Melt the Ice

Tampa Bay Hawks #1

by Lindsey Saenz

When Scarlett returns to Little Bird Ranch after twelve years, she’s confronted by the boy she once loved, now a professional hockey player hiding his pain behind a larger-than-life personality.

Lucas never stopped searching for the girl who saved him, and now that she’s back, he’s not letting her go without a fight.

But the ranch holds more than memories. Old wounds resurface, and secrets neither of them expected threaten to tear them apart. Their past isn’t done with them, and this time, the stakes are higher than they ever imagined.

Melt the ice is a fade-to-black romantic suspense that contains language and is recommended for ages 18+
Tropes found in Melt the

Black cat x golden retriever
Childhood friends to lovers
Mental Health Rep
Romantic Suspense
Found Family

Genres: Sports Romance, Romance, Hockey, Fiction, Sports

340 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 13, 2026

Reviews

[cat]

I really wanted to love Melt the Ice because the premise, tropes, and ranch setting sounded right up my alley. Unfortunately, this ended up being more of a personal connection issue than a problem with the writing itself. 🫩🫩 I made it to about 37% before deciding to DNF. I struggled to connect with the characters (especially Scarlett) and even as she developed, I found it hard to fully invest in her story.

One thing that consistently pulled me out of the book was how often the characters used each other’s nicknames. I don’t mind nicknames in general, but they felt overly used here, and I noticed it quite a bit early on. I kept setting the book down and eventually realized I wasn’t feeling motivated to continue. 😬

There’s nothing inherently wrong with this book, and I think readers who enjoy childhood friends-to-lovers, found family, and fade-to-black may really enjoy it. It just wasn’t the right fit for me.

A huge thank you to Luna Literary and Lindsey Saenz for allowing me to read this arc. These are all my honest opinions in this review.

[Allison • Alli’s Fairy Tales · Rating 3 out of 5]

• Adjusted Rating: 2.75 stars!!!
• POV: 1st Person / Dual
• Book Spice: Level 0.5 - Fade to Black

• Content Thoughts:

This had a really strong overall plot and fantastic representation of mental health struggles and recovery, which was easily the best part of the book. Unfortunately, the execution didn’t fully work for me. The MMC’s occupation felt like an afterthought, and the story focused far more on the ranch and the families’ past than on his world, which made things feel unbalanced.

I started wanting to DNF around the 50% mark, and the pacing continued to drag toward the end. I was hoping for more depth in the romance and their past connection, but some of their interactions felt forced rather than natural. The secondary storyline was interesting, but a bit disjointed.

I appreciated what the book was trying to do, but the storytelling and romance didn’t quite land for me.

Thank you Luna Literary and Lindsey Saenz for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Sim-fully Ever After · Rating 3 out of 5]

3🌟, 1🌶️

This book had so many elements I usually love, which made it a tough one for me.

The story starts strong with high stakes around Scarlett’s family ranch, and the mental health representation and healing journey were the standout elements for me. Lucas, the soft-hearted hockey player and childhood best friend, was easy to root for, and I appreciated the grumpy FMC role reversal even when Scarlett was hard to connect with at times.

As the story went on, the pacing slowed and the balance felt a little off. I wanted more depth in the romance and more moments from their shared past, especially since their childhood bond is so important to the story. Some interactions felt forced, and Lucas’s hockey career stayed mostly in the background while the ranch and family history took over.

Still, there’s a lot here that works. The found family, emotional themes, touches of humor, and an unexpected twist added heart to the story, even when it didn’t fully click for me.

