The Sweetest Chirp

IceCats #6

by Toni Aleo

Audrina

I ran.
I left everything I knew, and I didn’t look back.
I have loved my best friend since I the moment I knew what love was. While I adore a good best-friends-to-lovers trope, that was never our story. We danced around each other, skated along the line but didn’t cross it, and I never knew why. Until one night, I took matters into my own hands. Doing a challenge from social media, I thought I had my best friend right where I wanted him.
As mine.
Just when I thought we were going to be together forever in the all the ways I had dreamed of, he pulled the rug out from under me. He broke my heart in a matter of seconds, and I had no choice but to take off.
After three years, I thought I was in the clear; I thought I’d never see him again, and I was finally building a life. Maybe not one I’d wanted, but one I loved.
I should have known better.
Thatcher Orlov would never give up.
He’s found me, and now I not only have to face him, but everything I left behind.
And everything I’ve hidden.


Thatcher

It’s not everyone who can say their best friend was born the same day as they were and slept in the bassinet beside them in the hospital.
But Audrina and I can.
She is all I’ve known my whole life.
Every huge moment, Audrina was there. When I was drafted, when I won my gold medals, and even through all my hockey-related injuries. She had always been my rock, my stable ground when everything felt off-kilter. We spent our whole lives in some kind of limbo where it felt like we were in a relationship, but we weren’t. While the lines were blurred, my feelings for her weren’t.
It took one song to ignite a fire brighter than any I’d ever witnessed, but I ruined it all by letting my jealousy get in the way. She took off, leaving me behind. And in the three years since she left, there hasn’t been a moment I haven’t been looking for her. I need her—not only as my best friend, but as mine.
But now, I’ve not only found her…I’ve found she isn’t alone.
My world is turned upside down in a matter of seconds, and while I’m know for my chirping on the ice, her voice is the sweetest chirp I’ve ever heard.

Genres: Romance, Sports, Second Chance, Sports Romance, Hockey, Friends To Lovers, Hockey Romance

294 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 28, 2025

About the author

WALL STREET JOURNAL, NEW YORK TIMES AND USA TODAY BEST SELLING AUTHOR TONI ALEO IS AN AUTHOR YOU CAN'T MISS!

make sure to Join my Mailing List: https://www.subscribepage.com/toniale...

My name is Toni aleo and I'm a #PredHead, #sherrio, #potterhead, and part of the #familybusiness!

I am also a wife to my amazing husband, mother of a wrestler and a gymnast, and also a fur momma to Phoebe, Gaston el Papillon & Winston.

You can usually find me hollering for the whole Nashville Predators since I'll never give my heart to one player again. When I'm not in the gym getting swole, I'm usually writing, trying to make my dreams a reality or being a taxi for my kids. I'm obsessed with Harry Potter, Supernatural, Disney and anything that sparkles! I'm pretty sure I was Belle in a past life and if I could be on any show it would be supernatural so I can hunt with Sam and Dean.

Also, could I LOVE hockey anymore?

Reviews

[Christy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25 stars

I love Toni Aleo's hockey books and her IceCat's series is one of my favorites. I was so excited to be back in the IceCat's world and read Thatcher and Audrina's story. Though there were things about it I enjoyed and I always love Toni's writing, it had my least favorite troupe and I just couldn't get over Not just the secret baby troupe... but the fact that she hid the baby from EVERYONE for almost three years. insanity..

[Juniper · Rating 2 out of 5]

Forgive me for the length of this review. I’m trying to be better with giving details so I can remember the books later on.

‼️SPOILERS‼️SPOILERS‼️SPOILERS‼️

Series/Standalone: This is book number 6 in the series. I haven’t read any of the previous books and I didn’t feel like I was missing anything so I’d say it does well as a standalone.

POV: Duel first person

Safety Info: It was fine in my opinion. They have both been with other people but there is nothing that we have to read about on page other then some references to her hooking up with his teammate and him having hooked up with women before. During the separation she is celibate while he says there were “a few” after she left but no one in over 2 years (I have further thoughts about this that I will explain below). Neither have been in a relationship with others, they only had hook-ups. He doesn’t seem to be a manwhore.

Hero: Thatcher, 25-28 years old, Hockey Player.

Heroine: Audrina, 25-28 years old, Physical Therapist/Waitress

OW Drama: None

OM Drama: Not really. He is butthurt because she slept with his teammate but they weren’t together and at that point and she didn’t even know that he had feelings for her beyond friends. There is also the incident that led to her leaving where he walked in on her treating a teammate(she was the team’s PT) and didn’t like how it looked and went off on her. There was truly nothing happening between her and the guy except some mild flirting.

Intimacy: The first chapter details their first time together 3 years in the past. After they reconcile there is some sexual tension but nothing happens until around 85%.

3rd Act Breakup/Separation: They are separated for 3 years

The Plot: Thatcher and Audrina have been best friends their whole lives. Their parents are all best friends and created a compound where they live next door to each other. When Thatcher’s mom gave birth to him, there was a baby girl born on the same day whose mother didn’t want her, she was in the nursery next to Thatcher and that’s how Audrina’s parents came to find and adopt her.

Both have been in love with each other since very young but neither let on about their feelings, scared to mess up their friendship if the other didn’t feel the same way. They are pretty much a couple except for the intimacy. They share an apartment, do everything together and even work at the same place. They each have hook ups but no relationships with other people.

