Dark reverse harem. Story about 3 entitled man-children (what's the plural of man child? man-children? men children?) getting "revenge" on a girl who is barely holding it together.

Shew man, a psychologist would have a field day with this book. So many mixed and conflicting feelings. Overall, 3.5, I spent the whole book wanting to yell at Riley and shake some sense into her. Yeesh. Talk about mob mentality with Grayson, Logan, and Royce, what one guy says the others blindly follow. Curious to see what happens in the rest of the series.

Format: audiobook - Helena Walters and Oliver Highpoint did a great job

Frozen Hearts had an intriguing premise and moments of emotional depth, but it didn’t fully melt my heart. I appreciated the wintery setting and the slow-burn elements, but some parts dragged, and I found it a bit hard to connect with the characters. There were glimpses of chemistry and tension that kept me turning the pages, but overall, it felt like something was missing. This was a decent read, but it didn’t leave a lasting impression for me.

3.5 stars ✨ I loved aspects of this book, and didn't love others. I might have missed it at the start but this audio definitely needs a clear trigger warning for SA to the FMC. I think a lot more could have happened in the length of the book but enjoyed the plot overall.

Thank You NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the Early Listening Copy. Narrators Helena Walters and Oliver Highpoint did the best they can with the storyline. I was excited for another bully college sports romance but this went way beyond Bully romance. It takes to the epilogue for one of the guys to understand even a small bit of the FMC. There is plenty of spice and most if not all of it is non dubious consent., kidnapping, and trauma. The FMC is a rape victim and to have these three guys take from her sexually over and over made me sick to my stomach. The book ends in a serious cliff hanger and I doubt I will read the 2nd book. I do wonder how the author will be able to give any of these Characters any form of redemption.

Oh. My. Gosh! How could this leave me in suspense like that?!
I need to know what happens next!!

I didn’t realize this was a “why choose book”. I was a bit thrown off at first but now I’m invested!!

Riley is clearly a survivor! And did not deserve anything that came coming her way. I initially thought Logan was the golden retriever type of guy, he lost some point! But he is making up for it! Now the other 2 guys, Grayson and Royce have a lot of groveling to do if they are going to get on her good side again!!

Omg such a good read! I got this as an ALC and I followed along with the ebook on my kindle. And Omg I’m so glad I requested it! The audio is duel narration but it didn’t bother me at all! Absolutely loved it.

There is sx content involving step father forcing himself on his step daughter, step brother being violent with his step sister and then forcing himself on her, there is pole dancing, mother being kept away from her daughter by grandmother. So definitely read your warnings before you jump into it.

And man am I praying her mother (the grandmother) gets what is coming for her. And that step brother better pull his head out of his 🍑 before it’s too late and he ends up in prison or worse. And god help me if his dad doesn’t stay behind bars 🤬.

🎧 Frozen Hearts (Halston U part 1)
13 hrs 32 min
By: R.A. Smyth

This why choose has been on my tbr for a bit and jumped at the chance to listen to the ALC.

Riley the main female character was still fighting her past trauma but was strong enough to push forward and do anything she can to reach her goals and that includes not letting others get in her way, until they do and her past collides with her present.

Logan is the hockey god on campus who everyone can’t resist. Royce is the cynical moody tattooed fighter. Then you have Grayson her stepbrother who only wants revenge at any cost for what Riley had done to his family.

This was a slow build/burn. There is a lot going on in the story each of these characters are still struggling with their own demons so when they are all thrown together and the three best friends side together it gets really rough for Riley. Check the TW on this one at one point I really feel It could have been considered something more then it is portrayed.

While I really did enjoy the book I felt like her interactions with Grayson especially the one towards the end really would have triggered her panic and and it was glossed over with a different narrative. The secrets don’t come until the end of the book. This ends on a cliffhanger and I HOPE that Riley isn’t going to just give in because, while Grayson was the worst they were all bad and have A LOT to make up for.

Dual narrated by Helena Walters and Oliver Highpoint. I enjoyed the audio but I did feel at times that the male narrative was being read as a script and while that is true it didn’t feel natural more abrupt at times. Also chapter 33 is cut off in one part.