It didn’t completely win me over, but I’m still glad I gave it a chance.

~~~~

Thank you, Lindsey Saenz & Luna Literary, for the ARC! 😍 All my bookish thoughts are completely my own. ✨

[Madison · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF @ 75%

I just couldn’t do it. I’m sure if I finished it some of the questions I have would be answered, but I just simply don’t even care enough because it’s not going to make sense.

1. His depressed mother ignores her 7 year old FOR THE REST OF HER LIFE??? And she doesn’t get him taken from her??? Sorry, I just don’t buy that.

2. His depressed, now dead, mother is found with empty med bottles at or near her dead body… but because of a text from Scarlett’s dad, it is concluded that he killed her?? That makes no sense to me.

3. I simply cannot get on board with the guys and girls being platonic besties storyline. Ick. Lucas’s entire character trait is supposed to be attached to Scarlett, but his friend Abby gets married and he’s basically a wounded, jealous puppy?? No way would I be with a dude who acted that upset over a girl best friend getting quietly hitched.

4. The whole dad attempting to sabotage Scarlett part of the plot is SO secondary that it’s almost forgotten about and then randomly brought up again. Isn’t it supposed to be super serious???

Anyway… there was a lot I didn’t like. I don’t love Lucas and Scarlett as main characters. I don’t think the waiting 12 years thing is realistic at all. That’s a stupid long time. Also, it’s randomly brought up later that Lucas was going to be the one to buy the ranch. Well… let him!!! He can buy it. They can get married. The dad can frick right off. Ugh.

It’s a no from me, dawg.

[Amanda Hopwood · Rating 4 out of 5]

Um yes!!
Hockey
Small town
Second chance
And some suspense!!

Love the banter between the FMC and the Mmc along with all the banter in the friends group. It kept me wanting more with each chapter ! Definitely look forward to more from this series!

[Ashlee Linnemann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Melt the Ice by Lindsey Saenz! I was pulled in right away from the beginning with the suspense aspect! I loved that this wasn’t a typical second chance romance, that Lettie and Lucas were once childhood best friends and he was waiting for Lettie to come back no matter what! I enjoyed that you don’t typically get a grumpy FMC, but it took awhile for Lettie to come around, since she was dealing with a lot in her personal life, I feel it was very granted!

Thank you Luna Lit and Lindsey Saenz for the opportunity to read this ARC of Melt the Ice!

[Alexandrea Howard]

I loved this book! This book showed and discussed mental health, not in a negative way. The author depicted it in a way that was healing and comforting, which I appreciated.

The character development throughout the story was amazing! Scarlett had to find herself again. She had to let go of all the damage that her family had done and let go of the person she had turned into to survive. She eventually found herself, and the girl Lucas had always known was inside her. Lucas. My heart broke for Lucas so many times in this book. He was that character you couldn't help but love, and I just wanted to hug him! It was a breath of fresh air to have an MMC who showed and expressed his struggles with their mental health and just their struggles in life in general!

Lindsey did such a good job with this book. The plot was so good, and the mystery and conflicts in the background of this romance were equally compelling and added a lot to the story! This was also the first time in a while where I didn't see one of the plot twists coming! The one plot twist was so good and added a lot to the story and to character development at the end!

[Erin Ellison · Rating 4 out of 5]

This has a whirlwind of a start. Scarlett (our FMC) finds out a huge secret that someone close to her has been keeping from her and has only a few days to figure out how to save her ranch that she inherited that belonged to her nana. It took a bit for those walls of hers to crumble. 🥺

Lucas our MMC- professional hockey player, childhood best friends with Scarlett. They are reunited after years of her being gone and it's a rocky start! He has such a soft sweet heart. I was rooting for him immediately. 

I like the role reversal on this one. Our FMC is the grumpy one. Which honestly, she has every right to be given what she found out and the stress around it all. But LUCAS!! Oh my heart. It just shatters for him. He's been through so much. And he's Soo sweet. 😍 

I enjoyed the glimpses of the past. They were vital to the story line especially since our main characters were childhood best friends. I do wish there was more of the past that we got to see though. I definitely wanted more! Just to witness even more of their past connection.

This story is so real. Facing obstacles, coming together, mental health and thinking you're not good enough, heartbreak, healing journey, support from found family,  and suspense. You're consumed with heartache and hope simultaneously. 

The author did a great job at balancing heavy and lighter moments adding humor in the mix... Which was needed because this definitely gets emotionally heavy. The twist!! I didn't see it coming it at all .... Like at all. 

✔️Childhood friends to lovers
✔️Hockey meets small town
✔️Mental health rep
✔️Romantic suspense
✔️it's always been you
✔️Black cat x golden retriever 
✔️Closed door 
✔️Second chance

Thank you for my ARC! I'm leaving this review voluntarily.

[Brenda Yager · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Lindsey and Luna Literary Management for this ARC.

This series is seriously good. The character development and backstories pull you in. I found myself crying at several points in this book where I just didn’t think I could take Lucas’s pain any longer.

Scarlett deceived by her “family” found herself enveloped and cared for by her “found” family is perfection. Proving that family is who you choose.

Lindsey’s books describe mental illness, manipulation and family dynamics wonderfully. She weaves in therapy and the good it can do for any and everyone.

[Tamara Chubb · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC review -3.5 stars
The story had a good foundation and was really compelling, I just felt it was missing some key elements to push it up to 4 stars.
The twist at the end was really unexpected and I dont think anyone could see that coming.
It was really good to see the growth of the FMC but I felt more could be done with the MMC journey as things just seemed to continue and he couldn't function without Lettie.
