So, what's not to love here: You've got--star-crossed lovers,feuding clans and feuding bikers (The Sleighers and The Blades) , and all-wise matriarchs in an alternate universe type of fantasy between the Frosts and the Klaus clans.

I was really looking forward to a modern day treatment between these characters, the blurb really hooked me. Sadly, I was disappointed with this title. The problem I had with this story was the narrator's voice. There's a strange mix of present tense that didn't work for me. It felt stilted and choppy and often jarred me out of the story.

I did find that the story does brighten up when Nikolaus Klaus is on page but not for any particular reason I can identify. I wasn't enamored of any of the other characters. Noelle seemed strong one minute, confused and weak the next. The clans are just downright odd, which is okay, but they were not endearing oddities. The men's protectiveness comes across as controlling and difficult to like.

Overall, I thought this was a great concept for a holiday-type romance, but unfortunately, the execution here was not to this reader's taste. The voice did not lend itself to "show, don't tell" and it ended up being a flat note pretty much throughout. A just "okay" story for this reader.

I really want to give this a 3.5 rather than a 3, but i haven't figured out how to input that yet. I have mixed feelings on this book. The plot and concept are captivating, intriguing, and unique for me. However, the authors writing style sometimes pulls me out of the story. It feels like it jumps from first-person POV to third-person POV randomly. As well as switching chericters POV in the middle of a scean or paragraph. I do still intend to read the next book when it comes out. I need to know the rest of the story! There are too many loose threads to stop here. I will semi- patiently be waiting for my next dose of Noelle and Nikolaus.

DNF at chapter 7. I tried to read through this one twice, but just couldn't get into it either time. The plot felt inconsistent and the main female character unrealistic.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read this ARC. I thought this book would be right up my alley, with its paranormal characters and a holiday romance, but the world felt flat to me and rather disorganized. The characters are a bit one-note. Not something I'd recommend to my friends.

Rating: 4/5
Pub: 12/6/22
I received an eARC of this book for my honest opinion

This was an interesting paranormal romance/fantasy series. I liked parts of the plot a lot and other parts I was a little lost. I gave this book an overall 4 out of 5 because I do understand that the first book of a series should have some guidelines of the plot but really, it’s to introduce the characters and world building. Those are what I look for when reading a new series, and I thought the introduction of characters was good, and the world building, I did get a little confused but then once I went back to reread a few parts I was able to get a picture of it in my head.

I thought the characters were somewhat relatable; I think for me Hope is relatable more so than Noelle, but I really do love that feisty attitude of hers.I enjoyed the interesting twist on the two known names that have to do with winter/Christmas, Klaus and Frost, so cute.

This is a must read if you like enemies to lovers, paranormal romance, a little mystery and found family. I don’t want to go into too much about this book because I am worried that I might spoil a few things, so instead if you really like my review and you enjoy reading books with those aspects in them, you should pick this book up and read it.

I want to Thank NetGalley and WWN Publishing Group for allowing me the opportunity to read and review this book.

Frozen By Lies by Martha Sweeney.
Sleigh Riders #1.
A feud has ensued for many generations, leaving most from both the Frost Clan and the Klaus Clan unaware of its origin. What happens when Noelle Frost and Nikolaus Klaus find themselves drawn to each other? Will their worlds collide, destroying everything in their wake? Or, do they have the power to bridge the ancient chasm and restore balance to the world?
Really good read. Likeable story and characters. 4*.

I l8ved how this story was set out, it gave me Romeo and Juliet and Westside Story vibes with a great wintry Christmas backdrop. The references to Christmas with the characters names was a great touch.
An alternative to a Christmas romance. Thank you to the publishers and netgalley for the advanced eArc.

Honestly, I could not finish this book.

I wanted to like it - paranormal holiday romance about rival biker gangs is exactly the type of thing that sounds like it would hit all my spots, but this fell flat.

The world building didn't feel complete, I couldn't tell tell if this was supposed to be our world with magic added, or a different world entirely. Why certain places have certain tech and other don't didn't feel organised or make any kind of sense. On top of that our main character also doesn't seem to know anything about the world she lives in, so nothing gels for the reader and it makes for very confused reading.

The interactions between the characters involved in the main romance rely on bad puns and innuendo rather than any real chemistry or getting to know each other. It makes them feel like teenagers instead of the mid+20 somethings they're meant to be.

A good idea, but unfortunately poor execution.

