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Love in Maple Falls #7
The Icing on the Cake
Rule #1: Never fall for a hockey player. So why does my dating coach—who also happens to play hockey—make me want to break every rule I’ve set?
Neesha
It starts with one conversation with a stranger…and suddenly, everything changes.
He won’t tell me what he does for a living, and maybe that should be a red flag. But after the hardest year of my life, my new neighbor feels like a lifeline—calm, capable, and always there when I need him.
When he offers to be my dating coach, I tell myself it’s harmless. That he just wants to help.
But behind that cinnamon roll smile, he’s hiding something—and I’m starting to fall for him anyway.
I told myself we were just friends.
So why am I dreaming about kissing the one man I swore I’d never fall for?
Lucian
Keeping my hockey identity secret was supposed to be temporary—just long enough to figure out my next move with the girl next door.
There’s just one she’s sworn off hockey players for good.
She asked me to help her fall for someone else and be her dating coach.
But I’m the one falling.
And when she finds out who I really am, I might lose the only woman who’s ever made me want something more than the game.
I stopped pretending it was a practice date a long time ago.
But falling for her?
That’s the icing on the cake.
***
The Icing on the Cake is part of the Love in Maple Falls sweet hockey romcom multi-author series. It's a slow-burn, secret-identity hockey romance featuring a cinnamon roll hero who falls hard for the sweet cupcake baker next door.
Welcome back to Maple Falls—the small town where hockey players fall in love! This is a multi-author series of seven full-length books that could be read as standalones, but we think you'll enjoy them best in order.
Fake-Off with Fate by Whitney Dineen
Offside and Off-Limits by Kate O’Keeffe
Checking Mr. Wrong by Anne Kemp
Skating and Fake Dating by Ellie Hall
Goalie and the Girl Next Door by Elsie Woods
Soulmates and Slapshots by Melissa Baldwin
The Icing on the Cake by Grace Worthington
It starts with one conversation with a stranger…and suddenly, everything changes.
He won’t tell me what he does for a living, and maybe that should be a red flag. But after the hardest year of my life, my new neighbor feels like a lifeline—calm, capable, and always there when I need him.
When he offers to be my dating coach, I tell myself it’s harmless. That he just wants to help.
But behind that cinnamon roll smile, he’s hiding something—and I’m starting to fall for him anyway.
I told myself we were just friends.
So why am I dreaming about kissing the one man I swore I’d never fall for?
Lucian
Keeping my hockey identity secret was supposed to be temporary—just long enough to figure out my next move with the girl next door.
There’s just one she’s sworn off hockey players for good.
She asked me to help her fall for someone else and be her dating coach.
But I’m the one falling.
And when she finds out who I really am, I might lose the only woman who’s ever made me want something more than the game.
I stopped pretending it was a practice date a long time ago.
But falling for her?
That’s the icing on the cake.
***
The Icing on the Cake is part of the Love in Maple Falls sweet hockey romcom multi-author series. It's a slow-burn, secret-identity hockey romance featuring a cinnamon roll hero who falls hard for the sweet cupcake baker next door.
Welcome back to Maple Falls—the small town where hockey players fall in love! This is a multi-author series of seven full-length books that could be read as standalones, but we think you'll enjoy them best in order.
Fake-Off with Fate by Whitney Dineen
Offside and Off-Limits by Kate O’Keeffe
Checking Mr. Wrong by Anne Kemp
Skating and Fake Dating by Ellie Hall
Goalie and the Girl Next Door by Elsie Woods
Soulmates and Slapshots by Melissa Baldwin
The Icing on the Cake by Grace Worthington
260 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 24, 2025
108 people are currently reading
636 people want to read
About the author
Grace Worthington
23 books443 followersGrace Worthington is a three-time award-winning author who lives and breathes sweet closed door romcoms.
A former musical theatre gal and playwright, she brings that same energy, heart, and comedic timing to her stories, crafting witty banter and lovable characters you can’t help but root for.
She holds a master’s degree in psychology and human development and has also completed graduate studies in creative writing. Her inspiration comes from charming coastal towns and classic romcoms from the ’80s and ’90s.
When she’s not writing, she enjoys spending time with her husband and two kids.
A former musical theatre gal and playwright, she brings that same energy, heart, and comedic timing to her stories, crafting witty banter and lovable characters you can’t help but root for.
She holds a master’s degree in psychology and human development and has also completed graduate studies in creative writing. Her inspiration comes from charming coastal towns and classic romcoms from the ’80s and ’90s.
When she’s not writing, she enjoys spending time with her husband and two kids.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 196 reviews
October 3, 2025
Neesha Gilmore will never date a hockey player ever again. Not after she discovered Nate's unfaithfulness. Instead she focuses on her cupcakes and dreams of setting up her own shop in Seattle. When her new neighbor Lucien Lowe offers to help her by being her practise date Neesha refuses at first. But she feels safe with Lucien and is eventually persuaded. Meanwhile he wonders how he's going to tell her that he's a hockey player...
It was a long time since I laughed out loud several times while reading a book! I rarely laugh even ONCE; usually I just smile at funny scenes. Here I laughed until my tummy hurt, and every time I saw the word "hi-ho" I was done for!
The book of course has some more serious topics as well, like infidelity and other red flags in a relationship. Neesha also lost her mom recently, after unexpected complications after a routine surgery, so she's got her grief to handle as well. It's so nice to see the whole community support Neesha, not just Lucien. It gives off found family vibes and that's always a soft spot for me!
* I received an ARC from the author and I'm giving my honest review. *
It was a long time since I laughed out loud several times while reading a book! I rarely laugh even ONCE; usually I just smile at funny scenes. Here I laughed until my tummy hurt, and every time I saw the word "hi-ho" I was done for!
The book of course has some more serious topics as well, like infidelity and other red flags in a relationship. Neesha also lost her mom recently, after unexpected complications after a routine surgery, so she's got her grief to handle as well. It's so nice to see the whole community support Neesha, not just Lucien. It gives off found family vibes and that's always a soft spot for me!
* I received an ARC from the author and I'm giving my honest review. *
September 1, 2025
This book is a total rollercoaster of emotions! Some books are great and hit all the right notes, earning their five stars. But then there are the 10-star books...the ones that make you want to relive them over and over. This one? Definitely a 10 for me. It’s my first read of September, and now every other book has a high bar to clear!
Neesha is trying to keep it together... struggling financially, mourning her mother, and still dealing with the sting of a humiliating breakup. But just when she thinks she has a handle on things, Lucian, her charming (and annoyingly perfect) handyman neighbor, enters the scene. He’s her fake dating coach and a man who challenges every rule she’s set for herself. Neesha doesn’t want to stay in Maple Falls, but Lucian’s there. She doesn’t date hockey players… but he’s one. And despite her best efforts, she can’t fight the way he makes her feel.
Lucian is determined to get Neesha to open up, even if it’s just for a fake date or a friendship at first. But the more he works to break down her walls, the more it’s clear he’s after something more. He’s not giving up, trying to show her there’s a future for them in Maple Falls.
The emotions in this book are everything! And Lucian… oh my goodness, he’s swoon-worthy from the start. He’s not just a heartthrob, he’s got the heart of gold and the patience of a saint. Neesha is one lucky woman to have him set his sights on her. Ten stars all the way! I loved this SO much!
Neesha is trying to keep it together... struggling financially, mourning her mother, and still dealing with the sting of a humiliating breakup. But just when she thinks she has a handle on things, Lucian, her charming (and annoyingly perfect) handyman neighbor, enters the scene. He’s her fake dating coach and a man who challenges every rule she’s set for herself. Neesha doesn’t want to stay in Maple Falls, but Lucian’s there. She doesn’t date hockey players… but he’s one. And despite her best efforts, she can’t fight the way he makes her feel.
Lucian is determined to get Neesha to open up, even if it’s just for a fake date or a friendship at first. But the more he works to break down her walls, the more it’s clear he’s after something more. He’s not giving up, trying to show her there’s a future for them in Maple Falls.
The emotions in this book are everything! And Lucian… oh my goodness, he’s swoon-worthy from the start. He’s not just a heartthrob, he’s got the heart of gold and the patience of a saint. Neesha is one lucky woman to have him set his sights on her. Ten stars all the way! I loved this SO much!
September 23, 2025
This was such a sweet romance and wrapped up the entire series nicely.
Neesha carried a lot of heavy grief tied to the fairly recent sudden death of her mother and a very humiliating dissolution to her relationship with a hockey player. She was struggling day to day. Closing herself off to any relationships, especially to hockey players, was a defense mechanism.
Lucian was a great guy who fell for Neesha right away. And even though he kept the fact that he played professional hockey from her for a good portion of the story, it was clear that it was not a malicious omission. The way Lucian showed up for Neesha and helped her however he could showed what kind of man he was.
These two characters were so right for each other and it was fun to see them fall in love.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
Neesha carried a lot of heavy grief tied to the fairly recent sudden death of her mother and a very humiliating dissolution to her relationship with a hockey player. She was struggling day to day. Closing herself off to any relationships, especially to hockey players, was a defense mechanism.
Lucian was a great guy who fell for Neesha right away. And even though he kept the fact that he played professional hockey from her for a good portion of the story, it was clear that it was not a malicious omission. The way Lucian showed up for Neesha and helped her however he could showed what kind of man he was.
These two characters were so right for each other and it was fun to see them fall in love.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
September 6, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫(3.5)
Thank you @bookedwiththeemilys for the eARC 🥰
Release date: September 24, 2025
After the hardest year of her life, Neesha finds unexpected comfort in her secretive new neighbor, Lucian. He offers to coach her in dating, but his hidden hockey identity and her vow to avoid players make things complicated. What begins as friendship soon blurs, and when the truth comes out, Neesha must decide if risking it all is worth love.
If you like Hallmark movies, you will absolutely adore this series. There’s nothing wrong with the story: the small town is playful, trying to save it is fun. There’s nothing more charming than a smitten man pursuing a woman who knows her worth. If you like handyman forearms, you won’t be disappointed (not that Neesha noticed 😉). And there’s nothing sweeter than cupcakes bringing people together. Also like Hallmark movies, there’s nothing unique that sets this apart and the “production quality” reads really simple. I love picking up these books when I want a quick, mindless romance I can read in one sitting.
