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When a star hockey player needs saving off the ice, he hires a tutor who challenges everything he thought he wanted.
Being the star player on the Walker Wolves has always been Clayton James's dream. But when his grades slip, everything he’s worked for is on the line. Desperate to save his hockey career, he hires a tutor. That’s when he meets her—Grace Myers. She’s quiet, innocent, the kind of girl he never thought he’d be interested in. She’s supposed to help him with school, but he’s starting to feel like she’s teaching him so much more.
For years, Grace has been in love with her best friend, Kellan Cooper, even if he’ll never feel the same. She’s accepted that friendship is all he can offer—until Clayton turns her world upside down. He’s loud, cocky, and everything she thought she couldn’t stand. So why can’t she stop thinking about him? And why does the way he looks at her make her feel like she’s the one out of her league?
When opposites collide, will they find their happily ever after—or are their hearts destined to ice over for good?
For fans of the Off-Campus series by Elle Kennedy and the Wildcat Hockey series by Rebecca Jenshak, Iced is a heartwarming tale of unexpected love, second chances, and the challenges of balancing passion and ambition. Don’t miss out on this sizzling hockey romance—grab your copy today and discover if opposites really do attract.
Being the star player on the Walker Wolves has always been Clayton James's dream. But when his grades slip, everything he’s worked for is on the line. Desperate to save his hockey career, he hires a tutor. That’s when he meets her—Grace Myers. She’s quiet, innocent, the kind of girl he never thought he’d be interested in. She’s supposed to help him with school, but he’s starting to feel like she’s teaching him so much more.
For years, Grace has been in love with her best friend, Kellan Cooper, even if he’ll never feel the same. She’s accepted that friendship is all he can offer—until Clayton turns her world upside down. He’s loud, cocky, and everything she thought she couldn’t stand. So why can’t she stop thinking about him? And why does the way he looks at her make her feel like she’s the one out of her league?
When opposites collide, will they find their happily ever after—or are their hearts destined to ice over for good?
For fans of the Off-Campus series by Elle Kennedy and the Wildcat Hockey series by Rebecca Jenshak, Iced is a heartwarming tale of unexpected love, second chances, and the challenges of balancing passion and ambition. Don’t miss out on this sizzling hockey romance—grab your copy today and discover if opposites really do attract.
348 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 31, 2024
362 people are currently reading
1179 people want to read
About the author
Cala Riley
60 books752 followersCala Riley, better known as Cala and Riley, are a pair of friends with a deep seated love of books and writing. Both Cala and Riley are happily married and each have children, Cala with the four-legged kind while Riley has a mixture of both two-legged and four. While they live apart, that does not affect their connection. They are the true definition of family. What started as an idea that quickly turned into a full-length book and a bond that will never end.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 410 reviews
December 24, 2025
4💫
omg!! so much fun!!
i love hockey romances and this was giving such “off-campus” vibes i was obsessed. i had so much fun reading this and it was super fast paced!! read this in a day🤭
i adored our two main characters- grace and clay. grace was so innocent and wholesome at the beginning of the book, and i loved seeing how much she grew into a strong and confident woman by the end of the book. clay was the campus “badboy” but had such a sweet persona that nobody knew about him that i appreciated. clay was such a good guy to grace and was such a king. he treated her with so much respect and helped her grow into the amazing person that she was by the end of the book.
the found family in this book was also one of my favorite parts🥹🥹
if you are looking for a new college hockey romance series to obsess over, this is it!!!!
thank you to hambright pr and cala riley for the arc!!!
☁️☁️☁️☁️☁️☁️☁️
pre read!!
always looking for another hockey romance series to obsess over!!!⛸️🤍🤭
thank you to hambright pr and cala riley for the arc!!!
omg!! so much fun!!
i love hockey romances and this was giving such “off-campus” vibes i was obsessed. i had so much fun reading this and it was super fast paced!! read this in a day🤭
i adored our two main characters- grace and clay. grace was so innocent and wholesome at the beginning of the book, and i loved seeing how much she grew into a strong and confident woman by the end of the book. clay was the campus “badboy” but had such a sweet persona that nobody knew about him that i appreciated. clay was such a good guy to grace and was such a king. he treated her with so much respect and helped her grow into the amazing person that she was by the end of the book.
the found family in this book was also one of my favorite parts🥹🥹
if you are looking for a new college hockey romance series to obsess over, this is it!!!!
thank you to hambright pr and cala riley for the arc!!!
☁️☁️☁️☁️☁️☁️☁️
pre read!!
always looking for another hockey romance series to obsess over!!!⛸️🤍🤭
thank you to hambright pr and cala riley for the arc!!!
June 19, 2025
Spur of the moment Buddy Read with Olga and Chris. Lol, I have never ever never laughed so much while reading a romance book. And not because the story was humorous in any way. 🥴
🏒 Hero - Clayton, tall 6’1” captain of the university hockey team. Blurb refers to him as ‘loud, arrogant and a player.’ 😵💫 Lies, all of them. He was none of those! He was ultra focused on achieving a pro-hockey career so his only focus during high school and college had been to study and practice hockey. That left him with no social life, somewhat a loner and definitely a virgin. He didn’t want a relationship to take his focus away from reaching his goal of playing in the big leagues.
🏒 Heroine - Grace, introverted, tiny 5 foot, went thru high school secretly in love with Kellen (but he wanted to keep it platonic), but now that they are in their first year of college, she opens her eyes to how Kellen constantly disrespects her and their friendship dynamic changes.
🏒 heroine’s ex-best friend - Kellen, freshman joining the university hockey team. As soon as he sees Grace and Clayton becoming friends, he gets jealous and decides he is ready to be her boyfriend after all. He is added and kept in the story for constant jealousy drama (on his part).
😂 0-30% - the cringiest, cheesiest, most unrealistic dialogue I have ever read, especially while I’m trying to pretend a 20 yr. old sports jock is to be uttering this mumbo jumbo! As Chris mentioned, the dialogue read like this 20 yr old hero was a 45-yr old woman. I laughed the whole way thru this section, especially when Chris was blowing up my phone with “WTH is this dialogue?! This dialogue is not IT!” Seriously, all conversation btwn Clayton to Kellen is ridiculous, guys just do not talk like that!
😍 30-60% - the best part of the book. The cringe dialogue died down a bit, and we got to meet Clayton’s mother and sister, Clayton’s teammates/roommates, Grace’s roommate Peyton… and the interactions btwn all of them were sweet. No vulgar shenanigans like most hockey romances seem to include. They go to the fair, the arcade, he teaches her how to ice skate, she gets sick and Clay and his roommates all take care of her while she’s sick 🤒… and he gives her a shower, brushes and braids her hair for her 😍.
35% - “Before you, I only ever hugged my mom or sister. I don’t know why, but hugging you is like hugging sunshine. It makes me feel lighter.”
🤢 60-100% - the slow burn started nicely. Both MCs were virgins, so it was actually fun to see them enjoying this idea of taking the next big step in their life. Until…
🤮First crash and burn = them grinding and dancing. That scene left out all feelings, it was rushed thru and could have been soooo much better. I actually thought I had skipped a paragraph or two, it was incomplete to me. Same with the intimate scene immediately following. I was thinking, maybe this is how YA books do it, rushed thru kinda leaving the door propped open…
🤮Second crash and burn = his tongue went where no tongue should go. Door was now suddenly and uncharacteristically wide open.
🤮Third crash and burn = her new nickname is The Squirter. Enough said.
It was odd to me that the corny dialogue was overflowing with emotions yet when it came to sexy times, it was dry, clinical, step-by-step, no emotions or sensuality brought in to the storytelling at all. Just shock value porn scene, done by shy virgins, mmmmmk.
I know this book is new, so not too many reviews yet, but what are there are all pretty much 5-stars. How? There is no way this is 5-star writing! Maybe it’s mainly ARC reviews… The only way I would recommend this book, is if you are looking for a fun buddy read to crack up with. PS: Gloria, note to self, you would NOT like this!
