I will be honest and say that I did not know that this was the third in the series when I requested it. I recently read Cold Day in the Sun and loved it so I was looking for something similar...it wasn't. The characters bothered me and the story was pretty far fetched to me. I would have probably rated it lower but the writing itself wasn't bad. I feel like the editor is to blame for this one.

This was a cute story. I felt the author could have done a little better as far as the back story with the heroines parents- it seemed a little flat to me. But the scandal with the hockey team was interesting and relevant. And I thought the heroine was strong. And I won’t spoil it but kudos to the author for making Jake the one to be having his first. 3 stars.

Actual rate: 3,6 stars

This a sweet, lovely, cute reading, with great descriptions, good characters, and flows really well.
The story is told from both main character POV which is my favorite and, in this case, Brooke and Jake are great together, the chemistry, the love, is all there.
The plot is more complex than what is expected. It shows a reality for some athletes, and both side of the ambition, the good and the bad.
It’s a story about self-respect, right and wrong, choices and consequences.
The last quarter is fantastic, I couldn’t stop until I reach the end. I was absorbed into the story, but the first part is a little messy with so many sub-plots and holes that doesn’t help the reader to keep focus on the main goal, and there are inconsistencies on the main characters' thoughts, at first it seems part of their personality but then It looks more like a flaw in the writing.
However, like I said, it’s a nice, fresh, and romantic reading with a great message for everyone.
100% recommended.

Can I just start by saying how disappointed I am in myself for not reading a book by Julie Cross until now? I have seen several rave reviews for her Juniper Falls series in the past. I always wanted to read one of those books, but never did. Shame on me! I absolutely adored On Thin Ice. On Thin Ice is one of those young adult novels that digs deep, but leaves you feeling all happy and bubbly inside. Or at least that is how it made me feel.

Brooke is a quiet sophomore new to Juniper Falls. She's had a rough couple of years, and she longs to take back her life in a new town. On a calculated whim, she joins the new high school girls' hockey team. Joining the team puts Brooke in direct contact with the boys' teams hockey star, Jake. Being around the cute and charismatic senior is tough enough as it is, but the two share a secret. The more the two get to know each other, the harder it is to stay away from each other and the truths they have to deal with.

Brooke and Jake were characters I couldn't help but love. Brooke was intense and sweet. She was also a mess. Jake was strong and had the best of intentions, but he was also a mess. Somehow their individuals messes faded when they were together. They were the support system the other needed to make the big, important changes in their lives. I loved them as a couple and as individuals.

I greatly respected where Julie Cross took this story when it came to the hazing incident. There have been so many gone wrong in the news in the past couple of years, and it's never close to home until it is. On Thin Ice tackled it in a way that gave young readers options to look at if they ever encounter a similar situation. I liked that it wasn't a quick and easy decision or fix for the characters.

I have a feeling Julie Cross is going to be joining my list of go-to YA authors like Kasie West, Katie McGarry, Emery Lord, and Morgan Matson (just to name a few). I am so excited to go back and read the rest of the Juniper Falls series.

Full disclosure: I didn't realize that this was the third book in a series when I picked it up, but I'm happy to say that it reads like a true standalone. I had no problem connecting with Brooke and Jake's story, and didn't feel like I was missing any puzzle pieces. In fact, it wasn't until the very end when I put together which couples the previous books revolved around. So, if you, like me, are on the fence about it being the third book in a series you haven't read yet? I enthusiastically say, go for it!

Why? Because this is just a <i>good</i> story. It's a more mature YA and I went into it with a fair bit of skepticism (mostly because I knew I'd already missed out on two books of this series), but it managed to charm me and pull me right in anyway. It's a bit heavier than I was anticipating - there are definitely some timely and serious issues going on throughout the story and I think that it is far bigger than a YA romance. However, the YA romance is compelling in its own right and the chemistry between Brooke and Jake was on point and completely satisfying.

Those of you who read sports romance for the sports will be happy to know that there's actually a fair amount of hockey in this book! And yet those of you who may not be invested so much in the sport itself will be happy to know that it's not too much, you won't feel lost, and the role of hockey in the book serves as a catalyst for some of the deeper, more emotional storylines. It's a pretty complete package, and I'm so glad I took a chance on it!

In all, definitely worth the read! In fact, I'd like to circle back and read the books I missed because those couples seem like they might have had some pretty gripping storylines of their own. The writing is engaging and smart. The romance is sweet and sparky and tastefully heated. I really enjoyed my time with Brooke & Jake and will definitely be back for more from this author!

