Love at First Skate

Love on Thin Ice #6

by Ellie Hall

They say love is messy. Turns out friendship is too, especially when you’re stranded in a cabin with your best friend and hearts are on thin ice.

Teddy
I’ve heard that men and women can’t be friends without it becoming something more. Harlow and I put that theory in the penalty box, thank you very much.

She laughs at my jokes, secretly admires my hockey butt, trusts me with her biggest fear (it’s safe with me). In turn, she knows everything about me. Well, almost.

There’s been a recent development. I’m gone for her. Down bad. Solid Crush. She lives rent free in my mind. I’ve caught feelings. This wouldn’t be a problem except, you know, the whole shattering our friendship thing.

Harlow
You know those days you want to erase? It went like my boyfriend broke up with me (it was overdue), and then I broke up with my job while at a work conference (it was mind-numbing).

In an ironic twist, I won the raffle for a romantic getaway trip for two. Who else to bring other than my best friend who’ll gladly commiserate with me? He has a hockey event nearby, so it works out perfectly.

Until we’re stranded in the cozy cabin together. There’s a blaze of attraction. A friendship-changing kiss.
What now? Do we hit the reset button? Salvage what we had? Pretend it never happened? These are things I’d talk to my bestie about, but I can’t because I’m head over heels for him.

Love at First Skate is part of the Love on Thin Ice sweet small town hockey romcom series. It's a best friends to lovers, forced proximity, no third act breakup romantic comedy 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 novels, and one charming town. Get ready for heartwarming short novel 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: Romance, Sports Romance, Hockey, Hockey Romance, Sports, Friends To Lovers, Clean Romance

220 pages, Paperback

Published September 18, 2024

About the author

Ellie Hall is a USA Today bestselling author. If only that meant she could wear a tiara and get away with it. ;) She loves puppies, books, and the ocean. Writing sweet romance with lots of firsts and fizzy feels gives her joy. Oh, and chocolate chip cookies are her fave. Ellie believes in dreaming big, working hard, and lazy Sunday afternoons spent with her family and dog in gratitude for God’s grace.

♥

Newsletter: http://bit.ly/EllieHallNL
Website: http://www.elliehallauthor.com
Facebook: http://www/facebook.com/elliehallauthor
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/elliehallauthor

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Series and suggested reading order:

The Only Us Sweet Billionaire Series
•these billionaires have everything, but will they find love...?•

1. Only a Date with a Billionaire
2. Only a Kiss with a Billionaire
3. Only a Night with a Billionaire
4. Only Forever with a Billionaire
5. Only Love with a Billionaire
6. Only Christmas with the Billionaire
7. Only New Year with the Billionaire

♥

The Hawkins Family Clean Romance Series

•five brothers, torn apart and the women who help put them back together...•

1. Second Chance in Hawk Ridge Hollow

2. Finding Forever in Hawk Ridge Hollow

3. Resort Getaway with a Bodyguard

4. Going Home to Hawk Ridge Hollow

5. Christmas in Hawk Ridge Hollow

♥

The Blue Bay Beach Reads Romance Series

•a small-town restaurant, a dating dare, and happily ever afters...•

1. Summer with the Marine

2. Summer with the Rock Star

3. Summer with the Billionaire

4. Summer with the Cowboy

5. Summer with the Carpenter

6. Summer with the Doctor

♥

Ritchie Ranch Clean Cowboy Romance Series

•Cowboy hats & kisses with small-town charm•

1. Rustling the Cowboy’s Heart

2. Lassoing the Cowboy’s Heart

3. Trusting the Cowboy’s Heart

4. Kissing the Christmas Cowboy

5. Loving the Cowboy’s Heart

6. Charming the Cowboy’s Heart

7. Saving the Cowboy’s Heart

8. Wrangling the Cowboy’s Heart

♥

Falling into Happily Ever After Rom Com

• Sweet, heartwarming & uplifting romantic comedy

1. An Unwanted Love Story

2. An Unexpected Love Story

3. An Unlikely Love Story

4. An Accidental Love Story

5. An Impossible Love Story

6. An Unconventional Christmas Love Story

♥

Forever Marriage Match

• Five friends have to find true love or else...romcom

1. Dare to Love My Grumpy Boss

2. Dare to Love the Guy Next Door

3. Dare to Love My Fake Husband

4. Dare to Love the Guy I Hate

5. Dare to Love My Best Friend

♥

Home Sweet Home Small Town Romantic Comedy Series

Mr. & Mrs. Fix-It Find Love

Designing Happily Ever After

The DIY Kissing Project

The True Romance Renovation

Extreme Heart Makeover

Building What's Meant to Be

♥

The Costa Brothers Cozy Christmas Comfort Romance Series

Tommy & Merry and the 12 Days of Christmas

Bruno & Gloria and the 5 Golden Rings

Luca & Ivy and the 4 Calling Birds

Gio & Joy and the 3 French Hens

Paulo & Noella and the 2 Turtle Doves

Nico & Hope and the Partridge in the Pear Tree

♥

The Love List Series

The Swoon List

The Not Love List

The Crush List

The Kiss List

The Naughty or Nice List

♥

Love, Laughs, and Mystery in Coco Key

The Romance Situation

The Romance Fiasco

The Romance Game

The Romance Gambit

The Christmas Romance Wish

♥

On the Hunt for Love

The Grump and the Girl Next Door

The Bitter Heir and the Beauty

The Secret Son and the Sweetheart

The Ex Best Friend and the Fake Fiancé

The Best Friend’s Brother and the Brain

Select titles are available in audiobook, paperback, hardcover, and large print formats. Happy reading!♥

Reviews

[Koisty · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 If You Wish Stars ⭐️
Spicy Level: 0/5

I wanted to like this but just couldn’t get into it! I do think it might be a bit of a disservice to this book, having just come off an EPIC friends-to-lovers romance. I know I shouldn’t be comparing, but my brain is a crazy person and doesn’t want to listen to logic...

