The Friend Face Off

Love on Thin Ice #3

by Grace Worthington

Getting involved with your brother’s best friend is risky enough. But when he's a hockey player? It's a whole new level of bad idea.

As a ravenous reader, I’ve got a secret: I’m obsessed with hockey romances.

But let me tell you, real life hockey players are nothing like my book boyfriends.

So I threw down the gauntlet on BookTok. I challenged any single guy out there to prove me wrong. Can a real hockey player be as romantic as the ones in my favorite stories?

Enter Dawson Hayes, a goalie with a point to prove and my brother’s best friend. He’s confident he can win me over and take me on the most romantic date of my life.

But there’s a for me to accept, I have to pretend that he’s my fake boyfriend.

And while he’s unfairly gorgeous, he’s also my brother’s teammate and his best friend.

Keeping him in the fake boyfriend zone is the only way to deal with my secret attraction.

Turns out, the line between fake and real isn't just blurry, it’s become impossible to tell the difference when he looks at me with those eyes that say, You’re mine.


DAWSON

The first time I met Emmy, her brother warned me to stay away. As hockey teammates, that made her totally off-limits.

Now I’m back in Emmy’s small town to play hockey, and I can’t resist her dating to find out if any man can be more romantic than the book boyfriends she adores.

Emmy and I are both fiercely competitive, and I’m determined to win her over.

When the moment of truth comes, the chemistry between us turns into something neither of us
A romantic face-off between friends who are insanely attracted to each other.

Now, I’m out to prove to her that you should never judge a book by its cover—or a hockey player when it comes to love.

The Friend Face Off is part of the Love on Thin Ice sweet small town hockey romcom series. It's a brother’s best friend, closed door hockey romcom with fake dating, friends to lovers and You’ve Got Mail vibes. It's a small town romance with all the sizzle and chemistry, but none of the spice.

Slide into the Love on Thin Ice series for a sweet romantic escape. Seven authors, seven short books, and one charming town. Get ready for heartwarming love stories and all the fall feels. Start reading now!

Breaking the Ice by Whitney Dineen

The Rebound Play by Kate O’Keeffe

The Friend Face Off by Grace Worthington

Love in Overtime by Melissa Baldwin

The Parent Playbook by Elsie Woods

Love at First Skate by Ellie Hall

Penalties and Proposals by Anne Kemp

Genres: Hockey, Romance, Sports, Sports Romance, Hockey Romance, Contemporary, Rom Com

230 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 12, 2024

About the author

Grace Worthington is a three-time award-winning author who lives and breathes sweet closed door romcoms.
A former musical theatre gal and playwright, she brings that same energy, heart, and comedic timing to her stories, crafting witty banter and lovable characters you can’t help but root for.
She holds a master’s degree in psychology and human development and has also completed graduate studies in creative writing. Her inspiration comes from charming coastal towns and classic romcoms from the ’80s and ’90s.
When she’s not writing, she enjoys spending time with her husband and two kids.

Reviews

[Margarida · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Friend Face Off is a novel about books and hockey in which Emmy is an eternal book lover who works in a bookshop, has a booktok and a book club and Dawson is a professional hockey player and Emmy's brother's best friend.

They already know each other and met again four years later, when Maple Falls organises a charity hockey tournament with several famous athletes.

Dawson will try to win Emmy over, doing everything he can to show that he really likes her and doesn't care about other people's opinions. Guys, HE READ THE ROMANCE FOR THE BOOK CLUB and even took notes!!! All to find out what she liked and what he could do for them to be together.

This book also cries out for autumn, so for those who like these themes, here's the perfect recipe. (And at the end of the book there's actually a recipe for Pumpkin Spice Cinnamon rolls🤤🤤)

//

The Friend Face Off é um romance sobre livros e hockey onde Emmy é uma eterna apaixonada por livros que trabalha numa livraria, tem um booktok e um clube do livro e Dawson é jogador profissional de hockey e o melhor amigo do irmão de Emmy.

Os dois já se conhecem e voltam a encontrar-se quatro anos depois, quando Maple Falls faz um torneiro de hockey solidário com vários atletas famosos.