On Thin Ice is the romantic and sensational third book in the Juniper Falls series. Ice hockey, scintillating romance, heartbreaking family troubles, strong friendship and a soul searching story about standing up for what’s right, On Thin Ice has all the pieces to create a captivating story which I devoured.

When Brooke has to move to a new town to escape her father’s incarceration and her mother’s breakdown, she planned to stay invisible. The last thing she expects is to connect with the town’s most popular guy, hockey star Jake. But after saving Jake’s life in a hockey hazing incident gone wrong, she finds herself working with Jake. Neither could imagine the connection they find with each other, nor how it will change their lives.

The romance. Oh, the romance. Be still my beating heart. As soon as I finished reading On Thin Ice I had to go back and read all my favourite bits (some, okay, a lot were kissing bits) again. Brooke and Jake’s connection and chemistry is absolutely captivating.

Yet alongside this story of love, is a story of challenges and making big sacrifices to stand up against them. Brooke is dealing with a family breakdown that has thrown more challenges at her than she is sure she can bear. Her father is in prison, her mother a zombie, her own past decisions weigh on her, and moving to a new town away from her passions is daunting. Jake has waited all his life for his senior year, the year he can finally show what he has on the ice. But a hundred-year-old hazing ritual goes bad, leaving him doubting his place in the structure of the town’s history and love affair with hockey, one that is now costing him his future and almost cost another his life. But choosing to stand up against that hierarchy and history will have even further challenges and costs. Despite what Brooke and Jake face they are both there for each other. They make a fantastic team, supportive and understanding and this deeper layer makes them a fantastic couple, going so far beyond fantastic chemistry.

I really loved On Thin Ice. It is by far the best book in this series and I enjoyed the first two books, as well. While each book can be read as a standalone, following this group of characters and the Juniper Falls icy hockey team has been wonderful and so much fun. I highly recommend On Thin Ice to readers who love YA contemporary romance and sports books.

The publishers provided an advanced readers copy of this book for reviewing purposes. All opinions are my own.

Brooke and Jake share a terrible secret: Jake takes the fall for a near fatal drowning during a hazing incident for the freshman hockey players on their high school team. I was extremely proud of the way the young people in this story banded together to try to fight the corruption and unethical behavior of their coaching staff. Although the hazing incident was successfully covered up and scandal was averted, Jake decides that he cannot remain silent any longer and his teammates rally behind him. To quote Jake: "....the adults in charge of our program failed us. They don't have our best interests in mind when they make decisions......" So very, very true when the future of our young athletes can be ruined on the whim of the coaching staff.
This story also examines the difficulty that all-female sports teams face - in terms of funding, equpment and ice time - in this highly competitive. I read this story in one day - I just could not put it down. The romance between Brooke and Jake was sweet - they were so supportive of one another. This one of the books in a series, but it can be read on its own. Highly recommended. Thanks to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this story in exchange for an honest review.

"On Thin Ice" is a sweet YA contemporary romance that follows Brooke and Jake in alternating chapters/points-of-view. Brooke is new to Juniper Falls, this odd town where hockey is king and the high school Otters are the penultimate. She moved there with her mother, who was originally from there, after her father was falsely put in prison for a changed narrative and her mother began to have mental health issues (which are not well defined). They live with her grandmother in an old farm house. Brooke is determined to do everything differently, beginning with listening rather than talking. She was a dedicated ballerina, but there's no dance in Juniper Falls. When she sees a hockey practice, and the dance-like quality of the moves, she decides to sign up for the newly forming girls' hockey team where no experience is required.

Jake is lined up to be the Captain of the varsity team in his senior year and be drowning in recruiters and offers. In the pre-season, there's an Otter tradition where the seniors haze the freshman. Hating every second of it, but feeling like he has to participate in this over 100-year-old tradition, Jake is shocked when it all goes wrong, he ends up badly injured, and a freshman ends up airlifted to a hospital near death. Protecting their own is second nature, and Jake takes the fall for what happened. His punishment is community service- more specifically to help coach the new girls' hockey team.

As Brooke and Jake get closer and deal with larger issues, a deeper romance begins to build, leading to something big neither of them would have expected. The romance in this book is top notch. Jake and Brooke are there for each other in all the ways that count, and their love heats up the pages. The bigger stories here are about the other things going on in their lives, primarily Jake's (although Brooke has some HUGE issues that are mentioned but not fully dealt with). The major issue is related to the way the town treats hockey and the team, considering the unequal treatment of athletes, allowances that can be harmful to not only others but also the students themselves, hazing, and the power and dangers of the lies around all of it.

