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Heart of a Viper #2
Break the Ice
Asher
Theo is the love of my life, but I can't tell him. Only a few people know I'm gay, and he isn't one of them. We've been best friends since we were sixteen, and he's my everything. The thought of losing him terrifies me. He's the sunshine in a life filled with pain from my mother and her awful boyfriends. When Theo rescues me from Louie, my mom's latest dirtbag boyfriend, and we end up cozy in his bed, things start to shift. Could he feel the same way about me as I do about him? Theo—the girl-crazy party boy with a joke for every occasion? He couldn't... could he?
Theo
I'm in trouble. My best friend is lying right next to me, and I can't ignore how I feel. The more I think about Asher, the more I realize I've always been drawn to him. From the moment I saw him as a scared sixteen-year-old rookie for the Vipers, I felt a pull. I thought I admired him for being smart and funny, with those crazy red curls I love teasing him about. But I can't stop staring at his freckles. I can't help but get lost in his emerald green eyes. When I learn someone has been hurting him, I lose it. Asher is mine, or at least I want him to be. But what if he's not gay? And if he is, what if he doesn't love me back? Why is this so complicated!
"Break the Ice" is the follow-up to "Step in the Zone," featuring Asher and Theo. This is a slow-burn, hurt/comfort MM hockey romance with a guaranteed HEA. It touches on some dark themes, so please read the content warnings. Your well-being is essential.
Theo is the love of my life, but I can't tell him. Only a few people know I'm gay, and he isn't one of them. We've been best friends since we were sixteen, and he's my everything. The thought of losing him terrifies me. He's the sunshine in a life filled with pain from my mother and her awful boyfriends. When Theo rescues me from Louie, my mom's latest dirtbag boyfriend, and we end up cozy in his bed, things start to shift. Could he feel the same way about me as I do about him? Theo—the girl-crazy party boy with a joke for every occasion? He couldn't... could he?
Theo
I'm in trouble. My best friend is lying right next to me, and I can't ignore how I feel. The more I think about Asher, the more I realize I've always been drawn to him. From the moment I saw him as a scared sixteen-year-old rookie for the Vipers, I felt a pull. I thought I admired him for being smart and funny, with those crazy red curls I love teasing him about. But I can't stop staring at his freckles. I can't help but get lost in his emerald green eyes. When I learn someone has been hurting him, I lose it. Asher is mine, or at least I want him to be. But what if he's not gay? And if he is, what if he doesn't love me back? Why is this so complicated!
"Break the Ice" is the follow-up to "Step in the Zone," featuring Asher and Theo. This is a slow-burn, hurt/comfort MM hockey romance with a guaranteed HEA. It touches on some dark themes, so please read the content warnings. Your well-being is essential.
324 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 1, 2025
108 people are currently reading
513 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 109 reviews
January 12, 2026
I don't know how this author does this but the combination and balance between humour and difficult themes is so well executed.
Asher and Theo are so made for each other and the pining was so well written. I was WAITING for the moment where all the secrets got spilled.
I think me being impatient is mostly why I didn't rate this a five stars. I was screaming a lot at both of them to JUST TALK. But I understand why the story needed to evolve before they could be honest with their feelings.
I had more than one moment where I caught myself laughing out loud. Theo was such a wild character and I had the best time getting to know him better and also seeing his caring and even possessive side.
Once again a wonderful read by this author and I can't wait to see if a certain someone will get his own story.
Tropes:
hockey romance
college
best friends to lovers
pining
banter
himbo ish mmc
spice:
🌶️🌶️.5
Info:
characters: Asher and Theo
nicknames: red/pretty boy/baby and big boy/baby
ages: 16 - 20 (both characters)
roles: strict
break up: no
Asher and Theo are so made for each other and the pining was so well written. I was WAITING for the moment where all the secrets got spilled.
I think me being impatient is mostly why I didn't rate this a five stars. I was screaming a lot at both of them to JUST TALK. But I understand why the story needed to evolve before they could be honest with their feelings.
I had more than one moment where I caught myself laughing out loud. Theo was such a wild character and I had the best time getting to know him better and also seeing his caring and even possessive side.
Once again a wonderful read by this author and I can't wait to see if a certain someone will get his own story.
Tropes:
hockey romance
college
best friends to lovers
pining
banter
himbo ish mmc
spice:
🌶️🌶️.5
Info:
characters: Asher and Theo
nicknames: red/pretty boy/baby and big boy/baby
ages: 16 - 20 (both characters)
roles: strict
break up: no
September 2, 2025
5 / ♾️ STARS!!!!⭐️
3.5🌶️
Y’all, I Got The Privilege To Beta Read This Book And OMG It Was ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING I Want It To Be And So Much More. Asher And Theo Are Just EVERYTHING Y’all Absolutely EVERYTHING! The Pinning, The Longing, The Slow Burn Was Just EVERYTHING IN THIS BOOK!!’ The Fact That Theo Was So Oblivious To Asher And Then Him Snapping And Now Wanting Him And Them Wanting Each Other Was Just Also Just EVERYTHING!!!! There Love Is Just The Kind Of Love That We All Need In Life. It’s Soft Yet Gentle And Not Afraid To Get Out Of The Box When Needed And A Place Of Home In Each Other, And That’s The Kind Of Love I LIVE For. Both Of Them Also As Individuals Were So Special Cause They Both Deal With So Much Especially Asher Being Broken And Not Being Enough And Theo Showing Him That He Is Just Makes This Man A Top Book Boyfriend For Me Like Can I Get A Theo Please And Thank You🤣💕 The Found Family Was Also EVERYTHING Cause Theos Family Is A Type Of Family That Is Just So Beautiful And Supportive And Shows So Much Love That It Was Just Everything. Also Seeing Cody And Raphael Again Was Just So Amazing Cause I Missed Them So Much. Also Quincy Was Such An Amazing Side Character And The Coaches Also. Mason Definitely Also Needs A Redemption Arc So Badly!!! I Cannot Wait To See Who’s Book Is Next. But Y’all, You Do Not Want To Miss This Book On October 1st Because This Was JUST EVERYTHING And 100% One Of My Favorites This Year And A New Favorite Book. Blane I Absolutely Love You And I Cannot Wait To See What You Write Next Cause This Was PHENOMENAL!!!!🫶💕
Thank You So Much @blanebellamy For Giving Me The Beta Read, I Appreciate You So So Much💕
3.5🌶️
Y’all, I Got The Privilege To Beta Read This Book And OMG It Was ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING I Want It To Be And So Much More. Asher And Theo Are Just EVERYTHING Y’all Absolutely EVERYTHING! The Pinning, The Longing, The Slow Burn Was Just EVERYTHING IN THIS BOOK!!’ The Fact That Theo Was So Oblivious To Asher And Then Him Snapping And Now Wanting Him And Them Wanting Each Other Was Just Also Just EVERYTHING!!!! There Love Is Just The Kind Of Love That We All Need In Life. It’s Soft Yet Gentle And Not Afraid To Get Out Of The Box When Needed And A Place Of Home In Each Other, And That’s The Kind Of Love I LIVE For. Both Of Them Also As Individuals Were So Special Cause They Both Deal With So Much Especially Asher Being Broken And Not Being Enough And Theo Showing Him That He Is Just Makes This Man A Top Book Boyfriend For Me Like Can I Get A Theo Please And Thank You🤣💕 The Found Family Was Also EVERYTHING Cause Theos Family Is A Type Of Family That Is Just So Beautiful And Supportive And Shows So Much Love That It Was Just Everything. Also Seeing Cody And Raphael Again Was Just So Amazing Cause I Missed Them So Much. Also Quincy Was Such An Amazing Side Character And The Coaches Also. Mason Definitely Also Needs A Redemption Arc So Badly!!! I Cannot Wait To See Who’s Book Is Next. But Y’all, You Do Not Want To Miss This Book On October 1st Because This Was JUST EVERYTHING And 100% One Of My Favorites This Year And A New Favorite Book. Blane I Absolutely Love You And I Cannot Wait To See What You Write Next Cause This Was PHENOMENAL!!!!🫶💕
Thank You So Much @blanebellamy For Giving Me The Beta Read, I Appreciate You So So Much💕
September 13, 2025
Well well well, another 5 stars for this author! Theo and Asher were so fun to read! Their chemistry was so organic and I giggled at all their banter. Ahh but the heart in this book between these two mmcs was chefs kiss!
If you are looking for a friends to lovers with a Himbo mmc…oh and there’s HOCKEY!!! 🏒
Blane is one of my favorite mm authors and he just hits it out of the park every time! ENJOY!
