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Atlanta Firebirds #1
Fresh Ice
A sunshine center who's never wanted a man before. A grumpy, closeted captain who hasn't let anyone in for a decade. Co-captains. Teammates. A slow burn neither of them saw coming.
Ryan Asher has always been the sunshine in every locker room. The teammate who learns your name first, remembers your coffee order, and makes the room warmer just by showing up. Signed to the Atlanta Firebirds after a divorce he's still pretending didn't break him, Ash is chasing the fresh start he needs. New city. New team. New ice. He's fine; he's always fine. But from the very first phone call with his co-captain, something he can't explain takes hold. Because Ash has never wanted a man before. And Antero Ikonen (six-five, Finnish, and devastating in his silence) is unraveling everything Ash thought he knew about himself. This isn't just attraction. It's a bi-awakening he never saw coming.
Antero "Avi" Ikonen hasn't let anyone close in a decade. Fifteen years closeted in professional hockey. A secret relationship with a teammate years ago that ended in a fight on a highlight reel. A trade from Philadelphia that felt less like a roster move and more like being thrown away. Avi has learned exactly one caring about someone gives them the power to destroy you. As captain of an expansion team built from castoffs and rookies, his job is to lead, not to fall for the too-warm center who texts at midnight, stays late after team dinners, and somehow keeps finding doors in walls Avi didn't know existed. He falls first. He falls quiet. And he can't stop.
Except Ash doesn't stop showing up. And Avi doesn't stop letting him in.
What begins as forced proximity between co-captains becomes something neither of them can deny. Stolen hours on road trips, a drunk confession in a dark hotel room, a first kiss that rewrites everything. Their slow burn ignites behind closed doors while the team they're building starts to feel like the found family neither of them has had before. But Avi knows how this story ends. He's lived it. And the closer Ash gets, the harder Avi has to protect himself the way he always has, or trust that this time, loving someone won't cost him everything.
Meanwhile, a stray cat keeps showing up at the Firebirds' facility. He chooses Avi, whether he wants that or not. He feeds him. He carries him in his backwards hoodie. He refuses to call it love. Then he disappears and the loss cracks open everything he's been trying to hold together.
Fresh Ice is a slow-burn, grumpy-sunshine MM hockey romance about a bisexual awakening, a closeted captain, and the expansion team that becomes their found family. Steamy and open door with hurt/comfort, forced proximity, and a stray cat who knows what he wants before either of them do.
Start the Atlanta Firebirds series with this standalone first installment. Perfect for fans of Rachel Reid, Eden Finley & Saxon James, and Tal Bauer.
bi-awakening, teammates to lovers, slow burn, found family, forced proximity, secret relationship, grumpy-sunshine, hurt/comfort, co-captains, he falls first, dual POV, open door, hockey expansion team, stray cat, who hurt you
Heat 🔥🔥🔥🔥 Steamy / Open Door
Dual First-Person (Ash & Avi)
Atlanta Firebirds, Book 1 (can be read as a standalone) Book 1: Fresh Ice — Ash & Avi's story Book 2: Coming soon — Fontenot & Volkov's story Books 3–5: Coming soon
Content Themes of bisexual identity, coming out later in life, internalized expectations, parental pressure, and emotion
Ryan Asher has always been the sunshine in every locker room. The teammate who learns your name first, remembers your coffee order, and makes the room warmer just by showing up. Signed to the Atlanta Firebirds after a divorce he's still pretending didn't break him, Ash is chasing the fresh start he needs. New city. New team. New ice. He's fine; he's always fine. But from the very first phone call with his co-captain, something he can't explain takes hold. Because Ash has never wanted a man before. And Antero Ikonen (six-five, Finnish, and devastating in his silence) is unraveling everything Ash thought he knew about himself. This isn't just attraction. It's a bi-awakening he never saw coming.
Antero "Avi" Ikonen hasn't let anyone close in a decade. Fifteen years closeted in professional hockey. A secret relationship with a teammate years ago that ended in a fight on a highlight reel. A trade from Philadelphia that felt less like a roster move and more like being thrown away. Avi has learned exactly one caring about someone gives them the power to destroy you. As captain of an expansion team built from castoffs and rookies, his job is to lead, not to fall for the too-warm center who texts at midnight, stays late after team dinners, and somehow keeps finding doors in walls Avi didn't know existed. He falls first. He falls quiet. And he can't stop.
Except Ash doesn't stop showing up. And Avi doesn't stop letting him in.
What begins as forced proximity between co-captains becomes something neither of them can deny. Stolen hours on road trips, a drunk confession in a dark hotel room, a first kiss that rewrites everything. Their slow burn ignites behind closed doors while the team they're building starts to feel like the found family neither of them has had before. But Avi knows how this story ends. He's lived it. And the closer Ash gets, the harder Avi has to protect himself the way he always has, or trust that this time, loving someone won't cost him everything.
Meanwhile, a stray cat keeps showing up at the Firebirds' facility. He chooses Avi, whether he wants that or not. He feeds him. He carries him in his backwards hoodie. He refuses to call it love. Then he disappears and the loss cracks open everything he's been trying to hold together.
