On Thin Ice

Arctic Titans of Northwood U #6

by Hayden Hall

I’ve been in love with Jordan Mitchell since the moment I saw him.

He’s smart, handsome, and even funny when he feels like it. He excels at everything; whatever he touches turns to gold. He can’t do anything wrong.

When our parents got married and merged our broken families, I suddenly had a rival I could never compete with. And a heart-throb I could never be with. And I hate him for it. He doesn’t even see me.

Until one summer break… We’re alone in our parents’ mountain house. All we do is swim, sunbathe, and fight. And I’d rather be kissing him. Soon enough, the line between hate and attraction is too blurry to see.

It turns out that he’s just as messed up as me. And his sculpted body attracts me more than ever. With each day we spend holed up in the mountains, it gets harder to resist him. If I don’t do something, I might burst.

But the looming threat of destroying our family for a cheap thrill holds me back. There couldn’t be a happy ending to our story.

And all my choices are wrong.

For once, I’m going to need him to be in charge of what happens next.

On Thin Ice is the sixth novel in the Arctic Titans of Northwood U series and it can be read as a standalone. This novel is the most separated one from the rest of the series, taking place away from campus and hockey rinks. It’s a forbidden romance with a merged family theme, close proximity, endless pining, and Kindle-melting fire.

Genres: M M Romance, Romance, Enemies To Lovers, Hockey, Sports Romance, College, Sports

306 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 25, 2024

About the author

Gay. Sweet. Steamy.

Hayden Hall writes MM romance novels. He is a boyfriend, a globetrotter, and an avid romance reader.

Hayden's mission is to author a catalog of captivating and steamy MM romance novels which gather a devoted community around the Happily Ever Afters.

His stories are sweet with just the right amount of naughty.

You can get in touch with Hayden on Facebook or through his website at haydenhallwrites.com

Reviews

[Mug · Rating 2 out of 5]

dnf @ 66% (but ended up skimming the rest)

i think i’m done with hayden hall fr😐

asher waxes poetic in his never ending inner monologue about how he’s been thirsting after jordan for years. jordan’s pov is also the exact same thing. they are the men of each other’s wet dreams. why, you ask??? beats tf outta me🤷‍♀️ the entire time since they’ve met each other, since asher was 13 so like 7 years, they literally don’t speak….like they avoid each other as much as possible, and when they do speak, it’s clipped and short and bratty (and not in the cute way, in the childish way). this is apparently bc jordan is so in love with asher but can’t have him so he refuses to call asher brother or even be his friend…..asher is obsessed with jordan, would give up his own arm for jordan to pay the smallest bit of attention to him, but jordan never does and it pisses asher off, so asher acts out and sasses jordan every time they interact….but of course, somehow they’re both in love with each other????😒 like for what reason? literally for what reason!? i’ll tell u…it’s literally bc they’re just physically attracted to each other…..clearly….bc they’ve got nothing else to be attracted to, they don’t even know each other!! the amount of times u read about them drooling over each other’s bodies is excessive…it’s purely physical bc, remember, asher and jordan are both giving the other nothinggggg this whole time, avoiding each other, speaking barely any words to each other that aren’t rude or dismissive or argumentative.

so they end up at the lake house one summer alone together where they admit that maybe they had some misunderstandings, they spend a *little* more time together not immediately fighting, and bam they’re kissing. that’s when their parents decide to show up at the lake house, but asher and jordan get it together in time for the parents not to see anything or be suspicious. asher becomes the most annoying mf possible bc after whining about jordan being all he wants for years, he’s now had a complete 180 like omg we can’t do this, we’re totally selfish, we’ll break apart the fam, etc etc. jordan is still pursing him heavy tho, he’s not giving up like dumbass asher. like u weren’t even caught asher lmao ur doing too much!!! like asher wtf do u want fr bc ur getting on my damn nerves….so u were whining and crying about ur unrequited love and jordan not being interested in u, and now ur whining and crying about ur requited love and ignoring jordan ??? idiotic drama for no reason, lazy writing, makes no sense, and is fucking annoying. CRIMES!!!