If you are looking for a friends to lovers with a Himbo mmc…oh and there’s HOCKEY!!! 🏒
Blane is one of my favorite mm authors and he just hits it out of the park every time! ENJOY!
December 17, 2025
I really loved this book!! It was funny, and there was a lot of actual hockey, which I really enjoyed. Both MMCs are just so precious, and their relationship was too cute, but I have to admit it was also kind of predictable. The dialogue, especially the dirty talk, made me cringe a little at times. The writing itself was good. The structure of the story and the way the author describes things, especially when it comes to hockey, were really, really well done, but I did have some issues with the dialogue.
Even though the dialogue sometimes pulled me out of the story, I still really loved this book. It made me smile so much, made me laugh, and even made me tear up. This book was less heavy than the first one, but it still had moments that made my heart ache.
I am truly obsessed with Asher. I loved him instantly, and he gave me that feeling of wanting to protect him at all costs. His life was so hard, and he’s one of those characters you can’t help but root for and want nothing but happiness for. It was the same with Theo. He was such a gentle giant, and I loved how protective he was of Asher. These two together were so cute. I loved their dynamic, and they made me really happy.
I also have to talk about Theo’s family because they were such an important part of this book. The love and support they showed was beautiful to see. I loved every single one of them, and they were genuinely pretty funny too. The moments with Cody and Rafael made me so happy. I loved seeing the friendship they maintained with Asher and Theo, how supportive they were, and honestly, they made me laugh. I loved Quincy too, and I really hope he gets a book.
I really did love this book. Even though the dialogue wasn’t my favorite part, I’m giving it 4 stars, and I’m genuinely excited for more books from this author and this series.
Even though the dialogue sometimes pulled me out of the story, I still really loved this book. It made me smile so much, made me laugh, and even made me tear up. This book was less heavy than the first one, but it still had moments that made my heart ache.
I am truly obsessed with Asher. I loved him instantly, and he gave me that feeling of wanting to protect him at all costs. His life was so hard, and he’s one of those characters you can’t help but root for and want nothing but happiness for. It was the same with Theo. He was such a gentle giant, and I loved how protective he was of Asher. These two together were so cute. I loved their dynamic, and they made me really happy.
I also have to talk about Theo’s family because they were such an important part of this book. The love and support they showed was beautiful to see. I loved every single one of them, and they were genuinely pretty funny too. The moments with Cody and Rafael made me so happy. I loved seeing the friendship they maintained with Asher and Theo, how supportive they were, and honestly, they made me laugh. I loved Quincy too, and I really hope he gets a book.
I really did love this book. Even though the dialogue wasn’t my favorite part, I’m giving it 4 stars, and I’m genuinely excited for more books from this author and this series.
October 16, 2025
Blane, you've done it again. You've written an absolutely fantastic story. I love Friends to Lovers, and you've done an excellent job with it. So much humor, emotion, and tension all at once. I love it! All the more so because I know how much of yourself you've put into this book ❤️!
Asher has to assert himself in a world where he is rejected because of his social background and sexuality. He also grew up in a destructive and abusive home. Nevertheless, he has grown into a wonderful young man. Theo is a big, kind guy with an even bigger heart. He gives his all for Asher, and when he realizes that his heart beats for his best friend—aww, you'll see 🥹. Together, they fight in and for their sport, but also for their love. The story also shows that family isn't always defined by blood. The way Theo's family and Asher's and Theo's friends stand behind the two of them is heartwarming and impressive. The spice is very, very hot 🔥, and the tender moments are enough to make you melt. You can tell I'm a fan 😉😍, and once again I know why! I can wholeheartedly recommend this book, go and read it!
Asher has to assert himself in a world where he is rejected because of his social background and sexuality. He also grew up in a destructive and abusive home. Nevertheless, he has grown into a wonderful young man. Theo is a big, kind guy with an even bigger heart. He gives his all for Asher, and when he realizes that his heart beats for his best friend—aww, you'll see 🥹. Together, they fight in and for their sport, but also for their love. The story also shows that family isn't always defined by blood. The way Theo's family and Asher's and Theo's friends stand behind the two of them is heartwarming and impressive. The spice is very, very hot 🔥, and the tender moments are enough to make you melt. You can tell I'm a fan 😉😍, and once again I know why! I can wholeheartedly recommend this book, go and read it!
October 1, 2025
Looking for a hockey mm romance with angst, a cinnamon roll MMC, a bi-awakening, no third act break up, and the perfect amount of spice? This is the book. Theo is a fun, ready to party, cinnamon roll guy that comes from a large Italian family. Asher, Theo’s best friend, is quiet, wants to play hockey, is in love with his best friend, and comes from a hard traumatic home life.
Our boys Cory and Rafael make appearances in the story to remind us why we love them so much.
Blane’s writing is always brilliant and realistic. I got teary eyed a few times.
The emotional story can be triggering, so please read and take seriously.
Highly recommend reading Step In The Zone first if you have not.
5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
3 🌶️🌶️🌶️
MM Romance
Friends to Lovers
Cinnamon Roll MMC
Found Family
Hockey
Bi-Awakening
Our boys Cory and Rafael make appearances in the story to remind us why we love them so much.
Blane’s writing is always brilliant and realistic. I got teary eyed a few times.
The emotional story can be triggering, so please read and take seriously.
Highly recommend reading Step In The Zone first if you have not.
5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
3 🌶️🌶️🌶️
MM Romance
Friends to Lovers
Cinnamon Roll MMC
Found Family
Hockey
Bi-Awakening
September 21, 2025
4,5 ⭐
Finally finished my ARC, and it was so good!!
My favourite book of Blane so far for sure!
I don't know what it is but best friends to lovers is such a great trope!
This story follows Asher and Theo who met when they were 16 while playing street hockey. Theo lives in a wealthy family and Asher definitely not! So if not for street hockey they would never have met.
You just see how their friendship evolves in the next years and it's amazing!
My heart bleeds for Asher, but seeing his growth in this book was amazing!
And Theo the perfect funny and supportive man! He's literally Asher's hype man and I live for it! Tbh I live for Theo's whole family, they are so welcoming and accepting and I want to be Theo's mom Maria because she's just a vibe!
If you want a best friends to lovers, with hurt comfort and NO third act break up, I would definitely recommend this one!
Finally finished my ARC, and it was so good!!
My favourite book of Blane so far for sure!
I don't know what it is but best friends to lovers is such a great trope!
This story follows Asher and Theo who met when they were 16 while playing street hockey. Theo lives in a wealthy family and Asher definitely not! So if not for street hockey they would never have met.
You just see how their friendship evolves in the next years and it's amazing!
My heart bleeds for Asher, but seeing his growth in this book was amazing!
And Theo the perfect funny and supportive man! He's literally Asher's hype man and I live for it! Tbh I live for Theo's whole family, they are so welcoming and accepting and I want to be Theo's mom Maria because she's just a vibe!
If you want a best friends to lovers, with hurt comfort and NO third act break up, I would definitely recommend this one!
October 4, 2025
If you don't want to read the words 'thick meat' and 'baseball bat' referring to the MC's ding dong shlong, throw the book out that window asap. I did
October 16, 2025
Break the Ice is the second book in the Heart of the Viper series by Blane Bellamy. Listen, I was so intrigued with Asher and Theo from the glimpses we got in book one; and I was so happy when I saw they were the focal point for book two.
These two have an existing and strong friendship, chemistry that’s undeniable but it’s also only one sided, or is it? This slow burn is done in the best way because we know how Asher feels about Theo, but my boy Theo is oblivious to it and sometimes I just wanted to shake him! Lol Once he does well, there’s some pretty amazing stuff, I loved the chemistry between these two, the caretaking and how they support each other. Asher’s self doubt and insecurity is slowly whittled away thanks to Theo and his love for him. I loved Theo’s family, not only their acceptance but also care of Asher too. There are plenty of laughs, some heart wrenching but tender moments. It goes without saying that the spice hits here, as I’ve come to expect from Blane and that journey between the two was quite exceptional. I was happy to see Raphael and Cody again and am intrigued with some of the new characters as well. Asher and Theo go through a lot, there are plenty of good and bad times; but they get through them together. One thing that will never falter is their love for each other.
This was an excellent addition to the series, and I’m curious to see who the next book will be about. I have some theories but let’s just say I’m ready for the next book Blane!