🏒 Hero - Clayton, tall 6’1” captain of the university hockey team. Blurb refers to him as ‘loud, arrogant and a player.’ 😵💫 Lies, all of them. He was none of those! He was ultra focused on achieving a pro-hockey career so his only focus during high school and college had been to study and practice hockey. That left him with no social life, somewhat a loner and definitely a virgin. He didn’t want a relationship to take his focus away from reaching his goal of playing in the big leagues.
🏒 Heroine - Grace, introverted, tiny 5 foot, went thru high school secretly in love with Kellen (but he wanted to keep it platonic), but now that they are in their first year of college, she opens her eyes to how Kellen constantly disrespects her and their friendship dynamic changes.
🏒 heroine’s ex-best friend - Kellen, freshman joining the university hockey team. As soon as he sees Grace and Clayton becoming friends, he gets jealous and decides he is ready to be her boyfriend after all. He is added and kept in the story for constant jealousy drama (on his part).
😂 0-30% - the cringiest, cheesiest, most unrealistic dialogue I have ever read, especially while I’m trying to pretend a 20 yr. old sports jock is to be uttering this mumbo jumbo! As Chris mentioned, the dialogue read like this 20 yr old hero was a 45-yr old woman. I laughed the whole way thru this section, especially when Chris was blowing up my phone with “WTH is this dialogue?! This dialogue is not IT!” Seriously, all conversation btwn Clayton to Kellen is ridiculous, guys just do not talk like that!
😍 30-60% - the best part of the book. The cringe dialogue died down a bit, and we got to meet Clayton’s mother and sister, Clayton’s teammates/roommates, Grace’s roommate Peyton… and the interactions btwn all of them were sweet. No vulgar shenanigans like most hockey romances seem to include. They go to the fair, the arcade, he teaches her how to ice skate, she gets sick and Clay and his roommates all take care of her while she’s sick 🤒… and he gives her a shower, brushes and braids her hair for her 😍.
35% - “Before you, I only ever hugged my mom or sister. I don’t know why, but hugging you is like hugging sunshine. It makes me feel lighter.”
🤢 60-100% - the slow burn started nicely. Both MCs were virgins, so it was actually fun to see them enjoying this idea of taking the next big step in their life. Until…
🤮First crash and burn = them grinding and dancing. That scene left out all feelings, it was rushed thru and could have been soooo much better. I actually thought I had skipped a paragraph or two, it was incomplete to me. Same with the intimate scene immediately following. I was thinking, maybe this is how YA books do it, rushed thru kinda leaving the door propped open…
🤮Second crash and burn = his tongue went where no tongue should go. Door was now suddenly and uncharacteristically wide open.
🤮Third crash and burn = her new nickname is The Squirter. Enough said.
It was odd to me that the corny dialogue was overflowing with emotions yet when it came to sexy times, it was dry, clinical, step-by-step, no emotions or sensuality brought in to the storytelling at all. Just shock value porn scene, done by shy virgins, mmmmmk.
I know this book is new, so not too many reviews yet, but what are there are all pretty much 5-stars. How? There is no way this is 5-star writing! Maybe it’s mainly ARC reviews… The only way I would recommend this book, is if you are looking for a fun buddy read to crack up with. PS: Gloria, note to self, you would NOT like this!
January 4, 2025
3.5 ⭐
This was cute. 🤭
I love how Grace (18) and Clayton (21) started as friends before they became more. This is very much about their college life and stuff, and there's nothing much to it, really. It was still a good read though, and I had fun with the slow burn pace of the story. I love their moments together, and they just seem so perfect for one another. 🩷🥹
My only issue is the lack of an epilogue. This ends with a HFN situation with them in a relationship and Clayton spending his senior year with them instead of going to the draft. And I was like, that's it? I need something more than that. 🤨
Anyhoo, like I said, it was still a good read. Not quite short, but it's a light story and good enough to pass some time.
Book info:
- College romance
- Sports romance (hockey)
- Strangers to friends to lovers
- Dual V
- Slowburn
- Open door
- No cheating, OWD, separation
- OMD (her best friend, she used to be in love with him in high school, and now the roles were reversed)
- HFN (in a relationship 🫠)
P.S. Idk how to feel about the second book. The OM in this one is the MMC there, and his FMC is the younger sister of the MMC here. Not sure about the other readers, but I can't wrap my head around the idea of my boyfriend having been in love with my brother's girlfriend. That's just so messy. But to each their own I suppose, it's just not for me. 🤷♀️
This was cute. 🤭
I love how Grace (18) and Clayton (21) started as friends before they became more. This is very much about their college life and stuff, and there's nothing much to it, really. It was still a good read though, and I had fun with the slow burn pace of the story. I love their moments together, and they just seem so perfect for one another. 🩷🥹
My only issue is the lack of an epilogue. This ends with a HFN situation with them in a relationship and Clayton spending his senior year with them instead of going to the draft. And I was like, that's it? I need something more than that. 🤨
Anyhoo, like I said, it was still a good read. Not quite short, but it's a light story and good enough to pass some time.
Book info:
- College romance
- Sports romance (hockey)
- Strangers to friends to lovers
- Dual V
- Slowburn
- Open door
- No cheating, OWD, separation
- OMD (her best friend, she used to be in love with him in high school, and now the roles were reversed)
- HFN (in a relationship 🫠)
P.S. Idk how to feel about the second book. The OM in this one is the MMC there, and his FMC is the younger sister of the MMC here. Not sure about the other readers, but I can't wrap my head around the idea of my boyfriend having been in love with my brother's girlfriend. That's just so messy. But to each their own I suppose, it's just not for me. 🤷♀️
October 9, 2024
he is a MANNNN. AND HE IS SO TESPECTFUL HES GIVING ME JOHNNY KAVANAGH VIBES AND HES NOT A MANWHORE AT ALL ‼️GOD I LOVE HIM 😩😩🦋🦋😩🫶🏼
the storyline
Grace Myers(h) has carried a torch for her best friend since high school and as she enters college, she can't help but continue to see the best in him even after the continuous disappointments. But when Grace goes to a party with her best friend/crush and he ends up leaving her alone, she happens to run into not only the person living there at the Hockey House, but her best friend's captain (and the loml) Clayton James (H). An soon enough after this interaction, they cross paths again as Clayton needs a tutor in order to keep playing, and of course, his assigned tutor? Grace.
Clayton is not interested in a girl being in his life right now, but what happens when the lines of friendship blur when Grace manages to weasel her way into his and his friends' heart. The found family in this book was absolutely amazing and so so cute to see how even before Clayton and Grace get together, they literally are like best friends and she just slips into his friend group so easily and they all accept her with open arms. Like they call her "Jelly Bean" omfg.
Clayton James is not a golden retriever by any means, but he's got his head screwed on straight and won't allow anything to get in his way of leading his team for a great season in his year of captaincy and hopefully declaring for draft ASAP to support his family. It is so refreshing to see a non manwhore H who is seriously so caring and just full of love for those who are fortunate enough to be close to him.
the storyline
Grace Myers(h) has carried a torch for her best friend since high school and as she enters college, she can't help but continue to see the best in him even after the continuous disappointments. But when Grace goes to a party with her best friend/crush and he ends up leaving her alone, she happens to run into not only the person living there at the Hockey House, but her best friend's captain (and the loml) Clayton James (H). An soon enough after this interaction, they cross paths again as Clayton needs a tutor in order to keep playing, and of course, his assigned tutor? Grace.
Clayton is not interested in a girl being in his life right now, but what happens when the lines of friendship blur when Grace manages to weasel her way into his and his friends' heart. The found family in this book was absolutely amazing and so so cute to see how even before Clayton and Grace get together, they literally are like best friends and she just slips into his friend group so easily and they all accept her with open arms. Like they call her "Jelly Bean" omfg.