Fresh Ice is a slow-burn, grumpy-sunshine MM hockey romance about a bisexual awakening, a closeted captain, and the expansion team that becomes their found family. Steamy and open door with hurt/comfort, forced proximity, and a stray cat who knows what he wants before either of them do.
Start the Atlanta Firebirds series with this standalone first installment. Perfect for fans of Rachel Reid, Eden Finley & Saxon James, and Tal Bauer.
bi-awakening, teammates to lovers, slow burn, found family, forced proximity, secret relationship, grumpy-sunshine, hurt/comfort, co-captains, he falls first, dual POV, open door, hockey expansion team, stray cat, who hurt you
Heat 🔥🔥🔥🔥 Steamy / Open Door
Dual First-Person (Ash & Avi)
Atlanta Firebirds, Book 1 (can be read as a standalone) Book 1: Fresh Ice — Ash & Avi's story Book 2: Coming soon — Fontenot & Volkov's story Books 3–5: Coming soon
Content Themes of bisexual identity, coming out later in life, internalized expectations, parental pressure, and emotion
344 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 26, 2026
153 people are currently reading
143 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
May 8, 2026
Since reading the prequel introducing the characters, I knew This series was for me. This is truly a hockey romance, with a lot of hockey. In the spirit of Rachel Reid's Game Changers, Riley Bauer has created a new team, a new cast of players that promise many great stories.
Avi and Ash were a beautiful grumpy/sunshine match. The flow in their developing relationship was smooth even in the dramatic parts.
The honesty and openness that Ash showed in his budding bisexuality was refreshing.
Team banter in a message thread. Plus, a book club between team members aaand a cat 🐈
What's not to love.
Avi and Ash were a beautiful grumpy/sunshine match. The flow in their developing relationship was smooth even in the dramatic parts.
The honesty and openness that Ash showed in his budding bisexuality was refreshing.
Team banter in a message thread. Plus, a book club between team members aaand a cat 🐈
What's not to love.
April 24, 2026
guys, gals, and pals THIS is how you do a hockey romance inspired by HR (if that’s your thing). God I have barley been able to read anything but this? This had me staying up until 2am when I was deadass tired. This had me emotionally attached to a fictional cat and a cat person I am not. THIS HAD ME UGLY CRYING ON NY LUNCH BREAK!
The side characters? Elite.
Avi & Ash, I love you so much.
Can’t wait for the next books 🥹
The side characters? Elite.
Avi & Ash, I love you so much.
Can’t wait for the next books 🥹
April 17, 2026
See, THIS is how you write a hockey romance inspired by Heated Rivalry. I tried reading Medaling by Hailey Reaves and no shade to the author but that literally felt like a spinoff of the show, and had scenes that were almost IDENTICAL to the ones in the show/book, and it was just too similar for me to be comfortable with.
The cadence and writing of this book were definitely unique, but it really worked for me. I wish the epilogue was at least a few pages longer (did they win the game???)
The whole cat thing was my favorite part, like the way the whole team woke up at like 4am when they found the cat to go see her for themselves was SO wholesome.
I honestly can't wait to read more of this series 🙌
The cadence and writing of this book were definitely unique, but it really worked for me. I wish the epilogue was at least a few pages longer (did they win the game???)
The whole cat thing was my favorite part, like the way the whole team woke up at like 4am when they found the cat to go see her for themselves was SO wholesome.
I honestly can't wait to read more of this series 🙌
May 7, 2026
Ohh, this was delicious!
I picked this one up on a whim because the cover said "friends to lovers" and I was in desperate need of an MM hockey romance with the trope, and boy am I glad I did! Granted, I am not sure I'd necessarily consider this friends-to-lovers, since the current of attraction between Asher and Avi is present from their first meeting, which happens on page, but it turned out to be such a gem, I don't even care!
What I really enjoyed about this book was how quiet it was. You don't need the two characters to spell out that they're falling in love because you feel it by the way they move and the things they notice about each other. Their love is not loud. It isn't accompanied by big declarations and poetic musings. That said, they do pile on the "I'm not going to think about that"s, when it wasn't really necessary. Like, the book does a good enough job making us notice what they're not talking about, even to themselves, without those words black-and-white on paper (or e-ink). I really, really love quiet love stories. I am rather put off by the load, larger than life, you-should-do-slam-poetry-instead-of-hockey love stories (I am looking at you, Pucking Strong).
Both Ash and Avi are likable characters. They're very different from each other - one taciturn and the other chatty. One is closed off, and the other is open. One focuses on the architecture and the other on the builders. One has known his entire life that he is gay, and the other is only now starting to realize he is not as straight as he thought. I enjoyed them together, and I enjoyed them apart, even though my heart broke when
I also really enjoyed both the team and the hockey, because both are full-fledged characters in the narrative. Like, I've read plenty of hockey romances where hockey is the set dressing. Not in Fresh Ice. There are full hockey scenes, with hockey terms that don't get explained, and while I can't comment on the accuracy of the hockey since I don't know the game, I can say that it is a living, breathing creature in the novel.