These two have an existing and strong friendship, chemistry that’s undeniable but it’s also only one sided, or is it? This slow burn is done in the best way because we know how Asher feels about Theo, but my boy Theo is oblivious to it and sometimes I just wanted to shake him! Lol Once he does well, there’s some pretty amazing stuff, I loved the chemistry between these two, the caretaking and how they support each other. Asher’s self doubt and insecurity is slowly whittled away thanks to Theo and his love for him. I loved Theo’s family, not only their acceptance but also care of Asher too. There are plenty of laughs, some heart wrenching but tender moments. It goes without saying that the spice hits here, as I’ve come to expect from Blane and that journey between the two was quite exceptional. I was happy to see Raphael and Cody again and am intrigued with some of the new characters as well. Asher and Theo go through a lot, there are plenty of good and bad times; but they get through them together. One thing that will never falter is their love for each other.
This was an excellent addition to the series, and I’m curious to see who the next book will be about. I have some theories but let’s just say I’m ready for the next book Blane!
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December 24, 2025this book was so unbelievably bad i can't even. i will write a review when i am free i promise but my god. absolutely excruciating of a read
edit: guys. ten days later im back in the fucking building. happy "almost christmas means it wasn't christmas" day to those who celebrate <3
first off. the writing is just SO terrible i cannot explain how awful it is. i have read utter garbage but this takes the fucking cake
"This is good. I need this. Nothing pulled me out of my slumps like Theo and his buffoonery.
“You won’t win this round, Big Boy! I have the height advantage now!” He raised an arm, attempting to deflect my blows. Theo tossed his pillow, then wrapped his free arm around my thighs and threw me over his shoulders. “Put me the fuck down,” I screamed. His hand came down hard on my ass. “Ow!”
Theo tossed me on my bed and started twisting his knuckles into my thighs as he held me down. What came out of me was a mix of laughter and wails as he dug his knuckles into my sensitive skin.
“Are you gonna calm down, or do I need to teach you a lesson?” Theo started cackling now that he’d gotten the upper hand.
“LET ME GO!”
“Say you surrender, you redheaded slut!”
“NEVER!” I screamed back. Honestly, I did this shit on purpose" reading this truly made me want to dig my eyes out it's my bad for gaining literacy at the age of 4 i guess.............also this book really has one of my writing pet peeves which is like talking to screaming from 0 to 100 in a context that does not need it and like. only bad books do it!!!!! bc grasping a sense of dialogue is seemingly impossible for people when talking is like the easiest thing in the world BECAUSE YOU DO IT ALL THE TIMEEEE
now characters. i have nothing to say abt asher he's gay inlove with his best friend. has an abusive mother. he's also incredible at hockey and those are all the personality traits they assign him bc god forbid a guy is interesting! now let's talk about theo. asher is in love with his straight best friend CLASSIC trope but the LENGTHS they go to emphasize just how straight and how INTO WOMEN theo is is fucking INSANE brother no one likable talks like this!
theo: "The puckbunnies of Kappa Delta were sizzling that night. I fucking loved having parties with them. The sororities on campus were chock full of baddies who could make a man fall to his knees, but the honeys of Kappa Delta had a serious case of hockey fever.
I had my eye on Abigail, the redhead who annihilated Davis last fall. Goddamn, I had a thing for redheads. It was May, so she wore this cute little sleeveless number that showed her incredibly sexy stomach. The freckles on her shoulders matched the ones on her cheeks. I went nuts for freckles."
normal hockey players irl: "hey man, how's it going" like HOWWW IN THE WORLD ARE WE SUPPOSED TO ROOT FOR THIS GUY!!! HE'S SO RIDICULOUS 😭😭😭😭😭
"Oh fuck, Theo! Don’t stop!”
My thrusting grew harder and faster. Fuck, it was so hot. I could tell she was going to come soon from her rapid moaning. I couldn’t hold back anymore. I closed my eyes as the pleasure welled in the root of my dick and traveled up my shaft.
Cum shot out of me and into the condom as I screamed, “ASHER!”
WHAT?!
FUCK!
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
What the fuck? What was that? What did I just do? Oh, fucking hell!
NO NO NO NO NO NO! WHY!?
Abigail, not Asher, released a low, guttural moan as she climaxed. I was frozen in terror. Did she hear? I mean, I fucking screamed it, so I imagined that she heard, but had she noticed?" THIS IS RIDICULOUS. i genuinely when this happened i had to pause and start doing my work i was so sick of this book. i will say shoutout abigail she is the only bright thing in the dark evil garbage book
“I’m not mean to people. I’m mean to men. Because I hate men. Well, I hate straight men, which is maybe why I have a thing for you.” i love you abigail.......abigail please i could take you away from this book abigail please come with me......
"I started pacing the room, scrubbing my hands over my face. “It is a big deal! I can’t be into him. What would he think? He’d flip!”
“Who, Asher? No, he wouldn’t. He’s gay.”
That one stopped me in my tracks. “No, he’s not!”
“He’s not out?” Abigail asked.
“What?” I asked.
“Huh?” she replied." this was funny actually but not in the way the author wanted. im sure i was going thru some mental break as i got further and further into this and this was the straw that broke the camel's back
"There was a moment of silence that Reggie finally broke. “You mean to tell us that her boyfriends were roughing up her son, and that fucking bitch did nothing?”
Mom tapped Reggie’s arm in a scolding manner. “Regina, language.” Then, she turned to me and asked, “You mean to tell us that her boyfriends were roughing up her son, and that stupid bitch did nothing?” one more one off. is i really side eye when authors (male) make awful female characters that other characters call bitches because. you just want to call a woman a bitch and made her evil so you could justify it and that's the energy i felt here. which. 😒😒😒
okay and then after all this asher and theo confess fall in love etc etc. there's a revenge porn plot which is genuinely ridiculous and honestly i know i promised a hate review but im so tired of this book i fearrrr i might need to cut it off here.
what i do appreciate in this book: abigail, the fact that they confessed + got together relatively fast so the rest of the book was established relationship fluff, .......... yeah i think that's it
what i hated: literally everything else.
this book was terrible and i am kissing the ground in salvation that i found good books after this bc if i read this and then read another bad book the story of my life would be 13 reasons why and this book would be 12 of them
edit: guys. ten days later im back in the fucking building. happy "almost christmas means it wasn't christmas" day to those who celebrate <3
first off. the writing is just SO terrible i cannot explain how awful it is. i have read utter garbage but this takes the fucking cake
"This is good. I need this. Nothing pulled me out of my slumps like Theo and his buffoonery.
“You won’t win this round, Big Boy! I have the height advantage now!” He raised an arm, attempting to deflect my blows. Theo tossed his pillow, then wrapped his free arm around my thighs and threw me over his shoulders. “Put me the fuck down,” I screamed. His hand came down hard on my ass. “Ow!”
Theo tossed me on my bed and started twisting his knuckles into my thighs as he held me down. What came out of me was a mix of laughter and wails as he dug his knuckles into my sensitive skin.
“Are you gonna calm down, or do I need to teach you a lesson?” Theo started cackling now that he’d gotten the upper hand.
“LET ME GO!”
“Say you surrender, you redheaded slut!”
“NEVER!” I screamed back. Honestly, I did this shit on purpose" reading this truly made me want to dig my eyes out it's my bad for gaining literacy at the age of 4 i guess.............also this book really has one of my writing pet peeves which is like talking to screaming from 0 to 100 in a context that does not need it and like. only bad books do it!!!!! bc grasping a sense of dialogue is seemingly impossible for people when talking is like the easiest thing in the world BECAUSE YOU DO IT ALL THE TIMEEEE
now characters. i have nothing to say abt asher he's gay inlove with his best friend. has an abusive mother. he's also incredible at hockey and those are all the personality traits they assign him bc god forbid a guy is interesting! now let's talk about theo. asher is in love with his straight best friend CLASSIC trope but the LENGTHS they go to emphasize just how straight and how INTO WOMEN theo is is fucking INSANE brother no one likable talks like this!
theo: "The puckbunnies of Kappa Delta were sizzling that night. I fucking loved having parties with them. The sororities on campus were chock full of baddies who could make a man fall to his knees, but the honeys of Kappa Delta had a serious case of hockey fever.
I had my eye on Abigail, the redhead who annihilated Davis last fall. Goddamn, I had a thing for redheads. It was May, so she wore this cute little sleeveless number that showed her incredibly sexy stomach. The freckles on her shoulders matched the ones on her cheeks. I went nuts for freckles."
normal hockey players irl: "hey man, how's it going" like HOWWW IN THE WORLD ARE WE SUPPOSED TO ROOT FOR THIS GUY!!! HE'S SO RIDICULOUS 😭😭😭😭😭
"Oh fuck, Theo! Don’t stop!”