Clayton James is not a golden retriever by any means, but he's got his head screwed on straight and won't allow anything to get in his way of leading his team for a great season in his year of captaincy and hopefully declaring for draft ASAP to support his family. It is so refreshing to see a non manwhore H who is seriously so caring and just full of love for those who are fortunate enough to be close to him.
October 8, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
''I don't care as long as I'm with you''
Safety warnings:
- No cheating
- No OW drama
- OM drama
- Mention of loss of loved one
- HEA
SPOILERS BELOW ⬇️
SPOILERS BELOW ⬇️
SPOILERS BELOW ⬇️
SPOILERS BELOW ⬇️
I've read a lot of Cala Riley books, and I have to say this was probably the sweetest and most adorable one yet.
The way he was the greenest flag ever was everything.
It's always great to read a book where the MMC is loving and has barely any issues to make you NOT want to actually want them in real life, but he was the complete opposite. He was caring and had a lot of love for the people around him.
I should also mention a virgin. The further he ever gone was kissing and it must have been years before because he was really INEXPERIENCED. All his firsts were with her and so were hers.
Grace and Clayton meet a college party she attends with her best friend. He ditches her and you see Grace slowly realize that maybe her best friend is no longer the same boy she knew, and that college has changed him, and we also know that she loved her and confessed but he rejected her and dated everyone he could.
So once she starts to pull away and gravitate towards Clayton (only as friends at first) he confesses his feelings to her and she rejects him this time.
THANK FUCK we were not dealing with an idiot in this one.
Clayton and Grace slowly start to fall for each other and become best friends in the process. He cares for her in more ways she ever knew someone could and shows her what it truly means to have a real friendship and love.
They were adorable together and the way he realized she can be his future along with hockey was great.
He spent years making hockey and his future career a priority in order to be able to help his mother and sister. That is all he ever cared about until Grace graced his life (lol).
The OM drama is just Grace dealing with her former best friend and his feelings for her but honestly, I don't think he truly loved her but loved the idea of her and how she worshipped him in high school and losing that light she shined on him really ruined it for him. He wanted his freedom to be with whoever he wanted but didn't want her to move on.
''I don't care as long as I'm with you''
Safety warnings:
- No cheating
- No OW drama
- OM drama
- Mention of loss of loved one
- HEA
SPOILERS BELOW ⬇️
SPOILERS BELOW ⬇️
SPOILERS BELOW ⬇️
SPOILERS BELOW ⬇️
I've read a lot of Cala Riley books, and I have to say this was probably the sweetest and most adorable one yet.
The way he was the greenest flag ever was everything.
It's always great to read a book where the MMC is loving and has barely any issues to make you NOT want to actually want them in real life, but he was the complete opposite. He was caring and had a lot of love for the people around him.
I should also mention a virgin. The further he ever gone was kissing and it must have been years before because he was really INEXPERIENCED. All his firsts were with her and so were hers.
Grace and Clayton meet a college party she attends with her best friend. He ditches her and you see Grace slowly realize that maybe her best friend is no longer the same boy she knew, and that college has changed him, and we also know that she loved her and confessed but he rejected her and dated everyone he could.
So once she starts to pull away and gravitate towards Clayton (only as friends at first) he confesses his feelings to her and she rejects him this time.
THANK FUCK we were not dealing with an idiot in this one.
Clayton and Grace slowly start to fall for each other and become best friends in the process. He cares for her in more ways she ever knew someone could and shows her what it truly means to have a real friendship and love.
They were adorable together and the way he realized she can be his future along with hockey was great.
He spent years making hockey and his future career a priority in order to be able to help his mother and sister. That is all he ever cared about until Grace graced his life (lol).
The OM drama is just Grace dealing with her former best friend and his feelings for her but honestly, I don't think he truly loved her but loved the idea of her and how she worshipped him in high school and losing that light she shined on him really ruined it for him. He wanted his freedom to be with whoever he wanted but didn't want her to move on.
September 27, 2024
I absolutely adore Grace and Clayton! This book made me feel so many emotions, and I even found myself wanting to punch one of the characters (IYKYK)😉 Cala Riley's books just never disappoint!
October 11, 2024
1⭐️ Why am I being punished? Why? Why can’t I just find a decent book that I can enjoy like every other normal reader on this platform?🙈 No, instead I have to endure literal torture by reading this kind of crap. 🫨
Clayton, the mmc, is the equivalent of a 45 year old grandmother in the body of a hot college guy! No 21 year old with his good looks, popularity and hockey skills talks like that! Ever! Eveeeeeeeer!!!
The only things that interests him are hockey, school and eating healthy..again because of hockey..until he meets our fmc. After that, he also discovers sex in all its glorious variations. Yup! That’s all I’m gonna say. 😌
Grace is this (tiny😒) shy, introverted girl who is in love with her guy best friend. Said guy is an asshole, a manwhone who only strings her along. He doesn’t want her but doesn’t want anyone else to want her either and when he realizes that the captain of the hockey team is interested in her, well suddenly he is overcome with love for her. 🙄
Anyway, she comes to her senses and realizes how he manipulated her throughout the years, all thanks to the hot shot hockey player who she later falls in love with. Surprise surprise!😅
This could have been a decent read with a heartwarming love story, but sadly it was full of clichés (which I don’t usually mind, but I did in this one), the dialogue was absolutely ridiculous at times, and the spice gave me the ick.
Yes, the book was bad, ☝️ but the buddy reading experience with Lori & Olga was soooo much fun! We were constantly laughing at all the idiotic things that kept happening. 😅😂
Clayton, the mmc, is the equivalent of a 45 year old grandmother in the body of a hot college guy! No 21 year old with his good looks, popularity and hockey skills talks like that! Ever! Eveeeeeeeer!!!
The only things that interests him are hockey, school and eating healthy..again because of hockey..until he meets our fmc. After that, he also discovers sex in all its glorious variations. Yup! That’s all I’m gonna say. 😌
Grace is this (tiny😒) shy, introverted girl who is in love with her guy best friend. Said guy is an asshole, a manwhone who only strings her along. He doesn’t want her but doesn’t want anyone else to want her either and when he realizes that the captain of the hockey team is interested in her, well suddenly he is overcome with love for her. 🙄
Anyway, she comes to her senses and realizes how he manipulated her throughout the years, all thanks to the hot shot hockey player who she later falls in love with. Surprise surprise!😅
This could have been a decent read with a heartwarming love story, but sadly it was full of clichés (which I don’t usually mind, but I did in this one), the dialogue was absolutely ridiculous at times, and the spice gave me the ick.
Yes, the book was bad, ☝️ but the buddy reading experience with Lori & Olga was soooo much fun! We were constantly laughing at all the idiotic things that kept happening. 😅😂
April 5, 2025
3.5 stars.
I normally don't read college age romances,but I like the duo of Cala Riley and gave this a try.
This was a slow burn initial friend to lovers that ended on an HFN.
Hockey romance with dual virgins.
I see the next in this series is the young sister of this hero and the male BFF of the heroine who thought she was in love with him.This guy was a manho,and I dont know how I feel about him.
I normally don't read college age romances,but I like the duo of Cala Riley and gave this a try.
This was a slow burn initial friend to lovers that ended on an HFN.
Hockey romance with dual virgins.
I see the next in this series is the young sister of this hero and the male BFF of the heroine who thought she was in love with him.This guy was a manho,and I dont know how I feel about him.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Currently reading
September 29, 2024Such a boring book 😂🤷🤷 I just kept going til about 43%, but everything is so contrived and nothing much is happening to keep going when there are SO MANY BETTER books out there.
h is a dumb, pushover idiot who is best friends with a guy that shes in unrequited love with. she tells him in high school that she loves him and wants to be in a relationship with him, but he tells her he just sees her as a friend and doesnt want more. Like a moron, she stays friends with him and watches him date and fuck other girls on the regular.
She goes to college with him and goes to a party with him and his girlfriend. Monica the girlfriend knows what's up. They go to the party and he immediately ditches the h to go hang out and she tries to.find a corner to read a book lololploololol. DA FUQ. Anyway, H finds her, talks with her and he makes sure she gets home ok.