Frozen Hearts by R. A. Smyth is a dark, why choose romance set at a university. With mysterious pasts and interwoven relationships, this book is fast paced and entertaining. However, many readers might find the themes disturbing. Please check trigger warnings before reading.

Advanced Audiobook Review – Frozen Hearts
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️☆

Frozen Hearts is an intense, emotionally charged story with complex characters and plenty of twists. Riley is a standout heroine—strong, layered, and deeply resilient. Her journey through pain, betrayal, and healing is both heartbreaking and empowering. I found myself rooting for her from the very first chapter.

The male characters offer an intriguing dynamic—Logan is warm and dependable, Royce brings mystery, and Grayson is the classic brooding presence with a lot to prove. Their interactions with Riley are full of tension, chemistry, and emotional weight.

The narration is well done, with voices that suit the tone and characters. Each narrator adds depth to the story, making the emotional moments hit harder and the suspense feel more immersive. I especially appreciated how the audio format enhanced the pace during key dramatic scenes.

While the book does end on a cliffhanger and some plot threads remain unresolved, it left me eager for the sequel. It's a gripping start to what promises to be a powerful series. Highly recommended for fans of dark romance with strong female leads and emotional complexity.

♥️ Dark Why Choose Romance
Jock/tutor
Stepsiblings
Romantic suspense

I was drawn in from the beginning. Riley has a dark past that she's trying to heal from and the playboy, dark and broody and vengeful stepbrother are the unlikely answers.

This story kept me in a choke hold the entire time. I listened to the whole audio book in one day and immediately had to download the ebook of book 2 so I could find out what happened.

The story, the narrators, everything was perfect!

Thank you Netgalley and RA Smyth for an ALC of this amazing audio!

Helena Walters and Oliver Highpoint did an amazing job of bring this story to life on audio. Oliver was able to change his voice to match the different characters in a way that made it seem as though it were different people.

Riley is a very strong character who is determined to reach her goals even when she has to do and deal with things that she does not want to. She has trauma but has found a way to push through it to reach the goals she has set for herself.

Then enter the MMC's. Logan is the hockey god who needs help with statics. Royce is the tattooed fighter who wants to protect Riley even when he doesn’t totally understand why. Grayson is the angry one who wants to punish Riley.

This book had growth with some characters and revelations for others. It ends on a cliffhanger which has me wanting to rush to book two. Check your triggers there are some tough subjects.

Thank you NetGalley, Dreamscape Media and R.A. Smyth for blessing me with the advance audiobook. All of my opinions are my own.

What do I have to say about this book? Although I think the writing was done well and it definitely kept me entertained, I feel as though there were just too many plots happening all at once.

The story dives into incredibly heavy territory! starting with the main character’s past involving sexual abuse, which then quickly shifts into a romance with a hockey player while she’s also entangled with a boxer. Things become even more complicated when it’s revealed that both guys are best friends with her stepbrother: who still holds resentment over accusations that led to his father being exposed for other illegal activities. On top of that, she has a toxic and abusive relationship with her mother, who uses her as leverage in manipulative ways, even though it seems the main character is trying to build a better life for herself.

While the emotional layers could’ve made for a powerful story, the sheer volume of overlapping trauma, secrets, and subplots made it hard to fully connect with any one arc before another shocking twist was introduced.

The ending, in particular, was extremely intense and disturbing. The kidnapping scene involving the three men: one of whom is her stepbrother includes an assault that’s deeply uncomfortable, especially as the narrative veers into her internal confusion about “enjoying” it. It was difficult to process, especially considering everything else the character had already endured.

That said, the audiobook itself was easy to listen to and the narration held my attention throughout. It’s definitely not a light read or listen! it’s dark, layered, and emotionally jarring. I just wish the story had taken a bit more time to breathe between major moments so that the emotional impact could truly land.

🎧 Audiobook Review – Frozen Hearts by R.A. Smyth
Narrated by Helena Walters & Oliver Highpoint
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5 Stars – because wow.)

Listen, I am all over the place when it comes to audiobooks. I lose interest fast, I hop between titles like I’m speed‑dating narrators, and I have zero triggers—I’m here for all the dark, twisted, messed‑up brilliance that amazing authors throw at us.

With that being said… I hit play on Frozen Hearts this morning and, 13 hours and 32 minutes later, I’m done—and I am devastated that book two isn’t out on audio yet.

The narrators? Perfection. Helena Walters and Oliver Highpoint didn’t just read the story; they breathed life into it.
The book itself? Dark. Delicious. Wickedly addictive. It’s the kind of story that grabs you by the throat, whispers something sinful in your ear, and refuses to let go until you’re gasping for more.

So yeah… 5 stars. And now I’ll just be over here, not‑so‑patiently waiting for the next one, wondering how I’m supposed to move on with my life.
💀❤️🔥
Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape for sharing this ARC with me.

I wasn’t sure what I was going to read with a why choose bully romance, however this book had me glued to the couch and when I finished the book I was debating on continuing the series or read something else. Spoiler I continued onto book 2.

The story falls in a university setting, and a dance studio with a fmc who is strong and resilient even through the trauma, being sent away and being faced by 3 bullies. Our 3 guys, Grayson, Logan, and Royce however gave me whiplash. There were times where you liked some, other times you hated all of them. It had me questioning when they would come to their senses.

I never felt a dull moment within the story. I would say if you have things to do, don’t start this book yet because you will want to finish it.

2.5⭐ (Rounded up)

I loved Pacific Prep. I loved Black Creek. This....was something else.

This leaned way more noncon than dubcon, specifically between main characters.

I dont really see the MMCs as redeemable, all things considered. Despite that, I'm interested enough to continue the series and see where it goes. I'm really hoping there's MASSIVE character growth in the next book.

The audio itself was pretty good, but I noticed some mispronunciations that just seemed odd.

Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape for providing me with this ALC.

Hockey romance
Why choose
Forced proximity
College age
Dark romance

Dual narration - Helena Walters & Oliver Highpoint
New to me narrators and I liked their voices.

Dark and twisty. Emotional heartbreaking. This sucked me in. I need to see what happens in book 2!
Captivating and entertaining. I want to know how the relationships develop further in the series. I am invested now.

A dark, bully, why choose romance, Frozen Hearts follows Riley as she enters college and struggles with the elite environment and battles the demons of her past.

Read if you like:
-Dark Romance
-Bully Romance

Mind the TW/CW

Frozen Hearts was a) way too long and b) way too dark. Too long because it dragged and started to feel repetitive. Riley held onto her secrets much longer than she should have when revealing the truth would have moved the story forward. And way too dark because the darkness didn't align with her trauma. The book was basically Riley trying to battle her demons but yet willingly putting herself in the same situation again and again. It didn't make her character appear strong. It made her seem like a puppet for the author to use to glorify the MMCs.

Frozen Hearts Honest ARC Review

4.5⭐️

Halston University was supposed to be Riley’s fresh start. Perfect for fans of Rina Kent, and Shantell Tessier, Frozen hearts is descriptive, has excellent complexity of characters and is filled with plot twists and turns.

FMC really pulls at your heartstrings as she tries to rebuild her life, attending university and tutoring star hockey player, Logan Aster.

MMC’s are possessive, can be vicious and heartbreaking at times, bringing suspense and intrigue to the storyline. Characters that the reader loves to hate add emotional pull and tension. Lines are crossed and relationships complicated.

There are trigger warnings as the FMC has experienced past trauma. She tries to move on from this and honestly, her character really pulls at your heartstrings.

The story was well written and full of suspense.


⭐️Dark forbidden romance
⭐️Stalker Vibes
⭐️Possessive MMC
⭐️Multiple love interests


Thank you Net Galley and Dreamscape for sharing this ARC with me.

I love hockey books and adding bully romance on top of that is AMAZING. I saw some reviews say this was too much but this is a bully romance. It will trigger some people. Check the warnings. I thought it was great and this audiobook is one of the good ones.

I can't believe it took me this long to read this book! I really liked it! I listened to this book in audio and it was narrated in dual narration by Helena Walters and Oliver Highpoint. Definitely funny listening to OH voice an old lady, but I really have no complaints! Only praise for this production.
I loved seeing the three guys fight their feelings for Riley but their attraction to her is absolutely undeniable.