𝙎𝙮𝙣𝙤𝙥𝙨𝙞𝙨:
Harlow has just broken up with her boyfriend, but she’s not that sad about it. She’s also quit her job because her boss is a total “bro” and takes advantage of her. At a work conference, she wins a romantic getaway where she can choose where to go. She asks her best friend, Teddy, to come along, and they choose Maple Falls—where Teddy has been asked to be part of a charity hockey team, as he’s a professional hockey player and ready to come back after healing from an ACL injury. The two start to realise that maybe they think of each other as more than friends, but don’t want to upset their friendship dynamic... or do they?

𝙏𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙁𝙚𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨:
I really, really, really want to find a Friends to Lovers where the characters are actual friends to lovers and not already in love with each other and just afraid to tell each other. I think that the problem with this is that both these characters are already irrevocably in love with each other and they need to try and save their friendship while exploring a "new" relationship. They are both scared to ruin what they have.

What I did like though was that even though Harlow has a little past trauma from an accidental almost drowning and some family issues that make it difficult to deal with certain situations, Teddy is absolutely adorable as he helps her deal with this!

It is very clear that these two are best friends, but it's because they were such good friends that I felt like I didn't like this that much. The whole time they're together they keep sharing these inside jokes that half the time I didn't get, and just ended up feeling like an awkward outside third wheel creepily watching their relationship. They would reference things or talk about things that happened in the past or say things that were funny to the two of them but made no sense to me. But besides this, the chemistry between them felt forced or just had to be believed because they had been friends for so long.

The writing also felt very chaotic, and it was very difficult at times to sometimes keep up with Harlow's sporadic thoughts because she 'squirrelled" in terms of ideas. It was very choppy to keep up with what was happening and at times I felt like the main character acted like a 12-year-old girl who'd never seen a boy before, not someone who was nearly 30 years old.

Something that also kinda weirded me out is this felt like Icebreaker Fan Fiction... The TOWN is called Maple Hills... which is the University where Icebreaker and the rest of the books are set. Also, the Charity Hockey Team is called the "Icebreakers" with the theme song "Ice Ice Baby". I know it might all be coincidental but it was a little fishy

𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨 and 𝙈𝙞𝙘𝙧𝙤 𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨:
▶ Dual POV
▶ Forced Proximity
▶ Friends to Lovers
▶ Hockey Romance
▶ GrumpyXSunshine but she's the grump
▶ Golden Retriever
▶ Nicknames

Ultimately this had all the formaic things that you would see in a "friend to lovers" but it just felt very cliché and there was no real depth and no real connection. I didn't like the fact that it was basically insta-love and I didn't see much development between the two characters taking place.

Thank you to Ellie Hall and Netgalley for the gifted copy.
All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[caffeine reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well……
Ahhhhhhh, how actually cute was this!!

Ted and Harlow are best friend have been since high school over collage and later in life both have had either not had relationships or failed ones that have lasted no longer then weeks.

Harlow is a lawyer and walks out of the family firm, fed up of being treated like dirt.
Teddy is a NFL player and after an injury is desperate to get back on the ice.
Harlow wins a raffle for a Weekend away and tells Ted about it, coincidentally it’s in the same area as a charity hockey game that’s his planning to play to prove to his coach his ready to get back on the ice.

After both dancing around eachother something happens that makes them have no choice but to be brutally honest with eachother but will it ruin their friendship forever.

The chemistry between these two is so there and at some point I just wanted to scream because all you want is them to really see eachother.
Do I recommend this? HELL YES!!

Thanks netgalley and Ellie Hall for the arc in exchange for an honest review!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Tiffany ✨️ Bergamot Book Reviews · Rating 1 out of 5]

9Teddy and Harlow have been best friends since grade school. Only best friends, as they've proven everyone wrong who said such a thing was impossible. Sure, they've had moments of long looks and accidental confessions while under medication, but truly, they're only friends. Then, in a moment of clarity, Harlow quits her job and immediately wins a couples romantic retreat. She decides to take her best friend, of course, and inadvertently blurs the lines between them, while she wonders if they can be both friends and in a relationship.

*******

This was okay, but it was kind of all over the place. Despite the book being novella length, we have career changes, trauma from a life-threatening event, a massive separate career decision, family drama on both sides, a charity hockey game, and a friends wedding to get through. Everything being tossed together meant there were constantly external threads getting in the way and barely any momentum in the love story itself. It felt so incredibly slow and took until 80% of the book before progress actually happens between them, and even then, it's kind of dry.

It felt as though we were supposed to believe that because Teddy and Harlow were best friends, and all of their friends were already married, we should be convinced of their impending love story. Instead, the chemistry was non-existent and overly forced. It was Harlow's viewpoint about how attractive and nice Teddy is, and Teddy's viewpoint constantly lamenting that they're only friends and she's perfect. There was no slow burn or overly interesting developments. Just realising feelings and questioning those feelings over and over again until they finally agreed to those feelings. Then we get a weird proposal and awkward epilogues to wrap everything up.

By the end of the book, I was wondering why such little time was actually spent building up tension and chemistry and instead focusing on external plot points. The author spent a lot of time going into too much over-explanation of obvious terms and throwing similies into everything she could that I wasn't invested in the couple itself. They told us a lot about how they felt, but they didn't really show us, and that made the book a slog to get through. I haven't read any other books in this series, but I'd hope she'd focus more on the characters themselves and making them less two-dimensional than on all of the plot points floating around.