My thrusting grew harder and faster. Fuck, it was so hot. I could tell she was going to come soon from her rapid moaning. I couldn’t hold back anymore. I closed my eyes as the pleasure welled in the root of my dick and traveled up my shaft.
Cum shot out of me and into the condom as I screamed, “ASHER!”
WHAT?!
FUCK!
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
What the fuck? What was that? What did I just do? Oh, fucking hell!
NO NO NO NO NO NO! WHY!?
Abigail, not Asher, released a low, guttural moan as she climaxed. I was frozen in terror. Did she hear? I mean, I fucking screamed it, so I imagined that she heard, but had she noticed?" THIS IS RIDICULOUS. i genuinely when this happened i had to pause and start doing my work i was so sick of this book. i will say shoutout abigail she is the only bright thing in the dark evil garbage book
“I’m not mean to people. I’m mean to men. Because I hate men. Well, I hate straight men, which is maybe why I have a thing for you.” i love you abigail.......abigail please i could take you away from this book abigail please come with me......
"I started pacing the room, scrubbing my hands over my face. “It is a big deal! I can’t be into him. What would he think? He’d flip!”
“Who, Asher? No, he wouldn’t. He’s gay.”
That one stopped me in my tracks. “No, he’s not!”
“He’s not out?” Abigail asked.
“What?” I asked.
“Huh?” she replied." this was funny actually but not in the way the author wanted. im sure i was going thru some mental break as i got further and further into this and this was the straw that broke the camel's back
"There was a moment of silence that Reggie finally broke. “You mean to tell us that her boyfriends were roughing up her son, and that fucking bitch did nothing?”
Mom tapped Reggie’s arm in a scolding manner. “Regina, language.” Then, she turned to me and asked, “You mean to tell us that her boyfriends were roughing up her son, and that stupid bitch did nothing?” one more one off. is i really side eye when authors (male) make awful female characters that other characters call bitches because. you just want to call a woman a bitch and made her evil so you could justify it and that's the energy i felt here. which. 😒😒😒
okay and then after all this asher and theo confess fall in love etc etc. there's a revenge porn plot which is genuinely ridiculous and honestly i know i promised a hate review but im so tired of this book i fearrrr i might need to cut it off here.
what i do appreciate in this book: abigail, the fact that they confessed + got together relatively fast so the rest of the book was established relationship fluff, .......... yeah i think that's it
what i hated: literally everything else.
this book was terrible and i am kissing the ground in salvation that i found good books after this bc if i read this and then read another bad book the story of my life would be 13 reasons why and this book would be 12 of them
October 11, 2025
This book was pretty perfect. The steam, the loving hilarious supportive family, the relationship between the MCs, the humor, literally everything.
I inched my leg closer to Theo’s so I could rub against him. Some kind of physical contact was necessary for the level of cuteness he emanated.As we all know I have a huge sensitivity to OM/OW sex, drama, cheating, etc and yes, the MCs do hook up with others PRIOR to being a couple but the way Blane writes the scenes literally enable beautifully emotional relationship "ah ha" moments. I have never said this before but the girl, Abigail, Theo hooks up with right before he gets with his man is amazing and I love her. She is the coolest and helps Theo realize some some things.
“And I’m sorry that I chased girls while you had those feelings for me. That had to hurt. I’m going to make it up to you, baby.”Theo is the best boyfriend ever 😍 Additionally this book had a healthy dose of the MCs, whom I LOVED, from book 1 including a hilarious retelling of the bike scene😆 I loved that scene....
September 30, 2025
SPOILER FREE- spoiler review will follow post release date 01/10/25
Ratings 🌟: Romance 5/5 - Spice 500/5 - tension 5/5 trauma and healing 5/5 pacing 5/5 prose 5/5
💙🥅⛸💙 firstly I would like to thank this wonderful person and author for the kind gift of an E-Arc copy in exchange for an honest review …
5/5 stars as expected ⭐️🌟🌟🌟⭐️ Blane is THE rising star of MM romance and is coming for the throne of TJ Klune and will have fans of “for the fans” clutching their pearls and breathless for more! First he Revolutionised sci-fi cosmic MM romance with his debut and then “step in the zone” swept in and made avid hockey romance fans of even non sports fans (besides the uniforms am I right 👀💁♂️🫠!) this book puts the heart ❤️ heat 🔥 and healing ❤️🩹 into hockey romance once again (this seems to be Blane’s superpower) fast paced, fraught with tension and filthy AF in all the right places!
You’ll be needing to visit your local ice rink to cool down after reading this one trust me 🫣🫠🥵
Ratings 🌟: Romance 5/5 - Spice 500/5 - tension 5/5 trauma and healing 5/5 pacing 5/5 prose 5/5
💙🥅⛸💙 firstly I would like to thank this wonderful person and author for the kind gift of an E-Arc copy in exchange for an honest review …
5/5 stars as expected ⭐️🌟🌟🌟⭐️ Blane is THE rising star of MM romance and is coming for the throne of TJ Klune and will have fans of “for the fans” clutching their pearls and breathless for more! First he Revolutionised sci-fi cosmic MM romance with his debut and then “step in the zone” swept in and made avid hockey romance fans of even non sports fans (besides the uniforms am I right 👀💁♂️🫠!) this book puts the heart ❤️ heat 🔥 and healing ❤️🩹 into hockey romance once again (this seems to be Blane’s superpower) fast paced, fraught with tension and filthy AF in all the right places!
You’ll be needing to visit your local ice rink to cool down after reading this one trust me 🫣🫠🥵
September 14, 2025
I do love me some hockey boys and man does Blane deliver with Teodore and Asher 😍
The beautiful friendship, a boy in love with his 'straight' best friend, the angst, the tension and the heartbreaking home life for Asher was written so amazingly.
This book had me giggling like a schoolgirl girl but there were some very emotional heart-wrenching moments also.
I loved the follow-up insights with Cody and Rafael and how they all protected each other #friendgoals
If you love steaming hot hockey romance then this book is for you 💚
The beautiful friendship, a boy in love with his 'straight' best friend, the angst, the tension and the heartbreaking home life for Asher was written so amazingly.
This book had me giggling like a schoolgirl girl but there were some very emotional heart-wrenching moments also.
I loved the follow-up insights with Cody and Rafael and how they all protected each other #friendgoals
If you love steaming hot hockey romance then this book is for you 💚
October 1, 2025
The first book in this series was so good, and the second book was fantastic as well 🥰
I loved the vibes Asher and Theo brought, and in the combination, these two are unstoppable and so loveable, you have to check it out yourself 💞
Asher hasn't had a simple life. He was struggling hard, and all I wanted was to help him and tell him it's going to be okay 🤧 but thankfully, he has Theo for that.
The love they have for each other.. let's just say it's rare and so pure, it makes you smile like crazy reading about it 😍
Oh, to be loved by a hockey player 💗
I loved the vibes Asher and Theo brought, and in the combination, these two are unstoppable and so loveable, you have to check it out yourself 💞
Asher hasn't had a simple life. He was struggling hard, and all I wanted was to help him and tell him it's going to be okay 🤧 but thankfully, he has Theo for that.
The love they have for each other.. let's just say it's rare and so pure, it makes you smile like crazy reading about it 😍
Oh, to be loved by a hockey player 💗
September 13, 2025
Asher + Theo
-mm hockey romance
-friends to lovers
-found family
-hurt/comfort
-one bed
omggg this book was AMAZINGGGGG!!! it hit me *rightttt* in the feels so many times & i was just SOBBBINGGGG for my guy asher for all the shit he had to deal with!! but then my man theo came in to be his protector & i just was able to fall in love with him right along with him!! i loved them so so much!!
-mm hockey romance
-friends to lovers
-found family
-hurt/comfort
-one bed
omggg this book was AMAZINGGGGG!!! it hit me *rightttt* in the feels so many times & i was just SOBBBINGGGG for my guy asher for all the shit he had to deal with!! but then my man theo came in to be his protector & i just was able to fall in love with him right along with him!! i loved them so so much!!
September 20, 2025
Break the Ice by Blane Bellamy is another absolute knockout—raw, tender, and beautifully told.
This story follows Asher, a scholarship kid navigating the elite world of college ice hockey while hiding a painful truth: he’s gay, and almost no one knows. His home life is heartbreaking—his mother is emotionally abusive and allows her boyfriends to physically harm him under the guise of “toughening him up.” Hockey is his escape, but even there, he’s surrounded by privilege and pressure.