At the start of the book, they finally give in to their feelings and kiss which leads to a night of hot sex. All is great, right? Well not exactly. The next day Thatcher comes across Audrina while she is treating one of his team members. He doesn’t like their flirty comments or the way they are touching each other while she’s maneuvering him in a stretch. He’s also still feeling some kind of way about the fact that Audrina had slept with Thatcher’s teammate 6 months before. This causes him to go off and make accusations about Audrina sleeping with his teammates. He outright calls her a whore and then tells her that if she ends up pregnant from their night together (they didn’t use a condom) she better not try to pass it off as his without DNA evidence since she is obviously sleeping with everyone on the team. He really was vile and uncalled for and even worse, he said these things in front of a bunch of team members at the place where she works.

Audrina is understandably upset and humiliated and runs off. She ends up going to her parents and then decides to run away to “find herself” and leaves letters for her parents and Thatcher’s sister telling them not to try to find her and that she needs time and space. She also leaves a letter for Thatcher telling him to fuck off.

Audrina ends up in a small town in Virginia where she is taken in by the owner of a diner who gives her a waitressing job and a small apartment to live in. She soon finds out she’s pregnant and feels she can’t return home now because of what Thatcher said and she is scared their rift will come between their parents.

Three years pass and after looking for her this whole time, the PI that Thatcher hired finally tracks her down. She’s living under a different identity and has changed her appearance by dying her hair, wearing glasses and covering her freckles with makeup. She’s also gained weight.

Thatcher and two friends make the trip to see if it’s really her and when he stops her to confront her, it comes out that she has a daughter…Thatcher’s daughter. Arwen is 2 years old and like Thatcher’s father and his sister, she was born partially deaf. She wears hearing aids and knows sign language. Thatcher is immediately in love with her but obviously angry and upset that Audrina kept her from him.

From there the story details how he brings Audrina and Arwin home where they are reunited with all the parents and Thatcher’s sister. Nobody had heard a word from Audrina for 3 years so naturally they are thrilled that she’s home but confused about why she left. Thatcher and Audrina both refuse to give any details about what happened between them but everyone knows he must have done something really bad to make Audrina run away. Then they meet Arwen and they are shocked and hurt but also immediately in love with the little girl.

Thatcher pretty quickly forgives Audrina for keeping his daughter from him and wants to be a family as he’s never stopped loving her. Audrina is more wary and doesn’t want to open herself up to be hurt by Thatcher again.

HEA/Epilogue: HEA with her pregnant again and they get engaged.

My Thoughts: I really don’t know why I read this book. It has friends to lovers, which I loathe. It has second chance at love which I almost never like and it has a secret baby which usually annoys me. Three tropes that I try to stay far away from and this one has all three.

Anyway, let me start with the good. It was well written and flowed pretty well. The pace was decent until about the 80% mark when I was just ready for it to be done but honestly I think that was just a me thing. As the 6th book in the series it worked really well as a standalone which a lot of authors struggle with. There wasn’t too much information about previous book characters to where it was like an info dump, but just enough that I never felt confused about who they were.

Now on to what I didn’t like so much.

I didn’t like Audrina. The whole premise of her running away and then staying away for 3 years was ridiculous. This is a woman who has had an idyllic life surrounded by two sets of amazing parents who love, spoil and support her. She has a good career as a Physical Therapist and there doesn’t seem to be anything in her life that is problematic except for her feelings for Thatcher. All this makes it really hard for me to believe that she saw no other option than to run away and ghost everyone in her life for 3 years. I get that she was hurt and devastated by Thatcher’s words, but her reaction was over the top and stupid. I could maybe understand a little more if she was 18 or even 20 years old. But she was a 25 year old grown ass woman with a career.

On top of that, everyone was constantly saying what a good mother she was to Arwen. I disagree. When Arwen was born partially deaf, Audrina knew a lot about what she needed because of Thatcher’s father and sister. She knew that Arwen would need specialists, therapy and equipment, none of which are cheap. Now, this woman has a degree to be a Physical Therapist which would come with a good paycheck and benefits. But she’s decided she’d rather work as a waitress, live in a studio apartment where neither of them even have a bedroom and she has no health insurance. So while she did the best she could with what she could afford, Arwen did not have the things she needed. The things that Audrina very easily could have provided if she went back to work as a PT or if she reached out to her wealthy parents or her wealthy baby daddy. Instead, Arwen has to suffer from chronic ear infections, the hearing aids she has are sub-par and she can’t get her in to see a specialist because they won’t take self pay. Later it’s determined that she’s very behind in her speech and needs speech therapy. So I find it hard to accept that she’s being touted as this amazing mother when she consciously decides to forgo proper care for her daughter because she’s too afraid to see her (very loving) parents and baby daddy.

Also, a good mother does not keep the child from a man who she knows is a good person and would be a good father. That one incident aside, she’s known Thatcher her whole life and knows he’s a good man. She’s told Arwen all about her Daddy and grandparents and has shown her pictures. So the kid knows she’s got people out there that would love her and she even cries about wanting her Daddy but Audrina still keeps them away. That’s not a good mother to me, that’s an immature and selfish woman. Single mothers all over the world who have no choice but to struggle to provide for their kids would kill to have the support and advantages that she just willingly threw away. Nobody really confronts her about any of this either. It’s said a few times that it wasn’t right for her to keep Thatcher’s baby from him and he’s upset about Arwen not having good hearing aids, but then it’s dropped. Every time she starts to feel guilty she is coddled and told that she’s forgiven. She should have had to answer for her neglect.

She’s also a bad daughter and friend. Her poor parents didn’t know if she was alive for 3 years! She couldn’t have sent them a postcard or called from a burner phone to let them know she was ok? She’s a miserable cow.

Thatcher was ok. Other than his one melt down and saying nasty things in the beginning he was pretty much the perfect Dad and wannabe boyfriend. I honestly don’t know why he wanted Audrina. He should have fought for custody and told Audrina to run away out of their lives again.