I personally wouldn't read this author again, as the authors voice and writing style did not appeal to me.

*********

Thank you, NetGalley and Ellie Hall - for the digital ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Jordan Mains · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is book #6 in the multi-author hockey romance series, Love On Thin Ice. Each book follows a specific couple and can be read as stand alones, but they are much more enjoyable if you read them all. There is such a great small town vibe with lots of fun characters that we get to see from book to book.

Love At First Skate is Ted (Teddy) and Harlow’s story. They are best friends to lovers and I really enjoyed their connection. They have been friends for so long that they truly know and love each other on a deep level and you can see and feel that in the way they are so comfortable together. All of the little nudges, joking together, loving looks, and the fun they have even in the awkward moments gave such a sweet and swoony feeling.

I will say this one feels the most disconnected from the others. There didn’t seem to be enough interaction with other characters we have been seeing throughout the series, and it had so little hockey that it almost doesn’t seem right to include as a hockey romance. It is a quick read, yet somehow still managed to feel a bit slow. It was a good slow initially because all of their fun friend adventure moments were great, but then it suddenly rushes through and is over. It just didn’t seem to flow well. I wish it would have been a bit longer and given more of their interaction with the other people in Maple Falls and the hockey team that is the focus of the series. It is still a great read, I just don’t feel like it’s quite as well written and connected as the others so I can’t give it the same rating.

All that being said I did still enjoy it and would still recommend it. Especially if you’re reading the series and/or looking for a quick, enjoyable palate cleanser.

Thank you to Xpresso Tours and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

[Courtney Dawn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love at First Skate is the sixth book in the Love on Thin Ice series, a multi-author collection centered around the same charity hockey team and timeline. These books can be enjoyed as standalones or in any order, but fans of interconnected stories will love how they build on shared events and characters.

If you enjoy friends-to-lovers romances, this one may appeal to you, but I had mixed feelings about the dynamic. While Teddy and Harlow’s friendship is undeniably sweet and genuine—complete with inside jokes and shared history—I found myself struggling to fully connect with them. Their deep bond as best friends often left me feeling like an outsider looking in, as many of their references and humor were specific to their past, making it hard to feel fully included in their story. Additionally, the chemistry between them felt more implied than shown, leaning on their long-standing friendship rather than building organically on the page.

Harlow’s character had moments of charm, particularly in her vulnerable moments dealing with past trauma and family issues. Teddy’s support and sweetness during these times were heartwarming, and I appreciated his role in helping her overcome her fears. However, Harlow’s internal monologues often felt chaotic and overly juvenile, making it difficult to relate to her as a nearly 30-year-old protagonist.

While the concept of the story was engaging, the execution felt disjointed at times, with choppy writing and sporadic shifts in focus. Overall, this was a cute premise with moments of sweetness, but the delivery didn’t quite hit the mark for me. Fans of the series might enjoy it for the connections and familiar faces, but it left me wishing for more depth and a stronger emotional connection between the characters.

Love at First Skate is a closed-door romance with kisses only and no language.

[Kristen Lewendon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sigh! So sweet. So cute. So very much fun. I loved this pair; together, individually, just all around. Harlow and Teddy are great characters and they’re going through so much, facing questions about their careers, families, even life itself. And in the middle of all that, they’re also facing the question of whether or not it’s worth risking their lifelong friendship to turn it into a romantic relationship. There was a lot going on in this book, and some of it didn’t feel fully integrated into the main story. However, the care and concern that radiated between these two made me believe that no matter what they faced, they would do it together and be one hundred percent successful.
I received a complimentary advance copy of this book through Booksprout.

[Darla · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨ 𝔹𝕠𝕠𝕜 ℝ𝕖𝕧𝕚𝕖𝕨 ✨

Love At First Skate
Ellie Hall

Happy Pub Day Ellie! Thank you so much for the #gifted eARC!

This was another super cute addition to the Love on Thin Ice Series. I’m loving Maple Falls and will be sad when this series is over!

Ted is the grumpiest of all grumps. His best friend Harlow just recently upended her life by quitting her job. So a trip was in order to catch up after such a long time apart.

This is a perfect friends to lovers. One where they are both attracted but the other wasn’t aware. I also really enjoyed the importance on friendships and how Harlow always had someone to turn to to talk through her feelings!

Read if you like:
🏒Friends to Lovers
🏒Forced Proximity
🏒He falls first
🏒Hockey Romance
🏒Small Town

[Tiffany W · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is another book in the Love on Thin Ice series, and yes, I’m still trying to figure out how I can move to Maple Falls!

Ted and Harlow have been best friends since high school. Now, Harlow is a lawyer, and Teddy is a superstar hockey player. After Harlow’s boyfriend breaks up with her using a knock-knock joke via text (she handled it way better than I would have!), she ends up winning a raffle for a romantic getaway. When she calls Teddy, he suggests they go together since he already has to be in Maple Falls.

It was fun to see them secretly crushing on each other. Their chemistry was so strong, I don’t know how they didn’t figure out their feelings sooner! I loved how they handled it once they did, and how much they valued their friendship—they didn’t want to lose that connection.

[Tanvi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a sweet, romantic HEA with good writing and great characters.

I liked how Ellie portrayed the characters, who have gone through a lot together and realised their feelings for each other but most importantly they support each other.

Some parts and feelings did feel a little forced to me, but overall this was a great read.

