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On Thin Ice
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Expected 14 Apr 26Win a free print copy of this book!
26 days and 04:31:59
15 copies available
U.S. and Canada only
God of Malice meets Pucking Around in this spicy hockey romance where one freshman becomes the twisted obsession of three university hockey players.
I only have one shot to make a life for myself, and more than just my future is on the line. My baby brother is still back in the dump I escaped from, still living in a house of cigarette butts stuffed in beer cans and slurred arguments. So now that I've gotten to Sovereign Kings University, I have to make it worth it. I'll keep my eyes down, ignore the rich kids’ taunts, and graduate.
At least that was my plan before I busted the knee of a hockey player. Having possibly ruined the team’s chance of a championship, I'm now the target of the players. The golden boy captain, Alexander, is the ringleader of my popular bullies. Every day Kane—the tall, dark and perpetually pissed-off defense—finds a way to humiliate me. Yet, being painfully ignored by the huge, reserved goalie they call Mountain may just hurt the most.
When the guys aren’t making my life a living hell, they’re twisting me up inside with desire and giving me glimpses of the real them. But can I risk losing my heart to one hockey player—let alone all three? I’m certainly in for a long, hard season.
I only have one shot to make a life for myself, and more than just my future is on the line. My baby brother is still back in the dump I escaped from, still living in a house of cigarette butts stuffed in beer cans and slurred arguments. So now that I've gotten to Sovereign Kings University, I have to make it worth it. I'll keep my eyes down, ignore the rich kids’ taunts, and graduate.
At least that was my plan before I busted the knee of a hockey player. Having possibly ruined the team’s chance of a championship, I'm now the target of the players. The golden boy captain, Alexander, is the ringleader of my popular bullies. Every day Kane—the tall, dark and perpetually pissed-off defense—finds a way to humiliate me. Yet, being painfully ignored by the huge, reserved goalie they call Mountain may just hurt the most.
When the guys aren’t making my life a living hell, they’re twisting me up inside with desire and giving me glimpses of the real them. But can I risk losing my heart to one hockey player—let alone all three? I’m certainly in for a long, hard season.
416 pages, Paperback
Expected publication April 14, 2026
5 people are currently reading
2620 people want to read
About the author
Sade Rena
50 books586 followersSade Rena is a USA Today Bestselling Author of Contemporary and Multicultural Romance.
A lover of all things romance, Sade enjoys spinning tales that are angsty, emotional, and sexy. Stories that sometimes blur the lines and test the limits of love. She writes diverse characters who are flawed, and maybe even a little broken, but either way, the men in her books will worm their way into your heart.
If you enjoy dark contemporary and dark paranormal romance, please be on the lookout for titles under S. Rena!
Visit www.saderena.com
Join the mailing list for updates- https://www.saderena.com/email-list
Facebook and Instagram -@saderenawrites
A lover of all things romance, Sade enjoys spinning tales that are angsty, emotional, and sexy. Stories that sometimes blur the lines and test the limits of love. She writes diverse characters who are flawed, and maybe even a little broken, but either way, the men in her books will worm their way into your heart.
If you enjoy dark contemporary and dark paranormal romance, please be on the lookout for titles under S. Rena!
Visit www.saderena.com
Join the mailing list for updates- https://www.saderena.com/email-list
Facebook and Instagram -@saderenawrites
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
When 19-year-old Sam Collins arrives at Sovereign King’s University, she is surprised to see a familiar face. Met with a scowl instead a smile, she’s saddened by Everest Kane’s reaction. To make matters worse, with one frat party gone wrong, she’s become a social pariah across campus.
Each passing day with the Sovereign King’s University Kings hockey team and its star players is a conundrum. Alex Williamsburg lusts after and loathes her in equal measure. Bryden “Mountain” Montour is drawn to her, but is desperate to avoid distraction. Meanwhile, she holds a past that Everest is hellbent on leaving there. Yet he is inexplicably drawn to her.
First things first, I like this darker edge to Sade! The characters all had independent personalities and carried the weight of their own trauma and histories. Likewise, the secondary storyline kept me flipping pages as quickly as I could to unravel the past and how it intersected with the present.