In all it was a good quick read

[Sarah✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one definitely pulled me out of my reading slump!!

The suspense? *chef’s kiss*

But the romance was sooo good through the whole thing, I love Scarlett and Lucas! They are sooo perfect for each other and the friends around them are amazing!

I love how Lindsey approached mental health - soo much care and respect!

This one is perfect if you like a good romance with hints of sports, cowboy vibes and suspense🤠🕵️‍♂️🏒

[Peg · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was lured into this book under false pretences. While the premise had potential I think the execution wasn’t there to back it up - nothing was given much depth and it just felt all over the place.

[Karina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Warning...this is going to be a long review.

I gave this book a 3.75 rating on other "review sites" because I enjoyed the overall storyline and the plot. I rounded it down to a 3-star on Goodreads (because I can't do half points) for the sole reason of execution. I would round up to a 4-star rating for plot and concept, but ultimately, I think the execution needs work on streamlining and editing. And yes, I am a hypocrite because my review is long, wordy, and rambling, but I have a lot of thoughts. Bare with me if you want to.

I have been thinking about this review for a bit, and I am going to try to give my thoughts without giving any spoilers. I believe all reviews should be honest without being cruel. Constructive criticism is beneficial, and a reviewer's thoughts are intended to help other readers determine whether they should pick up a certain book or not, so please take my opinion in that spirit.

I reread The Other Side of Wild before starting my ARC copy of Melt the Ice because there were a lot of details about the Tampa Bay Hawks team players that I didn't remember. Luca stood out in my memory from the book Wild For The Knight as one of Abby's closest friends, but I couldn't remember much about him from before. While it would have been good to also re-read Wild for the Knight, I just didn't have time before diving into this book.

Is it necessary to read both of those books to be ready for Melt the Ice? No, but I strongly recommend it. There is a strong presence of found family in this book, and although it is part of a hockey romance series, the hockey aspect is relatively minimal. I wouldn't classify it as a sports romance or a hockey romance genre. Hockey is just Monroe's job and how he met his group of friends, but the game isn't their focus. That's not something I can say about The Other Side of Wild, for example. There, both characters revolved around sports and the notoriety that came from playing on a professional level on a sports team. What we did see in previous books is that Monroe is a happy, goofy guy who loves to be there for his friends. That is a far cry from who he is in Melt the Ice. Here we pull back so many layers and see that the "happy persona" he portrays is just his coping mechanism to the loneliness and feeling of abandonment he is hiding. Monroe is so many things, and I could have spent the entire book learning the different sides to him. I must confess that I became emotional about his character growth. Well, it's not really a growth. I got emotional seeing the behind-the-scenes of his life and all the pain that he has to live with. Grab your tissues because you will shed a tear.

Scarlett...I didn't connect with her. I'll be honest. I didn't like her character. When we first met her, I was convinced that I would love Lettie. I could see that she was a caring character who had been manipulated and lied to by her family, who didn't treat her like a real human or their child. She arrived in Tampa cold and hardened by the life her parents molded her into, but emotionally, she was just all over the place. One minute she was fine, and then she would harden and get defensive and snippy, and, truthfully, she was a bit of a bi+ch. Her mood swings were all over the place, and she would go hot and cold instantly. I'm not sure if that is how her character is supposed to be or if the emotions didn't translate well during the book's writing and editing process. It was like this for the first 50% of the book, more or less. She finally calmed down once she allowed herself to fall and trust Lucas, as well as get close to his friends, but by then, I had just stopped connecting with her character. Yes, she got bette,r but she was just eehhh for me.

The love story. People, it's a fade to black; however, Wild For The Knight was also fade to black, but I feel that Lindsey pushed her boundaries in writing a bit more with this one. I personally am not complaining. I love smut, and I tend to reach for books with a low spice rating (or no spice rating) less and less. For me, the spicier, the better. With that said, I appreciate that Lindsey is increasingly portraying the physical relationship between her couples in her books. While the "love" relationship in The Other Side of Wild is perfectly appropriate for my 11-year-old daughter, I would probably wait until she is a bit older for Wild For The Knight, and maybe a year or two later, I would recommend Melt the Ice. Please note that this is only for the "love" part. Regarding the mental health aspect and the mystery element, I would recommend different age ranges for these books. There are trigger warnings for these books because they cover other heavy topics that could be disturbing for some people. These topics are what would take Melt the Ice out of the Romance genre for me. Or, at the very least, combine it with other genres.

Melt the Ice has a conflict as part of the plot. I can't go into too much detail, or I will ruin the story, but let's say there is a thriller/suspense aspect to this book. If you read Wild For The Knight, you know that the book also had a bit of a darker suspense aspect with a stalker and some violence. Lucas and Scarlett find themselves in a similar situation. There is a dark secret from their past that is threatening their present lives. This secret poses a threat to their lives, and they must resolve this mystery.

There are many things I could say... let's try to do this without spoilers.

1. I love that Lindsey is throwing in some real suspense. It makes me want to continue reading the story even though I originally picked it up because it was a romance. For me, this is not a romance. This is a mystery that incorporates some tropes commonly associated with romance.

