Freezing Hell

by Haydn Hubbard

Maddy has a problem.

And his name is Riven Barone. Tall, dark, and handsome, he ticks every clichéd box. The only problem? They’ve hated each other since day one, but Maddy knows his secret. To an outsider he might appear to be any other employee at Mancini Security, but it’s all a cover for his involvement with the city’s largest mafia group. The fact should scare her, yet she finds herself pulled deeper into his world.



Riven has a death wish.

He must, if he keeps chasing after Maddy Yapon. She’s everything he’s good, kind, fiery, but being with him also makes her a target. A war is building, and his brother Malik has been waiting for an excuse to come after Riven. Maddy is a distraction, and one provides an opportunity for his brother to strike. Riven will do whatever it takes to keep Maddy safe from his world of danger, but after finding old scars on her skin he realizes she might have entered it years ago.

263 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 31, 2024

About the author

Haydn Hubbard is a North Carolina native who spends most of her time daydreaming of worlds filled with love, magic, and occasionally dragons. The King’s Queen is her debut fantasy series and the first of many to come. When Haydn is not writing she can be found competing with her horses, in any local coffee shop, or anywhere where there is a dog.

Reviews

[maryann | maryannaugerbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Freezing Hell. First, it was great to see more of Addie and Natalia. Second, it was wonderful to see Maddy’s character growth as she battled through some trauma. She’s such a strong and smart character and it was truly refreshing to see the way she handled some situations. And third, the banter between Riven and Maddy got me all giddy and kicking my feet.

The Smoke and Ice duology will definitely become a comfort read

[Mackenzie · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was really cute! it was fun to read about maddy and riven’s relationship blossom and i also loved seeing the relationship between riven and addie. it’s rare to see fmc’s and mmc’s of different books actually interact like people and it made this group seem much more realistic. i will say that this books has the same problem as the first one in which the character’s behaviors do not match the actual threat within the story. there was also some repetitiveness in the beginning with info dumping about characters, and i wish some reveals we got about maddy were at least hinted at in book one.

[Taneil · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC REVIEW-

I am so happy that I was able to receive this ARC.
I devoured book one Burning Heaven and loved the chemistry that was popping between Maddy and Riven.

This book was full of healing, sassy quips and banter, spicy goodness, and so much heart.

I highly recommend this book and any other written by Haydn. She is incredible!

[Brigid Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5⭐️
3/5 🌶️

Omg I was looking forward to reading this ARC so much! Burning Heaven was such an exciting and fun book and its sequel did not disappoint! I absolutely fell in love with Maddy amd Riven in the last book and have been impatiently waiting their story since.

Freezing Hell picks up right around where Hubbard left us in Burning Heaven so I definitely recommend against reading as a stand alone. I really love how this book highlights how different people deal with trauma. When we start the book Maddy is in a self destructive spiral after the events of the last book she blames herself for putting those closest to her in danger. Riven who also has more than a lifetimes worth experience with trauma is determined to make sure Maddy doesn’t destroy herself even if Maddy herself doesn’t really like him and believes is only checking up on her for a mutual friend.

Meanwhile Riven’s brother who is the leader off a rival gang seems to have realized what Maddy means to Riven before he even does and sets his sights on Maddy. Clearly this means that Maddy needs someons too protect her and who better than Riven, right hand to one of the biggest crime bosses in the city?

The story was complex and managed to intertwine a bunch of really aspects without having one of them fall short which is really a testament to Hubbard as a writer. Though I do wish we got more of Riven and Maddy’s backstories because I’m greedy I felt like Hubbard did a fantastic job digging deeper into the characters while keeping their personalities consistent with the Characters we became attached to in the last book. Hubbard creates characters who the reader can’t help but love even if there do have questionable pasts…. And maybe presents too 🤣 You can definitely see a lot of growth in her writing from her last book which is something I really love to see from an author. Hubbard posses. An incredible talent in the wat that she weaves her story, pulling together multiple strands of narrative that all come together in the end to create the finished story.
There is so much I want to say about this book but I don’t want to spoil the story so you guys will have to wait until the 31st.

I do want to say that I adore before wrapping it up that the found family aspects of this series! All of the MCs in both books have complicated family lives and the little family they form together is just perfect. I love that Riven and Maddy each have their own emotional support lesbian to help them through and keep them safe.


Full review on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/p/C9_gIB_N5...

[SP · Rating 4 out of 5]

🩵Body Guard
🩵Mafia
🩵Enemies to lovers (sort of)
🩵Found Family

I’m always a big fan when an author takes a dynamic or a trope and makes it completely their own, and I felt like Haydn did that. This dynamic is unlike one I’ve read before, the heroine has been through so much hurt and trauma from the past… and yet is still so resilient. I feel like the way she deals with her trauma, is definitely understandable… she just wants to not think about what she went through. Riven has always been there. Even when she didn’t want him to be… he’s protective and a little overbearing at times… but as he spends time protecting her, their connection grows.

I loved the dynamic of each of them opening themselves up for love, and trust… both have not had it easy, but the bond they share… is what it’s all about. I also loved that Maddy was a total badass herself… even though she can be reckless at times she can handle her own too. These two saved each other and seeing them be there for the other time and time again… was beautiful.