I received an advance copy of the book and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Abby Huffer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adored this one! Loved Harlow & Teddy’s best friends to more🧡. They were adorable together. I loved how it was only her who could call him ‘Teddy’. These have been so much fun and I love all the previous characters popping up!

[Laramee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn't get enough of this best friends to lovers romance! ALL.THE.PINING in this one!

I received an ARC from the author and all opinions 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:
Forced proximity, grumpy/sunshine, best friends to lovers.

My Thoughts:
This is the one I clicked with the least. There’s plenty to like about it, but it just didn’t do it for me like the other books. I had a difficult time connecting with grumpy Harlow. We get a little bit of her backstory. But some of the hints are give us unfulfilled curiosity. Likewise with Ted…why is he the way he is?

Their friendship is cute. Ted has been there for Harlow since elementary school, despite distance and time. He is the one who rescued her from an ice-skating accident when they were young, and he’s the one trying to help her get through her lasting trauma from the incident. And he’s the one who acknowledges deeper feelings first. There’s no third-act breakup, merely the ebb and flow of their ability to wrap their minds around taking their long-lasting friendship to a romantic relationship, with all of the risks inherent there.

There are some things, however, that do bother me. Things like the couples massage scene. Who wears a bathing suit for a massage? Has the author ever had a massage? On orders from my orthopedist, I do, and believe me, that’s not how my massage therapist works.

There’s also a scene right after Ted and Harlow are in a hot tub. They haven’t changed yet; Harlow is in a bikini and a towel. And then Ted says, “she stuffs her hands in her pockets.” That’s some bikini!

There are a few mentions that Harlow is in roller derby, but nothing really comes of it.

After a goal, Ted says, “we get the points”. No. One goal=one point.

This, more than the rest, really messes with my sense of time. The first of the two games mentioned says the Ice Breakers won. There’s plenty to indicate that this is the first game they played, but [spoiler] the Ice Breakers lost their first game. The other game described, the final one in the series, is accurately described.

[Jane litherland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gotta love Ted ‘the Bear’ Powell. He plays for the Nebraska Knights and his best friend? Well she’s a bit of alright. Her job is quite boring and if it weren’t for thinking about Teddy …well she’d be snoring. Harlow Lemieux you see working at Preston & Lemieux Legal Logistics, founded by her late father and his best friend Cheever Preston is not all it’s cracked up to be despite her father’s legacy. Not only does her creep of an ex break up with her by knock joke text. The creep of a a boss Penn Preston comes onto her ..Babe? Bounce?... “Knock knock.” “Who’s there?” “I quit.” …Outta here gone. Then to top the night off ….“Our romantic getaway for two raffle winner is Harlow Lemieux. Congratulations!” …How ironic. Life really is like the box of chocolates she’s just been given . Not much to show for a job her mother forced her to striven…Where’s her mate Teddy cos ironically she’s just won a romantic weekend break for two. “Hey, Shorty.” “Hey, Hot Shot.” “You sound miserable.” “In an ironic twist, I won the raffle at the conference for a romantic getaway trip for two.” “I take it Chad-Phoenix won’t be joining you.”
“Not unless he teleports with a quasi-spectrum-radial tractor beam.” Cozy cabin in Maple Falls , Washington it is …. “No way. Small world. I was invited to play on a charity team while Coach Badaszek has me on hold. I couldn’t decide whether I wanted to commit, but this is a sign. Let’s do it. You, me, and Maple Falls.” “Yeah?” ….So with Jill to house sit and care for Leo the Leopard Gecko it’s time to go. Off on an adventure with her mate. She can’t wait! Well looks like they have arrived when they reach a sign that reads ..Maple Falls, You’ll Never Want to Leave. “You must be Mr. and Mrs. Lemieux. I’m Kay Cagle and you’ve arrived at Cagle’s Heart Haven Cabin.” Yup they’ve arrived alright and end up in a cabin full of hearts …the two of them go in…This couldn’t be any better , cos Harlow is dreaming of kissing Teddy when they go to bed ,what she doesn’t know is he’d let her…enough said. …for now. They go to a Spa but it looks absurd …“Should we have a safe word?” Well the ‘Hot Shot’ and his ‘Shorty’ are otterly smitten with each otter. It’s plain to see , now what ya gonna do ,where you gonna go Harlow Lemieux .The Law firm is a firm no…. Here’s your chance , your own goals … your dance “You tell me, Hurricane Harlow. Sereni-Tea? I’ve also always liked Milk & Honey.” Maybe Teddy is good for me she thinks…did he just? …“Did you just rename my tea company?” Is it off in the sunset ? Well that’d be a safe bet. But these two ? They’re best of friends and their goals? That’s easy as the nose on their face for everyone else with a brain . As long as there’s Teddy and his Harlow , everything else is a N-ice refrain… Well that’s a wrap or should I say burrito as they love their Mexican food especially the churros….mmm yummy and ooh look at the end , there’s also a recipe …Muffin left out in this great book . You can depend on Ellie.. There’s love and friendship . Hockey ,the good book , there’s a leap of faith that two friends took. Just two nutters who’ve been friends from childhood who turned into two otters who are otterly in love . It’s while in Maple Falls the good things happen. That must be it where the real magic is because whoever pays a visit , falls. Brilliant writing , as ever by Ellie Hall . This awesome book has it all. It’s inspired , it really is . Everything she writes is PERFECTLY BLISS . Awesome storytelling I was enraptured and my heart captured. Otter Mascot✔️ Life Goals ✔️Maple Falls✔️ Love and Friendship ✔️ IceHockey✔️ Team ✔️ Heart✔️

[Faith | The Wholesome Shelf]

Teddy and Harlow, lifelong best friends who've always defied the notion that men and women can't be platonic, find their bond tested when a romantic cabin getaway, coupled with a hockey event, traps them in close quarters; a single, unexpected kiss ignites a spark, forcing them to confront the potential of a deeper connection, risking their cherished friendship for a chance at love, in this dual-POV story filled with warmth, tension, and the blossoming of romance.