Perfect for you if you like:
Meddling small town
He falls first and hard
She’s grumpy, he’s sweet
Caretaking
Practice dates
Similar to:
Flirtation or Fakeoff by Leah Brunner
Fake-Off with Fate by Whitney Dineen
Absolutely Not in Love by Jenny Proctor
⛔️closed door romance (kisses only)
⚠️previous death of parent, strained relationship with parent, cheating ex
Thank you @bookedwiththeemilys for the eARC 🥰
Release date: September 24, 2025
After the hardest year of her life, Neesha finds unexpected comfort in her secretive new neighbor, Lucian. He offers to coach her in dating, but his hidden hockey identity and her vow to avoid players make things complicated. What begins as friendship soon blurs, and when the truth comes out, Neesha must decide if risking it all is worth love.
If you like Hallmark movies, you will absolutely adore this series. There’s nothing wrong with the story: the small town is playful, trying to save it is fun. There’s nothing more charming than a smitten man pursuing a woman who knows her worth. If you like handyman forearms, you won’t be disappointed (not that Neesha noticed 😉). And there’s nothing sweeter than cupcakes bringing people together. Also like Hallmark movies, there’s nothing unique that sets this apart and the “production quality” reads really simple. I love picking up these books when I want a quick, mindless romance I can read in one sitting.
Perfect for you if you like:
Meddling small town
He falls first and hard
She’s grumpy, he’s sweet
Caretaking
Practice dates
Similar to:
Flirtation or Fakeoff by Leah Brunner
Fake-Off with Fate by Whitney Dineen
Absolutely Not in Love by Jenny Proctor
⛔️closed door romance (kisses only)
⚠️previous death of parent, strained relationship with parent, cheating ex
September 23, 2025
All the heart eyes for this adorable story! I've been waiting for Neesha and Lucian's story since the first book in this series! Her background was really intriguing and with each book I read in the series leading up to hers, I was even more invested in wanting to know what her story was going to be. And it didn't disappoint at all!!!
Your heart strings will be pulled and you're going to feel all of the emotions! Sadness and excitement, some frustration towards her ex and his treatment of Neesha, and allllll the love for Lucian and his treatment of Neesha! You'll be very satisfied with this story and be cheering Lucian on in his efforts to show Neesha that he is a good guy and worth the chance!
I giggled and swooned and sighed! I loved the dating coach moments! And the dancing! And the baking! And the tour guide moments! And, and, and, and... I was fully invested in it all!
I especially loved seeing the other characters in this series throughout the books as well. Such a fun group of ladies and hockey players! All of the books in this series had me smiling and excited to read each book and be swept away by the delight and charm of Maple Falls!!!
Content: Clean.
I received a copy from the author. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.
Happy Reading!!!
Your heart strings will be pulled and you're going to feel all of the emotions! Sadness and excitement, some frustration towards her ex and his treatment of Neesha, and allllll the love for Lucian and his treatment of Neesha! You'll be very satisfied with this story and be cheering Lucian on in his efforts to show Neesha that he is a good guy and worth the chance!
I giggled and swooned and sighed! I loved the dating coach moments! And the dancing! And the baking! And the tour guide moments! And, and, and, and... I was fully invested in it all!
I especially loved seeing the other characters in this series throughout the books as well. Such a fun group of ladies and hockey players! All of the books in this series had me smiling and excited to read each book and be swept away by the delight and charm of Maple Falls!!!
Content: Clean.
I received a copy from the author. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.
Happy Reading!!!
September 13, 2025
3,5⭐️
Lire ce roman, c’est un peu comme se glisser sous un plaid par une soirée fraîche, avec une tasse de thé et la douce lumière d’une bougie : c’est réconfortant et ça réchauffe le cœur.
Il s’agit ici du 7e et dernier tome de la saga Love in Maple Falls, une série de romances sur fond de hockey, co-écrite par plusieurs autrices. Les tomes peuvent se lire indépendamment, d’ailleurs je n’ai lu que celui-ci mais je n’ai eu aucun souci à suivre l’histoire. Chaque volume est court (environ 200 pages), ce qui en fait une lecture idéale si vous cherchez quelque chose de léger, dans un univers cosy auquel on aime revenir.
Cela dit, même si tout est mignon et douillet, j’ai trouvé l’ensemble un peu trop "bisounours" pour moi. Tout se termine bien, les méchants deviennent gentils, les héros réussissent tout ce qu’ils entreprennent. C’était peut-être un peu trop lisse à mon goût. De plus, il s’agit d’un insta-love, ce qui n’est pas mon trope préféré … mais si c’est le vôtre, vous allez adorer !
Malgré cela, je recommande ce roman à celles et ceux qui ont envie d’une lecture légère et réconfortante, parfaite pour s’évader le temps de quelques heures.
Pourquoi lire ce roman ?
- Parce que c’est une closed-door romance 🫂
- Pour son ambiance automnale dans une petite ville pleine de charme 🍂
- Parce que Lucian est hockeyeur et Neesha, pâtissière 🧁
Ce tome sera disponible dès le 24 septembre en anglais et sera disponible sur Kindle Unlimited ✨
Merci à NetGalley pour ce sp numérique
Lire ce roman, c’est un peu comme se glisser sous un plaid par une soirée fraîche, avec une tasse de thé et la douce lumière d’une bougie : c’est réconfortant et ça réchauffe le cœur.
Il s’agit ici du 7e et dernier tome de la saga Love in Maple Falls, une série de romances sur fond de hockey, co-écrite par plusieurs autrices. Les tomes peuvent se lire indépendamment, d’ailleurs je n’ai lu que celui-ci mais je n’ai eu aucun souci à suivre l’histoire. Chaque volume est court (environ 200 pages), ce qui en fait une lecture idéale si vous cherchez quelque chose de léger, dans un univers cosy auquel on aime revenir.
Cela dit, même si tout est mignon et douillet, j’ai trouvé l’ensemble un peu trop "bisounours" pour moi. Tout se termine bien, les méchants deviennent gentils, les héros réussissent tout ce qu’ils entreprennent. C’était peut-être un peu trop lisse à mon goût. De plus, il s’agit d’un insta-love, ce qui n’est pas mon trope préféré … mais si c’est le vôtre, vous allez adorer !
Malgré cela, je recommande ce roman à celles et ceux qui ont envie d’une lecture légère et réconfortante, parfaite pour s’évader le temps de quelques heures.
Pourquoi lire ce roman ?
- Parce que c’est une closed-door romance 🫂
- Pour son ambiance automnale dans une petite ville pleine de charme 🍂
- Parce que Lucian est hockeyeur et Neesha, pâtissière 🧁
Ce tome sera disponible dès le 24 septembre en anglais et sera disponible sur Kindle Unlimited ✨
Merci à NetGalley pour ce sp numérique
September 24, 2025
“That gaze should be illegal. No man should look at someone like that unless he’s planning to ruin them for everyone else.”
Swoony Romance Ahead🧁💖
Neesha has been through so many life trials, needing to heal from the loss of her mother and the heartbreak caused by her unfaithful ex-boyfriend. I deeply connected with Neesha and her struggles with her past relationships. Many of us have faced similar challenges during our teen years. She has chosen to step back from dating and move away, seeking peace. When Lucien arrives next door, he seems like just another hurdle in her journey towards her dream of opening her own bakery in a new city, leaving behind the painful memories in Maple Falls. But Lucien’s gentle care and unwavering support show a different side; he doesn’t try to fix everything but simply shows up for Neesha repeatedly. His patience and kindness help her see her own worth, reminding her that she is cherished by her community as well as by him. I was truly moved to see Neesha find her voice and stand up for herself. It’s only then that she begins to trust her own strength enough for healthy, loving relationships. This story is a tender, heartfelt love story filled with genuine emotion. I found myself laughing, feeling outraged, and crying right alongside the characters. I deeply adore Lucien and Neesha's journey—full of care, fear, love, and hope—leading to a happily ever after that feels entirely deserved and comforting.
I received a complimentary e-copy of this book and read it with pleasure. I was under no obligation to leave a positive review.
Swoony Romance Ahead🧁💖
Neesha has been through so many life trials, needing to heal from the loss of her mother and the heartbreak caused by her unfaithful ex-boyfriend. I deeply connected with Neesha and her struggles with her past relationships. Many of us have faced similar challenges during our teen years. She has chosen to step back from dating and move away, seeking peace. When Lucien arrives next door, he seems like just another hurdle in her journey towards her dream of opening her own bakery in a new city, leaving behind the painful memories in Maple Falls. But Lucien’s gentle care and unwavering support show a different side; he doesn’t try to fix everything but simply shows up for Neesha repeatedly. His patience and kindness help her see her own worth, reminding her that she is cherished by her community as well as by him. I was truly moved to see Neesha find her voice and stand up for herself. It’s only then that she begins to trust her own strength enough for healthy, loving relationships. This story is a tender, heartfelt love story filled with genuine emotion. I found myself laughing, feeling outraged, and crying right alongside the characters. I deeply adore Lucien and Neesha's journey—full of care, fear, love, and hope—leading to a happily ever after that feels entirely deserved and comforting.
I received a complimentary e-copy of this book and read it with pleasure. I was under no obligation to leave a positive review.
September 17, 2025
I devoured this one! I loved this one so much. I giggled and swooned and just adored Lucian and Neesha.
I enjoyed the hidden identity plot and can definitely tell the characters were well thought out and developed. Lucian and Neesha were cute, flirty, and funny. Their attraction to each other was undeniable. I mean, the icing cupcake scene 🫠! And they had wonderful flirty banter, I just ate up. Their story had great depth but was also light and fun. Neesha was fun and sweet and Lucian caring and charming. They made for a wonderful pair. I love how Lucian let Neesha grow and open up in her own timing. He doesn’t rush it. He was very patient with her. And though Neesha tried to put her walls up, she couldn't resist his charm.
This one was paced well and flowed nicely. I enjoyed that there was still hockey elements there and it wasn't just about the romance off the ice. The side characters were wonderful. And the small town vibes were so great! Especially with the book club ladies LOL! I love how the small town residents were there for Neesha and cared for her. I really feel like this series has done a wonderful job of connecting the characters throughout the books.
I enjoyed the hidden identity plot and can definitely tell the characters were well thought out and developed. Lucian and Neesha were cute, flirty, and funny. Their attraction to each other was undeniable. I mean, the icing cupcake scene 🫠! And they had wonderful flirty banter, I just ate up. Their story had great depth but was also light and fun. Neesha was fun and sweet and Lucian caring and charming. They made for a wonderful pair. I love how Lucian let Neesha grow and open up in her own timing. He doesn’t rush it. He was very patient with her. And though Neesha tried to put her walls up, she couldn't resist his charm.
