Embrace

Off the Ice #4

by Bal Khabra

An unexpected spark between a hockey player and the coach’s daughter might cause them to cross the line in the next Dalton University book from international bestselling author Bal Khabra.

Kian Ishida is all about parties, hockey, and living in the moment. But when he realizes he’s headed to the NHL without his degree, his late dad’s one wish for him, he’s determined to make up those last few credits. Desperate for help, he joins a study group led by none other than Scarlett Kilner. She’s as gorgeous as she is smart. Too bad he doesn’t know yet that she’s his coach’s daughter.

After making a reputation for herself, all Scarlett wants for her senior year is to prove she’s more than her mistakes and graduate without tarnishing her well-respected father’s name. But when Kian Ishida, one of her dad’s star hockey players, joins her study group, things get complicated.

As Scarlett helps Kian, their study sessions turn into something more—stolen glances, lingering touches, and a connection neither of them expected. Kian has to decide what’s more the dream he’s worked for his whole life or the girl he never saw coming.

Genres: Romance, Sports Romance, Hockey, Hockey Romance, Sports, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary

Kindle Edition

Expected publication August 4, 2026

About the author

Bal is a Canadian writer, romance enthusiast, and book lover. Before she decided to jump into the romance pool, she spent her time gushing about books on social media.

She loves reading about love, watching movies about love, and now, writing about it herself. There really isn’t much else that gets her heart fluttering the way HEAs do. She fell in love with writing and hopes to continue living out her romance author dreams.

Reviews

[joni ౨ৎ - busy]

JUST GOT THE ARC ILY BERKLEY!!! cath & joni buddy read v soon <3


---


my favourite cover in the series 🤭

i freaking adore bal khabra SO much!!! sweetest author ever

✧˖°🏒 ⋆｡˚꩜ 𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭
⤷ coach's daughter
⤷ they both have tattoos
⤷ hockey romance
⤷ study partners to lovers
⤷ bipoc / asian rep !!!! (yes we scream)
⤷ forbidden

[Hannahhh ;) [free palestine]]

THE SCREAM I SCREMPT WHEN I SAW THE COVER. BECAUSE KIAN FINALLY GETS A BOOK AHHHHHH. I love how fast bal khabra is writing these, and I haven’t even read revolve yet but I can’t wait for this book

[rehaab ౨ৎ]

I SCREAMED WHEN I SAW THIS WAS KIAN'S BOOK

[Sophie (lambsbooks)]

update: I JUST GOT THE ARC 😭😭😭😭

Kian could step on me and I’d thank him. I’m ready to be DESTROYED by this book.

[Jin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been campaigning since day 1 for a Kian book. THANK YOU SO MUCH

[har (semi ia.)]

BRB!! this series was literally my next read and i got the arc?! SCREAMING

[EMthebooktrovert]

Sooo excited for this book and Kian Ishida (since the first book), and the coach’s daughter trope is hinting at a forbidden romance, hopefully with a copious amount of yearning and spiciness.

But we have eight more months to go 😭🫠😩

[Mai H.]

Valentine's Day TBR

📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley

[Bellalucina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I fell in love with Bal Khabra’s books the moment I finished reading Collide and since then she has been an auto-buy author. I’ve loved the Off the Ice series and every book since Collide. It’s so sad knowing Embrace is the final book in this series because I could read about these characters forever. With that said, I LOVED Embrace and I think I highlighted 90% of the book. I fell in love with Kian and Scarlett right away and I loved the way their friendship grew throughout the book. Friends to lovers will always be my favorite trope and this book was no exception. 10/5 stars from me and I can’t wait til August so I have a physical copy to worship on my bookshelves

[rather be reading.]

RAHHH I SCREAMED AS LOUD AS I COULD WHEN I FOUND OUT THAT KIAN AND SCARLETT FINALLY GOT THEIR BOOK. THIS IS GOING TO BOTH HEAL AND BREAK ME IN HALF.