✨ Highlights:

🔸 Friends-to-Lovers Chemistry. This story captures the perfect slow burn of realizing that your person—the one who’s always been there—is actually the one. Teddy and Harlow’s natural banter, easy rhythm, and emotional intimacy make their transition from friends to lovers feel authentic and deeply satisfying.

🔸 Teddy’s POV is Gold. Teddy’s inner monologue is hilarious, tender, and incredibly swoony. Seeing him quietly pine while trying to protect the friendship adds such emotional depth and charm. His admiration for Harlow is palpable and heart-melting.

🔸 Harlow’s Growth and Vulnerability. Fresh from a breakup and job transition, Harlow’s journey feels refreshingly real. Her inner tension—wanting more while fearing the fallout—is deeply relatable, and her voice adds heart and humor to every page.

🔸 No Third Act Breakup (YES!). One of the best things about this book is that it skips the cliché breakup-for-drama trope. Instead, it leans into honest communication and emotional maturity. The conflict is real, but it’s handled with care and connection.

🔸 Sweet and Swoony, Not Spicy. The chemistry between Teddy and Harlow is magnetic—charged with tension and longing—without needing spice to make it electric. It’s closed-door, but high-emotion and rich in affection.

🔸 Fall Vibes + Cozy Cabin + Hockey Charm. There’s something magical about a romantic cabin, a snowstorm, and simmering feelings. Add in some hockey warmth and small-town comfort, and this book becomes the ultimate cozy romance escape.

Final Thoughts:
Love at First Skate is a heartwarming best-friends-to-lovers romance filled with tender moments, sparkling chemistry, and just the right touch of humor and hope. It’s a feel-good story that reminds us sometimes love is hiding in plain sight—all it takes is a little snow, a little bravery, and one unforgettable kiss to bring it to the surface. This is a 3.5 ⭐️ for me.

💕 The Swoon Scale 💕

(This is how I rate my books. For more information, see my pinned post.)

💍 Swoon-Worthy Sparks ✨ (4/5)

💬 The Dialogue 🎭 (3.8/5)

🦋 Butterfly Effect 🥺 (3.5/5)

📖 Re-Readability 🔁 (3.5/5)

[Sierra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reader’s Notes:

– this is part of a series, but can be read as a stand-alone

– this is told from Harlow & Teddy’s points of view

– it is mentioned that a character is dealing with their fear of water which they have due to an ice breaking incident in their past

Review:

I loved getting to blast through this quick romcom! I loved how close Harlow & Teddy were as friends and that anyone who saw them together assumed they were in a dating relationship. I loved that Teddy fell hard for Harlow and loved getting the chance to see if she felt the same. I loved that Harlow treasured her friendship with Teddy and was worried about what would happen if they took their relationship in the dating direction. I also loved all the cozy & autumnal scenes they shared together!

Summary:

Harlow finally said enough is enough with the things dragging her down in life and when she wins a weekend getaway for two, Harlow knows just who she’ll bring. Her best friend Teddy is the perfect person to share her trip with between how long they’ve known each other and the fact that he’ll know just what to say to get her through this change. Only they forgot that the getaway was meant for a couple, not a couple of friends. With sharing a small space and a freak storm, Harlow feels herself catching feelings for her best friend. And she needs to do whatever she can to deny them so she doesn’t lose the one friendship most important to her…

Teddy is in the middle of deciding where his future lies when his best friend Harlow invites him to join her for a weekend getaway. It’s been too long since Teddy’s seen Harlow last and the location of the cabin is in the same town as the charity hockey team he’d been invited to join making the decision to go a double win! As they spend time together doing coupley things and sharing a small space, Teddy realizes that he fell for Harlow and doesn’t want to let this chance to let her know pass him by. Because if they fall for each other? Then they’d stay best friends forever and make their friendship all the better…

[Araya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Arc Review
Overall Rating: 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Cover Rating: 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Tropes:
- Friends To Lovers
- He Falls First
- Covert Pining (Of The Best Kind)
- Forced Proximity
- Hockey Romance
- 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 sixth book of the ‘Love on Thin Ice’ series is ‘Love at First Skate’ written by. Ellie Hall.

Ted and Harlow have been best friends since high school moving into college and then into their everyday lives. Ted is an NHL hockey player who has been benched due to an injury and is desperate to get back on the ice. Harlow is a lawyer who has just quit her job because she’s tired of being treated poorly and she never really liked the job but family pressure made her stay as-long as she did, but just as Harlow is walking out of this conference room after quitting she hears her named being called apparently she’s won a weekend getaway in a raffle when she gets home she calls Ted to tell him all about it. Coincidentally it’s in the same area as a charity hockey game that Ted is playing in to prove to his coaches he’s ready to be put back on the ice. They take it as a sign to go and they go together. Will this getaway change the whole dynamic of their friendship? Read ‘Love at First Skate’ now to find out.

This is my sixth book of the series I can’t believe theirs only one more to go after this.
I have to say that the chemistry between Ted and Harlow is unmatched you can just tell that they’ve been best friends for so long and I love how the author included them having their own inside jokes it made it way more realistic. I love how Ted was only a big old Teddy Bear for Harlow just one big softie for her to every one else he was Ted the Bear not to be messed with just obsessed with that.