This one was paced well and flowed nicely. I enjoyed that there was still hockey elements there and it wasn't just about the romance off the ice. The side characters were wonderful. And the small town vibes were so great! Especially with the book club ladies LOL! I love how the small town residents were there for Neesha and cared for her. I really feel like this series has done a wonderful job of connecting the characters throughout the books.
September 1, 2025
What a perfect ending to this wonderful fall series! We've heard all about Neesha (and her cupcakes) throughout the previous books in the series, so I was glad to finally get her and Lucian's story. Right from the first meeting, these two drew me in. This was definitely one where he falls first... but her past has her weary of men... and especially of hockey players. The chemistry between these two is undeniable though, and I loved seeing his patience with her as she let those walls down. They were just the sweetest together, and I couldn't help but love them. With all the smalltown fall vibes, a sense of found family and dating coaching that doesn't feel fake for long, there was a whole lot to love in this story... wrapping up the entire series beautifully!
The Icing on the Cake is a closed-door romance with kisses only and no language. It is part of the Love in Maple Falls multi-author series, all featuring the Ice Breakers hockey team. While all books in the series follow the same general timeline, they can be enjoyed as standalones or in any order as well.
**ARC received for consideration. All opinions are my own.
The Icing on the Cake is a closed-door romance with kisses only and no language. It is part of the Love in Maple Falls multi-author series, all featuring the Ice Breakers hockey team. While all books in the series follow the same general timeline, they can be enjoyed as standalones or in any order as well.
**ARC received for consideration. All opinions are my own.
September 23, 2025
Why am I crying so much?!?!?
I don’t even know!!!
Mr hot hockey players SEES a frazzled woman, says she’s IT, and gently but relentlessly pursues her.
Neesha has had a shitty year…. Her mother died unexpectedly and she officially has a ex from Hell. She when the guy who just moved in next door ends up being the babe who helped fix her espresso machine… what’s a girl to do?
Obviously, she emotionally detaches, pushes him away and friend-zones him immediately
Even with those abs!
Oh and they are both terrible spies trying to watch each other from their windows 😂
I don’t even know!!!
Mr hot hockey players SEES a frazzled woman, says she’s IT, and gently but relentlessly pursues her.
Neesha has had a shitty year…. Her mother died unexpectedly and she officially has a ex from Hell. She when the guy who just moved in next door ends up being the babe who helped fix her espresso machine… what’s a girl to do?
Obviously, she emotionally detaches, pushes him away and friend-zones him immediately
Even with those abs!
Oh and they are both terrible spies trying to watch each other from their windows 😂
September 19, 2025
I was able to read this as an arc thought NetGallery. This was such a fun read. The MMC and FMC dance around each other a bit in the beginning, which I always find fun and realistic. This is also such a perfect fall read, set in a town that feels so much like Stars Hollow. I haven’t read any of the other books in the series, but kept up with this personally fine. However, I am encouraged to read the other books in the series after reading this one!
September 11, 2025
Okay, this story is as sweet as its name. This little town of Maple Falls is simply dreamy. I loved visiting it last year and I thoroughly enjoyed it again.
I cannot believe how kind and considerate Lucian was in this story. He listened, he was patient, he cared about her opinions. Just a completely wonderful person.
Neesha had so much going on and so much tragedy and yet she still brought joy and happiness to others. I loved her bright spot in people’s lives and how she always seemed to have a joyful spirit and love for others.
CW: closed door (kisses only), talk of loss of parent, parent estrangement.
I cannot believe how kind and considerate Lucian was in this story. He listened, he was patient, he cared about her opinions. Just a completely wonderful person.
Neesha had so much going on and so much tragedy and yet she still brought joy and happiness to others. I loved her bright spot in people’s lives and how she always seemed to have a joyful spirit and love for others.
CW: closed door (kisses only), talk of loss of parent, parent estrangement.
November 2, 2025
The final book in the Love in Maple Falls series may have just been my favorite! Don’t get me wrong, I loved all of these sweet fall romances, but there was something about Neesha and Lucian’s story that really took the cake! See what I did there? 😂
There was so much to love in this book - he falls first, secret identity, practice dates, anxiety rep, hockey romance, slow burn romance, all the cozy fall vibes, and so much more!
This book had me feeling all the feels, and it touched on some heavier topics like grief as well, which I felt Grace Worthington handled beautifully. I really appreciated the anxiety rep in this one also.
Neesha and Lucian’s relationship had some ups and downs, mainly due to Lucian hiding that he was a hockey player, but I was so glad that they seemed to work through that relatively quickly. I understood Neesha’s hesitance to let down her walls, but I was so excited for her when she did! Lucian was a genuinely good guy, and I was so happy when she finally let herself believe that.
Thank you so much to Grace Worthington and Booked with the Emilys for the gifted copy of this book! 🍁
There was so much to love in this book - he falls first, secret identity, practice dates, anxiety rep, hockey romance, slow burn romance, all the cozy fall vibes, and so much more!
This book had me feeling all the feels, and it touched on some heavier topics like grief as well, which I felt Grace Worthington handled beautifully. I really appreciated the anxiety rep in this one also.
Neesha and Lucian’s relationship had some ups and downs, mainly due to Lucian hiding that he was a hockey player, but I was so glad that they seemed to work through that relatively quickly. I understood Neesha’s hesitance to let down her walls, but I was so excited for her when she did! Lucian was a genuinely good guy, and I was so happy when she finally let herself believe that.
Thank you so much to Grace Worthington and Booked with the Emilys for the gifted copy of this book! 🍁
September 2, 2025
This was a fun sweet small town hockey romance! A delightfully ending to the series!
I received an ARC from the author and all opinions are my own.
I received an ARC from the author and all opinions are my own.
October 18, 2025
Such a sweet book!
I loved the writing and the smooth flow of the book. I enjoyed the subtle plot points about Neesha in previous books and was happy to see her getting her HEA.
With the level of hurt she carried, I liked how the author eased her into the friendship cum practice date cum relationship.
I loved the writing and the smooth flow of the book. I enjoyed the subtle plot points about Neesha in previous books and was happy to see her getting her HEA.
With the level of hurt she carried, I liked how the author eased her into the friendship cum practice date cum relationship.
September 22, 2025
The Icing on the Cake is the seventh book in the Love in Maple Falls series. This is a collection of seven books, each written by a different author, but they all take place in Maple Falls, Washington. Each book is a standalone but you'll probably want to read the full series in order!
This one is a small town, friends-to-lovers, hockey romance featuring Neesha Gilmore and Lucian Lowe.
Neesha is a baker who currently sells cupcakes and coffee within Falling For Books but she is saving up to open a bakery in Seattle. Her entire focus is on her cupcakes, and while they are absolutely scrumptious, she hasn't really left any time in her life for anything but baking and her devoted dog Henry Cavil. Neesha closed herself off after enduring repeated heartbreak. Her mother, with whom she was incredibly close, unexpectedly passed away following a complication after a routine gallbladder surgery. In addition, she caught her ex-boyfriend, Nate Simpson, one of Maple Falls' Ice Breakers, cheating on her with Brittany Beeson. Not only isn't she interested in a relationship, but she's sworn off hockey players.
Lucian just moved to Maple Falls. He left the Carolina Crushers and joined the Ice Breakers as a defenseman, much to his father's disappointment. Lucian's father is the is CEO of Northwest Development & Real Estate, thinks his son is wasting his time with hockey. Lucian however takes after his late grandfather who taught not only taught him the about love, but also about seeing the potential in broken objects and learning how to fix them.
Lucian first saw Neesha at Falling For Books, and offered a hand when her fancy coffee maker went on the fritz. It didn't take long for him to repair it, or for him to fall for Neesha. She thanked him in coffee and cupcakes, but that was only their first encounter. Neesha soon learns that Lucian moved in next door to her to fix up her friend's grandmother's house before it is sold. She believes him to be a handyman, but is still weary of men in general. Lucian, having been filled in on her recent past, opts to keep his hockey career from her in the hopes of being able to break down some of her walls and show him he is trustworthy.
When Neesha's girlfriends encourage her to start dating again, she agrees to go on a practice date with Lucian. For Lucian though, this is anything but practice and he intends to show her that not all men are like Nate. Can he win her heart while keeping his secret? You'll just have to read this one to find out!
I quite enjoyed Neesha's and Lucian's story. The characters are sweet and their stories are relatable. Neesha is focused and ambitious while mourning the loss of her mother and the betrayal of the man with whom she thought she had a future. Lucian is simply delightful and charming. I love that he is a handyman with very practical skills. He remains down to earth while still having a high-profile career and a father who is a powerful mogul. He seems like a perfect book boyfriend, meeting Neesha where she is, and is gentle with her heart.
If, like me, you plan to read the full series, here are all the books and authors:
Fake-Off with Fate by Whitney Dineen
Offside and Off-Limits by Kate O’Keeffe
Checking Mr. Wrong by Anne Kemp
Skating and Fake Dating by Ellie Hall
Goalie and the Girl Next Door by Elsie Woods
Soulmates and Slapshots by Melissa Baldwin
The Icing on the Cake by Grace Worthington
Happy Reading!
This one is a small town, friends-to-lovers, hockey romance featuring Neesha Gilmore and Lucian Lowe.
Neesha is a baker who currently sells cupcakes and coffee within Falling For Books but she is saving up to open a bakery in Seattle. Her entire focus is on her cupcakes, and while they are absolutely scrumptious, she hasn't really left any time in her life for anything but baking and her devoted dog Henry Cavil. Neesha closed herself off after enduring repeated heartbreak. Her mother, with whom she was incredibly close, unexpectedly passed away following a complication after a routine gallbladder surgery. In addition, she caught her ex-boyfriend, Nate Simpson, one of Maple Falls' Ice Breakers, cheating on her with Brittany Beeson. Not only isn't she interested in a relationship, but she's sworn off hockey players.
Lucian just moved to Maple Falls. He left the Carolina Crushers and joined the Ice Breakers as a defenseman, much to his father's disappointment. Lucian's father is the is CEO of Northwest Development & Real Estate, thinks his son is wasting his time with hockey. Lucian however takes after his late grandfather who taught not only taught him the about love, but also about seeing the potential in broken objects and learning how to fix them.
