Thin Ice

by Lisa Cullen

1 hookup 5 years ago + 1 daughter of the coach + 3 star hockey players = happy ending?

A one night stand five years ago changed my life forever. My sweet daughter Abigail is my life and the reason I advocate for women’s rights in the male dominated world of sports.

But when I become the physiotherapist for my dad’s hockey team, I don’t expect to run into my daughter’s baby daddy… and two of his hunky best friends.

Zachary, the goalie, is irresistibly handsome and definitely off-limits.

Lennox is calm and relaxed off the ice, and a menace with skates on his feet.

Justin is the passionate, Casanova playboy of the team.

Only one of them is my baby girl's daughter…

But all three of them want me.

★ Do you like to skate on thin ice? This full-length, secret baby, forbidden, why choose romance with a hockey sports theme will satisfy your fantasies, melt your kindle and oh baby... you may just need a LOT of ice. ★

Genres: Romance, Sports, Contemporary, Hockey, Why Choose, Forbidden Romance, Sports Romance

250 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 19, 2024

Reviews

[Jane Hale]

Boring and corny

Typos aside, I struggled to get through this super hokey, hallmark Christmas movie type book. There was no development of characters, just, trip, ooops I love you. The conflict was hyped up and then solved way too easy. As in, solved one sentence later. But the biggest foul was of the hockey variety. No professional player ever would leave their team to loose, let alone for the reason they did. One more thing, what did Lucy even do for the team. Anytime someone came to her she didn't know what to do or she just sat in her office.
If you are here for the reverse harem its 1🌶 at best with skimable, unbelievable parts.
If you are here for the hockey, there is none except for one hot mess of a scene that's hard to read through and will tick you off in the end.

[🦉Maggie Whitworth · Rating 4 out of 5]

❤️❤️❤️❤️
💋💋
🥵

This is a good read,
I enjoyed the story though in 1 or 2 places it was a bit thin, but not enough to ruin the experience.
3 very possessive guys a woman who knows what she wants an a father who needs to be put in his place.

[Kassey J · Rating 3 out of 5]

So I'd rate the book a 2.5 star read rounded to a 3. It was an OK book but I had a few problems. For one, the author never mentioned birthcontrol until after the characters had sex .... I get that this is a fictional book but I personally like when authors try to show in some way that the characters are adults who go about intimacy maturely (like discussing if they may have something, if they need to use condoms, or if there's any hard limits)because even though this book is 18+ doesn't mean that younger ones won't read it. So they need to see the mature way of thinking about sex and the possible concequences of not going about it in a safe way. Anywho this doesn't detract from the story but it does in the rating I'll give it (I usually just deduct a point). Secondly,  the author in one scene just went full anal no lube or even the " used her juices" route like some authors say (for anyone ever thinking of doing anal you need prep and use proper lubrication not just vaginal secretions cuz tears can and will happen if not properly lubed up). So yeah those 2 things kinda brought the book down in my opinion. Also I'm starting to get that for whatever reason this author writes their fmc in a way that just annoys me. It's nothing to do with the writing just the females characteristics. All in all that's why I can't really give it a full 3 star except I know others could like it that's why I rounded up and not down.
Another thing just came to me and its that the fmc and one of the mmc's never had a single moment where it was just the 2 of them. They never had a solo sex experience. So the relationship wasn't really equal in all ways. We also never got a scene where she sat her daughter down to discuss her relationship with all the guys so it kinda felt unfinished in the end.

[ReadsBetweenKatNaps · Rating 2 out of 5]

More InstaLove than Substance

So this wasn’t for me persay. That doesn’t mean it isn’t for you…now I don’t mind instalove books, but I struggled with so many issues within this book. So I’m going to drop spoilers below… ⬇️



I couldn’t get past the should I? No, and won’t, but then did because ok I want to, but it was wrong and we can’t do it again, only to immediately do it again. Then not following any sort of concussion protocol kind of threw me for a loop. Someone in a sport, any sport professional or otherwise if hurt, if go unconscious should be checked out by a medical professional and any physiotherapist would know that protocol. Heck as a youth soccer coach at a recreational level I had to take concussion protocol classes. X-rays don’t cut it. I guess I had issues with accuracies. While I know books like these aren’t meant to entertain and depending on what you enjoy some are just for the spicy-ness, this one just was a lot in an odd way. The characters never fully fleshed out. How the birthmark couldn’t be seen while banging each other silly, but her little girl just turns her head and bam it’s seen?

[Debbie Orazi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an off limits sports reverse harem romance.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story. The characters were realistic, relatable and complex. The story was steamy and had great conflicts. Would recommend!