Later, he needs a tutor for a marketing class and h is the tutor. When her guy bff sees her with the H during a tutoring session, guy bff gets jealous since he wants his cake and eat it too (H is the captain of his hockey team cuz of course he is so they know each other). Guy bff tells her that he dumped his Monica gf and he wants to be with her. 😬😬😬😳😳👎👎👎
They keep saying they're friends even at the 44% mark although they notice how hot each other are.
She goes sick and H and his teammates make soup for her and take turns making sure she's ok.
They skate together at the skating rink and she falls down on top of him and he tells her this is the closest his dick has been to a girls vagina.....not in those words but yeah....
They admit they're both virgins since he only wanted to focus on hockey and take care of his mom and sister with his millions from a pro hockey career.
They go to a concert or something.
.....
Can you see why I dnfed?!
Yeah....
h is a dumb, pushover idiot who is best friends with a guy that shes in unrequited love with. she tells him in high school that she loves him and wants to be in a relationship with him, but he tells her he just sees her as a friend and doesnt want more. Like a moron, she stays friends with him and watches him date and fuck other girls on the regular.
She goes to college with him and goes to a party with him and his girlfriend. Monica the girlfriend knows what's up. They go to the party and he immediately ditches the h to go hang out and she tries to.find a corner to read a book lololploololol. DA FUQ. Anyway, H finds her, talks with her and he makes sure she gets home ok.
Later, he needs a tutor for a marketing class and h is the tutor. When her guy bff sees her with the H during a tutoring session, guy bff gets jealous since he wants his cake and eat it too (H is the captain of his hockey team cuz of course he is so they know each other). Guy bff tells her that he dumped his Monica gf and he wants to be with her. 😬😬😬😳😳👎👎👎
They keep saying they're friends even at the 44% mark although they notice how hot each other are.
She goes sick and H and his teammates make soup for her and take turns making sure she's ok.
They skate together at the skating rink and she falls down on top of him and he tells her this is the closest his dick has been to a girls vagina.....not in those words but yeah....
They admit they're both virgins since he only wanted to focus on hockey and take care of his mom and sister with his millions from a pro hockey career.
They go to a concert or something.
.....
Can you see why I dnfed?!
Yeah....
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 12, 2024
The writing is like reading a primary student attempting their first novel 🤭
And don't get me started on the nicknames! I am already cringing 🥴 Kell Bell! Shorty? Casanova? Really? Lol that's so inventive!
The book up until the first quarter of it, has made me roll my eyes so much I was afraid I'd develop a permanent eye-roll syndrome. Since I am reluctant to DNF a book unless I really have to, I soldiered on and tried to have fun while dissecting the hilarious dialogues that absolutely make you cringe and feel sorry for the characters who are forced to star in this book LOL
Clayton is a hot shot hockey player who walks like a duck and acts like a duck but alas is anything but. He's actually an introvert virgin who scolds his teammates like a granny.
Grace is a goody two-shoes who has been in love with her best friend for years. Said best friend is an asshole who does indeed love her yet he wants to explore the sea full of fish, has his own fun before he gives Grace the time of day. Meanwhile, he scares all the boys away and blocks her from having a personal life.
At around 30% the book relatively improves, relatively being the key word here. The buildup of their relationship is cute, from being friends to having feelings for each other.
And the found family is actually adorable. I love how protective his friends are of her.
I also respect that there is no derogatory talk about women and no foul language. The boys actually respect the girls and don't over share their sexual exploits which I really appreciated.
The book is then just dragged along with more cheesy scenes until the final blow with the MCs turning from shy inexperienced virgins to porn-ish personas with "shut up and l*ck me", "you're a sq*irter! I am so turned on right now", "tell me I'll own your b*tthole one day" and then licking said b*tthole! DEAR GOD!!!!!! They were virgins a second ago, what just happened!!!
This book has a 5 star rating, suffice to say they're probably ARC reviewers and personal family and friends.
It had so much potential and the plot could have gone in more than one way but the writing is just an absolute NO for me. Just drop your quill Cala Riley and find yourself a different hobby. Sorry not sorry.
Best part about the book, is Buddy Reading it with Chris and Lori. Girls I had an absolute blast sharing comments and laughing non stop with your input! I give you both 5 stars for being best BR out there! Miladies LOL
And don't get me started on the nicknames! I am already cringing 🥴 Kell Bell! Shorty? Casanova? Really? Lol that's so inventive!
The book up until the first quarter of it, has made me roll my eyes so much I was afraid I'd develop a permanent eye-roll syndrome. Since I am reluctant to DNF a book unless I really have to, I soldiered on and tried to have fun while dissecting the hilarious dialogues that absolutely make you cringe and feel sorry for the characters who are forced to star in this book LOL
Clayton is a hot shot hockey player who walks like a duck and acts like a duck but alas is anything but. He's actually an introvert virgin who scolds his teammates like a granny.
Grace is a goody two-shoes who has been in love with her best friend for years. Said best friend is an asshole who does indeed love her yet he wants to explore the sea full of fish, has his own fun before he gives Grace the time of day. Meanwhile, he scares all the boys away and blocks her from having a personal life.
At around 30% the book relatively improves, relatively being the key word here. The buildup of their relationship is cute, from being friends to having feelings for each other.
And the found family is actually adorable. I love how protective his friends are of her.
I also respect that there is no derogatory talk about women and no foul language. The boys actually respect the girls and don't over share their sexual exploits which I really appreciated.
The book is then just dragged along with more cheesy scenes until the final blow with the MCs turning from shy inexperienced virgins to porn-ish personas with "shut up and l*ck me", "you're a sq*irter! I am so turned on right now", "tell me I'll own your b*tthole one day" and then licking said b*tthole! DEAR GOD!!!!!! They were virgins a second ago, what just happened!!!
This book has a 5 star rating, suffice to say they're probably ARC reviewers and personal family and friends.
It had so much potential and the plot could have gone in more than one way but the writing is just an absolute NO for me. Just drop your quill Cala Riley and find yourself a different hobby. Sorry not sorry.
Best part about the book, is Buddy Reading it with Chris and Lori. Girls I had an absolute blast sharing comments and laughing non stop with your input! I give you both 5 stars for being best BR out there! Miladies LOL
December 29, 2025
3🌟, 2.5🌶️
Sometimes you just want a story that feels safe, and this book did that for me.
Grace has loved her best friend Kellan for years, and watching him treat her like a backup while living his playboy hockey life genuinely hurt to read. Enter Clayton, the team captain she tutors, who is sweet, attentive, and actually listens to her. The setup is simple but effective, and I enjoyed seeing Grace realize that history and comfort are not the same as being loved well.
Clayton and Grace were the highlight. Their relationship is soft, supportive, and full of green-flag energy, with a cozy found-family vibe thanks to his teammates. The virgin-virgin trope was unexpected and pretty adorable, though the jump from shy firsts to confident spice felt rushed given how much focus was placed on their inexperience.
This was an easy, low-stress hockey romance I flew through, even if it never fully leaned into deeper conflict. Kellan was never much of a threat, and the story stayed firmly in feel-good territory.
Sweet, simple, and comforting, even if it played things a little too safe.
~~~~
Many thanks to Cala Riley and Hambright PR for providing this copy. All opinions expressed are entirely my own. ✨
Sometimes you just want a story that feels safe, and this book did that for me.
Grace has loved her best friend Kellan for years, and watching him treat her like a backup while living his playboy hockey life genuinely hurt to read. Enter Clayton, the team captain she tutors, who is sweet, attentive, and actually listens to her. The setup is simple but effective, and I enjoyed seeing Grace realize that history and comfort are not the same as being loved well.
Clayton and Grace were the highlight. Their relationship is soft, supportive, and full of green-flag energy, with a cozy found-family vibe thanks to his teammates. The virgin-virgin trope was unexpected and pretty adorable, though the jump from shy firsts to confident spice felt rushed given how much focus was placed on their inexperience.