There wasn’t much drama even though all the components were there that should have given us some good angst. But everything was quickly presented and then fixed. It was honestly a little boring.

Ok and the last thing that I didn’t like since this review might just be longer than the book at this point. At 80% Thatcher admits that he slept with a few girls right after Audrina left but he hasn’t been with anyone in over 2 years. This confused me. At that time he knew he was in love with her. He had a PI looking for her and was devastated that she left. He said his plan was always to find her and bring her home and start a life with her. So, how did all that lead him to sleeping with other women? There are no details given about the circumstances or where he was emotionally to allow himself to be with other women. It’s just strange to me that he would have been sleeping around shortly after she left. I’d almost understand it more if he was celibate for a few years and then loses hope and sleeps with someone. To have it be the opposite doesn’t go with his character. It’s almost like the author thought she had to make him be not celibate but she didn’t know why either.

Overall, not a horrible book at all but nothing special either. I don’t think I’ll be continuing with the series as there is nothing that really stands out about it over a myriad of other hockey romance books.

Page Length: 294

Borrowed thru Kindle Unlimited

[Belle (on hiatus)]

She remained celibate and he didn’t… enough said, right? 😤

[Sue · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Sweetest Chirp is the sixth installment in Toni Aleo’s IceCats series, a hockey romance spin-off of her Nashville Assassins series. It follows childhood best friends Audrina and Thatcher, whose once-unbreakable bond was shattered by a misunderstanding. Years later, Thatcher returns, determined to make amends—but Audrina has been keeping secrets that could change everything. As they navigate their complicated history, they must decide whether love and forgiveness are enough to rebuild what was lost.

The second-chance romance premise had potential, and the emotional weight of rekindling a childhood friendship added depth to the story. Certain moments, particularly those centered around family dynamics and personal growth, felt genuine and heartfelt.

One of the book’s biggest highlights is Arwen, Audrina and Thatcher’s daughter. She is a bright, lovable child with a strong personality, and her interactions with both parents create some of the most touching moments in the book. As a bridge between Audrina and Thatcher, she adds emotional depth to their journey, making their struggles feel more significant. Arwen’s character is well-written and brings warmth to the story, reminding readers of what’s truly at stake in their reconciliation.

However, the central conflict felt repetitive and drawn out longer than necessary. Instead of meaningful character development, the story often relied on miscommunication and hesitation, making Thatcher’s redemption arc feel unconvincing. His growth as a character lacked depth, and his attempts to win back Audrina never fully carried the emotional weight needed to make their reunion satisfying.

While The Sweetest Chirp had a promising setup, its execution fell flat. Fans of Toni Aleo’s writing may still find moments to enjoy, but for me, the story lacked the emotional impact and strong character development needed to make it truly memorable.

[yesenia (Caligirlheartsbooks) · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really had high hopes for this story based off the blurb. I had it saved on my TBR and was salivating to read it.

It was ok, the communication issue was getting annoying so fast. The fact that Audrina hid what he said to her from the family was stupid just to preserve his feelings. Then her disappearing for 3 years over what he said was stupid too.

Thatcher sucked as a H. He had no growth development and I was giving him the benefit of the doubt and expecting more right until 79-80% he admits he still slept with girls after she left but meant “nothing” but he was devastated she disappeared because he loved her? Really wtf, gross. But it had been over two years!!! And she had been gone for 3, give me a break. Why cant authors like never write non man whores? While the h is celibate. He had 0 remorse too:

“But it’s funny that I was labeled a whore, but I’m the one who’s been celibate.” His brows furrow as he exhales. “You were never a whore.”

After that I skipped the rest and was left so unsatisfied, kinda regret spending the money tbh.

[Melissa Wilks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 6 in the ICE CATS series, The Sweetest Chirp brings together Audrina and Thatcher and the connection they've had since birth.
3 years ago Audrina ran and hit, taking a secret with her, now Thatcher has found her... and their daughter.
This was such a great read and I really liked the growth of the characters.
Thankyou StoryOrigin and Toni Aleo for rhe opportunity to read and review this book.

[Nikenya Rodney · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an emotional book. Thatcher and Audrina were best friends who secretly loved each other, pined for each other and eventually hurt each other because they failed to communicate properly. Audrina left home three years ago and Thatcher has been searching for her. He finds her and she doesn’t want to be found but she needed to be found. She was struggling financially while trying to heal emotionally and mentally. She was really not feeling Thatcher. Thatcher is so happy to have found her but he gets the shock of his life. He wants to be upset but he knows that he’s partially to blame for the situation that they are in. He has to suck it up for both of their sakes.

This book was a lot. A lot of hurt, a lot of emotions and a lot of love. That love helped this couple to overcome and it was beautiful.

[Patricia (Spellbound Stories Trish) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thatcher and Audrina…wow so many emotions.

I was unsure how I felt about what she did but as the story unfolded more and we learn what happened I totally got it. I get why she stayed away and was scared. I also wanted to punch Thatcher and though she owed an apology to her parents and Thatchers I don’t feel she owed a single sorry to Thatcher because what he said…HORRIBLE.

I am so happy she made him work for it though!

[Cindy (BKind2Books) · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a sweet gem of a book! The IceCats series - a spin-off of the Nashville Assassins series - is a lot of fun. I've enjoyed all the books in this series and, while you absolutely don't need to have read them all, I think it does add to the enjoyment as the main characters from the previous books do show up here. Audrina and Thatcher have also appeared as supporting characters in those books and now they get their story.

