What do you think?
Rate this book
Ice Cold Goal
Ice Cold Goal is the fourth book in the Beyond the Ice series of interconnected standalones featuring the hockey players of Teagan University—a grumpy/sunshine, broken goalie vs. the gamer girl next door, duck/dog shenanigans, college hockey romance with plenty of heat.
278 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication February 17, 2026
214 people want to read
About the author
Nikki Hall
9 books452 followersNikki Hall is a smart-ass with a Ph.D. and a potty mouth. She writes happy ever after stories with found families, sassy heroines, and strong men who love their women hard. Coffee makes her happy, messes make her stabby, and she’d sell one of her children for a second season of Firefly. You can find all her contemporary sports romance books at www.nikkihallbooks.com.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
February 17, 2026
Finally, we get Mase’s story! Nikki Hall’s books are always quick, fun, and easy reads for me, but something about this installment made me slow down and really savor it.
Mase carries deep trauma from the way his father treated him while he was growing up, including various forms of abuse and neglect. As a result, he struggles with chronic insomnia that seeps into every part of his daily life. He has developed coping mechanisms, but he cannot remember the last time he slept through the night. That changes when he accidentally falls asleep on his neighbor’s couch during a movie night. For the first time in years, he experiences real rest.
Taryn, meanwhile, is not looking to add romance to her already full plate. She spends her time supporting her agoraphobic mother while building her own path as a competitive gamer. A relationship is the last thing she needs. Still, she does not entirely hate the idea of the quiet, reclusive hockey goalie next door becoming her cuddle buddy.
This story delivers all the elements I have come to love and expect from the Teagan University hockey crew. There are roommates competing over something ridiculous, ongoing duck antics, and the heartwarming presence of found family. At the same time, the stakes are raised when Mase discovers he has a younger brother he never knew about and suddenly becomes his guardian after their mother dies. It is a life-altering twist, but Mase is not forced to face it alone. His supportive roommates immediately rally around him, and with Taryn and her mom stepping in to help, the chaos slowly finds order.
One of the strongest aspects of this book is its thoughtful handling of mental health and grief. There is no shame here, only a steady community of people who show up for one another again and again. Mase’s complicated feelings about his family, especially his late mother, are portrayed with nuance and care. The story acknowledges the weight of his emotions without allowing them to overshadow the tenderness and hope at its core.
I have truly enjoyed this series, and I hope this is not the last we see of the Teagan University hockey and football crews. These characters feel like old friends. I have no doubt that Eva will manage to pop up in future books, even if she doesn’t make an on page appearance. Overall, this was a satisfying and heartfelt conclusion to a thoroughly enjoyable series.
I am thankful to have received a complimentary eARC from the author, which gave me the opportunity to share my voluntary thoughts.
Mase carries deep trauma from the way his father treated him while he was growing up, including various forms of abuse and neglect. As a result, he struggles with chronic insomnia that seeps into every part of his daily life. He has developed coping mechanisms, but he cannot remember the last time he slept through the night. That changes when he accidentally falls asleep on his neighbor’s couch during a movie night. For the first time in years, he experiences real rest.
Taryn, meanwhile, is not looking to add romance to her already full plate. She spends her time supporting her agoraphobic mother while building her own path as a competitive gamer. A relationship is the last thing she needs. Still, she does not entirely hate the idea of the quiet, reclusive hockey goalie next door becoming her cuddle buddy.
This story delivers all the elements I have come to love and expect from the Teagan University hockey crew. There are roommates competing over something ridiculous, ongoing duck antics, and the heartwarming presence of found family. At the same time, the stakes are raised when Mase discovers he has a younger brother he never knew about and suddenly becomes his guardian after their mother dies. It is a life-altering twist, but Mase is not forced to face it alone. His supportive roommates immediately rally around him, and with Taryn and her mom stepping in to help, the chaos slowly finds order.
One of the strongest aspects of this book is its thoughtful handling of mental health and grief. There is no shame here, only a steady community of people who show up for one another again and again. Mase’s complicated feelings about his family, especially his late mother, are portrayed with nuance and care. The story acknowledges the weight of his emotions without allowing them to overshadow the tenderness and hope at its core.