Lucian first saw Neesha at Falling For Books, and offered a hand when her fancy coffee maker went on the fritz. It didn't take long for him to repair it, or for him to fall for Neesha. She thanked him in coffee and cupcakes, but that was only their first encounter. Neesha soon learns that Lucian moved in next door to her to fix up her friend's grandmother's house before it is sold. She believes him to be a handyman, but is still weary of men in general. Lucian, having been filled in on her recent past, opts to keep his hockey career from her in the hopes of being able to break down some of her walls and show him he is trustworthy.
When Neesha's girlfriends encourage her to start dating again, she agrees to go on a practice date with Lucian. For Lucian though, this is anything but practice and he intends to show her that not all men are like Nate. Can he win her heart while keeping his secret? You'll just have to read this one to find out!
I quite enjoyed Neesha's and Lucian's story. The characters are sweet and their stories are relatable. Neesha is focused and ambitious while mourning the loss of her mother and the betrayal of the man with whom she thought she had a future. Lucian is simply delightful and charming. I love that he is a handyman with very practical skills. He remains down to earth while still having a high-profile career and a father who is a powerful mogul. He seems like a perfect book boyfriend, meeting Neesha where she is, and is gentle with her heart.
If, like me, you plan to read the full series, here are all the books and authors:
Fake-Off with Fate by Whitney Dineen
Offside and Off-Limits by Kate O’Keeffe
Checking Mr. Wrong by Anne Kemp
Skating and Fake Dating by Ellie Hall
Goalie and the Girl Next Door by Elsie Woods
Soulmates and Slapshots by Melissa Baldwin
The Icing on the Cake by Grace Worthington
Happy Reading!
November 21, 2025
You know what I am learning about this series? That a lot of ladies from here have the same problems with hockey players and vow never to date one again, only to date one. Things are starting to feel repetitive, despite this book not covering the 'save the town' issue nearly as extensively as others in the series. Thank goodness for that. I think I finally found my limit for how many points of view I am willing to read about the same instances of the overall town plotline.
Neesha Gilmore is one of those women. Her previous boyfriend was a hockey player and a manipulative controlling kind of guy. He dumped her for someone 'better.' If you read a couple of other books from this series, this one probably sounds familiar, cause it is. So many of them were dumped for someone better and decided to go forth without a man/hockey player man only to get swept off their feet by hockey players. This one line up of men for the Ice Breakers is perhaps setting the bar high for the others.
And then of course there has to be the behearted drama by exs that never goes passed what I would call a half-heart attempt at best. They always conveniently leave and never really talk to or come back (minus Allerga who was silently in a background not doing much to prove herself). They are the bone to satisfy the plot hole drama of 'the ex' the author uses. I would have liked at least one of them to put a little element of resistance or danger into the FMCs monologue where they find a backbone suddenly.
Anyhow, Lucian is just an all round nice golden retriever type guy. He can't help but want to be helpful to people and Neesha needs some help when he first meets her. And then it's a case of 'I see my forever person and I don't let go' but in a respectful, non-creepy way I guess. He respects her freedom and let's her make all her choices without him actively trying to change her mind her through discussion. He may be a defenseman but he's just a puppy dog love kinda guy. Very sweet, but probably not someone I could stand in real life. The dude actively decided to pull in the girl friends of Nessha and the gossip crew to try and figure what would be the perfect date!
All in all I thought their relationship was pretty beleiveable with Lucian carrying 95% of it on his own back. And while we did fall into a lot of tropes, I'm grateful that the withholding information one didn't result in a massive cringeworthy 'breakup' act. Instead Neesha did the grown up thing and went back to have the hard conversation. The ending though. oooph that was some troping. I don't like it when it's layered on so thick. But whatever.
Neesha and Lucian were one of the more memorable couples of the series and they might even get a mention if anyone asks for a romance book suggestion in the next month or two...maybe.
Neesha Gilmore is one of those women. Her previous boyfriend was a hockey player and a manipulative controlling kind of guy. He dumped her for someone 'better.' If you read a couple of other books from this series, this one probably sounds familiar, cause it is. So many of them were dumped for someone better and decided to go forth without a man/hockey player man only to get swept off their feet by hockey players. This one line up of men for the Ice Breakers is perhaps setting the bar high for the others.
And then of course there has to be the behearted drama by exs that never goes passed what I would call a half-heart attempt at best. They always conveniently leave and never really talk to or come back (minus Allerga who was silently in a background not doing much to prove herself). They are the bone to satisfy the plot hole drama of 'the ex' the author uses. I would have liked at least one of them to put a little element of resistance or danger into the FMCs monologue where they find a backbone suddenly.
Anyhow, Lucian is just an all round nice golden retriever type guy. He can't help but want to be helpful to people and Neesha needs some help when he first meets her. And then it's a case of 'I see my forever person and I don't let go' but in a respectful, non-creepy way I guess. He respects her freedom and let's her make all her choices without him actively trying to change her mind her through discussion. He may be a defenseman but he's just a puppy dog love kinda guy. Very sweet, but probably not someone I could stand in real life. The dude actively decided to pull in the girl friends of Nessha and the gossip crew to try and figure what would be the perfect date!
All in all I thought their relationship was pretty beleiveable with Lucian carrying 95% of it on his own back. And while we did fall into a lot of tropes, I'm grateful that the withholding information one didn't result in a massive cringeworthy 'breakup' act. Instead Neesha did the grown up thing and went back to have the hard conversation. The ending though. oooph that was some troping. I don't like it when it's layered on so thick. But whatever.
Neesha and Lucian were one of the more memorable couples of the series and they might even get a mention if anyone asks for a romance book suggestion in the next month or two...maybe.
September 19, 2025
The Icing on the Cake is the final book in the Love in Maple Falls series about the new NHL team in Maple Falls. Grace Worthington definitely saved the best book for last in this series. This book tells the story of Neesha Gilmore and Lucian Lowe, but as a reader I have been reading snippets of Neesha's cupcakes and her story all along. Never enough, just enough to keep you coming back for more.
Neesha Gilmore is the quiet hometown girl who known for baking the best cupcakes around and avoiding all things hockey especially hockey players (with good reason). She is working herself to death trying to pay off her mother's medical bills and save enough to open her own storefront. Neesha hasn't had an easy run lately, but that is about to change thanks to her uncooperative espresso machine. The door to the bookstore opens, the bell chimes and in walks a tall broad-shouldered stranger who stops for a quick conversations and offers to fix the coffee machine in exchange for a drink and a cupcake leading to the greatest adventure for both of them.
Lucian Lowe is the new defenseman for the Ice Breakers hockey team and Neesha's neighbor slash handyman. Lucian conveniently leaves out the hockey part and just focuses on the handyman aspect since everyone warns him that Neesha doesn't like hockey players after she was publicly embarrassed by her last boyfriend. Lucian doesn't mind, he just wants to find someone to love him for himself and not for his family name or what he can do for them. Lucian does everything he can to show Neesha how much he cares before having to tell her that he plays hockey hoping that she will be understanding and not hold it against him. Lucian shows amazing patient and consideration for Neesha's feelings and tries to help her be the best person she can be even if that means moving to a new city to open her storefront. Neesha has built some pretty high walls around her heart and has to decide if Lucian and love are worth knocking them down, will she be happy with living in Maple Falls or will she feel trapped?
Can Neesha find her happily ever after with a hockey player who would give her the moon if she asked? Grab your copy of this story and check out the ups and downs of family relationships, PTSD from a broken heart, unselfish love that leads to practice dates, buying a bachelor at an auction, a food critic's visit and advice, buying a lake, solving the community's legacy problem, and using the escape clause to leave the area. This story kept me so engrossed I couldn't put the book the down. I highly recommend this book and the entire series. Then go back and check out the first series. Enjoy!!
I received an ARC copy of this book and I am leaving an honest voluntary review.
Neesha Gilmore is the quiet hometown girl who known for baking the best cupcakes around and avoiding all things hockey especially hockey players (with good reason). She is working herself to death trying to pay off her mother's medical bills and save enough to open her own storefront. Neesha hasn't had an easy run lately, but that is about to change thanks to her uncooperative espresso machine. The door to the bookstore opens, the bell chimes and in walks a tall broad-shouldered stranger who stops for a quick conversations and offers to fix the coffee machine in exchange for a drink and a cupcake leading to the greatest adventure for both of them.
Lucian Lowe is the new defenseman for the Ice Breakers hockey team and Neesha's neighbor slash handyman. Lucian conveniently leaves out the hockey part and just focuses on the handyman aspect since everyone warns him that Neesha doesn't like hockey players after she was publicly embarrassed by her last boyfriend. Lucian doesn't mind, he just wants to find someone to love him for himself and not for his family name or what he can do for them. Lucian does everything he can to show Neesha how much he cares before having to tell her that he plays hockey hoping that she will be understanding and not hold it against him. Lucian shows amazing patient and consideration for Neesha's feelings and tries to help her be the best person she can be even if that means moving to a new city to open her storefront. Neesha has built some pretty high walls around her heart and has to decide if Lucian and love are worth knocking them down, will she be happy with living in Maple Falls or will she feel trapped?
Can Neesha find her happily ever after with a hockey player who would give her the moon if she asked? Grab your copy of this story and check out the ups and downs of family relationships, PTSD from a broken heart, unselfish love that leads to practice dates, buying a bachelor at an auction, a food critic's visit and advice, buying a lake, solving the community's legacy problem, and using the escape clause to leave the area. This story kept me so engrossed I couldn't put the book the down. I highly recommend this book and the entire series. Then go back and check out the first series. Enjoy!!
I received an ARC copy of this book and I am leaving an honest voluntary review.
September 25, 2025
A brilliant end to the series, until next time Maple Falls! ~ 4.5✨
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The books in the Love in Maple Falls series have been an absolute joy to read & I thank all 7 authors for creating a warm & cosy world for us all to get lost in🍁🎃☕️
✅ This is a great book for anyone who enjoys -
• books/genre - Romance: Comedy, Hockey, Small town
• themes/tropes - Slow-burn, Secret identity, Neighbours to lovers, Small town, Cosy setting, Found family, Autumn/Fall vibes, HEA
‼️Please keep in mind this book includes mentions of -
• Loss of a close family member, obsession/stalking (historic)
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
✧ SUMMARY/OPINIONS ✧
ℹ️ Book 7 of 7 in the multi-author ‘Love in Maple Falls’ ice hockey romcom series. Each book can be read as standalone but for maximum enjoyment the authors suggest reading them in order.