Lucy Ashley is a physiotherapist. She has a five year old daughter named Abigail. Abigail is the result of a drunken on night stand in college. After she finished her clinicals her father asked her to work for his hockey team with a firm no fraternization rule. She is an advocate for girls in sports.

Lucy meets the team and is instantly attracted to Justin (the flirty cocky playboy), Zachary (the goalie and youth team coach) and Lennox (the captain). As part of her advocacy work she goes to the youth rink to meet with the board members to pride getting more kids involved. Zachary is at the rink, goes to the meeting with her and volunteers to help. After a winning season opener she goes out with the team for a drink and hooks up with Justin. She hooks up with Zachary in her office. When Lennox is injured during a game she hooks up with him in her office with the other two watching. They all start a relationship with her. She later finds out some surprising news about Zachary that changes their future. Her father threatens to trade Zachary until Lucy confronts him. They decide to make their relationship public and get their HEA.

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

[Gemma Davies · Rating 4 out of 5]

Falling in love never felt so… quick

I wanted to love this book so much as it features two of my favourite things… RH romance and hockey players! And I do really like it.

The characters are great and easily lovable. There’s enough of a storyline to keep everything interesting but I wanted more. I wanted more backstory, more depth and well… just more!

I know hockey players are fast… but this book sped through emotions and feelings so much that I found myself wanting to put the brakes on for them. Not that I do t believe in love at first sight. I do. But I started to question the time lines because it feels like there’s no passing of time at all. I mean did this all happen in like… a week, a month, six months? There’s so little reference to the passing of time that even now I’m still not sure which makes it a little hard to believe. Which is sad because I love these characters.

I would have also liked a more in-depth story for each of the boys. It’s hinted that some of them had difficult relationships and backgrounds but it’s kind of washed over. Having this would maybe have given more of an understanding as to why they fell in love so quickly and easily.

So, all-in-all I liked it… I just feel it needed more depth. Pad out these gorgeous guys and give them lives and stories. I would have loved them even more I’m sure.

[Cassy · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you’re looking for a fast read, reverse harem with a solid dose of spice, this is a good one. I liked the characters well enough, the mystery of her daughter’s father added some depth, and I appreciated that all three dudes were into the idea of sharing pretty early on (helped that they were all friends.)

The forbidden romance part was a little iffy, but plausible. Her dad was the coach, the men technically her coworkers/patients, so fraternizing was off the table.

My big hang ups with this book was with the details. They had to keep a low profile, but they had sex in her office, TWICE, which was located in the stadium, one time DURING A HOCKEY GAME. Not particularly low profile.

Also, it wasn’t until after she’d had sex with all of them, multiple times, did they even mention protection. And then it wasn’t until after about if she was on BC. Never once did they talk about protection from diseases (despite one of them being a known playboy.)

Considering a major plot point of the book was her accidental pregnancy five years earlier, I have a REALLY hard time believing she wouldn’t have mentioned it.

I really liked that she was dead set on advocacy for girls in sports and letting them participate. I liked that she had a job and career outside of these men that they only enhanced instead of hindered. Despite the few glaring hiccups it was an enjoyable read.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Burn: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Darkness Level: 🤍
Heat Rating: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Genre: sports romance
POV: Multiple
Ending: HEA
Tropes: growl, second chance
Kinks: DP, doctor/patient, coach’s daughter, air tight

I haven’t read a reverse harem in a while, but this was such a good one that I immediately picked up another book by this author to read next. I always enjoy seeing how the RH works in contemporary novels. In this case, the guys are all members of an AHL team. Lucy is the coach’s daughter who has just started as the team’s physiotherapist. The clues were so blatant that it was easy to tell from the first meeting which of the guys was her daughter’s mystery father, but that didn’t reduce my enjoyment of the book or when the reveal happened. The journey they take to finally come together in a polyamory relationship was totally worth the ride. Each guy has a distinct personality and their own hang-ups. I would definitely recommend this book.

I received a copy of the book from the author, but my review is entirely voluntary and honest.

My shelves/tags might be considered spoilers, so look at your own risk!

[Karen Bryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lucy is the physiotherapist for her dad's hockey team. The only rule her father told her was no fraternizing with the players and the players were told the same thing about Lucy. Lucy has a cause, she advocates for women's rights to play all sports.

Justin, Lennox and Zachary are best friends on and off the ice. They are all attracted to Lucy and she is attracted to them. It does not take long until the no fraternization rule is broken. They keep it a secret from her father and their teammates. Unfortunately they all fall in love with her but what are her feelings?