2. It is difficult to set up a good thriller. While the overall concept and plot are good, I will say that I found some aspects of the writing needed fine-tuning. We were left with plot holes in the story. Well, maybe not plotholes. They were told, but at the very end, with a summary to wrap the book up with closure. I would have appreciated clearer details throughout the book, rather than some vague comments. It would have allowed me to play detective and start resolving some of the book's mysteries along the way, or to formulate some hypotheses. We were given breadcrumbs of clues throughout the book, but the way they were laid out was confusing and didn't always flow with the rest of the scene where they were incorporated. I was left with a lot of questions in the end, and truthfully, I'm not sure if they were answered or if I just missed them.

3. I can clearly see who the next two books are going to be about (or at least two MMC that will exist in the series), and I am almost positive that I know who the FMC for each of those is going to be. One of the potential couples was clearly introduced as an Easter Egg early on in Melt the Ice, and we didn't touch on it again; however, I assume that in the next book, they will each be stronger secondary characters, and we will get their story in the third book. The limited backstory or teasers we received about these two characters are pretty straightforward, so I have no complaints.
I'm stumped about the two characters that I think will be our book two couple. We got some backstory of the MMC and a love that he lost, but the Easter Egg that was included was confusing and almost like a throwaway paragraph.

Okay, I'll end there.

Thank you to Lindsey and team for the ARC of this book.

[Julie Mithun · Rating 5 out of 5]

Scarlett returns to Little Bird Ranch after twelve years and reunites with Lucas, now a hockey star still haunted by their past. But the ranch holds secrets that could break them all over again.

I loved the backstory and character development of both Lucas and Scarlett. It's not your typical happy go lucky romance, it has harsh realities built in that people deal with and Lindsey beautifully writes about these. Looking forward to book 2!!

[Karly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a sweet romance novel about childhood best friends finding and fixing each other. While there were multiple things I liked about this book, there were equally some things that didn’t quite hit the mark for me - hence rating.

What I liked is usually with romance books it’s the MMC that’s the broody, angsty character and it’s the FMC that you root for as she melts his cold heart. But this was the other way round. The FMC was the ice queen and pushed him away and was a bit of a bitch to everyone for no reason sometimes… the MMC was the one who had to win her back over and make her realise who she used to be. I also liked that the MMC was the one with the developing storyline and character development - that’s something you don’t always see in romance novels. It’s usually the FMC that’s the focus. Also very good plot twist with Miller… wasn’t expecting that!

Some of the reasons for my lower rating were:
* there was absolutely no spice (not that a book needs spice to be good!). I just felt a bit gas lighted when some of the scenes between the two characters started quite heated and then it was like ok next day. It made it seem a bit of an abrupt and out of character cut off.
* some of the storyline development wasn’t there. From like the second chapter you are introduced to the MMC and the fact he is her childhood friend but you don’t get to see a lot of their childhood connections - it’s mostly their development in their adult life. There are the occasional flashbacks, but they don’t add a lot of depth. I would have liked to see more articulation/development of their connection in their childhood and more focus on why they separated and ended up at odds with one another in their adult life.
* it’s a hockey romance, with very little hockey. Now I know that’s a common theme with some hockey romances out there, but I personally enjoy reading about the sport and the influence of that on their lives as well as the romance. Especially if they are a professional sports person as their sport pretty much dominates their lives if this is the case. There was very little reference to his hockey other than a few skating lessons and her watching a game. We got mentions/introductions to his teammates, but not much else about the hockey connection. If he was really in the NHL, much of his life would resolve around the hockey season. Yet for majority of the book he was at the ranch.

While I did enjoy this sweet romance, it did miss the mark for me personally in a couple areas.

I received a ARC copy of this book.

[Debbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Luna Literary for the digital ARC and a chance to review this book before it was released.

Scarlett loved going to the ranch, it was the one place she felt she could be herself as a kid. Her family wanted perfection from their eldest daughter and would not accept anything less. But while she was at her Nana's, Little Bird Ranch, she could be her true self. It was there she met Lucas and they became fast childhood friends, completely inseparable those three months every summer she visited. Until at the end of one summer her parents decided she needed to grow up and behave the way they wanted her to, and Lucas was left on the ranch alone. Lucas lost a lot in his life, at a young age his father passed away, and his mother withdrew herself in her grief offering no emotion and care to him. When Scarlett left that one summer and never came back it was just another blow and loss for Lucas to overcome. Even though Lucas is now a hockey player, he still lives on and takes care of the ranch. When Scarlett shows up one day, twelve years later, claiming the ranch as her own, the world as they both know it is about to change. While trying to mend the rift the years made in their friendship, Scarlett and Lucas also must face outside forces that aren't happy to see them back together or at the ranch. Will they be able to settle down and dig in their roots, or will unknowns from both their pasts come back to send it all crashing down?