[charisse ♡]

THE WAY I SCREAMED WHEN I GOT THE EMAIL FROM NETGALLEY AND ON MY BDAY TOO!??1! BERKLEY PLS DON'T EVER STOP LOVING ME ILYSMMMM!!!!! anyways now i actually have to stop putting it off and read revolve fr..

[lion ♡]

OMG I GOT THE ARCCC IM SO HAPPY READING THIS ASAP






side note I have 3 tests and a project due this week 😔
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[Lochi's Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

And just like that, another series comes to an end! I’ll be the first to admit it, Kian was a character that took some time for me to warm too and in Embrace Bal gives the court-jester his time to shine and paints in the picture that for quite sometime I was left confused with (if you’ve read my Revolve review you know I’ve been on the fence).

Kian is the goofy, happy-go-lucky, little brother of the Dalton Royals. In Embrace he’s given the time and pages to step up: academically, personally in his family, and with his team as Captain. Responsibility and vulnerability are essential to his character arc, and he’s ultimately shedding his boyish ways whilst he steps into leadership anew. There’s a type of maturity in his approach to Scarlet that I didn’t expect and I’m so glad I was blown away. It’s redemptive, and this is likely my second favourite book in the series which is something I never imagined. But here I am!

What I’ve silently observed about each of Khabra’s female characters: they strive for academic excellence (have a penchant for studying), and have a well of perseverance. In a sea of hockey romances with a staggering lack of diversity, Khabra unintentionally shifts a character trope righting a wrong heavily used in the genre. Knowing that these books have a wide readership gives me hope, Khabra might be the first in my eyes, but she certainly isn’t the last and has hopefully opened doors and shifted perspectives in the genre.

I’m happy that each of the female characters in the Off the Ice series don’t ever let a man hinder their personal strides in academia, sport, and personal growth. Scarlet’s journey in this book is a reflection of campus culture, it may feel dramatized but there is honesty that lives in her fears that metastases in later chapters.

While Embrace is the final time we live with these characters and world I’m satisfied. Khabra has certainly planted seeds for the future and I hope we don’t have to wait a long time to be back in her literary world again.

As always I leave with a quote: “I’ve waited so long for you” I whisper.

My thanks to Berkley Publishing Group for the early digital copy! #BerkleyPartner

[Mylz Belanger · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5 ⭐️

Embrace is the fourth and final installment in the Off The Ice series. The story follows Kian, a hockey player, and Scarlett, the coach’s daughter. After meeting in a study group, Kian persuades Scarlett to tutor him so he can pass his classes and graduate this semester.

I loved how naturally their relationship developed. They went from strangers to study partners to friends in such an organic way. Watching them open up and learn to trust each other was truly beautiful.

Kian is an absolute sweetheart. I’ve adored him since book one, and his story absolutely did not disappoint.

This book explores several sensitive topics, including the death of a parent, grief, dementia, incarceration, and abusive relationships. It handles each of them thoughtfully, giving us a deep look at how both main characters cope with and struggle through the challenges in their family lives.

** POSSIBLE SPOILER **
This book was a 5 stars before the third act breakup.
I am SO tired of the MMC always having to fix everything and apologize relentlessly even when the whole situation is 100% the FMC's fault.
I hated how Scarlett handled the situation. It made me so frustrated and to have Kian bend over backwards to fix everything made me so mad. He deserved better.

I absolutely adore this series and Bal Khabra’s writing. I highly recommend it if you love college hockey romances with a strong found-family dynamic.
I’m going to miss these characters so much, but I can’t wait to see what she writes next!

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book!

[✨️Lexie✨️]

KIAANNNNNNN AHHHHHH.
WHEN I TELL YOU I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR HIS STORY 😭🙏

[Paz ☆]

i can't waaaiitt to read this oneeee

[Yasmine]

KIAN FINALLY GETS A BOOK!! And I need it like yesterday!!!

The blurb makes it seem like it's going to overlap a lot with Dylan's timeline, so I hope we get some parallels there, could be fun!