I also loved the friendship With Maddy and Addie, Their are the platonic love of eachothers lives… and I’m a sucker for a strong female friendship! Each of them putting the other first.

[Marie-Claude Carrière · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this read, it was a nice short read that I immediately got absorbed in, from the start.

I hadn't read the book 1 from this serie but it can easily be a stand-alone read since the main characters are different than the previous book 1. Some details had to be pieced together but it was easy enough to keep up with the story without having read book. THIS SAID, I WANT TO GO BACK AND READ BOOK 1 NOW. The whole drama happening prior to this story seems very interesting.

Cons. I found the HEA came along too quick and as of halfway through the book both MC were too content and their happiness seemed very set in stone. I guess I like being kept on the edge of my seat. There's still major dramatic events after that halfway point but the vibe that both MC were giving off was a bit too peaceful / perfect. Don't get me wrong they freaking deserved it. I just lost a bit interest in that halfway point for a second but then it picked back up.

⭐4/5 🌶️2/5

Mafia romance
Dual POV
Trauma healing
Bodyguard
Found family
Forced proximity

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fun quickie! 🤪

When I got the ARC for this I hurried over and read Burning Heaven, first. While you could get away with not having done so, I HIGHLY recommend reading them in order! It was just wonderful to meet the characters, and then use the second book as a way to explore them further. I'm not a big romance reader, because I need more complexities to keep my attention, but this managed to captivate me anyway! Riven was just wonderful, and I loved the exploration of Maddy's photography/artistic side. More please!!😂

[The Bookductress Bookductress · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a good read, I didn’t read the first book but Haydn wrote in a way that makes me want to go back and read Natalie and Addie story.

I felt bad for Maddy because she was trying her best to be okay despite the trauma she faced. She also didn’t want to bother her best friend, Addie because for the first time she was truly happy and didn’t want anything to ruin it, not even when she was spiraling.

Love me an ever protective man, Riven who was there for her and quick to figure out what was wrong with her. The banter between them was so cute and at a point I was yelling just kiss already!😂

Love, love this book and I def will go read Addie and Nat’s book.

[Paige · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Haydn Hubbard's writing. It's easy to read, it's fun, it's refreshing, it's overall so enjoyable. The main character Maddy just hits home for me. I love her so much. Riven is yummy. Overall, this book is 4.5 (5 on here since they don’t do half stars on this app) and that’s only because I wish there was more. More spice, more darker scenes with Riven, more time spent with the characters, I just loved everything so much I was sad with how short it was

[Brittany · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a wild ride. In this book we get to see Maddy and all her glory fall for the one and only Riven. Learning more about the twos background opens up who they really are. the deep feelings and secrets they both have bring them closer together. They are trauma bonded. Riven's family issues become a problem not only for him but for Maddy too. with a drastic turn of events Hayden will have you on the edge of your seat with the twists and turns she just delt us!

[Kailyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

So let me start off by saying it would be hard to put into words how much this book and this author mean to me. This was such an excellent way to continue the series, the relationship was a perfect hot-as-hell slow continued burn and I’d be lying if I didn’t say Riven is one of my all-time favorite book boyfriends of all time. This author’s writing continues to get better and better as she continues to write and I hope she continues this story in the future.

[Tessa Moore · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really great sequel to the first book. Loved getting to know Riven and Maddy more in depth. I will say Maddy internally is nothing like I thought she was from the first book. I like the difference in her externally to Addie from book 1 and internally with herself here. I just wish the final boss fight was a little more dramatic but I'm still glad we won in the end.

[Jess · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to love this, but it was just so all over the place. There was no consistency, it felt like a jumble of every single plot point the author could think of with no follow through on any of them, in a way that made zero sense most of the time, or was resolved way too easily. I love action and drama, but this was just Too Much 😭

[Bree · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm gonna cry. I'm gonna fucking cry.

WHY DID THIS HAVE TO BE SO SHORT?! I loved this. maddy and riven are just so sweet together, even if they did hate each other at the beginning. this was so damn good, I really enjoyed it.

as an add-on to my review to book 1, I'd like to add Malik as guys I'd like to avoid. fuck you, Malik.

[kay.grace424 · Rating 3 out of 5]

the time jumps? they fight and then immediately “it’s been two months since I’ve spoken to Riven”, pardon? they’re just oddly long and random. This was definitely a mafia romance and that’s basically all my thoughts on the matter. I will always prefer the first book cause it’s sapphic but this wasn’t a bad conclusion even if it was predictable. first book of the 2026!

[Moon]

I want to read this book so much in fact i just finished Burning heaven and love it but for the hell of me i can't find it online for free so please if there's some life savior who has a file of it i would be really glad if you told me where you got it

[Tammy Carney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book

First a good book to see how things turn out with Eddie and Natalie, but it was not may genre of book.

[gabby · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐️

[Alexis Eggert · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5. So cute, I loved it

[Mandee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Trauma and secrets draw Maddy and Riven together in this complex story. This is book two in the Smoke and Ice Duology, and while the two play off of one another, it isn’t necessary to read both to understand what is happening in this book.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book!