I quit reading a third of the way in. And I can't believe it was only a third! This book is way too long for how little substance there is.

eARC provided via NetGalley for review.

Very very cute read and I loved the characters so much. Adorable read. Really liked the tension between these two and the CHEMISTRY YES PLEASE
The plot was executed well and the writing was so good.
Very enjoyable

Hearts on Thin Ice by Katie Kennedy was a surprisingly emotionally charged read that unexpectedly covered some tough topics. As the cover suggests, this is focused primarily on hockey for the male main character. Nick Sorensen was an up-and-coming hockey player, until he and his best friends were in an airplane crash that left him as the only survivor. After a significant number of physical injuries as well as mental trauma that left him barely living due to a huge amount of survivor’s guilt, his new teammate and Coach have made his opportunity to play hockey conditional on improving his home and seeing a therapist.
Alyssa Compton is a hardworking interior designer determined to be successful and have her own company soon. After a difficult childhood, Alyssa has overcome mental obstacles. A continuous problem for her and her brother is the dismissal from their mother. She ignores any discussion of trauma they went through.
After Nick and Alyssa meet, she is given the difficult task of decorating his empty shell of an apartment but has a hard time connecting with him and getting through the walls he’s built around himself.
The pair become friends but as the attraction grows, they begin connecting romantically.
I enjoyed this book but didn’t love it. For a debut I think it shows great potential for Katie Kennedy. At some points the plot felt slightly over the top and although the characters experienced a lot of personal trauma, I didn’t feel connected to them or their relationship.
Thank you for the eARC

This was such a great story. I loved it. This follows Nick who plays professional hockey. He is also a plane crash survivor. His five friends and pilot all died, and Nick was the only survivor of the accident. The five friends were also his teammates. He spends time recovering from the accident and switches to a new team after he’s let go from his previous team. Nick meets Alyssa when she is hired to redecorate his apartment. She really wants to prove herself to her new boss so she takes the offer. At first Nick and Alyssa butt heads a bit, but then find solace in each other. Alyssa has some past trauma of her own and the two become close. This was such a sweet story.

I liked this but I didn’t love it. The romance and chemistry were a bit lacking for me. The character development was great and I love a good hockey romance.

I have not cried this much when reading a book in a long time. My heart really went out to the MMC. I can only imagine what a nightmare the whole plane accident would have been. The FMC issues/trauma brings a whole new level to the plot. I think that they both had trauma is what helped each character. And what character growth there was in this story! Wow!! My only issue was the ending. It felt a little pushy. The spice was fabulous but I would have liked a little more. I do hope that this is the start of a series!

Big thanks to NetGalley, Alcove Press and Katie Kennedy for this early release copy in exchange for my honest review.