Hot and Cold

Lesson In Love #3

by Tara September

Who will melt first in this sizzling campus romance where opposites attract?

He’s the disciplined pre-med student and hockey team captain with zero time for distractions. She’s talkative, unpredictable, and impossible to ignore—especially after being assigned to promote his team for a class project.

But in this sizzling, opposites-attract campus romance… someone’s bound to melt.

This match might need to go into overtime. Game on!

Genres: Hockey, Romance, Sports Romance, New Adult, Audiobook, Hockey Romance, Fake Dating

214 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 6, 2024

About the author

Bestselling, multi-award-winning romance author of steamy & sassy contemporary & new adult stories that will leave you "grinning like a Cheshire Cat"

Holding a master’s degree in journalism from NYU, Tara previously was the PR Manager for The Walt Disney Company. She also blogs over at When Tara Met Blog @tarametblog, a lifestyle, travel, and parenting blog of 18 years. Tara currently resides in Southwest Florida and NYC with her husband, their twin boys and four distractions, I mean cats.

Free bonus chapter available at http://bit.ly/taraseptemberbonus

Let's connect! www.instagram.com/taraseptemberauthor
www.facebook.com/taraseptemberauthor

Reviews

[Emily Pennington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Luke and Jax’s Story . . .

Luke Prescott is a serious, no-frills college hockey player who is facing the pressures of graduation and the NHL draft. Meeting Jax Silva has to be a jolt to his system. She is walking across campus dressed like a teapot! She had tried on the costume that would be filmed later for her social media project; but the clasp got stuck and no one was around to help her, so she had to walk to her destination dressed as a teapot. She had planned to drive there, but the teapot outfit made it impossible for her to squeeze into her tiny car. But after the shock of seeing her wears off, Luke thinks she is adorable. She drives him crazy, but he seems to like it… something about opposites attracting, and it certainly fits the two of them! Filled with laughter, their story will draw the reader in. Grab your copy and enjoy their light-hearted story.

[Dino Queen · Rating 5 out of 5]

please note that the trigger warnings and topes/themes may contain spoilers
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
HEA: yes
POV: dual 1st person POV
spice: several open-door spicy scenes
TWs: death of a parent (cancer, recounted), grief, bullying
standalone: book 2 in Lessons in Love series
final thoughts: Jax and Luke 🥰 this is my favorite Lesson in Love story so far and I thoroughly enjoyed both MCs. From their funny meetcute on page 1 to having no third act breakup their story was funny and sweet. I love a grumpy no relationships MMC falling hard and fast over the quirky “I’m looking for love” FMC. Watching Luke be so distracted by, excited for, possessive of, and encouraging of Jax had me swooning.
I’m looking forward to reading more from Tara September- her stories are quick and easy to read with lots of plot and plenty of spice

read this book if you love
🫡 big MMC
🍪cinnamon roll MMC
🏫 college setting
💏 fake dating
🏝️ forced proximity (school project)
🧑‍🤝‍🧑 great side characters
😡 grumpy/sunshine
👦 he falls first and hard
💘 instalove
🔀 opposites attract
😂 romcom
💓 slowburn
🏡 small town
🏒 sports romance (hockey)
🌍 world building

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jax & Luke
Jax is a TikTok influencer who has finally decided to major in communications. Luke is the pre-med captain of his hockey team. Their story start off with the mystery of the Thatcher teapot (lol), and then they are thrown together when she needs to help overhaul the hockey team’s image and get people interested in the Thatcher Thunderbolts for her communications class. There is a summer internship with housing provided on the line, but will she be able to thaw out the “Ice Man”? I loved the characters in this book and am excited to read the others in the Lesson In Love series.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[ren ౨ৎ (rozanov's version) · Rating 1 out of 5]

⁀➷ 1 ★ ´ˎ˗

i haven’t read a book that has given me this much ick while reading it in a long time. i usually try to keep my arc reviews serious, but i don’t think i’ll ever forgive the author for forcing me to read lines such as: 

- “with a sexy exhale” 
- “i stare down jax like she’s a puck in a shoot-out. a puck i’d like to fuck, that is.”
- “yup, i’m totally pucked!” 
- “son-of-a-stanley-cup!”

this book feels like an ai was asked to write a poorly written romance with two unlikeable characters with a bunch of hockey and gen z slang thrown into the mix. 

someone should tell my hockey team that the key to success (or as the author says... hockey rizz ™️) is breaking your abstinence streak, it might do them some good.

the only thing that i enjoyed about this book was the fact that it was so short.

thank you to netgalley, plus it up, and tara september for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

[LA FITCH · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this book. Luke is the college star hockey player and Jax is the communications student. It takes a few meetings and an assignment for Jax to get things finally moving. Highly entertaining and highly recommended reading.