This book is well written and the characters are all so different. Keep in mind that this is a reverse harem romance which if you are not sure what that is, it is three men with one woman at one time. This book is graphic at times so know what you are getting in for in advance. Lisa Cullen does an excellent job with her characters and their feelings. Kudos to Ms. Cullen for a great story.

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

[Raecharmed · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lucy has just finished her clinicals as a physiotherapist and her father offers her a job working with him on his hockey team. She agrees but never thought it would be a life changing job for her. For years she has been raising her daughter on her own because she was too drunk to remember who she had been with. Now she was working with the player and three of them were making moves on her. Going against her dad's rules she starts seeing Zachery, Justin and Lennox. Its during one of their times together that she sees the same birthmark her daughter has on one of the men. Will they get a chance to be together in a poly relationship? What will happen when the truth comes out about her daughter's father?

This is a great story that once I started it I couldn't put it down. This is a well written and very entertaining story. Its a book that any book lover would enjoy.

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

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lucy has finished her clinical trials and now is ready to start up on her own as a physiotherapist. When she goes to her parents house her father has an unexpected proposition for her which she is happy to accept. Her first day at work she is taken with 3 of the team, Zachary, Justin and Lennox but her fat her has a policy of no fraternisation in the work place. Unbeknown to Lucy the 3 men also are interested in her. Even though they try to abide by the rule, their attraction to each other is stronger that they give into it. Along the way Lucy is shocked to find out some important news that will have an impact on all involved.

Another good story by Ms Cullen. A strong female lead, who is determined to live her life knowing she is going up against society 'norms' with a HEA.

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

[Patricia]

A drunken one night stand in college gives Lucy a beautiful little girl and the only thing she knows about her baby daddy is a strawberry birthmark that he shares with their daughter. Fast forward 5 years when she is hired as a physiotherapist for the hockey team her father coaches and is introduced to the team which includes 3 of the most handsome men she has ever met. And despite her father's rule that they are not to make a move on her and she them, the connection is too strong.
But when she realizes that one of the 3 has the birthmark, she realizes that he may be her baby daddy. But the road to happiness is extremely rocky. Great storyline and characters. Didn't want it to end.

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

[Michelle Frater · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love a girl who knows what she wants. And if Lucy wanted three hot hockey players, whose business was it anyway but hers. Who was Lucy hurting if she slept with one man or three? I think the situation was actually hardest on Zack, Lennox and Justin, who’d never shared a woman before. So, when her choices impact her professional life, the guys rally around to offer their unwavering love and support. I loved Lucy’s daughter Abigail and had a lump in my throat when she finally met her dad. Whether you agree with polyamorous relationships or not, I think the overriding message here was the importance of love and family.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jean · Rating 2 out of 5]

Decent plot

Man.... this book went from 0 to 100 real quick. There wasn't any relationship build up at all. They meet they have relations and that's the whole relationship.

The plot is at least decent but I don't get how her dad can go from being upset and disappointed about her "ruining her reputation" by getting pregnant in college to being super accepting of everything. It's emotional whiplash.

Let's talk about spice. Even though the book is alot of spice I can't rate it very high on the spice scale. The scenes are mind boggling in their descriptions. I am still trying to figure out the 2x prone double dip scene. There are more than this scene that baffles, but I can't go into detail without violating community guidelines.

[Lisa Bing · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is another engaging RH romance by this author and I loved how strong Lucy was and what she made of her life, despite her unexpected pregnancy. She gets a job for her father's hockey team, as a physio therapist, and finds herself drawn to three players - a definite no-no in her father's books ;P The chemistry when all four came together was smoking hot. I also loved how the three men treated her daughter. Of course, there's a secret reveal of who her baby daddy is and I enjoyed that aspect of this story, as well. All in all, it was great read, showing how making your family with those you love is what's most important :D

[The Bodacious Bibliophile · Rating 2 out of 5]

Yeah, this book was not it
Two stars for two thumbs down.
And as bad as this book was, it was also delusional. Don’t get me wrong. I understand that it’s fiction but for the author to think that men and women could play together on ice hockey teams is the dumbest shit I’ve ever heard.
Like has the author ever even watched an ice hockey game? The fights are brutal. Does she really think that a woman could fight a man on the ice equally? that is so dumb. And no man would even want to fight a woman on the ice. Co-ed ice hockey is the dumbest shit I’ve ever heard.
These young women nowadays are so delusional. This book was just all around dumb as hell.