Dawson vai tentar conquistar Emmy, fazendo de tudo para mostrar que realmente gosta dela e não se importa com as opiniões alheias. Pessoal, ELE LEU O ROMANCE PARA O CLUBE DO LIVRO e até tirou notas !!! Tudo para tentar perceber o que é que ela mais gostava e o que é que podia fazer para ela ficar com ele.

Este livro também grita por outono, por isso para quem gosta destes temas, aqui está a receita perfeita. (E no final do livro há efetivamente uma receita de Pumpkin Spice Cinnamon rolls🤤🤤)

[Susan Z (webreakforbooks) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Friend Face Off is another great installment in Love On Thin Ice Series. Each book can stand in its own, although they occur in the same world and have cross over characters. What I loved about this one, is that the other romances aren't spoiled, so you can read them in any order.

This series is like a sweet small town Hallmark movie in book form.

This was my first book by Grace Worthington, and I will definitely be checking out her backlist!

[Katie (hiding in the pages) · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Don’t judge a guy by his teeth. Or lack of them.”

I’m deeply entrenched in my hockey romance era and there can’t be anyone better than Dawson. This is basically the sweetest, cutest brother’s best friend romcom set in the most darling small town, where Emmy works at a bookstore and runs a secret BookTok account. Dawson has always been off-limits but who could resist this man’s charms? The way he finagles his way into the local book club, capturing the hearts of all the women, to the way he’s up for a fall fling, but completely open and desperate for more as he falls head-over-heels first is the pumpkin spice in a sugary sweet story.

I adore these characters and love the team these authors created. This whole world became my whole world and every stolen kiss, tender message with a secret and challenging new friend, and attempt to create the perfect romance seized my heart. I can’t wait for more, as I’m completely hooked.

Content: sweet romance/kisses

*I received a complimentary copy. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and were voluntarily given*

[Jo|Ruth Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this! It's cheesy in the best ways. It's like a romcom for romcom lovers. He's the famous hockey guy that can't possibly read romance and be romantic and yet... he can, and he is. And she's always had a crush on him... but she's always been cautious about the hockey players, and he's no exception.

When Dawson returns to Maple Falls and takes Emmy up on their dating pact she believes it's all for show. Little does she know he has always wanted to really date her. At the same time Dawson returns a new man enters Emmys life an online friend. She finds herself trusting more and more this online friend. At the same time as she dates Dawson and finds all her feelings far too confusing. But do she and Dawson have a future? He's a hockey player with a bad dating reputation. He will be moving to Seattle at the end of the season and she never plans to leave Maple Falls. Knowing their is no future they settle for the right now... but what's to happen when the season is over? And who is the mystery guy that Emmy is talking to online? Could he be Dawson's competition?

I loved this story. So sweet, so fun, and Dawson is oh, so romantic and so attentive to Emmy... he sets the bar VERY high. Lol! 😍

[Erika R · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this reading! The characters are so real that it’s easy to relate to their way of thought and act. Oh and the small town? Perfect! 🙌🏼 I love the trope and this book did it justice. I just wanted to keep reading about Dawson and Emmy!! 🥰 If you’re looking for a cute and funny small town hockey romance, this is a great one! 🫶🏼

[Lissa Ruck · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved Dawson & Emmy's sweet, caring, loving,swoony story!!!

[Julie Carpenter · Rating 5 out of 5]

The gauntlet has been dropped!!! And Emmy delivers!

I loved this book so much! I was laughing and sighing! I loved all of the literary references. Poor Emmy doesn't quite know what to do with the man she's had a crush on for a longtime. She's figured that ship was never going to be a thing but when he shows back up and keeps coming into her life, she can't ignore the chemistry and attraction. Especially when they start up a fake relationship. But it doesn't feel very fake for either of them!

And then there's the online friend she has and not knowing who they are but finding that their friendship is very important in her life. Especially when she's able to open up about things she can't talk with anyone else about.

Everything culminates and let me tell you, you're going to love it! And add in all of the hockey playing scenes! It's a wonderful book!

Content: Clean. Some kisses but nothing further.

I received a copy from the author. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.

Happy Reading!!!

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emmy loves her hockey romance books, and she's convinced that books are always better than reality. Dawson, hockey goalie and Emmy's brother's best friend, is set to prove her wrong.