[Rachel Nahabedian · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars

This is my 2nd Tara September book and my second in the Lesson in Love series and as much as I liked Blinded by Science, I loved this more. (I may be biased as hockey and hockey romance are my jam)

Jax and Luke were totally adorable and the way they were just thrown together and she slowly melted the Ice Man was a joy to read.

I did wish there was a little more into Luke’s past relationship and why he was so guarded and against dating, but we got the picture.

I’m also excited because there was some Emerson and Steele (from book 2) and we really got to know Cam and April (book 4) and I’m so excited to read it now.

EDIT: Cam and April are BOOK 1 (the one I haven’t read of course! Now I’m running to go get it!! All the stories are congruently happening!! Book 4 is Tanner the rookie hockey player!!!)

Thank you Book Sirens and Tara September for providing this book for review consideration.

[Addicted.2.reading · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a cute, fast, fun, enjoyable read.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

The third story in the Lesson in Love. Pre-med student and captain of Thatcher College’s hockey team, Luke Prescott and has just been assigned a social media project with Jax Silva. There is humor and tension as these two try very hard not to fall in love. I enjoyed reading their amusing story. I found the story for myself to be well worth reading. I received a copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Kelly Viccars · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Why did I rate this 5 stars? I really liked it and would recommend reading it. I read this in one sitting, the story flowing and moving at a good pace. It made me laugh, it was heartfelt, and I liked all the characters. There was perspective gained by lessons learned.

I enjoyed the college romance, hockey romance, grief and loss realities with a HEA; where there are some obstacles to overcome without crushing blows to their spirits. Jax’s was everything he didn’t know he needed and Luke was a welcome surprise to shake up her thoughts about relationships. Neither saw the other coming and rules were broken on the journey to figuring it out.

This is book 3 in a series and now I feel I the need to go back and read 1 and 2, so it fits with my 5 star of ‘really like it’ rating.

[Kimberley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an easy fun read with really likeable characters. If you like a college, opposites attract with a hint of spice romance than this one is for you. This is a quick read novella and I do wish we learnt more about their relationship but their support for each other was perfect. This is book three in the Lessons In Love series, I personally hadn’t read the first two so it’s perfect as a standalone read. An overall enjoyable read.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Amanda Marlowe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jax is tasked with getting more publicity for the college hockey team, to do this she has to work with Luke, Ice Man. She's not looking forward to it, she is his opposite, cheerful, chatty and not respecting the word no! Turns out he has a reason for being surly and working hard at his studies as well as playing hockey to a high degree.
Will Luke help Jax? Can Jax get Luke to cheer up a bit?

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

An entertaining story from Tara

[n_ow_n · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, this was a fun read. The word 'quirky' comes to mind. For me, it's more on the romantic/comedy side than anything else. It wasn't super spicy (a couple of hot scenes all in all) and was really low on the drama. The characters weren't annoying or airheads, the plot didn't drag on, the writing was good and there were some funny scenes.

Booksprout ARC

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had it all; humor, tension, and a great romance! I couldn't put it down. Luke is trying to avoid distractions and Jax likes pushing his buttons...the tension keeps building until..

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Lorraine Whiteley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hot dang, this book is sweet and funny and juicy and awesome!! The fireworks explode and the story flows easy and keeps you riveted until the very last word. Must read!! I received an ARC and leave this review voluntarily.

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a big fan of college sports romance. I loved both of the main characters. I usually prefer a book be over 250 pages but didn't mind this one. It don't feel too short. The story line was great and their love didn't seem to be rushed despite the fact that it was shorter. Would definitely read more from this author!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Bridget · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️ 4/5
🌶️ 3/5

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

'Hot and Cold' is just about everything you want in a hockey romance novella. Short, sweet, sassy, and sexy! The ideal light-hearted bite-sized treat.

This was my first introduction to September's work, and I was certainly not disappointed. :)

[Leah Pretty Pistolz · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐️2🌶️

There's something about hockey romances that I just love and can't get enough of and this one I can add to my list. This is the third book in the Lessons to love series, it was fun and cute read and the characters are likeable😊
Luke is the captain for his college hockey team and Jax is a TikTok influencer who's now responsible for getting more publicity for the college hockey team! Of course there's some spice 😏 🌶️
If you like college hockey romances and opposites attract tropes this books for you! Book was released and February 6th, 2024 and this is my ARC review ❤️

[bella rhys (semi-hiatus) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars! This was such a fun and entertaining read!

Pre-med student and captain of Thatcher College’s hockey team, Luke Prescott is trying to concentrate on his up-and-coming career. Known as the “Ice Man” on campus, that’s just how he likes/wants it. With the NHL draft and graduation on the horizon, distractions are the last thing Luke needs. Meanwhile, Jax Silva, a junior, is looking to get the internship of her dreams. When Luke is assigned a social media project with Jax, her distraction could be, the difference in his success. If only the hockey grump would lighten up and just cooperate with her. She is determined to do the best job possible on this project and give him the best social media presence possible; from shooting a sexy team calendar, to kissing cams, to Instagram posts. And despite the campus rumours, their teaming up is purely due to their assignment, and nothing more. Right?

