If you like your steamy romance with a special bond between the two main characters that evokes so much emotion you feel it down to your toes, Chris and Serena's story is for you. Neither was looking for love, and both thought they were too busy, but when fate puts them together, their lives are irrevocably changed. He's the captain of the new professional hockey expansion team, and she's busy trying to launch her clothing design business. But from the first time they meet, there's an undeniable connection between them that won’t be ignored.

More and more, we're seeing authors use their work to highlight various social issues. That can be a double-edged sword, because if taken too far it can alienate the reader. Goodwin strikes a nice balance, showing the heart and emotion behind the issue while giving her heroine a spine of steel and strong voice while still wrestling with self-doubt. In doing so Serena comes across as authentic and endearing, engaging the reader and easily winning her over. As strong and accomplished as Chris is, his old insecurities cropping up make him seem more human and, with the exception of an instance of self-sabotage, relatable and loveable.

Most of the book takes place prior to the hockey season, so the bulk of the sports aspect is what occurs behind the scene and in preparation of the season, which is a fresh take on a hockey romance. There is still plenty of dealing with the fame and public opinion of dating a hockey player, as well as disagreeable parents on both sides, all of which provide for the conflict in the book. I liked both Chris and Serena and had no trouble connecting with them, which easily had me invested in the outcome of their story. The secondary characters were vivid and colorful, and the guys on the team, especially, left me wanting more of the New York Nighthawks. I’m ready to buy a team jersey, and I can't wait to see what comes next in this series!

*I reviewed this book freely and voluntarily, having made no commitment to provide a review and receiving no compensation of any kind from any source for this review.

Hockey romances or just sport romances in general are another one of those kryptonite reads for me! I simply can’t stay away from them. ICE HOT was a first time read from this author and even though this story wasn’t quite up there with some of my favorites (that list is extensive), I definitely enjoyed Chris and Serena’s story!

I liked that we got to see the inside of the sport, some sport romances don’t always show that, so it was definitely refreshing. I love the anatomy of sports, I grew up playing volleyball competitively, so I definitely understood some of the dynamics. Not the famous part, though, obviously 😉 It felt like we got two stories in one with Chris trying to lead his team to be the best that they can and dealing with a bad egg on the team. The bad egg being a character that I’m rather curious to know if we’ll be seeing him again in this series.

I have no idea what it’s like to be professional athlete and constantly being in the spotlight. It definitely sounds like a nightmare, but I have always felt that personal and career should always be separated. So, there was a certain issue where Chris approached his sports management for some PR control. But keep in mind, I’m claiming the fact that they don’t get involved, I honestly don’t know how this all works in the real world.

I didn’t quite connect with Serena like I hoped I would because she definitely could have been a character that I’d love. Like many of us out there, we all have our insecurities, but she constantly had to state them to Christian every time they had a moment together. And he absolutely worshipped her like every woman should!

ICE HOT wasn’t exactly a huge win for me, but I enjoyed this read and am looking forward to the rest of this series!

I fell so hard for Christian and Serena. Usually the sports star in books is portrayed as an a@@, but Chris was so not like that. He hardly drank, he was a nice guy and he had issues with his dad. Serena was born into money, but was trying hard not to let her insecurities (due to people fat shaming her) get her down. The way they met was so cute and I liked how he never saw her as anything other than a beautiful woman.
They were a perfect match, but I would have liked a little bit more build up. I did like how she was trying to help him earn the respect of his team, especially one player, but couldn't go through with it after she saw how they treated him. This book had a really good message for both sports fans and everyone, especially when it comes to how to treat one another.

***ARC Provided by the Publisher via NetGalley***

3.5 Stars

I love books where the characters aren't what you are expecting...the woman who wants a one night stand and the man who doesn't. It switches the expectations of the story and it makes the characters feel different and fresh, which is a challenge in a genre that has a pretty expected story line, plot and ending.