This was an easy, low-stress hockey romance I flew through, even if it never fully leaned into deeper conflict. Kellan was never much of a threat, and the story stayed firmly in feel-good territory.
Sweet, simple, and comforting, even if it played things a little too safe.
~~~~
Many thanks to Cala Riley and Hambright PR for providing this copy. All opinions expressed are entirely my own. ✨
September 23, 2024
- Sports Romance (hockey)
- Strangers to Friends to Lovers
- Virgin MCs
- College Hockey
- Opposites Attract
- Slow Burn
- Found Family
- Tutor x Athlete
I don’t know why, but I didn’t expect to love this book as much as I did.
Clayton James is just such a good guy….he loves his family, has a good head on his shoulders, is the captain of his hockey team, and is willing to take care of Grace when she is so sick. Those are just a few of the qualities that prove he is definitely top tier book boyfriend material. I loved how Clayton and Grace’s wasn’t an instalove/lust scenario and how they really were just friends who were hanging out. It made me appreciate their relationship development that much more.
This book also made me realize just how much I love when the MMC is a virgin. Not many sports romance books have that and now I wish they did. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good reformed playboy storyline too, but idk a virgin mmc just hits differently.
I really hope there are more books coming for the Walker University Wolves, one because I would love to see future Grace and Clayton and two there were so many amazing side characters that I would love stories for.
- Strangers to Friends to Lovers
- Virgin MCs
- College Hockey
- Opposites Attract
- Slow Burn
- Found Family
- Tutor x Athlete
I don’t know why, but I didn’t expect to love this book as much as I did.
Clayton James is just such a good guy….he loves his family, has a good head on his shoulders, is the captain of his hockey team, and is willing to take care of Grace when she is so sick. Those are just a few of the qualities that prove he is definitely top tier book boyfriend material. I loved how Clayton and Grace’s wasn’t an instalove/lust scenario and how they really were just friends who were hanging out. It made me appreciate their relationship development that much more.
This book also made me realize just how much I love when the MMC is a virgin. Not many sports romance books have that and now I wish they did. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good reformed playboy storyline too, but idk a virgin mmc just hits differently.
I really hope there are more books coming for the Walker University Wolves, one because I would love to see future Grace and Clayton and two there were so many amazing side characters that I would love stories for.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 5, 2025
It was an okay read.
The conflict was rather silly… the h’s best friend finally admits to loving her while she spent years crushing on him. The H was “cute” but didn’t do much for me.
The conflict was rather silly… the h’s best friend finally admits to loving her while she spent years crushing on him. The H was “cute” but didn’t do much for me.
Read
September 1, 2025DNF
From the get-go, Iced comes across as an overly contrived and confusing attempt at a sports romance that tries way too hard to be unique, but ends up falling flat. The whole concept of a National Hockey League being referred to as the "Professional Hockey League" feels like a cheap knockoff of the real thing. And don’t even get me started on calling the championship the "Golden Puck" instead of the "Frozen Four"—it doesn’t add charm or originality, it just makes it sound silly.
The characters, unfortunately, don't do much to salvage the plot. Josie's accusation that Clayton is a "player" because he didn't sleep with her and asked her to stop spreading rumors? That logic is as baffling as it is frustrating. It seems like the author was trying to create drama where there simply wasn’t any.
Then there's Clayton going off on Kellan after a minor bump and a simple "watch it" comment. Kellan might be a tool, but if someone bumps into you, telling them to "watch it" is completely reasonable. Clayton’s reaction feels out of proportion and is just one of many instances where the characters’ behavior doesn't make sense.
The setting of the story doesn’t help either. Why are freshmen not allowed to have cars on campus? It's just another arbitrary rule that adds nothing to the plot. And Clayton and Grace’s first interaction is downright ridiculous. Her shock at discovering he has a sister is confusing—how is that surprising when you’ve just met someone and know next to nothing about them? The whole exchange feels forced and unrealistic.
The biggest gripe I have is the premise of Clayton “failing” a class after just three weeks. Failing one test doesn’t equate to failing a class, and the urgency it’s supposed to create feels completely contrived. It would have made much more sense to set this struggle later in the semester, where there’s a genuine need for academic redemption. Instead, the plot just feels lazy and ill-thought-out.
And let’s talk about that cover—it’s absolutely disgusting. Out of all the attractive men out there with abs, why choose one that has a protruded belly button? It's as off-putting as the story itself.
Ultimately, I couldn’t push myself past the 15% mark. Grace is a doormat, Kellan is a tool, and Clayton is just unlikable. The storyline lacks depth, and the characters’ motivations are as confusing as the invented hockey terminology. Save yourself the time and skip this one. There are much better sports romances out there.
From the get-go, Iced comes across as an overly contrived and confusing attempt at a sports romance that tries way too hard to be unique, but ends up falling flat. The whole concept of a National Hockey League being referred to as the "Professional Hockey League" feels like a cheap knockoff of the real thing. And don’t even get me started on calling the championship the "Golden Puck" instead of the "Frozen Four"—it doesn’t add charm or originality, it just makes it sound silly.
The characters, unfortunately, don't do much to salvage the plot. Josie's accusation that Clayton is a "player" because he didn't sleep with her and asked her to stop spreading rumors? That logic is as baffling as it is frustrating. It seems like the author was trying to create drama where there simply wasn’t any.
Then there's Clayton going off on Kellan after a minor bump and a simple "watch it" comment. Kellan might be a tool, but if someone bumps into you, telling them to "watch it" is completely reasonable. Clayton’s reaction feels out of proportion and is just one of many instances where the characters’ behavior doesn't make sense.
The setting of the story doesn’t help either. Why are freshmen not allowed to have cars on campus? It's just another arbitrary rule that adds nothing to the plot. And Clayton and Grace’s first interaction is downright ridiculous. Her shock at discovering he has a sister is confusing—how is that surprising when you’ve just met someone and know next to nothing about them? The whole exchange feels forced and unrealistic.
The biggest gripe I have is the premise of Clayton “failing” a class after just three weeks. Failing one test doesn’t equate to failing a class, and the urgency it’s supposed to create feels completely contrived. It would have made much more sense to set this struggle later in the semester, where there’s a genuine need for academic redemption. Instead, the plot just feels lazy and ill-thought-out.
And let’s talk about that cover—it’s absolutely disgusting. Out of all the attractive men out there with abs, why choose one that has a protruded belly button? It's as off-putting as the story itself.
Ultimately, I couldn’t push myself past the 15% mark. Grace is a doormat, Kellan is a tool, and Clayton is just unlikable. The storyline lacks depth, and the characters’ motivations are as confusing as the invented hockey terminology. Save yourself the time and skip this one. There are much better sports romances out there.
September 25, 2024
(I received an ARC for this book)
Trigger Warnings include:
on ice injury
If you’re looking for a college romance that stands out, this is a must read!! Look, I love college romances (specifically sports romances) BUT I’ll be the first to admit they’re becoming very mirrored and too similar. Boy meets girl. Girl gets involved with boy’s sport. Boy is so good he goes pro. Cut to the epilogue where they’re planning a wedding and having babies. (To be clear, I will never stop reading and loving college sports romances!) But Clayton and Grace are SO caught up with being college students, and enjoying each other’s interests, that I truly got to enjoy them just being college students, lucky enough to find their forever love. Their friends to lovers slow burn absolutely felt genuine. And I loved getting to be in it with them! I was instantly rooting for Clayton and Grace from the beginning! Them as characters, as friends, as a couple. Gosh this was all so refreshing! They had such a beautiful shared admiration for each other. And a mutual respect. Pure obsession with these two!! I couldn’t not stop swooning! I LOVED the found family Clay (and Grace) has with his team and I am SO excited to spend more time with them!
Shorty: 24
My Favorite Quotes:
• “Hugging you is like hugging sunshine. It makes me feel lighter.”
• “If you keep grinding on me like that, this friendship is going to get really f!cking awkward.”
• “Am I the first girl to ever get you off?” “Yeah.” “Good. Now I want you to return the favor.”