I have truly enjoyed this series, and I hope this is not the last we see of the Teagan University hockey and football crews. These characters feel like old friends. I have no doubt that Eva will manage to pop up in future books, even if she doesn’t make an on page appearance. Overall, this was a satisfying and heartfelt conclusion to a thoroughly enjoyable series.
I am thankful to have received a complimentary eARC from the author, which gave me the opportunity to share my voluntary thoughts.
Review of advance copy received from Author
No...this can't be the end of the hockey boys of TU!!! We need more...next generation please!!! Maybe cameos of the boys as parents supporting their children in the PWHL or NHL, or their TU team. We need more!!!
Let's start with the ⭐️⭐️⭐️of the game/book! 1st ⭐️ goes to Sunny. That duck made me laugh so many times, especially imagining Reece, and Cole fighting over her and her choosing Andrew instead of either of them. The dog/duck relationship was great too! 2nd ⭐️ Andrew, that boy is exactly what Mase needed. He brought out the best in Mase and finally made him put impenetrable walls between them and their toxic father. 3rd ⭐️ would have to be Taryn's mom. She is blunt and too the point talking about Hockey babies right from the beginning. If anyone could get Mason Black to blush it would be her. Honorary mention to the roommates, keeping us entertained while supporting our grumpy goalie.
Taryn and Mase are two independent individuals who have survived more than anyone their ages should have endured. They both hide away from relationships and would rather be alone than outside with others. Taryn interactions with the outside world is done primarily through a webcam and computer screen while Mase hides behind a goalie mask on the ice. Mase does hang out with his friends but he prefers his basement sanctuary. Taryn's trauma comes from the hands of a stranger while Mase's comes from his father's hands and mother's abandonment.
Mase and Taryn met when Mase broke from exhaustion but he doesn't remember most of that interaction. They passed each other as neighbors many times but didn't really talk until he asked for some peace and quiet, her dog Hudson kept barking when he was trying to sleep. This meeting lead to a game off and slowly they became unlikely friends. They shared details they usually kept hidden and supported each other. They saw the worst and had each other’s backs. Taryn and his roommates fought right along side Mase when it came to helping him with his brother, he never knew existed. They became a family without even trying. Soon what started off as a spontaneous half truth became real and temporary became forever. Taryn and Mase would go to the ends of the earth or video game to protect the other no matter what. These two broken people found the pieces they needed to heal. They definitely are stronger together and with the support of their friends who became family they could weather any storm and make their respective dreams a reality!
I loved Mase in all the previous books. He was always the quiet protector of the group. Always watching, ready to react if needed. He might have been standoffish and closed off at times but he did it to protect himself. He set boundaries even though his teammates continuously pushed them. I will always choose the goalie as my favorite player on a team. Mase showed that he could be soft and gentle as well in caring for Sunny and how he was with Eva and the girlfriends, even when they annoyed him.
Taryn was more of an unknown before this book. We had met her in passing but didn't know much about her. Being neighbors with the hockey boys couldn't be easy especially when they had guests and parties but they were good boys. All Taryn seemed to need to be happy was a safe place for herself, Hudson, and her mom. She felt safe after moving. She also needed WiFi and a great setup for her gaming livestream. She was one of the rare female gamers, making a living doing what she loved. She wasn't competing anymore but that didn't stop her competitive streak. Girl gamers were often overlooked or belittled during competitions. They faced challenges other male gamers did not have to deal with and they rarely were seen as professional or offered spots on teams. If anything, most were seen as publicity stunts. Taryn hated that and fought for her place, making those that doubted her eat their words. She could win against the best! Even though she was a homebody she was willing to step out of her comfort zone to help Mase and Andrew more than once proving that they matter!
I loved this book and it was a great ending to this series! Though I think we need a next generation or reunion book with all the hockey boys set in the future. Thank you Nikki for an amazing series that had me laughing and crying and wanting to punch toxic people more than once. That includes Coach a few times. I am so grateful for your team choosing me to receive an ARC and having the opportunity to review!