A new book in the Love on Thin Ice series, which can be read as a standalone. The female protagonist works in a bookstore and has an anonymous TikTok account where she posts about books. The male protagonist is a goalie and for some reason I've always had a soft spot for those. The setting couldn't be better and I'm happy that it met my expectations!

"I open it and inhale the glorious scent of fresh paper and ink. New book smell is like crack for readers."

I love the messages Emmy and Dawson send to each other without knowing who's at the other end! Dawson proves to be truly insightful - and he reads! Definitely book boyfriend material!

“There are a thousand ways to win against me. Everybody has a weak spot, Emmy. You happen to be mine.”

It's really hard to resist him and I completely understand when Emmy cracks.

“Emmy, I want to be the guy who supports you in your dreams. I don’t want you to sit on the sidelines anymore.”

An easy to read romance with hockey on the side, based in a charming small town during autumn; it doesn't get any better than that!

* I received an ARC from the author and I'm giving my honest review. *

[Alysha · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Friend Face off: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Emmy challenged the TikTok world to prove to her that hockey players could be as romantic as book boyfriends. She didn’t expect that the one to prove this theory would be her brothers friend, Dawson. Dawson has loved Emmy since her brother told him to keep an eye on her at a party and hasn’t looked back since. He sets out to prove to Emmy that he can meet her every expectation for a book boyfriend. First step, learn everything he can about her, starting with joining her book club and taking copious notes from the books they read. Dawson is determined to prove to Emmy that he is the perfect man for her if it takes him a lifetime.

Grace has once again written an amazing book boyfriend who sets the bar for all men IRL. Good luck men. Emmy is a character with one major flaw, self doubt, and lack of self worth when it comes to dating and men. I love that Dawson doesn’t make her wrong, he just proves to her that she is what is best for him. The little things that Dawson does for her made me aww every time. I was pretty much cackling from start to finish with this book, it was such a fun, hilarious, cute read. This is part of the Love on Thin Ice series, and I can’t wait to read the rest of them.

[Shauna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summing it up: Dawson has a moment with his friends younger sister. Then leaves. When he returns to play hockey and reconnects with Emmy, the ice starts to melt.

Thoughts: This author brought all the romantic moments and Dawson basically pushed my heart puddle along the ice. The town, the fake and the not fake, the laughter and heart had me cheering for love to win the day.

A fun hockey series with characters that interact and kind of simultaneously have their own stories. I like that kind of series and am looking forward to reading all of the books. Whether on the ice or off, these two stories will keep your heart warm and put a smile on your face! The bonus epilogues are like that extra piece of chocolate. Delish.

[Brittany · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a sweet and swoony brother’s best friend romance! I loved the flashback to when Dawson and Emmy met and the time they shared at the Halloween party. Poor Dawson, sidelined by Emmy right away because he was a hockey player and her brother specifically warned her off of hockey players!

I loved the way that Dawson pursued Emmy a few years later, making a specific effort to do those things that would mean the most to her. Paying attention to what was important to her and showing that he valued her. He was determined without being pushy.

Emmy struggled to let go of her fears and actually allow herself to trust in the possibility of love. She was definitely a bit stuck in life, putting her needs behind everyone else’s. I liked the way Dawson put her first.

The Friend Face Off is a sweet and fun addition to the Love on Thin Ice series. All of the books in this series can be read as stand alone novels, too.

(4.5 stars)

I received a complimentary copy of this book, however, I also preordered my own ebook copy.

[Courtney sharpe · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am loving getting to return to Maple Falls again and again and now I’m back for the third time with the Friend Face Off.

Getting involved with your brother’s best friend is risky enough. But when he's a hockey player? It's a whole new level of bad idea.

This for the girls who love books and hockey players. I loved this sweet closed door combination of two of my favourite things. I absolutely loved Dawson’s character but Emmy’s was starting to bother me the more we got into the story. It just bugs me when female characters write off the men all because of their profession, hobbies or their looks. Dawson was proving himself time and time again and Emmy just came off as really whiny and insecure. I wanted more growth from her but I did enjoy their story overall.

Wasn’t my fav of the series but I think a lot of people will really enjoy this one this fall and I’ll be waiting impatiently to go back to Maple Falls with book 4

[Angela Hodge · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Friend Face Off by Grace Worthington is a classic brother’s best friend romance and it was so good! This is part of the Love on Thin Ice series.