[Brittney · Rating 5 out of 5]

The class clown finally grew up and I did not expect to love it this much.

📚 Embrace by Bal Khabra
Series: Off the Ice book four
Genre: New Adult hockey romance
Vibes: coach’s daughter, study sessions to something more, captain era glow up, academic ambition, secret romance

Kian Ishida has always been the carefree one. Party first. Hockey always. Future later.

Until he realizes he is headed to the NHL without the degree his late father wanted for him.

Enter Scarlett Kilner. Study group leader. Brilliant. Focused. And very much his coach’s daughter.

What made this hit:

🏒 A golden retriever hero stepping into real leadership
📚 Study sessions that slowly turn into stolen glances and tension
💔 A grief threaded motivation that deepens Kian’s arc
👑 Captain energy that feels earned, not handed to him
🌟 A heroine who refuses to shrink her ambition for anyone

Kian took time for me in earlier books. He was the court jester of the Dalton Royals. But here he is forced to mature academically, emotionally, and within his family. Watching him shed his boyish recklessness and lean into responsibility was surprisingly satisfying.

Scarlett is exactly what I have come to appreciate about Bal Khabra’s heroines. Academically driven. Persevering. Determined to define herself outside of her father’s shadow. In a genre often saturated with one dimensional female leads, this series consistently gives women goals beyond the romance.

Their relationship builds on respect. There is attraction, yes. But there is also vulnerability. Kian’s softer side comes through in a way that feels redemptive. And Scarlett never lets love derail her own path.

As a series finale, this feels satisfying. Growth. Closure. And just enough threads left dangling to hope we are not done with this world forever.

If you love hockey romance with real character development and ambitious female leads, this series absolutely delivers.

💬 Do you love a goofy hero who matures for the right woman, or were you already sold on him from book one?

#BalKhabra #Embrace #BerkleyRomance #HockeyRomance #NewAdultRomance

[Serafina Sunflower · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐.5 stars
Thank you NetGalley and Bal Khabra for an e-ARC of Embrace in exchange for my honest review.

You have no idea how happy it made me recieveing this. I've absolutely loved the others in this series and knew almost immediately when I got into Collide that I was most excited for Kian's story. The way I love this character with my entire heart. So, it is with that in mind, that I say how incredibly disheartening it was that I didn't like this book.

I wanted to make sure I wrote down the things I didn't like along with highlighting what I loved. However, what I don't like started to turn into a bit of an essay so, instead I'll just talk about what I did enjoy.

Kian is just one of those characters you can't help but be drawn to. The kind of person that, no matter what he's struggling with internally, will do everything in his power to make you smile. His sunshine personality is just so infectious. It made me so happy the connection he made with Scarlett and how she made him feel comfortable showing his other emotions. That it's okay to be sad and let it out.

With this being the last book in the series, I'm so glad we got to see one of my other fav couples, Summer and Aiden a lot despite the fact he's graduated. However, I really wish we had also gotten to see Eli and Sage.

Anywho, with that said, despite not liking this book, I still love Kian so much and highly recommend checking out this hockey romance series.
Read this book if you're a fan of:
×hockey romance
×friends to lovers
×grumpy x sunshine
×coach's daughter x hockey player

Side note: one thing I do want to mention is that you need to read Revolve before reading this one. The events take place at the same time and it almost feels like an incomplete story if you don't know what's going on it the other storyline.

[Portia Citlali · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had such a soft, gooey feel to it that I just wanted to give both MCs a big, warm 6 second hug!!!

I can’t even begin to explain how much I enjoyed this story. As the final book in the series, it delivered! When I think of yearning, this is exactly what comes to mind.

Kian is the absolute sweetest. He embodies yearning in the purest way, he is gentle, patient, and never pushy. He listens, pays attention to the smallest details, and cares deeply about everyone around him, often at his own expense. It’s impossible not to adore him. Scarlett is trying to move forward after decisions that have left her reputation tarnished. She’s determined to stay quiet and keep to herself during her final year in school, until Kian proposes a trade that changes everything.