The setting of this world gave me winter feels and I liked the nods to Christmas throughout the story, especially in the names: Noelle Frost & Nikolaus Klaus

I was really excited about star-crossed lovers in 2 rival biker clans set in a magical world, but the 3rd person narration did not flow well for me. I struggled to keep my attention in certain parts even though I wanted to know how Noelle & Nikolaus’ story continues or what happened to Noelle’s mum.

For me the most refreshing parts where discovering more about Hope & Josiah’s blossoming love, since the bits in Frore and about the Blades were quite heavy. Towards the end, when Noelle spends more time with Nikolaus and his clan, reading got better and I was intrigued to find out more about their gifts. The open end begs for answers in a second back, since I want to know what grandma Sapphria has planned and if Noelle will find her dad.

Would recommend to people who love
- Star-crossed lovers
- Biker clans
- Magical ancestors
- 3rd person narrative

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read a free advanced copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review.

I found this book to be entertaining. Not something I would normally pick up to read, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. Especially the little throws to the festive season.

4.5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC for me to honestly review

Frozen By Lies by Martha Sweeney is a biker romance with a paranormal twist and is targeted for the festive season featuring as it does the rival Frost and Klaus clans who have been feuding for so long that the original reason for the rift has been long forgotten., just like the magic that the Frost clan once wielded. When Noelle Frost and Nikolaus Klaus meet and sparks fly due to their instant chemistry they struggle to stick to the rules and stay away from each other even though it could mean all out war for their biker families. To complicate matters even further, it seems like meeting Niklaus has unleashed some dormant magic in Noelle and it is possible that only the Klaus tribe , who still wield the magic they have carried for generations will be able to help her to control it. Could Noelle and Nicklaus coming together be the way to balance the magical forces?
This is a fast, light festive read, that tries to be spicy but relies too much on quips and innuendo to be truly steamy. The main characters, particularly Noelle , came across as far younger than the ages suggested in the book and the dialogue was often on the cheesy side but at other times very awkward and stilted. The male characters of the Frost family in particular were unpleasant and misogynistic, as was Nicklaus to a lesser extent. It all felt very forced and I never really found myself invested in the characters or the story. The paranormal aspect was confusing and there were too many unexplained aspects to the story, though I do realise that there are intended to be more books in this series ,so perhaps more will be explained there , though I do not think I cared enough to find out.
I read an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own,

I received an eARC from NetGalley for this novel. I was expecting a romance, which this was. However, for many reasons, which I will detail below, I disliked how this book was constructed. I am giving it 2 stars for one reason: I want to know what in the hell is actually going on.

This novel was so poorly written and constructed that I can’t just chock it up to being an advanced copy. It’s coming out in approximately one month. There were spelling errors and such that one would find in an eARC. I am not complaining of that, at all. The dialogue was stilted and unnatural. The characters sometimes spoke like they were horny teenagers, other times like they were trying to be witty 20-somethings and then like weird, semi-prophetic, formal language. It was brutal to try and read. It also affected character development, of which there was none. These characters are barely formed to begin with and to have their dialogue style change all the time meant I never really got to know anyone.

At first, Noelle, our heroine, was kind of a tough, witty biker chick. Then she was a hold-it-all-in introvert. Then she was all soft and passive. Her family bosses her around at 26 years old and her solution (from beginning to end) is to sneak out. But, she doesn’t like it and so she hates when anyone else, like Nicklaus, tries to be domineering with her; except sometimes that’s okay too.

I don’t understand the weird protectiveness her male family members exhibit. I don’t understand the why and it was never explained. I don’t understand how her Grandma allows it while also secretly helping Noelle sneak away. I also don’t under why Noelle allows it because from what I read her family has absolutely no hold over her and she could easily leave. None of this was ever explained or touched upon except to say the men have secrets.

The novel was also full of sexual innuendos that were rarely funny. They also felt stilted and came out of nowhere. How many times are you going to use “come” as a double entendre? It was weird and awkward and felt like the characters were reading a script.

There were time jumps that I didn’t know had happened until another character was like, “where have you been?” And I was like, we were just with you on the last page? Only to find out it’s been two weeks. It really messed with the story.

Now we have to discuss the instalove/mate thing. First a disclaimer: instalove and the mate thing are a repeating thing in books I read. I don’t ah e a problem with the trope. I just want it to make sense for the plot and the characters. Also, much like no one should die in chapter 1, no one should meet and fall in love in chapter 1. Noelle and Nicklaus do not have any chemistry. There I said it. I didn’t feel it and I didn’t see it. Also, Nik is an overgrown frat boy. I didn’t like him. Actually I don’t think I liked any of the characters.