The Icing on the Cake is a slow burn hockey based romcom set in the small close knit town of Maple Falls. It’s a beautiful conclusion to the Love in Maple Falls series & dare I say it.. they definitely saved the best till last 🥹. Grace did a fantastic job showcasing the emotional journey of cupcake baker Neesha & Ice Breaker newbie Lucian. Their story features all of the characters we know & love, the places we’ve enjoyed visiting & a ridiculously high number of cupcakes! The hilarious banter between team mates & supportive girl gang vibes are on another level & despite having areas of heartache, pain & emotion, Grace has created a wonderfully positive, smile inducing story with a HEA 💖
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
✧ PLOT/CHARACTERS ✧
• Neesha (FMC) is strong willed, aspirational & determined to succeed. She’s a cupcake making extraordinaire who dreams of owning her own bakery in Seattle. Her life consists of baking, sleeping & more baking but definitely NO dating! Not after her ice hockey playing ass of an ex cheated on her.. Her pup Henry is the only guy she needs! The new guy fixing up the house next door is something else though… 👀🐶🧁
• Lucian (MMC) is selfless, protective & fiercely loyal. He’s a newbie to Maple Falls having recently moved to play hockey for the Ice Breakers. He spends his spare time fixing up the house he’s staying in & improving his already impressive waffle making skills. Oh, he’s also spending a ridiculous amount of money on coffee & cupcakes just to spend time with the beautiful girl who makes them 😉🧇🏒
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
✧ FINAL THOUGHTS ✧
This was the icing on the cake of a fantastic series (🫢). It was a feel-good, heartwarming, emotional story that showcased everything that Maple Falls & the people living there has to offer. I absolutely loved how the Ice Breaker girls & other women from the community came together to help Lucian & support Neesha. But my favourite chapter was the hilarious hockey team text exchange/town meet-up situation near the end (trying not to spoil things!) which was absolutely hysterical!
This was a beautifully written, heartfelt story filled with love, light & community spirit. Thank you Grace for such a wonderful ending to the Love in Maple Falls series 🫶🏻
📣 Thank you SO much to Grace Worthington for allowing me to read & review this ARC. This is my honest opinion & I’m sharing it voluntarily.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The books in the Love in Maple Falls series have been an absolute joy to read & I thank all 7 authors for creating a warm & cosy world for us all to get lost in🍁🎃☕️
✅ This is a great book for anyone who enjoys -
• books/genre - Romance: Comedy, Hockey, Small town
• themes/tropes - Slow-burn, Secret identity, Neighbours to lovers, Small town, Cosy setting, Found family, Autumn/Fall vibes, HEA
‼️Please keep in mind this book includes mentions of -
• Loss of a close family member, obsession/stalking (historic)
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
✧ SUMMARY/OPINIONS ✧
ℹ️ Book 7 of 7 in the multi-author ‘Love in Maple Falls’ ice hockey romcom series. Each book can be read as standalone but for maximum enjoyment the authors suggest reading them in order.
The Icing on the Cake is a slow burn hockey based romcom set in the small close knit town of Maple Falls. It’s a beautiful conclusion to the Love in Maple Falls series & dare I say it.. they definitely saved the best till last 🥹. Grace did a fantastic job showcasing the emotional journey of cupcake baker Neesha & Ice Breaker newbie Lucian. Their story features all of the characters we know & love, the places we’ve enjoyed visiting & a ridiculously high number of cupcakes! The hilarious banter between team mates & supportive girl gang vibes are on another level & despite having areas of heartache, pain & emotion, Grace has created a wonderfully positive, smile inducing story with a HEA 💖
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
✧ PLOT/CHARACTERS ✧
• Neesha (FMC) is strong willed, aspirational & determined to succeed. She’s a cupcake making extraordinaire who dreams of owning her own bakery in Seattle. Her life consists of baking, sleeping & more baking but definitely NO dating! Not after her ice hockey playing ass of an ex cheated on her.. Her pup Henry is the only guy she needs! The new guy fixing up the house next door is something else though… 👀🐶🧁
• Lucian (MMC) is selfless, protective & fiercely loyal. He’s a newbie to Maple Falls having recently moved to play hockey for the Ice Breakers. He spends his spare time fixing up the house he’s staying in & improving his already impressive waffle making skills. Oh, he’s also spending a ridiculous amount of money on coffee & cupcakes just to spend time with the beautiful girl who makes them 😉🧇🏒
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
✧ FINAL THOUGHTS ✧
This was the icing on the cake of a fantastic series (🫢). It was a feel-good, heartwarming, emotional story that showcased everything that Maple Falls & the people living there has to offer. I absolutely loved how the Ice Breaker girls & other women from the community came together to help Lucian & support Neesha. But my favourite chapter was the hilarious hockey team text exchange/town meet-up situation near the end (trying not to spoil things!) which was absolutely hysterical!
This was a beautifully written, heartfelt story filled with love, light & community spirit. Thank you Grace for such a wonderful ending to the Love in Maple Falls series 🫶🏻
📣 Thank you SO much to Grace Worthington for allowing me to read & review this ARC. This is my honest opinion & I’m sharing it voluntarily.
September 24, 2025
Well doesn’t that just take the biscuit? Pun intended ,because Nate just did the dirty on his intended with Brittany . She can have him with his litany of lies . He’s beneath even her despise. Did her a favour in fact . Her friend Emmy is always there with her cheery disposition and ways to brighten her darkest of days . But those are behind her and the Ice Breakers are more than Nate Simpson ,cheater . The team is still great despite Nate no team neater . She’s after moving to Seattle anyways as her plans of opening her bakery and gathering funds is underway ,that’s why she has offered to help Em with the bookstore cafe ,but they’re queuing out the door before she has the machines prepped ,now all she’s feeling is inept,out of step . Oh dear If she can’t cope here how can she think to make a go with her own bakery ? But at least the pace might be too fast to know. …With the loss of her mother too ,she has a heavy heart because of this too. So a change should put her in good stead to mend her heart a little ,one day at a time . Lucian makes Neesha feel better , he thinks she’s sublime a delight. Maybe after all things are going to be alright. He’s her knight in shining amour. He makes her guffaw…”You know, for someone who makes the best cupcakes in town, you’re really bad at selling them.” “Who says they’re the best in town?” Well to say there’s an apt name above a door . Falling for Books . He feels like he’s met this cutie Neesha Gilmore before and he does adore, she has him in her hooks for sure. Because he’s fallen for her looks and more. She’s the girl next door ,she’s dealt with hockey players before and swore right off em … Which poses a problem…because he’s one of them …He goes out of his way not to say what he does for a living ,hoping that one day she’ll forgive him. Dangerous territory,it’s worse than an icing call . Let’s hope it doesn’t blow up in his face this deke he’s set in place until she’s fallen hook line and sinker even though she’ll think he’s a stinker…Well you can see how awesome this book starts off and they have laughter at first which is always the best start in ways of the heart and a happy ever after but what of the subterfuge dances , she has her right to refuse his advances . He’s had his chances .. How does it play out you say? Well you’ll have to go out and find the book and read as I did with greed . So you can see for yourself ,it’s out now on bookstore shelves I hear so of that I’ll give a cheer. Grace Worthington is the best ,no contest ,I’m sure you’ll acquiesce . She knows this romcom writing business like the back of her hand and that is grand. With characters that you can relate to and the situations too I’m sure you’ll agree with me about her storytelling style and it being compelling emitting a smile.
October 2, 2025
The Icing on the Cake is the seventh and final story in the Love in Maple Falls hockey-themed romantic comedies series. The series is connected to 2024’s popular Love on Thin Ice series, which was also set in Maple Falls, Washington. Both series contain connected stories by various authors; each book can be read as a stand-alone. All stories in both series are closed-door romances that don’t contain any sex, violence, or profanity.
The Icing on the Cake features Neesha, the heartbroken cupcake baker who runs the café inside her best friend, Emmy’s bookstore. Emmy is now married to Dawson; their romance was in The Friend Face Off. Neesha has had a terrible year and is trying to make a go of her small business. She dated professional hockey player Harry Franks, until she discovered that he was cheating on her with a former high school classmate. Brittany is still in a relationship with Harry and rubs it in Neesha’s face at every opportunity. Neesha’s mother passed away during surgery and Neesha is reminded of her everywhere she looks. Her goal is to make enough money to pay off her mother’s medical bills and relocate to Seattle.
Neesha meets Lucian, her new neighbor who is restoring the house next door. He’s immediately attracted to her, but she has walls around her heart and resists his overtures. Then her expresso machine breaks and he offers to try to fix it for her. Lucian convinces Neesha to let him be her dating coach, with his intention being that she will fall for him. Neesha’s first rule of dating is to not get involved with hockey players. So Lucian doesn’t tell her that he’s actually a player on the newly formed Ice Breakers NHL team. Slowly Lucian overcomes Neesha’s barriers and convinces her that he’s worth taking a chance on. But he still has to encourage her to stay in Maple Falls with him and her friends.
The Icing on the Cake feels like a mash-up between The Gilmore Girls and a Hallmark movie, and sweet hometown Neesha is a sympathetic heroine. Lucian is the perfect cinnamon roll hero, so patient and protective of Neesha, that readers can forgive him for keeping his true occupation a secret. While Neesha has a tragic backstory, The Icing on the Cake is uplifting and contains many humorous scenes. I loved how the town was supportive of Neesha and the many cameo appearances of characters from earlier books. However, my favorite thing about The Icing on the Cake is Lucian himself; he’s my favorite male character in the series. I really hope that a movie producer will adapt this series for TV.
I received an advance review copy (ARC) from NetGalley and Poets & Saints Publishing for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The Icing on the Cake features Neesha, the heartbroken cupcake baker who runs the café inside her best friend, Emmy’s bookstore. Emmy is now married to Dawson; their romance was in The Friend Face Off. Neesha has had a terrible year and is trying to make a go of her small business. She dated professional hockey player Harry Franks, until she discovered that he was cheating on her with a former high school classmate. Brittany is still in a relationship with Harry and rubs it in Neesha’s face at every opportunity. Neesha’s mother passed away during surgery and Neesha is reminded of her everywhere she looks. Her goal is to make enough money to pay off her mother’s medical bills and relocate to Seattle.