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a refreshing great read. Not only was the steam spot on it features a strong women, in a profession that is mostly men. For Lucy, the road has not been easy, but her daughter is her pride and joy! Finishing school to become a physiotherapist and open her own practice. Her dad gives her a chance to work on the hockey team he coaches. A yes, and three sexy hockey gods spark a fire on Lucy. Wait one of them has the same birthmark as her daughter. Did she find her babies daddy?.

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

[Nicole Potter · Rating 5 out of 5]

A absolutely fantastic read - definitely 5 stars

Zachary, Lennox, Justin & Lucy's story is told as only the author can do in what I believe is a 5 star read. Their story is the perfect mixture of taboo, hockey & reverse harem. The connection that Lucy has with each of the guys is hot but together they are scorching. Lucy is the team physio as well as a mum. Will this relationship stretch her too far or will it be just what her daughter her need?.

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

[Heather Nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A one night stand in college changed the life of Lucy. Now a single mother gets an amazing job working for the area hockey team.
Her life changing night in college could be the end of her and her career. What she doesn’t know is one of the guys on the team is her daughter’s father.
What happens when she falls in love with three guys at once. Can all her dreams come true or will everything end in the penalty box.

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

[TL Bradshaw · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lucy faced some ridiculous adversity...

I liked their story, especially when they started talking about the random hook up....you knew them that Zachary was Abigails dad.
Her dad was a bit much as well as the people wanted to end the youth coach and the advocacy programs because two people looked at each other...??
What I could not understand was why Lucy could not wait until after the game to hook up with Lennox. That was a bit much. When you are supposed to be doing your jobs.... this is what you stop to do??? Wait until the game is over... wow!!

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was okay.

I wasn’t a fan of this book. It wasn’t terrible and the story was okay but there was no development. It’s kind of went from hey here are 3 hot men who are besties, smut, then everyone is in love. I don’t have an issue with insta-love books generally, but there is no character development at all within their group. There are hints to troubled pasts and feelings about not feeling worthy but I found it very lacking. I did finish the book but skipped whole sections of smut. I just found it tedious.

[Dawn B · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m not usually a fan of secret baby because honestly most of the time the excuses for not telling the guy are lame. This though? Very unique, very believable too. It was so nice to see something that may actually be realistic. I loved the characters and this was steamy. I kept thinking they’d get caught in certain scenes! Really really enjoyed this and if you like books with a good plot and steamy scenes this is for you.

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

[Michelle Carey Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finding Daddy

This is a pretty good story about three hockey players and a physical therapist for a team. It also has a missing daddy because of an ill timed one night stand. In some ways I kinda wish other teammates maybe made appearances earlier in the book even if just in the locker room or the therapist office. But other than that small missing detail its a good story. I enjoyed the little girl interacting with the guys too kinda wish her skating with her daddy was in the story rather than mentioned as an afterthought.

[Andra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nothing prepares you for this book. It is hot, and it shows that everything is possible when you follow your heart. The story flows and there is the perfect blend of tenderness, roughness, and drama. A story I loved reading and I will read again with pleasure. The characters' build is very well performed and you cannot help falling in love with all of them.

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

[Sara Munoz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story has an interesting Reverse Harem, 3 Hockey Players with the Coach's Daughter Romance Story. This Book 6 in The Forbidden Reverse Harem Book Series a realistic story, secret baby, forbidden romance story. This story has unique characters with untriguing histories, engaging personalities and believable interactions. I enjoyed reading how the characters interacted throughout this entrancing surprise baby reverse harem story.

[Amy Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

So Good!!!
Loved reading Thin Ice. This was a quick read for me once I started it. The chemistry between Lucy, Zachary, Justin and Lennox was so freaking HOT and I mean HOT!!! I loved how this story kept me turning the pages to see how it was all going to workout with them all especially with Lucy having a young daughter too. I wasn’t disappointed loved it!!!

[Dominika · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lucy gets a proposition from her dad, she could work with his hockey team and make sure the guys are ok. Well, there is also this policy of not getting too close and personal with the guys, but when three guys are interested in you, it is complicated. But for us, the readers, it made the book more lovely.

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

[Crystal Jancso · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book melted my heart. Started with seeing the chemistry Lucy had with Justin, Zachary and Lennox and then seeing how the guys were with her daughter was so amazing. I couldn’t put it down highly recommend.

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

[JM G · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book. The chemistry between the characters is wonderful!! The storyline held my attention from the beginning to the end. I couldn't put the book down once I started! I would highly recommend reading this book if you enjoy reverse harem books.

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

[Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is part of The Forbidden Reverse Harem Collection. All are standalones. This is a why choose romance, and a secret baby all set around a ice hockey sports theme. Lots of HEAT. Look forward to reading more from this author.

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