Let's start with the ⭐️⭐️⭐️of the game/book! 1st ⭐️ goes to Sunny. That duck made me laugh so many times, especially imagining Reece, and Cole fighting over her and her choosing Andrew instead of either of them. The dog/duck relationship was great too! 2nd ⭐️ Andrew, that boy is exactly what Mase needed. He brought out the best in Mase and finally made him put impenetrable walls between them and their toxic father. 3rd ⭐️ would have to be Taryn's mom. She is blunt and too the point talking about Hockey babies right from the beginning. If anyone could get Mason Black to blush it would be her. Honorary mention to the roommates, keeping us entertained while supporting our grumpy goalie.
Taryn and Mase are two independent individuals who have survived more than anyone their ages should have endured. They both hide away from relationships and would rather be alone than outside with others. Taryn interactions with the outside world is done primarily through a webcam and computer screen while Mase hides behind a goalie mask on the ice. Mase does hang out with his friends but he prefers his basement sanctuary. Taryn's trauma comes from the hands of a stranger while Mase's comes from his father's hands and mother's abandonment.
Mase and Taryn met when Mase broke from exhaustion but he doesn't remember most of that interaction. They passed each other as neighbors many times but didn't really talk until he asked for some peace and quiet, her dog Hudson kept barking when he was trying to sleep. This meeting lead to a game off and slowly they became unlikely friends. They shared details they usually kept hidden and supported each other. They saw the worst and had each other’s backs. Taryn and his roommates fought right along side Mase when it came to helping him with his brother, he never knew existed. They became a family without even trying. Soon what started off as a spontaneous half truth became real and temporary became forever. Taryn and Mase would go to the ends of the earth or video game to protect the other no matter what. These two broken people found the pieces they needed to heal. They definitely are stronger together and with the support of their friends who became family they could weather any storm and make their respective dreams a reality!
I loved Mase in all the previous books. He was always the quiet protector of the group. Always watching, ready to react if needed. He might have been standoffish and closed off at times but he did it to protect himself. He set boundaries even though his teammates continuously pushed them. I will always choose the goalie as my favorite player on a team. Mase showed that he could be soft and gentle as well in caring for Sunny and how he was with Eva and the girlfriends, even when they annoyed him.
Taryn was more of an unknown before this book. We had met her in passing but didn't know much about her. Being neighbors with the hockey boys couldn't be easy especially when they had guests and parties but they were good boys. All Taryn seemed to need to be happy was a safe place for herself, Hudson, and her mom. She felt safe after moving. She also needed WiFi and a great setup for her gaming livestream. She was one of the rare female gamers, making a living doing what she loved. She wasn't competing anymore but that didn't stop her competitive streak. Girl gamers were often overlooked or belittled during competitions. They faced challenges other male gamers did not have to deal with and they rarely were seen as professional or offered spots on teams. If anything, most were seen as publicity stunts. Taryn hated that and fought for her place, making those that doubted her eat their words. She could win against the best! Even though she was a homebody she was willing to step out of her comfort zone to help Mase and Andrew more than once proving that they matter!
I loved this book and it was a great ending to this series! Though I think we need a next generation or reunion book with all the hockey boys set in the future. Thank you Nikki for an amazing series that had me laughing and crying and wanting to punch toxic people more than once. That includes Coach a few times. I am so grateful for your team choosing me to receive an ARC and having the opportunity to review!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Review of advance copy received from Author
Wow! What a way to end our beloved Hockey boys series with a BANG! We had only mere glimpses of Mase throughout the Beyond the Ice series and I just had to get more one on one time with this hunky brooding goalie, if ya know what I mean. Mase and Taryn have the best and the snarkiest interactions from their very "first" introduction. Taryn is exactly what I always aspire to be: a smartass, badass female with the flair for dramatics and a wicked mouth to match. Having her as a gamer girl made her the ultimate dream girl handpicked just for Mase, whether he would admit to it in the beginning or not. Their chemistry and fierce loyalty to each other and their loved ones was such a pleasure to read along with and experience. There were some delightful new characters we got to be introduced to along with all our favorite hockey boys and their better halves, we can all agree those sexy hockey men are so much better off with their smart and wickedly beautiful counterparts. Nikki Hall always does a great job of reminding us how important our found family is and the bonds that can never be broken. And speaking of broken, Mase and Taryn may have hard edges thanks to trauma from their past, but together they are able to overcome the hardships and find their shiny smooth edges once again. I for one cannot wait to see what is next in store for Nikki Hall's next series.