The instant Nik meets Noelle there’s some weird sniffing thing and he knows she’s his mate. She’s from an opposing clan with whom he has what amounts to a blood feud (also never explained) that no one remembers the details of and you won’t get any details, and he doesn’t even try to stay away from her. She gives odd no signals verbally while batting her eyes and using those weird Christmas sexual innuendos and sort of saying yes. I rolled my eyes a lot. And if you think you’re getting any erotica, you’re not. It’s all fades to black. I was glad of that fact because he effing kisses her to “calm her down”.

Bottom line, I was not invested in these characters. They were poorly written. The dialogue was strange. The innuendos were annoying and the men were assholes. Plus, it ended on a soft cliffhanger.

The only thing getting stars is that I’m a soft touch and I must know what the hell is going on with the gifts and the magic and her dead mom. There’s a secret and I must uncover it!

I will not be recommending this novel. However, because it’s a quick read, I may be tempted to read the rest of the trilogy ad hope for answers.

I was so intrigued by the concept of this book and the blurb. However the novel did not live up to expectations. I don’t want to be too negative, but there were some things that were just too glaring to make this enjoyable. Noelle is supposed to be 26 - I think this really pushes the limit as to “New Adult” content. She is written much more like an 18 year old. Noelle is written to be “giggling” what feels like almost every page - once I noticed the giggling, I couldn’t stop noticing it. There is very little build up between Noelle and Nikolaus, just instant attraction and lust. I know it’s supposed to be fated but I wish there was some more, especially at the beginning. There are lots of silly innuendos, which don’t bother me in general but it was just over the top. I think the bones of this story are really interesting, it just needed some editing and depth. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to provide my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley, WWN Publishing Group, and author, Martha Sweeney, for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review. Frozen on Lies comes out on December 6. 2022. This a fun standalone that I would recommend you preorder for some cozy, holiday fun! I was looking for some wintery season sparks and this book was perfect. The story follows Noelle and Nikolaus - who come from the opposing clans, Klaus v. Frost. The universe was fun and this was a great star-crossed lovers romp. I could not stand Noelle's family though, so that detracted me from the book from me as I think they were supposed to be 'endearing' rather than violent and manipulative.

Unfortunately, I was unable to finish this. I think it has a good premise and great potential. The insta-love was too instant for me. It happened in the first page and I just hadn't connected to either character yet even individually so the love connection together wasn't there. I think if I had more time to connect then I would have felt more compelled to read on and see how it ends.
I know and expect some cheesy lines and funny innuendos with romcoms but the lines were more cheesy and cringey than funny or sexy, even the ones that were supposed to be flirty banter between the two MCs.

Thanks to Netgalley for an ARC of this book!

Now I'll begin by saying I normally don't do DNF. I like to see it through, and most of the time I'm pleasantly surprised by the end. And while the world building and story itself are good, I just could not love the main characters. I found their reactions to events unbelievable and the dialogue between the two was constant, repeatative innuendos. Constant. It was just too much!!

I went it with high hopes, but was left unsatisfied.

Frozen By Lies is the first book in a new series by Martha Sweeney and focuses on soul mates who come from two clans who have been at war with each other for generations. I read this ARC on Netgalley and it will be released officially on December 6th. It is a modern fantasy romance with fairy tale aspects that will remind you of everything from Romeo and Juliet to Frozen.

I really wanted to like this book. It has an interesting plot, likable main characters, and enough magical moments to draw you in. However, I found myself skimming the final twenty percent of the book before refocusing to read the final two chapters. At a certain point the main female character, Noelle, starts to get whiney and uses the same dirty joke one too many times. Her conversations with the other main character, Nikolai’s, got repetitive and I simply could not continue to read the same bad innuendo again.

This book is written in a third person omniscient point of view and often switches from one character to the next with no real transition. It’s jarring at times and I would have preferred focusing on the perspective of only one character. The author also relies mostly on dialogue with little description or set up of scenes.

Again, I really wanted to like this book. There was so much potential in the plot but there are simply too many glaring issues with the writing and it simply was not executed in a way that held my attention. In my opinion this one is a 3 out of 5 stars.

Enemies to lovers YA, this was a little deeper than I expected. But I did enjoy characters interactions. It’s slow in some places. But I did enjoy it!

thank you to the publisher and netgalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest reviewv

a great start to a new series! this was a fun and quick read

this is a fantastic start to a new series, from enemies to lovers although this seems a bit heavy for a YA. I went into this blind but i'm glad I gave it a go because I found a new world to visit with good friends to welcome me back when I reread this.
Thank you to Netgalley/Martha Sweeney for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.