The same goes for the team itself. Like, I've read hockey romances where, aside from the immediate future couple and maybe one other character, the rest of the team is just a bunch of faceless, personality-less cardboard cutouts that are assumed to be there to fill the ranks but are otherwise inconsequential. Not here! Each team member has personality, quirks, and importance to the team. Their team chats were one of my favorite parts in the book! I've really imprinted on this team, if I'm honest, LOL.
And don't get me started about the freaking cat. I knew this book, and I was gonna hit it off when Avi encounters a cat and describes it in great detail. Like, that man is a cat person, and I am a cat person, and now we can be cat people together!! Cats are fantastic. Each cat-related scene just brought me so so much joy. I need this series to pay the cat tax and give me photos!
Now, for some of the things I was kind of bummed about. Ash and Avi's pasts are comprised of the bare outlines of people and occurrences. It's almost like everything that happened before the Atlanta Firebirds didn't really exist. For example, we know nearly nothing about Ash's previous marriage. We don't know how he knows Marco, and how Marco knows him so well. We know a bit about Avi's Charlie, but it's so vague that I couldn't even wrap my head around the timeline, and that's a bit of a problem when the past is a huge obstacle in their relationship. As you can see, I have a lot of questions. Some of them are not really important, but some of them are, and I wish the book spent a little more time fleshing out their respective pasts.
Also, hello?? How is that an ending?? Why are we ending the book at the beginning of their story when the next book is not about them?! Like,
Either way, I'm reading the next book ASAP, LOL.
I picked this one up on a whim because the cover said "friends to lovers" and I was in desperate need of an MM hockey romance with the trope, and boy am I glad I did! Granted, I am not sure I'd necessarily consider this friends-to-lovers, since the current of attraction between Asher and Avi is present from their first meeting, which happens on page, but it turned out to be such a gem, I don't even care!
What I really enjoyed about this book was how quiet it was. You don't need the two characters to spell out that they're falling in love because you feel it by the way they move and the things they notice about each other. Their love is not loud. It isn't accompanied by big declarations and poetic musings. That said, they do pile on the "I'm not going to think about that"s, when it wasn't really necessary. Like, the book does a good enough job making us notice what they're not talking about, even to themselves, without those words black-and-white on paper (or e-ink). I really, really love quiet love stories. I am rather put off by the load, larger than life, you-should-do-slam-poetry-instead-of-hockey love stories (I am looking at you, Pucking Strong).
Both Ash and Avi are likable characters. They're very different from each other - one taciturn and the other chatty. One is closed off, and the other is open. One focuses on the architecture and the other on the builders. One has known his entire life that he is gay, and the other is only now starting to realize he is not as straight as he thought. I enjoyed them together, and I enjoyed them apart, even though my heart broke when
I also really enjoyed both the team and the hockey, because both are full-fledged characters in the narrative. Like, I've read plenty of hockey romances where hockey is the set dressing. Not in Fresh Ice. There are full hockey scenes, with hockey terms that don't get explained, and while I can't comment on the accuracy of the hockey since I don't know the game, I can say that it is a living, breathing creature in the novel.
The same goes for the team itself. Like, I've read hockey romances where, aside from the immediate future couple and maybe one other character, the rest of the team is just a bunch of faceless, personality-less cardboard cutouts that are assumed to be there to fill the ranks but are otherwise inconsequential. Not here! Each team member has personality, quirks, and importance to the team. Their team chats were one of my favorite parts in the book! I've really imprinted on this team, if I'm honest, LOL.
And don't get me started about the freaking cat. I knew this book, and I was gonna hit it off when Avi encounters a cat and describes it in great detail. Like, that man is a cat person, and I am a cat person, and now we can be cat people together!! Cats are fantastic. Each cat-related scene just brought me so so much joy. I need this series to pay the cat tax and give me photos!
Now, for some of the things I was kind of bummed about. Ash and Avi's pasts are comprised of the bare outlines of people and occurrences. It's almost like everything that happened before the Atlanta Firebirds didn't really exist. For example, we know nearly nothing about Ash's previous marriage. We don't know how he knows Marco, and how Marco knows him so well. We know a bit about Avi's Charlie, but it's so vague that I couldn't even wrap my head around the timeline, and that's a bit of a problem when the past is a huge obstacle in their relationship. As you can see, I have a lot of questions. Some of them are not really important, but some of them are, and I wish the book spent a little more time fleshing out their respective pasts.
Also, hello?? How is that an ending?? Why are we ending the book at the beginning of their story when the next book is not about them?! Like,
Either way, I'm reading the next book ASAP, LOL.
April 25, 2026
DNF @ 50%
I think it was a bit weird to start of the story having Avi and Ash already texting each other prior and not showing us the start of that. "friendly acquaintances-to-lovers" isn't quite as satisfying of a place to start from since it feels like it's missing the meet-cute of the "strangers-to-lovers" and the historic pining/established chemistry of "friends-to-lovers"
Not much to say about the intro other than it wasn't too heavy on unnecessary exposition.
I usually dislike overly long text chains in books, but that first one with the team talking about the cat was pretty good. Funny without feeling like it was forced and gave a tiny bit of characterization to the side characters.