Theo, Asher’s best friend since they were sixteen, is the golden boy—charismatic, girl-crazy, and always ready with a joke. But beneath the surface, there’s a quiet intensity to his bond with Asher. Asher has been secretly in love with Theo for years, and when Theo’s protectiveness starts to blur into something deeper, the tension between them becomes electric.
Their dynamic is messy, emotional, and so real. Theo’s possessiveness starts out as friendly loyalty but slowly morphs into something more intimate. Watching them navigate this shift—especially with Asher’s fear of rejection and Theo’s confusion over his own feelings—is both heart-wrenching and deeply satisfying.
Asher’s story hurts. His life is a raw, unfiltered look at what it means to be a young queer man without a safe home. You ache for him, wish things could be easier, and root for him every step of the way. Blane Bellamy doesn’t sugarcoat the trauma, but he also doesn’t let it define Asher. Instead, he gives him hope, love, and a found family that wraps around him like a warm blanket.
Theo’s family is one of the absolute highlights of this book. They’re hilarious, chaotic, and fiercely loving. From the mum who stress-cooks for everyone to the dad who casually suggests getting the boys a motel to hook up in, every moment with them is gold. The sisters are just as iconic—supportive, sassy, and full of heart. In contrast to Asher’s toxic upbringing, Theo’s family offers a glimpse of what unconditional love looks like.
When Theo and Asher finally get together, it’s not smooth sailing—but it’s real. And for the first time, Asher isn’t facing life alone. He has Theo, Theo’s family, and a group of friends who let him be his true self. The emotional payoff is immense.
Blane’s writing is phenomenal. His storytelling is fluid and immersive, with just the right balance of angst, humor, and swoony spice. The dialogue feels authentic, the pacing is tight, and the emotional beats hit hard. You can feel the lived experience behind Asher’s struggles—it’s written with empathy and depth.
Despite the heavy themes—abuse, homophobia, trauma—the humor woven throughout makes this book incredibly readable. And the HEA? Worth every ounce of pain and tension. It’s the kind of ending that leaves you grinning like a fool and hugging the book to your chest.
Content warnings: This book deals with themes of abuse and homophobia. Please check the trigger warnings if needed.
Vibes:
-Best friends to lovers
-Secret pining
-College romance
-Ice hockey
-Hurt/comfort
-Found family
-One bed
-Bi awakening
-Supportive side characters
-“Who did this to you?”
-Broken boy
-Cinnamon roll himbo
Rating: 5 ⭐️
Spice: 2.5 🌶
This story follows Asher, a scholarship kid navigating the elite world of college ice hockey while hiding a painful truth: he’s gay, and almost no one knows. His home life is heartbreaking—his mother is emotionally abusive and allows her boyfriends to physically harm him under the guise of “toughening him up.” Hockey is his escape, but even there, he’s surrounded by privilege and pressure.
Theo, Asher’s best friend since they were sixteen, is the golden boy—charismatic, girl-crazy, and always ready with a joke. But beneath the surface, there’s a quiet intensity to his bond with Asher. Asher has been secretly in love with Theo for years, and when Theo’s protectiveness starts to blur into something deeper, the tension between them becomes electric.
Their dynamic is messy, emotional, and so real. Theo’s possessiveness starts out as friendly loyalty but slowly morphs into something more intimate. Watching them navigate this shift—especially with Asher’s fear of rejection and Theo’s confusion over his own feelings—is both heart-wrenching and deeply satisfying.
Asher’s story hurts. His life is a raw, unfiltered look at what it means to be a young queer man without a safe home. You ache for him, wish things could be easier, and root for him every step of the way. Blane Bellamy doesn’t sugarcoat the trauma, but he also doesn’t let it define Asher. Instead, he gives him hope, love, and a found family that wraps around him like a warm blanket.
Theo’s family is one of the absolute highlights of this book. They’re hilarious, chaotic, and fiercely loving. From the mum who stress-cooks for everyone to the dad who casually suggests getting the boys a motel to hook up in, every moment with them is gold. The sisters are just as iconic—supportive, sassy, and full of heart. In contrast to Asher’s toxic upbringing, Theo’s family offers a glimpse of what unconditional love looks like.
When Theo and Asher finally get together, it’s not smooth sailing—but it’s real. And for the first time, Asher isn’t facing life alone. He has Theo, Theo’s family, and a group of friends who let him be his true self. The emotional payoff is immense.
Blane’s writing is phenomenal. His storytelling is fluid and immersive, with just the right balance of angst, humor, and swoony spice. The dialogue feels authentic, the pacing is tight, and the emotional beats hit hard. You can feel the lived experience behind Asher’s struggles—it’s written with empathy and depth.
Despite the heavy themes—abuse, homophobia, trauma—the humor woven throughout makes this book incredibly readable. And the HEA? Worth every ounce of pain and tension. It’s the kind of ending that leaves you grinning like a fool and hugging the book to your chest.
Content warnings: This book deals with themes of abuse and homophobia. Please check the trigger warnings if needed.
Vibes:
-Best friends to lovers
-Secret pining
-College romance
-Ice hockey
-Hurt/comfort
-Found family
-One bed
-Bi awakening
-Supportive side characters
-“Who did this to you?”
-Broken boy
-Cinnamon roll himbo
Rating: 5 ⭐️
Spice: 2.5 🌶
September 17, 2025
I don’t even know where to start. I LOVED this book!! Asher & Theo may be my new fave hockey couple! I was sucked in from the beginning!! It has heart, angst, chemistry, humor, SPICE, NO third act breakup — everything that you want in a book! I laughed, I cried, I swooned!!! I love how Blane is able to take serious issues and write them so well and make them relatable. You feel for and with the characters and gives the book that extra it factor you hope to find when picking up a new book. Cody & Rafael (Step in the Zone) make some appearances too which was an added bonus. And the new side characters were amazing, especially Quincy and the twins!! Already looking forward to the next one!!
October 12, 2025
This book was so cute! I love Asher and Theo 💜
The yearning and love was amazing! Asher’s message to his mom at the end was HILARIOUS and perfect.
The yearning and love was amazing! Asher’s message to his mom at the end was HILARIOUS and perfect.
February 19, 2026
Where do I start?? This book had it all! So funny, so heart warming , and heartbreaking. The strength and perseverance Asher had was glorious. And Theo was amazing. To go from playboy straight jock to smitten gay boyfriend was marvelous. Theo loved Asher, as a friend of course, but also as the love of his life, just took him awhile for his eyes to open, and when they did, THEY WERE ALL THE WAY OPEN.
Theo was hilarious:
I made my way to the shower, leaving Asher at his locker. “Alright! Hazing time, you rookies. Who’s sucking my dick first?”
And boy did I cry and fall so hard in love with Theo when he finally realized Asher was being abused.
"Who hurt you?" to "Someone's hurting Asher" to him barging into Ashers apartment & beating the absolute shit out of the moms bf for hurting Asher.
Poor Asher carrying all that alone was devastating:
Scratch that. Most people didn’t want to notice. I learned early on that people don’t want to know the dirty details of what happens behind closed doors. Because knowing means having the choice to act upon it, and nothing terrified people more than that. Better to just live in blissful ignorance. If it was really so bad, he’d ask for help, right?
And Theos family are God Tier:
When I finally finished, I looked up and my stomach dropped at the looks on my mom and sisters’ faces. There was a moment of silence that Reggie finally broke.
“You mean to tell us that her boyfriends were roughing up her son, and that fucking bitch did nothing?”
Mom tapped Reggie’s arm in a scolding manner. “Regina, language.”
Then, she turned to me and asked, “You mean to tell us that her boyfriends were roughing up her son, and that stupid bitch did nothing?”
Roxy started pacing around the living room. “If I see that whore walking around town, I’m going to bust her fucking face in like that bastard did to Asher’s.”
“Do you know the guy’s name?” my dad asked as he cracked his knuckles. “The one who touched Asher?”
Jesus Christ, my whole family was ready for those two fuckers to sleep with the fishes.
It all felt right. He belonged with my family and me—not in that hellhole with a bunch of assholes who were too stupid to see how fucking special he was.
Theo was down bad for Asher!
And when he started to acknowledge his feelings, he was juat so cute and funny:
Agitated? Yeah, I was fucking agitated! My best friend was upstairs naked, and all I could think about was shoving my tongue in his ass. I am very agitated! “
And how Theo was so scared of how Asher felt about him, if he was even gay made me giggle:
Why couldn’t I just be a man and talk to him? We were still best friends. I should talk to him like I always did, but everything seemed different. It was easy to talk to Asher when he was my best friend, but now he was…something else. How would the old Theo even broach the conversation? “Hey, bro! No homo, but I’d love it if you sat on my face."