Emmy and Dawson bonded in a wine cellar back in college and never really let their true feelings be known to each other until he comes back to town for a charity hockey game when they have a fall fling.

I just love these two! I love him because he is a hopeless romantic and does all the things to woo the woman he wants. I love her because although she’s introverted and a bit nerdy she’s giving and selfless. The book had me hooked from the beginning and made me crave cooler weather, flannel, hot cider and pumpkin cheesecake!

I definitely recommend the sweet kisses sports romance with a HEA!

[Rosie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Straight on having the best luck with ARCs ❤️

First of all: great marketing LOL, I was absolutely SOLD when Perfectly Wedded came up.
YES I’LL BE READING PERFECTLY WEDDED. Can’t wait.

In the universe of Love On Thin Ice, this one stars Dawson and Emmy, when Dawson returns to the cosy little town of Maple Falls and reminds her of the pact they made one fateful night when they were younger. At the same time, we also have the on-screen blossoming DM friendship of Emmy and a random stranger (totally obviously not Dawson), in which she discovers an amazing, caring and the sweetest man alive.

I LOVED IT. Plain and simple. Cheesy and the most romcom to ever romcom. Dawson is a PUPPY, he demonstrates how caring he is to everyone around him and of course to Emmy, his crush since foreveeeeer. Oh, this is definitely a he falls first and HARDER.

The bar just gets set higher and higher by these men.

[Readingintheweehours · Rating 5 out of 5]

I sure love a good hockey rom-com.
While I tend towards grumpy and broody heroes (or even villains with redemption), sometimes a golden retriever is just right.
Enter Dawson.
Warm-hearted, intentional, pursuing, self-sacrificing.
Admittedly, sometimes I wanted to shake Emmy and say, "GIVE IN TO THE GOODNESS!"
Yet, watching the walls come down and Dawson's persistence was so good. I mean the bookishness was top notch here.
Additionally, the way Emmy expresses her heart for Book Tok is how I feel about Bookstagram.
An all around good read.

[☆Laura☆ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐️


Después de leer el prólogo estaba preocupada por cómo se arreglaría lo de que Dawson se volvió un mujeriego. Después de esa promesa en el pasado más su comportamiento en el presente no creí posible que tuviera un arreglo satisfactorio, sin embargo, se logró y su imagen fue reparada al 100%.

Una lastima que sea tan corto, tenían muchas cosas más por contar, pero la serie es así y no se puede hacer nada.


Gracias Grace por el Arc. 🤩

[Kara F · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got this as an ARC that I devoured in less than a day. I originally gravitated toward this book because it was a hockey romance. A couple chapters in and it felt more of cute fall, second chance rom com. I loved Emmy’s love for Jane Austen and loved Dawson wanting to be a real life Mr. Darcy for Emmy. I loved this small little town and really lost site that hockey was even involved in this book because there were other characteristics that shined brighter. Nice feel good fall rom com

[Abby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing cute and quick read. I really loved the depth of the characters even though it wasn't a long book there was still a lot of emotion and heartfelt moments throughout the book.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC read!

[Eliana · Rating 5 out of 5]

The dearest romantic adventure for myself

[Lily shorts · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really loved how it all came together. This book was so easy to go through and was a huge fan of the story overall.
So thankful I got an arc 💗💗

[Megan Crofton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love the frenemies to more vibes this one started off with! Worthington's books always make me so happy. I love the light and happy story that has the perfect amount of depth. The flow and pace of this one is wonderful!

I loved Emmy and Dawson so very much! He was a great protective hero but also a cinnamon roll! Dawson was the perfect blend of manly man and sweet and caring. He was straight forward and honest with Emmy about his feelings from the beginning and I liked that. Emmy is sweet and loyal, but has been burned before. She suffers under her obligation to helps others but Dawson shows her that she can do that and still follow her dreams. Loved how the characters opened up as the story unfolded. The fun settings and stories added so much to the story and who doesn't love a motorcycle scene as well as a Fall Fest scene!

This was such a fun, fall read and it definitely got me ready for the fall season! Loved the town of Maple Falls and can't wait to read more of this multi-author series.

[Laramee · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brother's best friend small town romance! Dawson is swoony in this adorable hockey romcom!

I received an ARC from the author and all opinions are my own.