Christian and Serena were, in some ways, what I was expecting and in others were not at all. I liked this, I liked that I felt like I was not able to predict most of this story. Their chemistry felt real and I thought the balance of the story that focused on his career also felt realistic. I hate it when a hero is a sports star, and you never see them in their sport...it's off season, or whatever the reason, but I really enjoyed the sports centered parts of this...there was enough of it, without it feeling like this was a book about hockey with a side of romance.

I did think that there were a few things with secondary characters that I thought took away from the story, but I was still able to enjoy the story overall.

I enjoyed and recommend this story.

Christian who is the new captain of the team has a lot of pressure on him. He's very organized and likes everything in it's place. One thing that doesn't fall into that is a relationship he doesn't do those. The first time that he meets Serena had me laughing out loud. Than the second time had me laughing too.

Serena grew up with the proverbial silver spoon in her mouth but didn't have the one thing that she wanted. I absolutely loved her grandma!!! She cracked me up.

Their backgrounds couldn't be more different but what's on the inside isn't much different at all. Will outside forces tear these two apart before they get to indulge in finding what they have? Will there pasts make it to where they are too scared to put it all on the line?

Christian has a new city and new team in hockey career, moving to the newly formed Nighthawks with the responsibility of captain is a big move, meeting a sassy sexy woman who has no clue who you are-hot! With a line like: "Oh, God. It's dripping. It looks like I'm peeing a Smurf in public." You know it's a special kind of book! From the moment Serena and Christian met the chemistry is off the charts! Sexy, sassy and funny this is a great read, even if Chris can be an idiot, even if it is with the best thoughts. Love a HEA!

Tracy Goodwin melts the ice with ICE HOT, the first book in the New York Nighthawks series. NHL star, Christian Chase, is focused on leading his new team and does not plan on being distracted. However, after literally bumping into, Serena Ellis, he is intrigued and interested in pursuing her. This contemporary sports romance is suitable for adult audiences.

I liked Christian’s character. He is the captain of the new expansion team, the New York Nighthawks. He has a lot of dimensions. He’s a dog lover, so that’s a plus. I appreciated Christian’s friendship with Nick. He came from nothing and wants to prove himself. Serena is an admirable heroine. She comes from a wealthy family. I like that she is a clothing designer for real women. She feels that her, and her brother are a disappointment to her parents. She never felt like she fit in her social circle. I love the relationship she has with her brother and grandmother.

Christian and Serena have great chemistry. I like how Christian and Serena met. Their banter was entertaining. I appreciate that they like each other for they actually are and not their net worth or celebrity status. They come from different backgrounds, but they fit together. They both have scars that the other helps heal. They trust and respect each other.

I enjoyed the plot. The characters faced many interesting confrontations and grew both individually and as a couple. I like the expansion team aspect of the story; the added obstacle of bringing together a new team presented engaging challenges.

This is the first book that I have read by Tracy Goodwin. I enjoyed her writing style and plan to continue following the books in this series. I recommend ICE HOT for lovers of sports romances. I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.

Ice Hot by Tracy Goodwin was entertaining, intense, steamy, and heart-meltingly swoony.

I loved all the FEELS I felt in this beautifully written sports romance. Not only was it lighthearted and funny, but also wonderfully emotional and meaningful. I felt so much for Serena and Christian and really wanted them to have their HEA. I thought their love story was realistic and had plenty of relatable aspects. There's also enough drama, conflict and heartbreak that kept the story interesting and had me flipping through the pages. If I didn't have plans over the weekend, I would have finished this in one sitting. The ending was adorably sweet and incredibly heartwarming and had me smiling like a fool and feeling those crazy butterflies.

I truly enjoyed Chris and Serena’s story. They were both such fantastic characters and so wonderful together. I liked that they were both independent, determined and passionate people. Oh and their chemistry… absolutely amazing!! I loved their playful bantering and all their sexy moments together.

I also really loved Puck! I loved all the scenes with her in it.

Sport Romance lovers will really enjoy this book. It’s delightfully fun, emotionally heartwarming, and swoontastically titillating. I can’t wait to continue the series and see how Nick find his HEA.

