Anastasia Allen has worked her entire life for a shot at Team USA.
A competitive figure skater since she was five years old, a full college scholarship thanks to her place on the Maple Hills skating team, and a schedule that would make even the most driven person weep, Stassie comes to win.
No exceptions.
Nathan Hawkins has never had a problem he couldn’t solve. As captain of the Maple Hills Titans, he knows the responsibility of keeping the hockey team on the ice rests on his shoulders.
When a misunderstanding results in the two teams sharing a rink, and Anastasia’s partner gets hurt in the aftermath, Nate finds himself swapping his stick for tights, and one scary coach for an even scarier one.
The pair find themselves stuck together in more ways than one, but it’s fine, because Anastasia doesn’t even like hockey players…right?
A competitive figure skater since she was five years old, a full college scholarship thanks to her place on the Maple Hills skating team, and a schedule that would make even the most driven person weep, Stassie comes to win.
No exceptions.
Nathan Hawkins has never had a problem he couldn’t solve. As captain of the Maple Hills Titans, he knows the responsibility of keeping the hockey team on the ice rests on his shoulders.
When a misunderstanding results in the two teams sharing a rink, and Anastasia’s partner gets hurt in the aftermath, Nate finds himself swapping his stick for tights, and one scary coach for an even scarier one.
The pair find themselves stuck together in more ways than one, but it’s fine, because Anastasia doesn’t even like hockey players…right?
Title: Icebreaker (Maple Hills #1)
Author: Hannah Grace
Original Publisher: Pig & Bear Publishing
Original Publisher: Pig & Bear Publishing
Current Publisher: Atria (Simon and Schuster)
Publication Date: 11/22/22
Review:
What a great story!
First off, the plot is not what I thought it would be. While it's important to the story, this book is much more character driven than that. It's about growth, love, and trust. It's about falling into something you were not looking for and embracing it for what it brings to your life. I will say, I'm sorry there wasn't a bit more hockey or figure skating really worked into this. I loved learning about the characters but I do feel the story would have benefitted from a bit more understanding of those things as they related to the characters. Hockey and skating life can be tough on the mind and the body, so I would have liked to see a bit more of that struggle. Don't get me wrong, there are struggles and situations thrown throughout the book, but they always related to the relationship between the main characters rather than a struggle with the other things that may also be going on in their lives.
I love Nate and Stass' relationship. First they are enemies, then they are friends, then lovers, then friends, then lovers. It's a ride! Nate is the kindest and most level headed romantic character I have read. You would think as hockey player, he'd be a bit more rough around the edges. But that's not him. And Stass is fairly level headed but also very stubborn. And she's much more forgiving than I would ever be. I love her relationship with Nate's teammates, as well, especially Henry. He's so sweet. I hope he gets a book because you can see how he would have a great story to tell, even if I'm not so sure what it is. And I think JJ also needs his own book. I love Robbie and Brin, but I feel like they took off too much in this story to really get their own story. And I'd like to get a bit more about the other side characters, as well. I love series where each book gives us a look into the characters we've met in the first book. The one thing I would have liked to see is more development of the characters who were added to this story for diversity. I almost feel like they were there because the author felt the need to include diversity in the plot rather than because their "differences" added to what was going on. I guess we'll see where the author plans to go
This one started off rough and I was sure I would be DNFing it. The pacing was off, and slow, and thw writing was stiletd. I honestly feel like the first 15-20% is a bit confusing with how the relationship forms between Nate and Stass. They aren't supposed to know each other but it's like there is something there already, though I could not put my finger on it. I know it was to build a bit of tension, but I didn't quite get that and I wish it would have been there. And the dialogue had me a bit confused, as well. Sometimes it was hard to tell who was talking to whom. It's like the first 20% doesn't match the last 80% of this book and needs to be re-edited, which is so weird and also why I can't quite give it 5 stars. I'm so very glad I pushed through because it turned out to be one of the best romance stories I've read this year.
I'm excited to see what the next book brings!
First off, the plot is not what I thought it would be. While it's important to the story, this book is much more character driven than that. It's about growth, love, and trust. It's about falling into something you were not looking for and embracing it for what it brings to your life. I will say, I'm sorry there wasn't a bit more hockey or figure skating really worked into this. I loved learning about the characters but I do feel the story would have benefitted from a bit more understanding of those things as they related to the characters. Hockey and skating life can be tough on the mind and the body, so I would have liked to see a bit more of that struggle. Don't get me wrong, there are struggles and situations thrown throughout the book, but they always related to the relationship between the main characters rather than a struggle with the other things that may also be going on in their lives.
I love Nate and Stass' relationship. First they are enemies, then they are friends, then lovers, then friends, then lovers. It's a ride! Nate is the kindest and most level headed romantic character I have read. You would think as hockey player, he'd be a bit more rough around the edges. But that's not him. And Stass is fairly level headed but also very stubborn. And she's much more forgiving than I would ever be. I love her relationship with Nate's teammates, as well, especially Henry. He's so sweet. I hope he gets a book because you can see how he would have a great story to tell, even if I'm not so sure what it is. And I think JJ also needs his own book. I love Robbie and Brin, but I feel like they took off too much in this story to really get their own story. And I'd like to get a bit more about the other side characters, as well. I love series where each book gives us a look into the characters we've met in the first book. The one thing I would have liked to see is more development of the characters who were added to this story for diversity. I almost feel like they were there because the author felt the need to include diversity in the plot rather than because their "differences" added to what was going on. I guess we'll see where the author plans to go
This one started off rough and I was sure I would be DNFing it. The pacing was off, and slow, and thw writing was stiletd. I honestly feel like the first 15-20% is a bit confusing with how the relationship forms between Nate and Stass. They aren't supposed to know each other but it's like there is something there already, though I could not put my finger on it. I know it was to build a bit of tension, but I didn't quite get that and I wish it would have been there. And the dialogue had me a bit confused, as well. Sometimes it was hard to tell who was talking to whom. It's like the first 20% doesn't match the last 80% of this book and needs to be re-edited, which is so weird and also why I can't quite give it 5 stars. I'm so very glad I pushed through because it turned out to be one of the best romance stories I've read this year.
I'm excited to see what the next book brings!
Hannah Grace is an English self-labeled “fluffy comfort book” author, writing predominantly new adult and contemporary romance from her home in Manchester, England. When she’s not describing everyone’s eyes ten-thousand times a chapter, accidentally giving multiple characters the same name, or using English sayings that no one understands in her American books, you can find her hanging out with her husband and two dogs, Pig and Bear.
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