Avi only beginning to admit that he was starting to feel the pull of attraction at 20% was so good, especially since it only happened after a sentimental moment happened between him and Ash. Yes, it was only a small conversation, BUT that was perfect for planting the seed of romance and setting the stage for Avi and Ash to progress from just friends to something more. It's unfortunate that
I wasn't a fan of Fontenot and Volkov getting mentioned so many times. I get the story was about Avi and Ash coaching the team, so there needed to be some friction they had to address to make it seem realistic, but having two side characters mentioned literally every hockey scene gave them so much unnecessary focus. It's obvious they're being set up for a separate book, and every time I read their names, that was all I could think of.
The writing sort of got to me after the 20% mark, which is when I realized that Avi and Ash's internal voices just listed things out without making it sound like the character thinking it a lot of the time. So many short sentences without any flourish made them both sound overly observant/clinical. It was fine at the start when the story was still setting up the setting and giving exposition, and it made sense for Avi's character considering he was very reserved and guarded. It was not fine for it to continue to sound so didactic throughout, and it definitely did not make sense for Ash's POV chapters since he's supposed to be gregarious and outgoing. Where were the internal thoughts showing us Ash's whimsy/lighthearted-ness? We see him as this genuinely friendly and easy to get along with type of guy through Avi's eyes and yet none of that comes through in any of his chapters because all he does is observe what was happening on page and describe it in uninspired ways (or is way too technical if it's hockey related). I'd have thought he would've sounded more like how the guys sounded in the text chains, not "On the bus, Avi takes the window seat. I take the aisle" or "Avi glances up. Brief, neutral." Where was the Ash that spontaneously started talking to Avi about the facts about the trail they were running on? Or the guy who singlehandedly established as recurring dinner between him and Avi because he wasn't going to take no for an answer? Like bruh, insert some of that high energy into those lines of dialogue.
I gave up when
I was already in the fence considering how boring the story had been up until then, but the lack of any sort reaction to the things that were supposed to be the main conflicts was my tipping point. Poor characterization on top of an already nothing-burger of a story that chose to basically ignore any stakes the premise set out. 2 stars.
I think it was a bit weird to start of the story having Avi and Ash already texting each other prior and not showing us the start of that. "friendly acquaintances-to-lovers" isn't quite as satisfying of a place to start from since it feels like it's missing the meet-cute of the "strangers-to-lovers" and the historic pining/established chemistry of "friends-to-lovers"
Not much to say about the intro other than it wasn't too heavy on unnecessary exposition.
I usually dislike overly long text chains in books, but that first one with the team talking about the cat was pretty good. Funny without feeling like it was forced and gave a tiny bit of characterization to the side characters.
Avi only beginning to admit that he was starting to feel the pull of attraction at 20% was so good, especially since it only happened after a sentimental moment happened between him and Ash. Yes, it was only a small conversation, BUT that was perfect for planting the seed of romance and setting the stage for Avi and Ash to progress from just friends to something more. It's unfortunate that
I wasn't a fan of Fontenot and Volkov getting mentioned so many times. I get the story was about Avi and Ash coaching the team, so there needed to be some friction they had to address to make it seem realistic, but having two side characters mentioned literally every hockey scene gave them so much unnecessary focus. It's obvious they're being set up for a separate book, and every time I read their names, that was all I could think of.
The writing sort of got to me after the 20% mark, which is when I realized that Avi and Ash's internal voices just listed things out without making it sound like the character thinking it a lot of the time. So many short sentences without any flourish made them both sound overly observant/clinical. It was fine at the start when the story was still setting up the setting and giving exposition, and it made sense for Avi's character considering he was very reserved and guarded. It was not fine for it to continue to sound so didactic throughout, and it definitely did not make sense for Ash's POV chapters since he's supposed to be gregarious and outgoing. Where were the internal thoughts showing us Ash's whimsy/lighthearted-ness? We see him as this genuinely friendly and easy to get along with type of guy through Avi's eyes and yet none of that comes through in any of his chapters because all he does is observe what was happening on page and describe it in uninspired ways (or is way too technical if it's hockey related). I'd have thought he would've sounded more like how the guys sounded in the text chains, not "On the bus, Avi takes the window seat. I take the aisle" or "Avi glances up. Brief, neutral." Where was the Ash that spontaneously started talking to Avi about the facts about the trail they were running on? Or the guy who singlehandedly established as recurring dinner between him and Avi because he wasn't going to take no for an answer? Like bruh, insert some of that high energy into those lines of dialogue.
I gave up when
I was already in the fence considering how boring the story had been up until then, but the lack of any sort reaction to the things that were supposed to be the main conflicts was my tipping point. Poor characterization on top of an already nothing-burger of a story that chose to basically ignore any stakes the premise set out. 2 stars.
Read
April 23, 2026VERY good. The hockey talk goes in depth. If you like stoic Finns who express everything one word at a time, this will be catnip.
And there IS A CAT!
Heavily Rachel Reid-core, but not derivative, if that makes sense. (The author acknowledges this inspiration.) I love the book club where they are clearly reading a GC/HR series analog and much is discussed about the shipping 😂 The book feels a bit like Time to Shine, with the golden retriever and weary guy who become friends and then more. But it has its own identity.
