🏒 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!*

2.5 rounded up to 3. I so wanted to like this book but it fell short.

After a tragic accident, Nick is left homeless. He has a roof over his head, but he's never felt more alone. Meanwhile, Alyssa wants to create the perfect home for her clients because she knows what it feels like to not have one. When Nick hires Alyssa to decorate his apartment to prove to his Coach that he's fine, they initially butt heads but soon come to find they want the same things.

While this book wasn't for me, it might be for you. Here are some reasons why you might consider picking it up.
-Mental Heath/Therapy Positive
-Deep Emotions/Discussions of Trauma and Grief
-Found Family

Unfortunately, it did not work for me because of the miscommunication. The way the trope was used hurt so much that it undermined the romance for me and left me feeling like Nick and Alyssa would have been better off as friends.

I liked! Addicting, it was interesting to read. I liked a lot 🤭 there were also 🔥 scenes. Very serious topics were also touched. I liked the writing style. I liked the theme of friendship. Maybe it was annoying sometimes, the stubbornness of the characters. Because that was what prevented them from getting together, but at least in general, it was a very cute story!😍 #NetGalley

3.5 stars
During the first part of the book i felt the relationship between Nick and Alyssa seemed a little Insta Lovey. I felt like i had just started the book and all of a sudden they were kissing with no foundation of the crush. The writing felt a little choppy at times and jumping around a little too abruptly. after the 15% point i really started to enjoy the flow of the book. I really enjoyed both characters and their personalities. we watch both characters grow together and genuinely got to know each other. the communication between both characters was amazing and even as the reader i got to know them so well.

Nicks trauma was done really well. I felt like I could feel his sadness and see a lot of the reasoning behind his actions . I really enjoyed how Nick was not afraid to show his emotions and share his feelings.

I liked how Alyssa was also very open with what she experienced as a child. I also enjoyed the friendship aspect with Janet end Emma. those girls were ride or die kind of friends which i love!

i would have enjoyed more of the hockey aspect in this book! i feel like we went a lot of time is Nicks room and not nick overcoming his hockey struggles.

This book was good but not great. Just needed a bit more work. I love hockey romance, and appreciate that the author tried to address some big topics in this.