I received an advance reader copy from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

At times I felt that this book was rushed, like the characters jumped from meeting each other to falling for each other so quickly that I was left wondering about the reality of it. But.. as I got through more of the book, I realized that it’s not like these characters were jumping for the “I love you’s” super quick, no it was more so that these characters had developed an instant connection upon meeting and if things seemed rushed it was because for two people who had never truly known any sort of love before.. this was a special bond they were building. Serena and Chris had something special and the author did such a fantastic job of depicting these characters and their feelings for each other.

I also had to commend the author for the subject matter of body shaming that she included. Not a lot of people can do this without coming across as a tiny bit unrealistic in their personal feelings. I adored that the author gave Serena a wonderful love story but that the character of Serena was so strong and didn’t need a man to make her so.

This is a new-to-me author and, to be honest, I didn’t think she had a lot of published works under her belt yet. Turns out I was wrong about that. I really enjoy the story idea and the arc this story takes, but I also felt there was too much telling and not enough showing.

Christian and Serena are both lovely characters and I liked them both from the start. The way they meet (and then meet again) is adorable and sexy at the same time. While I felt the flicker of a candle flame when it comes to their chemistry, it wasn’t the fireball I had hoped for. Part of that is because there is so much internal dialogue going on with these characters, even when they’re together. One would say something and it would be pages later before the other responded after having a full-blown inner dialogue conversation with themselves. I don’t mind this tactic in stories, but it happened too many times for me to feel the character’s connection in this one.

Because of the internal dialogue issue, the pacing felt a bit off to me. Portions of this story flew by and had me fully immersed in the book, while other portions seemed to drag. I wanted to get to know their circle of friends more than the bits and pieces we were given.

This one was truly an up and down read for me. Which is why I was surprised this wasn’t the author’s debut. The potential is definitely there. To be fair she doesn’t have a huge library of published works so I’m sure she’s still finding her groove. That’s why I’ll be keeping my eye out for more from Ms. Goodwin. She absolutely has the talent to write an amazing book.

A winner!

Christian, captain of the new ice hockey team the Nighthawks, and Serena, drop-out socialite and fledgling entrepreneur of a company making clothes for curvy women, meet cute at a gas station and are soon hitting the sheets for a lot of steamy sex.

They tell themselves that this will be a fun fling with no feelings, but pesky emotions are there right from the start though each is determined to ignore them. Because of unhappy pasts, they’ve barricaded their hearts. But as they begin trusting each other and confessing their fears, the walls slowly come down. It’s this aspect as much as the steamy sex that makes this book a winner.

Aside from one misstep—Chris makes a too-stupid-to-live decision four-fifths of the way into the book, this is a couple who deserve their happy ending.

Chris and Serena front a charming supporting cast: : Serena’s brother Luke and his husband Charlie, Granny Savannah, and the team members, who presumably will have their own stories as the series follows the Nighthawks campaign to win the Stanley Cup.

Questions that hopefully will be answered in subsequent books:: Who will Serena’s best friend Becca wind up with? Will Gallagher, this book’s villain, be redeemed? Will the Nighthawks win the Cup?

Note: I received a free advance copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars! I love a hockey book and it is what drew me to this book. I will admit it took me longer than I would have liked to connect with this book but when I did it was smooth sailing. Chris has recently moved to the New York Nighthawks team. He is their captain and looking win his third Stanley Cup. I loved the work ethic that Chris had. I loved that behind the cocky hockey player was someone who knew what it is to have nothing and work for everything. Serena came from a wealthy family but it didn’t cloud her judgement. I loved her strong will and determination. I thought Chris and Serena were each other’s perfect match. Loved the supporting characters. This was a quick feel good story. Excited to see where the series goes next.