These issues are handled really well, and we end up hearing a lot of stories that all feed into the same issues with the way the town treats the sports and team, including the past police, school/classes, and family issues. Jake is a great poster boy for all of this because he has the most to lose, but he also feels a lot of guilt when not doing the right thing. We see the conflict and the later resolutions. I think this story line was very strong.

I wish we could have had more insights into the mental illness plots of the book,, particularly with Brooke and her mother. We see it happening, but we do not get the full story nor the full resolution (some resolution at the end but not really information about the journey to get there). I felt like this could have been an equally big piece of the book, and I would have liked to have gotten more insight throughout the book and see an equally large discussion. I also do not agree with the portrayal of medications used to treat mental illness as inducing a "zombie-like" state- this is a really common misconception and can lead to people resisting treatments they potentially need. I feel like it could have all been handled better. Brooke is also mostly left to herself to handle all these big and horrible events, and I would have liked to see her getting some help/seeing a therapist to talk through it. This may have been happening (e.g. we hear a mention about a family evaluation/not sure if it could have continued), but it would be nice to have it explicitly stated. Her really big issues felt mostly brushed aside in favor of Jake's issues in terms of the plot, and I would have liked to see more discussion of them.

Overall, I really enjoyed this YA contemporary romance- it really delves into some big and important issues (on Jake's side) plus has a completely swoon-worthy romance. It was very much a page-turner, and I am really enjoying this series (where each book can be read as a stand-alone)!

Please note that I received an ARC from the publisher through netgalley. All opinions are my own.

I have read all of the companion books to this one by Julie Cross and this one far exceeded all the rest, which I enjoyed quite a bit. What made this one even better was the depth of the story and the topics is touched on that I wasnt expecting. This wasnt just another YA romance where new girl meets handsome popular boy and they live happily ever after. This story involves pain and regret. It discusses loss and the struggle of mental health, the power of finding your voice and speaking up. It finds a way to move the romance along but in a way that the other morals and lessons go by the wayside. All of these are interwoven with hockey and a town where boys hockey takes center stage. Well done Julie Cross, this was a great read. Thank you netgalley for an arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