also i do not care to read paragraph upon paragraph about what a character’s outfit looks like, nor do i care about excessive descriptions of a house’s layout, slim it tf down, we all have imaginations, we’ll be fine.

and i need to circle back and emphasize that these two mfs are literally in love with each other based on NOTHING. literally they just think the other is hot af. y’all are talking about “ur mine” n shit and i’m like huh??? i 100% believe y’all thirsty mfs wanna fuck, but “love” ?????? no ma’am!!! it is ALL PHYSICAL. i didn’t read about any meaningful emotional development. literally boo🍅🍅

and the parents who were good parents and were like madly in love and flirted all the time when asher and jordan were growing up are now giving each other attitude and are having spats….if this is going where i think it’s going, the parents divorce so it’s fine for asher and jordan to be together, i’d be even more annoyed bc how convenient….ok so i ended up skimming and yes, they’re getting divorced bc jordan’s dad apparently cheated, except he didn’t cheat and the person asher’s mom thinks he cheated with is a lesbian who i think is in a committed relationship….but they’re still getting divorced and apparently asher’s mom turned into an evil bitch, disavowing her son for being with jordan. really???🙄🥱 i mean the things she says are like seriously horrible…..talk about character assassination😭 and then asher decides to be more annoying by third-act-breaking up with jordan bc mommy doesn’t approve. sooo the man that u thirsted after and begged for scraps of attention for years and who u claimed to be the only one for u…..as soon as he says he feels the same, you immediately run away and then once there’s the slightest bit of pressure on ur relationship with ur parents finding out, u run away AGAIN????? like damn asher, do u want the man or not😒 ugh i have been annoyed past my limit !!!!

[ivy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Out of all the Northwood U books, the beginning of this one is set up with the feel of an indie summer coming of age film and I loved that part of it.

-Stepbrothers
-Gorgeous visuals (new for Hayden, see indie summer COA film with dappled lighting)

”There, I sat on the edge of the pier, watching the ripples on the surface. The early morning sunshine kissed my skin, and I undid the buttons on my light cream linen shirt, letting the sunlight caress my torso. A pair of dark sunglasses protected my eyes as I let my head hang back. My denim shorts were tight, warmed up quickly by the sun’s strengthening rays. My feet dipped into the lukewarm water.”

-years of mutual pining!

”In the single heartbeat between my gaze landing on his body and my words welling to the surface, I appreciated his mountainous physique. I bet you sweat when you fuck, I thought. I bet nobody would lick you as hard as I would.”

-animosity to lovers
-Dual POV (gratefully!)
-college hockey players
-a lake house

3 stars because while I did enjoy it the inner monologue got repetitive and I never had a clear grasp on Asher and Jordan’s personalities.

thank you to GRR for the ARC. Opinions are of course my own.

[raccoon reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Partial review. Finish to come.

I don't want to read anyone elses reviews of this. I'll see their criticisms and it'll bring me down. The first 1/3 was not the pace I wanted it to be. Or something. Not sure that I can put my finger on what I didn't like about it exactly but in the last 2/3rds I enjoyed the F out of this book. I love these two once they gave in.

Quite literally a storm is rolling in and Hall is making me feel Ash's terror. I know things are coming to a head with this storm and Hall's doing such a good job making you taste that dread. I love it. I'm messed up 😂

UPDATE: FINISHED!

Okay, I loved this book. I couldn't ever get behind the "Baby Boy" name Jordan has for Asher. It just always gives me the ick. I haven't found a book in which I like it yet, so it's a me thing. I realllly did enjoy this but something was just a bit off with the pacing. But when I tell you I was kicking my feet when these two first kissed?? Perfection 🖤 I can't wait to read the final book in the series. My library doesn't have it so I may have to read it on ebook instead :(

[Brat · Rating 5 out of 5]

fun

i really enjoyed this step bro romance! it was fun a little cute and sooo hot i can't wait for the next one!!

audio is done well

step brothers
pining
enemies to lovers
secret relationship
this series has been great

[Dani · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

I love the stepbrothers trope usually, especially when they're portrayed as hating each other first, but something was just off about the relationship and I can't figure out what.

The mother's reaction was completely ridiculous, she was talking about Asher as though he was a small child and not a twenty year old man! She was so far in the land of delusion that it really ruined the story for me, and the dad didn't defend his kid against the shit she was saying either which I found absurd.