Christian and Serena meet by chance at a 711, where a Slurpee incident changes their lives. Christian is the captain of the New York Nighthawks and has a lot on his shoulders He has made a lot of himself, despite his humble beginnings.. Serena is a fashion designer who comes from privilege, although her parents also leave a lot to be desired.
Serena came across as kind of snobby at first and I was unsure of how to take her. She claimed to be self-confident and then would bemoan her plus size figure and claim she couldn't see why he would want to be with her. I got whiplash a few times. Her philosophy about being true to oneself was admirable, but she rarely applied it to herself. Her experience at 16 shaped a lot of her issues and I felt she needed to deal with it and not constantly second-guess herself and Christian.
Christian .is a legend on and off the ice and knows that a relationship will cause complications in his life. After meeting Serena, he decides to go with the flow. He did make a tactical error in how he handled Serena being bullied. Felt they both should have communicated more and tried to protect the other less. Felt Serena should have also stepped up and acknowledged that she should have been honest about how bad the situation with her was.
Overall a good read and a nice start to this hockey series. I received an ARC from NetGalley for my honest review.

Ice Hot is the first book I have read by this author and I really liked it. I loved Christian and Serena. Chris was swoony and sexy. I loved Serena's sass. Chris and Serena were perfect together. I loved their chemistry and connection!

You had me at hockey romance!!! Ice Hot, by author Tracy Goodwin, was hot enough to melt the ice! This fun, enjoyable romance story between hockey captain, Christian Chase, and Serena Ellis, the daughter of a wealthy businessman, has humor, love, sabotage, frustration, hockey, and Christian’s dog (Puck).

Overall, I really enjoyed this story. The characters were well written and I liked the friendships and team camaraderie, but I was frustrated a bit because there was a player who was making life difficult for Serena and Chris to be together, but there wasn’t anything they could really do about it? Also, the internet trolls bugged me. Overall, I really liked this book, and would recommend it, and am looking forward to the next book in the series!

Great start to a new hockey series. In the story we get a glimpse at several NY Nighthawk players and I see some great stories coming our way. Christian Chase is the team captain and should be focused solely on the team and upcoming season but the incredibly sexy Serena Ellis has him slightly distracted.

I haven't read anything from the author before and after reading this book I must say I am a brand new fan. I very much enjoyed her storytelling style, characters, and story pace. I highly recommend this one to everyone.

Hockey themed sports-romance? Of course I'm going to pick that up!

Unfortunately, didn't really work for me after a few chapters. It had good potential and Chris and Serena's meet-cute was, well cute and fun. But the story was excessively descriptive of nonessential elements and characters, and left readers stuck in a loop of repetitive inner emotive monologues of both Chris and Serena. Too much time is spent in their heads and not enough in the story.

I would have like more moments spent on Chris' hockey career, Serena's fashion-design and entrepreneur business, them together and with their friends, and overall just more character dialogue.

Monologues don't work for me a a form of compelling story telling; I need dialogue between the characters to help build connections and engage in the story.

1.5 stars

Christian has worked hard to become the god of hockey, on the ice and off the ice. But when he bumps into Serena at a gas station and she has no clue who he is, he is intrigued by her and wants more. Serena and her brother have never been able to please their rich parents, so when they become adults, they start to lead their own lives. Serena was hurt when she was young and now doesn't do relationships. But when she meets Christian, she thinking about throwing her no relationships rule out the window.

This book has a good story and the characters are good, but it was just predictable. Although I did like that not all the hockey players got along, because I'm sure in real life they ALL don't. I did think it kinda weird that in the second half of the book, it talked about Serena being "big" ... because I sure didn't get that from the first half of the book. And I did like that Christian didn't seem to notice her weight and Serena tried to not let it bother her.

I received an early copy courtesy of Random House - Loveswept through NetGalley in exchange for a honest review.

Ice Hot by Tracy Goodwin is book One in the New York Nighthawks Series. This is the story of Serena and Chris. Chris is the Captain for the Nighthawks and is used to women liking what they see. Serena is working on her own business isn't the thin model type but it doesn't stop her. They two have instant connection and look to the other for more, but some people seem to want to pull them away.
Enjoyed their story.

Christian is a great hockey player. He lives hockey till he meets Serena. What happen when past come back? Will they relationship survive?
Great story, well written.
Loved it.