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Cold As Ice
Book One in the Wilder Wolves hockey sports romance series!
A year ago, Alondra Brown quit figuring skating, and since then, she's spent every day trying to piece back together the broken parts of the person she used to be.
After an impulsive night out, Alondra finds herself caught in a lie, pretending to be the tutor for the charming stranger she kissed the night before, now realizing he's her father’s star hockey player, Jack Schultz.
Avoiding Jack becomes impossible once he begs for their lie to become a reality after admitting he needs her help to maintain his eligibility to play. Caught between resisting the pull toward the hockey captain, and the fear of being hurt again, Alondra's surprised to find out there's more to Jack than the front he wears as the playboy who doesn't believe in love.
The lines of their unlikely friendship become blurred as Jack and Alondra struggle to fight their connection. No matter how much they try to deny it, the heart wants exactly what it shouldn’t.
A year ago, Alondra Brown quit figuring skating, and since then, she's spent every day trying to piece back together the broken parts of the person she used to be.
After an impulsive night out, Alondra finds herself caught in a lie, pretending to be the tutor for the charming stranger she kissed the night before, now realizing he's her father’s star hockey player, Jack Schultz.
Avoiding Jack becomes impossible once he begs for their lie to become a reality after admitting he needs her help to maintain his eligibility to play. Caught between resisting the pull toward the hockey captain, and the fear of being hurt again, Alondra's surprised to find out there's more to Jack than the front he wears as the playboy who doesn't believe in love.
The lines of their unlikely friendship become blurred as Jack and Alondra struggle to fight their connection. No matter how much they try to deny it, the heart wants exactly what it shouldn’t.
428 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 16, 2025
35 people are currently reading
596 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 162 reviews
December 22, 2025
4 stars
⤹review contains NO spoilers || trigger warnings are needed for this book! (will be stated at the end of this review.)
i LOVED this book! a hockey romance is successful once again. am i finally being converted?
this was my first laurea Matthews book and OH did it serve. i truly started this yesterday and i had such a fun time with it that i couldn’t put it down for 2 days straight. i stayed up late reading this book, kicked my feet, fell off my bed, ran 3 miles to mourn not having my own jack, and FELT. through my whole heart, i felt.
both of these characters are SO precious to me. both of them have heavy trauma that kind of hinders them and makes them hesitate from entering a relationship, but throughout the book, they eventually trust each other with it and immediately deeply understand each other. seeing two people connect on an atomic level was truly precious to read. although they share intensely emotional moments together, their playful moments were undoubtedly my favorite. my notes literally just read: THEIR BANTER THEIR BANTER!! because of my gosh was it amazing 😩 jack’s intensely playful and flirtatious personality and alondra’s reserved but feisty-when-comfortable’s matched so well. constantly throughout the book, i was SWOONING because of how perfectly laurea wrote the banter. it was AMAZING. i’m going to shut up soon, but i also adored their unwavering, strong, and never-ending support for each other. alondra constantly showing up at his games, cheering, and wearing his jersey, and Jack helping her be confident on the ice again 😩 all of this to say, I LOVE THEM!!
when he wore a figure skate on his necklace so “SHE COULD ALWAYS BE CLOSE TO HIS HEART” 😭💗
there was a reason i read this in one day and it was also partly because of the addictive writing. it was straightforward, but it also flowed so well. from the beginning, i settled into the book easily and the rest of the book was just as effortless to read.
overall, I DEFINITELY RECOMMEND! hockey romances have just been hitting the sweet spot lately, and I'm so glad that this one continued the streak.
⊹ ﹒ ⁺ ﹒ ⊹ ﹒ ⁺ ﹒ ⊹ ﹒ ⁺ ﹒ ⊹ ﹒ ⁺ ﹒ ⊹ ﹒ ⁺ ﹒ ⊹ ﹒ ⁺ ﹒ ⊹
ᝰ ⋆ ── preread ✶
hockey romances have been working out for me lately, sooo 🤭.
༄˖ thank you to love notes pr for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
⤹review contains NO spoilers || trigger warnings are needed for this book! (will be stated at the end of this review.)
i LOVED this book! a hockey romance is successful once again. am i finally being converted?
this was my first laurea Matthews book and OH did it serve. i truly started this yesterday and i had such a fun time with it that i couldn’t put it down for 2 days straight. i stayed up late reading this book, kicked my feet, fell off my bed, ran 3 miles to mourn not having my own jack, and FELT. through my whole heart, i felt.
both of these characters are SO precious to me. both of them have heavy trauma that kind of hinders them and makes them hesitate from entering a relationship, but throughout the book, they eventually trust each other with it and immediately deeply understand each other. seeing two people connect on an atomic level was truly precious to read. although they share intensely emotional moments together, their playful moments were undoubtedly my favorite. my notes literally just read: THEIR BANTER THEIR BANTER!! because of my gosh was it amazing 😩 jack’s intensely playful and flirtatious personality and alondra’s reserved but feisty-when-comfortable’s matched so well. constantly throughout the book, i was SWOONING because of how perfectly laurea wrote the banter. it was AMAZING. i’m going to shut up soon, but i also adored their unwavering, strong, and never-ending support for each other. alondra constantly showing up at his games, cheering, and wearing his jersey, and Jack helping her be confident on the ice again 😩 all of this to say, I LOVE THEM!!
when he wore a figure skate on his necklace so “SHE COULD ALWAYS BE CLOSE TO HIS HEART” 😭💗
there was a reason i read this in one day and it was also partly because of the addictive writing. it was straightforward, but it also flowed so well. from the beginning, i settled into the book easily and the rest of the book was just as effortless to read.
overall, I DEFINITELY RECOMMEND! hockey romances have just been hitting the sweet spot lately, and I'm so glad that this one continued the streak.
⊹ ﹒ ⁺ ﹒ ⊹ ﹒ ⁺ ﹒ ⊹ ﹒ ⁺ ﹒ ⊹ ﹒ ⁺ ﹒ ⊹ ﹒ ⁺ ﹒ ⊹ ﹒ ⁺ ﹒ ⊹
ᝰ ⋆ ── preread ✶
hockey romances have been working out for me lately, sooo 🤭.
༄˖ thank you to love notes pr for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
December 18, 2025
જ⁀➴ 4 stars
Thank you to Laurea Matthews and Love Notes PR for the eARC in exchange for an honest review! Cold As Ice is out now!
༘˚⋆𐙚｡⋆𖦹.✧˚ ༘˚⋆𐙚｡⋆𖦹.✧˚ ༘˚⋆𐙚｡⋆𖦹.✧˚ ༘˚⋆𐙚｡⋆𖦹.✧˚ ༘˚⋆𐙚｡⋆𖦹.✧˚ ༘˚⋆𐙚｡⋆𖦹.✧˚ ༘˚⋆𐙚｡⋆𖦹.✧˚ ༘˚⋆𐙚｡⋆𖦹.✧˚ ༘˚⋆𐙚｡
I didn't expect to love this book as much as I did. I honestly requested the book on a whim and sort of went into it with no expectations and read it blind, and if you're looking for a heartfelt story with found family vibes and MCs who learn to find their voices and strength after trauma and heartbreak, PLEASE read this book. I will say that this book does come with some major trigger warnings, and it's not for the faint of heart if you're sensitive to some of these subjects, but this was my first-ever Laurea Matthews book, and I'm not disappointed at all!
Alondra Brown was on her way to being a nationally-ranked figure skater when disaster struck, and she quit skating indefinitely, as a shock to the entire community. On a night out with her friends, she runs into Jack Schultz, who unbeknownst to her, is the captain of her college's hockey team that her dad coaches. After Jack kisses her on a dare, they're caught in a web of lies as she pretends to be his tutor for their Comp II class after discovering that Jack may be kicked off the team for not keeping his grades high enough. As they get closer together, Alondra realizes she's starting to break her rules for him, and he pulls her into his orbit, and Jack is starting to realize that maybe it's possible to love someone after all he's been through.
First thing I want to get out of the way is that some extremely sensitive/heavy topics are discussed in the story that are integral to both Alondra and Jack's backstories and why they make some of the decisions they do. With that said, I highly encourage everyone to read the trigger warnings (I left them at the end of this review under the page break) before deciding to proceed. The portrayal of said content is not sugarcoated in any way and shouldn't be because of how severe it is, and to be completely honest, I had to step back a few times from the book to have a moment before picking up where I left off again.
With that out of the way, I must say that despite the heavy content that's in the overarching story, I absolutely loved Al and Jack. I think they're some of the most realistic MCs I've read about in a story, especially a college romance. They go to class, they party, they study, they have chaotic roommates with their own drama, and the found family that brings them all together? It was just so wholesome and felt very realistic as someone who was (semi-recently) in college and has now graduated. It was so refreshing to see scenes of Al and Jack in class, going out with their friends, and growing closer together.
Jack is literally the greenest flag of a character I've read about in any romance book EVER. Like, he's such a green flag that if you Google "green flag," I swear his character drawing would theoretically show up as one of the results. I legitimately think he's on the same level as Hudson Hayes from Slap Shot by Chelsea Curto. Maybe it's that southern hospitality vibe they both have going on, but I think he's in my top three favorite MMCs I've read about so far in 2025. Jack Schultz can literally do no wrong. He offers to stay over at Al's apartment to watch over her? He brings her home to meet his mom? He buys her period products to keep in his apartment for when she and her friends are over and may need them? He's a little overprotective of Al, but given what he's been through in his life, I say it's warranted, and I can understand why he acts the way he does. Oh, and he falls first and HARD.
As for Alondra, I just wanted to give her the biggest hug in the entire world. Honestly, both she and Jack need a giant hug. Alondra's been through so much that no one deserves to go through, and as scary and traumatic as it was, I loved reading her POV during the story and her finding her strength to stand up for herself, getting back to who she was before, and finding her passion and love for figure skating again. I loved how Jack helped her get back to skating, and he constantly motivated her to let herself go and find her passion and love for life again, and I loved how Alondra helped Jack learn that falling in love is okay if you give it a chance. I think the best part of the story is that they both taught each other that letting people in after tragedy and putting your trust into other people is hard, but putting that trust into the right people and letting love in is one of the first steps to overcoming that trauma.