• “We both know you aren’t just anyone.”
• “You are a sight to behold. I could spend forever just staring at your beauty.”
• “Ever since you’ve come into my life, you’ve taken over my mind. You’ve changed my life for the better.”
• “I know it’s too soon, but it’s you, and it will be you. You’re the one for me. It’s going to be us.”
• “There’s nothing gross about the way your body reacts to mine.”
• “Keep moaning my name. It’s my favorite sound.”
• “If holding a few of your books hostage makes you spend more time with me, I’ll gladly hold on to them for you.”
• “I would love a massage. Maybe one more internal. There’s this spot inside that just loves your c!ck.”
• “Shut up and lick my p!ssy.”
7/10 Dirty Birdy
7/10 Friends to Lovers
7/10 Slow Burn
8/10 Sports Romance
Trigger Warnings include:
on ice injury
If you’re looking for a college romance that stands out, this is a must read!! Look, I love college romances (specifically sports romances) BUT I’ll be the first to admit they’re becoming very mirrored and too similar. Boy meets girl. Girl gets involved with boy’s sport. Boy is so good he goes pro. Cut to the epilogue where they’re planning a wedding and having babies. (To be clear, I will never stop reading and loving college sports romances!) But Clayton and Grace are SO caught up with being college students, and enjoying each other’s interests, that I truly got to enjoy them just being college students, lucky enough to find their forever love. Their friends to lovers slow burn absolutely felt genuine. And I loved getting to be in it with them! I was instantly rooting for Clayton and Grace from the beginning! Them as characters, as friends, as a couple. Gosh this was all so refreshing! They had such a beautiful shared admiration for each other. And a mutual respect. Pure obsession with these two!! I couldn’t not stop swooning! I LOVED the found family Clay (and Grace) has with his team and I am SO excited to spend more time with them!
Shorty: 24
My Favorite Quotes:
• “Hugging you is like hugging sunshine. It makes me feel lighter.”
• “If you keep grinding on me like that, this friendship is going to get really f!cking awkward.”
• “Am I the first girl to ever get you off?” “Yeah.” “Good. Now I want you to return the favor.”
• “We both know you aren’t just anyone.”
• “You are a sight to behold. I could spend forever just staring at your beauty.”
• “Ever since you’ve come into my life, you’ve taken over my mind. You’ve changed my life for the better.”
• “I know it’s too soon, but it’s you, and it will be you. You’re the one for me. It’s going to be us.”
• “There’s nothing gross about the way your body reacts to mine.”
• “Keep moaning my name. It’s my favorite sound.”
• “If holding a few of your books hostage makes you spend more time with me, I’ll gladly hold on to them for you.”
• “I would love a massage. Maybe one more internal. There’s this spot inside that just loves your c!ck.”
• “Shut up and lick my p!ssy.”
7/10 Dirty Birdy
7/10 Friends to Lovers
7/10 Slow Burn
8/10 Sports Romance
September 20, 2024
"I would rather have loved and lost than spend the rest of my life wondering what if." ~ Iced by Cala Riley 🩵⛸️🤍
MY ARC REVIEW:
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
WOWOWOW!!🥹 This book is everything you want in a Hockey Romance!! It was SUCH a sweet read & I absolutely adored the whole story from start to finish!!🩵
Grace Myers is a freshman starting college!! Grace is an introverted book girlie & loves spending time with her roommate and new girl bestie, Peyton!🩷 She has been stuck in the friend zone with her High School best friend, Kellan Cooper for 4 years. After being rejected by him during High School, she decided she would rather have him as a friend in her life than not at all.🥺
Clayton James is the captain of the hockey team & is in his junior year!🩵 After failing his first marketing test, he needs a tutor!! As fate would have it, Grace starts tutoring him & they become fast friends... could there be more?!👀
Emojis that best describe this book:
⛸️🧊🕹️👾🏒📚🎶🎡🤬🍬🌷🎮🎃🎄
You'll love this book if:
* You love opposites attract☯️
* You love a height difference 😍
* You love it when he remembers everything about her🩵
* You love Hockey romance books🏒
* You love it when he agrees to buddy read a book with her📖
* You love the Athletic Guy//Book Girl trope🏒📚
* You love when he takes care of her when she's sick🥹
* You love the found family trope🏠
* You love a great bestie duo👯♀️
Clayton helps Grace realize her worth while Grace helps Clayton realize that memories with your "found family" can last a lifetime.🩷 He's 6'1 while Grace is 5'0!!! 😍 They are the CUTEST! They had me kicking my feet & giggling!! Basically if The Deal by Elle Kennedy, Icebreaker by Hannah Grace, and Blind Side By Kandi Steiner had a baby it would be Iced!🥰 Those are three of my FAVES so this was RIGHT UP MY ALLEY!!🤩
Thank you to @author.cala.riley & @lovenotes.pr for allowing me to receive an ARC for this!! It was everything I wanted it to be!🩵
ICED IS OUT NOW!!! Go give it a read & let me know what you think!!🩷✨
•
•
•
•
•
#hockeyromance #iced #romancebook #arc #arcreview #bookreview #bookish #bookstagram #booksta #bookstagrammer #newrelease #books #honestreview #igreads
MY ARC REVIEW:
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
WOWOWOW!!🥹 This book is everything you want in a Hockey Romance!! It was SUCH a sweet read & I absolutely adored the whole story from start to finish!!🩵
Grace Myers is a freshman starting college!! Grace is an introverted book girlie & loves spending time with her roommate and new girl bestie, Peyton!🩷 She has been stuck in the friend zone with her High School best friend, Kellan Cooper for 4 years. After being rejected by him during High School, she decided she would rather have him as a friend in her life than not at all.🥺
Clayton James is the captain of the hockey team & is in his junior year!🩵 After failing his first marketing test, he needs a tutor!! As fate would have it, Grace starts tutoring him & they become fast friends... could there be more?!👀
Emojis that best describe this book:
⛸️🧊🕹️👾🏒📚🎶🎡🤬🍬🌷🎮🎃🎄
You'll love this book if:
* You love opposites attract☯️
* You love a height difference 😍
* You love it when he remembers everything about her🩵
* You love Hockey romance books🏒
* You love it when he agrees to buddy read a book with her📖
* You love the Athletic Guy//Book Girl trope🏒📚
* You love when he takes care of her when she's sick🥹
* You love the found family trope🏠
* You love a great bestie duo👯♀️
Clayton helps Grace realize her worth while Grace helps Clayton realize that memories with your "found family" can last a lifetime.🩷 He's 6'1 while Grace is 5'0!!! 😍 They are the CUTEST! They had me kicking my feet & giggling!! Basically if The Deal by Elle Kennedy, Icebreaker by Hannah Grace, and Blind Side By Kandi Steiner had a baby it would be Iced!🥰 Those are three of my FAVES so this was RIGHT UP MY ALLEY!!🤩
Thank you to @author.cala.riley & @lovenotes.pr for allowing me to receive an ARC for this!! It was everything I wanted it to be!🩵
ICED IS OUT NOW!!! Go give it a read & let me know what you think!!🩷✨
•
•
•
•
•
#hockeyromance #iced #romancebook #arc #arcreview #bookreview #bookish #bookstagram #booksta #bookstagrammer #newrelease #books #honestreview #igreads
September 18, 2024
Rating 5/5 ⭐️
Spice 2.5/5 🌶️
eARC
Loved Clayton and Grace! I couldn’t stop reading. Had me hooked from the start. He’s the star player on the college hockey team. When his grades decline and it’s threatening his captain status and playing time he reaches out for a tutor. That’s when he meets Grace, his tutor. These two opposites are instantly attracted to one another.
Clay and his teammates were so good in the book. Tension rises between Clay and a cocky freshman Kellen (Graces childhood friend). Kellen becomes jealous of Clays relationship with Grace and causes problems on the team and strain between the three.
Clay turns into such a cinnamon roll with Grace. He’s sexy and sweet!