Lol, the antics in this book were so fun to read about. This gave me all the feels I needed and I loved it! Luke is the cold to Jax’s warm, the grumpy to her sunshine, and I was here for every moment.

Narrated by Laura Horowitz and Aaron Shedlock, they were excellent and complimented each other very well. Their voices were able to bring the characters and their story to life, providing all the emotions needed. Shedlock was perfect and able to portray the icy, turned-warm, characteristics of the “Ice-Man” himself, Luke. Horowitz brought the fun, sunshine personality of Jax. I truly loved them in this!

Thanks to the author, Tara September, for providing me with an audio review copy of this book. All opinions provided in this review are entirely my own.

[Amy Crull · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm writing this review for United Indie book blog.
These two may just be my favorite of the series!!! I absolutely love Luke and Jax so much!!They are so great together. Here's what I love about these two.. With Luke, he's the star Hockey player, he's had offers from the NHL but didn't go. He made a promise to his mom that's he's determined to keep. Luke is not your typical star jock. He doesn't enjoy parties or doing anything other then his studies and hockey. Girls are a distraction to him. When Jax comes into his life, she shows him what he's missing in life. Luke is a sweetheart though. He calls Jax out on her bs and when she doubts herself. He believes in her when she doesn't.
Jax is a great character as well. She doesn't let anything get in her way especially when it comes to her studies. She's a communication major and has a project to do. She wants to improve the social media account of the hockey team. She has ideas that make Luke cringe. He doesn't see they need it at all. Things change when emotions take over after a win and a fake relationship happens. This is when things get fun! These two really shine in this and know exactly how to really treat the other one.
This is one book that will read again! I really like Luke and Jax together and their story was so so great!!

[Sarah Bergan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tropes: Hockey Player x Influencer | Open Door Spice | College Hockey | Dual POV | Novella | Grumpy x Sunshine

Luke, the cold as ice hockey player solely focused on hockey and his education, has a distraction in sunshine form, Jax. Jax, the bubbly influencer and college student who doesn’t stay anywhere or with anyone too long. When the super serious hockey team captain and the flighty marketing student are thrown together to promote the school’s hockey team, their chemistry is hard to deny. As they work together on Jax’s project, will they be able to keep their relationship strictly professional? Will they be able to work through their struggles to be together?

This was such a fun and goofy meet cute! It is super well structured and paced for a novella! It had a lot of content for being short but didn’t feel rushed or that anything was left out.

If you are looking for a laugh out loud read that could easily be finished in under 24 hours, look no further!

Check out @HockeySmutBookClub on Instagram, Tiktok, and Facebook for more hockey romance book recommendations!

[Lillie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Tara September for allowing me to listen to a copy of this book. I absolutely loved my time listening to this. I adored Jax and Luke's relationship and their character development throughout the book. And I love how each books nods to the other characters, and has them appear as they experience their own stories. I read Blinded Me With Science after this, and I cannot wait to read them in order and re-experience it again. I cannot recommend this series enough because each story is truly their own story, but they interconnect. And I loved Thatcher College and the world created in this series. I cannot wait to read more from this series and from Tara in the future.

[Sassy Southern Book Blog · Rating 5 out of 5]

5-stars

Hot and Cold is the first book I have read by Tara September. I absolutely enjoyed this book from beginning to end. I loved the push and pull, angst, and drama!!! This book is a contemporary college sports romance. The storyline is original and kept me turning the pages. The characters are complex and have a comical and spicy instant chemistry.

Jax is free-spirited, independent, and sassy. I loved her wit and clapbacks with Luke. Luke was very goal-oriented, broody, and stubborn. Their banter was so funny and I enjoyed it the most in this book. Their chemistry was undeniable. The build-up of their relationship was very angsty and spicy. I loved how he became obsessed and possessive of Jax. This was a wonderfully written romance. I can’t wait to read what comes next!!!-By Brooke

[Anna · Rating 2 out of 5]

In theory this should have been a great book. I did like that it wasn’t too long, but everything was so cringy.

[Liss Jacques · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC Review - 4 ⭐️

I’m a huuuge hockey romance fan and it’s probably one of my favorite tropes/genres to read. So unsurprisingly, I did enjoy this book. (For the record, I did not read the first two books of this series and this book still works as a standalone!!)

