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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
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 114 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.
Read
July 2, 2026after reading it again, and the sequel, there is no doubt that this has AI additions to the writing 😭
And you know what? That’s on me BC THE COVER IS SO CLEARLY AI.
And you know what? That’s on me BC THE COVER IS SO CLEARLY AI.
July 2, 2026
Feeling very lucky with all the good mm hockey romances I’ve come upon lately. This one was no different. I loved Avi and Ash.
And the adorable stray cat that stole the hockey team’s heart.
And the adorable stray cat that stole the hockey team’s heart.
June 19, 2026
*edit* after thinking about this book a bit I looked into the author and I highly suspect the author is using AI to write these books if you look and see they’ve already published 6 books in this year alone…ONE A MONTH. The author also seems to have zero online presence that I can find.
—————-
Nothing about this makes it stand out from other hockey romances tbh. The non communication almost made me quit.
I noticed some timeline inconsistencies near the end of the book that took me out a few times.
The author also tried to do the TJ Klune Greencreek repetitive writing style that was Ox’s thing but it doesn’t land at all and just feels out of place.
I liked the cat parts and the group texts.
—————-
Nothing about this makes it stand out from other hockey romances tbh. The non communication almost made me quit.
I noticed some timeline inconsistencies near the end of the book that took me out a few times.
The author also tried to do the TJ Klune Greencreek repetitive writing style that was Ox’s thing but it doesn’t land at all and just feels out of place.
I liked the cat parts and the group texts.
July 4, 2026
Reading the reviews I wasn’t sure I was going to like this book. But to be honest… I do 😁 I like it a lot (the story that is). The sentences are a bit short and staccato. And the book kind of ends before the full story has been told. And still… I really kind of liked this book. Maybe because it is so subdued. The short sentences fit the story.
The mc’s are lovely too. Ash is just a ball of light. And Avi feels very wise. Also it’s good to know that the hockey is very authentic in this book. I literally only know it from romance novels, and I really don’t care about the actual sport, but it’s good to know it’s probably accurate in this book 😁
I would have given the book more stars if it would have ended a bit further down the road and if the internal homophobia would have been less present.
In books European players seem to have a lot more issues with homosexuality than American players. That was the case in this book as well.That doesn’t make sense, in most Nordic and West European countries, like Finland for example, homophobia is a lot less present than in the current US. Avi’s wish to keep everything a secret would have made more sense if he’d been Russian. Also: are there no out players at all in this hockey universe?
So this book has two major issues for me: it feels like the author might be very in the know when it comes to hockey (although this might not be true, I’m just basing this on the fact that her players complain about inaccuracies in other books). She however did not really seem to have really looked into the cultures of international characters that much.
And I just really don’t need another book with homophobia. It’s an overexposed theme that’s not helping the world and its view of homosexuality any further. It almost gives the bigots an excuse. Stop it people!
Long story short: lovely book, the writing was ok for me, but I’m annoyed anyway. So 3 stars. Might reread, not sure if I really recommend.
Edit after reading the whole series: I’m a bit wary this series is AI generated. Be aware when you read them.
The mc’s are lovely too. Ash is just a ball of light. And Avi feels very wise. Also it’s good to know that the hockey is very authentic in this book. I literally only know it from romance novels, and I really don’t care about the actual sport, but it’s good to know it’s probably accurate in this book 😁
I would have given the book more stars if it would have ended a bit further down the road and if the internal homophobia would have been less present.
In books European players seem to have a lot more issues with homosexuality than American players. That was the case in this book as well.That doesn’t make sense, in most Nordic and West European countries, like Finland for example, homophobia is a lot less present than in the current US. Avi’s wish to keep everything a secret would have made more sense if he’d been Russian. Also: are there no out players at all in this hockey universe?
So this book has two major issues for me: it feels like the author might be very in the know when it comes to hockey (although this might not be true, I’m just basing this on the fact that her players complain about inaccuracies in other books). She however did not really seem to have really looked into the cultures of international characters that much.
And I just really don’t need another book with homophobia. It’s an overexposed theme that’s not helping the world and its view of homosexuality any further. It almost gives the bigots an excuse. Stop it people!