[Cassondra Perea · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC Review:

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Emmy spends her days working at the local book store, Falling for Books, and her nights helping her aging grandmother. But she is hiding a secret. During her free time she runs an anonymous BookTok account. After going viral for her latest post she inadvertently opened the floodgates.

Dawson is heading to the NHL. But before he can go pro he will playing on a charity team, The Ice Breakers. Thanks to his love for reading he reconnects with Emmy. The two met years ago via Emmy’s brother Dan. While Dawson has always felt something for Emmy, he could never tell where she stood.

Will reconnecting lead to more or will they once again drift apart?

Grace Worthington’s The Friend Face Off is the third book in the Love on Thin Ice series. This is a multi-author, interconnected series. While each of the books are intended to be standalone novels, it is recommended that readers read them all and in chronological order.

I can always count on Worthington to write a love story that not only entertains me, but upholds my morals. As a clean/ closed door romance author she has perfected her writing so that readers never have to sacrifice good storytelling for modest content. As a result Worthington has come to be one of my favorite authors. I love sharing her content and recommending her to others.

The Friend Face Off is her best book to date.

This book features:
-small town
-hockey
-brother’s best friend
*As well as many more!!!

Special thanks to Netgalley, Poets and Saints, and Grace Worthington for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Ashlee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hockey. Romances! I stinking love them. And I think The Friend Faceoff helped me really see why. It's the jerseys. How there's always a moment where the guy wants the girl to wear his jersey with his name and his number. Something about that just makes me swoon! It's such a "you're mine" moment but not in like an ew gross women aren't property way. Like I'm showing the whole world you're the one for me. Ugh I love it! And Dawson rocked this so much. It was so stinking cute!

I wouldn't call myself an overly fast reader but I read this one super quick because I just enjoyed it so much. Emmy and Dawson had some great chemistry and I loved the banter. Dawson is definitely worthy of the book boyfriend title (ironic considering Emmy's challenge of those unrealistic goals). I'm also loving the small town fall vibes that this whole series is bringing. Highly recommend!

Also, ah! I saw what you did there Grace Worthington! She has a mention of one of her upcoming books as a book being sold in Emmy's store (not name dropping herself of course)! But she does name drop Vale as a book boyfriend! IYKYK. That was a fun a little detail.

[Holly Bleggi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this was a cute story. I am loving this series and all the characters. I love that this story had some You’ve Got Mail vibes and how I couldn’t wait for Emmy to realize Dawson was her secret online friend. I loved how Dawson did everything he could to show Emmy that not all hockey players were the stereotype. I loved how their friendship grew into more as they spent time together and that they eventually found a way to be together. I can’t wait to read all the other books in this series.

I received a complimentary book from publishers, publicists, and or authors.  A review was not required and all opinions and ideas expressed are my own.

[Vicky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hockey romances are still having their moment, and this recently released multi-author series capitalizes on that. If you aren’t familiar with multi-author series, each book can stand alone, but they all share a common setting. Protagonists from one book will likely be side characters in another. Stores, events, and side characters will also be repeated, allowing multiple views of the setting.

This particular series revolves around a hockey team that is put together as a fundraising event for a ranch that serves underprivileged children, with a limited season of games against a Canadian team. The Ice Breakers are based out of the small-ish fictional Western Washington town of Maple Falls (not to be confused with the real town of Maple Valley).

Unlike the Appies series, each of these books was written by a different popular sweet romance author, each with her own style. There are some differences from book to book, but nothing so serious as to mar the series.

Similar to the Appies series, all of the female main characters exist beyond their potential as romantic partners. They have actual lives, careers, and struggles.

The male main characters have various reasons for their singleness at the beginning of the series. Several have (mostly undeserved) reputations as serial daters. All are dedicated to hockey.

The situations that get the various couples together are varied and interesting. Of course, there is an element of predictability: when there are two POV characters, you know they’ll end up together. The question is: what will happen to them before they get there? Will there be a third-act breakup, or will there be something else that tests the relationship?

I find that the passage of time is a bit confusing. There is a Halloween party mentioned in several of the books, and there’s a corn maze and haunted house at Maple Fest. There is pumpkin spice everything. The Ice Breakers practice together for a while before the first of their five games, but the space between games is a bit fuzzy. Days? A week? It all seems to be over before Thanksgiving though. Especially since some of the epilogues mention Christmas lights.