Y’all know that I’m a slow reader and don’t like overly lengthy books. That said, I feel like things were a smidge rushed, particularly with the development of Sam’s relationship with each of the guys. Perhaps we needed a few more pages to really have had it all fleshed out. All in all, a great read that I would easily recommend to friends who enjoy these tropes! Looking forward to more of Sade‘s darker side!!
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Burn: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Darkness: 🩶🩶
Heat: 🌶️🌶️
Range of Emotions: 🥺😳🤫😡😍
Ending: 💗 {HEA}
POV: 👫🏻 {Multiple | Present}
🗄️ Genre: Contemporary Romance
🗂️ Subgenre(s): Dark, Mystery/Suspense, New Adult, Sports
✨ Tropes: Bully, Enemies-to-Lovers, Heroine in Danger, Insta-Obsession, Rich Boy x Poor Girl, Secret Society, Why Choose
💫 Microtropes: Interracial/POC, Jersey Moment, Pet Name, Reformed Player, Secrets & Lies, Tragic Past/Trauma Bonding, “We’ll Make It Fit”
🔆 Character: Athlete
💋 Kinks: Biting/Marking, Finger Licking Good
🤰🏻 Pregnancy: n/a
🚩 Red Flags: Alphahole
⛔️ Safety Squad: Attempted Assault, Child Abuse, Suicidal Ideations/Attempt, and other potentially triggering elements. Triggers may appear both on- and off-page, and in the past and present. If you have any hesitation, check the warnings before diving in. Otherwise, blind is best!!
📍 Setting: College
⚠️ Warning: This sweet and steamy read will leave your panties damp and your cheeks flushed.
📣 Type: On Thin Ice is a standalone.
🛑 Be Advised: My Goodreads shelves are … explicit in both senses. As such, they could be considered spoiler-y.
Each passing day with the Sovereign King’s University Kings hockey team and its star players is a conundrum. Alex Williamsburg lusts after and loathes her in equal measure. Bryden “Mountain” Montour is drawn to her, but is desperate to avoid distraction. Meanwhile, she holds a past that Everest is hellbent on leaving there. Yet he is inexplicably drawn to her.
First things first, I like this darker edge to Sade! The characters all had independent personalities and carried the weight of their own trauma and histories. Likewise, the secondary storyline kept me flipping pages as quickly as I could to unravel the past and how it intersected with the present.
Y’all know that I’m a slow reader and don’t like overly lengthy books. That said, I feel like things were a smidge rushed, particularly with the development of Sam’s relationship with each of the guys. Perhaps we needed a few more pages to really have had it all fleshed out. All in all, a great read that I would easily recommend to friends who enjoy these tropes! Looking forward to more of Sade‘s darker side!!
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Burn: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Darkness: 🩶🩶
Heat: 🌶️🌶️
Range of Emotions: 🥺😳🤫😡😍
Ending: 💗 {HEA}
POV: 👫🏻 {Multiple | Present}
🗄️ Genre: Contemporary Romance
🗂️ Subgenre(s): Dark, Mystery/Suspense, New Adult, Sports
✨ Tropes: Bully, Enemies-to-Lovers, Heroine in Danger, Insta-Obsession, Rich Boy x Poor Girl, Secret Society, Why Choose
💫 Microtropes: Interracial/POC, Jersey Moment, Pet Name, Reformed Player, Secrets & Lies, Tragic Past/Trauma Bonding, “We’ll Make It Fit”
🔆 Character: Athlete
💋 Kinks: Biting/Marking, Finger Licking Good
🤰🏻 Pregnancy: n/a
🚩 Red Flags: Alphahole
⛔️ Safety Squad: Attempted Assault, Child Abuse, Suicidal Ideations/Attempt, and other potentially triggering elements. Triggers may appear both on- and off-page, and in the past and present. If you have any hesitation, check the warnings before diving in. Otherwise, blind is best!!
📍 Setting: College
⚠️ Warning: This sweet and steamy read will leave your panties damp and your cheeks flushed.
📣 Type: On Thin Ice is a standalone.
🛑 Be Advised: My Goodreads shelves are … explicit in both senses. As such, they could be considered spoiler-y.
Read
January 22, 2026Hey. It's me, Sade. I thought I would take this time to leave a note. While this wasn't my first darker romance story (all of my S. Rena books are darker), On Thin Ice was a lot of firsts for me—my first traditionally published book, a brand-new subgenre, new tropes that I've tried and, in my personal opinion, failed until this one. It was a labor of love for me; it challenged me and pushed me to grow as a storyteller. It's because of these characters that I was able to redefine my voice as a writer. It was these characters that revived my love for the craft, because, fun fact, I was burnt out, and on the verge of retirement. But Sam, Alex, Kane, and Bryden brought me back. And I love them for it, and I do hope you love them as well.
So, thank you for reading my words and for allowing me to share their story. I can't wait for you to read their journey on April 14, 2026.
PS. They might piss you off, and that's intentional. Be sure to check the very detailed content warning in my author's note, as this book touches on themes that may be triggering for some.
So, thank you for reading my words and for allowing me to share their story. I can't wait for you to read their journey on April 14, 2026.
PS. They might piss you off, and that's intentional. Be sure to check the very detailed content warning in my author's note, as this book touches on themes that may be triggering for some.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3.75/5
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Genre: romance
Publication Date:4/14/26
Publisher: Forever (Grand Central Publishing)
Format: eBook
POV: First Person
Highlights: why choose, hockey, mystery, multiple POVs
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
On Thin Ice was an interesting read. Being that this book is a why choose, I expected more spice than plot but I was pleasantly surprised that there was a solid mystery to unravel and just the right amount of spice.
When Sam gets a surprising acceptance letter and full scholarship to the prestigious Sovereign Kings University, she jumps on the opportunity so that she get change her life and get her and her younger brother out from under the thumb of her abusive stepfather. At a party thrown by the Knights, the university's champion hockey team Sam breaks the knee of one of the players effectively ending his season and potentially costing the team the championship. While balancing the consequences of that with her studies, she begins to look into and unravel the mystery of her scholarship, unearthing secrets long buried. It's not just the secrets that get her blood pumping though. Golden boy Alex, broody Kane, and silent but steady Bryden are all in her orbit in differing capacities and Sam has to navigate her feelings for each, good and bad.
The plot in this book had me hooked and I couldn't put the book down in favor of finding out the mystery surrounding SKU and Sam's scholarship. I did guess some things but still enjoyed reading how Sam and company found out for themselves. The mystery was intricately woven and not overly convoluted. Instead, it was pieced together slowly throughout the book. I was happy with how it all came together in the end.
The character arcs in On Thin Ice felt like they were done really well. The guys were angry but not abusive before starting to succumb to their attraction to Sam, which I appreciated. The gradual change in feelings felt realistic and reading about the guys and Sam slowly falling for each other while unraveling the mystery surrounding the school was rewarding. I really enjoyed reading about their different relationships. Each character had decent depth and background but Sam and Kane's were probably the most fleshed out. Bryden was probably the most flat of the main characters but even he had enough background to be understood.
The spice. I felt like the spice was really well done in this book. It wasn't overwhelming and didn't take away from the plot. Instead, it felt like the spice was there to show the progression of the relationships between Sam and the guys. The wording in the scenes wasn't cringe worthy or awkward like it can sometimes be.
Overall, I enjoyed reading this book. It was a surprising balance between plot and character that meant I had a hard time putting this book down. It didn't hit my right in the feels like some other romances do, which is why it isn't quite a four star read for me but I felt like this book was well written and the story was compelling. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys why choose books with a solid plot and medium spice.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Thank you to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Genre: romance
Publication Date:4/14/26
Publisher: Forever (Grand Central Publishing)
Format: eBook
POV: First Person
Highlights: why choose, hockey, mystery, multiple POVs
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
On Thin Ice was an interesting read. Being that this book is a why choose, I expected more spice than plot but I was pleasantly surprised that there was a solid mystery to unravel and just the right amount of spice.
When Sam gets a surprising acceptance letter and full scholarship to the prestigious Sovereign Kings University, she jumps on the opportunity so that she get change her life and get her and her younger brother out from under the thumb of her abusive stepfather. At a party thrown by the Knights, the university's champion hockey team Sam breaks the knee of one of the players effectively ending his season and potentially costing the team the championship. While balancing the consequences of that with her studies, she begins to look into and unravel the mystery of her scholarship, unearthing secrets long buried. It's not just the secrets that get her blood pumping though. Golden boy Alex, broody Kane, and silent but steady Bryden are all in her orbit in differing capacities and Sam has to navigate her feelings for each, good and bad.
The plot in this book had me hooked and I couldn't put the book down in favor of finding out the mystery surrounding SKU and Sam's scholarship. I did guess some things but still enjoyed reading how Sam and company found out for themselves. The mystery was intricately woven and not overly convoluted. Instead, it was pieced together slowly throughout the book. I was happy with how it all came together in the end.
The character arcs in On Thin Ice felt like they were done really well. The guys were angry but not abusive before starting to succumb to their attraction to Sam, which I appreciated. The gradual change in feelings felt realistic and reading about the guys and Sam slowly falling for each other while unraveling the mystery surrounding the school was rewarding. I really enjoyed reading about their different relationships. Each character had decent depth and background but Sam and Kane's were probably the most fleshed out. Bryden was probably the most flat of the main characters but even he had enough background to be understood.
The spice. I felt like the spice was really well done in this book. It wasn't overwhelming and didn't take away from the plot. Instead, it felt like the spice was there to show the progression of the relationships between Sam and the guys. The wording in the scenes wasn't cringe worthy or awkward like it can sometimes be.
Overall, I enjoyed reading this book. It was a surprising balance between plot and character that meant I had a hard time putting this book down. It didn't hit my right in the feels like some other romances do, which is why it isn't quite a four star read for me but I felt like this book was well written and the story was compelling. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys why choose books with a solid plot and medium spice.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Thank you to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Indie Reviewers
A tantalizing slow burn, dark academia, why choose hockey romance with plot twist that leave you gasping. Best advice? Buckle up and enjoy the ride.
Sam arrives at Sovereign King’s University completely alone, no friends, no allies, and a complicated past with one of the school’s star hockey players, Everest… aka Kane.
One single night changes everything. When Sam chooses to stand up for herself, the fallout is brutal, causing the entire University to turn against her. She’s forced to become the equipment manager for the Sovereign King’s hockey team and, it just so happens, all three MMCs play on the hockey team.
There’s Alex, who wants nothing to do with Sam unless pleasure is involved. Bryden…aka Mountain (my favorite) who’s drawn to her and can’t fight his feelings no matter how hard he tries. And Everest, the blast from her past, battling emotions he’s buried for far too long.
Beneath the tension, chemistry, and slow burn is a dangerous mystery. Why is Sam really at Sovereign King’s and how did her scholarship get approved after being denied before? As Sam and the boys start to unravel the dark secrets the truth comes out, and no one is safe.
Sam arrives at Sovereign King’s University completely alone, no friends, no allies, and a complicated past with one of the school’s star hockey players, Everest… aka Kane.
One single night changes everything. When Sam chooses to stand up for herself, the fallout is brutal, causing the entire University to turn against her. She’s forced to become the equipment manager for the Sovereign King’s hockey team and, it just so happens, all three MMCs play on the hockey team.
There’s Alex, who wants nothing to do with Sam unless pleasure is involved. Bryden…aka Mountain (my favorite) who’s drawn to her and can’t fight his feelings no matter how hard he tries. And Everest, the blast from her past, battling emotions he’s buried for far too long.
Beneath the tension, chemistry, and slow burn is a dangerous mystery. Why is Sam really at Sovereign King’s and how did her scholarship get approved after being denied before? As Sam and the boys start to unravel the dark secrets the truth comes out, and no one is safe.
Review of advance copy received from Author
All is not as it seems at SKU. When outsider Sam gets a scholarship to attend, she thinks it's the answer to her future and that of her brother. But the secrets and lies within keep her busy trying to solve them and her unique relationship with the three MVP's on the school's coveted Hockey team. Really good read read and mystery.
February 19, 2026
This was my first S. Rena read and it definitely won’t be my last. Why Choose is one of my favorite tropes and although the characters were frustrating to no end at some points (which, fair warning she disclaims this in the Author Notes!) I did love and feel for them all the same. The underlying plot line weaving across characters was unique and kept me guessing as well.
ARC via NetGalley
ARC via NetGalley
unreleased
November 9, 2025Pub. date: Apr 14 2026
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Rtc
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews