Definitely spicy and I can see why so many people flocked to the book shop once Nick was in charge! I really enjoyed this book. I enjoyed the different threads of the story line and the suspense between Nick and Sam as their friendship developed was very enticing. I sometimes wanted to shake Sam with frustration at how obsessed she was with her eggs and being down about herself/not being willing to take a chance with Nick but it all came good in the end!

Thank you NetGalley and Boldwood Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was super cute and the writing was a bliss. But I found that for a hockey romance it lacked a lot of.. well.. hockey.

Also, I get that the whole start point was to have a baby, but Sam was really getting on my nerves with all the conversation about the eggs and “their feelings and thoughts”.

The end was a little sudden for me as well. Was kind os hoping for some grand gesture. But it was cute nevertheless.

I was so excited for this book. It sounded right up my street. Small town, bookstore, ice-hockey star. Literally had everything I love. However, when it came to the actual writing and story, I just couldn’t get into it and actually DNF’d.

I just felt the dialogue was somewhat irksome. The FMC’s constantly referring to her eggs just felt a bit silly and honestly was something I couldn’t get past.

Unfortunately this book just wasn’t for me.

Thanks to NetGalley and Boldbooks for the ARC. Very appreciative of it and hopefully this book finds it way to right people.

I wanted to like this book, but it missed the mark (or should I say the goal) for me.

Pros-
Great writing
Solid plot

Cons -
MC talking about her biological clock got old
Characters pivoting in major life decisions without there being a deep reasoning for it other than it made sense for the story

I still enjoy it and would say give it a try if you enjoy hockey romance.
Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for an arc. All opinions expressed are my own.

I am a voracious reader when it comes to hockey romances, and willing to read almost any hockey story - I really wanted to love this book so badly, I truly did... but it did not jive with me.

My biggest beef with the story was the FMC and her biological clock ticking. She was so baby crazy it seemed like any guy that would give her the time of day she would be pushing for having a baby. The characters truly didn't really have any depth and I didn't think there was a lot of growth between them.

If you were wanting to read a cute story about an injured hockey player having fun in the bookstore, look somewhere else.

Thank you though Boldwood Books and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book! It wasn't for me, but it will be someone else's cup of tea!

Nick "Hawkeye" Hawke is recuperating from a potentially fatal sportsinjury, and Samantha Evans, a driven professional who wishes to live a slower life, are brought together in this lighthearted romance. Their paths cross in a used romance bookstore, but their chemistry is anything but slow..

Nick’s laid-back charm and Sam’s no-nonsense attitude make for an entertaining opposites-attract dynamic. As they attempt to avoid becoming friends despite their growing attraction, their chemistry develops slowly and is full of tension and humor.

While both characters struggle with important life decisions—Nick's career and Sam's running biological clock—the forced proximity and clever banter add to the fun.

It is a fun, feel-good romance with lots of humor, temptation, and a hint of sports drama.

this was supremely disappointing. i wanted to love every aspect of this and it failed miserably. the whole eggs and biological clock thing was supposed to be humorous but was overdone and repetitive (and also weird). i just did not get any aspect of this and maybe i'm just not the target audience but oh well. also the hockey and bookstore aspects make up about 5% of this, so if you're reading it for that, maybe don't.

Cute story. It was a wake up call when Samantha saw her ex engaged and expecting. With turning 30 around the corner this catapults her on a mission. In the meantime she reconnects with her friend’, Birdie’s grandson. He has come to run the used book store after her passing while he is recovering from an injury. They both are attracted to one another but are not wanting the same things. This leads Nick to help set up dates for potential fathers . These are all Mr. Wrongs. Giving up she returns to her high pressure job and the promotion she had always wanted. After living a laid back lifestyle for awhile she decides this isn’t the life she wants. When they spend time away from one another Nick realizes Sam is who he wants. Fun story but also shows the pressure of being a woman with wanting the career and babiesmd living in the world of self doubt when not a size 2. Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwiod books for this free advanced copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily

This was quite cute and light. The friendship between Sam and Nick that developed was very sweet and well-done; I really liked that it developed more naturally and realistically. There was a lot about this book in that regard that I liked – another example is that [their first sexual encounter doesn’t go smoothly. (hide spoiler)] They had a very fun, easy relationship, and I really liked that the book took the time to show that. They had great chemistry and there were some really lovely bits in this book.

However, there was a ‘not like other girls’ element to it that I didn’t like, and some of the way her weight was discussed didn’t fully work for me. Some of their conversations occasionally felt a little immature, too. Overall, though, it was very cute and fun, I stayed up late to read it, and I had a good time doing so. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing a free copy of this book.

Content Notes: Mild intimidation, misogyny in the workplace, sexism in the workplace, fatphobia, references to injury, references to past surgery.

Thank you NetGalley for giving me the chance to read this book ahead of time in exchange for a review. It didn't disappoint! Must read!!

Amy Andrew’s books are always a blast - I live the humour, tone and body postiveness of them. We don’t have fearless queens who don’t care about what the world thinks of them we have relatable people who need a hand to find their way.

Sam is a financial genius who suddenly has a series of dramatic events and changes her life plan - mostly because her boss is an arse. Incomes our swoony hockey player love interest and all around nice guy

Shenanigans follows and it’s all fun and games before the rather predictable end - but that’s also the charm in a book that hits all the genre tropes in a beautiful symphony


I loved this and thanks to NetGalley for the ARC

I read and enjoy a lot os sport romance books, but this one didn't really do it for me. There wasn't a lot of sport and I wasn't really that taken with the characters

This book was, in the end, not for me. I really wanted to love it, especially as it's being marketed as a sports hockey romance, but he's only on the ice once! There are also some issues with repetition and a lack of depth, as well as sensitivity problems.

Breaking the ice is a romance between a hockey player and a career-driven woman who work together in the book store. This one had potential, but unfortunately, it fell a little flat for me. I did appreciate that the FMC was curvier and was open about her body image issues. However, all the talk of how her eggs would react always brought me out of the moment.

Book Review: "Breaking the Ice" by Amy Andrews

Breaking the Ice is an irresistibly spicy ice hockey romance that seamlessly blends sports, slow-burn passion, and bookshop charm. Written by USA Today bestselling author Amy Andrews, this novel takes readers on a delightful journey of love, humor, and emotional depth, with a heavy dose of heat.

The story centers around NHL star Nick "Hawkeye" Hawke, who finds himself sidelined by a serious injury. Tasked with recuperating while managing his grandmother's beloved second-hand romance bookshop, Nick is more than a little out of his element. Enter Samantha Evans—his bookshop-savvy, fiercely organized, and career-driven counterpart. Having just left behind the high-stakes world of corporate life, Sam is looking for a simpler, quieter pace. But, with her biological clock ticking loudly and an undeniable chemistry simmering between her and Nick, Sam’s new role becomes anything but simple.

What follows is a classic forced-proximity romance, full of banter, tension, and temptation that threatens to boil over at any moment. Andrews expertly creates a slow-burn relationship between Nick and Sam, with the pair attempting to friend-zone themselves in the midst of overwhelming attraction. Their witty exchanges and charged interactions set the tone for a deeply entertaining love story, filled with humor, heart, and plenty of steam.

The setting of the cozy second-hand bookshop adds a delightful charm to the novel, making it feel warm and inviting while also being the perfect backdrop for Nick and Sam's increasingly sizzling connection. The juxtaposition of Nick’s tough, athletic persona with the softer world of romance novels offers a fresh dynamic, while Sam’s internal conflict between her desire for stability and the wild attraction she feels toward Nick gives the story depth and emotional stakes.

Andrews' writing shines with playful humor, spicy romance, and endearing characters. Fans of Elle Kennedy and Hannah Grace will find much to love here, especially those who enjoy a strong, independent heroine and a rugged, yet vulnerable, hero.