Neesha meets Lucian, her new neighbor who is restoring the house next door. He’s immediately attracted to her, but she has walls around her heart and resists his overtures. Then her expresso machine breaks and he offers to try to fix it for her. Lucian convinces Neesha to let him be her dating coach, with his intention being that she will fall for him. Neesha’s first rule of dating is to not get involved with hockey players. So Lucian doesn’t tell her that he’s actually a player on the newly formed Ice Breakers NHL team. Slowly Lucian overcomes Neesha’s barriers and convinces her that he’s worth taking a chance on. But he still has to encourage her to stay in Maple Falls with him and her friends.
The Icing on the Cake feels like a mash-up between The Gilmore Girls and a Hallmark movie, and sweet hometown Neesha is a sympathetic heroine. Lucian is the perfect cinnamon roll hero, so patient and protective of Neesha, that readers can forgive him for keeping his true occupation a secret. While Neesha has a tragic backstory, The Icing on the Cake is uplifting and contains many humorous scenes. I loved how the town was supportive of Neesha and the many cameo appearances of characters from earlier books. However, my favorite thing about The Icing on the Cake is Lucian himself; he’s my favorite male character in the series. I really hope that a movie producer will adapt this series for TV.
I received an advance review copy (ARC) from NetGalley and Poets & Saints Publishing for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 28, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️️⭐️/ ️🌶️
The entire series of Finding Love in Maple Falls needs to become movies. Every one gives Hallmark movie vibes, fun banter, and romances that are meant to be. The Icing on the Cake is book 7 and Grace Worthington ends the series beautifully. I have fully enjoyed being back in Maple Falls, getting to know new and old characters alike and seeing what makes the place special. This book delivers practice dating between neighbors who become more, learning to listen to your heart, and the ability to see past titles and see the true nature of someone.
Neesha is struggling; financially, emotionally, and mentally. On the fall out of a horrible breakup, with a hockey player, she vows to never date hockey players again. The last thing she expects to happen is a new neighbor to move in next door, who is not only handsome, but helpful. When she expresses her relationship woes, he offers to be her dating coach. While she is learning the rules of dating, again, she can’t help but fall for his charm, warm heart, and good looks.
Lucian is a new player on The Icebreakers, but also Neesha’s new neighbor. When he sees her struggling, he wants to help. He doesn’t let her know he is a hockey player, but not purposefully. This information just doesn’t come up and before he knows it, he is agreeing to be her dating coach. But while he is helping her find the perfect man, he is falling for her. Everything about her pulls him closer. What will finding out the truth of his profession do to everything he’s built with her when she finds out?
These two were so much fun to read about. I loved how open and honest Lucian is throughout the whole book, minus letting Neesha know his profession. As these two become closer, the town is rooting for them and I was too. The final couple in this series brought warmth and heart to the final book and I couldn’t put it down. So many moments made me laugh, swoon, and smile with contentment as these two hearts become one. The story is tender, full of hope, and restores your faith in people a little. Overall a wonderful read!
As always, review any author notes before reading.
What to Expect:
🏒Secret Identity
🍂Small Town Romance
🏒Hockey RomCom
🍂Reverse Grumpy x Sunshine
🏒Cinnamon Roll MMC
🍂Girl Next Door FMC
🏒Practice Dating
🍂Anxiety Rep
🏒Clean Romance
The entire series of Finding Love in Maple Falls needs to become movies. Every one gives Hallmark movie vibes, fun banter, and romances that are meant to be. The Icing on the Cake is book 7 and Grace Worthington ends the series beautifully. I have fully enjoyed being back in Maple Falls, getting to know new and old characters alike and seeing what makes the place special. This book delivers practice dating between neighbors who become more, learning to listen to your heart, and the ability to see past titles and see the true nature of someone.
Neesha is struggling; financially, emotionally, and mentally. On the fall out of a horrible breakup, with a hockey player, she vows to never date hockey players again. The last thing she expects to happen is a new neighbor to move in next door, who is not only handsome, but helpful. When she expresses her relationship woes, he offers to be her dating coach. While she is learning the rules of dating, again, she can’t help but fall for his charm, warm heart, and good looks.
Lucian is a new player on The Icebreakers, but also Neesha’s new neighbor. When he sees her struggling, he wants to help. He doesn’t let her know he is a hockey player, but not purposefully. This information just doesn’t come up and before he knows it, he is agreeing to be her dating coach. But while he is helping her find the perfect man, he is falling for her. Everything about her pulls him closer. What will finding out the truth of his profession do to everything he’s built with her when she finds out?
These two were so much fun to read about. I loved how open and honest Lucian is throughout the whole book, minus letting Neesha know his profession. As these two become closer, the town is rooting for them and I was too. The final couple in this series brought warmth and heart to the final book and I couldn’t put it down. So many moments made me laugh, swoon, and smile with contentment as these two hearts become one. The story is tender, full of hope, and restores your faith in people a little. Overall a wonderful read!
As always, review any author notes before reading.
What to Expect:
🏒Secret Identity
🍂Small Town Romance
🏒Hockey RomCom
🍂Reverse Grumpy x Sunshine
🏒Cinnamon Roll MMC
🍂Girl Next Door FMC
🏒Practice Dating
🍂Anxiety Rep
🏒Clean Romance
September 24, 2025
In The Icing on the Cake by Grace Worthington, cupcake Queen Neesha gets a new neighbour in the form of Lucian. There is an attraction from the very first, but Lucian has a secret: he is a hockey player for the Ice Breakers hockey team, and Neesha loathes them ever since her terrible break up with Nate, also a hockey player. So, Lucian decided to first win Neesha over and then tell her who he is. And of course, we all know that will not go as planned.
This book was a joy to read. Lucian and Neesha are great characters. Neesha has been hurt and she does not trust people easily. She loves to bake and everyone loves her cupcakes. She is tempted to go to Seattle and start a business there, after all, things will be better in the big city. Lucian is charming, lovable, easy going, patient and a great handyman. From all the men in the Love in Maple Falls series, he is the most laid-back person and that I loved about him. As he and Neesha are neighbours, they meet often and a relationship blooms between them. When her friends tease her to go on a practice date, Lucian steps in. As the story progresses, things are getting more romantic, flirty, and there is also a lot of sweet humour involved.
The writing of this book is flowing; it is an easy and lovely read and the dual POV is a great asset. What I loved the best is, that as this book is the final book in the series, we get to meet the one person who got the town in an uproar and that was greatly done.
The Icing on the Cake is a lovely sweet swoony fall hockey romance, in a beautiful Stars Hollow/Gilmore Girls setting, with a good story-line, with secret identity and a slow burn romance, and with two very likable main characters.
I am sorry that with this book the Love in Maple Falls series has come to an end. I enjoyed all seven books (and the previous Love on Thin Ice series) and it is great job done by all the authors to have written these series as interconnected stand alone books. With each book we got two different main characters, but at the same time we saw the story develop. It must have been a lot of work, but I can imagine they had a lot of fun writing this series as well. Maybe we will get a third series? I vote yes!
Highly recommended!
This book was a joy to read. Lucian and Neesha are great characters. Neesha has been hurt and she does not trust people easily. She loves to bake and everyone loves her cupcakes. She is tempted to go to Seattle and start a business there, after all, things will be better in the big city. Lucian is charming, lovable, easy going, patient and a great handyman. From all the men in the Love in Maple Falls series, he is the most laid-back person and that I loved about him. As he and Neesha are neighbours, they meet often and a relationship blooms between them. When her friends tease her to go on a practice date, Lucian steps in. As the story progresses, things are getting more romantic, flirty, and there is also a lot of sweet humour involved.
The writing of this book is flowing; it is an easy and lovely read and the dual POV is a great asset. What I loved the best is, that as this book is the final book in the series, we get to meet the one person who got the town in an uproar and that was greatly done.
The Icing on the Cake is a lovely sweet swoony fall hockey romance, in a beautiful Stars Hollow/Gilmore Girls setting, with a good story-line, with secret identity and a slow burn romance, and with two very likable main characters.
I am sorry that with this book the Love in Maple Falls series has come to an end. I enjoyed all seven books (and the previous Love on Thin Ice series) and it is great job done by all the authors to have written these series as interconnected stand alone books. With each book we got two different main characters, but at the same time we saw the story develop. It must have been a lot of work, but I can imagine they had a lot of fun writing this series as well. Maybe we will get a third series? I vote yes!
Highly recommended!
September 24, 2025
I thoroughly enjoyed this charming closed-door romance with its Hallmark movie vibes, that is set in the idyllic small town of Maple Falls and takes place during the very romantic and beautiful Indian summer/autumn season. The nice plot is very well written and well paced and brims with emotion, humor, endearing protagonists and a whole cast of very likable characters. Neesha is a strong but troubled heroine who has been through tough times and distrusts men, and Lucian is a swoonworthy golden retriever hero who is just right for her with his loving nature, unwavering patience, and selfless support.
The tropes of the book are
- Sports romance
- Hockey romance
- Strangers to lovers
- Neighbors to lovers
- Found family
- Hidden profession
- He falls first
After the unexpected death of her beloved mother, a pile of debt, and the breakup with her cheating hockey-playing ex, Neesha Gilmore wants to leave her painful memories and Maple Falls behind and start a new life in Seattle, opening her own bakery. But she doesn't have the money to make her dreams come true just yet. So she sells her cupcakes at her friend Emmy's bookstore, where she meets Lucian Lowe, who, as it soon turns out, is her new neighbor and is renovating Emmy's grandmother's dilapidated house. Neesha is immediately attracted to the handsome handyman, but her painful experiences and distrust of men, as well as her imminent departure, prevent her from opening her heart again.
Lucian has just moved to Maple Falls to take up his new position as a defender with the Ice Breakers. He immediately falls in love with his pretty neighbor, but she is skeptical of men and hockey players in particular. So Lucian keeps his profession a secret from Neesha.
But as they slowly grow closer, he finds it increasingly difficult to hide the truth from her, and Lucian is determined to help Neesha with her plans, even at the risk of losing her forever...
If you like sweet romance novels with very likable characters that are set in a small town where everyone knows each other, sticks together and supports each other, you are sure to enjoy this book.
I received a free ARC of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and left voluntarily.