First off, I have to be honest here, I don't think the blurb was accurately written. I thought I was getting into a sweet, YA romance that would deal with some harder things (the blurb does mention a hazing thing gone wrong), but mostly skirt over the real issue and ultimately end up being a quick read. Boy was I wrong. Not a quick YA read, despite the quick nature of the plot. What normally would've taken me 3 -4 ish hours to finish, took probably double that - I'm not complaining about spending all day reading, I'm just saying I wasn't expecting it. It wasn't because it was a bad book, quite the opposite. It is a fantastically told story, but because it delves deeper than I antcipated, it took me longer to get though.
I know Entangled "thing" is the dual POV, but when I realized it would be written that way I sort of inwardly groaned. I know it's the in thing to do in literature these days, especially YA, but it just seems like a new pop song on the radio: catchy, fun, but very quickly over done. BUT, the dual POV in On Thin Ice was done pretty much to perfection. The scenes chosen for each, the destinct voice of each, even the balance between the inner voice and dialogue was done really, really well. Like, almost as well as I've read lately. So seriously, kudos to the author for that balance!
The story in and of itself was also pretty darn close to perfect, and that despite the fact that I'm not a huge fan of getting too "real" with a lot of topics in YA. I pick up a YA romance novel for just that: a short, sweet shot of teenage love. I don't generally have an interest in getting into their lives and problems much passed the romance I came for. However, the romance and the true plot line of a hockey team hazing ritual gone bad and the repercussions from it were woved together so seemlessly that I didn't even care (and hardly noticed!) that I was reading something more than surface level in YA. Even for the tough subject of teenage hazing, peer pressure, and fear of standing up for what you know is right (and those are just Jake's issues!), the author handled it really maturely and yet delicately. I was happy that while choosing to focus on those topics, that the author didn't focus too hard on Brooke's issues (father in prison - unsure of his guilt - mother depressed and having issues, and past partying, alcohol, and cutting issues for Brooke). She could have, but I think it would've taken the book a little darker. The issues are mentioned, and resolved, to a certain degree, but the author doesn't glorify anything and she doesn't make them a huge deal. It was more of a "this happened in Brooke's past to shape her now, but she's growing and that's what the story is about".
I loved being in the head of Jake, the senior star of the small town hockey team who ends up injured to begin his season. The struggles, internal and external, the insecurity, the uncertainty of what to do and who to follow - I felt it. I believed it. I love, love, loved Jake's insecurity towards Brooke. Something about reading about a male character, teen or not, who isn't 100% confident all the time about every aspect of his love life was so wonderfully refreshing. I feel like most YA heroines go through that, so I did love how Brooke was written, don't get me wrong, but it wasn't anything out of the ordinary.
The way that the author developed Jake and Brooke's relationship - from not knowing each other to eventual love - was simply one of the best character developments that I have had the pleasure of reading recently. No insta-love here. It was slow, but in the good way. In the realistic way. And in a way that made sense for the characters that were being set up.
This is a 5 star story in terms of story line, characters, character development, and overall writing. I thoroughly enjoyed spending my day getting lost in this story, HOWEVER... this is not a clean book. There are quite a few swear words of all type. There is underage drinking and alluding to it (though, thankfully for this teacher, done in a way that seems to be more of an "everyone else is doing it, but it's really making me feel pukey" way as opposed to a glorifying it way that I've read in other Entangled novels). There is some heavy hazing and other alludes to abuse. And, and this is really the stickler for me, there is a descriptive hook-up and sex scene. Hear me out: they were written really well. I loved the writing. I loved that they had a condom ready. I loved how the characters handled it. I even loved how it flowed into the story and wasn't forced or stuffy. I also loved how it wasn't rauchy because they are teenagers (and I've noticed that being a sad trend in YA lately). It was sweet, simple, and loving. Everything you'd dream up for a high school romance. But I can't recommend a book to my high school students of the same age when the characters are having sex that is more than implied. Especially not when Brooke is only a sophomore and it wasn't her first time. The other stuff was written about in an almost discouraging way, but not the sex (which, again, fit the story line perfectly).
So do I love the book? Yes. Would I recommend it to a girlfriend? Yes. Do I think other lovers of YA literature will love it? Absolutely. Would I recommend it to my students? Only a very, very rare one and they'd get a warning about the swear words, alcohol, and sex, but I fully believe they'd come back to me raving about loving it too. I can't wait to read more from this author!

I loved this book so much. It is one of those books that you don't want to put down once you start it. I loved how Brooke was able to quietly help Jake to mature as a person. Meanwhile Jake helps Brooke to realize even by small town standards she's not meant to be someone who hides in the crowd. It's a must read for sure.

This was not what the blurb lead me to believe. Instead of a hockey romance this is about bullying, harrassment, and standing up for what is right. So just know that there is some darkness in here that isn't shown in the blurb.
If you enjoy a deep story with a side of romance then this might just be the book for you.

This is the first book in the Juniper Falls series that I read and so my introduction to the small town hockey world. I love a good sports romance and On Thin Ice has all the ingredients to make it an enjoyable read.

The fast-paced story pulled me in from the start and I read the novel in one day. I loved the way the romance between the protagonists grew out of their mutual support for one another after a traumatic experience, but what I found even more captivating was how the athor tackled the bullying storyline. The characters were all so well-portrayed that their motives and inner struggles felt authentic and easy to identify with.

I recommend On This Ice to everyone who likes sports with a bit of romance spicing it up.

I am a fan of Julie Cross's Jupiter Falls series and I have to say On Thin Ice is the best one yet. This is a cute young adult romance that will have you hooked from chapter one. Great Read and another great book by Julie.

Timing is everything! Things either happen when then should or at the worst possible time and for Jake and Brooke time was neither friend nor foe but both! All it took was one look to strike something inside the other, all it took was a few mere seconds for a tradition to turn to a nightmare and all it took was time for Jake and Brooke to make changes that not only affected them but a town hell bent on keeping the secrets hidden!

This was definitely a book that made a statement! So many things happened to not just Brooke but Jake as well! Privilege should be something that yes is earned but also shouldn’t be taken advantage of and the tiny town of Juniper Falls is about to find out how taking advantage of privileges can hurt more than just someone’s pride!

Brooke was quiet and reserved but strong and resilient! She learned from her mistakes and
Discovered that sometimes silence is deafening! Together with Jake she learned how to open up and become the best version of herself as well as teaching Jake that there is more to life then team honor. She gave him the strength he needed to make the biggest decision of his life!

“I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”