Overall, this book had a good plot but there were some things that made it a three-star read for me. The first is that the pacing felt off, some parts of the story were dragged out, while others were rushed and that was unfortunate because a lot of the rushed parts fed to the plotline. It just made it feel like everything was a little disjointed and all over the place. I also did not like the character growth, or lack of, for Scarlett. There was a lot of potential in her character, but she would always revert back to being cold a distant at the tiniest drop of the hat. I did enjoy Lucas' character growth though; his character displayed a lot of intense emotion and openness that is refreshing to read for a male character. While some parts did grab my attention there were still many parts where I wanted to just set the book down due to frustration of the characters. I would recommend it still though as a quick read with a romantic suspense element.

[Kourt · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book as an ARC.

This isn’t a bad book at all. Melt the Ice tells a sweet, gentle story about two childhood loves finding their way back to each other. From the very beginning, Lucas is all-in, which was refreshing—he isn’t brooding or emotionally closed off, and his devotion to Lettie is clear. In contrast, Lettie (Scarlett) is the one holding up walls. Their dynamic is familiar but comforting.

Rather than relying on present-day chemistry, the story weaves in scenes from their shared past, almost like vivid memories resurfacing mid-moment. I actually enjoyed this approach. Lucas, in particular, stood out. His perspective was easy to connect with, and his complicated relationship with his parents added depth. His love for Lettie comes through in every interaction, making him easy to root for. Lettie, while not unlikeable, was harder for me to fully connect with.

That said, I struggled more than I expected. This was not a sports romance by any means despite the cover and title. My initial instinct was closer to a 2.5-star read, but objectively, everything works on paper: solid history, believable characters, moments of humor, and a well-paced story. And yet, something was missing. I wanted more tension—more banter, more longing, more of a chase between Lucas and Lettie. The emotional pull just never fully landed for me, and I found it hard to stay invested despite appreciating the writing and the story itself.

This was also a book I didn’t think about when I wasn’t actively reading it. I agree with some other reviewers’ concerns and hangups, even though I can’t point to one specific flaw. I truly wanted to love this one, and I don’t have anything bad to say about it—it just wasn’t for me.

That said, if you enjoy ranch-based romances, childhood sweethearts, and closed-door love stories that are soft, nostalgic, and memory-driven, this is absolutely worth trying. It isn’t graphic, overly angsty, or driven by high-stakes tension. Instead, it’s a gentle, sweet story rooted in the past—and for the right reader, that will be exactly what they’re looking for.

[ReviewsByNic · Rating 4 out of 5]

Melt the Ice by Lindsey Saenz
4 out of 5 stars
ARC

Thank you Luna Literary and Lindsey for an early copy of Melt the Ice! All parts of this review are of my honest opinion 💚

I still cannot get over the twist in this book! Like what?!?! I have to give Lucas so much credit for his reaction because I think I would have had a mental breakdown after everything that happened in his life. I would not have been that strong 😅

Can I also say that I was so stressed reading this? I genuinely was on edge thinking something else would happen and would gas myself up 😂 It really helped add more to the story when we never knew when to expect it. That's how you know there were some great thoughts when writing this book 💕 And even though I was on edge, there were so many other scenes that were heavy and light with deep emotions and humor. This perfect balance allows you as a reader to become emotionally damaged to a certain point while also feeling little butterflies.

I highly recommend this read if you're looking for a deeper read. One that isn't too emotionally damaging while still hitting you where it hurts 💘 but don’t worry, you'll love the happy ending ❤️

"If he wants a puppet, I’ll show him what it’s like when I pull the strings.”

Blurb:
When Scarlett returns to Little Bird Ranch after twelve years, she’s confronted by the boy she once loved, now a professional hockey player hiding his pain behind a larger-than-life personality.

Lucas never stopped searching for the girl who saved him, and now that she’s back, he’s not letting her go without a fight.

But the ranch holds more than memories. Old wounds resurface, and secrets neither of them expected threaten to tear them apart. Their past isn’t done with them, and this time, the stakes are higher than they ever imagined.

*Melt the ice is a fade-to-black romantic suspense that contains language and is recommended for ages 18+

What you will find inside this book:
💚 Romantic Suspense
🐈‍⬛ Black Cat x Golden Retriever
🏒 Hockey Romance
🧠 Mental Health Rep
👫 Childhood Friends to Lovers
🧡 Found Family
🖤 Fade to Black

[Maggie · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC REVIEW
Melt the Ice by Lindsey Saenz
⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3/5)

When Scarlett returns to her late grandmother’s ranch after twelve years away, she immediately collides with Lucas—the childhood best friend turned first love she left behind.

Now a professional hockey player, Lucas never stopped waiting for “Lettie” to come home. And now that she’s back, he’s done letting her slip through his fingers.

When the ranch becomes the target of an unknown threat, Scarlett and Lucas are forced to work together to protect the place that holds both their past and their future.

I went in expecting a standard hockey romance (which felt fair given the title and cover), so I was surprised by how little hockey actually factors into the story. This reads much more like romantic suspense—or even cowboy romance—than sports romance. That said, once I adjusted my expectations, I ended up enjoying the story for what it was.

Lucas absolutely broke my heart. A childhood shaped by tragedy left him with deep insecurities and low self-worth, and watching him spiral under the weight of unresolved grief was genuinely devastating. I loved how his teammates stepped up as his found family, determined to care for him the way he’s always cared for them.

And Scarlett? I was raging on her behalf. From the prologue alone, her father is a full mustache-twirling villain. A lesser woman would have crumbled, but Scarlett dug in her heels to protect her ranch—and later, her man. I especially loved how Lucas’s found family embraced her once they saw she truly had his best interests at heart.