I also feel a little cheated that we don't get to see the teammates react to the relationship! That's been the ongoing thing throughout the series with every couple but these guys just go straight to an epilogue three years later... Underwhelming.

Also, the hockey stuff is starting to grate on me, like it doesn't read realistically at all whenever they're talking about going professional. It's been niggling at me since book one but now I can't ignore it and I'm kinda reluctant to go straight onto the next book because it is irritating me!

[⭐Toonasa⭐ •Romance Book Lovers' Haven• · Rating 5 out of 5]

A MM forbidden romance b/w Stepbrothers! Expect delicious longing, bickering, those glares & secret looks, our queer hockey team, & a vacation to remember 🤫.
I loved Asher & Jordan! Devoured my #ARC in 6hrs.

I've been curious about Asher & his older step-bro Jordan who play together in their college hockey team. Asher seemed emo, short-tempered (to J lol) & J had this cool, (too) collected vibe. They both had reasons, their fears & complexes 🥺. It's a tragedy their mutual hatred stems from longing...!

This book is the most
separated of series, as it sees them together the summer vacation, where finally secrets are found 😏. The angst mostly is due to the misunderstandings & being step Bros, & uh "family issues" 😳.

The banters are fun, they're cute when they come together! The slight Dom/sub tendency is HOT. Tho I did after reading realise this is the least steamy book of series FYI. That climax was a STORM 😭. But at least the hurt made sense. The epilogue's sweet 🥰.

Overall, good story. But I did want their teammates reaction to seeing them as a couple 😩. I'M SO EXCITED FOR NATE'S BOOK!

Story Ratings:

POV: 1st person, Dual POV
1) Overall Enjoyment—> 5/5
2) The Characters: 5/5
3) Top feels: 😩🥺😅😆😲😢🙁😜🥰😏🤫😬😱☺️🏒
4) Steamy scenes: 2.25/5
5) Levels: Cute+Fun: 4/5
Angst: 3.25/5
Dark: 1.5/5
6) Creativity + world: 4.5/5
7) Plot arc: (Forbidden Love, Fam drama) 4.2/5
8) Writing style + pace: 4.5/5

[True Loveislovereview · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is what I want when we talk about enemies to lovers. It was a super intense read. From the first page, I was glued.
The story has a good solid foundation. The build-up was just wonderful.

Forced living together as stepbrothers wasn’t a sign-up for a good relationship. Asher was fourteen and Jordan was a few years older. Asher hated how Jordan always looked down his nose at him, always being the all-know older brother, and he mostly just ignored Asher’s presence.
Getting older and feelings getting stronger makes it all worse.

Years and years later he just avoids being in the same room as Jordan, who’s in every way better.
Both play on the same hockey team, share the same house at college and share their holidays.
It’s getting so much worse.
The tension between them is unbearable.

At some point, they end up together at the family lake house, just the two of them.
Asher can't be in the same space with a guy he’s been in love with since the first time he saw him, a guy who seems to hate him. Little does he know!

Do you think it would get easier even if both confessed how they really felt about the other?
Forget it!

I could do two things, tell what happens further, or stop here and just tell how wonderful this story is.
The latter is what I’ll do.

Told from both points of view, such an emotional ride!
I just loved this story, it had a perfect timeline, the pace ditto, and the tension sky-high.
The feelings were palpable and strongly expressed and present. What more can I ask for?

[Monikat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ahhhh, Hayden, Hayden, Hayden. You have such a way with words. Such a way to grab our hearts, stomach and soul and twist and turn and pull them into your stories, putting us through sweet torture only to give us the sweetest most glorious HEAs.
Can you tell I loved this book?
As I noted, I inhaled this story.
All the stars
✨✨✨✨✨🪄✨✨✨✨✨

Enemies to lovers😡🥰
Stepbrothers 🤨🧐
Hockey 🏒

*Favorites
*To read again
*To buy paperback

[Julia (bookish.jka) · Rating 4 out of 5]

"I wouldn’t say our first meeting was where anything started. In fact, a lot of things stopped when I first laid my eyes on Jordan Mitchell."