Wow! What a way to end our beloved Hockey boys series with a BANG! We had only mere glimpses of Mase throughout the Beyond the Ice series and I just had to get more one on one time with this hunky brooding goalie, if ya know what I mean. Mase and Taryn have the best and the snarkiest interactions from their very "first" introduction. Taryn is exactly what I always aspire to be: a smartass, badass female with the flair for dramatics and a wicked mouth to match. Having her as a gamer girl made her the ultimate dream girl handpicked just for Mase, whether he would admit to it in the beginning or not. Their chemistry and fierce loyalty to each other and their loved ones was such a pleasure to read along with and experience. There were some delightful new characters we got to be introduced to along with all our favorite hockey boys and their better halves, we can all agree those sexy hockey men are so much better off with their smart and wickedly beautiful counterparts. Nikki Hall always does a great job of reminding us how important our found family is and the bonds that can never be broken. And speaking of broken, Mase and Taryn may have hard edges thanks to trauma from their past, but together they are able to overcome the hardships and find their shiny smooth edges once again. I for one cannot wait to see what is next in store for Nikki Hall's next series.
February 14, 2026
4/5⭐️ 1/5🌶️
It’s bittersweet saying goodbye to this group of friends, and Mase was a solid choice to close out the series.
Grumpy and isolated are accurate descriptors for Mase, but this book does a great job digging into the why behind those traits. We see his deeply protective nature, which I loved, and watch him slowly open himself up to the possibility of a happy life and a loving family. While there are several introspective moments that feel a bit rushed or disjointed, they still come together to form a well-rounded understanding of who Mase is and everything he’s endured to get there.
Taryn was a pleasant surprise. She’s not a typical heroine, but she’s exactly what Mase needed. Despite her own past, she offers him a safe place without hesitation—opening her home and her life to him with surprising ease. She’s strong, successful, and takes no nonsense, and I really enjoyed how fiercely she protects the people she loves.
That said, I was sad with how little we saw of Cole and Reece, as I think they could have added more depth to Mase’s character growth. There were also moments where certain plot elements felt unnecessary or out of place. While Mase and Taryn’s relationship was sweet, it did feel a bit rushed overall.
A fitting conclusion to the series, even if it wasn’t without its flaws.
Tropes:
Hockey Romance
Hockey Goalie x Gamer Girl
Close Proximity
Grumpy x Sunshine(y)
Healing
Found Family
Thank you Nikki for an eARC in exchange of my honest review.
It’s bittersweet saying goodbye to this group of friends, and Mase was a solid choice to close out the series.
Grumpy and isolated are accurate descriptors for Mase, but this book does a great job digging into the why behind those traits. We see his deeply protective nature, which I loved, and watch him slowly open himself up to the possibility of a happy life and a loving family. While there are several introspective moments that feel a bit rushed or disjointed, they still come together to form a well-rounded understanding of who Mase is and everything he’s endured to get there.
Taryn was a pleasant surprise. She’s not a typical heroine, but she’s exactly what Mase needed. Despite her own past, she offers him a safe place without hesitation—opening her home and her life to him with surprising ease. She’s strong, successful, and takes no nonsense, and I really enjoyed how fiercely she protects the people she loves.
That said, I was sad with how little we saw of Cole and Reece, as I think they could have added more depth to Mase’s character growth. There were also moments where certain plot elements felt unnecessary or out of place. While Mase and Taryn’s relationship was sweet, it did feel a bit rushed overall.
A fitting conclusion to the series, even if it wasn’t without its flaws.
Tropes:
Hockey Romance
Hockey Goalie x Gamer Girl
Close Proximity
Grumpy x Sunshine(y)
Healing
Found Family
Thank you Nikki for an eARC in exchange of my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I was beyond excited to get more of Mase—the grumpy, basement-dwelling goalie for the Teagan University hockey team. He’s definitely not the sunshine type; he’s more like a vampire with his strange sleep schedule. But he does have one bright spot in his life: Sunny, his pet duck. Unfortunately, Sunny has been tormenting the neighbor’s dog, who won’t stop barking and keeping Mase awake. Fed up, Mase decides to confront the neighbor—enter Taryn. They’ve crossed paths before, and while Mase’s broody demeanor might intimidate others, Taryn is unfazed. She’s used to dealing with moody guys in the gaming world and is more than ready to handle him. When Mase actually manages to sleep through the night after they spend time together, he starts to wonder if it’s a fluke and asks her to stay over again. As they grow closer, their attraction deepens—but not without complications. A brother Mase never knew about suddenly appears, bringing the news that their mother has passed away. At the same time, Mase is forced to confront the father he’s kept at arm’s length for years. Through it all, Taryn helps him become a better man off the ice. He may be one of the best goalies in college hockey, but he’s been holding himself back—and with Taryn’s support, he finally starts to face the things he’s been avoiding.