I really like the distinct characters of the team and look forward to reading more about them!
And there IS A CAT!
Heavily Rachel Reid-core, but not derivative, if that makes sense. (The author acknowledges this inspiration.) I love the book club where they are clearly reading a GC/HR series analog and much is discussed about the shipping 😂 The book feels a bit like Time to Shine, with the golden retriever and weary guy who become friends and then more. But it has its own identity.
I really like the distinct characters of the team and look forward to reading more about them!
April 5, 2026
This one's very good. Complicated and satisfying and funny and meaningful. There are a few editing flaws, but in the end, I can't care much about that. It's very good. I'm glad I already bought book 2, Face Off.
There was a bit too much hockey for me, but again, can't really quibble. The author didn't try to teach me the game, and I appreciate that. :)
There was a bit too much hockey for me, but again, can't really quibble. The author didn't try to teach me the game, and I appreciate that. :)
March 28, 2026
3.8⭐️ 2🌶️
March 30, 2026
S. Ash + Avi
This was good in an unexpected way lol. I did not think I would like it as much as I did. I wish I would have seen them win the Cup or come out to their team. I feel like I was on this ride with them and deserved that resolution.
This was good in an unexpected way lol. I did not think I would like it as much as I did. I wish I would have seen them win the Cup or come out to their team. I feel like I was on this ride with them and deserved that resolution.
May 4, 2026
This is gold.
Everything about this story is perfection. The characters. The banter. The group chats! The intimacy. Chefs. Kiss. I loved every second of it.
Everything about this story is perfection. The characters. The banter. The group chats! The intimacy. Chefs. Kiss. I loved every second of it.
March 1, 2026
With styles of writing similar to Rachel Reid, and Emily Rath along the same lines for MM hockey romance I enjoyed reading this. It's kinda tame on angst and while there were some spicy scenes it wasn't a lot or over done. I liked the storyline on the cat and kinda figured it out when a certain weight comment was made Abt it at one point so not a huge surprise. The ending was just that but it left you wondering enough to what is still to come. I do wish I would have read the novella first as a lead up to the story instead of having it as an afterthought flashback. I'm definitely looking forward to the next book and have it added to my tbr already.
April 1, 2026
Fresh Ice delivers everything you want from a slow-burn hockey romance and then quietly exceeds expectations. Ash and Avi are the perfect grumpy-sunshine pairing - Ash all warmth and persistence, Avi all restraint and carefully guarded edges, and watching them collide is equal parts tender and emotional. Ash’s bi-awakening is handled with authenticity and vulnerability, while Avi’s decade-long walls feel heartbreakingly real, shaped by the harsh realities of professional sport.
What makes this story shine is the patient way it's written. The connection builds through late-night texts, quiet moments, and stolen hours, making every breakthrough feel earned. Avi falling first but silently adds an extra layer of ache that lingers. Their chemistry simmers before it finally ignites, and when it does, it feels real rather than rushed.
Beyond the romance, the found family element of the Firebirds gives the story warmth and depth, grounding the relationship in something bigger than just the two of them. And yes—the stray cat is a standout, subtly mirroring Avi’s emotional journey.
Emotional, intimate, and beautifully paced, Fresh Ice is a compelling, character-driven romance that stays with you long after the final page.
What makes this story shine is the patient way it's written. The connection builds through late-night texts, quiet moments, and stolen hours, making every breakthrough feel earned. Avi falling first but silently adds an extra layer of ache that lingers. Their chemistry simmers before it finally ignites, and when it does, it feels real rather than rushed.
Beyond the romance, the found family element of the Firebirds gives the story warmth and depth, grounding the relationship in something bigger than just the two of them. And yes—the stray cat is a standout, subtly mirroring Avi’s emotional journey.
Emotional, intimate, and beautifully paced, Fresh Ice is a compelling, character-driven romance that stays with you long after the final page.
March 27, 2026
Best first book in a Hockey Romance series I've read in years!
The Atlanta Firebirds is an expansion team. The bonding of the individual players to grow into a cohesive team takes time. The two Captains, Avi and Ash, are two of the few veterans on the team. I really enjoy books with text message strings and this did not disappoint. I laughed so many times at the separate messages between the book club members who picked apart the descriptions of hockey play in the books. They really got verbal when offended by it. There were so many things I loved in this book. I really loved how quickly the story flowed. Best first book in a Hockey Romance series I have read in years!
The Atlanta Firebirds is an expansion team. The bonding of the individual players to grow into a cohesive team takes time. The two Captains, Avi and Ash, are two of the few veterans on the team. I really enjoy books with text message strings and this did not disappoint. I laughed so many times at the separate messages between the book club members who picked apart the descriptions of hockey play in the books. They really got verbal when offended by it. There were so many things I loved in this book. I really loved how quickly the story flowed. Best first book in a Hockey Romance series I have read in years!
March 27, 2026
he named the CAT after the SHIPNAME thats so funny. But no seriously the writing was so good.