Audrina and Thatcher's families lived next door to each other. They were best friends and inseparable. They have loved each other for a long time but have been unable to act on their feelings for fear of upsetting their friendship and dividing their families. When the inevitable happens, there is a misunderstanding and Audrina decides to get away to get herself together and ends up staying away for 3 years for reasons that become apparent as the story moves on. Both of these characters have difficulty communicating and it's very frustrating, given that they've lived with each other since birth. So most of the book is Thatcher trying to win back Audrina's trust and Audrina fighting against her fears and insecurities. Even so, the story is filled with lots of tender moments and you cannot help but root for these two to come together.

This was an easy read and it's a lot of fun getting to their HEA. I loved Thatcher's sister, Ingrid, and think that we may get to her story sometime in the future.

[Emily Utsch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lifelong friends, 2nd chance, involved family, hockey, and hot spice with a lot of heart.

This is not the first book in the series, but it can be read as a complete stand-alone. However I think you will get more out of it if you have read the other books as you have met some of the characters before. But don’t let that deter you. This can be a stand-alone. But it will make you want to read all the other books!

You will get some fun little Easter eggs though if you have read some of the other series. But they are just minor, so if you haven't read the books you won't miss anything. But if you have the Easter eggs will give you quite a giggle.

[Jenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh another fantastic addition to the Icecats! I adored Thatcher, even if he had a moment of craziness lol. I loved how he won Audrina over again. I loved how strong she was but that she wasn't too stubborn in forgiving. And the family feels are so, so good!!

[Leigh Sonnekus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another stellar book from Toni Aleo!
Any book from Toni is an automatic buy for me and The Sweetest Chirp is no exception. Set in the world of the Ice Cats, but is a standalone, we finally get Thatcher and Audrina’s story and, let me tell you, it’s a goody!!
Best friends, literally, from the day they were born; both Audrina and Thatcher are secretly in love with each other and both of them are too scared to make a move, for fear they would lose each other completely. But then one night, thanks to a popular social media trend, an experimental kiss turns into one of the most amazing nights of their lives. Unfortunately, the next day, some nasty things are said and Audrina decides to cut her losses and run, leaving behind 3 letters that the book opens with.
Cut to 3 years later and Thatcher is still desperately trying to find Audrina to bring her home. He knows it’s his fault she ran and all he wants is to find her, beg her to forgive him, get her to go home with him and, most importantly, be his. He also promised his younger sister Ingrid, who was exceptionally close to Audrina, that he will bring her back and their sibling relationship pretty much depends on him doing so.
Audrina cannot believe that Thatcher managed to find her, considering she was mostly living off the grid. She never meant to stay away this long but a lot had happened in those 3 years and she had not been able to face the idea of going home and, possibly, facing rejection and more hurt.
When Thatcher realizes what Audrina has kept hidden from him, and their families, it takes a lot for him to not act like before and simply rage out. This is the first indication in how much Audrina’s leaving had lead to his growth - that thinking before he spoke, carefully considering his words and Audrina’s perspective. He immediately rises to the challenge of being the man that she needs, gently taking control - but not forcing her to capitulate - and slowly fixing what he broke 3 years ago.
As for Audrina? She’s so flipping scared! Scared to trust Thatcher, scared to face their families and scared to give in to what her heart (and hormones!) want most - a HEA with Thatcher. Despite her fears, she trusts Thatcher enough to make the journey home and to stand by her, as their families discover her secret.
While Thatcher and Audrina slowly find their way back into each other’s heart (and bed!), you can’t help but enjoy the ride with them - especially with Ingrid and Arwen as side characters! It’s not an easy road and Audrina has a bit to overcome, thanks to the lingering effects of their initial fallout, but they do get there in the end; amid a lot of laughs, some tears and some hot sex! 🔥❤️
Well done Toni, on another excellent read and I really hope that we will get Ingrid’s story soon, I have a feeling that’s going to be hawt!

[Ashley · Rating 1 out of 5]

0.5/5 - A Jarring Read

Edit: I have so much regret picking up this book to read. It should have been a DNF. I genuinely don’t understand the high ratings. It’s like I didn’t read the same book as everyone else did. Where was the story? The only good thing about this was that it represented a disability. Outside of that, the drama was unnecessary and lukewarm and the characters were a supreme disappointment not to mention horribly juvenile.

You have a MMC who is an actual Sasquatch in both manners and demeanor putting heavy blame on a woman he broke. He claimed to love her but hurts her and gets jealous of potential partners she may have had in the three years they were apart. Meanwhile, he sleeps around (still claiming he loves her btw) during their separation and thinks it’s okay because, well it’s her that ran away. Yet another POS MMC and doormat FMC HEA.

The premise of Audrina running away to “find herself” was completely idiotic. She was 25 when she “ran”, a full fledged adult with a stable career, and she throws it all way just because some Neanderthal degenerate called her mean names. She could have used her degree to better support herself and her daughter and yet she wanted to cosplay poor and work at a diner for three years living paycheck to paycheck, no insurance with a hard-of-hearing toddler. Clearly her brain never caught up to the full development that was suppose to happened at that age.

Kudos to the strong and clearly loyal fanbase of this author to be able to ignore all the plot holes and mistakes of this “contemporary romance.” I gave it a shot but tepid tea is just not for me.

*****

Not so much so with the storyline, as predictable as it was for a surprise pregnancy trope. It’s the writing itself that made it difficult to get through. The writing was if I was reading a freshman high schooler’s diary entries. There was no structural consistency and the voice was all over the place. At one point during a flashback chapter, the writing broke the fourth wall and addressed me, the reader then jumped right back into the scene like it never happened.

The characters were also underdeveloped. Thatcher and Audrina lack the character dynamic and maturity to portray believable adults. The story could really benefit from a proper editor. The potential was there but far from reached.