How Theo loved him 💙
“You are anything but average. I don’t want to hear you say things like that about yourself. You’re truly amazing in every way possible. You’re a gift, Asher.”
"I should probably pump the brakes before I run out and grab an industrial-sized bottle of lube so I could plow that sweet little ass of his. “
Theo was endlessly entertaining.
When Theo tells his family, hilarity ensued
I love his sisters Reggie and Roxy, they are fantastic and so funny.
Theo’s dad lifted his hands to calm down the family. “Alright, alright, let’s all stop grilling the boy.” Anthony looked at Theo and said, “You have to understand, you are kind of the last person we’d ever expect to be saying this. I really thought Reggie was going to be the gay one.” “What?” Reggie screamed.
And when Cody and Rafael came out to Theos family as well, pure gold:
“THIS IS FUCKING AMAZING!” Roxy yelled. “Was everyone on the Vipers gay?”
“What the hell was Hughes making you do at practice? Naked leap frog?” Reggie added.
These 2 sisters are fucking glorious
Reggie crept into the kitchen with a smirk on her face. “You two are the gift that keeps on giving.”
“Reggie, shut your trap!” Mom turned back to Dad and continued her rant. “You’re not giving them money so they can have sex in a motel!”
“What? That’s better than public indecency, isn’t it?”
“Can I have money for motel sex?” Reggie quipped. Mom threw her hands in the air and screamed, “Nobody is getting money for sex!”
Theos family is THE BEST.
I lunged back and away from Asher, wiping my mouth as my body landed on the opposite side of the couch. Asher quickly sat up and folded his arms over his chest.
Reggie stood at the doorway of the kitchen with a deadpan stare. “Dudes. Are you fucking for real?"
Those 2 couldn't keep their hands off of eachother.
Loved to get more of Cody & Rafael:
“We’re coming to get you in two hours. I need to fuck Cody first, or I’ll never make it the whole drive upstate.”
“Jesus, you’re an animal!” Cody replied, and Rafael literally growled in response.
Theo was hilarious:
I made my way to the shower, leaving Asher at his locker. “Alright! Hazing time, you rookies. Who’s sucking my dick first?”
And boy did I cry and fall so hard in love with Theo when he finally realized Asher was being abused.
"Who hurt you?" to "Someone's hurting Asher" to him barging into Ashers apartment & beating the absolute shit out of the moms bf for hurting Asher.
Poor Asher carrying all that alone was devastating:
Scratch that. Most people didn’t want to notice. I learned early on that people don’t want to know the dirty details of what happens behind closed doors. Because knowing means having the choice to act upon it, and nothing terrified people more than that. Better to just live in blissful ignorance. If it was really so bad, he’d ask for help, right?
And Theos family are God Tier:
When I finally finished, I looked up and my stomach dropped at the looks on my mom and sisters’ faces. There was a moment of silence that Reggie finally broke.
“You mean to tell us that her boyfriends were roughing up her son, and that fucking bitch did nothing?”
Mom tapped Reggie’s arm in a scolding manner. “Regina, language.”
Then, she turned to me and asked, “You mean to tell us that her boyfriends were roughing up her son, and that stupid bitch did nothing?”
Roxy started pacing around the living room. “If I see that whore walking around town, I’m going to bust her fucking face in like that bastard did to Asher’s.”
“Do you know the guy’s name?” my dad asked as he cracked his knuckles. “The one who touched Asher?”
Jesus Christ, my whole family was ready for those two fuckers to sleep with the fishes.
It all felt right. He belonged with my family and me—not in that hellhole with a bunch of assholes who were too stupid to see how fucking special he was.
Theo was down bad for Asher!
And when he started to acknowledge his feelings, he was juat so cute and funny:
Agitated? Yeah, I was fucking agitated! My best friend was upstairs naked, and all I could think about was shoving my tongue in his ass. I am very agitated! “
And how Theo was so scared of how Asher felt about him, if he was even gay made me giggle:
Why couldn’t I just be a man and talk to him? We were still best friends. I should talk to him like I always did, but everything seemed different. It was easy to talk to Asher when he was my best friend, but now he was…something else. How would the old Theo even broach the conversation? “Hey, bro! No homo, but I’d love it if you sat on my face."
How Theo loved him 💙
“You are anything but average. I don’t want to hear you say things like that about yourself. You’re truly amazing in every way possible. You’re a gift, Asher.”
"I should probably pump the brakes before I run out and grab an industrial-sized bottle of lube so I could plow that sweet little ass of his. “
Theo was endlessly entertaining.
When Theo tells his family, hilarity ensued
I love his sisters Reggie and Roxy, they are fantastic and so funny.
Theo’s dad lifted his hands to calm down the family. “Alright, alright, let’s all stop grilling the boy.” Anthony looked at Theo and said, “You have to understand, you are kind of the last person we’d ever expect to be saying this. I really thought Reggie was going to be the gay one.” “What?” Reggie screamed.
And when Cody and Rafael came out to Theos family as well, pure gold:
“THIS IS FUCKING AMAZING!” Roxy yelled. “Was everyone on the Vipers gay?”
“What the hell was Hughes making you do at practice? Naked leap frog?” Reggie added.
These 2 sisters are fucking glorious
Reggie crept into the kitchen with a smirk on her face. “You two are the gift that keeps on giving.”
“Reggie, shut your trap!” Mom turned back to Dad and continued her rant. “You’re not giving them money so they can have sex in a motel!”
“What? That’s better than public indecency, isn’t it?”
“Can I have money for motel sex?” Reggie quipped. Mom threw her hands in the air and screamed, “Nobody is getting money for sex!”
Theos family is THE BEST.
I lunged back and away from Asher, wiping my mouth as my body landed on the opposite side of the couch. Asher quickly sat up and folded his arms over his chest.
Reggie stood at the doorway of the kitchen with a deadpan stare. “Dudes. Are you fucking for real?"
Those 2 couldn't keep their hands off of eachother.
Loved to get more of Cody & Rafael:
“We’re coming to get you in two hours. I need to fuck Cody first, or I’ll never make it the whole drive upstate.”
“Jesus, you’re an animal!” Cody replied, and Rafael literally growled in response.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 4, 2025
An embracing engaging read. Best friends to lovers involving their history, pining, foolish drunk shenanigans, more foolish drunk (I think I forgot something important) hangovers. More "he's my best friend and I'm in love with him" so, of course, I keep my entire freaking miserable life a secret from him🤔🙄🤨.
Then, he goes from giant oblivious jock to knight in shining armor and after attraction confuses him (for a long while) he's all in his feelings and becomes a star at gay sex🤨.
And then they decide to have sex in semi public place (as you do-not) and pictures of them circulate and they become a viral disgrace.
And then they win everything.
And they lived happily ever after.
The end
This author is a reader. The thought process and formula set up of this book is the sum of so many books in this genre. That's not the problem (I loved the storyline) it's just that I could see the process from A to B, and as a reader, I shouldn't. I'm sure each book will be better. This author is a work in progress and I know I'm going to be a huge fan.
Then, he goes from giant oblivious jock to knight in shining armor and after attraction confuses him (for a long while) he's all in his feelings and becomes a star at gay sex🤨.
And then they decide to have sex in semi public place (as you do-not) and pictures of them circulate and they become a viral disgrace.
And then they win everything.
And they lived happily ever after.
The end
This author is a reader. The thought process and formula set up of this book is the sum of so many books in this genre. That's not the problem (I loved the storyline) it's just that I could see the process from A to B, and as a reader, I shouldn't. I'm sure each book will be better. This author is a work in progress and I know I'm going to be a huge fan.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 27, 2025
Thank you to the author and publisher for this ARC. This was a great follow up to book one in the series. I like that they were in college and a bit older than the last book. The spice was definitely spicing in this! 🥵. I loved the way Theo just loved Asher. ashes need that unconditional love and Theo gave it to him. This was a great friends to lovers, found family. I liked there was no third act break up but there was still hurdles that this couple had to over come. I’m curious, Mason and Quincy?! This was fun and I look forward to what next in this series.