The only thing I took a star off for was the sideplot about Alondra's cousin, Macy, and her on-again, off-again boyfriend, Chad. I'm sure there's some foreshadowing going on there for a future book in the series about Macy, but I could NOT stand every time that girl got back together with that absolute idiot, good-for-nothing man, and I don't think the overall plot of the story would've been affected if this wasn't included. I swear they got back together like, three or four times in the span of the entire book—which was 436 pages, by the way—and I'm just like, "WOMAN. STAND UP FOR YOURSELF AND KNOW YOUR WORTH, PLEASE!"
Overall, while this is supposed to be a romance, this is also a story about overcoming trauma, baggage, and finding the strength to trust people and let yourself fall in love and reconnect with what makes you happy. I genuinely enjoyed reading about Al and Jack, and I look forward to reading more from this series in the future!
༘˚⋆𐙚｡⋆𖦹.✧˚ ༘˚⋆𐙚｡⋆𖦹.✧˚ ༘˚⋆𐙚｡⋆𖦹.✧˚ ༘˚⋆𐙚｡⋆𖦹.✧˚ ༘˚⋆𐙚｡⋆𖦹.✧˚ ༘˚⋆𐙚｡⋆𖦹.✧˚ ༘˚⋆𐙚｡⋆𖦹.✧˚ ༘˚⋆𐙚｡⋆𖦹.✧˚ ༘˚⋆𐙚｡
Trigger/content warnings: sexual content (probably like a 2/5 on the spice scale, although this rating may vary from person to person and their experience with reading spice in books), recalled past experiences of domestic violence as well as on-page portrayals of domestic and relationship violence
Thank you to Laurea Matthews and Love Notes PR for the eARC in exchange for an honest review! Cold As Ice is out now!
"I love you. I'm in love with you. I feel every type of love I could possibly have for you, and I want to know what it's like to be called yours."
༘˚⋆𐙚｡⋆𖦹.✧˚ ༘˚⋆𐙚｡⋆𖦹.✧˚ ༘˚⋆𐙚｡⋆𖦹.✧˚ ༘˚⋆𐙚｡⋆𖦹.✧˚ ༘˚⋆𐙚｡⋆𖦹.✧˚ ༘˚⋆𐙚｡⋆𖦹.✧˚ ༘˚⋆𐙚｡⋆𖦹.✧˚ ༘˚⋆𐙚｡⋆𖦹.✧˚ ༘˚⋆𐙚｡
I didn't expect to love this book as much as I did. I honestly requested the book on a whim and sort of went into it with no expectations and read it blind, and if you're looking for a heartfelt story with found family vibes and MCs who learn to find their voices and strength after trauma and heartbreak, PLEASE read this book. I will say that this book does come with some major trigger warnings, and it's not for the faint of heart if you're sensitive to some of these subjects, but this was my first-ever Laurea Matthews book, and I'm not disappointed at all!
Alondra Brown was on her way to being a nationally-ranked figure skater when disaster struck, and she quit skating indefinitely, as a shock to the entire community. On a night out with her friends, she runs into Jack Schultz, who unbeknownst to her, is the captain of her college's hockey team that her dad coaches. After Jack kisses her on a dare, they're caught in a web of lies as she pretends to be his tutor for their Comp II class after discovering that Jack may be kicked off the team for not keeping his grades high enough. As they get closer together, Alondra realizes she's starting to break her rules for him, and he pulls her into his orbit, and Jack is starting to realize that maybe it's possible to love someone after all he's been through.
First thing I want to get out of the way is that some extremely sensitive/heavy topics are discussed in the story that are integral to both Alondra and Jack's backstories and why they make some of the decisions they do. With that said, I highly encourage everyone to read the trigger warnings (I left them at the end of this review under the page break) before deciding to proceed. The portrayal of said content is not sugarcoated in any way and shouldn't be because of how severe it is, and to be completely honest, I had to step back a few times from the book to have a moment before picking up where I left off again.
With that out of the way, I must say that despite the heavy content that's in the overarching story, I absolutely loved Al and Jack. I think they're some of the most realistic MCs I've read about in a story, especially a college romance. They go to class, they party, they study, they have chaotic roommates with their own drama, and the found family that brings them all together? It was just so wholesome and felt very realistic as someone who was (semi-recently) in college and has now graduated. It was so refreshing to see scenes of Al and Jack in class, going out with their friends, and growing closer together.
Jack is literally the greenest flag of a character I've read about in any romance book EVER. Like, he's such a green flag that if you Google "green flag," I swear his character drawing would theoretically show up as one of the results. I legitimately think he's on the same level as Hudson Hayes from Slap Shot by Chelsea Curto. Maybe it's that southern hospitality vibe they both have going on, but I think he's in my top three favorite MMCs I've read about so far in 2025. Jack Schultz can literally do no wrong. He offers to stay over at Al's apartment to watch over her? He brings her home to meet his mom? He buys her period products to keep in his apartment for when she and her friends are over and may need them? He's a little overprotective of Al, but given what he's been through in his life, I say it's warranted, and I can understand why he acts the way he does. Oh, and he falls first and HARD.
As for Alondra, I just wanted to give her the biggest hug in the entire world. Honestly, both she and Jack need a giant hug. Alondra's been through so much that no one deserves to go through, and as scary and traumatic as it was, I loved reading her POV during the story and her finding her strength to stand up for herself, getting back to who she was before, and finding her passion and love for figure skating again. I loved how Jack helped her get back to skating, and he constantly motivated her to let herself go and find her passion and love for life again, and I loved how Alondra helped Jack learn that falling in love is okay if you give it a chance. I think the best part of the story is that they both taught each other that letting people in after tragedy and putting your trust into other people is hard, but putting that trust into the right people and letting love in is one of the first steps to overcoming that trauma.
The only thing I took a star off for was the sideplot about Alondra's cousin, Macy, and her on-again, off-again boyfriend, Chad. I'm sure there's some foreshadowing going on there for a future book in the series about Macy, but I could NOT stand every time that girl got back together with that absolute idiot, good-for-nothing man, and I don't think the overall plot of the story would've been affected if this wasn't included. I swear they got back together like, three or four times in the span of the entire book—which was 436 pages, by the way—and I'm just like, "WOMAN. STAND UP FOR YOURSELF AND KNOW YOUR WORTH, PLEASE!"
Overall, while this is supposed to be a romance, this is also a story about overcoming trauma, baggage, and finding the strength to trust people and let yourself fall in love and reconnect with what makes you happy. I genuinely enjoyed reading about Al and Jack, and I look forward to reading more from this series in the future!
༘˚⋆𐙚｡⋆𖦹.✧˚ ༘˚⋆𐙚｡⋆𖦹.✧˚ ༘˚⋆𐙚｡⋆𖦹.✧˚ ༘˚⋆𐙚｡⋆𖦹.✧˚ ༘˚⋆𐙚｡⋆𖦹.✧˚ ༘˚⋆𐙚｡⋆𖦹.✧˚ ༘˚⋆𐙚｡⋆𖦹.✧˚ ༘˚⋆𐙚｡⋆𖦹.✧˚ ༘˚⋆𐙚｡
Trigger/content warnings: sexual content (probably like a 2/5 on the spice scale, although this rating may vary from person to person and their experience with reading spice in books), recalled past experiences of domestic violence as well as on-page portrayals of domestic and relationship violence
December 12, 2025
cold as ice
⌗ dec. 02 - dec. 04
⤿ 3.75 stars [rounded up]
༉ initial thoughts- spoiler review
the story behind both of these characters independently to their romance is the thing that made this book such a good read. both characters struggled with their own issues and dealt with them both together and by themselves.
i’m a sucker for a forbidden romance, which was very present throughout the book with alondra being the coach’s daughter as well as them constantly pushing the fact that they are only friends.
hockey and figure skating were not in the spotlight for this book but it was still present in the story which provided a nice balance. the amount of characters interaction were also perfect, the author did an amazing job with showing their friendships with others outside of the relationship.
༉ characters - spoilers ahead
⛸️ alondra brown - her personality gave very black cat energy, i loved her dry sarcasm mostly because that’s also my type of sarcasm. her relationship with her dad was a very strong plot point and i’m glad there was so form of resolution to it. bradley was also a huge prick and i’m glad that the plotline involving him resolved in the way it did. i loved the fact that we still got to see the skating side of ever even though she quit.
🏒 jack schultz - he was a really likable character, flirty but also very understanding. i loved his mom and their relationship, everything that happened with his dad clearly had an impact on him and how his mom handled that situation clearly had an impact on him. i’m glad he had closure and was able to really work through his issues before really getting his happy ending. his friendship with alondra also felt very organic which made the way their relationship evolved perfect.
༉ final thoughts- spoilers ahead
i really love the friends to lovers trope, even though jack definitely had a small crush on alondra, they were still very much a friends to lovers situation which i had a great time reading about. the main characters were written wonderfully and so were the side characters. I know that this is the beginning of a series and i can’t wait to see more of these characters.
༉‧₊˚. pre - read
what better time to read a hockey romance than hockey season 🙂↕️ i think got into a bit of a reading slump after finishing brimstone so this book is a perfect palate cleanser
ⓘ thank you love note pr & laurea matthews for this arc in exchange for an honest review
⌗ dec. 02 - dec. 04
⤿ 3.75 stars [rounded up]
༉ initial thoughts- spoiler review
the story behind both of these characters independently to their romance is the thing that made this book such a good read. both characters struggled with their own issues and dealt with them both together and by themselves.
i’m a sucker for a forbidden romance, which was very present throughout the book with alondra being the coach’s daughter as well as them constantly pushing the fact that they are only friends.
hockey and figure skating were not in the spotlight for this book but it was still present in the story which provided a nice balance. the amount of characters interaction were also perfect, the author did an amazing job with showing their friendships with others outside of the relationship.
༉ characters - spoilers ahead
⛸️ alondra brown - her personality gave very black cat energy, i loved her dry sarcasm mostly because that’s also my type of sarcasm. her relationship with her dad was a very strong plot point and i’m glad there was so form of resolution to it. bradley was also a huge prick and i’m glad that the plotline involving him resolved in the way it did. i loved the fact that we still got to see the skating side of ever even though she quit.