[Mia Book Addict · Rating 5 out of 5]

Toni Aleo has done it again! ‘‘The Sweetest Chirp’’ is everything I love about her books—angst, swoony romance, and a hero who is absolutely determined to win back his love. If you’re a fan of second-chance romance, childhood best friends finally getting their shot, and a little surprise that makes everything even more emotional, then trust me, you NEED to read this one.

Audrina and Thatcher have been inseparable since birth—literally. Born on the same day, raised side by side, always skirting the line between best friends and something more. But just when Audrina thought they were finally getting their happily ever after, Thatcher broke her heart, and she ran. Three years later, she’s built a new life for herself, but Thatcher is not the kind of man to let go that easily. And when he finds her again, he discovers something that changes everything—she didn’t leave alone.

From the moment Thatcher finds Audrina, he is ‘all in’. There’s no hesitation, no doubt—he wants her back, and he’ll do whatever it takes. And let’s talk about how completely smitten he is with Arwen, their daughter! The way he immediately steps into the role of dad? My heart could barely take it. He’s protective, persistent, and so completely in love with both of them. Swoon.

And speaking of Arwen—oh my goodness, this little girl stole the show. She’s smart, feisty, and absolutely adorable. She’s the perfect blend of both her parents, and the way she instantly connects with Thatcher is just beautiful. Watching her interact with both of them, you can feel how much love she brings to their world. She’s not just a side character—she’s the heart of this story. Every scene she was in had me grinning or tearing up (sometimes both).

But it’s not all smooth sailing. Audrina still carries the hurt from the past, and their communication struggles make it frustrating (in the best way possible) to watch them navigate their feelings. There were moments I wanted to shake them both and yell, “JUST TALK TO EACH OTHER!” But honestly, that’s what made their journey feel so real. Love isn’t always easy, and Aleo does an incredible job showing how messy, complicated, and worth it it can be.

And can we talk about the ‘moms’? Their bickering, meddling, and absolute refusal to stay out of their kids’ lives was hilarious. I adore how Aleo writes families—messy, loving, and completely invested in each other’s happiness.

Overall, ‘‘The Sweetest Chirp’’ is everything I want in a romance—angst, passion, laughter, and a hero who never stops fighting for his girl. If you love a second-chance romance with a side of hockey, family drama, and an adorable little girl who steals the show, this book is a must-read.
Happy reading!

Would I recommend this book: Yes
Would I re-read this book: Already done :)
Would I read future books by this author: Yes


e-ARC kindly provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

[Veronica Pham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Spice: 🌶️.5/5

•Thatcher & Audrina
The Icecats book 6

Star player of the Icecats, Thatcher Orlov, has been killing it on the ice, but for years, his personal life has been hanging on by a thread. Three years ago, this best friend & first love walked out of his life, abandoning him and their families without a second glance. Thatcher was the catalyst that made her leave, & he’s held onto that secret ever since. Since the day Audrina left, Thatcher’s looked for her. After finally getting a hit from his PI, he’s determined to bring his girl home…what he never expected was the also find a little girl who resembles him and shares the same genetic hearing impairment his sister and dad have. Now more than ever, he’s determined to bring his girl, his family, home—with him, where they belong. 🤭

Audrina Hawkins has always known that Thatcher Orlov was her soulmate. When she finally found the guts to show him how she’s felt for years, it blew up in her face. The immense embarrassment she felt is what pushed her to leave the only home & family she’s ever known. Audrina always planned to return home, but has the months flew by, she knew it’d was harder explaining why she left. At the end of the day, she had to do what was best for her, & her daughter. But she knows Thatcher, & it was only a matter of time until he found her. So when he finds her & lays eyes on his daughter for the first time, Audrina accepts that maybe it is time to go home, because what’s best for her daughter is to be surrounded by a family who love & accept her.

I’m such a sucker for a second chance romance, and I adored Thatcher & Audrina’s story! It’s a true “it was always you” story & the depth of their history only added to the sweetness! 🥰 Although I did not agree with by Audrina stayed away, I empathized with her. I love how despite their history, she never stood in the way of Thatcher being the father she always knew he’d be! Overall, this was such a sweet and quick read! 🖤

*available on KU

[Jill Kerich · Rating 5 out of 5]

Toni Aleo is by far my favorite author and her newest Ice Cats book is further validation that she is the queen of hockey romance and she never ceases to amaze me with tackling tough issues.
Thatcher and Audrina have been best friends since they were in bassinets next to each other when they were born, fell in love at seven, and were best friends. Never acting on their feelings for each other, they came together finally in their early twenties and spent one night together before harsh words tore them apart and Audrina left.
Thatcher tried for three years to find Audrina while pursuing his NHL dreams and finally, he’s found her. He makes the trip to see her, and hopefully bring her back home when he discovers she has a little girl, who looks exactly like him. More than looks, she also has the same hearing disability that both his sister and father have. It takes all of five seconds for Thatcher to be smitten by this little girl and since Audrina has shared pictures and stories of Thatcher and their families with baby Arwen, she feels the same way about her daddy.
Audrina agrees to come back home with Thatcher and he makes it clear to her that they belong together and will be a family.
Oh boy, every woman should have a man like Thatcher in their life! A man who has eyes only for her, a heart big enough for all his family and a little finger big enough for a sweet girl to wrap herself around.
Their reconciliation isn’t easy, but the love is so big and impossible to deny so it doesn’t take Audrina long before she realizes Thatcher is her missing piece.
A sweet, steamy story of second chance with a strong man, an independent woman and the love of a beautiful girl will have you wishing for more!

[Trudy Dowling · Rating 5 out of 5]

Happy Dance!! I was so thrilled to meet up with the IceCats once again. It has been over three years since Audrina fled the IceCats complex. She has just disappeared. I was going bonkers wanting to know what happened. The three letters she left behind weren't enough. They didn't share much.