May 6, 2026
Fresh Ice by Riley Bauer is a heartfelt, slow burn MM hockey romance that delivers exactly what it promises. ♥️
Ryan “Ash” Asher, the sunny, recently divorced center, brings light and easy charm to the new Atlanta Firebirds expansion team.
Antero “Avi” Ikonen, is the guarded, closeted veteran who’s been burned before and keeps everyone at arm’s length.
Their connection starts with late night texts and forced proximity as co-captains, then quietly builds into something neither expected, especially Ash, who’s navigating a genuine bi-awakening.
The grumpy/sunshine dynamic works beautifully here. Ash’s persistent kindness slowly cracks Avi’s walls, while Avi’s quiet intensity gives Ash a safe place to question everything he thought he knew about himself. The romance is a true slow burn with excellent tension, hurt/comfort moments,
Oh, and don’t forget the stray cat at the facility that steals scenes (and hearts). I loved those moments.
The found family vibe with the expansion team had me laughing (the team chat and the book club had me in stitches) 😂
What stands out most is the emotional honesty, the fear and vulnerability of coming out later in life, the weight of past heartbreak (including a painful secret relationship for Avi), and the joy of discovering new desire.
The pacing is deliberately measured, which suits the slow burn trope, it might not suit everyone, but I think it was needed.
Perfect for fans of bi-awakening, teammates to lovers, and hockey romances with real heart.
I’d happily pick up the next Atlanta Firebirds book. (In fact I think I might have just downloaded book two 😜)
Warm, rewarding, and worth the wait on the ice. 🏒
🦋
Ryan “Ash” Asher, the sunny, recently divorced center, brings light and easy charm to the new Atlanta Firebirds expansion team.
Antero “Avi” Ikonen, is the guarded, closeted veteran who’s been burned before and keeps everyone at arm’s length.
Their connection starts with late night texts and forced proximity as co-captains, then quietly builds into something neither expected, especially Ash, who’s navigating a genuine bi-awakening.
The grumpy/sunshine dynamic works beautifully here. Ash’s persistent kindness slowly cracks Avi’s walls, while Avi’s quiet intensity gives Ash a safe place to question everything he thought he knew about himself. The romance is a true slow burn with excellent tension, hurt/comfort moments,
Oh, and don’t forget the stray cat at the facility that steals scenes (and hearts). I loved those moments.
The found family vibe with the expansion team had me laughing (the team chat and the book club had me in stitches) 😂
What stands out most is the emotional honesty, the fear and vulnerability of coming out later in life, the weight of past heartbreak (including a painful secret relationship for Avi), and the joy of discovering new desire.
The pacing is deliberately measured, which suits the slow burn trope, it might not suit everyone, but I think it was needed.
Perfect for fans of bi-awakening, teammates to lovers, and hockey romances with real heart.
I’d happily pick up the next Atlanta Firebirds book. (In fact I think I might have just downloaded book two 😜)
Warm, rewarding, and worth the wait on the ice. 🏒
🦋
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May 9, 2026I am struggling with my feelings surrounding this book (and series).
On one hand, I enjoyed it - smart ass cat, guys reading hockey romance and talking about the authenticity of the cover. It is cheesy and over the top at times but enjoyable.
It does have a very particular way of writing that feels unnatural to me. It reminded me a bit of Shots and Saves but feels a bit more calculated, at times more poetic, and even somewhat repetitive without being overwhelming.
The problem I am struggling with is... could this be AI? From February till now, may 2026, this author has written 4 books (a novella included). And 3 more books are coming in this universe by the end of June.
I might not be an author, but it doesn't feel plausible to me to write so many books in so little time. And to be able to already translate 3 of them to a different language.
At the moment, without feeling confident one way or another, I am not going to rate the book.
On one hand, I enjoyed it - smart ass cat, guys reading hockey romance and talking about the authenticity of the cover. It is cheesy and over the top at times but enjoyable.
It does have a very particular way of writing that feels unnatural to me. It reminded me a bit of Shots and Saves but feels a bit more calculated, at times more poetic, and even somewhat repetitive without being overwhelming.
The problem I am struggling with is... could this be AI? From February till now, may 2026, this author has written 4 books (a novella included). And 3 more books are coming in this universe by the end of June.
I might not be an author, but it doesn't feel plausible to me to write so many books in so little time. And to be able to already translate 3 of them to a different language.
At the moment, without feeling confident one way or another, I am not going to rate the book.
March 23, 2026
Great story!
Great story, wonderful world building, sympathetic characters, good pacing, good character development, important cat!
I enjoyed the universe building here and I’m looking forward to more in the series. It was an enjoyable, quick read. When the crisis moment hits the emotions hit hard. Lots of points where I was highlighting with the crying and heartbroken emojis! And I liked that the crisis resolution was an opportunity for the airing of grievances and not one of the easy forgiveness scenes that so many authors revert to.
There’s definitely a need for some better editing. I was confused at quite a few points with timelines and continuity. Also some basic hockey errors , one of which has a significant impact on the timeline. But for people that don’t really follow hockey or have tiny details jump out at them probably won’t notice or mind.
Off to download book two!