Also…what’s wrong with an otter as a mascot? (If you know me, you know I adore otters.)

Possible objectionable material:
Very mild cursing. Various issues such as parental divorce or neglect, alcoholism, death of a parent, chronic illness, infidelity, sexual harassment. This is hockey, so there are injuries and the occasional fight. People drink. This is closed door romance, so we don’t see more than passionate kisses. There is a hint that sex happens.

Who might like these books:
Romance fans, hockey fans, hockey romance fans. Anyone who likes well-written books where characters grow and develop over the course of the story.

These books are also reviewed at https://biblioquacious.blogspot.com/2...

Thank you to the authors, publishers, and NetGalley for providing ARCs in exchange for my honest opinion.

Tropes:
Brother’s best friend, friends to lovers, You’ve Got Mail.

My Thoughts:
We turn now to Dan’s sister, Emmy, and best friend, goalie Dawson. Emmy and Dawson met a few years prior when Dawson and Dan visited home from college. Emmy wasn’t interested in a hockey player, because she figured they all emphasized the word “player”, but did end up making a pact with him that if either of them needed a date when they were 25, they’d be there for each other.

Well, now they’re 25 and Emmy needs a date so she can avoid creepy Stewart. Dawson was attracted to her then, and he’s attracted to her now. Of course, he knows what Dan would do to him if Emmy got hurt.

Emmy has given up on finding romance, figuring that the men in romance novels, unrealistic as they are, will have to do. When “Golden Dog” replies to her TikTok post about unrealistic expectations, they develop a sort of online, anonymous friendship.

Naturally, things progress between Emmy and Dawson, and Emmy keeps turning to Golden Dog for advice.

Did I mention that this has a You’ve Got Mail vibe?

On a side note, Dawson visits the ladies’ book group when they discuss a hockey romance for Perfectly Wedded. This is a genius (or annoying) move by Worthington. It’s her novel, not yet released at the time this book was published. She spends a lot of time mentioning it. Did it pique my interest? Yes. Did I request it to review? Also yes.

Emmy, like Ellie and Keira before her, struggles with her feelings of being a small town girl who stayed in her small town, and not being worthy or of enough interest to a professional hockey player. Dawson has a definite reputation for having a different woman on his arm every time he goes out. Turns out his dad hires dates for him so he’ll stay “relevant” in the media.

There’s almost a third-act breakup, as media and others point out to Emmy that she’s not Dawson’s type, but Dawson shuts it down pretty immediately, and, after a pep talk from Grandma Mimi, Emmy is ready to take a chance on love.

[DayDreamer8912 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rate: 5/5
Genre: Clean/Hockey Romcom

Read it if you like:

🏒Dual POV
🏒Brother's Best Friend
🏒Fake Dating
🏒Second Chance
🏒Cinnamon Roll Hockey Player
🏒Hidden Identity/You've Got Mail Vibes!

Favourite Moments
🏒They met again after 4 years.
🏒 Him trying to win her heart
🏒 The Maple Falls’ Festival (can’t spoil it)
🏒 Him being attending the Book Club
🏒 moments with Mimi
🏒 Their discussion of the hockey romance book (can’t spoil it)
🏒 Him protecting her away from Stewart
(lots more)


Swoony Moments
🏒 He protects and cares for her
🏒 He try his best to win back her heart
🏒 He reads her favourite books and write annotation.. (can’t spoil it)
🏒 He is a gentleman.
🏒 He is a hopeless romantic.
🏒 He knows what she likes and what she don’t like.

Synopsis
Dawson
A hockey player who is called to play for the charity games. He still can’t forget the girl that he loves who is also his best friend’s sister.

Emmy
A bookworm who works in Maple Falls’ only bookshop. She prefers book boyfriends rather than real man. And hockey players are a definite no no for her.

They met 4 years ago and they went together to the Harrison’s party. His job was to keep an eye on her because there is a guy named Stewart who is interested in her. She locked herself in the wine cellar and he found her and then they talk to each other the conversation leads to them making a dating pact. And they meet again after 4 years, he reminded her about the dating pact that they promised four years ago. Will they go through with it? Will she realised that a real guy can also love her as much as her book boyfriends? Will Dawson able to win her heart? Read The Friend Face Off to find out!!