Their entanglement leads to some mutual yearning, filled with tenderness, growth, and unwavering support. Watching their relationship unfold was heartwarming. There were moments that Scarlett frustrated me but in learning about her past things started to make sense. This also helped her be the perfect person for Kian. She was able to care for him when he couldn't, and he was accepting of her and relished her as she was and not how she thought she should be. The ending was so fulfilling, and I was crying happy tears.

Such a soft, heartfelt, and perfect way to close out the series. 💛

[callistoscalling · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher for an advanced copy; all thoughts are my own.

📖 Book Review 📖 The end of a series is so bittersweet…especially when it’s Bal Khabra’s Off the Ice. It’s not hard to forget the feeling that I had the first time I discovered these books, because each one has managed to sweep me off my feet in the same way. There is something so special about Dalton University, where things are hot on and off the ice.

Once again, this series tackles those heavy life topics that we wish would never catch us, but Bal Khabra writes heartbreak in such an emotionally captivating spell. And to balance that wrenching pit from these scenes, there is plenty of beautiful slow burn romance to balance it all out, following the budding love story of hockey captain Kian Ishida and his tutor, Scarlett Kilner (the coach's daughter, unbeknownst to him). Embrace captures that magical time of youth when the hopes of the future are still fresh and within your grasp. There are not enough words for how much I loved this one and like the other three books, I simply did not want to put it down.

A part of my heart will stay in the Hockey House but I am so grateful for all the feels these amazing books gave and my head knows they are waiting for me on my bookshelf….

[Laced In Lit · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC 💗
Embrace is the last book in the Off the Ice series 🥺
I so wanted to love it as much as I loved Spiral and Revolve (both were 5 stars for me) but unfortunately this read left me feeling a bit flat...
In particular I struggled so much with the time jumps making the storyline feel a bit all over the place and chaotic at times.
I did love the 6 second hugs though and the reason behind this 💓
🔥 VERYYY slow burn (for me anyway)
🫶 Friends to lovers
🏒 Hockey player mmc
📚 Tutor fmc
😜 Coach's daughter
🧡 Kian and Scarlett 🧡
Unexpected friends Kian and Scarlett enter a hockey player x Tutor friendship in order to fulfil party loving Kians late father's wishes of his son gaining his degree alongside being a hockey star. Little does he know his new gorgeous friend is his coach's daughter! Following a very slow burn the pairs friendship turns into something much more both emotionally and physically.
Friends to lovers is not a favourite trope of mine but I did enjoy seeing their friendship bloosom and loved hearing from the other couples.

[Olivia Pilling · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have thoughts. Good and bad. This book was much better than the last one, I’ll say that much. I didn’t even cringe once which is so great but I also was left wanting so much more than I got. I understood these characters on a surface level and I can see the way this author carefully chose the couples moments together and how they reacted but I just agghhh wanted more I guess??? Maybe it’s because these characters had to abide by the timeline of the last book but I felt like we were jumping all over the place and never got a really solid moment with the two of them. I just wanted to see them blossom as a couple and feel their passion and I just didn’t unfortunately.

However, I think the characters stories and motivations were solid and it contributed a lot to the story.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for my honest review!

[Emerald · Rating 4 out of 5]

I mostly liked this one! I liked that the fmc was the "playboy" and the mmc was the less experienced one. Just made it different than the usual college romance tropes!

What I didn't like was the constant reminders to the readers about her past and her reputation. It was mentioned wayyyy too many times.

[Molly]

4th August 2026

[Lindsey | lindseysreads · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5

[Meccalynette · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5
This was a fun conclusion to the series. Can't wait for it to hit stores so I can recommend it along with the others.
Thank you to Berkley & Edelweiss for an early copy.

[Courtney Kaelin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ugh I’m so upset about this series ending I loved it and this was one of my favorites in the whole series!

[caroline]

SCREAM I GOT THE ARC YAYYYY!!!

[monica • · Rating 3 out of 5]

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