I could read this book over and over again. Highly recommend adding to your TBR.
Tropes:
College Hockey
Opposites Attract
Friends to Lovers
Slow Burn
Found Family
Tutor x Athlete
Favorites from the book:
"Grace, you are a very beautiful woman. You have a best friend who is a guy. He should be telling you every single day that you look beautiful. Even if he doesn't want you, which I guarantee you is a lie, he should still be setting the bar high so you know what you deserve. He is supposed to be the threat at your back for any man who treats you wrong.
Instead, he is failing. That is a pity."
"Before you, I only ever hugged my mom or sister. I don't know why, but hugging you is like hugging sunshine. It makes me feel lighter."
“She's like the sun. I want to be in her orbit at all times. I need to feel the warmth she brings me.”
Spice 2.5/5 🌶️
eARC
Loved Clayton and Grace! I couldn’t stop reading. Had me hooked from the start. He’s the star player on the college hockey team. When his grades decline and it’s threatening his captain status and playing time he reaches out for a tutor. That’s when he meets Grace, his tutor. These two opposites are instantly attracted to one another.
Clay and his teammates were so good in the book. Tension rises between Clay and a cocky freshman Kellen (Graces childhood friend). Kellen becomes jealous of Clays relationship with Grace and causes problems on the team and strain between the three.
Clay turns into such a cinnamon roll with Grace. He’s sexy and sweet!
I could read this book over and over again. Highly recommend adding to your TBR.
Tropes:
College Hockey
Opposites Attract
Friends to Lovers
Slow Burn
Found Family
Tutor x Athlete
Favorites from the book:
"Grace, you are a very beautiful woman. You have a best friend who is a guy. He should be telling you every single day that you look beautiful. Even if he doesn't want you, which I guarantee you is a lie, he should still be setting the bar high so you know what you deserve. He is supposed to be the threat at your back for any man who treats you wrong.
Instead, he is failing. That is a pity."
"Before you, I only ever hugged my mom or sister. I don't know why, but hugging you is like hugging sunshine. It makes me feel lighter."
“She's like the sun. I want to be in her orbit at all times. I need to feel the warmth she brings me.”
August 26, 2024
Read this book as an ARC:
I loved the story of Clayton and Grace. I know it was a hockey romance and I read a lot of those but this one was different. I liked the slow burn and the strangers x friends x lovers. It was not a normal, fast romance and I think that is refreshing to read. The way they get to know each other and take their time with everything in their relationship, was great.
"Hugging you ia like hugging sunshine. It makes me feel lighter."
"I want the kind of love where we kiss in front of the kids even knowing that it grosses them out."
I loved the story of Clayton and Grace. I know it was a hockey romance and I read a lot of those but this one was different. I liked the slow burn and the strangers x friends x lovers. It was not a normal, fast romance and I think that is refreshing to read. The way they get to know each other and take their time with everything in their relationship, was great.
"Hugging you ia like hugging sunshine. It makes me feel lighter."
"I want the kind of love where we kiss in front of the kids even knowing that it grosses them out."
December 27, 2025
Grace Myers is in love with her best friend Kellan Cooper. They have nicknames for each other, follow each other to the same college, and are deeply involved in each other's life. Grace believes Kellan must share the same feelings towards her and asks him to start dating. Kellan turns her down and Grace is forced into the friend zone, though Kellan keeps giving her mixed signals.
Grace is an intelligent woman and works as a tutor while she attends college. One of her new clients, Clayton James, turns out to be the Hockey Captain of the Walker Wolves. Her friend Kellan told her to stay away from him because he's a no-good playboy who has no respect for others and women etc. Well it turns out those were all lies. Guess what? Kellan has been feeding Grace lies to keep her away from men she'd like so he can keep her all to himself as his “backup girl”. Ps. I hate Kellan.
Clayton is an absolute mature gentleman who treats Grace with respect and care. Kellan, of course, doesn't like this and tries to get Grace for himself. I was praying the whole time that Grace wouldn't give up something good for a “second chance” with Kellan. The suspense was real 😂
Thank you @hambright_pr for the gifted ARC in exchange for my honest review!
TROPES ✨
🏒 College Hockey
🧲 Opposites Attract
🫶 Found Family
💞 Friends to Lovers
🔥 Slow Burn
Grace is an intelligent woman and works as a tutor while she attends college. One of her new clients, Clayton James, turns out to be the Hockey Captain of the Walker Wolves. Her friend Kellan told her to stay away from him because he's a no-good playboy who has no respect for others and women etc. Well it turns out those were all lies. Guess what? Kellan has been feeding Grace lies to keep her away from men she'd like so he can keep her all to himself as his “backup girl”. Ps. I hate Kellan.
Clayton is an absolute mature gentleman who treats Grace with respect and care. Kellan, of course, doesn't like this and tries to get Grace for himself. I was praying the whole time that Grace wouldn't give up something good for a “second chance” with Kellan. The suspense was real 😂
Thank you @hambright_pr for the gifted ARC in exchange for my honest review!
TROPES ✨
🏒 College Hockey
🧲 Opposites Attract
🫶 Found Family
💞 Friends to Lovers
🔥 Slow Burn
December 12, 2025
This was a cute college hockey romance! Clayton and Grace were easy characters to enjoy. I especially loved how Grace gained confidence throughout the book and was able to finally put boundaries where they were needed with her high school best friend, who also happens to be one of Clayton’s teammates. And Clayton was such a green flag. Sweet, attentive and caring, he was exactly what Grace needed.
The group of friends that surrounded our couple were also interesting characters and I will definitely be continuing this series to see what happens with them.
I would like to thank Hambright PR for the opportunity to read and review Iced by Cala Riley.
The group of friends that surrounded our couple were also interesting characters and I will definitely be continuing this series to see what happens with them.
I would like to thank Hambright PR for the opportunity to read and review Iced by Cala Riley.
October 27, 2024
i don’t feel like this book deserves 3 stars 2.75 is good ig.. don’t get me wrong it’s not bad it’s just nothing special? 😭
a cute unrealistic cheesy love story (perfect if you need a break from heavy books) it was fun .
a cute unrealistic cheesy love story (perfect if you need a break from heavy books) it was fun .
June 9, 2025
I absolutely loved this!
I read Cross Check as an ARC back in April and I’ve finally gotten around to reading Iced and it did not disappoint!
Anything hockey romance related, I am sold 😍
I read Cross Check as an ARC back in April and I’ve finally gotten around to reading Iced and it did not disappoint!
Anything hockey romance related, I am sold 😍
December 27, 2025
3.5 stars!!!! Really quick and fun read. I enjoy these characters a lot & I think I’ll like the later books even more.
Tropes:
- hockey romance
- college romance
- found family
- love triangle
- coming of age
- friends to lovers
- NO third act breakup
- bonus: they’re both virgins (until they aren’t!!!)
- bonus again: she gets sick & he takes care of her (even brushes her hair)
Clayton James is such a cute character. Though parts of this were silly and fun, it was overall pretty realistic!!! A natural progression of college friendships to romance. The drama of friendships and situationships. I had so much fun!!!
Tropes:
- hockey romance
- college romance
- found family
- love triangle
- coming of age
- friends to lovers
- NO third act breakup
- bonus: they’re both virgins (until they aren’t!!!)
- bonus again: she gets sick & he takes care of her (even brushes her hair)
Clayton James is such a cute character. Though parts of this were silly and fun, it was overall pretty realistic!!! A natural progression of college friendships to romance. The drama of friendships and situationships. I had so much fun!!!
September 14, 2024
Iced- Cala Riley
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶️/5
Another banger from Cala Riley. I didn’t want to put it down. I am obsessed. This book was a slow burn but the chemistry and tension had me hooked. I love Grace and Clayton so much. I love a friends to lovers romance, when it is done right, and this book does it perfectly. I loved Clayton and grace as best friends and as a couple. I want to see more of them in the future.
I want more hockey romance books from Cala Riley.