Review:
Love this two so much they are just so sweet together. Dawson is trying his best to win her heart while Emmy prefers to stick to book boyfriends. Love the way he tries to prove that he loves her very much and do whatever it takes to make her happy and prove that real guys are as good as book boyfriends though real guys are not perfect. The dating pact that they made 4 years ago they go through with it. She wanted to avoid him as much as possible but he is not letting her go. He continues to do what he can to win her heart, reading the books she likes, going to the book club and also protecting her from the media and from Stewart the jerk guy who tries to woo her but failed. (can’t spoil the whole story about what he did but you will find out when you read it) Mimi is so sweet to her darling little granddaughter who sacrifice so much just to take care of her and assured her that she can take care of herself and ask her to pursue her dreams and also date with the one she loves. Love their dates, their flirting and also their sweet bantering. And there is hidden identity/You’ve Got Mail vibes inside.(can’t spoil it. Find out when you read the story) This book made me smile, laugh, swoon and annoyed sometimes (read to find out). Really enjoyed it.

This is the 3rd book of Love on Thin Ice Series. This series consist of 7 books and it is written by 7 different authors.

Here are the list of the series:
Breaking the Ice by Whitney Dineen (@whitneydineenauthor)
The Rebound Play by Kate O' Keeffe (@kateokeeffewriter)
The Friend Face Off by Grace Worthington (@graceworthingtonauthor)
The Parent Playbook by Elise Woods (@elsie.woods.author)
Love in Overtime by Melissa Baldwin (@mbaldwinauthor)
Love at First Skate by Ellie Hall (@elliehallauthor)
Penalties and Proposals by Anne Kemp (@annekempauthor)

Can’t wait for the next story. It will be Cooper and Blaire’s story
Please do check out other series by Grace Worthington.
You can purchase her books on Amazon and it is available on KU.

[Allison6876 · Rating 1 out of 5]

Horrible - I returned this for a refund and DNF. Why write a hockey romance when you clearly have no knowledge of hockey??? I am so tired of authors who leap onto this trend just to make money. It is insulting to people who like the sport and expect at least minimal knowledge to make the plot flow. First a player in the NHL with an injury like the heroine's brother Dan, if he had a wrist injury, as mentioned, and "was forced to take a break" in the fall would not return to his hometown to play a five-game charity tournament - he would be rehabbing his injury and a 5-game charity tournament? During the NHL season???? Completely ridiculous!! Log onto this new invention called the internet and look at any NHL team website and schedule - they play multiple games a week. Nothing like this would be possible. Many players do play charity games in the off-season (summer) but a 5-game tournament in a small town like this seems highly unlikely - just from a logistics point of view. It seems unlikely that a town with 1 grocery store (as mentioned in the book) would have a hockey arena that seated enough people or the infrastructure to support an event like she is imagining. The heroine was extremely off-putting. When she said this about her brother I couldn't believe it, "If Dan had stayed here, they might have had a chance. But he couldn't resist Yale's hockey scholarship or the chance to play in the NHL." Seriously?!!! You wanted your brother to stay in some small town in the middle of nowhere instead of accepting a scholarship at an ivy league college with the potential opportunity for a job where he could earn millions of dollars per year. No, no stay in the small town with no job opportunities. Then try to find some way to pay for further education. Then try to find a job of some sort in a town with limited job opportunities just to marry your high school sweetheart (because you know that always works out perfectly), just because your sister thinks it's a good idea. Why wouldn't she want her brother at the minimum to get a free ivy league education? She was so irritating, bitchy and negative about everything I couldn't deal with her. She was ridiculous. I also don't know what everyone is talking about when they say the heroine loves hockey players. She doesn't seem to even like her own brother seemingly based solely on the reason that he plays hockey. I could only force myself to read about 36% of the book before I returned this for a refund.

[Araya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Arc Review:
Overall Rating: 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Cover Rating: 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Tropes:
- Brother’s Best Friend
- Friends To Lovers
- He Falls First
- Fake Dating/Dating Pact
- Second Chance
- Hockey Romance
- Cinnamon Roll Hockey Player
- You’ve Got Mail Vibes!
- Secret BookTok Account/Hidden Identity
- Small Town
- Fall Vibes
- Dual POV
- Closed Door/Clean Romcom, Kisses Only

Welcome to the ‘Love on Thin Ice’ series, seven authors, seven short novels, and one charming town, welcome to Maple Falls where heartwarming love stories live. Our third book of the ‘Love on Thin Ice’ series is ‘The Friend Face Off’ written by. Grace Worthington.