While this is the first book in the Tampa Bay Hawks series, the Wilder Brothers (from Saenz’s other series) feature heavily, and reading those books first would add helpful context.

Thank you to Luna Literary for the ARC!

For fans of: 🚨 Romantic Suspense | 🖤 Black Cat x Golden Retriever | 🫶 Childhood Friends to Lovers | 🧠 Mental Health Rep | 🫶 Found Family | 💔 Grief | 😭 High Angst | 🌫️ Fade-to-Black Romance

#Bookstagram #ARCReview #RomanceBooks #RomanceReader #RomanticSuspense #HockeyRomance #FoundFamily #HighAngstReads #MeltTheIce #TampaBayHawks

[Lindsey Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️️⭐️/ ️🌶️🌶️

The first book in The Tampa Bay Hawks series, Lindsey Saenz has set up this series with so much potential. Melt the Ice, along with the cover, screams hockey romance, but as you dive in it becomes evident the title holds multiple meanings. Both our MCs are dealing with hurt that they have somewhat let define who they are. You feel for them, but also know both very much need therapy. But that’s what we love about reading! The belief that within one book, the world can be made right and hearts can be healed.

If you are familiar with Lindsey’s books, you may recognize Lucas from another series. Reading this series isn’t needed to enjoy his book. We get to see so much about why Lucas is the way he is. The hurt he has experienced, the way he has changed. Earlier series show him happy, go lucky; while this story shows that is a coping mechanism that allows him to hide. Lindsey does an amazing job writing a complex character, full of layers, that you find yourself invested in their character growth and wanting to see them happy.

Scarlett has also gone through a lot with her family and it has molded her with jagged edges. She was somewhat all over the place at times. However, the more Lindsey dives into her character, the more I could understand the quick mood changes and her inability to really deal with certain situations. She has guarded her heart for so long, she isn’t even sure how to bring those walls down. As Lucas begins to open his heart to her, she begins to finally let the ice melt around it and let someone else in.

A love story at the heart, Lindsey took some very painful and real topics and wrote them with care and grace. She challenges herself to push the boundaries of her writing with every book and it is evident in this story. Lucas and Scarlett will pull you in and keep you intrigued as you move through their story. Wonderful job, Lindsey!

As always, review any author notes before reading.

What to Expect:
🏒Black Cat FMC
💙Golden Retriever MMC
🏒Childhood Friends to Lovers
💙Hockey Romance
🏒Small Town Romance
💙Found Family
🏒It’s Always Been You
💙Fade to Black Romance

[scottiethegpreads · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall, this is an entertaining read. It has decent writing and an interesting/ creative plot. The suspense was nicely done. I absolutely fell in love with the MMC Lucas.- this is 100% his book. Everyone else is a side character. I would recommend this book with caution (see below).

What you will find inside this book:
-Romantic Suspense
-Black Cat (FMC) x Golden Retriever (MMC)
-Hockey Romance (more of a ranch romance)
-Mental Health Rep (strong)
-Childhood Friends to Lovers
-Found Family
-Fade to Black
-multiple POV first person
-350 pages
-trigger warnings (Grief • Death of a parent • Manipulation by a parent • Mention of Suicide & suicidal ideation)

Rating:
⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️ (fade to black)

Overview:
Scarlet/Lettie comes back to her grandma‘s ranch after 12 years of being gone. She runs into her old friend, Lucas, with whom she rebuilds her relationship with, makes new friends, uncovers shady stuff and finds out her dad‘s a POS (above and beyond what she already thought). Lukas is a pro hockey player, but also works/lives on the ranch. There is no spice in this book: fade to Black.

Cool Points:
-Most of the character development comes from Lukas who goes through a lot during this book: A lot of loss, loneliness and hardships. He is such an awesome character. Honestly the mental health journey he goes on is really engaging and you can’t help but fall in love with him.
- Relationships with side characters are strong and they support the MCs nicely.
-suspense was surprising and entertaining.

Reason for this thing being a three star and not a five star rating (I did my best to make this spoiler free):
-The title of this book is melt the ice and the main title picture has the main characters on a hockey rink. 90% of this book takes place on a RANCH. There is not a lot of hockey detail, so if you think you’re getting a suspenseful hockey romance book, keep your hockey expectations low. Lucas also seems to jump in and out of his career at any given point in this book which is completely unrealistic.
-Lucas and Scarlet were childhood besties: so we go into the book with them already having a history. But we don't get any of the development from when they were kids. And most of the development from when they’re adults is based on that history. The transition to them getting together is super choppy and not developed progressively.
- we get very little character development from scarlet. We don't really ever get into her head the way we get into his head.
-there seems to be a lot of plot lines that got picked up but never developed or solved: the circumstances around the death of her grandma, how/why she didn't know the ranch was hers, what the ranch does, who her family was or where they were or what happened to any of them, and other things.
-The transitions are not always organic and some of the transitions seemed really forced.
-I feel like there are a lot of supporting details missing from this book and those details would make this at least a four star read.

@scottiethegpreads

[Rebecca Dowling · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

Melt the Ice is the first part of the Tampa Bay Hawks series, however some of the characters in this book are from The Wilder Brother series, but this book can be read as a standalone.

This is marketed as a Hockey Romance novel, however hockey takes a backseat in this story with there also being a mystery subplot occurring in the background.