October 2, 2025
Okay I LOVED step in the zone and was so excited for this book because I loved Asher and I thought the quiet serious one and the giant cinnamon roll was gonna be so good and I was let down this entire book was just one giant icky cringe fest. Don’t get me wrong it had a good plot and they were good together but some of the banter was just so cringy and icky like calling Theo stud all the time, and at one point they called his appendage a “thick piece of meat” I really wanted to love this book but when I finished I had to ask myself WTF did I just read?!?!?! Honestly my favorite part about this book was probably Asher’s inner monologue he came off as the quiet serious one in the first book so getting to see his inner sassy queen was great😂
October 3, 2025
This is the second book in Heart of a Viper series. I liked the first one, I LOVED this one.
Asher must be protected at all costs but something tells me Theo has it covered.
Asher’s story is heartbreaking. Having to find who he is and what is happening to him for years is an injustice that no one deserves. Watching him come into himself was beautiful.
Theo… of Theo, you clueless loveable boy. When he finally realizes his feeling he is IMMEDIATELY all in and loves every second of it.
What those two had to face, is all to common in today’s world. Having their choice taken from them was unfair but how they spin it… PERFECTION. It may not seem it at time but there is far more love in this world then hate. Hate is loud, but love, love is everywhere and the way those boys were surrounded in it drove the hate out.
I don’t want to give too much away with this one but can we just a moment for Asher in that epilogue, his final words to him mother had me smiling ear to ear!
Put this book on your TBR you will not regret it!
Asher must be protected at all costs but something tells me Theo has it covered.
Asher’s story is heartbreaking. Having to find who he is and what is happening to him for years is an injustice that no one deserves. Watching him come into himself was beautiful.
Theo… of Theo, you clueless loveable boy. When he finally realizes his feeling he is IMMEDIATELY all in and loves every second of it.
What those two had to face, is all to common in today’s world. Having their choice taken from them was unfair but how they spin it… PERFECTION. It may not seem it at time but there is far more love in this world then hate. Hate is loud, but love, love is everywhere and the way those boys were surrounded in it drove the hate out.
I don’t want to give too much away with this one but can we just a moment for Asher in that epilogue, his final words to him mother had me smiling ear to ear!
Put this book on your TBR you will not regret it!
September 30, 2025
What a feat of a book.
I loved the structure of this book. Starting with the flashbacks, it established the Asher/Theo friendship and why it was so important to Asher.
The re-establishing timelines from Step in the Zone from Asher/Theo’s perspective was fantastic. Asher is so perceptive, Cody/Rafael were fooling no one, lol. Loved that Ross, the catalyst for Rafael jealousy/start of relationship was Asher’s “I have something to tell you” from book 1. I appreciated that even though he was pining he was still getting some even though he was terrified.
My sweet baby Asher deserves the world. I fell in love in the first book when he in the periphery and the amount of depth and vigour that was instilled in him. He’s such a fully realized character.
Theo Moretti A MAN! A himbo who didn’t have a clue until he did and everything clicked and it was on. I love a reasonable real person “TOUCH HIM AND DIE” scenario.
When I did my ‘Step In The Zone’ reread I thought there was gonna be a Coach Hughes grooming storyline for Asher and I’m so happy I was wrong. Just normal child abuse/neglect, lol. Normally when there’s a bullying/abuse storyline there’s a moment when the perpetrator asks for forgiveness and it gets accepted and it’s forgiven so easily. I’m so happy Asher got his AND he got to be badass about it!
The Moretti family is one for the books. They were amazing. Reggie and Roxy the twins were so funny and sincere.
I loved all the side characters. Justice for Ross Giles! I need a third book where him and Quincy Forrester get a second chance romance.
‘Ross was a nice guy, but I knew we weren’t more than just a fling. He didn’t give me the ache that emerges when you love someone so much. It almost hurts when you’re not together. I didn’t melt into his embrace, wishing I could stay there forever.’
Abigail - what an amazing character. She was so badass and funny in such a short amount of time. She needs to be brought back.
“I’m not mean to people. I’m mean to men. Because I hate men. Well, I hate straight men, which is maybe why I have a thing for you.”
I loved how Cody and Rafael are still in a periphery of the story and helped out during the outing/revenge porn plotline. Aunt Sue’s cabin was such a great set piece. She needs to get a forever man in my fictitious third book.
This was honestly amazing and each set piece was fantastic. The tone and vibes were kinda different than the first book, but I loved it. The getting together took time but it was worth it establishing the friendship, learning about Asher’s home life and there was more hockey in this one!
I will be anxiously awaiting Blane Bellamy’s next book.
‘The two of us got scholarships to play with Callahan University‘s hockey team, the Bobcats. Cody and Rafael were also supposed to play for the bobcats, but Montier College swooped in at the last moment and offered each of them massive athletic scholarships.’
‘I went from living in a prison at home to living in a prison of secrecy.’
Theo “I need to tell my parents that you’re staying with us. I can be a vague as you’d like me to be. All I need to do is look them in the eye and tell them that you need to stay with us, and they’ll get it. Is that okay you?”
Theo: ‘I started thinking about stuff, which I absolutely fucking hated doing. Especially emotional shit. It was a total Boner kill. But since my dilemma involved, my Boner, I guess some deep thinking was necessary.’
I loved the structure of this book. Starting with the flashbacks, it established the Asher/Theo friendship and why it was so important to Asher.
The re-establishing timelines from Step in the Zone from Asher/Theo’s perspective was fantastic. Asher is so perceptive, Cody/Rafael were fooling no one, lol. Loved that Ross, the catalyst for Rafael jealousy/start of relationship was Asher’s “I have something to tell you” from book 1. I appreciated that even though he was pining he was still getting some even though he was terrified.
My sweet baby Asher deserves the world. I fell in love in the first book when he in the periphery and the amount of depth and vigour that was instilled in him. He’s such a fully realized character.
Theo Moretti A MAN! A himbo who didn’t have a clue until he did and everything clicked and it was on. I love a reasonable real person “TOUCH HIM AND DIE” scenario.
When I did my ‘Step In The Zone’ reread I thought there was gonna be a Coach Hughes grooming storyline for Asher and I’m so happy I was wrong. Just normal child abuse/neglect, lol. Normally when there’s a bullying/abuse storyline there’s a moment when the perpetrator asks for forgiveness and it gets accepted and it’s forgiven so easily. I’m so happy Asher got his AND he got to be badass about it!
The Moretti family is one for the books. They were amazing. Reggie and Roxy the twins were so funny and sincere.
I loved all the side characters. Justice for Ross Giles! I need a third book where him and Quincy Forrester get a second chance romance.
‘Ross was a nice guy, but I knew we weren’t more than just a fling. He didn’t give me the ache that emerges when you love someone so much. It almost hurts when you’re not together. I didn’t melt into his embrace, wishing I could stay there forever.’
Abigail - what an amazing character. She was so badass and funny in such a short amount of time. She needs to be brought back.
“I’m not mean to people. I’m mean to men. Because I hate men. Well, I hate straight men, which is maybe why I have a thing for you.”
I loved how Cody and Rafael are still in a periphery of the story and helped out during the outing/revenge porn plotline. Aunt Sue’s cabin was such a great set piece. She needs to get a forever man in my fictitious third book.
This was honestly amazing and each set piece was fantastic. The tone and vibes were kinda different than the first book, but I loved it. The getting together took time but it was worth it establishing the friendship, learning about Asher’s home life and there was more hockey in this one!
I will be anxiously awaiting Blane Bellamy’s next book.
‘The two of us got scholarships to play with Callahan University‘s hockey team, the Bobcats. Cody and Rafael were also supposed to play for the bobcats, but Montier College swooped in at the last moment and offered each of them massive athletic scholarships.’
‘I went from living in a prison at home to living in a prison of secrecy.’
Theo “I need to tell my parents that you’re staying with us. I can be a vague as you’d like me to be. All I need to do is look them in the eye and tell them that you need to stay with us, and they’ll get it. Is that okay you?”
Theo: ‘I started thinking about stuff, which I absolutely fucking hated doing. Especially emotional shit. It was a total Boner kill. But since my dilemma involved, my Boner, I guess some deep thinking was necessary.’
September 28, 2025
ARC REVIEW: OMG, I loved this book so much. I could not put it down. Asher is the best person, and for him to have the love from the love of his life is incredible. Theo is so sweet and kind and how he makes you laugh and cry. Oh man, make sure you have your tissues ready because some of the things Theo says to Asher will make you cry. Asher has a rough life until he finally lets Theo in all the way and finds out that Theo loves him back. Their story is my favorite so far this year. I highly recommend this book.
September 28, 2025
I had the privilege to ARC read this book and y'all... I told myself surely I wouldn't fall in love with Theo and Asher just as much as I did Cody and Rafael... Welp, I did... and I'm definitely not mad at it! I absolutely adore a hurt/comfort trope, throw in friends to lovers and found family and you're sure to have me panting for it. I absolutely adore Blane's voice throughout this book, I was laughing, giggling, screaming, and kicking my feet THE WHOLE TIME! These two guys are gonna live rent free in my head for a while, they are just so darn lovable!
5⭐ 3.5🌶️
5⭐ 3.5🌶️
October 1, 2025
Obsessed
Well Blane did a phenomenal job, yet again!
This book was so freakin good! We have Theo, our precious golden retriever and Asher, our broken boy.
Asher must be protected at all costs, seriously. That boy broke my heart but gosh, I was so grateful he had Theo and his family in his corner.
The chemistry, the emotions, the humor, the tension, the love… just chef’s kiss.
Blane balanced some really important topics in this book while also keeping things light and fun.
I really loved getting to see Cody and Raf again as well.
Well Blane did a phenomenal job, yet again!
This book was so freakin good! We have Theo, our precious golden retriever and Asher, our broken boy.
Asher must be protected at all costs, seriously. That boy broke my heart but gosh, I was so grateful he had Theo and his family in his corner.
The chemistry, the emotions, the humor, the tension, the love… just chef’s kiss.
Blane balanced some really important topics in this book while also keeping things light and fun.
I really loved getting to see Cody and Raf again as well.
October 15, 2025
🏒Nothing is going to stop me from loving you. Our love is stronger than their hate🏒
"You are anything but average. I don't want to hear you say things like that about yourself. You're truly amazing in every way possible. You're a gift, Asher."
"Because our rights were worth fighting for, love was worth fighting for, and Asher was the love of my life. I knew I'd fight for him until the day I died."
This was such an amazing book. I was really looking forward to reading this after I read Step Into The Zone. This book had me in my feels and emotions the whole time. I loved the timeline and flow of this story. Seeing the back story about how all these boys met before the Vipers was everything! Blane really knocked it out of the park with this one 😌. The hockey in this story was done perfectly. The hurt/comfort aspect was top notch!
This story follows Theo and Asher. You met them as friends in the first book. This book you see how they first met and how close they end up becoming. These two were precious. They end up going to college together to play hockey for the same team and room together. Asher has been in love with Theo since he met him. Theo is straight and oblivious to most things 🤣. Especially since he has a thing for women who looked exactly like Asher 😅. Theo was such a golden retriever himbo. God I loved that sweet cinnamon roll. Asher was more quiet, guarded, and hid everything about his life. My heart hurt for this poor, broken boy. He went through so much and alone. Theo eventually finds out what's been going on and swoops in and saves him.
The connection between these two was so pure and loving. I loved their banter and playful fighting and insults. Theo was so protective and affectionate with Asher. Asher was a sassy thing once he knew how Theo felt. I loved how comfortable Theo was in his new sexuality. He also made Asher feel safe and protected. The spice and sexy times were 🔥🔥🔥🔥. I loved how easy this relationship was once they finally communicated.
Theo's family needs a shout-out. That whole family was full of saints. The parents were hilarious and had me laughing 🤣🤣. I loved seeing more of Cody and Raphael. I love them!!! Quincy was such a nice guy too. Hearing them all talk about Ross was great 😂. Asher's response to his mother at the end had me cackling so loud 😂😂. I highly recommend this book and can't wait for more from this author 😍.
"You are anything but average. I don't want to hear you say things like that about yourself. You're truly amazing in every way possible. You're a gift, Asher."
"Because our rights were worth fighting for, love was worth fighting for, and Asher was the love of my life. I knew I'd fight for him until the day I died."
This was such an amazing book. I was really looking forward to reading this after I read Step Into The Zone. This book had me in my feels and emotions the whole time. I loved the timeline and flow of this story. Seeing the back story about how all these boys met before the Vipers was everything! Blane really knocked it out of the park with this one 😌. The hockey in this story was done perfectly. The hurt/comfort aspect was top notch!
This story follows Theo and Asher. You met them as friends in the first book. This book you see how they first met and how close they end up becoming. These two were precious. They end up going to college together to play hockey for the same team and room together. Asher has been in love with Theo since he met him. Theo is straight and oblivious to most things 🤣. Especially since he has a thing for women who looked exactly like Asher 😅. Theo was such a golden retriever himbo. God I loved that sweet cinnamon roll. Asher was more quiet, guarded, and hid everything about his life. My heart hurt for this poor, broken boy. He went through so much and alone. Theo eventually finds out what's been going on and swoops in and saves him.
The connection between these two was so pure and loving. I loved their banter and playful fighting and insults. Theo was so protective and affectionate with Asher. Asher was a sassy thing once he knew how Theo felt. I loved how comfortable Theo was in his new sexuality. He also made Asher feel safe and protected. The spice and sexy times were 🔥🔥🔥🔥. I loved how easy this relationship was once they finally communicated.
Theo's family needs a shout-out. That whole family was full of saints. The parents were hilarious and had me laughing 🤣🤣. I loved seeing more of Cody and Raphael. I love them!!! Quincy was such a nice guy too. Hearing them all talk about Ross was great 😂. Asher's response to his mother at the end had me cackling so loud 😂😂. I highly recommend this book and can't wait for more from this author 😍.
September 14, 2025
5.5/5 ⭐ 3/5 🌶️
I was not expecting to cry while reading this but that was 100% my fault for excitedly jumping right in & not reading the trigger warning section. Whoops! I still would have read it (& cried) but I would have had the heads up. So please learn from my mistakes & read the warnings.
This book was absolutely amazing. It had plot, heat, an original storyline, well developed characters & that undefinable wow factor that just makes some books stick out more than others.
Breaking the Ice is probably the only book I've ever read that got the intensity & dynamic of best friends to lovers exactly right. I won't go into more detail about how perfect it is because I don't want to give anything away. But take it from someone who took a chance on their best friend nine years ago when they admitted their romantic feelings for me, it is insanely realistic.
The heat in this book is top notch. It's hard to balance several, in-depth spicy scenes & still have enough time to develop a well written story. But you wouldn't know that by reading Blane Bellamy's books, he makes it seem effortless. Asher & Theo have undeniable chemistry that seeps out of the pages & into your soul. I know they are characters that are going to stick with me for a long time.
I'm sure it's obvious by my lengthy review but I highly recommend this to anyone who loves romance. But especially those who enjoy hockey romance with lots of game time, hurt/comfort & friends to lovers.
Features:
- Gay/Bi Couple
- Bi Awakening
- Best Friends To Lovers
- Abusive Home Life, Abuse of A Minor
- Homophobic Mom
- Who Did This To You?
- Hockey Players
- Only One Bed
- College Roommates
- Touch Him & Die
- Hurt/Comfort
- Very Light Feminization
- Protective, Possessive, Jealous Himbo
- Loud, Supportive Family
- Queer Friends & Teammates
- First Love
- Comfort Cake & Pasta
I was not expecting to cry while reading this but that was 100% my fault for excitedly jumping right in & not reading the trigger warning section. Whoops! I still would have read it (& cried) but I would have had the heads up. So please learn from my mistakes & read the warnings.
This book was absolutely amazing. It had plot, heat, an original storyline, well developed characters & that undefinable wow factor that just makes some books stick out more than others.
Breaking the Ice is probably the only book I've ever read that got the intensity & dynamic of best friends to lovers exactly right. I won't go into more detail about how perfect it is because I don't want to give anything away. But take it from someone who took a chance on their best friend nine years ago when they admitted their romantic feelings for me, it is insanely realistic.
The heat in this book is top notch. It's hard to balance several, in-depth spicy scenes & still have enough time to develop a well written story. But you wouldn't know that by reading Blane Bellamy's books, he makes it seem effortless. Asher & Theo have undeniable chemistry that seeps out of the pages & into your soul. I know they are characters that are going to stick with me for a long time.
I'm sure it's obvious by my lengthy review but I highly recommend this to anyone who loves romance. But especially those who enjoy hockey romance with lots of game time, hurt/comfort & friends to lovers.
Features:
- Gay/Bi Couple
- Bi Awakening
- Best Friends To Lovers
- Abusive Home Life, Abuse of A Minor
- Homophobic Mom
- Who Did This To You?
- Hockey Players
- Only One Bed
- College Roommates
- Touch Him & Die
- Hurt/Comfort
- Very Light Feminization
- Protective, Possessive, Jealous Himbo
- Loud, Supportive Family
- Queer Friends & Teammates
- First Love
- Comfort Cake & Pasta
Displaying 1 - 30 of 109 reviews