When Dawson and Emmy first meet there was an instant attraction, but Emmy’s brother Dan has labeled her off limits to his best friend plus Emmy doesn’t date hockey players. Anyways they all go to this party we’re Dan gives Dawson the task to keep an eye on Emmy, Dawson and Emmy keep each other company all night. Now let’s jump to current day it’s been awhile since either of them have seen each other. Emmy is a local bookstore worker, plus she takes care of her grandmother but Emmy has a secret BookTok account and has challenged the TikTok community to prove her wrong about the perfect man existing in the real world, she thinks that BookTok has set impossibility high standards, but despite that Emmy still believes in romance, just not the perfect man. Dawson is about to head into the NHL, but before he goes pro he is back in Maple Falls for a charity hockey game, Dawson has set out to prove to Emmy that he can meet her every expectation and be the perfect man for her. As Dawson and Emmy hangout more, Emmy is trying to figure out her feeling for Dawson while Dawson is realizing he needs Emmy to be in his life longer. Dawson is determined to find a way for Emmy to take a chance on him and keep this relationship going, will Emmy give Dawson his chance? Read ‘The Friend Face Off’ and find out.

I’m now three books into the ‘Love on Thin Ice’ series and this is a good series so far.
This was such a fun and cutesy read.
I loved Emmy she was so fun just had a lot of self doubt but don’t worry worry she has the the perfect man to reassure her.
Dawson the man that you are *chefs kiss*. This man is the perfect book boyfriend hands down he plays hockey (and he’s the goalie I’ve always had a thing for goalies), he reads her favourite books, he joins her book club, he takes notes about the books he’s reading all for her, he has a motorcycle, and he’s a dog lover like how the hell could I ever resist falling for this man.

I liked to wrap this up by giving a huge thank you to the author Grace Worthington along with NetGalley and the publishers for sending me an advanced readers copy of this book, I had a really great time reading it.

[Cassandra Bivens · Rating 4 out of 5]

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👯‍♀️✨ **The Friend Face Off** by Grace Worthington ✨👯‍♀️

*When old friends turn into new rivals, navigating love, friendship, and competition becomes the ultimate test.*

🌟✨ **Review:** ✨🌟

*The Friend Face Off* by Grace Worthington is a heartwarming yet competitive tale that explores the complexities of friendship, rivalry, and romance. The story follows two lifelong friends whose relationship is put to the test when they unexpectedly find themselves on opposing sides of a major competition.

Worthington beautifully captures the emotional rollercoaster of shifting dynamics in a friendship. The protagonist’s struggle to balance loyalty, personal ambition, and unexpected romantic feelings adds depth to the lighthearted premise. The competitive tension makes for a fun and engaging plot, and the romance that slowly develops is a sweet complement to the central theme of friendship.

Though the story can be a bit predictable at times, the charm lies in its heartfelt message about the importance of communication and trust in both friendships and relationships. The dialogue is witty, and the pacing keeps readers engaged, especially as the stakes in the competition rise.

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🌟 **Highlights:** 🌟
- **Friendship & Rivalry**: A refreshing focus on friendship as the central theme, with the added tension of a high-stakes competition.
- **Slow-Burn Romance**: The budding romance is sweet and builds naturally, adding an extra layer of charm.
- **Relatable Emotions**: The ups and downs of maintaining friendships while pursuing personal goals are portrayed authentically.

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💬 **Favorite Quote:**
*"Sometimes, winning isn't about coming out on top—it's about who’s still standing next to you at the end."* - A touching reminder of the value of true friendship.

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🌟 **Rating:** 🌟
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4 stars)

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*The Friend Face Off* is a delightful and heartfelt story perfect for readers who enjoy tales of friendship, personal growth, and a dash of romance. Grace Worthington weaves a charming narrative that will leave you smiling and reflecting on your own friendships.

See more reviews at:
Casla Reads

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*I received this book through NetGalley as an ARC reader. This will not in any way affect my thoughts or opinions on the book.*

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