Long story short: lovely book, the writing was ok for me, but I’m annoyed anyway. So 3 stars. Might reread, not sure if I really recommend.
Edit after reading the whole series: I’m a bit wary this series is AI generated. Be aware when you read them.
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
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.
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.
Read
May 22, 2026Oh this is delightful team-as-found-family content. Ash and Avi were cute but it's the team overall that won me over, and props to the author for acknowledging the inspiration from Game Changers rather than just trying to hop on the bandwagon.
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 16, 2026
I actually quite liked the story, but the scene with the continuity disruption other reviewers referred to blew it and made we wonder if this is AI.
I just can’t believe a real person writing this would make such a mistake in a scene so crucial to the whole book.
Did nobody proof read?
The cat and book club were cute at first until it started to be a lot.
I will start the next one in this series dreading the cat theme will be too much then.
I just can’t believe a real person writing this would make such a mistake in a scene so crucial to the whole book.
Did nobody proof read?
The cat and book club were cute at first until it started to be a lot.
I will start the next one in this series dreading the cat theme will be too much then.
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".
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.
June 19, 2026
Quiet Avi meets loud Ash.
Technically, this could be called a grumpy-sunshine, but it was much more a clouded sunshine-sunshine.
Avi has known he was gay for his entire hockey career and has gotten used to hiding. Hiding his relationships. Hiding his personality. And hiding from anyone who gets too close, including his father.
Ash has never hidden who he was, but has a tendency to layer over it and project what makes others feel better, sometimes sacrificing his own feelings by ignoring them to support someone else.
This romance is a Hockey romance, and I capitalize the H to show that it's primarily hockey focused. Game play rules the chapters that are infrequently interspersed with group chats or interviews - which I love.
The focus is much less on the couple that a classic hockey romance in some ways - focusing on getting to know the team and each characters movements, faults, superstitions and attitudes - and yet is far more intricately focused on the couple too - minute elbow touches, inches of space, heat in the air between them. This is slow burn to the max and the writing truly drags out the want between them whilst keeping them ever balanced on a life edge that's surrounded by cloud and won't ever seem to let them slip into the closeness of the relationship we really want them to have.
They are together at the end, so yes it is a hfn, but they aren't out, father issues are still present, and the third act break up is JUST resolved.
Personally, I'd have loved this to undergo a ten percent edit, to cull the repetition and is have enjoyed seeing them fully embrace their time together more. At the beginning they arrange to go running twice weekly, yet we never follow that private time or have it brought up again. They also have restaurants they were visiting, yet, again, that one on one time gives way to pure hockey and leaves us watching like fans from the sidelines without feeling or being present in the centre.
Technically, this could be called a grumpy-sunshine, but it was much more a clouded sunshine-sunshine.
Avi has known he was gay for his entire hockey career and has gotten used to hiding. Hiding his relationships. Hiding his personality. And hiding from anyone who gets too close, including his father.
Ash has never hidden who he was, but has a tendency to layer over it and project what makes others feel better, sometimes sacrificing his own feelings by ignoring them to support someone else.
This romance is a Hockey romance, and I capitalize the H to show that it's primarily hockey focused. Game play rules the chapters that are infrequently interspersed with group chats or interviews - which I love.
The focus is much less on the couple that a classic hockey romance in some ways - focusing on getting to know the team and each characters movements, faults, superstitions and attitudes - and yet is far more intricately focused on the couple too - minute elbow touches, inches of space, heat in the air between them. This is slow burn to the max and the writing truly drags out the want between them whilst keeping them ever balanced on a life edge that's surrounded by cloud and won't ever seem to let them slip into the closeness of the relationship we really want them to have.
They are together at the end, so yes it is a hfn, but they aren't out, father issues are still present, and the third act break up is JUST resolved.
Personally, I'd have loved this to undergo a ten percent edit, to cull the repetition and is have enjoyed seeing them fully embrace their time together more. At the beginning they arrange to go running twice weekly, yet we never follow that private time or have it brought up again. They also have restaurants they were visiting, yet, again, that one on one time gives way to pure hockey and leaves us watching like fans from the sidelines without feeling or being present in the centre.
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!
May 23, 2026
Got a little full of itself in the homestretch (Ash losing their names??) but I enjoyed this overall. Some similarities to Heated Rivalry (which the author had read per her note at the end): one is American and one is Finnish with a cold father who’s hard on him. But this time they’re veterans in their 30s who play on the same expansion team. Unfortunately it missed a plot point that I was looking forward to but maybe that will be in the books about other teammates. I’ll definitely try the next one. Excited to have (maybe) found a new hockey series to read.
May 26, 2026
It has been a long time since I read a book that made me so completely happy while reading it.
The story isn't complex, overall is just Ash and Avi trying to understand each other while doing their best to be the best captain the team could ask.
I loved how the author made sure that we felt the whole family being build around the team, that we knew each member, their perks and their mood.
And something that truly made me happy was the way the drama part was handled. It wasn't forced, just felt natural and the way they solved the problems made sense, just like two adults should do.
I'm going right now to Volkov and Fontenote, their chemistry is really promising
The story isn't complex, overall is just Ash and Avi trying to understand each other while doing their best to be the best captain the team could ask.
I loved how the author made sure that we felt the whole family being build around the team, that we knew each member, their perks and their mood.
And something that truly made me happy was the way the drama part was handled. It wasn't forced, just felt natural and the way they solved the problems made sense, just like two adults should do.
I'm going right now to Volkov and Fontenote, their chemistry is really promising
June 13, 2026
binged the hell out of this!! typical found family hockey romance, but with a fun twist of building an expansion team. i loved the cat subplot and the book club subplot as well, definitely gave more of the found family vibes. i wish there was more at the end, like how they told their teammates or maybe ash telling the people in his life about his identity (pulling back the performance which was his whole arc). adored the love confessions, thought their make up scene was really beautiful. could not be more excited for the next book though.
😭*absolute pain of not being seen by the person you love😀*
😭*absolute pain of not being seen by the person you love😀*
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.
May 17, 2026
I thought this story was entertaining, but underdeveloped. The characters are fun, yet remain fairly surface level. There were opportunities for the story to get deeper or add layers, only to then be side stepped. For example, Avi not coming out to his dad or team. Similarly, the spicy scenes would heat up and then seem to abruptly end. The other frustration for me was that the timeline kept jumping in a way that felt unintentional, as if there needed to be more copy editing. During the time with the cat being found with kittens, it was mentioned as being December and February at different points. Maybe a little more attention to detail is what this book needs.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 24, 2026
3 stars in my opinion is like being generous it was a 2.95⭐️ star read.
June 26, 2026
So, so, so AI coded. What a joke.
Did Not Finish
June 21, 2026Read 73 pages. I could not connect to anything in the book. The writing is not good…. There’s no feelings, no emotions. It’s all “this happened” and “that happened” but NEVER how either person feels about anything.
May 13, 2026
Editing Matters
This is a wonderful book and would have gotten 5 stars if not for one huge error. At the end of Chapter 11, Avi makes a point to get ready for bed and state he changed into a tshirt and shorts that sleeps in. The start of the next chapter, Ash wakes up first and has his epiphany when he is staring at the freckles that he should not be able to see. He states that Avi only has on sleep pants. Did Avi get up in the middle of the night and change clothes? This was such an obvious editing error made more pronounced because of where it occurred in the story. The coach, the press and the cat are really funny!
This is a wonderful book and would have gotten 5 stars if not for one huge error. At the end of Chapter 11, Avi makes a point to get ready for bed and state he changed into a tshirt and shorts that sleeps in. The start of the next chapter, Ash wakes up first and has his epiphany when he is staring at the freckles that he should not be able to see. He states that Avi only has on sleep pants. Did Avi get up in the middle of the night and change clothes? This was such an obvious editing error made more pronounced because of where it occurred in the story. The coach, the press and the cat are really funny!
June 25, 2026
The last third of the book was riddled with SO many plot holes and continuity errors, it was jarring and made it difficult to get through. Combined with the stilted writing style, it felt more like a first draft and outline than a finished book.
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.
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