The novel tackles familiar romance tropes like forced proximity and opposites attract, but it does so with a fresh voice, a lively pace, and just the right amount of tension before the inevitable—and highly satisfying—"breaking the ice." Readers who enjoy sports romances with emotional nuance, humor, and a good dose of heat will devour this book.

Overall, Breaking the Ice is a fun, fiery, and heartwarming read perfect for anyone looking to escape into a world where hockey players and bookshops collide, and love finds a way through the unlikeliest of circumstances. A must-read for fans of spicy romance!

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I absolutely loved *Breaking the Ice*! Nick’s character was everything—sweet, caring, and genuinely invested in helping Sam with her body image issues. It’s so refreshing to read a book where the male lead supports a curvy woman in such a loving, empowering way. Women writing stories about men who adore curvy women is so healing, and I want more of it. The whole ticking biological clock aspect was a bit weird, especially when Sam’s “eggs” started talking, but overall, I really related to that feeling. The slow-burn romance was just the right mix of tension and sweetness!

Engaging hocky romance, likeable and flawed characters, some very curious blind dates, and finding out that what you need and what you thought you wanted may not be the same thing. A good weekend or vacation read.

There’s something charming about the idea of this book, a 30-something female decides that after building her career she’d like to discover whether she wants children, after being body conscious for years she starts to find herself during this discovery of who she wants to be.

But.

I found it really hard to connect with Sam, she just seemed singularly focused on meet man=baby. There was no exploration of other options, no consideration for the type of man she wanted to meet except that they were of a similar age and “in her league”

Nick had potential, but he just sat on the fence for the first 45% of the book and when he finally kissed Sam, there were no sparks for me.

If you’re looking for a straightforward woman seeks man to start a family, closed door romance, this may be your thing :)

In Breaking the Ice, Amy Andrews delivers a heartwarming romance that revolves around self-acceptance, friendship, and the complexities of body image. The story follows a spirited protagonist who navigates her journey of self-discovery while falling for a charming love interest. Andrews excels in creating an engaging narrative filled with humor, relatable moments, and chemistry that keeps readers invested.

One of the book's strongest themes is body positivity, emphasizing that beauty comes in all shapes and sizes. While the intention behind this message is commendable, at times it feels a bit heavy-handed. The emphasis on body image can overshadow other elements of the plot, making the narrative feel slightly repetitive. Although the portrayal of a plus-sized heroine striving for confidence is important, the frequent reiteration of how "fat girls can be pretty too" may detract from the overall nuance of the story.

Despite this, Andrews crafts vibrant characters and witty dialogue, and the romance itself is both sweet and realistic. The growth of the main character as she learns to embrace herself is inspiring, and many readers will find moments that resonate with their own experiences.

Overall, Breaking the Ice is an enjoyable read that champions self-love and acceptance, even if it occasionally leans too heavily on its central theme. Fans of contemporary romance will appreciate the warmth and charm, but some may wish for a more subtle exploration of body image. If you’re looking for a light-hearted story with a meaningful message, this book is certainly worth picking up.

I have mixed emotions about this one. I think the bones of the story is great, but I’m not sold on the delivery. There were many things I adored, but also many things that I didn’t like. I felt like it was all so rushed. Like Sam quits all of the sudden, despite it being out of character; Birdie is introduced and immediately dies; Nick and Sam run into each other every so often and now they’re seeing each other again after a bit and all of the sudden there’s this strong attraction? I think the puzzle pieces are there, but it’s not fitting quite right.
An example would be Sam’s character. She’s described as hard working, determined, and committed, but that has led her to put her life on hold. Yet, she just quits all the sudden? It seemed to me that she only did this to prove to everyone that Ray will fail and they will come crawling back. It seemed petty and immature. But then in the end, she realizes all she has sacrificed and how much value she brings to the table. As she should. I was thinking maybe the point was that Nick helped her find her confidence? But if that’s the case, it wasn’t really portrayed that way. Like there wasn’t small changes throughout that showed she was gaining confidence that would lead up to this big demand in her job.