Great story, wonderful world building, sympathetic characters, good pacing, good character development, important cat!
I enjoyed the universe building here and I’m looking forward to more in the series. It was an enjoyable, quick read. When the crisis moment hits the emotions hit hard. Lots of points where I was highlighting with the crying and heartbroken emojis! And I liked that the crisis resolution was an opportunity for the airing of grievances and not one of the easy forgiveness scenes that so many authors revert to.
There’s definitely a need for some better editing. I was confused at quite a few points with timelines and continuity. Also some basic hockey errors , one of which has a significant impact on the timeline. But for people that don’t really follow hockey or have tiny details jump out at them probably won’t notice or mind.
Off to download book two!
May 2, 2026
I really shouldn't have liked this book as much as I did. I was kinda full up on MM romances featuring hockey - not to yuck anyone's yum but it can't be the ONLY possible setting, can it? lol - and this book has a few similarities here and there to That One Really Popular Book Series/TV Show. (I mean, the author says so in the acknowledgements so it's not exactly a secret.) Most notable similarity might be the team's Finnish captain Avi, who bears a wee resemblance to a 'heated' Russian player who says everything that comes to his mind.....
And also, this book took a long, long, LONG time to really get cooking. At about 38 percent I was ready to DNF the whole thing because I thought I was reading an MM romance but up to that point, it appeared this book was a memoir of a team of hockey players eating their way through the finest restaurants of Atlanta......
But oh, yeah, stay with it. Avi and Ash's story is amazing.
"Kaunis" even.
And also, this book took a long, long, LONG time to really get cooking. At about 38 percent I was ready to DNF the whole thing because I thought I was reading an MM romance but up to that point, it appeared this book was a memoir of a team of hockey players eating their way through the finest restaurants of Atlanta......
But oh, yeah, stay with it. Avi and Ash's story is amazing.
"Kaunis" even.
May 12, 2026
2.75 stars. This was a weird reading experience. There were some sweet moments here and there and the cat storyline was very cute, but I had a lot of trouble with the writing style. It felt very wordy, sometimes I didn't completely get what the author was trying to say and for me the hockey talk was overly descriptive and repetitive. There were also continuity errors, like Avi putting a shirt on before going to bed and then the next moment Ash is admiring the freckles on his shoulder and back. Even the author profile used 'they' as pronouns in the first half, then 'she' for the rest. So another editing round would have been nice.
I also wanted a bit more from the ending, especially given Avi's issues around relationships and his father. They're together, but nothing is really resolved on that front and I didn't really believe Avi wouldn't do the same thing again when triggered. And the epilogue didn't do anything, it should have been scrapped.
I also wanted a bit more from the ending, especially given Avi's issues around relationships and his father. They're together, but nothing is really resolved on that front and I didn't really believe Avi wouldn't do the same thing again when triggered. And the epilogue didn't do anything, it should have been scrapped.
May 5, 2026
Whoa, a winner!
This is story that opens quietly and then focuses on a brand new expansion team, the Atlantic Firebirds. It is composed of rejects and older players from other teams, who are excited and apprehensive about their chances against established players, who definitely expect to run over them.
Avi and Ash are experienced leaders however, and Avi in particular has an unstoppable drive, a demanding father and a brain that calculates plays and moves like a genius. He and Ash combine to pull this team together.
There is a skinny cat who plays a major role at the hockey facility, two men who stumble into the relationship of their lives, and very funny and complex teammates, all of which leads me to say “ read this, it is good”!
This is story that opens quietly and then focuses on a brand new expansion team, the Atlantic Firebirds. It is composed of rejects and older players from other teams, who are excited and apprehensive about their chances against established players, who definitely expect to run over them.
Avi and Ash are experienced leaders however, and Avi in particular has an unstoppable drive, a demanding father and a brain that calculates plays and moves like a genius. He and Ash combine to pull this team together.
There is a skinny cat who plays a major role at the hockey facility, two men who stumble into the relationship of their lives, and very funny and complex teammates, all of which leads me to say “ read this, it is good”!
April 22, 2026
Meh
Let me start by saying I think the author could be a great storyteller under the right circumstances; however, I think this is one of the most boring books I've read this year. I appreciate the insertion of hockey knowledge that isn't just a fluff piece by an author who doesn't understand sports, but this was the opposite, and not in a good way. The author often goes into way too much hockey detail; for most of the book, it felt like actual hockey research and not a romance novel. Which I could even ignore that if the book was not so boring, I mean those were the most mundane boring conversations in a book I've ever read.
Let me start by saying I think the author could be a great storyteller under the right circumstances; however, I think this is one of the most boring books I've read this year. I appreciate the insertion of hockey knowledge that isn't just a fluff piece by an author who doesn't understand sports, but this was the opposite, and not in a good way. The author often goes into way too much hockey detail; for most of the book, it felt like actual hockey research and not a romance novel. Which I could even ignore that if the book was not so boring, I mean those were the most mundane boring conversations in a book I've ever read.
April 24, 2026
This is the exact kind of MM hockey romance I am in the mood for right now: quiet, gentle, kind, somewhat spicy, and generally low-angst. Love the premise of this new series (an expansion team where everyone is a complete rookie or a cast off from another team), and this book - a friends to lovers & one-sided bi-awakening between captain and alternate captain - is a great starter.
My gripe is that although as written, Ash and Avi are really different, their internal monologues were hard to differentiate. But it was a quick and easy read and I liked it enough that I'm going to go right on to book 2!
My gripe is that although as written, Ash and Avi are really different, their internal monologues were hard to differentiate. But it was a quick and easy read and I liked it enough that I'm going to go right on to book 2!
May 3, 2026
3.5 stars.
First half, really well done. There are a lot of characters introduced and it helps to keep in mind this is kicking off a series within the team. It annoyed me less that it was dense on the hockey and the whole team dynamic seeing there are 4 more to follow. (I’m reading series in order. Very slow burn. I definitely liked the ease of the bond and it made sense.
The next 1/4 was very repetitive. Repeating inner monologue for pages at a time. Same phrases, not just overall idea.
The resolution was lovely though, even if the road to it was paved with sleepy editing. A little hard to follow sometimes and pacing choppy , but characters are consistent and likable.
First half, really well done. There are a lot of characters introduced and it helps to keep in mind this is kicking off a series within the team. It annoyed me less that it was dense on the hockey and the whole team dynamic seeing there are 4 more to follow. (I’m reading series in order. Very slow burn. I definitely liked the ease of the bond and it made sense.
The next 1/4 was very repetitive. Repeating inner monologue for pages at a time. Same phrases, not just overall idea.
The resolution was lovely though, even if the road to it was paved with sleepy editing. A little hard to follow sometimes and pacing choppy , but characters are consistent and likable.
May 6, 2026
I've read the prequel and the first 3 books and this is my favourite of the lot (but I did enjoy them all). Stoic Avi is carrying the weight of 15 years of hiding his sexuality whilst Ash hasn't even considered his. It's a great romance for the 2 of them, plus there's all the bonding of a new team of underdogs brought together as a hockey expansion team, who no-one expects much of but have a lot to prove. I loved how they all supported each other in what they needed. The cat storyline added an extra emotional punch and the five hole fiction some great comedy.
If you want to try the story out first, the prequel is available for free from the author's website.
If you want to try the story out first, the prequel is available for free from the author's website.
April 29, 2026
good!
Book starts off interesting with a press release. The idea of the expansion team full of “unwanted” or unknowns is interesting concept. Avi and Ash play vital roles on the team. Within the novel, they represent a combination of topics covered in life. There are some parts of Ash’s and more so Avi’s past that are vital to his present that are glazed over. All the characters are pretty one dimensional. However, the text exchanges are entertaining. It seems like the author ran out of steam and the book just ended. However, good effort.
Book starts off interesting with a press release. The idea of the expansion team full of “unwanted” or unknowns is interesting concept. Avi and Ash play vital roles on the team. Within the novel, they represent a combination of topics covered in life. There are some parts of Ash’s and more so Avi’s past that are vital to his present that are glazed over. All the characters are pretty one dimensional. However, the text exchanges are entertaining. It seems like the author ran out of steam and the book just ended. However, good effort.
April 17, 2026
Top tier in the hockey / sports genre
A wonderfully crafted story of two mature established players. Disappointed and disillusioned by their former teams and tasked with building a new franchise from scratch, these two form a bond that develops in a natural fashion that makes for quality storytelling. The side characters are quirky and interesting, dialog is funny and crisp and there is a cat! A refreshing addition to the trope with lots of originality.
A wonderfully crafted story of two mature established players. Disappointed and disillusioned by their former teams and tasked with building a new franchise from scratch, these two form a bond that develops in a natural fashion that makes for quality storytelling. The side characters are quirky and interesting, dialog is funny and crisp and there is a cat! A refreshing addition to the trope with lots of originality.
May 7, 2026
This was super solid writing, intriguing story, with lots of good hockey. I had a few quibbles with the hockey (handshake lines during the season, that there was 56 games left in the season in February?!) and the timeline on the cat night (it didn’t make sense to me at all because Ash’s perspective didn’t line up with Avi’s time wise. And why were they all there at 4am??). It also feels a little unfinished but maybe it’ll feel more complete when I read the next book!
March 8, 2026
Fresh Ice is the first book in the new Atlanta Firebirds series and it was so good. This is a sexual awakening, slow burn, teammates to lovers, grumpy/sunshine read about Avi and Ryan. I really enjoyed reading this story and about the wonderful characters in this team, can't wait for the next book.
April 29, 2026
It had potential. It really did. But I guess I'm fussy, because there was a bit too much hockey in this "hockey romance". I know that sounds weird.. but it's also true. The story felt too focused on the entire team, and not enough on Avi and Ash. I stopped caring about them and their turbulent and essentially non-existent "relationship".
February 26, 2026
Two hockey players are about to take you on a journey neither expected. They have their own pasts which may lead them to a situation neither expected. A friendship will form and it may even turn to love. See how they get on
I received an advance copy from hidden gems and a lovely romance
I received an advance copy from hidden gems and a lovely romance
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