This was a great novella that left me wanting more IN A GOOD WAY! I loved both Jax and Luke so much that I wanted to keep reading about them. There were only a couple “spicy” scenes but the scenes we did get were gooood. 😋

Jax was so quirky that I was constantly smiling, even if it was cheesy. I loved that it was Dual POV because reading from both of their perspectives was quite entertaining. I would say Luke the “Ice Man” could have been portrayed a little “colder”. The first time he laid eyes on Jax he was all about her and ended up being so freaking sweet that I never really seen him as such.

Lastly, I did end up crying at the end & when a book gets me emotional like that, that’s almost an automatic 4 star to me! 🤩

book = recommended ✅

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Zoey · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5 Stars.

Overall this was a very sweet and short novella. It hit the normal wants for a cute hockey college romance.

I really enjoyed the fact that Jax and Luke could not have been more different in their approach to handling the expectations they had set for themselves. And I appreciated that they communicated this with each other throughout the novella.

I wish we could have gotten more actual relationship building between them. I know the book is short and sweet but we really only got one date and some stolen moments outside of the hockey arena. I think I would have traded some of the minor spice scenes for more relationship scenes.

My other little issue was that for all of the times he was dubbed being icing and cold Luke really never fit that character mold at all. From the second he met Jax he was infatuated and so I wish there had been a bit more back and forth with the ice persona he had. It felt like a missed opportunity or like it should have just maybe been left out.

From a spice perspective that was pretty light on the spice which I expected. Luke as a character has physical relationships on the back burner during the hockey season so it made sense that there was not much in the book. I would have still loved some sweeter moments between the two. The spice scenes were pretty straight forward and what you would expect from this type of novella.

I know the book is meant to be short but I think it would have really been a wonderful novel and the few critiques I do have would have been solved with even just another 50 pages to get to see the two leads interact more.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Jennifer Riis · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a quick read for me due to it being a quirky, laugh out loud rom-com/hockey romance with a dual POV. No third act breakup, no backstabbing friends, just an in it for myself ex. A little slow burn, with a little spice. While it’s the 3rd book in the series, it can absolutely be read alone.

The opening scene had me laughing out loud, and subsequently had “I’m a little teapot…” stuck in my head.

I love that we immediately get to meet Jax and Luke. Jax is a cards on the table kinda gal, while Luke keeps his cards incredibly close to his chest.

Cackled at the athlete house basically playing their own Rose League for the Bachelor. (Like Fantasy Football/March Madness brackets for those not familiar).

I mean, how could you not love someone who says things like: “You can go ahead and call me Captain Jax because I got my ships in order. Friendships, relationship, and internship. Toot toot.” It’s no wonder Jax breaks down Luke’s walls and wrapped around her finger in the end.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you Book Sirens!

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun, entertaining, good read. Luke and Jax are interesting, intriguing, relatable, complex, entertaining, captivating characters. I enjoyed them as individuals and a couple. I love their personal growth throughout the story. Their romance was very fitting and had many twists and turns. The various secondary characters – especially the athletes – added to the fabric of the story and my enjoyment. I wish that April and Emerson had played more of a role in the story (but that’s because I like them as characters and their friendship). I love that they did make appearances. The story is easy to read and get into.

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

[Sara Cayson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fast and really good read.

[Kayla Bieker · Rating 5 out of 5]

First I want to say thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for sending me a copy of this. This book caught my attention from the picture and the name of the book I am absolutely obsessed with hockey romances and this one didn’t disappoint. It’s in dual POV which is a plus there’s no third act breakup it had me laughing and crying. Id definitely recommend this read :)

[Beyond the Pages with Eva K · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quick Summary: A powder keg of swoony tension

My Review: Hot and Cold by Tara September is book 3 in the Lesson in Love series. It presents as a college hockey romance.

About the Book: Jax and Luke were a bit at odds when they met. After all, she showed up on the scene to meet with another guy. Pretty soon, however, she seemed to effortlessly infiltrate his life. Before either had a chance to catch their breath, sparks were flying right and left.

Question to Consider: Who would have ever thought that a hot, little teapot and a tall, brooding ice warrior would work?

My Final Say: This couple was sensational! I couldn't help but like both characters. Their backgrounds shaped them profoundly, but it didn't take away from their goodness. They were grounded and unapologetic regarding their personal convictions. And... the chemistry between the two of them! It was palpable. I couldn't look away. Hot and Cold is a lighthearted, steamy dreamy short, as far as I'm concerned.

I love the friend group in this series, across the board. I was so happy to see the characters from other books I've read. It was good to catch glimpses of them.

Others: Readers who enjoy a good NA sports romance will fall pretty darn fast for this story. With humor, playful banter, and the hots for days, it is a fabulous Valentine's Day/post Valentine's Day read.

Rating: 4.5/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: NA
Re-read: Yes
Keeper: Yes
Series: Yes
Status/Level: 💕😍💕

Sincere appreciation is extended to the author and to the publisher. Thank you for granting access to this title in exchange for an honest review. The words I have voluntarily shared are my own thoughts and opinions.