There was a lot of reading between the lines with the letters. Thatcher's letter really had me questioning why. The nosey person in me couldn't wait to find out. The author grabbed my attention with three letters and I was hooked. My mind ran a muck guessing at what had happened. I couldn't wait for all to be revealed.

Thatcher's dedication to finding Audrina was inspirational. He didn't give up. He didn't care if she said not to look for her. He knew he needed to find her and bring her home. His family wanted her home. Her family wanted her home. Most importantly, Thatcher wanted her home.

Oh. My. Word. I soon found it necessary to let my reader cool down. The tension between Audrina and Thatcher is off the charts. Working things out isn't easy. The author had me questioning if it would ever happen.

Dealing with the last three plus years was excrutiating for me and them. I have been missing out. Because make up sex is off the charts. At least it is when Toni Aleo is writing it. Thatcher knows how to grovel. Thatcher has figured out what he needs to do. I can understand how he could make someone week at the knees. I might be using a walker for a week, maybe more.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Brianna · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Sweetest Chirp is a continuation of the Ice Cats series. It is a second chance romance with a surprise. Fans of Aleo’s series will recognize many of the characters from previous books, but do not necessarily need to read the rest of the series before this addition.
Audrina and Thatcher have known each other since birth. They grew up as best friends and then romantic feelings began to form. Unfortunately, after finally having a moment together a misunderstanding breaks them apart. In the aftermath, Audrina leaves town without letting anyone know how to contact her and Thatcher is forced to live with the consequences of his actions. This book picks back up 3 years later with a chance reconnection and surprise truths.
While I overall enjoyed this book, the two main characters could not communicate… at all. It was a pretty repetitive read from that standpoint and was frustrating as the point of this relationship was that it was between two lifelong friends. Additionally, the descriptives (ex. juicy, round, etc) were overused throughout the book. Readers can remember that a character has curves and large lips, it does not need to be repeated every time the character is on the page. It also irritated me throughout that there is a ~3-year-old who is at the developmental level of a 7-year-old. This was used as a device to showcase how good of a mother a character was, which just felt unnecessary. A 3-year-old can be a 3-year-old and still have a wonderful caregiver.
Overall, this was an easy, yet frustrating read. I think that it might be time for the author to step outside of this universe to refresh and then come back again to revisit some favorite characters.

3.5/5

[Jennifer Leigh (jenjenbookfan) · Rating 5 out of 5]

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐫𝐩 is the 6th book in the IceCats series by Toni Aleo, featuring an emotional best friends to lovers, second chance hockey romance for Thatcher and Audrina. Years of indelible friendship and mutual pining finally culminated in an explosion of passion that should have lead to a lifetime of happiness, but poor communication, trust issues and one painful confrontation ruined everything and sent Audrina running from everyone in her life! Thatcher searched for 3 years for her, but he never expected her to have someone with her…

Any excuse to return to Toni Aleo’s hockey world makes me a very happy girl, and this book was a great emotional roller coaster full of drama, angst, tension, plenty of spicy chemistry, some sugary sweet moments, and hockey action, too. I’ll admit I wanted to shake Thatcher and Audrina at times for their questionable decisions, but I was riveted by the drama, their obvious soul-deep connection, and the absolute adorable addition of Arwen. Her sharp intelligence might seem unusual to some, but I have a niece of a similar age who started talking in full sentences as soon as she had surgery to put tubes in her ears. I joke that Covid-era babies are smarter somehow.😆 I appreciated the attention to detail to the special needs aspect of the story. The meddling mothers were hilarious, and I adored Ingrid! My fingers are crossed that she gets a story! Aside from all the new characters, we also get funny scenes with some old favorites!! I can’t wait to see what’s next for the Assassins/IceCats world!!

I received an ARC for free, and am leaving this review voluntarily.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
🌶️🌶️🌶️

[Trish- Late Knight Luna Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love that we got another book in the “IceCats” series. “The Sweetest Chirp” is an emotional, romantic and sweet second chance/secret baby romance that I devoured in one sitting.

It’s been three years since Audrina and Thatcher had last seen each other after realizing that they wanted to be more than just best friends. But one thing said out of pain, Audrina packed up her things and left. Now Thatcher has found her working at a diner and she has a surprise that he didn’t know about, his daughter. Thatcher isn’t leaving without either of them and wants to bring them back home and beg Audrina to give him a second chance.

Audrina and Thatcher had such a sweet love story and I loved their second chance romance. Their history goes back far and I could tell how close they are even back then. Audrina is smart, passionate and has a genuine personality that I loved. I understood why she had chosen to run away after what happened with Thatcher. Even if she had kept the secret of their daughter. Thatcher is a good guy who loves his family deeply and from the moment he met his daughter, he was head over heels for her. Arwen is such a cute little girl and I loved the deaf representation in this book. Audrina and Thatcher had a lot to work though and they did it at the right pace and as adults. The chemistry they had was still strong and it helped bring them back together. It was great catching with the other characters from the previous books. The ending was so sweet and I loved reading this story.

[Luisa Turner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Toni!! You never disappoint girl!! This newest installment in the Ice Cat series brings us Thatcher and Audrina’s best friends to lovers story..
Growing up together, they were the best friends. They know each other inside and out and hid a love for the other that only a blind person could miss. But those blinders along with a HEAVY dose of miscommunication keeps these two apart for 3 years.
Fast forward those 3 years and they find each other again, and along with Audrina is a surprise of a lifetime… Arwen. I don’t care what you say, Arwen is the star of this book!
I love how Thatcher is committed to not only finding Audrina but making sure she is his. And as mad as he is at her, it still does not stand a chance of deterring him from loving her and making a life with her. In his mind, there is no other choice. 3 years without her was more than he could stand and he refusing to go another day.
Audrina for her part disappointed me a little. I know why she ran, but I hate that she stayed away. She did redeem herself in my eyes though with the way she was raising her daughter. The fact that Arwen knew of her family and father. The connection she was able to seamlessly have with all of them because Audrina made these people real and loving and a part of her life even when they haven’t met yet.
The chemistry was off the charts, and the side characters were here for their cameos.. Audrina’s momma is a dramatic mess and I actually laughed out loud at her antics.. lol
Can’t wait for the next story in the world Toni!!

[Carissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I started reading this book on a work night, which might have been a mistake, because it made for a very tired day the next day, as I could not stop reading and stayed up until 2 am. BUT I DON’T REGRET IT FOR A SECOND!!!

I loved Thatcher and Audrina’s story! They literally knew each other since the day they were born, sleeping in side by side bassinets. They grew up together as best friend, and fell in love young. But neither would take the first step for fear of ruining their friendship.

The best friends remain close and even live together as he plays for the IceCats and she is a physical therapist for the team. They are still harbouring secret feeling for each other. One night, when Audrina makes the first move, everything changes. The next day, they have an epic fight, which causes Audrina to feel like she needs to get away from Thatcher and their families to figure out where she goes from there. She asks her family not to look for her and promises to be back.

Three years of searching for Audrina, and Thatcher finally finds her. So many things have changed in the those years, so big things and some small, but their connection is still there. Together they struggle to overcome their fight, their secrets and figure out how to move forward. Thatcher insist they should be together and be and be an US (seriously it is one of most romantic things I have ever read), but Audrina does not know if she can get past everything.

This series is a must read! But start it early in the day when you can read the whole book, because it is too good to stop reading!!

[Tara Peters · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely adored this book. Thatcher and Audrina are childhood best friends who always wanted more with the other, but never acted on it. One night changed everything and they thought it would be smooth sailing. Unfortunately, a series of unfortunate events happen she runs away, leaving both of their families (they are best friends) and him heartbroken. Three years later Thatcher finds Audrina and vows to bring her home.

To say her realized his mistake right away is an understatement and I was glad that he didn’t give all the details to their parents, because it really isn’t their business. She never planned on staying away as long as she did, but she has a secret and believes it is easier to stay away. When he realizes what her secret is, his life changes. Even though he is furious about it and her staying away, he steps up.

Their connection is easy and they quickly fall back into a tentative friendship. He lets her know time and again that he isn’t going anywhere and that he will support her. I felt there were times when she was selfish and refused to see that she was in the wrong as well. I also liked how he realized that what happened needed to happen, to prove to them and their parents that they could handle their own lives.

I loved this book and Thatcher is everything a book boyfriend should be. I can’t wait to see what happens next in this series. I received an ARC and this is my honest, voluntary review.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓢𝔀𝓮𝓮𝓽𝓮𝓼𝓽 𝓒𝓱𝓲𝓻𝓹
𝙄𝙘𝙚𝘾𝙖𝙩𝙨 𝘽𝙤𝙤𝙠 6
🏒🍼💜🌶️

Thatcher and Audrina. Their lives have been connected since they were born. But even if you know someone your entire life, there can always be that moment when your trust is shattered and your life is turned upside down.

We don’t know why she ran, but she did and she kept running even though her heart was pulling her back home. He chased, and eventually found her. And he found the other love of his life.

Once he found her, they had to work together and discover what path their future would take. On top of working through their relationship with each other, their family is so intertwined that it becomes another hurdle to overcome.

While navigating trust issues and miscommunications, the passion between them is undeniable. We see how both of them have changed and matured during their 3 years apart. As frustrating as it was to know that she stayed away for 3 years, maybe that’s what they needed to get to where they are now.

The story is filled with all of the emotions - laughter and tears and so much spice! This was one of those books that I stayed up all night to finish because I felt so pulled into their

I loved all of the supporting characters!!! The IceCats whom I haven’t met yet (since this was my first IC book) made me giggle and smile (and drool). Ingrid needs her own HEA, and I’m sure Arwen will become just as feisty as her aunt! The banter between all of the parents added laughter. All of them together added so many layers to the story that just kept you reading. 🌟🌟🌟🌟

Tropes
🏒 Hockey romance
🍼 Secret baby
💜 Childhood friends
📚 Interconnected standalone
🏒 She ran, he found

Toni, if you didn’t have me before, you got me with this one. I’ve only read the Assassins series, and what I loved about jumping in to the IceCats series is seeing how your writing and stories have developed over the years. I may be late to discovering your stories, but I can’t wait to see what you have next 💜

[Trudy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a little disappointing!

They slept together 3yrs prior, he was a douche and was terrible to her when he felt that she was being flirty with one of his teammates during a PT session. He threatened that she better not be pregnant when he slept woth her without protection and she ran, as she was very much pregnant. He really humiliated her!!

She jas his kid who turns out to be hearing impaired but she is too broke to guve her the best treatment, even though she is from a wealthy family and he is a hockey superstar. She does though find money and time to be studying for her Masters (sideye, because what?!?!?!) Her little girl is in pain from wearing the wrong ear gear and instead of seeking out her parents and family she decides to stay hidden because she is afraid to go back to her past life because of what people will say...make it make sense!!!

The extremely disappointing part of this book is that possible over 75% of it is her feeling bad or being told off by people around her, she having to apologize for staying away, him having to apologize for being a douche with all the side characters in the book. They hardly spent any time together once he found her with the exception of 1 date and they the sleep together again and decide that this is it for them. This happens close to the 80% mark. The reader doesn't get the opportunity to see their relationship be fleshed out and see them together for much of the book. Disappointing!!

[Meredith · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Sweetest Chirp
Author- Toni Aleo
Series- IceCats Series Book #6
Rating- 3.5 Stars out of 5
Genres- Sports Romance, Contemporary Romance
Tropes- Hockey, Childhood Best Friends, Families Are BFFs, Secret Baby, He Messed Up, Disability Representation in Side Characters, Lack of Communication
Main Characters- Audrina and Thatcher
Spice Level- /5
HEA

I really wanted to like this book but from the beginning of the book I found both Audrina and Thatcher to be super annoying. The crux of their issues is that they don't communicate with one another properly. They both love each other and suspect the other loves back but neither of them is willing to just say how they feel. Then after they sleep together rather than fess up right then and there neither says anything. He then gets jealous and says cruel things to her, he immediately regrets it, but she literally runs away from home, her job and family, her ENTIRE LIFE!! Because she got into a fight with a man… it just bothered me. Don’t get me wrong, in no way am I condoning how Thatcher treated Audrina I just think both of them reacted very immaturely.
I did enjoy the secret baby aspect it is a favorite trope of mine and I think it was well written. While this definitely isn't my favorite Toni Aleo book I did enjoy it overall.

[Vanessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading The Sweetest Chirp by Toni Aleo. While this book can be read as a stand alone, I recommend reading the series from the beginning because the characters from the other books do show up. I did not start with book one and I will be doing that having read this book. Right from the start we are thrown into the drama which had me intrigued as to what happened.

The story starts off with Audrina writing out letters for her parents, friend, and Thatcher who happens to be her best friend and the guy who broke her heart. Fast forward to 3 years later and we learn that Thatcher has been looking for Audrina this whole time and doesn't expect to find out her biggest secret once he does. Audrina never meant to stay gone for three years and she didn't mean to hide such a big secret, but when she made the decision to stay gone she was still young and afraid of rejection. Thatcher has to convince her that she should come home for more than just her sake. Both Thatcher and Audrina have been in love with each other for years without the other knowing or really expressing their true feelings for fear of rejection from the other and it led to a lot of miscommunication. These two eventually get it right and have a happily ever after.

[Jillian · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Sweetest Chirp takes us to the story of Audrina and Thatcher. If you are like me and read all of Toni’s books, you would recognize them from Ice Cat books. If you haven’t read them, it’s okay. The story can be a stand-alone, but I would recommend reading the other Ice Cat books because they are a good read. Thatcher and Audrina grew up together and always skirted around each other, but neither one wanted to make the first move. Well, a move was made, and then there was some miscommunication, sadness, and drama for the next couple of years. Some actions by the characters seemed a bit abrupt, and maybe they needed some growing up to do, but Toni always writes a story with a purpose. I have to say, though, I think the secondary characters Arwen and Ingrid stole the show for me. Their scenes were heartwarming and entertaining. I have a feeling this won’t be the last time we hear from Ingrid. I never want to give too much plot away in a review because that’s the best part of reading- unraveling the plot and seeing how it all comes together. This book is a little less spicy than other books but still great nonetheless. If you like the second chance trope, hockey, and quality, then give this book a read!

[Clara Deoliveira · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Sweetest Chirp

When we were introduced to Audrina and Thatcher in All The Sauce I was hoping they would get a book of their own. So I was very excited when I learned that this was the next Ice Cats Series.

They were best friends practically since birth but always dancing around each other when it came to being more that. Audrina loved Thatcher with all her heart but in one crazy turn of events he broke both of their hearts and so she ran. She didn’t plan to stay away for so long but life as a way of changing your plans and three years later she was still gone.

Thatcher has one big regret in his life and that would be Audrina. He didn’t handle things well three years ago but now that he found her he planned on bringing her home except she wasn’t alone.

As they navigate the changes that have happened in their lives Thatcher needs to prove that he has changed and she can trust him. Audrina on the other hand needs to face her decisions and their parents sooner rather later.

Their story is a turn of events I never excepted but I throughly enjoyed. It was heavy with a lot of misunderstandings and not enough communication, and poor decisions. Ingrid is scary and Arwen is adorable and it was great to visit with the Ice Cats gang.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have enjoyed every book in this series (as well as the Assassins and Assassins Next Generation as they are all interconnected).

Thatcher and Audrina have known each other since birth. They were born on the same day and in the same hospital. Audrina was left at the hospital by her birth mom but was adopted by a loving couple who could not have kids. That couple just happened to be close friends with Thatcher's parents and since they lived next to each other, they grew up together becoming fast friends.

That friendship started changing when they were in middle school, but neither of them said anything to each other as they didn't want to lose each other by ruining their friendship. Thatcher is a hockey player and Audrina a PT who works at the same hockey team facility, so they were always together where others thought they were together, but the two of them never saw that the other one had feelings for them.

After one night together, Thatcher's jealousy got the best of him when a teammate was flirting with Audrina and things were said that hurt Audrina. She decided to run away with no contact as she was embarrassed and didn't want to have a rift between their families as they were really close.

Three years later, Thatcher finally tracked her down. He made a promise to his sister that he would bring Audrina home. He just didn't realize that he would also be bringing a daughter home as well.

Loved these two. I think what really made it special was the fact that Thatcher's sister and dad had hearing loss, so everyone learned sign language. They way it was woven into the book really made me feel like everyone cared so much for each other and treated everyone with love and respect.

It took Thatcher and Audrina awhile to comes to terms with the shift in their relationship, but it was worth it in the end to take that leap of faith.

I will certainly read this one again at some point!!