Ice Queen: An Enemies to Lovers Hockey Romance

by Evie Cross

Piper Green doesn’t believe in fairy tales—especially not the kind sold by professional hockey players.

As captain of the Vancouver Valkyries, she’s spent her career fighting for respect in a sport that doesn’t always give it. The last thing she needs is Max Murphy—charming, privileged, and the face of everything she distrusts—stepping into her world.

Max doesn’t understand Piper’s hatred… but he can’t seem to stay away from her either.

When a joint hockey initiative forces them together, their sharp words and simmering tension begin to blur into something neither of them expected.

Because beneath the rivalry…
there might be something worth risking everything for.

Ice Queen is a slow-burn hockey romance with enemies to lovers, athlete x athlete, and grumpy vs sunshine vibes. It’s the first in the Vancouver Northstars series.

Genres: Hockey Romance

336 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 15, 2026

About the author

Evie Cross writes contemporary romance for readers who love passion, heart, and a guaranteed happily-ever-after.

A former journalist who was raised in the middle of Canada, she grew up playing hockey and cheering for the underdog.

She’s a wife, mom, coffee devotee, Peloton enthusiast, dog person, plant lover (with mixed results), hockey fan, and believes the best love stories start with chemistry and end with forever.

Evie loves corresponding with readers, so visit her website, email her, sign up for her newsletter, or join her Facebook group for exclusive content, giveaways, and sneak peeks at upcoming books.

Evie writes historical romance as Ellie St. Clair.

Reviews

[Liberty Munson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A solid enemies to lovers hockey romance that grabbed me from page 1. Max is basically a puppy dog who does not understand why Piper hates him. He just generally avoids her. They are captains of the men and women's hockey teams and are thrown together repeatedly to attend publicity events. She hates him because she is projecting her past experiences onto Max, but as she gets to know him, she starts to realize that she might be wrong, but those preconceived notions are hard to break and she self sabotage several times before they get their HEA.

Max really makes this book a page turner...he is likeable,charming, and generally a good guy. Most important, once he decides he's all in, he...is..all..in. Piper's distrust is deep seated and ahe breaks his heart repeatedly. A lesser man would have given up.

4.5 stars. Max is definitely 5 stars... as much as it pains me, it's Piper's inability to see everything Max was doing to prve he is trustworthy (he can't prove a negative!!) and her repeatedly ugnoring him make me wish for a 4.5 star rating. This isn't a 5 star for me but there's enough to recommend it for it to be better than a 4 star review...

[Vickie]

Past experience with hockey players keeps you from any involvement, until one gets under your skin. He shows you how to have fun and embrace the chaos. Its not all or nothing. He sees all sides of you and loves every one of the. Tensions build until its bursting at the seams!

[RC · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you, Evie Cross, for a hockey romance with a FMC who is a professional hockey player. Loved all the characters on both women’s and men’s teams along with the banter. Such great representation with a plot that is very timely and on point. Can’t wait for book two. Outstanding!!

[Nathalie DeSousa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such an addictive read!

It brings an enemies-to-lovers, close proximity, hockey romance , grumpy/sunshine vibes to its plot in the most delicious way.

Max and Piper are at the top of their careers and games, they are both hockey players -same franchise mens and womens teams respectively-. The more he gets to interact with Piper, the more he wants to know of the ice princess. But Piper has been burned before, by a hockey player, and she does not want to repeat that mistake especially as she is the captain of her team. Their push and pull is just addictive and carries them through a development that is just a perfect enemies to lovers trope. The growth of the characters was just the key to the success of this story, Highly recommended and cannot wait for the next book!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Star-Book Reviewer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I ab-so-lute-ly LOVED ❤️ this hockey romance with Piper Green, Captain of the Vancouver Valkyries, and Max Murphy, Captain of the Vancouver Northstars, starting out as enemies slowly working their way to friends struggling to get further and…. Oh… yes! finally becoming much more. The book delivers not just one delicious hockey team to follow but two with both the men and women and it not only gives you regular season play but you get to experience the Olympics with its ups and downs and the playoffs for both teams. All this excitement while watching Max, known for his playboy attitude, try to convince Piper the Ice Queen to trust him and let down her armor as he admires her for all her different sides. Since there are two teams to follow there is also an abundance of wonderful teammates with shared moments full of laughter, tears, elation, stress and disappointment but always there in support. One of my favorite scenes happens with both teams together and Max sets up a karaoke opportunity and finally convinces Piper to sing a duet with him as he sings his true feelings through his words. I have to mention the lovable Charlie, Piper’s golden retriever, because she is a star in the book too. The broken bed scene had me laughing while slapping my hand to my face 🤦‍♀️…yeah it happens. Truly too many delicious scenes to recall them all here but if you’re a hockey romance fan this one is a definite click to buy with good emotional depth too.
I received an Advance Review Copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Aleksandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

ce Queen: An Enemies to Lovers Hockey Romance (The Vancouver Northstars Book 1) by Evie Cross is pure enemies-to-lovers magic on ice. Piper swore she’d never date another hockey player—past experience taught her better—until Max Murphy barrels into her life and refuses to be ignored. Forced into joint appearances and media chaos, their tension builds so tight it’s practically vibrating off the page… and one reckless night changes everything.
I loved how Max doesn’t try to “fix” Piper—he sees every side of her, even the guarded, prickly ones, and loves them anyway. He shows her life isn’t all or nothing, and watching her slowly embrace the chaos (and him) is ridiculously satisfying. The banter is sharp, the chemistry is scorching, and the emotional stakes feel real.
Evie Cross balances heat, humor, and heart flawlessly. Verdict: a total hat trick.

[De Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was absolutely amazing. I enjoyed reading every single part of this. I am a sucker for a good enemies to lovers romance and this book did not disappoint me at all. Piper and Max were utter perfection in this story. They may have been forced together but there is no denying the chemistry. The tension and connection Max and Piper have together is palpable and cannot be denied. And when it explodes boy does it pack a seriously hot punch. Their banter was insane and their chemistry was boiling. Not only do we get hilarity and intensity, but we get love and romance too. And that ending was exactly what we needed and everything they deserved.

[Steve Canada · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Max & Piper's story, and can't wait for the next couple in the series!