Melt the Ice tells the story of Scarlett who returns to her grandmother’s ranch after 12 years away, to find her childhood best friend Lucas, who is now a professional hockey player still living on the property. There is a lot of personal growth that occurs as both Scarlett and Lucas need to learn how to love and trust again. There is also a lot of awareness of mental health raised.

The romance was a slow burn, with no spice, as both Scarlett and Lucas need time and support to grow. They are surrounded by a supportive group of other characters, which made me want to read The Wilder Brother series to spend more time in their world.

Alongside the romance, there is also a mystery about Scarlett’s family business and Lucas’ family. This was actually my favourite part of the book and I wish that we got into more of this story and more in depth earlier in the book, rather than towards the end, as when it got to this part I didn’t want to put the book down.

I’ve rated this book 3.5 stars as I felt that there was more backstory that could have been added, especially to some of the mystery element of this book, as well as more about what actually happened with Lucas’ parents. I was confused if his mum was just choosing to ignore him or that there was something medically wrong after the accident. I also wanted more from the conclusion, for example exactly what happened with the will/sale of the ranch.

Thank you Luna Literary for the ARC.

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Luna Literacy and Lindsey Saenz for the ARC of Melt the Ice! I am thrilled to have been given the chance to read and review it.

4.75/5 ⭐️

My first sports romance of the year, and oh man, are we starting out with a banger! There were only a small handful of things that kept this from being a slam dunk. First, it's supposed to be a hockey romance, but the hockey part was so backburner that it didn't feel like one, and the romance, while good, also wasn't center stage either. For example, the first hockey game the FMC goes to is near the end of the book. Which just seems odd. I kind of had just assumed she was going to home games off page or something, to be honest. And I felt more invested in the thriller/mystery aspect of the book than the romance part. So, in a hockey romance novel, for those two aspects not to be front and center, it just kept it from being a five-star read for me. That being said, I did enjoy the romance between Lucas and Scarlett. Especially because I don't read too many where the FMC is the grumpy one. That was a nice, refreshing change. And I love how accepting they are of each other, especially how accepting Lucas is of Scarlett. She has worries that her past and her dad's actions will make Lucas hate her, be mad at her, or experience many other negative emotions. But he never is. He does feel negatively about things that happen, but does not blame Scarlett because he totally understands that the things are not her fault and places the blame where it belongs. It's amazing. Overall, it was a quick, cute read! I will be on the lookout for the next in the series.

[Natalia Valdes · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨ARC REVIEW✨

Thank you so much to Lindsey Saenz and Luna Literary for the opportunity to arc read this book. It was absolutely beautiful 🫶🏼

I adored this book. I loved the character development throughout the book. the plot was suspenseful and captivating. This book showed mental health but in a way that’s healing and comforting, in which I really appreciated.

Scarlett grew throughout the book and became the person lucas always known her to be. with the expectations of her father weighing her down, scarlett lost sight of who she was. She built a mask to ice her feelings until she was reunited with her childhood friend turned lover. she learned to accept herself and allow others to see who she really is. She found friends that supported her but also a man that will stand by her no matter what season of life she’s in.

Lucas, lucas, lucas..... the amount of times my heart broke for him is unbelievable. I never wanted to hug a character in a book the way I wanted to hug him. Having a life like his and still being able to laugh, love, care showed true strength. as a mmc to show and express his struggles and emotions took character and strength. He knew what he wanted and kept fighting. Even through the hard days, he knew what his goal was at the end. he will definitely go down as one of the most lovable mmc in my eyes.

Lindsey did an amazing job at not only building a suspense plot, but creating characters that grow and showcase a healthy way to navigate mental illness with the support of family, friends, and love.

[OhTheGumYouAre · Rating 4 out of 5]


 
This is the first in a series for the Tampa Bay Hawks, a fictional hockey team. I will say that I really enjoyed this book—I thought it was cute, and I love me a man that yearns. Damn, does Lucas Monroe yearn!
However, I will say that the prologue at the start felt unnecessary. While the flashbacks to their childhood were cute, we got one every chapter and it felt like way too much.

I get it—this started in childhood, but jeez. Moving on to characters: I absolutely hated Scarlett at first. I’m sorry, she was just such a bitch. “My dad is mean” wah wah, and it made it feel like she thought she had it worse.
She was really hot and cold with Lucas, and I didn’t like that. I did enjoy Lucas’s character a lot, and Scarlett grew on me. However, ABBY???? I do not like Abby!! In chapter 13, she is such a bitch to Scarlett—who is my homegirl now—accusing her of not caring that her best friend’s mom died?

Lady, you don’t know her?? How dare you say that. I understand Abby was there when Scarlett wasn’t, but that was low. I’m sure Abby has some character overhaul in her own book, but I hated her so much in this one that idk if I can read it lol.

At the start of the book are trigger warnings, which is nice, but a particular one literally spoils a plot point, so the reveal wasn’t as big for me. The second one?? Yeah, I liked that one.
Overall, I would definitely read another book in this series should the author come out with one. 
….

👍 I recommend 
⭐️Overall rating: 4.4 /5 
💵 Price: FREE on KindleUnlimited

[Kris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tampa Bay Hawks: Lucas and Scarlett

Tropes:
* Small town
* Ranch romance
* Childhood friends to lovers
* Black cat x golden retriever
* Found family
* Praise kink
* Mental health rep
* Suspense

Content warning:
* Grief
* Parents death (staged as suicide)
* Manipulation (by a parent)
* Suicide mentions
* Suicide ideation
* Alcoholism/alcohol misuse

