Liar on Ice

by Eva Elliot

She’s the lie he’s about to uncover.

And when he does… everything falls apart.

I joined the team under a fake name.
Now the star forward wants answers.

To the Blackwood Giants, I’m Lee Shaw, the quiet replacement player no one looks at twice.
Baggy gear. Helmet always on.
Never speak unless spoken to.

But Zane Blake is watching.

And he’s starting to notice things he shouldn’t.

Because Zane doesn’t know the truth.

He doesn’t know the girl he almost kissed at a party is standing right in front of him - wearing his team’s jersey and lying to his face.

If he finds out, I lose everything.
My place on the team.
My father’s legacy.
Him.

But the closer we get, the harder it is to keep pretending.

And when the truth comes out?

It won’t just ruin me.

It’ll destroy us both.

Tropes:
• Secret identity
• Enemies to lovers
• Forced proximity (teammates)
• Hidden female hockey player
• Forbidden attraction
• Protective hero
• On-ice tension

Liar on Ice is a steamy standalone hockey romance with a guaranteed HEA.

It is Book 1 in the Blackwood Giants series. Each book in the series can be read independently.

307 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 14, 2026

Reviews

[Amee · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5*

Liar on Ice is a quick read with a fun secret identity plot, which isn’t an overly saturated trope making me excited to jump right in. Told in short alternating chapters between our MMC and fmc, the humor really stood out to me. I laughed as much as I swooned at the sweetness of our MMC, Zane. I enjoy when our male characters are written as good guys who don’t bang all of the female class, since it’s rarely used. Also the spice was minimal for those who want a cleaner story. I liked the teammates introduced, who I’m sure will be part of the series going forward which I definitely plan on continuing. Thanks to BookSirens for this ARC. My opinions are my own.

[Stina Bina · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have been thinking about how to write this review for a few days. I really enjoy hockey romance books, and this one was no exception. The story was sweet and easy to get into, with some really swoon-worthy moments. I also appreciated that there were no overly detailed spicy scenes, which makes it a book I’d feel comfortable letting my 13-year-old read if she wanted to.

I did find myself wishing for more relationship development off the ice. I understand why Nora wanted to keep her identity a secret while playing, but I would have loved to see more moments where she could just be herself with Zane.

One part that was a bit hard for me was the hockey realism. If you are familiar with the sport, there are a few moments that don’t feel very realistic. While I understand the message of “girls can do anything,” the level of physical contact and how it was handled felt a little far-fetched at times.

Overall, I still think it was a great story. It’s sweet, enjoyable, and could definitely inspire more girls to give hockey a try.

Thank you for the opportunity to be an ARC reader for this book!

[Randi Braun · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked this one, the storyline was something that I haven’t read before and it hooked me in right away! I found I was sucked in wanting to know how Leonora’s story ended. However, I did find the pacing of the book a little confusing and wondered about how Zane and Lenora’s relationship really developed. It would have been nice to see more interaction with the two of the off the ice. I loved the hockey aspect of it, but it was hockey heavy so if you can’t picture the plays the author describes it could be confusing.
Overall though, I still really liked this one and am looking forward to reading the next! A nice easy read and I finished quickly!

[Aleksandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Liar on Ice by Eva Elliot is a fun, fast-paced hockey romance with a secret identity twist that hooked me right away. Leonora joins the Blackwood Giants under a fake name, trying to protect her place on the team and her father’s legacy—but star forward Zane Blake is far too observant (and far too charming) to ignore the cracks in her story.
The alternating POV chapters kept the story moving, and the humor genuinely made me laugh as much as I swooned. Zane is such a refreshing MMC—sweet, loyal, and actually a good guy (no over-the-top player energy here), which I loved. The romance is on the cleaner side with minimal spice, making it an easy, enjoyable read.
I did find the pacing slightly uneven at times, and I would’ve loved more off-the-ice moments to deepen Zane and Leonora’s connection. The hockey scenes are detailed and immersive, though occasionally a bit heavy if you’re not familiar with the sport.
Overall, this was a unique and entertaining sports romance that I flew through—and I’m definitely excited to see where the series goes next!

[Nancy E. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved Eva Elliot's Liar on Ice, book 1 in her new Blackwood Giants hockey romance series. I adored Leonora, and Zane was the perfect partner for Leonora. The fact that she had to pretend to be a male hockey player in order to get playing time on the ice, while at college level, is disheartening. I'm super thrilled that women's hockey has become a "thing" and that more women will be able to compete. Now to break the glass ceiling at the NHL for women. The timing of Eva's book, coming out on the heels of US women's hockey team medaling is sure to pick up some more readers than normal. Genious timing!!

I loved the interaction between Leonora and Zane. His supporting her 100% after discovering who she truly is, made all the difference in this story! If you love a good hockey romance, you will love Liar on Ice!

[Sue Fedash · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book and was hooked from beginning to end. I know some reviewers felt the story was too hockey-focused, but I actually think it was necessary for the storyline and added authenticity to the characters and their world. I also had no trouble connecting with the relationship development between the main characters—it felt natural and believable to me.
The story flowed really well, the pacing kept me engaged, and the characters were well-developed with realistic emotions and chemistry. I found myself invested in both the romance and the personal journeys throughout the book. Overall, this was an entertaining, engaging read that kept my attention the entire time, and I’m definitely looking forward to reading more from this author.

[Nikala Cann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Picked it up and couldn’t put it back down until I was finished. I’ve read a lot of hockey romance and I can definitely say this is my favorite by far! The dynamic between the MCs was perfectly written. They’re on and off ice chemistry was undeniable from their very first encounter. Every chapter kept me wanting more. It’s so easy for things to go horribly wrong and someone bails; I’m so happy that wasn’t the case here. Zane was the perfect mix of cocky and sweet and Leo played the part of humble and confident well.

I recently lost my dad and I loved the little kernels of love and respect that showed through from not only the FMC, but from those around her as well. It added a depth and a purpose to her story that resonated with me and I’m sure will resonate with others as well.

[Abi - Killareads · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love a hockey romance and this plot was something I’ve not read before. I really enjoyed the premise, it reminded me of the movie “she’s the man”. The spice was minimal and pretty closed door and there were a few repetitive bits but overall it was a fun and sweet read
Thank you to book burns for this ARC copy

[Trina · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked the premise of this one. it pulled me in right away, and I was curious to see how Leonora’s story would play out. There’s definitely enough there to keep you reading.
That said, the pacing felt a bit off at times. I struggled to follow the timeline, especially when it came to Leonora and Zane’s relationship. It felt like some of their development happened off-page, which made it harder to fully connect with them as a couple.
I also wish we got more scenes of them together outside of hockey. The hockey side was strong, but it took up a lot of space, and I would’ve liked more personal moments between them.
Overall, not a bad read at all, just not totally my vibe. I’m still interested enough to pick up the next book and see where things go.

Finished April 24 2026. Published April 14 2026.
Thank you Booksirens for a copy of this ARC in exchange of an honest review.