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

[Kelli M. Stowers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ellie Hall’s newest book is so good! I love the friends to lovers trope so seeing it done so well made this book one of my favorites in the series.

Ted “The Bear” Powell is a pro hockey player, benched with an injury from his regular team, but cleared to play in the Ice Breakers charity tournament. Harlow Lemieux is a grumpy attorney who would rather be doing anything than working at her late father’s law firm with her creepy boss. When she wins a romantic getaway for 2 to Maple Falls, Washington, she enlists her best friend Teddy (only SHE can call him that) to join her. Since he has to be there for the tournament and she is newly single, it’s a win/win. They can hang out and have fun without any pressure. That is until an early snowstorm has them holed up in the cabin alone and with nothing to do except maybe realize how they actually feel about each other. *cue the swoony kisses*

I loved watching “The Bear” turn into a teddy bear for Harlow. He is the sunshine to her grumpy. The sweet to her spice. Harlow has some big demons to overcome and Teddy is there every step of the way, waiting for her to figure it all out while providing all the love and support (and a few nudges here and there) to help her heal. Teddy also has big decisions to make and Harlow makes sure her best friend has all that love and support right back. Their friendship truly takes priority in everything they do and that friendship is what makes it so clear that they are meant to be. They know each other, they have each other's backs, and they love each other way before they’re IN LOVE with each other.

This friends to lovers, forced proximity, hockey romance is definitely going on the shelf to be read over and over. This is the 6th installment of the multi-author series Love on Thin Ice.

[Hilma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love at First Skate by Ellie Hall is the story of Harlow and Ted/Teddy. They have been friends for ages and can always depend on the other. When Harlow wins a romantic weekend getaway and hockey player Ted will star in a charity hockey tournament in the same place, it seems like fate. But neither one will challenge their friendship, even if they have feelings for each other.

As the other books in this Love on Thin Ice series, the writing style is flowing. I immediately was immersed in the story and had a hard time putting the book down. The dual POV made that I kept reading, because I wanted to know what Ted and Harlow were thinking. They both enjoy their friendship and I loved how Ted wanted to make Harlow happy and overcome her fear, because of something that happened when they were young. Ted and Harlow are just meant for each other and when things heat up a bit, Harlow is not sure how to deal with that. It says a lot that Teddy gave her room to think things over, even though he wanted more that friendship.

Ellie Hall did a wonderful job describing the scenery and I really would love to go to Maple Falls if it was a real village. And it is a job well done (this goes for all the authors in this series) to write a series where all books are interconnected while at the same time there is a whole new story. I love how in each book we see other characters from the earlier books.

From the very first book I am a big fan of this series. One more book to go.

If you want to read a sweet hockey romance, with lovely characters you come to care about, a good plot and story-line, in a lovely setting, go read this book and the other books in the Love on Thin Ice series. I promise you, you’ll come to love this series as much as I do.

[Lindsey Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/ 🌶️

I adore friends to lovers romances. There is something so sweet and heartwarming about two people who already have a great relationship crossing over to more. I also truly believe that your person should be your best friend. Sometimes though the path of platonic love to romantic love can be tricky and you don’t want to ruin the friendship. Ellie gives us a cute, sweet romance that tiptoes the line between friends and more.

Harlow and Ted have been best friends since high school. Those who know them, can see something bigger is between them. And as neither have had any long term relationships, it just strengthens said opinions.

Harlow is a strong, intelligent woman who has had enough of the treatment she reserves at the family lawyer firm. She is delighted to find out she has won a raffle for a weekend away and, serendipitously, it ends up being the same town that Ted is playing in a charity hockey series of games. Teddy (as only Harlow is allowed to call him) is resilient, goal oriented, and a hard worker. Ted hasn’t been able to play, due to an injury, and this charity series is just what he needs to show his coach he is ready to play again.

It was fun to read them crushing on each other, yet they don’t know how the other feels. The dual POV allows us to see how they are each handling their growing feelings and it becoming harder to keep those feelings hidden. When circumstance forces them to have very real conversation, they share some hard truths. Now they have to decide if crossing that line is a risk they want to take.

As always, review any author notes before reading.

Tropes:
🏒Small Town Romance
🍁Hockey Romance
🏒Friends to Lovers
🍁He Falls First
🏒Forced Proximity
🍁Covert/Mutual Pining

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a fun story and I loved that it picked up on the hockey theme from some others books about the Nebraska Knights, this author has written. It is actually part of a multi-author series Love on Thin Ice. This book takes place in a small town called Maple Falls which is holding a charity Hockey game. It works fine as a stand alone story.

The main characters Harlow Lemieuz and Ted "The Bear" Powell have been friends for a long time. He is recuperating from a torn ACL so his coach on the Knights is having him sit out the season.
Since he wants to prove to himself that he is healed, he offered to play for the charity Hockey game in Maple Falls.

Harlow's life is full of stress as she's doing a job as a lawyer, only because she believes it was her father's desire for her after his death. She would rather be enjoying the roller derby and Sereni-Tea instead of sitting in a boring conference. When her boyfriend breaks up with her with a knock knock joke and then her boss Penn Preston comes on to her, she's had enough and so she quits her job. Then she found out she won a romantic getaway for two at the conference and who else could she asks but her best friend Teddy to go with her.

I really enjoyed the deep friendship between Harlow and Teddy. He knew how to comfort her and help her confront her fears. She knew all of his secrets and could be herself around him. The intimacy of the small cabin decorated with hearts has them both wondering if they could possibly have more feeling for each other than friendship. They are both concerned that if they decide to step over that line they may destroy and lose their close friendship.

I love the humor in this story and look forward to what's coming next.