The tropes of the book are
- Sports romance
- Hockey romance
- Strangers to lovers
- Neighbors to lovers
- Found family
- Hidden profession
- He falls first
After the unexpected death of her beloved mother, a pile of debt, and the breakup with her cheating hockey-playing ex, Neesha Gilmore wants to leave her painful memories and Maple Falls behind and start a new life in Seattle, opening her own bakery. But she doesn't have the money to make her dreams come true just yet. So she sells her cupcakes at her friend Emmy's bookstore, where she meets Lucian Lowe, who, as it soon turns out, is her new neighbor and is renovating Emmy's grandmother's dilapidated house. Neesha is immediately attracted to the handsome handyman, but her painful experiences and distrust of men, as well as her imminent departure, prevent her from opening her heart again.
Lucian has just moved to Maple Falls to take up his new position as a defender with the Ice Breakers. He immediately falls in love with his pretty neighbor, but she is skeptical of men and hockey players in particular. So Lucian keeps his profession a secret from Neesha.
But as they slowly grow closer, he finds it increasingly difficult to hide the truth from her, and Lucian is determined to help Neesha with her plans, even at the risk of losing her forever...
If you like sweet romance novels with very likable characters that are set in a small town where everyone knows each other, sticks together and supports each other, you are sure to enjoy this book.
I received a free ARC of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and left voluntarily.
September 16, 2025
This was the perfect way to end this incredible series. I have read about Neesha's cupcakes in every single one of the books and couldn't wait to read her story. This was so emotional and sweet, but also quite funny at times. This author always knows how to balance, romance, humor and seriousness in her books.
Neesha has one steadfast rule and that is to never date a hockey player. She is living in a town full of new hockey players, but she is not impressed. She is drowning in debt, mourning the loss of her mom, working and also baking cupcakes until the crack of down. Her dream is to own bakery, but first she must get out debt.
Lucian is a hockey player, but he is so much more. He is also a handyman and can do anything with wood. He just so happens to move in next door to Neesha. She finds this out by chance after she met him at the bookstore and then tries to hide the fact that she lives next door.
Lucian is intrigued by Neesha, but he has been informed that he should not tell her he is a hockey player. Hee wants to get to know her better, so he just leaves that part out of the conversation.
Neesha is awesome. She is a hard worker, fantastic baker and even better friend. She has built up walls around her heart (at least for the male species), not surprisingly so after you read her full story. The descriptions of her cupcakes made my mouth water. But whether she wants to admit it or not, she is lonely. Lucian offers to be her dating coach in order to help her ease into the waters of dating again.
Lucian stole my heart from the beginning pages. His patience with Neesha and his protectiveness of her made my heart beat a little faster. He was always the perfect gentleman and handled her with kid gloves. Be still my heart.
I always enjoy the nosy nellies of this sweet town. They provide plenty of chuckles, and of course, the mean girl is added touch as well.
This series ended on sweet note (no pun intended) and wrapped up everything with a nice, neat bow. I will miss reading about Maple Falls and the Ice Breakers.
Thank you to the author for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Neesha has one steadfast rule and that is to never date a hockey player. She is living in a town full of new hockey players, but she is not impressed. She is drowning in debt, mourning the loss of her mom, working and also baking cupcakes until the crack of down. Her dream is to own bakery, but first she must get out debt.
Lucian is a hockey player, but he is so much more. He is also a handyman and can do anything with wood. He just so happens to move in next door to Neesha. She finds this out by chance after she met him at the bookstore and then tries to hide the fact that she lives next door.
Lucian is intrigued by Neesha, but he has been informed that he should not tell her he is a hockey player. Hee wants to get to know her better, so he just leaves that part out of the conversation.
Neesha is awesome. She is a hard worker, fantastic baker and even better friend. She has built up walls around her heart (at least for the male species), not surprisingly so after you read her full story. The descriptions of her cupcakes made my mouth water. But whether she wants to admit it or not, she is lonely. Lucian offers to be her dating coach in order to help her ease into the waters of dating again.
Lucian stole my heart from the beginning pages. His patience with Neesha and his protectiveness of her made my heart beat a little faster. He was always the perfect gentleman and handled her with kid gloves. Be still my heart.
I always enjoy the nosy nellies of this sweet town. They provide plenty of chuckles, and of course, the mean girl is added touch as well.
This series ended on sweet note (no pun intended) and wrapped up everything with a nice, neat bow. I will miss reading about Maple Falls and the Ice Breakers.
Thank you to the author for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 24, 2025
Neesha works in the café/bakery at Falling For Books. She is a master cupcake baker with dreams of someday owning her own bakery in Seattle. She wants to start fresh after the sudden death of her mother and a humiliating breakup with her boyfriend. She had no idea her boyfriend, Nate, a hockey player for the Ice Breakers, was two-timing her until she accidentally saw a message from Brittany! She was devastated and is determined to keep her head down, bake cupcakes, and save up enough to start fresh in Seattle.
Lucian moved to Maple Falls as a new player for the NHL team, the Ice Breakers. He’s also friends with Dawson, who is marrying Emmy, the owner of Falling For Books. Emmy’s grandmother recently moved to an assisted living facility, and Emmy offered free rent to Lucian in return for much-needed repairs to her grandmother’s house so she can sell it to fund her care.
Neesha is swamped on the first day of pumpkin spice season when her espresso machine goes on the fritz. She offers regular coffee and cupcakes on the house to appease the customers when she spots a handsome man at the edge of the crowd. He isn’t a local, so Neesha wonders who he is. The handsome stranger offers to help repair Neesha’s espresso machine. Neesha is skeptical, but figures what does she have to lose? He repairs the machine and introduces himself as Lucian, the new handyman who is here to repair an old house for a friend. Neesha feels a spark between them, but she’s determined to keep her distance after what Nate did to her. After Lucian leaves, Neesha spots a hundred-dollar bill in her tip jar, and she wonders who this mysterious Lucian really is.
Lucian starts coming to the café and bakery every day for coffee just so he can see Neesha. He found out from Dawson that Neesha had her heart broken by his teammate, Nate. Lucian is determined to show Neesha who he is before she finds out that he’s a hockey player. He’s been drawn to her since their first meeting. Can Lucian break down Neesha’s walls and convince her to give him a try? You’ll thoroughly enjoy reading this Maple Falls story that will make you laugh and want to see how the story resolves.
Lucian moved to Maple Falls as a new player for the NHL team, the Ice Breakers. He’s also friends with Dawson, who is marrying Emmy, the owner of Falling For Books. Emmy’s grandmother recently moved to an assisted living facility, and Emmy offered free rent to Lucian in return for much-needed repairs to her grandmother’s house so she can sell it to fund her care.
Neesha is swamped on the first day of pumpkin spice season when her espresso machine goes on the fritz. She offers regular coffee and cupcakes on the house to appease the customers when she spots a handsome man at the edge of the crowd. He isn’t a local, so Neesha wonders who he is. The handsome stranger offers to help repair Neesha’s espresso machine. Neesha is skeptical, but figures what does she have to lose? He repairs the machine and introduces himself as Lucian, the new handyman who is here to repair an old house for a friend. Neesha feels a spark between them, but she’s determined to keep her distance after what Nate did to her. After Lucian leaves, Neesha spots a hundred-dollar bill in her tip jar, and she wonders who this mysterious Lucian really is.
Lucian starts coming to the café and bakery every day for coffee just so he can see Neesha. He found out from Dawson that Neesha had her heart broken by his teammate, Nate. Lucian is determined to show Neesha who he is before she finds out that he’s a hockey player. He’s been drawn to her since their first meeting. Can Lucian break down Neesha’s walls and convince her to give him a try? You’ll thoroughly enjoy reading this Maple Falls story that will make you laugh and want to see how the story resolves.
September 28, 2025
The Icing On The Cake is a sweet, swoony, small town romance featuring Ice Breakers defenseman Lucian Lowe and cupcake baker, Neesha Gilmore. Neesha has sworn off dating, still struggling to piece her life back together after the sudden loss of her mom and her disastrous relationship with Nate. She’s determined to start over in Seattle, believing a larger city would be better for opening her bakery. Lucian is drawn to Neesha from the start. Realizing she thinks he’s a handyman and finding out about her no hockey player rule, Lucian tries to win Neesha over while he has the chance. Will he be able to get her to open her heart and trust again? How will Neesha react when she finds out he’s a hockey player? Will Neesha give up her plans for Seattle to remain in Maple Falls?
Lucian is perfect MMC. He is charming, kind, thoughtful, caring, and protective. He is observant, paying attention to the details. I love how he continued to show up for Neesha, encouraging her and supporting her business. He is a flirty romantic, planning special dates, giving meaningful gifts, and disarming Neesha with teasing and easy banter. He is gentle, steady, and safe. He’s exactly what Neesha needs.
I loved Neesha and Lucian’s story so much! All the heart eyes. All the feelings. Their story was the perfect ending to this series - the cherry on top or should I say the icing on the cake? Emmy and Dawson were two of my favorites from Love On Thin Ice so I was thrilled to see them again. Other things I loved: The group chat between the guys ☺️, seeing the other Maple Falls couples, Maple Lake, cafe storage closet, her taking care of him, him learning to ice cupcakes, Henry, rooftop dates and waffle breakfasts. IYKYK 😉 The bachelor auction gutted me. It’s been a thorn in my side most of the series but this scene was the hardest for me. Lucian’s concern undone me. I just love his heart.
If you’re looking for a heartfelt, closed door romance that will have you grinning, sighing, and kicking your feet, add The Icing On The Cake to your TBR.
Thank you Grace Worthington for the eARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Lucian is perfect MMC. He is charming, kind, thoughtful, caring, and protective. He is observant, paying attention to the details. I love how he continued to show up for Neesha, encouraging her and supporting her business. He is a flirty romantic, planning special dates, giving meaningful gifts, and disarming Neesha with teasing and easy banter. He is gentle, steady, and safe. He’s exactly what Neesha needs.
I loved Neesha and Lucian’s story so much! All the heart eyes. All the feelings. Their story was the perfect ending to this series - the cherry on top or should I say the icing on the cake? Emmy and Dawson were two of my favorites from Love On Thin Ice so I was thrilled to see them again. Other things I loved: The group chat between the guys ☺️, seeing the other Maple Falls couples, Maple Lake, cafe storage closet, her taking care of him, him learning to ice cupcakes, Henry, rooftop dates and waffle breakfasts. IYKYK 😉 The bachelor auction gutted me. It’s been a thorn in my side most of the series but this scene was the hardest for me. Lucian’s concern undone me. I just love his heart.