Tropes
-opposites attract
-friends to lovers
-slow burn
-found family
-tutor x athlete
-college hockey
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶️/5
Another banger from Cala Riley. I didn’t want to put it down. I am obsessed. This book was a slow burn but the chemistry and tension had me hooked. I love Grace and Clayton so much. I love a friends to lovers romance, when it is done right, and this book does it perfectly. I loved Clayton and grace as best friends and as a couple. I want to see more of them in the future.
I want more hockey romance books from Cala Riley.
Tropes
-opposites attract
-friends to lovers
-slow burn
-found family
-tutor x athlete
-college hockey
October 7, 2024
* ARC * College Romance
I'm not always a fan of university plots only because the character can be incredibly childish. But I really enjoyed this book. There was no extra information or dragged out scenes.
They brought each other out of their shells in different ways. And I think it painted a good picture as to what college relationships can be.
My favorite part would definitely be the found family. I love reading hockey romances because of this. The teammates are always the cutest and most annoying characters 🤭
🌶🌶/5
I'm not always a fan of university plots only because the character can be incredibly childish. But I really enjoyed this book. There was no extra information or dragged out scenes.
They brought each other out of their shells in different ways. And I think it painted a good picture as to what college relationships can be.
My favorite part would definitely be the found family. I love reading hockey romances because of this. The teammates are always the cutest and most annoying characters 🤭
🌶🌶/5
September 26, 2024
Arc Review
Overall Rating: 4 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice Rating: 2 🔥🔥
Tropes:
- College Hockey Romance
- Opposites Attract
- Friends To Lovers
- Slow Burn
- Tutor x Athlete
- Found Family
- Virgin Heroine
- Oblivious To Love
- No 3rd Act Break Up
I’d like to say thank you to the author Cala Riley and Loves Notes PR for sending me an advanced readers copy of ‘Iced’, I throughly enjoyed reading it.
This book was a slow burn but I was all here for the chemistry and tension between Clayton and Grace. Clayton and Grace met at a party when Clayton went upstairs and found Grace reading a book outside his door. A friendship is born between the two, then Grace becomes Clayton’s tutor and then slowly as times goes by their friendship starts to turn into something more. I love how Grace and Clayton’s relationship flowed. Clayton was so sweet and outgoing when Grace was shy and quiet but she had a bit of a sass to her. I loved them together and they are one of my favourite personal fav couples.
Overall Rating: 4 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice Rating: 2 🔥🔥
Tropes:
- College Hockey Romance
- Opposites Attract
- Friends To Lovers
- Slow Burn
- Tutor x Athlete
- Found Family
- Virgin Heroine
- Oblivious To Love
- No 3rd Act Break Up
I’d like to say thank you to the author Cala Riley and Loves Notes PR for sending me an advanced readers copy of ‘Iced’, I throughly enjoyed reading it.
This book was a slow burn but I was all here for the chemistry and tension between Clayton and Grace. Clayton and Grace met at a party when Clayton went upstairs and found Grace reading a book outside his door. A friendship is born between the two, then Grace becomes Clayton’s tutor and then slowly as times goes by their friendship starts to turn into something more. I love how Grace and Clayton’s relationship flowed. Clayton was so sweet and outgoing when Grace was shy and quiet but she had a bit of a sass to her. I loved them together and they are one of my favourite personal fav couples.
September 23, 2024
ICED by Cala Riley 💙
Rating: 1⭐
Clayton James 💙
Clayton James is a talented hockey player on the Walker University's hockey team, who dreams of getting drafted into a professional team. He is devoted to hockey with no social life or distractions, but that changes when he meets her.
Grace Myers 💙
Grace is a freshman at Walker University. Heartbroken in high school by her best friend, Kellan, she is still best friends with him with those dormant feelings. But, when she is needed to tutor one of the hockey players on the university's team, everything changes for her.
The main characters of the story are Clayton and Grace, who are initially strangers but eventually grow close and fall in love.
Is there a plot present that I'm missing, or is there none in the first place? Of course, it is the latter. There is no plot.💀
The beginning was good, with a little backstory about Grace and Kellan in their high school years. It was amazing to read about how they grew close, how Grace fell in love with Kellan, and how she expressed her feelings to him only to have him reject her, stating that it would be better if they remained best friends.💔Then they start attending Walker University as freshmen, and Grace still has feelings for Kellan, but she forces herself to view him solely as her friend. However, she later meets Clayton at a party. At this point, the love triangle trope showed up, and I'm not a fan.😬
Slowly, Clayton and Grace begin to develop feelings for each other. Here, Kellan irritated me.😒After rejecting her, he continued dating other women, saying Grace was his best friend and nothing more. However, once he noticed Clay and Grace getting along, he was annoyed. WHAT? You strung her along while dating other women, and now you're whining that she's falling for someone else? Clayton and Grace fall in love with each other and this causes a rift between both men.🥱
For the rest of the story, Grace keeps comparing Clayton with Kellan and pointing out how Clayton is a much better person and friend than Kellan was to her. She questions how she could have fallen for a shallow guy like Kellan. Despite that, she still wants to be his best friend, but he disagrees and confesses his love for her. She dismisses him and tells him that she is in love with Clayton. Honestly, Kellan treated Grace like shit. He just kept her waiting.🤷♀️
Regarding the characters, Grace is a typical college student, Clayton is a hockey player for his college team and Kellan is a self-absorbed asshole. There isn't anything else I can say about the characters.👀 The character development was lacking, the romance was dry, and the tiny amount of spice was cringeworthy. The entire book made me cringe.🤡
I did, however, adore the friend group. The found family aspect was heart-warming. The one star I've given is for this.🩷
Overall, I can say this book made me cringe like hell.🫠
Rating: 1⭐
Clayton James 💙
Clayton James is a talented hockey player on the Walker University's hockey team, who dreams of getting drafted into a professional team. He is devoted to hockey with no social life or distractions, but that changes when he meets her.
Grace Myers 💙
Grace is a freshman at Walker University. Heartbroken in high school by her best friend, Kellan, she is still best friends with him with those dormant feelings. But, when she is needed to tutor one of the hockey players on the university's team, everything changes for her.
The main characters of the story are Clayton and Grace, who are initially strangers but eventually grow close and fall in love.
Is there a plot present that I'm missing, or is there none in the first place? Of course, it is the latter. There is no plot.💀
The beginning was good, with a little backstory about Grace and Kellan in their high school years. It was amazing to read about how they grew close, how Grace fell in love with Kellan, and how she expressed her feelings to him only to have him reject her, stating that it would be better if they remained best friends.💔Then they start attending Walker University as freshmen, and Grace still has feelings for Kellan, but she forces herself to view him solely as her friend. However, she later meets Clayton at a party. At this point, the love triangle trope showed up, and I'm not a fan.😬
Slowly, Clayton and Grace begin to develop feelings for each other. Here, Kellan irritated me.😒After rejecting her, he continued dating other women, saying Grace was his best friend and nothing more. However, once he noticed Clay and Grace getting along, he was annoyed. WHAT? You strung her along while dating other women, and now you're whining that she's falling for someone else? Clayton and Grace fall in love with each other and this causes a rift between both men.🥱
For the rest of the story, Grace keeps comparing Clayton with Kellan and pointing out how Clayton is a much better person and friend than Kellan was to her. She questions how she could have fallen for a shallow guy like Kellan. Despite that, she still wants to be his best friend, but he disagrees and confesses his love for her. She dismisses him and tells him that she is in love with Clayton. Honestly, Kellan treated Grace like shit. He just kept her waiting.🤷♀️
Regarding the characters, Grace is a typical college student, Clayton is a hockey player for his college team and Kellan is a self-absorbed asshole. There isn't anything else I can say about the characters.👀 The character development was lacking, the romance was dry, and the tiny amount of spice was cringeworthy. The entire book made me cringe.🤡
I did, however, adore the friend group. The found family aspect was heart-warming. The one star I've given is for this.🩷
Overall, I can say this book made me cringe like hell.🫠
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