I received a copy of this book from the author and this is my honest unbiased review.

[Jo|Ruth Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a sweet, sweet story. I read it all in one night! If you want a cozy friends to lovers story, this is it!

Harlow has just ended yet another relationship, quit her job, and now has won a romantic trip to the mountains. Teddy, her best friend is recovering from an injury and still deciding on his next career move. They both decide that as besties they'll take the trip together. But what they don't count on is the feelings they've always had for each other finally coming to the surface. And try as they might to push those feelings away they aren't successful. The love is there, they both feel it, and even admit it. But they both also admit they would never want to jeopardize their friendship... so they are at a crossroads. Can they go back to "Just Friends" will that ever be enough now that they know how the other feels?

I feel like these two quotes sum up this story well...

“I know you well, and there are things that you’re not saying, but if you were to ask, the answer is no. There is no one else. There never will be. You’re it for me and if that means being just friends, I can live with that. But I cannot live without you.” - Teddy

"There’s something more frightening than the water. It’s losing my best friend when things don’t work out. Of losing myself in a relationship. But I want him, want us. I know the logical, inevitable outcome. But my body and my heart are at odds, the latter betrays me with longing." -Harlow

What will Harlow and Teddy decide? Stay friends or take the risk and try for something more?!

[Traci · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Harlow isn’t one of those giggly girls so when I get a laugh out of her, it’s like winning a championship game.
They say yawns are contagious. While that might be true, her laugh is contagious. Wildfire. Rare. I love to make her laugh. Live to hear it.
Our gazes meet through the glass, reminding me of something I’ve tried hard to ignore. To forget. To deny.
There’s been somewhat a recent development.
I’m down bad. Solid Crush. She lives rent-free in my mind. I’ve caught feelings for my best friend.
Ones I have to lock down if we’re going to make it through this weekend.”

Love at First Skate by Ellie Hall is a fabulous book! It is part of the Love on Thin Ice Series, and I have been looking forward to it – as the other authors have hinted at this couple really well in the other books and I have been dying to see how it turns out!
Harlow and Teddy are best friends. They have known each other almost their entire lives, but have been firmly and deeply embedded in the friend zone. However, it is finally time for them to realize how much they both mean to each other and cue the HEA they both want!
Things I love:
Forced Proximity (hello dream cabin vacation!)
Grumpy FMC (Harlow is awesome!!)
Cinnamon roll MMC (seriously, Teddy is swoon worthy in every way)
Eavesdropping
Squishes/Crushes
First Kiss!
Facing Fears
Princess Bride references

I highly recommend this book and this series! Thank you to the author for the complimentary copy. All thoughts expressed are my own.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had high hopes for Love at First Skate, and while it was cute, the story ultimately fell flat for me. Harlow and Teddy have been friends since grade school, even attending college together, but they have been living in different places for the past few years. Harlow works as a lawyer for her recently deceased father, even though being a lawyer isn't her true passion. Teddy is a professional hockey player trying to make a comeback after a knee injury. Harlow wins a romantic getaway for two, which coincidentally takes place in the same location where Teddy will be playing for a charity hockey team.

There were so many elements in this story that it almost felt unbelievable. For instance, how could Harlow win a romantic getaway to a small town in Washington while living in Oklahoma, at the same time her best friend is joining a charity hockey team there? It seemed a bit far-fetched. Additionally, the hockey aspects of the book didn’t make much sense, and it felt like the author had looked up every hockey-related term to include in the story without having a genuine understanding of the game.

I did enjoy the sweet moments between Harlow and Teddy, but these moments were few and often overshadowed by external circumstances. Overall, I liked the story, but I wished it had been more developed and less rushed. I would like to read the other stories in the Love on Thin Ice series, as Maple Falls seems like such a charming small town.

[Brandi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love at First Skate is all about Teddy and Harlow and I loved it!! Being best friends for life has given them a comfort level that few have been able to achieve. These two humans love each other and truly each other’s biggest fan. They have witnessed and supported all of each other’s ups and downs. Watching them spend a “romantic weekend getaway” while trying not to acknowledge a shift in their feelings was nothing short of fun filled romance that deposited major happy vibes in my heart. Through in the coziness of fall and an unexpected snowstorm and you are guaranteed to be full of warm fuzzies. Teddy, aka “The Bear” has a soft spot reserved only for Harlow and the things he does to express it are so sweet and thoughtful. I enjoyed the full ride these two encounter and cheered them on from page one. If you have been following the Ice Breakers in Maple Falls, you will enjoy seeing some of the other characters. If this is the first (but hopefully not only) book you have read in the series, that is totally fine too. There are no spoilers and any backstory you might need is shared with just enough detail to support the scene. Have fun in Maple Falls and enjoy the beauty and special spark of the fall in a small town with an amazing hockey team.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley and all opinions expressed are solely my own, freely given.

[Holly Dimitrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

So this book is part of a series and I didn't realize that when I went into reading it and it was no big deal. Def a book of a series (Love on Thin Ice #6) that can be read as a stand-alone book.
This book was very well written, had great characters and an interesting plot. I really like this book a lot and now might need to go back and read the rest of the books in the series. I love that but hate it at the same time bc my tbr list is already sooooo long. lol
I love the part of the blurb for this book that says 'They say love is messy. Turns out friendship is too' because yes it is especially when you are in love with your best friend but also don't want to ruin the relationship bc you can't lose them.
So let's start with the main characters; Harlow and Teddy. They are so adorable and have such an amazing relationship that are best friends but kinda border-lines a bit more and they are having a hard time knowing where that line is. Which can definitely happen in a very strong relationship. But they do both have a lot going on in their lives and also a lot going on in their heads which makes things harder. So many emotions, feelings and decisions to deal with.
This was a fun book to read and it's a quick read. if you like the friends-to-lovers theme then I think you should give this book a chance and read it.

[One More Chapter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love at First Skate offers a cozy, small-town setting that many readers will appreciate, but ultimately falls short in delivering the emotional depth expected from a friends-to-lovers romance. While the premise of the story is charming, it’s bogged down by an overemphasis on the characters’ backstories, which often takes up more space than the present-day romance itself.

The chemistry between the two main characters feels somewhat lacking, especially when compared to other books with this trope. There are moments that should sparkle with tension and affection, but they feel underdeveloped, making it hard to root for the couple. The back-and-forth dynamic between them, which could have built anticipation, instead becomes frustrating and repetitive.

Character depth is another area where Love at First Skate stumbles. I found it difficult to connect with the leads, and they didn’t stand out as individuals with distinct personalities. Despite the charming small-town atmosphere, which provided a nice backdrop, the characters themselves lacked the depth that would make their love story truly compelling.

Overall, while there are some cozy elements to enjoy, Love at First Skate doesn't quite hit the mark for readers looking for a deeper connection with the characters or a more compelling friends-to-lovers romance.


thank you Netgalley for the ARC!!

[MaryBeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ellie Hall gave us a fun, friends to lovers, small town, hocky romance. How could it go wrong? Ellie is always so good at developing the emotional connection between the characters and she give her readers the fun banter that leaves us smiling and wanting more. This is a sweet romance and while I read spicy romance, too, I never feel like Ellie's books are lacking because they don't have the spice. She is a great story teller and her characters draw me in ever time. I find myself routing for them and this book was no different.

Teddy and Harlow have been best friends forever, but recently they each have begun looking at the other differently and wondering if there could be something else between them. At the same time, each of them is worried about losing their best friend. Teddy is "The Bear: on the ice, but with Harlow, he is a giant squishy teddy bear and I absolutely LOVED him. The interactions between them are sweet and leave you routing for them as a couple.

This is a fun, easy to read rom-com told in dual POV with a cinnamon roll hockey player and a quirky, roller blading lawyer. This book will draw you in and make you want to finish it in one sitting. It's a perfect, fun fall read.

Friends to lovers.
Small town.
HOCKEY!
Forced proximity.
Genuine FUN!

I highly recommend this book!

[Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love this series, each book brings a new dimension to the whole series, yet incorporates bits from previous books. In this book we get to know Harlow and Teddy better. Harlow is a top class lawyer, roller derby player and tea maker. Yet as far as relationships go they never last long 7 hours, 7 days, 7 weeks or 7 months maximum. She knows relationships are a no no for her, there has only been one friendship that's lasted and she would never do anything to ruin it, and that's Teddy. But as another relationship fails she finally admits she hates her life and even quits her job. Teddy has agreed to play in the charity team in Maple Falls, he hopes to prove his knee injury is repaired and get back to playing hockey again. When he finds Harlow can spend the weekend with him it's an added bonus. Can he finally convince her there's more than friendship or will he lose his friend and his career in one fail swoop. This is a brilliant story that highlights what true friendship is about and how sometimes risking everything is the only way to find the one thing you truly want. I can't recommend this series enough, each author adds brilliantly to the story and characters we grew to love with each book. ❤️📖🏒🍁☕️📚❤️

[Randi Sampson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love at First Skate is the sixth book in the Love on Thin Ice series. This is a multi-author series that all feature the same charity hockey team and follow the same basic timeline. They can be read in any order or as standalones.

If you love a good friends-to-love story, you absolutely won't want to miss this one. Teddy and Harlow drew me in with their sweet friendship right away. It's always fun when you have a FMC who brings out a side to the MMC that most don't get to see as much! Though it's a shorter novel, there is a whole lot packed into those pages. Harlow has just been dumped and Teddy is recovering from an injury that had sidelined him from his NHL team. When she wins a getaway to the same town where he was offered a position on a charity hockey team, it seems like the perfect excuse for the two to meet up in Maple Falls for some friendship time... but there's nothing like a little forced proximity for feelings to start to show! It was definitely a slower burn, but the payoff was so worth the wait. They had a sweet chemistry between them that I couldn't help but enjoy. I've enjoyed every book in this series (so far) and my appreciation for the series as a whole has grown with each book. I love that because they are all following the same basic timeline, with each book we're getting more glimpses of the characters/events through different perspective, making me love them all that much more!

Love at First Skate is a closed-door romance with kisses only and no language.

**ARC received for consideration. All opinions are my own.

[Tammy Lunsford - Escape to Books By Tammy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Men and women cannot be just friends, or at least that's what Teddy's friends and teammates keep telling him. Teddy and Harlow have proudly proved everyone wrong, or have they? There's this thing called a secret crush, or feelings you do not want to admit for fear of ruining a lifelong friendship. Now they are stuck together in a cozy little love shack with a heart shaped hot tub and very little square footage. Whoops... things are about to get dicey.

This friends to lovers romance was a delight to red. Teddy and Harlow had a very special friendship. They know almost everything about each other, or so they think. The chemistry between the two of them was evident to everyone else. There were some really funny scenes, and some serious ones, especially when Teddy was trying to help Harlow with a phobia left from childhood. It was so precious. Be still my heart. If you are looking for a long, drawn out romance, this one is not for you. However, if you just need a break from reality and want to laugh and smile, this one is perfect for you. I enjoyed it to its fullest. Maple Falls is quickly becoming my favorite little fictional town.

Thank you to the author for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.