This opens in a way that guarantees you will be hooked! Scarlett finds out by accident that her father is planning to steal from her - her land, her heritage, and her inheritance… and her godftather is right alongside him…

So what does Scarlett do??
Thumbs her nose at him, drives the ranch, and reconnects with her childhood friend/first love.

This was two stories in one….
A love story, emotionally rich and a wonderful friend group banding together.

“I could really go for a grilled cheese.”

Solid mental health rep in this, with Lucas carrying significant trauma from his childhood.
Both Lucas “Goldie” and Scarlett “Lettie” have parent issues, and I adored how they reconnected over time. The story itself would have been perfect, alone.

But.. there was also the addition of a mustery/suspense story added on, and boy… was it good.

Sabotage, accidents, betrayals, cover-up’s and conspiracies…
Twists and turns, and some very surprising reveals!

It kept the pages turning, that’s for sure….

Thanks Lindsey and Luna Literary for the copy.

[Caitlin Ferraro · Rating 3 out of 5]

The love story between Lucas and Scarlet was adorable! There was fight in the beginning.. then you could see the breakdown of emotions and the love they share. The only part I had an "issue" with is there was absolutely no spice. Now, dont get me wrong.. there was passion between them I could feel through the screen! But this was 100% a closed door romance. I at least like a little bit of spice. But overall the book was so sweet with a dash of mystery.

Now i will agree with some readers that there are some plot holes or very confusing transitions. The characters will be doing something and then all of a sudden theyre either driving somewhere else or it seems like nothing happened between the characters. A little bit more details if if something did happen just a very brief explanation or a little internal dialog would help clear the confusion.

with the book itself, i was expecting a hockey romance due to the cover and the name.. but its really only mentioned a couple of times. The main setting of the story takes place at a ranch, so if you're expecting an actual hockey romance, you might not be too thrilled. the title and cover are a little misleading.

Would I read the book again? Probably not. But I would 100% recommend this book to romance lovers! I did receive an ARC of this book

[Tammy Zadai · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a childhood friends/second chance romance that has a lot of mental health representation. And a lot of mystery. Lucas Monroe is a hockey player that has always felt abandoned by the people he loves. His dad who died when he was young, his mother who withdrew into herself when that happened and Lettie, his childhood best friend and soul mate. The abandonment has left Lucas feeling as if he was never worth enough for anyone to stay. Lettie is a woman who feels like she has two halves- the Lettie that Lucas knew growing up and the cold business woman Lettie that her father molded into his image after her beloved Nana died. Lettie doesn’t feel like she can be the woman Lucas needs and deserves so she remains cold to him once they meet again. Throughout the book they both have shocking events thrown at them that they must navigate through. Lucas is hit with a devastating blow that really brings to light how broken he feels. But he has a fantastic friend base, his framily as he puts it, that lets him eventually believe that they aren’t going anywhere, that he is worth it. It isn’t a quick fix. The author takes her time in getting Lucas to that point, only after letting him fall into the abyss of self loathing. It’s a beautiful journey. The mystery was a bit convoluted, hence the four stars. But a really great romance book with heat but no spice.

[Leti · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a clean, fade to black, second chance, hockey romance with an element of mystery/suspense.

I loved the found family that Lettie and Lucas, the two main characters, had in Lucas’ hockey team. And that it touched on working through mental health struggles. I will say though, this book is HEAVILY focused on working through loss and grief. The characters grow and work through a lot while trying to figure out why the people around them are being unalived.

I would’ve loved to see more of the chase to find the bad guy and to go in more depth on that. That was a huge part of why these two characters were back together, but that whole arc fell a little flat for me.

The progression of their relationship also kind of left me wanting more sustenance. There was a lot of codependency that the author did try to have the MMC work through and find his own footing, but for me, I felt it took a lot longer than I would’ve liked.

There was a pretty good twist that I was pleasantly surprised by, but again it was a book mostly about the MMC working through a ton of grief. In that sense alone, it was a pretty good read, but as far as hockey, romance, and suspense, it seemed as though they were just side notes in the overall story.

I received an eARC copy of this book and all thoughts and opinions are my own honest review.

[SJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hold the phone, did someone say hockey romance with suspense!? Immediately yes, sign me up! I loved everything about Lettie and Lucas' story. Gahhhhh my heart. They were childhood best friends and he never stopped looking for her! So freaking sweet. There's just something so refreshing about a man who only ever gave his heart to one woman and never tried to take it back or give it to another. The "it's only ever been you" is one of the things I loved most about this childhood best friends to lovers second chance romance. I don't normally go for closed-door spice but the fade to black worked for me here.
This book was such an unexpected surprise in the best way. Admittedly there wasn't a whole lot of hockey actually happening in the plot but I was okay with that there was a lot already making the story interesting. I'd also like to point out that the author handled sensitive topics with care. There are a lot of mental health topics and representation happening in the book that I appreciated how they were written and woven into the story.

Overall this was a super sweet romance with a suspenseful twist.

Tropes:
Hockey romance
Friends to lovers
Second chance
Black Cat + Golden Retriever
Found Family
Mental health rep
Dual POV

Thank you Luna Literary and Lindsey Saenz for the opportunity to read this book.