If you’re looking for a heartfelt, closed door romance that will have you grinning, sighing, and kicking your feet, add The Icing On The Cake to your TBR.
Thank you Grace Worthington for the eARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own.
September 12, 2025
3.5 ⭐️
0 🌶️
📅 Release Date: September 24, 2025
Meet the Couple:
✨ Neesha Gilmore – resilient, determined, and still reeling from the hardest year of her life. Between grieving her mother, saving every penny to open her dream bakery, and trying to survive in a town where her ex parades his new girlfriend around, she has little patience for romance—especially hockey players.
✨ Lucian Lowe – compassionate, patient, swoony… and hiding the fact that he’s a pro hockey player. His secret threatens the fragile trust growing between him and Neesha, but his every action—fixing her broken espresso machine, helping her with cupcakes, planning “practice dates”—shows just how much he cares. He falls first, and he falls hard.
What I loved most were their practice dates and quiet, tender moments. Lucian’s green-flag energy absolutely won me over—his steady pursuit of Neesha felt genuine, respectful, and safe. Their connection reminded me of how those early crushes felt: electric, meaningful, and full of butterflies. 🥹
The small-town atmosphere added an extra layer of charm, from the nosy townsfolk to the hockey team that looks after its own. And the quotes? Absolutely highlight-worthy.
Favorite Lines:
💬 “I know I want Neesha in my life. More than that, I want her to be my life.”
💬 “This is how you know someone is your safe place—when being with them feels like coming home.”
💬 “When someone respects your mind, body, and heart, you realize that’s what love should be.”
Final Thoughts:
If you enjoy Hallmark-style romances with meddling townsfolk, cupcakes as love language, and a MMC who’s a walking green flag (minus one secret), this book is for you. Sweet, hopeful, and brimming with fall vibes, The Icing on the Cake is the kind of romance that reminds you love is about respect, trust, and finding your safe place.
Tropes:
🏒 Second chance
💞 Childhood-friends-to-lovers
📚 Dual POV + flashbacks
🌟 Small town meddling and charm
🥄 Practice dates
⛔ Closed door romance
0 🌶️
📅 Release Date: September 24, 2025
Meet the Couple:
✨ Neesha Gilmore – resilient, determined, and still reeling from the hardest year of her life. Between grieving her mother, saving every penny to open her dream bakery, and trying to survive in a town where her ex parades his new girlfriend around, she has little patience for romance—especially hockey players.
✨ Lucian Lowe – compassionate, patient, swoony… and hiding the fact that he’s a pro hockey player. His secret threatens the fragile trust growing between him and Neesha, but his every action—fixing her broken espresso machine, helping her with cupcakes, planning “practice dates”—shows just how much he cares. He falls first, and he falls hard.
What I loved most were their practice dates and quiet, tender moments. Lucian’s green-flag energy absolutely won me over—his steady pursuit of Neesha felt genuine, respectful, and safe. Their connection reminded me of how those early crushes felt: electric, meaningful, and full of butterflies. 🥹
The small-town atmosphere added an extra layer of charm, from the nosy townsfolk to the hockey team that looks after its own. And the quotes? Absolutely highlight-worthy.
Favorite Lines:
💬 “I know I want Neesha in my life. More than that, I want her to be my life.”
💬 “This is how you know someone is your safe place—when being with them feels like coming home.”
💬 “When someone respects your mind, body, and heart, you realize that’s what love should be.”
Final Thoughts:
If you enjoy Hallmark-style romances with meddling townsfolk, cupcakes as love language, and a MMC who’s a walking green flag (minus one secret), this book is for you. Sweet, hopeful, and brimming with fall vibes, The Icing on the Cake is the kind of romance that reminds you love is about respect, trust, and finding your safe place.
Tropes:
🏒 Second chance
💞 Childhood-friends-to-lovers
📚 Dual POV + flashbacks
🌟 Small town meddling and charm
🥄 Practice dates
⛔ Closed door romance
September 15, 2025
This book is perfect. It’s such a sweet story! It is about Neesha, who recently lost her mom who raised her as a single parent. She has trouble trusting men because of the way her ex-boyfriend treated her and an experience in her youth. But then she meets Lucian, who is just the most sweet, considerate and loving man you can imagine. He’s instantly taken by her but he has work hard to win her over; to win her trust. He’s also a hockey player and Neesha vowed to never date a hockey player again, so that’s another problem. And all of this happens in a small town with loving, caring people who seem to find out about everything, which is fun, and are always willing to lend a hand or give some unsolicited advise, lol! These secondary characters are marvelous; special mention to the elderly Mimi and let’s not forget about Mrs. Nelson of the Historical Society! The book club, the guys on the hockey team, their girlfriends - all of them are a nice addition to the story. The subplot - the Alexander MacDonald issue - was handled in a very satisfying way. But the romance between Lucien and Neesha was a joy. It was realistic, a slowburn, sweet and Lucien is just the perfect sensitive man! Neesha’s fears and self worth is handled well, I like that it was realistic and I loved lucien to give her space and reassurance and trust.
It is a lovely, clean story with lots of love, friendship, loyalty, fun, support and so much more. And lots of delicious cupcakes! It has enough depth to be appreciated without getting too heavy. It has just the perfect blend of emotions, mixed with all the feels, and how everything comes together in the title of the book is definitely the icing on the cake. I can honestly recommend it!
Thank you Netgalley, Poets and Saints Publishing and Grace Worthington for providing an advanced copy of this book. I am a bit disappointed the ARC wasn’t available in a Kindle format because I would have loved to add it to my Kindle and reread it in the future.
I voluntarily read and reviewed the ARC; all thoughts and opinions are my own.
It is a lovely, clean story with lots of love, friendship, loyalty, fun, support and so much more. And lots of delicious cupcakes! It has enough depth to be appreciated without getting too heavy. It has just the perfect blend of emotions, mixed with all the feels, and how everything comes together in the title of the book is definitely the icing on the cake. I can honestly recommend it!
Thank you Netgalley, Poets and Saints Publishing and Grace Worthington for providing an advanced copy of this book. I am a bit disappointed the ARC wasn’t available in a Kindle format because I would have loved to add it to my Kindle and reread it in the future.
I voluntarily read and reviewed the ARC; all thoughts and opinions are my own.
September 23, 2025
Reader’s Notes:
– this is part of a series, but can be read as a stand-alone
*Lucian is first met in Grace Worthington’s Perfect Crush Hockey Romance series
– this is told from Neesha & Lucian’s points of view
-it is mentioned that a character’s ex cheated on them when they were dating (before the series begins)
-it is mentioned that a character’s parent passed due to complications after a routine surgery (past event)
Review:
This quickly became a favorite of mine! I loved how sweet Lucian was and Neesha’s accidental walk-ins (of sorts) on Lucian. 😂 I loved that Lucian was pining so much for Neesha that even his teammates noticed without even having met her yet. I loved that Lucian wanted to help Neesha in any way he could, especially after finding out what she’s been through lately. I also loved that Lucian supported Neesha in her desire for her own storefront, even if it meant they’d have to be apart. I loved that Neesha kept getting into odd situations with Lucian and never knew what to do about it. It pushed her out of the comfort zone that she’d tried to construct. I also loved the strong small town support Neesha was given in various ways throughout the story! (And that Emmy kept trying to convince Neesha to give Lucian a chance!)
Summary:
Neesha just had the hardest year she’s ever had, and her espresso machine clocking out on her just as the fall season arrives seems like a bad omen for the rest of her year. That is until a handsome stranger manages to fix it for her. As Lucian comes back day after day to her shop, Neesha is finding herself drawn to him. But with her past relationship crashing and burning, she doesn’t want to risk her heart again. Though when Neesha is offered the chance to ease back into the dating scene by having Lucian be her dating coach, she can’t find a good reason to refuse.
Lucian grew up learning how to fix things from his grandfather and loves being able to help people. So when the local shop owner’s espresso machine stops working and it clearly stresses her out, Lucian offers his help. Something about Neesha calls to Lucian and makes his heart beat erratically like no one else has. The only thing is, Neesha wants nothing to do with hockey and that’s what Lucian does for work. But she doesn’t know that, yet. If he could show her his true self by being her dating coach, maybe she’d be open to a real relationship and not hold him at arms length due to his occupation.
– this is part of a series, but can be read as a stand-alone
*Lucian is first met in Grace Worthington’s Perfect Crush Hockey Romance series
– this is told from Neesha & Lucian’s points of view
-it is mentioned that a character’s ex cheated on them when they were dating (before the series begins)
-it is mentioned that a character’s parent passed due to complications after a routine surgery (past event)
Review:
This quickly became a favorite of mine! I loved how sweet Lucian was and Neesha’s accidental walk-ins (of sorts) on Lucian. 😂 I loved that Lucian was pining so much for Neesha that even his teammates noticed without even having met her yet. I loved that Lucian wanted to help Neesha in any way he could, especially after finding out what she’s been through lately. I also loved that Lucian supported Neesha in her desire for her own storefront, even if it meant they’d have to be apart. I loved that Neesha kept getting into odd situations with Lucian and never knew what to do about it. It pushed her out of the comfort zone that she’d tried to construct. I also loved the strong small town support Neesha was given in various ways throughout the story! (And that Emmy kept trying to convince Neesha to give Lucian a chance!)
Summary:
Neesha just had the hardest year she’s ever had, and her espresso machine clocking out on her just as the fall season arrives seems like a bad omen for the rest of her year. That is until a handsome stranger manages to fix it for her. As Lucian comes back day after day to her shop, Neesha is finding herself drawn to him. But with her past relationship crashing and burning, she doesn’t want to risk her heart again. Though when Neesha is offered the chance to ease back into the dating scene by having Lucian be her dating coach, she can’t find a good reason to refuse.
Lucian grew up learning how to fix things from his grandfather and loves being able to help people. So when the local shop owner’s espresso machine stops working and it clearly stresses her out, Lucian offers his help. Something about Neesha calls to Lucian and makes his heart beat erratically like no one else has. The only thing is, Neesha wants nothing to do with hockey and that’s what Lucian does for work. But she doesn’t know that, yet. If he could show her his true self by being her dating coach, maybe she’d be open to a real relationship and not hold him at arms length due to his occupation.
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