ICED: The Raptors Series Book Three

by Caroline Easton

She’s a single mum with a past she can’t outrun. He’s a hockey enforcer who stress-bakes and falls way too fast.

In a world full of broken edges, they find something sweet.

When Maya crosses paths with gentle giant Owen “Jacko” Jackson, the last thing she wants is attention, especially not from a man with fists like sledgehammers and a smile that melts her guard. But Owen bakes cupcakes, reads bedtime stories, and makes her daughter believe in superheroes. Worse? He makes her believe in second chances.

But safety isn’t love. And healing isn’t easy.

Especially when the past refuses to stay buried.

Sometimes the toughest player on the ice is the one who’s softest at heart.

A slow-burn romance about trauma, trust, found family, and fairy cakes.

Genres: Sports, Hockey, Hockey Romance, Romance, Forced Proximity, Contemporary, Found Family

446 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 12, 2025

About the author

I live in the North of England with my husband and two of my three children. The eldest having flown the nest.

Dancing In The Rain was my first novel and was published in February 2013. My second book, Taking A Risk, a rock star romance novel tells the story of Alex Carter, lead singer of one of the biggest rock bands around, released in 2013.

Hopefully there will be many more books to follow once I quit messing around on all those social networking sites!

You can follow me on twitter @carolinelou70

Reviews

[Jaedin · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️ It seems as of late, I’ve mostly been reading books that are dark and fast paced, but this one was slow and light. Don’t get me wrong the FMC has gone through some abuse, but it didn’t feel heavy. It felt like the author more so focused one the building of trust between the MCs and the romance aspect more so than the fmcs trauma. The spice in this was also very tame. There were certain parts of this book that felt they were dragging for me, but it could also be the fact that this book is 438 pages and is slow paced. The book was good, I think I just had a hard time getting through it because of the pace and length of it. I honestly think it would’ve been better 100 pages shorter. I have read my fair share of book written in British English, but yet I still don’t know what certain words mean😭


Maya is slow to trust and letting others in, but no matter how much she tries to keep her walls up with Jacko, they come crumbling down. I love how it’s not insta trust, but built over time. Lila calling him Bear is the cutest thing ever! I wish Lila was written more like a three year old, I was expecting like mispronunciation like how little kids sometimes say their R like W. You know?🥲 but besides that she was the cutest little girl. I’m convinced no man like Jacko exists because please tell me what man likes to bake to decompress. As someone who loves to bake, Jacko made me swoon. I loved how patient and steady he was with Maya, he was never pushy, just constant.

[Kristen Dennis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Iced by Caroline Easton is my favourite book in this series to far! It had me feeling everything from the very first page. Jacko and Maya are such relatable characters with real life problems. I love that Jacko didnt come into the problem and take control and "fix" everything because he was the man. Instead he was there as backup to Maya the whole time. He made sure that Maya was making all the decisions and he was there to support her every step of the way. He was fiercely protective when he needed to be but such a gentle giant. Jacko is a perfect character and you will love reading all about him!

[Sarah (lou_reads_romance) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A first read of this author for me and I hope not the last. This lady writes with ease, humour and has a style that instantly drew me in.
The characters are realistic and fun with the whole teammates and family feeling throughout.

Maya is a single mother, she and her daughter Lila finally got away from an abusive and controlling man. They have settled but with fear around ever corner, every sound has Maya on edge and constantly worrying for hers and Lila’s safety.
An injury and a forced rehab time finds Owen ‘Jacko’ Jackson, the gentle giant enforcer, and amateur baker of the Raptors, helping out at the local community centre…which also puts him into the lives of Maya and Lila…
The relationship they develop is really lovely as Owen shows Maya how a real man treats those he cares for, he shows her how gentle and patient he is, not just with her feelings but also with Lila….who instantly falls for him.

A really great slow burn that explores trust, friendship and building a bond. One that is based in truth and built on mutual respect.
Lila and Owen’s relationship had me smiling. Maya’s strength, fears and protection of her daughter were well portrayed.
There were a couple of points in the beginning where I felt like I’d missed a couple of pages where the story jumped ahead and missed some of the ‘firsts’ that would have been nice to read….also having a Mia and a Maya was a little challenging in the beginning as I got to know who was who….I also think I would have liked to know more about their families/ backgrounds… it was all very in the present with little to no back story apart from Maya’s history with her ex. This didn’t in any way detract from my enjoyment of the story I only feel it may have enhanced it even further!

Now I’m excited to get back and see what happens with Ollie next….

[Bonnie Mancuso · Rating 5 out of 5]

I fell in love with Jacko and Maya's story from the beginning. He's the Raptors enforcer. He's built like a bear and fiercely protective of those he loves. She's a single mom who's trying to keep herself and her daughter safe from the past. This slow burn romance is sure to give you all the feels as Jacko sets out to prove that he's got her. He's staying. Maya slowly learns to trust that she doesn't have to run from her past anymore. She doesn't have to fight alone and maybe Jacko really is one of the good guys. Maya's 3 year old daughter steals the show with fairy wings and glitter. This is a feel good story you're sure to love.

[ravenblackbird74 · Rating 5 out of 5]

📚 ICED: The Raptors Series #3 (Standalone)
🖋 Author ~ Caroline Easton
🖋 Features: Sports Romance, Hockey Romance, Contemporary Romance
⭐️ Rating: 5/5

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Maya & Owen
🏒 Hockey romance
🏒 Protector MMC
🧁 Single mum
🧁 Strong FMC
🏒 Second chances
🧁 Ex-boyfriend
🏒 Found family

Owen “Jacko” Jackson, the Enforcer for his Raptors’ hockey team, community service is perfect for a guy who works through his emotions with baking. He has mad baking skills. At the community kitchen, he’s assigned to assist Maya. Trying to stay under the radar, the last thing she needs, though, is attention, especially not from a man with fists like sledgehammers and a smile that melts her guard. But Owen bakes cupcakes, reads bedtime stories, and makes her daughter believe in superheroes. Worse? He makes her believe in second chances.

Caroline Easton is a new author for me. And, I will definitely add her books to my TBR list. Even though I started with the 3rd book in the series, there are enough details that Maya and Owen’s story unfolds seamlessly. What I loved about this book, aside from being set in England, was the phraseology, in that I could almost hear the characters, their voices, phrasing, and diction as I read. There’s a depth of experiences, emotions from both Maya and Owen. And, I love how Owen is attracted to Maya’s strength, her fears, and that she doesn’t have to be perfect…she just has to be real.

🖋 Enjoyment: 5. Readability: 5. Writing: 5.
🖋 Setting: 5. Plot: 5. Characters: 5.

💌 Favorite Moments:

🖇 I might be built for battle, but I’m about to learn how to fight for something a hell of a lot more important than a puck.

🖇 Her cheeks are flushed, hair tied back in a messy ponytail, forearms dusted in flour. She looks like art. Domestic, radiant chaos.

🖇 But fear isn’t rational. It clings to every corner of my brain.

🖇 Lila’s laugh echoes through the park like a song I didn’t know I’d been waiting to hear.

🖇 “I don’t want you to save me,” she says. “I just want to feel like I can stand beside you.”

#writer #bookreviewer #bookstagrammers #MustRead #booktok #currentlyreading #brokenwingbookreviews #ravenblackbird74 #CarolineEaston #TheRaptorsSeries #Iced #hockeyromance #sportsromance

[Jackie Wright · Rating 4 out of 5]

Iced is single mum, Maya her daughter Lila and injured hockey enforcer and part time baker Owen “Jacko” Jackson’s slow burn, friends to lovers romance. This is book three in The Raptors Series but it’s the first book I have read by this author so I’m prove this book can be read as a standalone. This is a well written, heartwarming story that I quickly became invested in.
Maya and Lila have finally escaped from her abusive and controlling ex but they can’t rest and find themselves fearing everything that’s around the corner.
Owen is helping out at the local community centre when he comes across Maya and Lila and from that moment on he goes into protective mode. He desperately wants to be part of their lives but Maya is not going to take a leap of faith without some patience and convincing.
I loved watching this gentle giant show Maya how a real man treats a lady and I loved watching built trust with Lila. I smiled, I swooned and I cheered this couple on on and this won’t be the last book I read by author because I’m loving the camaraderie the Raptors share.

[Mira Jankovic · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who do you get when you have a professional Ice hockey player who has the same passion for baking? Owen "Jacko" Jackson that's who

After one too many fights on the ice, and carrying a shoulder injury, Owen is suspended by the team until his shoulder passes the fitness test and as punishment for his suspension made to do community service.

The community service is not much of a punishment as he heads to help out at a bakery at a community centre where he meets Maya Dawson and her daughter Lila. Maya is running from an abusive ex and finds that the walls she has built slowly start to crumble around Owen. How can this huge bear of a man have such tender, delicate hands when making baked goods.... Such a contradiction to what he does on the ice.

Through their shared love of baking, read how the walls start to come down and they find the right recipe for a happy ever after

[Wendy Hodges · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jacko was simply everything a woman could want, big, kind, cuddly. He bakes, protects and loves deeply. Maya is strong, she's had to be to keep herself and her daughter safe, prepared to run at the first hint of danger. She never sees this big bear of a man coming, this time is more a threat to her heart. Lila, she ruled this story, the team and the women around them. Cute, excitable, loves baking with a passion for one so young, glitter, sprinkles and chocolate chips are her weapons just as much as her pleading eyes and bright smile. This group find family together. Emotional but there are plenty of laughs, a read that I didn't put down and loved. Each book in this series has proved more endearing than the last, I can't wait to see what the author comes up with for Ollie.

[Vicki · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you enjoy slow burn hockey romances, this is the book for you! Both Jacko and Maya have the weight of their worlds on their shoulders. Watching slow dance around their feelings. Jacko slow and steady; Maya learning new steps. Their dance floor was baking. Oh, Jacko had the rhythm - slow and steady waltz while Maya was the hokey pokey (she has a young child!). When they begin slowly swaying together is home. I know this is a sports romance with baking as a focal point, I saw emotional dancing instead. I saw the love of two people who needed healing and we know love is the ultimate way to heal. It was a good solid read.

[Nikki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another amazing book 3 for those Raptor hotshots!
This time we get the story of the big hulking brood that is Jacko! But is all as it seems with this baking god? Is he really the big hard man all the time? Or is he really a big squishy marshmallow who just needs the right people to lavish his attention on??
Absolutely loved how he was with Maya and Lila, seeing her come back into herself after a harsh previous relationship was just brilliant.
And I LOVE parts with this great group of friends when they are together... everyone needs The Raptors on their side for sure!
Can't wait for Ollies book next 😍

[Tamara Harrington · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book had so much potential but by the time it got to 20% which was more than 80 pages in I had just lost it.
The writing style isn’t for me, it’s extremely choppy and repetitive. The choppiness makes it hard to understand sometimes but it also felt like there was a lot left out, even in text convos. Like how did he know she slept in her daughter’s bed if she didn’t tell him. Also, as a woman who is so scared, why would she have given her number to a random guy who on page she barely talks to?!
I love a slow burn at the best of times but this just wasn’t it for me.
This is my honest and unbiased review.

[K.M. Lowe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 3 of the series is Jacko and Maya. It’s another heart stopping story where the past collides with the future. Single mother, Maya, is this skittish mouse because of her past domestic violence and Jacko has to break down those walls and make her learn to trust again…. And it’s not an easy task for someone so set in their ways. The story is a slow burn, but flows well. The characters are likeable and relatable, and tie all that up with the hockey side of things and Jacko’s obsession with baking, it’s a contemporary romance worth the read.

[Millie Payne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a beautiful read!

I loved this book from the first page! The amount of highlights this book has my goodness, I just want to get the physical copy so I can see the tabs. What a beautiful story, I loved every single minute! I loved each and every character and just eveuthing about this book!

[Cassandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a sweet story between Jacko and Maya. These two together were so sweet and I loved that he baked and he had a sourdough started named Dave. That's when I was won over and knew I would like him. Super sweet story and I loved it.

[Ann L · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first time reading this author and I’m hooked. I loved the mix of humor, heart, and family vibes it gave, Maya’s journey as a single mum and her romance with Owen, the hockey enforcer was well done.

I flew through the pages and enjoyed every bit. I can’t wait for Ollie’s book.

[Elos_book_hoard · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a warm and fuzzy book. The safety and home that this man brings Maya and lila is just so wholesome. what a beautiful found family this team is, the way they all have each other's backs and support one another is all anyone wants.

[Lisa Trier · Rating 3 out of 5]

just okay

This book had potential with the plot but there was no reason it had to be 400+ pages. It was very repetitive and so many grammatical errors I almost DNF’d. Overall it was okay.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good not Great.

Started off well. But several times it felt repeated. About half way though the writing almost felt like a different author took over. The way the writing changed was a little confusing but I did finish the book. It was a good book.

[Bethany Rayne · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you need to restore your faith in the male species, this is the book for you. Jacko is the book boyfriend I didn’t realise I’d been waiting my whole life for. He’s everything!

[Alicia Pelletier · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did not enjoy the writing style in this book, it felt very choppy and repetitive.

[Aleksandra · Rating 1 out of 5]

Odpadam na połowie. Tam się kompletnie nic nie dzieje, cały czas te same sceny, no porażka.

[Tangled Titles · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first book by Caroline Easton and I am speechless. Iced is such a beautifully written book and had me hooked from the start. I enjoyed how she touched on tough subjects, made the romance realistic and added just the right amount of suspense and spice. I will definitely be reading the other 2 books from this series and will be looking forward to reading Ollies story