On Thin Ice is book 6 in the fabulous Arctic Titans of Northwood series by Hayden Hall. If you like your ice hockey players fun, flirty and into each other, then this is the series for you! This is (finally!) Asher and Jordan's story. Whilst you don't need to have read the previous books in the series to enjoy this one, it is highly recommended for continuity and an understanding of the other characters and members of the team.

What to Expect:

❣️MM sports romance
❣️step-brothers
❣️team-mates
❣️forced proximity
❣️years of pining
❣️hate (but not really) to love
❣️HEA

Such a cute, angsty, steamy read!

4 stars ⭐

[Monica · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series keeps getting better and this book was extremely beautiful and emotional. It was a bit different to the previous ones in the series, but I loved it nonetheless.
Asher and Jordan became stepbrothers when they were teenagers. Asher's mom married Jordan's dad and they started a new life all together under the same roof. Asher fell in love with Jordan from the first moment he saw him and he spent years crushing on his stepbrother to the point that he even started playing ice hockey. Asher and Jordan eventually end up playing for the same team at university and they despise each other, until one summer things change radically.
I don't even know where to start as this was a lot more emotional than I anticipated. The hatred they had for each other was only a way to disguise their pining. Oh my god, the pining was palpable and their feelings were very obvious, although not to each other.
Jordan was responsible, mature and stoic, but also caring and possessive. Once he found out about Asher's feelings there was no stopping him. As for Asher, it truly broke my heart to see how many years he'd spent loving someone that was so close yet so far. His feelings stayed strong and never diminished. When they finally got together it was hot and steamy, but sweet and tender too. That was true love.
I disliked Asher's mom, she was selfish and self-centered. I never thought, not even once throughout the book, of Asher and Jordan as brothers as she insisted. She wanted to have a family that it had never actually existed. Jordan's father, on the other hand, was a great man.
This novel was touching and beautiful because their love for each other felt eternal and inevitable, like they had been born to be together. It was such a lovely story that moved me so much.

[CC · Rating 1 out of 5]

This plot was a Jerry Springer episode.

[Janette · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m in love with this series, and nothing anyone says or does will change that. Hayden Hall brings another great pair into the Arctic Titans universe, this time more off than on the ice, in a forbidden, quasi-enemies to lovers, stepbrothers romance. The tension between these two is absolutely off the charts, as is the pining. OH THE PINING.

Are they stepbrothers? Yes, technically. Did I ever really see them as brotherly? No, not really. The distance in their relationship is the key to making this one not seem as off limits as it probably should.

That being said, I’ve seldom read a stepbrothers romance that does this much work conveying just how mired the MCs feelings are in their status as stepbrothers. It’s a forbidden relationship, even if they don’t feel like brothers, and they both acknowledge just how very much they internalize and battle with the repercussions of crossing that line. Somehow Hall manages to accomplish that without making their connection a turnoff in any way; instead of making it seem depraved or immoral, he builds something undeniably beautiful that never gives the reader pause.

I really love how their dynamic ebbs and flows, completely changing as things between them escalate. It’s my favorite when MCs come together, joining forces as a united front, and that’s exactly what happens for Jordan and Asher. Once they’re in, they’re ALL in, supportive and rock solid as they can possibly be.

I highly recommend this series, but if you’re just interested in getting lost in a great story, this one works well as a standalone. There’s plenty of drama, excitement, and surprising twists as these guys fight for what they want most - a future together.

*I voluntarily read a complimentary copy of this book*

[Welshbookaholic · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ooooh boy!

Received this as an ARC and have been super excited after reading all the previous books in the series. I was surprised at the seeing and that it was totally away from the rink but it made this story just that much more sweet. Out of the whole series this was by far the most romantic and bittersweet story - which was a surprise to me having had snippets of them throughout the other books.

Jordan is just a big cuddly bear I LOVE him!!!

I really enjoyed this instalment, it definitely felt different to the rest - even felt like it was written differently (but not in a bad way). The inner monologues were strong with this one which makes sense as there is so much more history! They had their own story that was outside of everything which was just so…them. (And don’t get me started on Asher’s mother !!! Urgh!!)

Thoroughly enjoyed as I always do with Hayden’s books! 🥰


P.s. Cannot wait for Nate’s story!

[Crisana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I DNF the previous one and thought I was done with the series but I enjoyed this one very much. It's more a 4.5* but I have rounded it up for reasons.

[meg · Rating 2 out of 5]

On Thin Ice: ★ ★

Hayden Hall (Arctic Titans of Northwood U, #6)

“You are my everything. You are all I want and can’t have. You’re the dreams I dream and the song I hear in total silence. You’re my happy place and I can finally tell you that.”

When stepbrothers Jordan and Asher are forced to spend time alone together over the summer, they are also forced to confront why they've never been able to get along (hint: it's not really hatred).

Tropes:
– Enemies to lovers
– Forced proximity
– Forbidden (stepbrothers)
– Sports romance (hockey)

Since the buildup for this book had been brewing over all the other books in the series, I had extremely high expectations. But unfortunately, I just feel like this let me down.

I think it would’ve been better if 90% of the book wasn’t just straight up internal monologue, but there was also just no emotional connection between them whatsoever. It took 50% of this book for them to realize that they had always been attracted to one another and even that was just because they never communicated about it and just resorted to pushing each other away. After that, their relationship was just physical. Nothing else.

It's also worth mentioning that the third act conflict seemed so forced and random because I just couldn’t see the mom acting the way that she was? Like that was outta left field. And nothing was really resolved with it either? Shoutout to George though, he was the MVP in this whole book.

I think the one good thing to come out of this book was that I didn’t realize that was a seventh one (Coaching Prince Charming) featuring retired-due-to-an-injury, deeply closeted NHL star Nate Partridge (who is already a daddy in my eyes) and the age-gap in that one is sooooo big… I am so intrigued.

[Ginger · Rating 2 out of 5]

I find Hayden Hall’s books to be very hit or miss, and this was a definite miss. So, so many dissonant notes. The characters were all over the place… like, why did Eileen go from being a totally normal, albeit sort of inconsiderate, mom to a venomous asp in the last 15% of the book? If you want someone to be the villain, you have to start laying the groundwork early so that it’s even remotely believable.

The plot/characterization problems weren’t the only issues with “On Thin Ice.” Overall, the writing just did way too much. There was so much page space devoted to clothing, to describing meals, to relentless and repetitive internal monologue… it just gets exhausting after a certain point. And Hall went to absurd lengths to avoid using the same words too frequently — for example, instead of repeating that someone isn’t even forty years old yet, Hall wrote, “I doubt he’s even blown out forty candles yet.” That’s a ridiculous thing to write. All I could think of was Jess from “New Girl” yelling, “two moons have passed?!”

[Fernanda Parente · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG!!!!! The best book I've read this month. It's so good
Jordan and Asher are not related, Jordan's father married Asher's mother at early teenage boys, but the couple always days they are stepbrothers. The hate each other until they find out that they don't hate at all
That summer in Jordan's lake house changes everything for all

Highly recommended

[Rach Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

You know it’s good when you seem to lose track of time and the next thing you know, you’re almost finished!

The chemistry between Asher and Jordan is electric - I think this is what drew me in the most - I loved their summer romance-turned-more and the bits of angst that accompanied their situation.

A really enjoyable, easy read - 4.5*

[Natalia Forciniti · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️: 7/10 🌶️: 3/5 😭: 1/5 🤣: -/5

Tropes:
💜 Stepbrothers
🏒 Pining
💜 Close proximity

“When you love someone, getting hurt shouldn’t make you give them up. It shouldn’t make a difference. If you really care about them, you love their flaws just like you love everything else about them.”

(ESP) Un libro absolutamente distinto a todos los del resto de la serie y el más esperado por mi ya que Asher y Jordan me tenían intrigadísima. Quizás fueron las altas expectativas las que no me permitieron disfrutarlo plenamente.
Toda la historia transcurre durante el receso escolar de verano así que no tenemos las apariciones típicas de los Titans que suelen aportar mucho a la trama. Tampoco tendremos hockey. Ni mucho diálogo…
Superándose a sí mismo, Hayden nos da monólogos internos larguísimos que aún con unas descripciones preciosas pueden resultarnos un tanto repetitivos.
De igual modo, ambos personajes son adorables, su historia es muy bella y aunque me faltó un poco de su historia personal sí podemos disfrutar de cómo va desenvolviéndose su relación. Se aman profundamente y eso siempre es un placer de leer.

(ENG) A book completely different from the rest of the series and the one I was most excited about since Asher and Jordan had me intrigued. Maybe it was the high expectations that didn't allow me to fully enjoy it.
The whole story takes place during the summer school break, so we don't have the typical appearances of the Titans that usually add a lot to the plot. We also don't have hockey. Not much dialog... Outdoing himself, Hayden gives us very long inner monologues, which can be a bit repetitive even with nice descriptions.
Still, both characters are lovable, their story is very nice and although I missed a bit of their personal history, we get to enjoy how their relationship develops. They love each other deeply and that is always a pleasure to read.

* I received an ARC from GRR and this is my honest review. *

[Lionelle Pmuls (That's Slump Backwards & It's What I Do)]

Arctic Titans Of Northwood U Series:
1. Crossing Blades - Riley & Cameron's Story
2. Scoring The Keeper - Sawyer & Noah's Story - 5,0 stars
3. Big Stick Energy - Caden & Beckett's Story - 4,7 stars
4. Icebound Rivals - Avery & Grayson's Story
5. Rebels Of The Rink - Sebastián & Tyler's Story - 3,5 stars
6. On Thin Ice - Asher & Jordan's Story
Next Carter & Nate's Story :
7. Coaching Prince Charming

[Shellfish · Rating 5 out of 5]

On thin Ice is a perfect title for this story by Haden hall. The tension was delicious but drove me crazy. Asher and Jorden were on thin ice and at any moment I felt like it was going to break. Something had to give.
This was such a roller coaster of emotions, up , down, left, right and I felt like the dam was going to burst any minute. There was a lot of drama but I was here for it. I mean what do you expect with step brothers. Both Asher and Jorden were great well developed characters and you meet them earlier in the series but you get a deep sense of who they really are right off in their book.
They really had to fight their way to be together and fight their way to staying together. This was a well fought HEA. Great story I really enjoyed it.

[Heather MMRomanceReviewed]

I've been waiting impatiently to see how the tension between Asher and Jordan resolved itself and I am not disappointed in any way shape or form! I love that their relationship comes to a head with a little forced proximity away from the hustle and bustle of family and college... but of course, there can't be an easy HEA for these two so the family drama, the tension and the guilt are epic and turn up the tension so well!

This book was a true roller coaster ride and an epic story that kept me glued to my kindle from start to finish.

[Guy Venturi · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Ice is Always Thinner When Love is in Skates!

Jordan and his younger step brother have struggled to live together for years after their parents married to bring their families together. At first it was difficult to act like brothers or even step brothers when getting close presents too many problems.

But parental married bliss is more an attempt to unite the brothers than the loving relationship of the parents. Just as things begin to get better for the boys as they share the lake house for the summer, the topic of divorce and a visit by upset parents disrupts the break time of the boys as everything changes.

How can the issues of family be solved to keep the Arctic Titans team off the thin ice of life.

[TipsyMermaid GR · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute, but surface level story about 2 stepbrothers who get caught in a compromising position and their family disowns them. With the stepmom disowning, both of them, you think there would have been more drama, but it was resolved in a very healthy, communicative way.
The guys get their HEA and a not very informative epilogue. Not very spicy. There is one scene and then the rest are behind closed doors.

[Kelly George · Rating 3 out of 5]

I missed the others

Whilst I enjoyed this book I did miss the other boys from the hockey team. It was hard to read in some places because it hurt my heart for Asher. I did still really enjoy this book

[Blake Stovall · Rating 4 out of 5]

After a couple duds in this series we’re so back

[caffeinated.crystal · Rating 5 out of 5]

ON THIN ICE book 6 in the Arctic Titans series was 🔥🔥🔥🔥 the vibe of this book was so different, and not just because it takes place at the family lake house instead of the hockey team house. We finally get Asher and Jordan's story. The stepbrothers.

The book starts off with Asher in a very internal monologue-y kind of way, explaining the backstory of his feelings for Jordan. We get the (frankly weird) introduction between the two, the family dynamics, and all of Asher's internalized pining and frustration with his doomed to be unrequited feelings for his stepbrother Jordan. There's lots of waxing poetic on Jordan's infruriatingly perfect body and the weird sense of "following him" forever from a distance.

It's so damn angsty. I swear Asher is minutes away from screaming, "I'm noooooooot oooooookaaaaaay."

I absolutely loved every minute of it.

Jordan is the fusser. He fusses. He nitpicks Asher. "Guiding" him and "giving him advice." Dude is seriously a repressed caretaker dom. 😂😂😂😂 we find out that Asher's feelings might not be so unrequited.

This all comes to a boil at the summer lake house.

The family dynamics are awkward, but then again, they ARE keeping their creeping on the down low. There's bound to be some awkwardness.

The steamy scenes were 🌶🔥🌶🔥 delicious, and the whole *baby boy* nickname thing was a nice touch.

Jordan and Asher were perfect.
And an absolute mess.

There were big moments, moving scenes, and then when the big storm happened, it was [redacted]

Loved this book, just like I loved all the other Arctic Titans books! Absolutely recommend this series. One more to go!

[Kitten Blue · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is very depressing. It starts off well - depressing, but it's fine - I was super into the story, especially Asher's perspective, not so much Jordan's perspective (because he kept saying things that negated Asher's POV, which I found annoying). But which I guess is the point - they both see things through their own lens and neither of them has the full story. Okay, fine. But my word, do they turn a mountain into a molehill. They're stepbrothers who've never bonded and who've done their best to keep out of each other's way FOR 7 YEARS, but I'm supposed to buy that what they're doing is so wrong because 'they're related.' Dude, they're not related. STEPBROTHERS. WHO HAVE NEVER BEEN BROTHERS TO EACH OTHER. Anyway, they go on and on and on like they're murdering babies down by the lake. And then Asher's mom throws her toys over their relationship. And it left a sour taste in my mouth that their parents needed to divorce for them to feel okay about being together. Seriously? THEY'RE NOT BROTHERS. May as well throw in here that their relationship dynamic does not work for me. By the time I reached the end of the book, I legit did not care one tiny bit for either of the boys. The only person I could stand in this book was the dad. I need to stop reading Hayden Hall's books because there's something about the way he writes that doesn't do it for me; it's just very much purple prose. I can deal with the over-the-top writing when Asher's moping about Jordan, but it's a lot when they're having sex, for heaven's sake.

[Steph · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hayden writes enemies to lovers so well, they are always cut throat; raw with emotion and hurt, before the healing comes. Lots of snapping at each other and misread body language. I'm not sure I will recover from Asher's mom's PowerPoint presentation, so so funny, all the while both men are internally churning. The intensity that comes with enemies when the trigger fires, is always explosive, fast paced and absolutely breathtaking. These two had no idea of the feelings each other were harbouring and it was such a reaction, even washing a cucumber could no longer be seen as innocent. When the trigger is released there is no going back, they don't want to go back, they are free in each others embrace and it fuels them both. The intimacy is unreal, hot and heavy and no skimping on details and time. It is engaging and erotic to read. There was always going to be angst, but not necessarily from where you thought. They are at a crossroads, not ashamed to share each other, but knowing that other people, even those who love them, will make them feel shame and wrong. Other people's prejudices crushing you completely. This story has hurt and angst and it is from people who shouldn't want to hurt you. These two choose love, their love could take on the world and still win. A gorgeous story with a HEA well on its way. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Joanne Mccorkell · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5☆
There is a line in this book in how Asher described the summer this story covers... a perpetual sense of Melancholy. That how I felt throughout this story.
The sniping and mistakes made by both Asher and Jordan, where they would continiously mistake the others intension, long before admitting that they each liked the other and had done for years.
The things Ashers mum said to Jordan.... Was horrible. How he ever WILLINGLY, went to see her to help fix her and Ashers relationship, beyond me.
I think this is the lowest score Ive ever given a Hayden Hall story... this one I struggled with due to how it made me feel.