🏒 jack schultz - he was a really likable character, flirty but also very understanding. i loved his mom and their relationship, everything that happened with his dad clearly had an impact on him and how his mom handled that situation clearly had an impact on him. i’m glad he had closure and was able to really work through his issues before really getting his happy ending. his friendship with alondra also felt very organic which made the way their relationship evolved perfect.
༉ final thoughts- spoilers ahead
i really love the friends to lovers trope, even though jack definitely had a small crush on alondra, they were still very much a friends to lovers situation which i had a great time reading about. the main characters were written wonderfully and so were the side characters. I know that this is the beginning of a series and i can’t wait to see more of these characters.
༉‧₊˚. pre - read
what better time to read a hockey romance than hockey season 🙂↕️ i think got into a bit of a reading slump after finishing brimstone so this book is a perfect palate cleanser
ⓘ thank you love note pr & laurea matthews for this arc in exchange for an honest review
December 25, 2025
ARC Review - 2 ★
⋆˚࿔ i was kinda invested in their love story at first especially their initial meeting and then meeting again only to find out the fmc was the coach’s daughter. that part really caught my interest. but as the story went on, it felt like the plot just fell apart and their connection didnt feel that genuine anymore. it was really annoying how the fmc kept repeating that she was the coach’s daughter over and over. the mmc was okay but the constant push and pull in their relationship just made me feel frustrated. towards the end, i started skimming because i didnt want to dnf the book since i was already almost done with it anyway lol.
Thank you to Laurea Matthews & Love Notes PR for the e-ARC!
⋆˚࿔ i was kinda invested in their love story at first especially their initial meeting and then meeting again only to find out the fmc was the coach’s daughter. that part really caught my interest. but as the story went on, it felt like the plot just fell apart and their connection didnt feel that genuine anymore. it was really annoying how the fmc kept repeating that she was the coach’s daughter over and over. the mmc was okay but the constant push and pull in their relationship just made me feel frustrated. towards the end, i started skimming because i didnt want to dnf the book since i was already almost done with it anyway lol.
Thank you to Laurea Matthews & Love Notes PR for the e-ARC!
December 3, 2025
e-ARC review ♾️⭐✨!!!!
Jack and Alondra are an emotional journey the kind that hits you in the soft parts of your soul you didn’t even know were there. What grows between them isn’t just a cute romance; it’s something deeper, more intentional, more human. And everything makes sense when you start with Jack.
Jack is a storm disguised as sunshine. A burst of energy who hides his trauma behind charisma and that precious instinct he has to care for everyone around him. He loves hard: his mom, his coach (who also happens to be Alondra’s dad) and his teammates. Especially Dylan and Nate, who form this spectacular trio with him; chosen family, chaotic loyalty, warmth that feels like home. Jack doesn’t just interact with people he lights them up. He makes every character shine with their own personality, their own purpose, and honestly, that moved me more than I expected.
And then there’s Alondra. My Black Cat queen. Sharp, direct, zero sugarcoating. She carries so much, more than anyone should, and it hurts to see how someone who used to be a full sun ends up like a dark sky with no stars left. Fierce, guarded, armored to the teeth… and still, you just want to hold her. You want to be her friend, her person, because that’s exactly what she’s aching for even if she’ll never say it. Beneath every hard edge, every mask, there’s a silent scream: help me, I want to heal, I just don’t know how to do it alone. And that’s what makes her heartbreaking and powerful at the same time.
And then comes Jack campus golden boy, the popular one everyone loves, star captain of the hockey team, carrying his father’s legacy like both armor and wound. Everything shifts when he takes advantage of one tiny mistake, one small opening, and from that moment on they build the most beautiful part of their relationship: a friendship. Not a rushed romance, not instant sparks. A slow, tender friendship that cooks on low heat. This book is slow burn like slow-slow. The kind that feels old school in the best way: patience, boundaries, space to breathe. Nothing forced. Nothing hurried. Things just fall into place, naturally, quietly, as if the universe whispered, “Relax, I got you.” The setting the rink, the house, the team, that warm orbit around them makes everything even more beautiful.
And now comes the part I don’t even know how to explain. How do I say that Jack and Alondra carved out a massive space in my heart? Like genuinely, how do I explain that Jack is one of the sweetest, most charismatic, supportive, understanding book boyfriends I’ve ever read? A real friend, someone who shows up no matter what, someone who holds you without making you ask. I know this review might sound biased, but honestly? Can you blame me? Laurea, you don’t make this easy for me. I put on my current obsession, Official髭男dism – “Subtitle” (please, if you’re reading this review, watch the video and read the lyrics, you’ll get it), and everything just clicked.
Thank you, Love Notes PR, for the chance to read this ARC, and of course, thank you to Laurea too. I devoured this book. I mean DEVOURED. I ate those 400+ pages like I hadn’t eaten in days. One moment I was at 20%, laughing, tearing up just a little, feeling every emotion at once… and suddenly I was done. I didn’t even know I needed this story until it grabbed me by the collar and refused to let go. I loved every second.
Jack and Alondra are an emotional journey the kind that hits you in the soft parts of your soul you didn’t even know were there. What grows between them isn’t just a cute romance; it’s something deeper, more intentional, more human. And everything makes sense when you start with Jack.
Jack is a storm disguised as sunshine. A burst of energy who hides his trauma behind charisma and that precious instinct he has to care for everyone around him. He loves hard: his mom, his coach (who also happens to be Alondra’s dad) and his teammates. Especially Dylan and Nate, who form this spectacular trio with him; chosen family, chaotic loyalty, warmth that feels like home. Jack doesn’t just interact with people he lights them up. He makes every character shine with their own personality, their own purpose, and honestly, that moved me more than I expected.
And then there’s Alondra. My Black Cat queen. Sharp, direct, zero sugarcoating. She carries so much, more than anyone should, and it hurts to see how someone who used to be a full sun ends up like a dark sky with no stars left. Fierce, guarded, armored to the teeth… and still, you just want to hold her. You want to be her friend, her person, because that’s exactly what she’s aching for even if she’ll never say it. Beneath every hard edge, every mask, there’s a silent scream: help me, I want to heal, I just don’t know how to do it alone. And that’s what makes her heartbreaking and powerful at the same time.
And then comes Jack campus golden boy, the popular one everyone loves, star captain of the hockey team, carrying his father’s legacy like both armor and wound. Everything shifts when he takes advantage of one tiny mistake, one small opening, and from that moment on they build the most beautiful part of their relationship: a friendship. Not a rushed romance, not instant sparks. A slow, tender friendship that cooks on low heat. This book is slow burn like slow-slow. The kind that feels old school in the best way: patience, boundaries, space to breathe. Nothing forced. Nothing hurried. Things just fall into place, naturally, quietly, as if the universe whispered, “Relax, I got you.” The setting the rink, the house, the team, that warm orbit around them makes everything even more beautiful.
And now comes the part I don’t even know how to explain. How do I say that Jack and Alondra carved out a massive space in my heart? Like genuinely, how do I explain that Jack is one of the sweetest, most charismatic, supportive, understanding book boyfriends I’ve ever read? A real friend, someone who shows up no matter what, someone who holds you without making you ask. I know this review might sound biased, but honestly? Can you blame me? Laurea, you don’t make this easy for me. I put on my current obsession, Official髭男dism – “Subtitle” (please, if you’re reading this review, watch the video and read the lyrics, you’ll get it), and everything just clicked.
Thank you, Love Notes PR, for the chance to read this ARC, and of course, thank you to Laurea too. I devoured this book. I mean DEVOURED. I ate those 400+ pages like I hadn’t eaten in days. One moment I was at 20%, laughing, tearing up just a little, feeling every emotion at once… and suddenly I was done. I didn’t even know I needed this story until it grabbed me by the collar and refused to let go. I loved every second.
December 11, 2025
The beginning of this book started off fun but as the book went on I found myself losing interest in the storyline as it settles into a loop: Al gets close to Jack, Al pushes him away, Al regrets it… then rinse and repeat. I get that she’s recovering from an abusive relationship, but the push-pull dynamic is so constant it stops feeling like growth and starts feeling like déjà vu.
And when I say slow burn, I mean sloooow. Glacial. By the time their relationship finally made any progress, I had already checked out emotionally because Alondra’s character just wasn’t developing in a way that felt meaningful to me.
Overall, the book was fine - nothing terrible, but nothing that really landed for me either. I just wanted more depth.
And when I say slow burn, I mean sloooow. Glacial. By the time their relationship finally made any progress, I had already checked out emotionally because Alondra’s character just wasn’t developing in a way that felt meaningful to me.
Overall, the book was fine - nothing terrible, but nothing that really landed for me either. I just wanted more depth.
December 5, 2025
Holy damnnnn!
That was a long ass slow burn, but so endearing.
Jack and Alondra are two pining idiots, who clearly love each other - even if they don’t/can’t recognise their feelings for what they are.
I truly loved how they built a fantastically beautiful friendship, which created a perfect romance.. once they admitted their feelings.
And the spice - it may have been a long ass slow burn - but it was so worth it ;pppppp
Thank you Laurea and Love Notes for an advanced copy.
That was a long ass slow burn, but so endearing.
Jack and Alondra are two pining idiots, who clearly love each other - even if they don’t/can’t recognise their feelings for what they are.
I truly loved how they built a fantastically beautiful friendship, which created a perfect romance.. once they admitted their feelings.
And the spice - it may have been a long ass slow burn - but it was so worth it ;pppppp
Thank you Laurea and Love Notes for an advanced copy.
December 9, 2025
This book delivers an emotional, hockey filled start to a new college romance series, and while I enjoyed the premise, I was left wanting more depth from the characters and their relationships.
The female main character grew up resenting hockey players because her father, a longtime coach, always put the sport before her. After surviving an abusive relationship with a football player, she abandoned her dream of figure skating and built walls around anything that reminded her of the ice. The male main character is the captain of the college hockey team, a top NHL draft prospect, and a Texan with a sweet country drawl. His “darlin’” absolutely melted me every time. He carries his own trauma, having witnessed his father’s horrific abuse toward his mother, which ultimately landed him in prison.
Their chemistry is there, and the setup for a “two broken people finding healing in each other” storyline is strong. But the central conflict, that they cannot love each other because of their pasts, drags on for most of the book. The push and pull becomes repetitive, leaving very little time to see them functioning as a real couple. Just when you think they will grow together, they snap back into “he does not love me” and “she does not love me” which kept me from fully connecting to their romance.
A couple of plot resolutions also felt underwhelming. The closure surrounding the female main character’s abusive ex never truly landed emotionally, and I did not feel like he got the level of fallout he deserved. Likewise, the reconciliation between the female main character and her father happened too quickly to feel believable after years of neglect and hurt.
Overall, this was a solid start to a series with a lot of promise. I liked the foundation, the setting, and especially the male main character’s protective but gentle nature. I am hoping future books dive deeper into character development and allow the romances to breathe more fully. I will definitely pick up the next installment to see where the author takes the world and cast from here
The female main character grew up resenting hockey players because her father, a longtime coach, always put the sport before her. After surviving an abusive relationship with a football player, she abandoned her dream of figure skating and built walls around anything that reminded her of the ice. The male main character is the captain of the college hockey team, a top NHL draft prospect, and a Texan with a sweet country drawl. His “darlin’” absolutely melted me every time. He carries his own trauma, having witnessed his father’s horrific abuse toward his mother, which ultimately landed him in prison.
Their chemistry is there, and the setup for a “two broken people finding healing in each other” storyline is strong. But the central conflict, that they cannot love each other because of their pasts, drags on for most of the book. The push and pull becomes repetitive, leaving very little time to see them functioning as a real couple. Just when you think they will grow together, they snap back into “he does not love me” and “she does not love me” which kept me from fully connecting to their romance.
A couple of plot resolutions also felt underwhelming. The closure surrounding the female main character’s abusive ex never truly landed emotionally, and I did not feel like he got the level of fallout he deserved. Likewise, the reconciliation between the female main character and her father happened too quickly to feel believable after years of neglect and hurt.
Overall, this was a solid start to a series with a lot of promise. I liked the foundation, the setting, and especially the male main character’s protective but gentle nature. I am hoping future books dive deeper into character development and allow the romances to breathe more fully. I will definitely pick up the next installment to see where the author takes the world and cast from here
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 6, 2025
**Slight Spoilers but nothing major that will ruin the story**
First off, the dedication hit hard, if I saw one of those posts that’s like “the dedication alone will make you want to read this book” I’d 100% go looking for this book to read it.
I love the back and forth that Jack and Alondra have, it’s the perfect amount. I have a lot of book boyfriends but add Jack to the top of the list please. The questions they want to ask and slowly get answers for, each MC’s back story is so good. I love how Laurea gives Jack dyslexia, I wish more authors would include common things that you wouldn’t know unless told like this (coming from someone with epilepsy but no one would know if I didn’t tell them, and I’ve only ever read one other book where the author has done this).
Jack is quite literally the light in people’s lives and for someone who doesn’t believe in love, he sure knows how to make people feel loved. His mom, his teammates, his friends, Alondra. As for Alondra, she’s serving black cat energy and girl, I get the daddy issues 100%. I think she showed Jack love is real without either of them realizing it at first.
This is like a classic, old school, slow burn romance. It’s not enemies to lovers or best friends to lovers or any stereotypical book trope in my opinion. To me, this book is its own trope, I don’t know exactly how to describe it aside from maybe the invisible string trope. Coach B has had his eye on Jack since high school, Alondra obviously knows he tends to put his players before her so she’s probably heard her dad mention him, years later Jack is playing for him and all she knows is stats because she doesn’t look at pictures. Maybe the skating and trying to avoid hockey players blocked out her dad talking to Jack in high school. Also, Jack is from Texas and Alondra mentions a few times about going to school or transferring to a school in Texas, and on the topic of school they are literally in the same class. All invisible strings to me…I officially declare this an invisible string trope (with a sprinkle of the typical tropes). You can agree or not, I will still see it this way. It’s like the universe is trying to tell them, “you don’t have to worry or be scared anymore, I’ve had your back since day one”. It’s natural and doesn’t feel rushed at all and I love that because some stories need a little speed but not this one, it’s set at a perfect pace.
This book is my 3rd (!!!) ARC Read for Laurea Matthews and I haven’t been disappointed in the slightest for any of the reads. She will always be an author that I recommend to someone who wants a good book or even series. The Reckless Love series has been amazing and I can’t wait to read the rest of the books as they come out. I also cannot wait to see where this series goes! Thank you Laurea for the chance to keep being an ARC reader for you, it means a lot to me, I’m always looking forward to the next book sign up.
Some side notes:
* My favorite line is “Wear the hat, ride the cowboy” (I have been DYING to read a book where this line is used and it’s made my day reading it in this book)
* The acknowledgments is amazing. Please take your time reading it and don’t skip over it, it’s worth the extra 2 minutes.
First off, the dedication hit hard, if I saw one of those posts that’s like “the dedication alone will make you want to read this book” I’d 100% go looking for this book to read it.
I love the back and forth that Jack and Alondra have, it’s the perfect amount. I have a lot of book boyfriends but add Jack to the top of the list please. The questions they want to ask and slowly get answers for, each MC’s back story is so good. I love how Laurea gives Jack dyslexia, I wish more authors would include common things that you wouldn’t know unless told like this (coming from someone with epilepsy but no one would know if I didn’t tell them, and I’ve only ever read one other book where the author has done this).
Jack is quite literally the light in people’s lives and for someone who doesn’t believe in love, he sure knows how to make people feel loved. His mom, his teammates, his friends, Alondra. As for Alondra, she’s serving black cat energy and girl, I get the daddy issues 100%. I think she showed Jack love is real without either of them realizing it at first.
This is like a classic, old school, slow burn romance. It’s not enemies to lovers or best friends to lovers or any stereotypical book trope in my opinion. To me, this book is its own trope, I don’t know exactly how to describe it aside from maybe the invisible string trope. Coach B has had his eye on Jack since high school, Alondra obviously knows he tends to put his players before her so she’s probably heard her dad mention him, years later Jack is playing for him and all she knows is stats because she doesn’t look at pictures. Maybe the skating and trying to avoid hockey players blocked out her dad talking to Jack in high school. Also, Jack is from Texas and Alondra mentions a few times about going to school or transferring to a school in Texas, and on the topic of school they are literally in the same class. All invisible strings to me…I officially declare this an invisible string trope (with a sprinkle of the typical tropes). You can agree or not, I will still see it this way. It’s like the universe is trying to tell them, “you don’t have to worry or be scared anymore, I’ve had your back since day one”. It’s natural and doesn’t feel rushed at all and I love that because some stories need a little speed but not this one, it’s set at a perfect pace.
This book is my 3rd (!!!) ARC Read for Laurea Matthews and I haven’t been disappointed in the slightest for any of the reads. She will always be an author that I recommend to someone who wants a good book or even series. The Reckless Love series has been amazing and I can’t wait to read the rest of the books as they come out. I also cannot wait to see where this series goes! Thank you Laurea for the chance to keep being an ARC reader for you, it means a lot to me, I’m always looking forward to the next book sign up.
Some side notes:
* My favorite line is “Wear the hat, ride the cowboy” (I have been DYING to read a book where this line is used and it’s made my day reading it in this book)
* The acknowledgments is amazing. Please take your time reading it and don’t skip over it, it’s worth the extra 2 minutes.
December 22, 2025
Thank you Laurea and Lovenotes.pr for this arc!!
What happens if the girl you accidentally kiss in a club turns out to be your hockey coach’s daughter?
Imagine the look on Jack’s face when he found out right in front of his coach—and had to pretend nothing was wrong to avoid raising suspicion 👀
Jack is the captain of the Wilder Wolves, a true golden boy and always wearing a smile.
A smile that hides pain and the traumas of his past.
He’s afraid of love, afraid he won’t be loved.
But instead, he loves deeply and protects the people he cares about.
Alondra comes from a previous relationship that ended very badly and left deep marks on her.
I loved watching her growth throughout the book, it’s never rushed or unrealistic.
Learning to believe you deserve happiness isn’t easy, especially when you’re not in a good place, and seeing her face her insecurities was both moving and inspiring.
The found family adds value to the story. There are scenes that make me smile and others that hit straight to the heart.
As I said before, trauma is handled with great sensitivity: love is never portrayed as a magic wand, but as something that can help you rediscover faith in yourself and the courage to try again.
What happens if the girl you accidentally kiss in a club turns out to be your hockey coach’s daughter?
Imagine the look on Jack’s face when he found out right in front of his coach—and had to pretend nothing was wrong to avoid raising suspicion 👀
Jack is the captain of the Wilder Wolves, a true golden boy and always wearing a smile.
A smile that hides pain and the traumas of his past.
He’s afraid of love, afraid he won’t be loved.
But instead, he loves deeply and protects the people he cares about.
Alondra comes from a previous relationship that ended very badly and left deep marks on her.
I loved watching her growth throughout the book, it’s never rushed or unrealistic.
Learning to believe you deserve happiness isn’t easy, especially when you’re not in a good place, and seeing her face her insecurities was both moving and inspiring.
The found family adds value to the story. There are scenes that make me smile and others that hit straight to the heart.
As I said before, trauma is handled with great sensitivity: love is never portrayed as a magic wand, but as something that can help you rediscover faith in yourself and the courage to try again.
December 23, 2025
Cold as Ice is a college sports romance featuring Alondra, the hockey coach’s daughter, and Jack, the star hockey player handpicked by her father. Alondra has grown up resenting hockey because her father puts the sport before her, and she’s also walked away from her figure skating dreams following an abusive relationship. That’s when she meets Jack: steady, patient, and very different from the cocky star hockey player she expects.
This one has all the elements for an angsty, emotional romance about two wounded people finding comfort and healing in one another. The banter and chemistry are strong, the found family vibes are especially well done, and the complex family dynamics add emotional weight. There’s also a subplot that raises the stakes and keeps the tension high, along with a compelling will-they-won’t-they dynamic at the heart of the story. However, the push-and-pull between Alondra and Jack feels a bit drawn out and repetitive, and I would have loved to see more of them together as an established couple, as well as deeper exploration of the familial reconciliation. That said, the emotional foundation is solid, the tension kept me wanting to see if they would finally give in, and the secondary characters really help bring everything together.
Overall, this was a great start to a college romance series full of angsty romance, strong found family vibes and lots of tension! I’m excited to see where Laura Matthews takes this series next!
Thank you to Laurea Matthews and Love Notes PR for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
This one has all the elements for an angsty, emotional romance about two wounded people finding comfort and healing in one another. The banter and chemistry are strong, the found family vibes are especially well done, and the complex family dynamics add emotional weight. There’s also a subplot that raises the stakes and keeps the tension high, along with a compelling will-they-won’t-they dynamic at the heart of the story. However, the push-and-pull between Alondra and Jack feels a bit drawn out and repetitive, and I would have loved to see more of them together as an established couple, as well as deeper exploration of the familial reconciliation. That said, the emotional foundation is solid, the tension kept me wanting to see if they would finally give in, and the secondary characters really help bring everything together.
Overall, this was a great start to a college romance series full of angsty romance, strong found family vibes and lots of tension! I’m excited to see where Laura Matthews takes this series next!
Thank you to Laurea Matthews and Love Notes PR for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
December 8, 2025
Alondra is a former skater trying to figure out how to get her life back together. Jack is the super star captain the hockey team. As daughter of the head coach Alondra should stay away from Jack. But when she finds herself caught up in a web of lies she ends up tutoring him to keep up the act.
The back and forth between Al and Jack was a bit much. One second she was fine and the next she’s pushing him away before being open again. Like girl, make up your mind already. I love a good push and pull but this was exhausting. There isn’t much deep development going on here, just a fast paced plot with an overcrowded cast of characters that all feel and sound exactly the same with no proper plot structure going on. It’s repetitive and pretty surface level. What really rubbed me the wrong way was when she basically made him a dating profile without his knowledge and started messaging girls with her friends. What’s supposed to be funny falls incredibly flat. Same goes for the more serious moments. Nothing hits the way it’s supposed to. The fun part about forbidden romance is being swept away by the tension, not constantly reminded.
Thank you Love Notes for sending me an e-arc in exchange for a honest review
The back and forth between Al and Jack was a bit much. One second she was fine and the next she’s pushing him away before being open again. Like girl, make up your mind already. I love a good push and pull but this was exhausting. There isn’t much deep development going on here, just a fast paced plot with an overcrowded cast of characters that all feel and sound exactly the same with no proper plot structure going on. It’s repetitive and pretty surface level. What really rubbed me the wrong way was when she basically made him a dating profile without his knowledge and started messaging girls with her friends. What’s supposed to be funny falls incredibly flat. Same goes for the more serious moments. Nothing hits the way it’s supposed to. The fun part about forbidden romance is being swept away by the tension, not constantly reminded.
Thank you Love Notes for sending me an e-arc in exchange for a honest review
December 10, 2025
Firstly, I love the pace of the story. It’s not a true slow-burn, but it does take a hot second before the characters get together. I love that it takes a bit longer because the characters needed to develop a bit more.
Speaking of the character, Jack is truly the perfect golden retriever boyfriend. He is the perfect mix of supportive and protective. His character arc align’s perfectly with Alondra’s as they both fight their own battles both separately and together. I loved seeing a strong fmc that worked through overcoming past trauma to become stronger
Overall, the plot and characters are 5/5 stars.
Speaking of the character, Jack is truly the perfect golden retriever boyfriend. He is the perfect mix of supportive and protective. His character arc align’s perfectly with Alondra’s as they both fight their own battles both separately and together. I loved seeing a strong fmc that worked through overcoming past trauma to become stronger
Overall, the plot and characters are 5/5 stars.
December 10, 2025
Thank you so much to the author and LoveNotes Pr for the ARC I really appreciated the chance to read this one. The beginning pulled me in right away — it had a fun vibe and I genuinely thought I was going to love where the story was heading.
As the book went on, though, the slow burn became very slow, and I found myself losing interest. The Bradley plotline took up more space than I expected, and it didn’t fully work for me personally. Overall, the pacing felt overwhelming and long, and I struggled to stay engaged.
Even though this one wasn’t the right fit for me, I’m sure readers who enjoy super slow-burn stories with layered subplots will connect with it more than I did. I’m still grateful I got to read it!!
Thank you again💗
As the book went on, though, the slow burn became very slow, and I found myself losing interest. The Bradley plotline took up more space than I expected, and it didn’t fully work for me personally. Overall, the pacing felt overwhelming and long, and I struggled to stay engaged.
Even though this one wasn’t the right fit for me, I’m sure readers who enjoy super slow-burn stories with layered subplots will connect with it more than I did. I’m still grateful I got to read it!!
Thank you again💗
December 8, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4 stars
I love a good sports romance, but wow… there are so many hockey romances coming out lately. Probably because it’s hockey season somewhere, and here I am trying to catch up while also feeling like I’m already behind. 😅
This one was such an easy, enjoyable read. I liked Alondra and Jack’s dynamic, the little lie-turned-tutor setup, and the mix of tension and sweetness between them. It gave me exactly what I wanted from a sports romance without feeling too heavy.
Thank you to Love Notes PR and Laurea Matthews for the eARC! 🧡
I love a good sports romance, but wow… there are so many hockey romances coming out lately. Probably because it’s hockey season somewhere, and here I am trying to catch up while also feeling like I’m already behind. 😅
This one was such an easy, enjoyable read. I liked Alondra and Jack’s dynamic, the little lie-turned-tutor setup, and the mix of tension and sweetness between them. It gave me exactly what I wanted from a sports romance without feeling too heavy.
Thank you to Love Notes PR and Laurea Matthews for the eARC! 🧡
Review of advance copy
This book was actually good!! 😭 I'm sad it is over!! 🥹
December 21, 2025
I very much enjoyed this book by Laurea, she really hits all of the emotions through her writing. Both main characters were amazing and I would 100% recommend this book!
December 20, 2025
⛸️Coaches Daughter
🏒 Figure Skater x Hockey a player
⛸️ Black Cat x Golden Retriever
🏒 Friends with Benefits
⛸️ Who did this to you
🏒 Found Family
Thank you @authorlaureamatthews & @lovenotes.pr for this e-Arc of Cold as Ice. This is one of my most anticipated reads since Laurea announced it.
I’m a sucker for her books because she brings all the angst to her books and this one is no different.
I devoured this book and I’m not even ashamed, I loved it from the very beginning. Both Characters brought a different feeling in my heart. Alondra and her trauma was so heart breaking but her healing was very much beautiful, she was the best version of her self along Jack.
Jack didn’t believe he could love someone because of his past but Alondra made him be the man he was always destined to be. Together they brought me butterflies and so much love and joy. They loved eachother whole heartedly and it was beautiful to read. I love Jacks tender heart he is definitely green flag material 😍
Their banter was perfect and their story was phenomenal. Definitely a book I’d re read and wish I could read for the first time.
🏒 Figure Skater x Hockey a player
⛸️ Black Cat x Golden Retriever
🏒 Friends with Benefits
⛸️ Who did this to you
🏒 Found Family
Thank you @authorlaureamatthews & @lovenotes.pr for this e-Arc of Cold as Ice. This is one of my most anticipated reads since Laurea announced it.
I’m a sucker for her books because she brings all the angst to her books and this one is no different.
I devoured this book and I’m not even ashamed, I loved it from the very beginning. Both Characters brought a different feeling in my heart. Alondra and her trauma was so heart breaking but her healing was very much beautiful, she was the best version of her self along Jack.
Jack didn’t believe he could love someone because of his past but Alondra made him be the man he was always destined to be. Together they brought me butterflies and so much love and joy. They loved eachother whole heartedly and it was beautiful to read. I love Jacks tender heart he is definitely green flag material 😍
Their banter was perfect and their story was phenomenal. Definitely a book I’d re read and wish I could read for the first time.
December 16, 2025
-arc review-
This was a very good book and I am grateful to have the opportunity to read it as an arc reader.
Thank you so much, because I discovered such a precious book and so beautiful characters as Alondra and Jack.
You have absolutely to read it.
This was a very good book and I am grateful to have the opportunity to read it as an arc reader.
Thank you so much, because I discovered such a precious book and so beautiful characters as Alondra and Jack.
You have absolutely to read it.
December 3, 2025
Complete and absolute masterpiece, this book and characters touched my soul!
This is one of my favorite books of the entire year and will always hold a special place in my heart.
Alondra instantly grabbed my attention and I connected with her on such a deep level. Jack was such a southern gentleman with a heart of gold, I loved how completely these characters came to life. The author did an incredible job of bringing us with them in their every day lives, which made them feel SO real.
I don't typically cry while reading, but I felt so connected to these characters and this story I was absolutely sobbing through some of this book.
The slow burn romance and watching the characters slowly fall in love made this book feel like it was really happening in real life. I was so invested in this book when I was reading I didn't hear anything going on around me!
I absolutely loved the storyline of the hockey, forbidden romance, friends to lovers and of course the slow burn romance, but this story was all of that and SO much more. The emotions this book pulled from me was cathartic.
This author is the QUEEN of drama and this book did not disappoint when it came to that, there was a surprise around every corner and I ATE IT UP!!!
I will forever be endlessly grateful to have been a beta reader, thank you so much Laurea Matthews for my copy, these opinions are my own.
This is one of my favorite books of the entire year and will always hold a special place in my heart.
Alondra instantly grabbed my attention and I connected with her on such a deep level. Jack was such a southern gentleman with a heart of gold, I loved how completely these characters came to life. The author did an incredible job of bringing us with them in their every day lives, which made them feel SO real.
I don't typically cry while reading, but I felt so connected to these characters and this story I was absolutely sobbing through some of this book.
The slow burn romance and watching the characters slowly fall in love made this book feel like it was really happening in real life. I was so invested in this book when I was reading I didn't hear anything going on around me!
I absolutely loved the storyline of the hockey, forbidden romance, friends to lovers and of course the slow burn romance, but this story was all of that and SO much more. The emotions this book pulled from me was cathartic.
This author is the QUEEN of drama and this book did not disappoint when it came to that, there was a surprise around every corner and I ATE IT UP!!!
I will forever be endlessly grateful to have been a beta reader, thank you so much Laurea Matthews for my copy, these opinions are my own.
December 24, 2025
I loved this book. I know from the trigger warnings that this book might not be for everyone because victim of abuse are often very hesitant to trust another man or woman and they question every decision trying to protect themselves from being hurt again. The abuse can leave long term emotional and psychological scars long after the physical ones have healed. Alondra is trying to move past her toxic ex but with his negativity still echoing in her head and her flawed relationship with her father, she is extremely hesitant to date or even have an male friends. She has sworn off any athletes because of her ex and hockey players because of her father. She has great girl friends that have supported her in her journey but she hasn't shared all the details with them, keeping a lot of the past internalized. She thinks that her ex will not be punished for his actions because of who he us. She is smart and beautiful. She is very graceful because of her years as a competitive figure skater.
Jack is the Captain of the Wolves and the team's star player. He can get any girl he wants because of this. He is on an athletic scholarship so he needs to maintain at least a C to be eligible to play. He has his own demons from being raised by an abusive father. He is definitely a mama's boy, being raised to be the opposite of his father. He doesn't believe in relationships or love after watching his parents until his father was removed from the situation.
Jack and Alindra met by chance without knowing who the other was on campus. They shared a kiss and went their separate ways. Fate had other plans and threw them together as the coach’s daughter and tutoring to the struggling hockey player, who chose to hide his dyslexia diagnosis from his classmates. This arrangement helped Jack more than Alondra but as long as Jack was passing her father wouldn't yell at her for associating with his player. He always prioritized them over her. He didn't know about the abuse she suffered because of him and her ex.
As Jack and Alondra got closer, the sexual tension grew and they gave in slowly with one step forward and two steps back. Alondra was scared and her ex was making threats. She had given up her passion because of his abusive nature and her father's indifference. Spending time with Jack at the arena, made Alondra want to skate again. Soon they started skating together every morning before classes and practice. Both Alondra and Jack fought their growing feelings and spiraled as they considered that their hearts were becoming involved. Soon they shared their secrets with each other, now they just had to decide if being scared of the past was enough to give up on each other or whether they could be stronger than the fear. Would they fight for each other or walk away? Were they stronger and better together than apart? Could being together, help them heal?
Alondra and Jack were two imperfect people who were perfect for each other and I loved reading their story. Thank you Laurea Matthews and Love Notes PR for the ARC. I appreciate the opportunity to review this book!
Jack is the Captain of the Wolves and the team's star player. He can get any girl he wants because of this. He is on an athletic scholarship so he needs to maintain at least a C to be eligible to play. He has his own demons from being raised by an abusive father. He is definitely a mama's boy, being raised to be the opposite of his father. He doesn't believe in relationships or love after watching his parents until his father was removed from the situation.
Jack and Alindra met by chance without knowing who the other was on campus. They shared a kiss and went their separate ways. Fate had other plans and threw them together as the coach’s daughter and tutoring to the struggling hockey player, who chose to hide his dyslexia diagnosis from his classmates. This arrangement helped Jack more than Alondra but as long as Jack was passing her father wouldn't yell at her for associating with his player. He always prioritized them over her. He didn't know about the abuse she suffered because of him and her ex.
As Jack and Alondra got closer, the sexual tension grew and they gave in slowly with one step forward and two steps back. Alondra was scared and her ex was making threats. She had given up her passion because of his abusive nature and her father's indifference. Spending time with Jack at the arena, made Alondra want to skate again. Soon they started skating together every morning before classes and practice. Both Alondra and Jack fought their growing feelings and spiraled as they considered that their hearts were becoming involved. Soon they shared their secrets with each other, now they just had to decide if being scared of the past was enough to give up on each other or whether they could be stronger than the fear. Would they fight for each other or walk away? Were they stronger and better together than apart? Could being together, help them heal?
Alondra and Jack were two imperfect people who were perfect for each other and I loved reading their story. Thank you Laurea Matthews and Love Notes PR for the ARC. I appreciate the opportunity to review this book!
December 16, 2025
I've been wanting to get into this author's work for some time now. I added this book to my TBR list as soon as it was announced. I dived right into the Wilder Wolves world. I really enjoyed this story so very much!
Alondra and Jack's journey drew me right in! Jack is a hockey player and Alondra is a former figure skater both at Wilder University. These two have quite the unforgettable first meeting. Little did they know that Jack plays hockey for Alondra's dad and that Alondra would become Jack's tutor. Will Alondra and Jack take a chance and let each other into their hearts in the process?
I adored Jack and Alondra's first meeting! Getting to see their paths continue to cross and how Alondra became Jack's tutor was so enjoyable. From personal stuff, Alondra's dad, their tutoring sessions, Alondra's passion for figure skating and Jack's for hockey, and all of the true feelings in their hearts for one another, I couldn't wait to see how it'd all play out for Alondra and Jack!
Alondra and Jack got me right in the chest with the feels! The back and forth banter and chemistry between these two was fantastic! There were so many layers to both Alondra and Jack and I enjoyed peeling all of them back. You really get to connect with them throughout and it'll truly move you. It wasn't an easy journey for Jack and Alondra and that made them even more real to me.
It was so great to be in the Wilder Wolves world for the first time! I'm already looking forward to getting more of this world and it's characters stories.
With Cold As Ice, Ms.Matthews has created such a wonderful hockey romance that brought coach's daughter x hockey player, an unforgettable first meeting, tutoring sessions, figure skater, college life, realness that gets to you, spice and heart, and a lot of feels! I'm so in that I finally got to read her work with Jack and Alondra's story! ⛸💜🏒
I can't wait for more from this author and the Wilder Wolves crew! 🐺
Check out the author's content/trigger warning note.
*I volunteered to read and review a copy of this book from Love Notes PR / the author*
Alondra and Jack's journey drew me right in! Jack is a hockey player and Alondra is a former figure skater both at Wilder University. These two have quite the unforgettable first meeting. Little did they know that Jack plays hockey for Alondra's dad and that Alondra would become Jack's tutor. Will Alondra and Jack take a chance and let each other into their hearts in the process?
I adored Jack and Alondra's first meeting! Getting to see their paths continue to cross and how Alondra became Jack's tutor was so enjoyable. From personal stuff, Alondra's dad, their tutoring sessions, Alondra's passion for figure skating and Jack's for hockey, and all of the true feelings in their hearts for one another, I couldn't wait to see how it'd all play out for Alondra and Jack!
Alondra and Jack got me right in the chest with the feels! The back and forth banter and chemistry between these two was fantastic! There were so many layers to both Alondra and Jack and I enjoyed peeling all of them back. You really get to connect with them throughout and it'll truly move you. It wasn't an easy journey for Jack and Alondra and that made them even more real to me.
It was so great to be in the Wilder Wolves world for the first time! I'm already looking forward to getting more of this world and it's characters stories.
With Cold As Ice, Ms.Matthews has created such a wonderful hockey romance that brought coach's daughter x hockey player, an unforgettable first meeting, tutoring sessions, figure skater, college life, realness that gets to you, spice and heart, and a lot of feels! I'm so in that I finally got to read her work with Jack and Alondra's story! ⛸💜🏒
I can't wait for more from this author and the Wilder Wolves crew! 🐺
Check out the author's content/trigger warning note.
*I volunteered to read and review a copy of this book from Love Notes PR / the author*
December 20, 2025
I completely devoured this book. Cold As Ice is not just a love story; it’s a story about healing, timing, and the quiet ways people save each other without even realizing it.
Jack is the kind of MMC who feels like a warm welcome after a long winter. On the surface, he’s charming, easygoing, the golden boy captain everyone loves, but underneath that smile is so much pain, fear, and self-doubt. Watching him grapple with his past and his belief that he isn’t worthy of love genuinely made me feel for him. He loves deeply, shows up consistently, and protects the people he cares about in ways that feel soft and safe rather than overwhelming. Truly golden retriever energy done right.
And Alondra... she had me from the beginning. She’s intelligent, cautious, and straightforward, with a tough exterior and a need for control, yet each chapter reveals more of her vulnerability. Having faced many hardships, her path to trusting herself, opening up to others, and believing she deserves happiness was truly moving.
Their relationship is everything I want in a slow burn. It starts quietly, built on friendship, shared space, and presence. Nothing is rushed. Nothing is forced. The tension simmers, the feelings grow naturally, and when it finally shifts into more, it feels earned. Their comfort with each other, the banter, the softness, and the way they hold space for one another made this romance feel real in a way that stuck with me long after I finished.
The found family aspect elevated the entire story. The team, the friendships, Jack’s relationship with his mom, it all created this warm, lived-in world that balanced the heavier themes beautifully. Some moments made me laugh, and some moments brought tears to my eyes.
This book handled trauma with care and respect, that love doesn’t magically fix everything, but it can help you believe you’re worth trying again.
Cold As Ice is emotional, tender, and quietly devastating in the most beautiful way. I already know this is a story I’ll be thinking about for a long time. If you love slow-burn hockey romances with depth and found family, don’t miss this one.
Jack is the kind of MMC who feels like a warm welcome after a long winter. On the surface, he’s charming, easygoing, the golden boy captain everyone loves, but underneath that smile is so much pain, fear, and self-doubt. Watching him grapple with his past and his belief that he isn’t worthy of love genuinely made me feel for him. He loves deeply, shows up consistently, and protects the people he cares about in ways that feel soft and safe rather than overwhelming. Truly golden retriever energy done right.
And Alondra... she had me from the beginning. She’s intelligent, cautious, and straightforward, with a tough exterior and a need for control, yet each chapter reveals more of her vulnerability. Having faced many hardships, her path to trusting herself, opening up to others, and believing she deserves happiness was truly moving.
Their relationship is everything I want in a slow burn. It starts quietly, built on friendship, shared space, and presence. Nothing is rushed. Nothing is forced. The tension simmers, the feelings grow naturally, and when it finally shifts into more, it feels earned. Their comfort with each other, the banter, the softness, and the way they hold space for one another made this romance feel real in a way that stuck with me long after I finished.
The found family aspect elevated the entire story. The team, the friendships, Jack’s relationship with his mom, it all created this warm, lived-in world that balanced the heavier themes beautifully. Some moments made me laugh, and some moments brought tears to my eyes.
This book handled trauma with care and respect, that love doesn’t magically fix everything, but it can help you believe you’re worth trying again.
Cold As Ice is emotional, tender, and quietly devastating in the most beautiful way. I already know this is a story I’ll be thinking about for a long time. If you love slow-burn hockey romances with depth and found family, don’t miss this one.
December 18, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2
Darlin’ and pretty boy, I truly don’t even know where to start I loved reading Cold as Ice. I want to thank LoveNotes Pr for the ARC and my Insta feed for bringing this book to my attention. There were so many things in the book that I loved, I don’t think I’ve highlighted a book this much in such a long time.
This was a super slow burn relationship progress wise, which normally I don’t have the patience for, but I loved how the whole book was about Al and Jack being together. They were constantly around each other so their friendship chemistry was really refreshing to read and felt like a good foundation by the time they actually said their “I love yous”.
There wasn’t a crazy amount of spice, but I loved how the moments they did have were believable and written perfectly to fit both characters. Nothing felt awkward and they took care of each other. Also I loved how one of Jacks love languages was physical touch he always wanting to be near Alondra and found comfort around her.
I’m going to list some of my favorite things cause there are so many that I need to share them.
- I’m a sucker for FM being the tutor
- Al being a figure skater and learning to be comfortable on the ice again
- Drunk caretaking
- Sick caretaking
- Jack buying period products
- Jack make Alondra a plate of food before himself
- Girls night face masks with Jack
- Jack cuts a lime for Al cause he knows she likes them
- The entire Halloween scene 🫣
- Jersey wearing
- A lovely MC mom
and I’m sure there’s a ton more that I’m missing
There were a few things I wasn’t 100% about. I didn’t like the whole dating app situation personally, there were (a very few) grammar mistakes (nothing crazy), and I feel like the ex bf thing ending kind of abruptly.
I can’t wait for whatever comes next and seeing that we’ll have to wait until 2027 is devastating, this was truly one of my most enjoyable reads this year I’m so glad I was able to snag an ARC copy.
Darlin’ and pretty boy, I truly don’t even know where to start I loved reading Cold as Ice. I want to thank LoveNotes Pr for the ARC and my Insta feed for bringing this book to my attention. There were so many things in the book that I loved, I don’t think I’ve highlighted a book this much in such a long time.
This was a super slow burn relationship progress wise, which normally I don’t have the patience for, but I loved how the whole book was about Al and Jack being together. They were constantly around each other so their friendship chemistry was really refreshing to read and felt like a good foundation by the time they actually said their “I love yous”.
There wasn’t a crazy amount of spice, but I loved how the moments they did have were believable and written perfectly to fit both characters. Nothing felt awkward and they took care of each other. Also I loved how one of Jacks love languages was physical touch he always wanting to be near Alondra and found comfort around her.
I’m going to list some of my favorite things cause there are so many that I need to share them.
- I’m a sucker for FM being the tutor
- Al being a figure skater and learning to be comfortable on the ice again
- Drunk caretaking
- Sick caretaking
- Jack buying period products
- Jack make Alondra a plate of food before himself
- Girls night face masks with Jack
- Jack cuts a lime for Al cause he knows she likes them
- The entire Halloween scene 🫣
- Jersey wearing
- A lovely MC mom
and I’m sure there’s a ton more that I’m missing
There were a few things I wasn’t 100% about. I didn’t like the whole dating app situation personally, there were (a very few) grammar mistakes (nothing crazy), and I feel like the ex bf thing ending kind of abruptly.
I can’t wait for whatever comes next and seeing that we’ll have to wait until 2027 is devastating, this was truly one of my most enjoyable reads this year I’m so glad I was able to snag an ARC copy.
December 21, 2025
Cold As Ice is Friends to Lovers, Found Family, Hockey Romance, She’s His Coach Daughter, Black Cat X Gold Retriever. Trigger Warning: domestic violence in previous abusive relationships.
I really enjoyed Cold As Ice. I found the story the main characters Alondra and Jack both relatable and likeable. As I kept reading the story I became more invested in their relationship and wanting to know how their story ends.
Alondra is the type of girl that you want to be friends with. She doesn’t t sugarcoat things, very direct, the black cat type energy, form figure skater. But under all of that she deal with of the relationship with her dad and is holding a secret that has comes back to haunt her.
Jack is the golden star hockey captain. Is the definition of a book boyfriend. He is support and sweet. Jack is that type of guy that shows up for his friends no matter. Another things I love about Jack is the relationship he as with his mom. Jack’s mom went through with his dad and it ended up effecting Jack. When it comes to Alondra I love the way he treat he treat her. He goofs around with her, he there for her, encouragers her but he also doesn’t push her to tell him things.
Another things I like about this book, I loved the found family aspect. Alondra and Jack’s friends were the best. They were funny, caring, understanding and supportive of each other. I felt that pace of the story of was good. I personally won’t call this a slow burn romance but others might. The writing and flow of the story was good. In terms of steamy scenes, they were well written. They weren’t cheesy or over the top. I would say the amount of steamy scenes in the book were good. They didn’t over take from the story.
Overall, Cold As Ice is a good friends to lovers, hockey romance. Alondra and Jack are great main characters. Their story is one that once you start reading you will become invested in and won’t be able to put it down till the end.
I really enjoyed Cold As Ice. I found the story the main characters Alondra and Jack both relatable and likeable. As I kept reading the story I became more invested in their relationship and wanting to know how their story ends.
Alondra is the type of girl that you want to be friends with. She doesn’t t sugarcoat things, very direct, the black cat type energy, form figure skater. But under all of that she deal with of the relationship with her dad and is holding a secret that has comes back to haunt her.
Jack is the golden star hockey captain. Is the definition of a book boyfriend. He is support and sweet. Jack is that type of guy that shows up for his friends no matter. Another things I love about Jack is the relationship he as with his mom. Jack’s mom went through with his dad and it ended up effecting Jack. When it comes to Alondra I love the way he treat he treat her. He goofs around with her, he there for her, encouragers her but he also doesn’t push her to tell him things.
Another things I like about this book, I loved the found family aspect. Alondra and Jack’s friends were the best. They were funny, caring, understanding and supportive of each other. I felt that pace of the story of was good. I personally won’t call this a slow burn romance but others might. The writing and flow of the story was good. In terms of steamy scenes, they were well written. They weren’t cheesy or over the top. I would say the amount of steamy scenes in the book were good. They didn’t over take from the story.
Overall, Cold As Ice is a good friends to lovers, hockey romance. Alondra and Jack are great main characters. Their story is one that once you start reading you will become invested in and won’t be able to put it down till the end.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book had completely wrecked me in the softest, most unexpected way. I went into it thinking I knew what kind of story I was about to read, and instead I found myself emotionally invested on a level I hadn’t prepared for. Jack and Alondra had been everything. What grew between them had felt intentional, slow, and deeply human. Nothing was rushed, nothing was forced. Their connection had been built on presence, trust, and quiet moments that carried so much weight. Jack had been one of those characters who instantly lit up every scene he was in. Warm, charismatic, endlessly caring, and still carrying so much beneath the surface. The way he showed up for the people in his life had been genuinely moving. And Alondr, she had owned my heart. Sharp, guarded, unapologetic, and carrying more than anyone should have to. She had that black cat energy that was all armor and control on the outside, while quietly aching for safety and understanding underneath, I relate to that so much. The slow burn had been elite. Painfully slow, deliciously patient, and completely worth it. The setting and side characters had elevated everything. The rink, the house, the team dynamic, the quiet routines, it all created this warm orbit around Jack and Alondra that made the story feel lived in and immersive. This book had made me laugh, tear up, ache, and smile like an idiot. I devoured it. One moment I was taking my time, soaking everything in, and the next I was at the end wondering how it had gone by so fast. Jack and Alondra had carved out a permanent space in my heart, and I already knew this was a story I’d think about for a long time. Thank you so much to the author and Love Notes PR for giving me the opportunity to read the book in advance, I received this for free and I'm leaving an honest review.
December 8, 2025
4,75⭐️
•
ARC review, thank you so much lovesnotespr and authorlaureamatthews for the opportunity.
•
“You give me a choice in everything. I want to erase every terrible memory with him, and I want to replace them with you.”
•
⛸️Black cat FMC x Golden retriever MMC
🏒Coach’s daughter
✨Friends with benefits
🍪Slow burn
I loved this book so much — honestly, I think it’s one of my favorite hockey romances of the year, no exaggeration. There wasn’t a single thing I didn’t enjoy: the characters, the plot, the found family vibes… everything just clicked perfectly.
Alondra, my sweet baby, I adored her. She’s guarded, direct, sharp—always ready to defend herself—but underneath all of that there’s just a girl who wants approval, who wants to be loved the right way, the way she truly deserves. I empathized with her deeply, and watching her slowly learn to trust others, and most importantly herself, was one of my favorite parts of the book.
And Jack… baby number two. I loved him beyond words. If I related to Alondra, I related to him even more. His fear of love, his terror of turning into the person he hates—those feelings were so real and so understandable. And yet he’s the perfect example of how your past doesn’t define you. He is nothing like his father. He’s kind, gentle, thoughtful, and he shows up for the people he loves. He absolutely melted my heart.
Alondra and Jack’s relationship felt incredibly genuine. It starts with friendship—quiet moments, shared space, simply enjoying each other’s presence—and then naturally grows into something deeper. I loved how they helped each other confront their fears and insecurities, how they held space for each other in the gentlest way. Their connection was everything.
And the friend group? Amazing. I loved how supportive they all were, and they made me laugh so much. The found family dynamic was perfect and added so much warmth to the story.
Overall, this was an incredible read—heartfelt, emotional, funny, soft, and beautifully written. I loved every second of it.
•
ARC review, thank you so much lovesnotespr and authorlaureamatthews for the opportunity.
•
“You give me a choice in everything. I want to erase every terrible memory with him, and I want to replace them with you.”
•
⛸️Black cat FMC x Golden retriever MMC
🏒Coach’s daughter
✨Friends with benefits
🍪Slow burn
I loved this book so much — honestly, I think it’s one of my favorite hockey romances of the year, no exaggeration. There wasn’t a single thing I didn’t enjoy: the characters, the plot, the found family vibes… everything just clicked perfectly.
Alondra, my sweet baby, I adored her. She’s guarded, direct, sharp—always ready to defend herself—but underneath all of that there’s just a girl who wants approval, who wants to be loved the right way, the way she truly deserves. I empathized with her deeply, and watching her slowly learn to trust others, and most importantly herself, was one of my favorite parts of the book.
And Jack… baby number two. I loved him beyond words. If I related to Alondra, I related to him even more. His fear of love, his terror of turning into the person he hates—those feelings were so real and so understandable. And yet he’s the perfect example of how your past doesn’t define you. He is nothing like his father. He’s kind, gentle, thoughtful, and he shows up for the people he loves. He absolutely melted my heart.
Alondra and Jack’s relationship felt incredibly genuine. It starts with friendship—quiet moments, shared space, simply enjoying each other’s presence—and then naturally grows into something deeper. I loved how they helped each other confront their fears and insecurities, how they held space for each other in the gentlest way. Their connection was everything.
And the friend group? Amazing. I loved how supportive they all were, and they made me laugh so much. The found family dynamic was perfect and added so much warmth to the story.
Overall, this was an incredible read—heartfelt, emotional, funny, soft, and beautifully written. I loved every second of it.
Review of advance copy
#Review: *Cold As Ice* - Laurea Matthews - ARC [18+]
4.4/5✨
2.5/5🌶️
Alondra and Jack had an amazing chemistry even from the first moment they've seen each other. Nothing prepared them for a major complication of things when Alondra agreed to be Jack's tutor, because of some personal issues he had. But even with all that built up tension and all the wonderful time spent together, something from their past kept them from taking a step forward towards something more. Will they be able to leave their complicated past behind or will they just give up on everything?
I was so emotional and so angry when I saw all the events that happened in this story! It was incredible to see how many painful and heartbreaking things Alondra had to go through. I felt so, so sorry for her and loved that Jack was able to bring out another side of her, one where she could just breathe for a second and occasionally have a smile on her face. This story had a very, very slow burn, which maybe bothered me a little, because I felt like things dragged on a little too long. Thankfully, the last part of this story was super interesting, which kept me really captivated and made me emotional.
I laughed, I cried, I felt so much anger, living to the fullest to everything that happened in this story. And I loved that, because I'm such a fan of these types of angsty stories. I vividly felt those suspenseful and emotional moments, some which were pretty unbelievable and unfair. I felt like it could have ended a little faster, so the story wouldn't be dragged out so much. But maybe the author didn't feel that ending was right for them in a faster-paced story and this resonated with her better, emphasizing how dysfunctional these characters were and how badly they needed a closure.
Thank you so much Love Notes Pr and Laurea for accepting me to receive this e-ARC.🤗
✨Tropes
#FriendsWithBenefits
#BlackCat
#GoldenRetriever
#OppositesAttract
#FoundFamily
#CoachsDaughter
#ShesHisTutor
#FigureSkater
#HockeyPlayer
#SportsRomance
4.4/5✨
2.5/5🌶️
Alondra and Jack had an amazing chemistry even from the first moment they've seen each other. Nothing prepared them for a major complication of things when Alondra agreed to be Jack's tutor, because of some personal issues he had. But even with all that built up tension and all the wonderful time spent together, something from their past kept them from taking a step forward towards something more. Will they be able to leave their complicated past behind or will they just give up on everything?
I was so emotional and so angry when I saw all the events that happened in this story! It was incredible to see how many painful and heartbreaking things Alondra had to go through. I felt so, so sorry for her and loved that Jack was able to bring out another side of her, one where she could just breathe for a second and occasionally have a smile on her face. This story had a very, very slow burn, which maybe bothered me a little, because I felt like things dragged on a little too long. Thankfully, the last part of this story was super interesting, which kept me really captivated and made me emotional.
I laughed, I cried, I felt so much anger, living to the fullest to everything that happened in this story. And I loved that, because I'm such a fan of these types of angsty stories. I vividly felt those suspenseful and emotional moments, some which were pretty unbelievable and unfair. I felt like it could have ended a little faster, so the story wouldn't be dragged out so much. But maybe the author didn't feel that ending was right for them in a faster-paced story and this resonated with her better, emphasizing how dysfunctional these characters were and how badly they needed a closure.
Thank you so much Love Notes Pr and Laurea for accepting me to receive this e-ARC.🤗
✨Tropes
#FriendsWithBenefits
#BlackCat
#GoldenRetriever
#OppositesAttract
#FoundFamily
#CoachsDaughter
#ShesHisTutor
#FigureSkater
#HockeyPlayer
#SportsRomance
December 6, 2025
4,5/5 ⭐️ ARC review💋
i finished the book in a day, i think that sums it all up.
i’ve always thought my safe place is sport romance novels featuring hockey players, and this book just reaffirms that.
a beautiful yet painful story, with characters I just wanted to put in a little glass box, to keep them safe from harm.
Jack and Alondra are easily making it into my top characters of the year.
their relationship was built in the perfect way, with unconditional friendship and those cheeky flirtations. although slow burns aren’t usually my thing, this one might just be the exception to my rule.
i can’t say much without spoilers, but I will definitely be re-reading it and recommending it whenever I get the chance 💋
i hope I find a Jack out there 🧚🏻♀️
thank u Love Notes for the copy ❤️
🏒
4,5/5 ⭐️ ARC review💋
me terminé el libro en un día, creo que eso lo resume todo.
siempre he pensado que mi lugar seguro son los sport-romance de jugadores de hockey, y lo sigo reafirmando con este libro.
una historia preciosa aunque dolorosa, con personajes que solo quería meter dentro de una cajita de cristal, para que no los lastimaran.
jack y alondra pueden entrar fácil a mi top de personajes favoritos del año.
su relación fue construida de una manera perfecta, la amistad incondicional y esos coqueteos descarados. a pesar de que los slow burn no son mis favoritos, este puede ser la excepción de mi regla.
no puedo decir mucho sin spoilers, pero definitivamente volveré a leerlo y lo recomendaré cada vez que tenga la oportunidad 💋
espero encontrar a algún jack por ahí 🧚🏻♀️
gracias Love Notes por la copia ❤️
i finished the book in a day, i think that sums it all up.
i’ve always thought my safe place is sport romance novels featuring hockey players, and this book just reaffirms that.
a beautiful yet painful story, with characters I just wanted to put in a little glass box, to keep them safe from harm.
Jack and Alondra are easily making it into my top characters of the year.
their relationship was built in the perfect way, with unconditional friendship and those cheeky flirtations. although slow burns aren’t usually my thing, this one might just be the exception to my rule.
i can’t say much without spoilers, but I will definitely be re-reading it and recommending it whenever I get the chance 💋
i hope I find a Jack out there 🧚🏻♀️
thank u Love Notes for the copy ❤️
🏒
4,5/5 ⭐️ ARC review💋
me terminé el libro en un día, creo que eso lo resume todo.
siempre he pensado que mi lugar seguro son los sport-romance de jugadores de hockey, y lo sigo reafirmando con este libro.
una historia preciosa aunque dolorosa, con personajes que solo quería meter dentro de una cajita de cristal, para que no los lastimaran.
jack y alondra pueden entrar fácil a mi top de personajes favoritos del año.
su relación fue construida de una manera perfecta, la amistad incondicional y esos coqueteos descarados. a pesar de que los slow burn no son mis favoritos, este puede ser la excepción de mi regla.
no puedo decir mucho sin spoilers, pero definitivamente volveré a leerlo y lo recomendaré cada vez que tenga la oportunidad 💋
espero encontrar a algún jack por ahí 🧚🏻♀️
gracias Love Notes por la copia ❤️
Review of advance copy
💜Cold As Ice eArc Review💜
Cold As Ice by Laurea Matthews completely exceeded my expectations for a hockey romance, and I loved every second of it. The romance was swoony and heartfelt, but what truly set this story apart was the emotional depth woven throughout the story.
Jack and Alondra quickly carved out a permanent place in my heart. Their relationship was my favorite! And the nickname darlin’? Completely melted me. Plus, “Will you be the yee to my haw?” had me rolling with laughter! Trust me, you’ll understand when you read it. 🤣
Jack is the kind of hockey hero you can’t help but adore! A true golden retriever captain with a soft heart and quiet insecurities. Learning more about his past and how it shaped him made my chest ache, and all I wanted was for him to finally see himself the way others do.
Alondra’s strength stood out just as much. She’s resilient, compassionate, and determined to move forward without letting her past define her. Watching her grow, open up, and find safety and happiness alongside Jack was incredibly rewarding. She was exactly what he needed, just as much as he was what she deserved.
The friendships added so much heart and balance to the story. They felt real, supportive, and often downright funny, bringing moments of laughter and lightness that made the emotional scenes hit even harder.
If you love hockey romances with heart, depth, strong friendships, and characters that truly stay with you, this one is a must-read 🏒💜 (this does have some raw, vulnerable chapters. Please see the authors note before reading)
Release day is December 16th!
Thank you so much Laurea Matthews and LoveNotesPr for the eArc in exchange for my honest review.
Cold As Ice by Laurea Matthews completely exceeded my expectations for a hockey romance, and I loved every second of it. The romance was swoony and heartfelt, but what truly set this story apart was the emotional depth woven throughout the story.
Jack and Alondra quickly carved out a permanent place in my heart. Their relationship was my favorite! And the nickname darlin’? Completely melted me. Plus, “Will you be the yee to my haw?” had me rolling with laughter! Trust me, you’ll understand when you read it. 🤣
Jack is the kind of hockey hero you can’t help but adore! A true golden retriever captain with a soft heart and quiet insecurities. Learning more about his past and how it shaped him made my chest ache, and all I wanted was for him to finally see himself the way others do.
Alondra’s strength stood out just as much. She’s resilient, compassionate, and determined to move forward without letting her past define her. Watching her grow, open up, and find safety and happiness alongside Jack was incredibly rewarding. She was exactly what he needed, just as much as he was what she deserved.
The friendships added so much heart and balance to the story. They felt real, supportive, and often downright funny, bringing moments of laughter and lightness that made the emotional scenes hit even harder.
If you love hockey romances with heart, depth, strong friendships, and characters that truly stay with you, this one is a must-read 🏒💜 (this does have some raw, vulnerable chapters. Please see the authors note before reading)
Release day is December 16th!
Thank you so much Laurea Matthews and LoveNotesPr for the eArc in exchange for my honest review.
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