Review of advance copy received from Author
4.5 rounded up to 5
Mase has always held himself apart for the rest of his teammates. The brooding goalie would rather spend time in the basement with his pet duck playing video games and sleeping at odd hours. Only his neighbor's dog keep him up. Taryn is used to dealing with boys who think they're better games than her. Her streaming channel might be doing well, but she still feels she has a lot to prove. When Mase shows up at her door to complain about her dog, she's ready to send him home with his tail between his legs, only this man doesn't back down for her challenge.
Read if you like:
-Neighbors to Lovers
-Black Cat x Rottweiler
-Broken Boy
-Found Family
-Single Guardian to his Younger Brother
I have been waiting for Mase's book since the very start of the series and Nikki did not disappoint. Mase and Taryn are my favorite couple from TU (Nikki's football series included). I absolutely adored their dynamic of black cat and rottweiler. Both hurt, both fiercely protective, and both so willing to love despite their standoffish demeanor. I knew I was a goner from the moment Mase just wanted to be near her to sleep. Then Mase's younger brother showed up, and both of their protective sides came out in full force. What a way to end a great series!
Mase has always held himself apart for the rest of his teammates. The brooding goalie would rather spend time in the basement with his pet duck playing video games and sleeping at odd hours. Only his neighbor's dog keep him up. Taryn is used to dealing with boys who think they're better games than her. Her streaming channel might be doing well, but she still feels she has a lot to prove. When Mase shows up at her door to complain about her dog, she's ready to send him home with his tail between his legs, only this man doesn't back down for her challenge.
Read if you like:
-Neighbors to Lovers
-Black Cat x Rottweiler
-Broken Boy
-Found Family
-Single Guardian to his Younger Brother
I have been waiting for Mase's book since the very start of the series and Nikki did not disappoint. Mase and Taryn are my favorite couple from TU (Nikki's football series included). I absolutely adored their dynamic of black cat and rottweiler. Both hurt, both fiercely protective, and both so willing to love despite their standoffish demeanor. I knew I was a goner from the moment Mase just wanted to be near her to sleep. Then Mase's younger brother showed up, and both of their protective sides came out in full force. What a way to end a great series!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Beyond The Ice #4
This is Mason "Mase" Black's story. He's one of the best goalies in college hockey. He lives with roommates/teammates but would rather keep to himself. Living in the basement with his pet duck Sunny, he spends time playing video games and keeps weird sleeping hours. The problem with that is the neighbor's dog barks and keeps him up. So What choice does he have other than to go over there and ask her to take care of her dog.
Taryn Levine has met Mase before and when he tells her the dog is causing problems, it barks. "I sleep at random times. I want you to keep your dog quiet." "Why would I assume you'd be sleeping during the day like a vampire?" Then she challenges him to play Citadel and if he beats her she will supervise the dog's times. What he doesn't know is that she is a professional who plays video games and has her own streaming channel.
This is just the beginning of them. They start spending time together and grow closer. They both are fighting demons from their past slowly opening up to each other. Then Mase has a surprise show up.
4.5 stars
Such an emotional roller coaster for both of them. Learning to trust was hard. A good read!
This is Mason "Mase" Black's story. He's one of the best goalies in college hockey. He lives with roommates/teammates but would rather keep to himself. Living in the basement with his pet duck Sunny, he spends time playing video games and keeps weird sleeping hours. The problem with that is the neighbor's dog barks and keeps him up. So What choice does he have other than to go over there and ask her to take care of her dog.
Taryn Levine has met Mase before and when he tells her the dog is causing problems, it barks. "I sleep at random times. I want you to keep your dog quiet." "Why would I assume you'd be sleeping during the day like a vampire?" Then she challenges him to play Citadel and if he beats her she will supervise the dog's times. What he doesn't know is that she is a professional who plays video games and has her own streaming channel.
This is just the beginning of them. They start spending time together and grow closer. They both are fighting demons from their past slowly opening up to each other. Then Mase has a surprise show up.
4.5 stars
Such an emotional roller coaster for both of them. Learning to trust was hard. A good read!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Yes! It's the grumpy vampire’s book! 😁🥰
Since meeting him in Gavin and Eva’s book, Mase has been my favorite of the hockey boys. I had to do a silent happy dance when I got the email saying I'd gotten an arc because I was at work and excited squeals aren't professional behavior lol
I immediately loved Taryn. As usual, Nikki Hall wrote an awesome FMC that you can't help but love. Even though I'm not a gamer, I know what it’s like online for a female gamer, so it was easy to follow along with her story arc.
I'm not sure what I was expecting from Mase’s story, but the sudden appearance of a kid he's the guardian of wasn’t it. I loved how it forced that closed off, guarded guy to open up and accept the love and help his friends have been quietly showing him in all the previous books. Plus, the kid is great. He's realistically 9 years old being raised by a bunch of 21-year-old D1 athletes lol
Since meeting him in Gavin and Eva’s book, Mase has been my favorite of the hockey boys. I had to do a silent happy dance when I got the email saying I'd gotten an arc because I was at work and excited squeals aren't professional behavior lol
I immediately loved Taryn. As usual, Nikki Hall wrote an awesome FMC that you can't help but love. Even though I'm not a gamer, I know what it’s like online for a female gamer, so it was easy to follow along with her story arc.
I'm not sure what I was expecting from Mase’s story, but the sudden appearance of a kid he's the guardian of wasn’t it. I loved how it forced that closed off, guarded guy to open up and accept the love and help his friends have been quietly showing him in all the previous books. Plus, the kid is great. He's realistically 9 years old being raised by a bunch of 21-year-old D1 athletes lol
Review of advance copy received from Author
4 stars
The final book in the Beyond the Ice series follows college hockey goalie Mace and his gamer girl neighbor Taryn. Mace suffers from insomnia and thanks to his sidekick pet duck, Sunny, he catches Zzz’s and feelings in the arms of the girl next door.
Overall, I enjoyed the book. Having read all of Nikki Hall’s catalog I’ve been reading about the players of Teagan University for a while now. Her character's background build how they see themselves but once they meet their love interest they realize how they see themselves isn’t an accurate representation of who they really are.
If you are looking for interconnected stand-a-lones in a college setting with hockey royalty, found family, roommates, and open door spice with the one they fall hard and fast for, then check out the Beyond the Ice series.
For readers who enjoy:
-college romance
-hockey romance
-found family
The final book in the Beyond the Ice series follows college hockey goalie Mace and his gamer girl neighbor Taryn. Mace suffers from insomnia and thanks to his sidekick pet duck, Sunny, he catches Zzz’s and feelings in the arms of the girl next door.
Overall, I enjoyed the book. Having read all of Nikki Hall’s catalog I’ve been reading about the players of Teagan University for a while now. Her character's background build how they see themselves but once they meet their love interest they realize how they see themselves isn’t an accurate representation of who they really are.
If you are looking for interconnected stand-a-lones in a college setting with hockey royalty, found family, roommates, and open door spice with the one they fall hard and fast for, then check out the Beyond the Ice series.
For readers who enjoy:
-college romance
-hockey romance
-found family
Review of advance copy received from Author
Finally we know Mase! It takes Taryn, his ace of a video playing neighbor and her dog, to get him out of the basement he hides away in with his demons. The hell that he went through as a child with an abusive father breaks my heart. Taryn is exactly what he needs and just when he thinks he might let his walls down to let her in, a surprise ends up on his doorstep. Now he has even more to handle as a goalie for his college hockey team being drafted to a team that will allow his father to control him again! Such a great story about perseverance and how love can really save you. Love all of Nikki Hall's books and how this series has ended. Bring the whole gang back together again :) Thank you Nikki Hall for the privilege of of receiving this ARC for my honest review.
February 16, 2026
5/5 Stars
1.5/Spice
How bittersweet it is to come to the end of one of my favorite hockey series. I have been curious about Mase since book one. I knew there was going to be some trauma to unpack and boy was there. Mase meets his match with his feisty neighbor Taryn. When Mase isn't playing hockey, he is in his basement with his sweet little duck, Sunny, playing video games and sleeping at odd hours. Taryn's little dog like to bark at Mase's basement window. He goes over to complain about the dog and comes face to face with Taryn, the girl who saved him when he was in a wreck not long ago. They start playing video games together and after he accidentally falls asleep on the couch with Taryn cozied up to him, he gets the best night of sleep of his life. He then starts going over there to sleep every night and as they get to know one another, feelings develop, along with some deliciously witty banter. They both have trauma in their pasts and they help each other work through it.
This book was way more emotional than I expected. Mase had some deep trauma in his life. He also has a death and surprise younger brother dumped on him and Taryn helps him navigate his feelings throughout this new development. Taryn and Mase were truly perfect for each other and I loved seeing the rest of the hockey guys with their girls in this book.
1.5/Spice
How bittersweet it is to come to the end of one of my favorite hockey series. I have been curious about Mase since book one. I knew there was going to be some trauma to unpack and boy was there. Mase meets his match with his feisty neighbor Taryn. When Mase isn't playing hockey, he is in his basement with his sweet little duck, Sunny, playing video games and sleeping at odd hours. Taryn's little dog like to bark at Mase's basement window. He goes over to complain about the dog and comes face to face with Taryn, the girl who saved him when he was in a wreck not long ago. They start playing video games together and after he accidentally falls asleep on the couch with Taryn cozied up to him, he gets the best night of sleep of his life. He then starts going over there to sleep every night and as they get to know one another, feelings develop, along with some deliciously witty banter. They both have trauma in their pasts and they help each other work through it.
This book was way more emotional than I expected. Mase had some deep trauma in his life. He also has a death and surprise younger brother dumped on him and Taryn helps him navigate his feelings throughout this new development. Taryn and Mase were truly perfect for each other and I loved seeing the rest of the hockey guys with their girls in this book.
Review of advance copy
I gave it 4 stars, but Ice Cold Goal is really a 4.5 star book for me. I have been looking forward to Mason’s book for ages, and it did not disappoint! Nikki Hall did a fantastic job with the complicated trauma and family dynamics of Mase and Talon. I love that both of the main characters are flawed in different ways, but heal together. And I love how all the characters come together as a found family to support one another. There are villains we love to hate, a very satisfying ending, and a well deserved HEA. Fantastic contemporary romance read - regardless of if you are a fan of sports romances or not.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Dual POV
Sports romance - hockey
College romance
Strangers to lovers
Overprotective MMC
Independent FMC
Been a long time coming, but we finally got Mase’s story in the fourth and final book in the Beyond the Ice series. We met Taryn previously (and while you don’t need to read the other books in this series, I recommend it!)
We get both of their backstories, along with a relationship that progressed very quickly once Mase got out of his own way.
The story was a bit rushed, but it wrapped up everything well for this series.
3.5 ⭐️
1.5 🌶️
Thank you Nikki and her team for an eARC. It’s been a treat being on your ARC team for this whole series.
Sports romance - hockey
College romance
Strangers to lovers
Overprotective MMC
Independent FMC
Been a long time coming, but we finally got Mase’s story in the fourth and final book in the Beyond the Ice series. We met Taryn previously (and while you don’t need to read the other books in this series, I recommend it!)
We get both of their backstories, along with a relationship that progressed very quickly once Mase got out of his own way.
The story was a bit rushed, but it wrapped up everything well for this series.
3.5 ⭐️
1.5 🌶️
Thank you Nikki and her team for an eARC. It’s been a treat being on your ARC team for this whole series.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I loved getting a peak inside the mind of Mase. He was such a mystery in the other books and now we get to understand why. Why does there always seem to be a terrible parent involved?! His dad was a piece of work and I’m glad he got what was coming to him! Taryn was so strong through everything and being able to overcome her fear around the competition took a lot of courage! It’s beautiful to see when a man will stand up for and defend the woman he loves! I was so into this that it took me about a day to read. I highly recommend it!
Review of advance copy received from Author
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️
Book 4 of the Beyond the Ice series follows Mase’s story. He’s the goalie of the Teagan University team and is the definition of quiet and broody until he gets to know the gamer girl next door, Taryn. Loved this book - full of sweet, funny and steamy moments and Sunshine the duck definitely steals the show! I loved the relationship between Taryn and her mum, Taryn’s confidence and seeing Mase come out of his shell and fight for what he wants. Quick and cosy read which I could not put down. My only issue - I want more of it 🙌🏼❤️❤️❤️
🌶️🌶️
Book 4 of the Beyond the Ice series follows Mase’s story. He’s the goalie of the Teagan University team and is the definition of quiet and broody until he gets to know the gamer girl next door, Taryn. Loved this book - full of sweet, funny and steamy moments and Sunshine the duck definitely steals the show! I loved the relationship between Taryn and her mum, Taryn’s confidence and seeing Mase come out of his shell and fight for what he wants. Quick and cosy read which I could not put down. My only issue - I want more of it 🙌🏼❤️❤️❤️
Review of advance copy received from Author
This is the last book in Beyond the Ice series. I was waiting on Mase and Taryn's story. It did not disappoint. We get to see why Mase has his issues which makes his dad enemy number 1. There is some deep issues in the book: abuse by parent, abandonment, mentions of an attack and stalking, also violence. On a lighter note Mase's roommate Reese and Cole's interactions cracked me up. Let's not forget the adorable pets Sunny the duck and Hudson the French bulldog who steals the show. An enjoyable read with Made and Taryn getting there HEA that they fully deserve. Good conclusion to the series.
February 13, 2026
Nikki does it again, another amazing sports romance with some amazing characters.
Mase and Taryn live similar lives in the sense of having trauma that keeps them close to home and close to themselves. The way these two characters not only found each other but found themselves throughout the book was so well done, A+ for character growth.
I loved the aspect of Taryn being a professional gamer, let alone a female gamer, not something we see often in books, so this was fun to experience.
Mase had quit a surprise waiting for him when his grandma shows up (I won’t say due to spoilers) but it was not something I saw coming but was definitely impressed with. Having to truly come out of his comfort zone and embrace this new life was amazing to see.
Between the banter, the duck daddy shenanigans and the spice.. Nikki did a fantastic job with this one!
Mase and Taryn live similar lives in the sense of having trauma that keeps them close to home and close to themselves. The way these two characters not only found each other but found themselves throughout the book was so well done, A+ for character growth.
I loved the aspect of Taryn being a professional gamer, let alone a female gamer, not something we see often in books, so this was fun to experience.
Mase had quit a surprise waiting for him when his grandma shows up (I won’t say due to spoilers) but it was not something I saw coming but was definitely impressed with. Having to truly come out of his comfort zone and embrace this new life was amazing to see.
Between the banter, the duck daddy shenanigans and the spice.. Nikki did a fantastic job with this one!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I loved that we finally have Mase's story! If you haven't read this series, you can easily dive into this story and enjoy it. However if you're not new to the series, you know we've had glimpses of Mase before, the vampire roommate if you will! His love for his duck Sunny is everything and all he needs is to find the right girl to be by his side. His journey does not disappoint and the trauma he has previously endured makes everything make sense. Don't miss Mase and Taryn's story!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I love this series and this book was amazing. Mase has been such an interesting character since the beginning, it was nice to dive into his head. The book is about two broken people coming together to heal which always hits. My only complaint is that Andrew didn’t have more of a role or effect on the plot as an individual person. I would have liked to see more interactions with him. 4.5⭐️ 4🌶️
Review of advance copy received from Author
✨ARC Review✨
I have been waiting for Mase's book since the beginning. I love a quiet broody goalie.
Insert Mase's "hot neighbour" Taryn and her dog Hudson along with her mum Carrie and we have ourselves a little fam <3
Mase gets a little shock on his doorstep and Taryn is there to help.
I absolutely loved this story and need more!!
I have been waiting for Mase's book since the beginning. I love a quiet broody goalie.
Insert Mase's "hot neighbour" Taryn and her dog Hudson along with her mum Carrie and we have ourselves a little fam <3
Mase gets a little shock on his doorstep and Taryn is there to help.
I absolutely loved this story and need more!!
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews