Chasing Hope

IceHawks #3

by Mads Rafferty

Some love stories are written in the stars, theirs was written in silence.

When Evie's life seemingly shatters in a day she expects her brother to come running. The last person she expects to show up is Matteo Valenti.
Her brother's best friend. Her childhood crush. The man she's loved in silence since she was a little girl.

What Evie doesn't know is that Matteo has spent a lifetime loving her right back.

With nowhere else to turn, Evie reluctantly lets Matteo help pick up the pieces of her broken world. But for Matteo, being there for her isn't a burden, it's everything he's ever wanted. The chance to be the one she leans on. The one she trusts. The one she loves.

And this time, neither of them can ignore the tension that's been simmering between them for over twenty years.

But while Matteo is determined to help her find her spark again, Evie carries the weight of a devastating secret, one powerful enough to destroy everything. Because some wounds cut deeper than anyone can see and even Matteo's unwavering love might not be enough to save the woman he's spent a lifetime wishing upon every star.

Genres: Romance, Sports Romance, Hockey, Sports, Friends To Lovers, Hockey Romance, Brothers Best Friend

482 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 11, 2026

About the author

Never in a million years would I have thought my life would look like what it does today. If I told my younger self that I not only love to read but that I write books for a living … well let’s just say we would be attending her funeral. Books will forever hold a special place in my heart. At the age of nineteen, I immersed myself in the world of fiction and was lucky enough to be dragged out of a dark abyss. Books have been there for me through thick and thin, helping shape the person I am today and I hope for some, my books will do the same. In whatever capacity that may be.

Reviews

[nat · Rating 5 out of 5]

“she’s the sun in my life, constantly lighting up everything in my sight, and when she’s not around, it’s so dark there’s not even a moon to illuminate anything.”

i spend the majority of this book crying my eyes out.

the way the author captures the aftermath of the abuse, the depression, the whole mental health rep was done amazingly well it made me feel seen.
i could feel the pain through the pages, what the characters were going through was so palpable that i felt the desperation like it was me.

i think it was well handled and was very realistic of how it happens in real life, how it affects absolutely every aspect of life.

such a beautiful but devastating story.

and the quotes !!!!

“i would let myself drown in order to save you.”

“i will always choose you, evie. in every situation, in every room, and in every lifetime. i will always choose you.”

“i’m here, dove, and i believe you. every word.”
i’m glad someone finally does.

“why do you call me dove?”
his thumbs brush back and forth across my cheeks. “because when i look at you, i see freedom,” he confesses. “you are my peace, evie. i look at you and i feel free.”

[Amarilis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Estoy segura de que no hay nada que pueda escribir en una reseña que le haga justicia a este libro y a todas las emociones que me hizo sentir y experimentar. Solo puedo decir que es mucho más que una historia de romance. Es más, muchísimo más.

No es mi favorito de los tres, la verdad, porque es un libro que trata temas extremadamente fuertes, tristes y desgarradores. En algunos momentos llegué a sentirlo tan pesado que pensé en abandonarlo, pero, a pesar de todo eso, sí me gustó mucho. Tiene personajes tan reales que, por momentos, hasta asustan. Es imposible no sufrir con todo lo que sienten y todo por lo que pasan.

Matteo y Evie fueron una pareja maravillosa. Dos almas rotas que se encontraron y se ayudaron a sanar. Matteo, además, fue un novio maravilloso; me encantó verlo tan abierto y seguro de lo que sentía por Evie, porque nunca dejó dudas sobre cuánto la amaba. Todo lo que hacía por ella fue tan dulce y hermoso de leer. Me alegra muchísimo que hayan encontrado su final feliz; se lo merecían por completo.

Y ahora solo espero que Caleb también tenga su final feliz. Ojalá tenga su propio libro y podamos leer su historia.

[♡Molly♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

˙⋆✮Rating✮⋆˙
5/5 Stars

【What to Expect】
🏒 No Third Act Break-Up!!
❆ Fmc & Mmc Healing and Finding Peace Together
🏒 Brothers Best Friend
❆ Friends to Lovers
🏒 Found Family

𓂃🖊Notes and Highlights-

・┆✦ʚEvie Ellington Died eleven months ago, and I haven’t been able to revive her.”ɞ✦ ┆・

⋆｡‧˚ʚ ”She just clipped my wings.” ɞ˚‧｡⋆

✦•┈๑⋅⋯”I will always choose you, Evie. In every situation, in every room, and in every lifetime. I will always choose you..”⋯⋅๑┈•✦

💭 Thoughts-

-ˋˏ✄┈┈This was definitely my favorite so far of the series. I was literally addicted and have never been more happy to be sick in bed and have all the time in the world to devour this book and it me.

-ˋˏ✄┈┈I can’t nor do I want to spoil it but I will say my mom always says there is a special place in hell for people like what we see in this book even if this is fictional this still happens to people and I feel like the author did give such a difficult subject a voice and the ability for such a subject to be heard to the masses in the correct way. I will say that you need to make sure to read the trigger warnings for this. It can definitely be a heavy subject and so you have to keep that in mind while reading this book.

-ˋˏ✄┈┈The ending though was absolute perfection it was the perfect way to end this book while also giving us closure and also the perfect happily ever after that both main characters definitely needed and deserved.

Now Playing the Playlist: Healing w/ You

★ I Hate It Here- Taylor Swift
★ Labour- Paris Paloma
★ I See Red- Everybody Loves an Outlaw
★ Before He Cheats- Carrie Underwood
★ Treat You Better- Shawn Mendes
★Moral of the Story- Ashe
★ Troubled Waters- Alex Warren
★ Issues- Julia Michaels
★ Carry You Home- Alex Warren
★ Clarity- Zedd
★ Perfect- Ed Sheeran

(If you can’t tell by the entire playlist I made for this book this was a really good book so take my advice and read it)

[krystenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Authors Note: “I hope I gave a voice to the girls and boys within us that were silenced.”

Writing a review for this doesn’t seem fitting, it’s a book that’s felt and words don’t always capture a feeling. I know mine would never do it justice.

For anyone who has ever been a victim, I hope you find your Matteo, I hope you find peace, and I hope like Evie you find the strength to heal.

“I will always choose you, Evie. In every situation, in every room, and in every lifetime. I will always choose you.”

I personally loved this book, and this whole series so much. Like her previous books I found the starts slow because yes they are long, but the ends are always worth the pay off. These are not fluffy sports romance, they are not perfectly written love stories, these are raw and honest, and there is something so unique in that.

Thank you Mads for giving me
Matteo “my woman, my jersey.” Valenti
Evie “now stop being a gentleman and kiss me” Ellington

- childhood friends to lovers
- brothers best friend
- forced proximity
- one of the best found families (my guy Kieren in this one again 🥹)
- no 3rd act break up

4.5 ⭐️ 1🌶️ 3.5 🤍

[Nicola Frasier (nikswordsonpaper) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beta reader spoil free review. All thoughts are my own.

5⭐️ for rating and emotional damage.

If I could rate this higher, I genuinely would. Mads never misses on the emotional devastation and this - in my humble opinion - is her most emotional and best IceHawks book yet! I didn't think it could get harder, but boyyyyyy was I in for a journey.

The unfinished bits and closure I was seeking from book two goes deeper in this and blends well with Evie and Matteo's storyline. I love how seamlessly the books in this series have been woven in together and we continue to get amazing found family moments with the team and their partners. We even get more of Emmy and my heart just bursts. My tears lately have all been shed for Mads characters, so thanks a bunch!

Evie and Matteo are just perfection with their banter and friendship. The tension from their forbidden affections and their 'almost' moments are kick-your-feet insane. The boiling point is delicious! Matteo has the perfect nickname for Evie, and I love the long reveal of its meaning.

We delve into hard topics of depression and trauma, making me so genuinely emotionally invested in these characters. I wanted to hold and protect these two at all costs as their stories are so devastating! Mads handled the mental health representation with delicacy and tenderness as always, but especially in Chasing Hope. It's in the title itself! The journey is never linear as we find with these two, but the unwavering support from everyone makes it so rewarding and seems like it's going to fit seamlessly with the next book. I already cannot wait!

[Heavenly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two broken souls finding peace in each other…

I kid you not, the minute I received the email that I was selected to be an ARC reader for ‘chasing hope’, I screamed. I’ve read Mads her other two books as well, and they were so good! I laughed, I fell in love and I’ve cried during those, and when she started teasing this one, I was overly excited and knew I needed to read this one.

I was about sixty pages into another book when I received this ARC, and immediately (which I never ever do) started this book and put the other one aside.

I was hooked from chapter one. The way it was written, the way were introduced to the story, I couldn’t put it down.

I love how easy the dynamic between Evie and Mattheo is. Their banter, riling each other up, it’s adorable. This is a slow burn story, and a slow burn it is. The way we read about how they’re slowly but surely, realizing they’re falling for each other, is so well written.

The amount of ‘almost’ moments there were, oh my god, it had me screaming at my kobo. They were so, so good.

Okay, I always love how ‘book boyfriends’ talk about their girls. But the way Matteo talks about Evie, rises above all the 35 books I’ve read so far. That man is down bad.

I cried so hard at the end of chapter 54 and at chapter 55. I can’t spoiler, but those broke me. Mads, you’re such a good writer and I don’t know how, but you’re able to bring the story in a way that makes it feel like I’m sucked right into it, and standing nearby, watching. You were not kidding when you said this book was going to be even more gut-wrenching than the other two.

But hey, at least there’s no third-act breakup, so we’re all good, right?

Let’s also not forget about Matteo. His story is so sad, and I just want to crawl into the book and hug him. Tightly.

The epilogue was so beautiful, the best way to close the book.

Evie and Matteo will always be holding a special place in my heart. They’re so lovable, and need all the love they can get.

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️ I stayed up way too late last night to read this because the plot its self was great!! I adored Evie. My gripe is the same with this book as it was with the other two, I hate how she writes male characters. They’re too perfect, 0 flaws. It just makes them less human.

[Soph · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, this one hurt. This is such a heartbreaking and important story, which Mads portrayed in such a beautiful way.

Please, please read the trigger warnings before diving into this book. This is a love story, but it is so much more than that.

Two people whose souls were broken by the very people who were supposed to protect them. And sadly, this is the reality for so many people. My heart hurts just thinking about it.

Matteo is truly the ultimate book boyfriend and the perfect example of yearning. You can really feel the love and soulmate connection between Evie and Matteo. They are both so protective of each other, gentle and compassionate. Nothing can come between them and their love.

Once again, the found family aspect was portrayed so beautifully and it was so important for both Evie and Matteo. I also really felt for Caleb.

Despite the heavy topics, we still got plenty of banter and funny moments, which took away a little bit of the heaviness and provided a needed relief.

My only criticism is that I sometimes found the dialogue or inner thoughts a little corny or cringey. I mean, we get the nickname Dove, and it’s cute, but I think it was used a little too often. Nevertheless, the story itself was written beautifully and those things didn’t take away from my overall enjoyment.

I am SO excited for the next book in this series, and I really hope it will be Caleb’s story. He deserves to find his peace and his person too.

And the author’s note… uff. I really hope Mads and everyone who has had to survive any kind of abuse, can heal, find peace, and know that they deserve so much better.

This story hurt, but it was also beautiful, hopeful and full of love.

[Mona · Rating 4.75 out of 5]

🌶️.75/5
🧅🧅🧅🧅/5
☠️☠️☠️.5/5


Livro bem pesado.

Fala sobre a história da Evie e do melhor amigo do irmão Matteo.
Ela carrega os traumas do passado que se desenrolam durante a vida adulta e que afetam negativamente a vida dela, fora todos os problemas de namorado e melhor amiga infiel.
Aqui não só temos as consequências e efeitos colaterais dos acontecimentos do passado, mas uma dinâmica de família extremamente complicada e incrivelmente real: Nós nunca sabemos o que realmente acontece dentro de uma família a não ser que você viva/sobreviva nela.
Eu chorei horrores, me traumatizei também, isso por causa das cenas extremamente descritivas e detalhadas, fora os atos e a mente do abusador.
Também mostra que nem tudo tem um final feliz e brilhante. Que na vida real as pessoas vão ter que lidar com isso, provavelmente, para sempre.
Gostei do pacing do livro e da abordagem de todos os tópicos, gostei da maneira como a autora não passou pano em nada. Tudo foi muito bem retratado.
O único problema, que foi o motivo de não ter dado 5 estrelas de cara, foram as repetições do pensamento da FMC. Eu sei que fazem parte da dinâmica e tem um motivo, mas chegou uma hora que cansou, mas só penalizei um pouco 4.75 (que no final, para o goodreads, eu arredondei já que 5 estrelas é um sentimento)

[Jetscarbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I struggled with the ratings on this book. Ultimately, I decided on 3 stars because the writing is not bad. Where I struggle is the blurb and the book cover.
📍This is NOT some feel good hockey romance. This book tackles some very serious trauma.

The blurb and book cover is deceptive IMO.

(Possible spoilers ahead)

Full transparency- I did not read the other books in this series. I also tend to skip TWs and I did not read spoilers before jumping in. SO ITS ON ME. I thought this was gonna be some feel-good, brother’s BFF love story involving hot, dirty talking hockey players.

I never go into hockey books with cute covers expecting what I got with this one.

The hero is NOT a manho. He’s a total green flag.

The book starts where the hero, Matteo, gets a call from his BFF, Caleb, that his sister, Evie needs help. Matteo has loved Evie since they were kids, so he rushes to her.
Earlier, Evie walked in on her Boyfriend and her BFF boinking. She is devastated. She’s also in the parking garage busting up both their cars. 😂😂 (I was thinking at this point we were off to a fantastic start) Matteo even joins in.

Matteo moves Evie in with him. Caleb is still out of the country. This is when we find out that Evie has pulled away from her family over the last year. Most readers would assume it was because of her awful, cheating bf. Nope

We also find out that when they were kids, Matteo kind of lived with Evie and her family because his home situation was bad. Matteo loves and hero-worships Evie’s family…especially Evie’s dad.

We are also told that Matteo broke Evie’s heart but once you find out what happened, it makes sense. Matteo absolutely LOVES Evie and he always did. Evie tried to “get” with him and he had to break her heart. She was 16. He was 18. Evie was also drunk when she admitted her feelings. He told her no and that she needed to live a little before getting into a relationship. Plus…….she was ONLY 16.

Now..back to present time. Matteo and Evie have that tension going on. BUT it’s clear something major is going on with Evie. Depression, not eating, disassociating, nightmares, etc…..
Evie’s mom shows up one day and it’s clear Evie hates her mom. Matteo is confused because Evie’s mom and dad are awesome. 😣

We also find out that whatever is going on with Evie- she had told her cheating ex boyfriend and ex BFF what happened. After that is when they started to treat her differently. Evie and her cheating ex were not even really having smex anymore.

Anyway, we get the slow build up of Matteo and Evie’s relationship. We get the brother catching them kissing and he hits Matteo. Weirdo acting eek over his sister’s smex life.

📍Okay, now this is what most of this book is about. Do not read any further if you don’t want to know

Evie was gRaped from age 3 until she was 13 by her “respected” dad. There are MULTIPLE flashbacks scenes showing this. Some of the details are vague, but some are not. You know what her dad said to her or how he would hold his hands over her mouth. You know what injuries he caused in her v. You know she had multiple bladder infections. You know she had internal cuts and bleeding. You know how he smelled and the threats he said to make her be silent. You know that he rubbed on her legs at the kitchen table while others were there. (There’s more but my heart hurts)

It was a lot. 😭😭😭

Some of the flashbacks were super cute showing Matteo being the best green flag, always.

Then boom….you would get nasty daddy flashbacks.

It was a strange combination.

You finally get Matteo and Evie having smex around 75% and I was just left uncomfortable. Not that it was a bad event or anything; just the whole tone of the book has drastically changed by then.

You find out that Evie actually told her mom a year prior to the book’s start. Mom doesn’t believe her. That’s why there was such hatred when mom came to visit Evie earlier.

Everything comes out at Evie’s birthday party. Evie’s dad and mom have the F’ing audacity to show up. Evie loses her mind and rips into her dad in front of everyone. This is when Matteo finds out who the perp actually was. This is when Caleb finds out Evie was gRaped. Everybody is puking and fists are flying.
I was just glad Evie’s brother believed her.

Evie finally talks to the cops. She finally talks to her brother.
Matteo is there beside her the whole way.

Matteo and Caleb both struggle with a lot of guilt. Especially when they realized they were always in the next room while she was being gRaped. Once Evie cried wanting to sleep with Caleb because she was scared and Caleb told her no. Or the time dad took Evie from her birthday party (while everyone else was asleep) and Evie was crying. Matteo heard her crying and wanted to comfort Evie but dad told him to go back to sleep and he would “put her to bed” 😭

Anyway, dad is arrested. Something like 15+ girls also come forward. (He was a soccer coach) and even Evie’s BFF comes forward. Evie had a BFF when she was younger, Sarah. Sarah suddenly quit talking to Evie and Evie never knew why.

The epilogue is 2 months later. Evie and Matteo are happy. Evie is still going to therapy.
We find out Caleb has not being doing well. He’s drinking a lot. I’m sure an upcoming book will be about him.

The author’s note absolutely ripped my heart out. I could 💯 tell whoever wrote this, experienced this firsthand. There was no doubt that Evie was based off a real person.

——-

I never would’ve read this book if I’d known this was full on trauma dealing with CSA. Sure, I’ve read plenty of dark romance where it touches on the subject, but this book did more than just mention it. It made you feel it and experience what Evie felt during this. The flashbacks were ROUGH. The mixture of sweet young love flashbacks mixed with nasty daddy just did not work for me. The nasty daddy stuff was too much.

[₊˚ପ⊹ Stella · Rating 5 out of 5]

5🌟
You look at this cover and you'd be like "oh it's a cute sports romance" it is in fact NOT CUTE. This is a story of trauma, nightmares and pain and God did I love it? Absolutely! Did it fucking destroy me? Absolutely YES.
I was sobbing uncontrollably with the characters at 3 A.M!!!!
I loved how he took care of her, broke for her, cried for her and then tried to help her heal :)
(Who is paying for my therapy though?)
Why is this book so underrated??? Go read it ASAP!!!

[chenaey ౨ৎ · Rating 5 out of 5]

my rating: ★★★★★

aesthetic: 💔🥾🌄📸👨🏽‍💻🛁☕️👩🏼‍⚖️📲🚨❤️‍🩹

Chasing Hope is the kind of book that makes a five-star rating incredibly difficult to put into words.

Not because it was an easy five-star read. In fact, quite the opposite. This is not a light-hearted romance, and there were moments where reading it felt genuinely heavy. Mads Rafferty takes Evie and Matteo’s story into some incredibly difficult places, exploring grief, trauma, devastating secrets, emotional pain and the ways that people can carry wounds that are completely invisible to everyone around them.

So while I absolutely loved this book, I also want to acknowledge that loving it did not mean that it was easy to read.

This one hurt.

At the centre of Chasing Hope is Evie, whose world is shattered in a single day, leaving her trying to navigate the aftermath while carrying far more than anyone realises. When Matteo Valenti—the best friend of her brother, her childhood crush and the man she has quietly loved for most of her life—steps in, their relationship begins to change in ways neither of them can continue to ignore.

And honestly? Matteo.

There is something so incredibly emotional about a man who has spent decades loving someone quietly and patiently, never expecting anything in return, only to finally have the opportunity to be the person she needs. Matteo doesn’t try to rush Evie’s healing or demand pieces of her that she isn’t ready to give. He simply stays. He shows up. He listens. He gives her somewhere safe to land. And watching their relationship develop from childhood feelings into something deeper was one of my favourite parts of the book.

The childhood-crush/long-term pining element made their romance particularly special because this isn’t a love that appears out of nowhere. Matteo and Evie’s connection has history. There is so much unsaid between them, so much feeling buried beneath years of friendship and familiarity, that every moment of tension carries the weight of everything they’ve never had the courage to say.

Their romance feels like a love story that has been waiting patiently in the background for the right moment to finally be acknowledged. But Chasing Hope is so much more than a romance. The emotional storyline is where this book truly stands out.

Evie’s journey is painful, complicated and, at times, incredibly difficult to sit with. Mads doesn’t make her pain neat or convenient. She doesn’t simply experience something devastating and magically emerge from the other side. Instead, we see the complexity of trying to survive something that has fundamentally changed you.

There is a rawness to the way Evie’s struggles are portrayed that made her feel incredibly human. And that is also why this book comes with a strong emotional-content warning. There are heavy topics throughout the story, and some scenes may be particularly difficult for readers who are sensitive to themes surrounding trauma, grief and emotional distress.

I went into this expecting an emotional romance, but I wasn’t prepared for just how deeply this story would affect me. There were moments where I had to put the book down. Moments where I needed to take a breath before continuing. And moments where I genuinely wished I could reach through the pages and give Evie a hug. Yet somehow, amongst all of that darkness, Chasing Hope lives up to its title.

Because this story is ultimately about hope.
Hope that broken things can still be rebuilt. Hope that surviving something doesn’t mean you have to remain defined by it. Hope that letting someone in doesn’t make you weak. Hope that love can exist alongside pain. And perhaps most importantly, hope that even when you cannot see a way forward, there can still be someone willing to sit beside you in the darkness until you’re ready to find it.

That is what made Matteo and Evie’s relationship so powerful for me. Matteo isn’t there to magically fix her. He can’t erase what happened, and he can’t take her pain away. What he can do is remind her that she doesn’t have to carry everything alone.

Their story is messy, heartbreaking and incredibly tender.

And while there were definitely moments when I felt emotionally wrecked by this book, there were also moments that made me smile, swoon and completely believe in the kind of love that waits twenty years without ever truly disappearing.

As an ARC reader, I also really appreciated how much emotional depth there was beneath the romance. This wasn’t simply a story about two people finally admitting their feelings. It was a story about healing, trust, vulnerability and learning to accept love when you don’t necessarily believe you’re worthy of it.

That made the romance feel earned. It made the emotional payoff hit harder. And it made the characters’ journey stay with me long after I finished reading. Chasing Hope isn’t my five-star rating because it was comfortable. It isn’t five stars because every moment was easy. It’s five stars because it made me feel something.

It broke my heart, made me hope, made me ache for these characters and ultimately reminded me why I love stories that aren’t afraid to explore the complicated, painful sides of love.

Mads Rafferty has created a story that is beautifully emotional, deeply romantic and incredibly difficult at times—but underneath all of the heartbreak is something incredibly important: hope.

And for Evie and Matteo, I think that’s exactly what they needed.

A beautifully painful story about finding light in the darkest places, letting yourself be loved when you’re hurting, and discovering that sometimes the person who has been beside you all along is the person who knows exactly how to help you find your way home.

ARC received in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own

[Jade Odoms · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is really sad lol kinda hard to stomach reading all of the flashbacks. Like def not a cute romance 😅
I was more intrigued by the trauma and wanting to know WHO the “monster” was than by the romance between Evie and Matteo. I hated the nickname Dove.. what 7 year old would come up with that?? 😂

[Ali · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mads Rafferty surely knows how to make you sit and read for an entire day. Rtc

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sensitive, heavy topic handled with care. I wish we got a bit more relationship development from childhood, felt like we were thrown into the middle of the love story without much build up, so the romance felt like a lot of telling and not enough showing.

I’m desperately hoping we get a book about Caleb because I feel like his story is just beginning.

[emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

── review
(make sure you read the author's note for trigger warnings.)

this book.
i don't think i even have the words for it.

if Breaking Point showed me that healing can begin even in the darkest moments, and Fighting Chance taught me what healing looks like, then Chasing Hope reminded me that healing is never linear—and that sometimes the bravest thing you can do is let someone love you through it.

evie absolutely broke my heart. watching her carry something so heavy while convincing herself she had to do it alone (and that it was her fault) was devastating. every setback, every moment she questioned herself, every tiny victory... i felt all of it. seeing her slowly reclaim pieces of herself was one of the most beautiful journeys i've ever read.

and matteo...
twenty years of loving someone without asking for anything in return. twenty years of choosing her, protecting her, and showing up whenever she needed him. he's patient, unwavering, and somehow manages to love evie exactly the way she needs to be loved. if green flags were a person, they'd be matteo valenti.

together, they're everything. they prove that love can't erase trauma, but it can give you a safe place to begin healing. they chose each other over and over again, even when it was hard, and that's what made their story.

⛸️ hockey romance
🩷 brothers best friend
⛸️ 20 years of yearning
🩷 f*ck it moment
⛸️ found family
🩷 childhood trauma
⛸️ guaranteed to make you cry

"Come on, Dove, let's see if you can fly."

"I'll always believe you." That's what scares me.

"I can do hard things."

[Shilpa✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW.

If you are planning to read this story, please know that while this series is a sports romance, it is so much more. Please check the trigger warnings and read the authors’ personal note. This story is not for a faint of heart.

For me, Chasing Hope is Evie’s story with everyone else as a supporting character fighting alongside her. We follow her journey as a sexual assault survivor after her primary memories of what she endured over 10 years are triggered and while she finally gets the justice she deserves.

Evie and Matteo are childhood friends who reconnect after a year of no contact when Matteo is called by his best friend and Evie’s brother, Caleb to help her. I absolutely loved their reunion, this is exactly how friends show up. No questions asked.

Through Matteo’s POV, we slowly see him recognise Evie’s struggles as she keeps a 10-year secret from her loved ones. Chapter 55 and Caleb’s chapter alone deserves 5 freaking stars. This is not a book that I will pick up again, but Evie’s story and her relationship with Matteo will stay with me forever.

To be truly seen and loved by each other, I absolutely adored their tenderhearted friendship and everything they became. Mads, truly thank you for writing this hauntingly beautiful story — 5 stars!!

“Because if I told you, you’d end up committing murder”

“This right here is proof that you are never asking for too much, you may just be asking the wrong person”

[Srahhreadsx · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was heavy, I devoured it obviously being a hockey romance but man was it heavy. It touched on some heavy topics like child hood trauma so check the trigger warnings but I felt it was written very well and you could just feel the emotion and turmoil and reclaiming the power through the pages.

Also Matteo, the way that man YEARNS for Evie. They are fated I absolutely loved their love for each other it was deep and comforting and exactly what you needed for this story line. Their banter and tension lightened up the book and gave it all the giddy kicking your feet feelings.

Side note: if Caleb doesn’t get a book I will riot. That man is suffering and i NEED his story miss Rafferty do your thing 🙏


- brother’s best friend
- child hood trauma
- they help each other heal
- roommates
- 20 years of yearning
- slow burn
- found family


“I’ve always been yours, and I’ll continue to be for as long as my soul exists. In every lifetime, I’ll choose you. Always you, Dove.”

[Katherine Wilkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an emotional read! This book tackles some heavy topics and my heart was all over the place. The way Matteo is always there for Evie is everything! I love how much he cares for her. I’ve grown so attached to all these characters and reading Caleb’s POV was heartbreaking. This book had me feeling all the feels.

[Mak · Rating 5 out of 5]

I simply do not have the words to do this book justice. This book is a feeling, and nothing I say will convey those feelings and emotions appropriately. I was wrecked while reading this. I utterly adore this series, and wasn’t really prepared for how raw and emotional this one would make me.

Every victim deserves a chance to heal. To be heard. To let it out. To not be ok. To rebuild yourself. To have their own Matteo. Mads put very difficult emotions and topics into words and I am beyond thankful for that. I feel she respected the topic and didn’t hide from the devastation that follows. She didn’t sugar coat it but allowed Evie her chance to heal.

5 stars isn’t enough for me. I don’t think I can adequately describe what this book means to me.

[Penni Hollins 📚🐉]

Well holy crap that was really fucking intense……

This has always been a really hard topic for me to read and so with that in mind I felt a lot of pure fucking rage and devastating heartache.

This topic is such a heinous one but Mads absolutely covered this in such a respectful way that I just had to keep reading.

The sorrow I felt for these characters is just overwhelming BUT what a slam dunk series!

I truly hope that there is more to come as I have many characters that I would like to hear more about.

Off to rock in a corner crying now……😭😭😭

[Georgia Gowling · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a difficult read but so well done

[notesfromchaos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: ∞/5 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

I don't have the words for this book, and honestly, I don't think any rating could ever do justice to what it made me feel. Matteo and Evie, you deserve the entire fucking world. Thank you, Mads Rafferty, for writing something this beautiful and devastating—I will carry this book with me for a very, very long time.

And Marcus Ellington? Even hell has standards, and apparently you are beneath them.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

⚠️ Trigger warning: childhood sexual abuse. Please check the trigger warnings before reading.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

After really enjoying the first two books in the IceHawks series by Mads Rafferty, I was excited to finally get Evie and Matteo's story in Chasing Hope. Their history stretches all the way back to childhood, so there was already so much emotional baggage and years of unspoken feelings between them. That said, this book felt a little different from the previous installments. The romance is definitely there, but it often takes a backseat to the much darker story surrounding trauma, grief, healing, and the way one person's pain can affect everyone around them.

Tropes
👬 Brother's Best Friend
🧸 Childhood Friends to Lovers
🐢 Slow Burn
🫶 Found Family
⏳ 20 Years of Yearning & Tension
🔥 "Fuck It" Moment
🩹 Childhood Trauma

Microtropes
🛗 Elevator Scene
📿 He Kept the Bracelet She Gave Him at Eight
🥀 "I Didn't Save You" Guilt
🕊️ He Calls Her Dove
🛁 He Runs Her a Bath & Plays Her Favorite Show After Therapy
🤫 She's Hiding a Family Secret That Could Ruin Them All
🥾 Hiking Is Their Thing
☕ He Makes Latte Art for Her Every Morning
💞 "It's Always Been You"

What really stood out to me was how thoughtfully the darker themes were handled. This is an incredibly heavy story, and Mads Rafferty does a good job showing just how deeply trauma can affect someone long after the initial events have passed. Evie's journey isn't about suddenly being "fixed": it's about slowly finding her way out of that darkness, learning to trust again, and figuring out how to move forward when the past is still very much a part of her. It was painful to read at times, but there was also something really hopeful about watching her slowly begin to find herself again.

The history between Matteo and Evie made their relationship feel so much more meaningful, and I loved seeing all those years of feelings gradually come to the surface. He was incredibly patient and supportive throughout everything she was going through, and I especially loved the little ways he took care of her without ever making her feel like she needed to be rescued. Their quieter moments together were some of my favorites because they showed just how well they understood each other. I did occasionally struggle with the nickname "Dove," though. Nicknames are always hit or miss for me, and I felt like this one was used a little too frequently at times.

I also really appreciated that the story showed how trauma doesn't exist in isolation. Evie's struggles affected the people around her, and seeing how everyone tried to support her added another layer to the story. The characters from the previous books were also naturally woven into the narrative, and I loved getting to spend more time with them. It made the series feel connected without taking attention away from Evie's story.

A few aspects of the book didn't work quite as well for me. Compared to the first two installments, I found this one harder to settle into, and it took me a while before I felt fully invested in Evie and Matteo's story. I think some of that comes down to the more introspective and emotionally heavy nature of the book, which naturally made the pacing feel slower. Even once I was invested, though, I didn't feel quite the same connection to them that I had with Bella and Grayson or Layla and Kieran. Their relationship also had a few moments that felt a little too polished or overly sentimental for my taste.

I also wish Matteo's own trauma had been explored a little more. His childhood neglect clearly shaped who he became, especially growing up with two doctor parents who were so consumed by their careers that they were largely absent from his life. I loved seeing how that history influenced the way he connected with Evie and understood her pain, but I sometimes felt like his own experiences were pushed into the background. Given how much he had carried since childhood, I would have loved to see more of his healing and how he had learned to come to terms with everything he'd been through.

The biggest issue I had with the storyline surrounding Evie's abuse was the way the book handled the reveal of who was responsible. It became fairly obvious to me that her father was the person who had abused her, so I found it frustrating that the story spent so long trying to steer the reader away from that conclusion. I kept expecting there to be another explanation or some additional layer to the mystery, but ultimately it was exactly what I had suspected. Because the answer was so predictable, all the delays and attempts to hide it started to feel more frustrating than suspenseful. I think the story could have been stronger if it had focused less on trying to conceal the identity of her abuser and more on the emotional consequences of finally confronting that truth.

There were some lines throughout the book that really stayed with me, especially because they captured the emotional core of the story so well:

"Her words are rocks tethered to my ankles, my final undoing. I'm pulled into the depths of the ocean and I fear I'll never breach the surface for air again."
"My mind doesn't want me to forget again. It wants me to keep fighting, despite feeling like I have no fight left."
"You can always tell me anything," she murmurs. "Some things are too dark to share."
"To be loved is to be known."

Overall, Chasing Hope was a much heavier and more emotionally intense read than the first two IceHawks books. It wasn't my favorite of the series, mainly because I struggled more with the pacing and connection to the main couple, but I thought the themes were handled with a lot of care. The romance may have been quieter than I expected, but the story of learning to live beyond trauma and finding your way back toward hope was incredibly powerful.

And now I'm very curious about Caleb (Evie's brother). 👀 After everything we've seen from him, I have a feeling that man has plenty of healing of his own to do. I'm already looking forward to seeing who eventually gets through to him and what his happily ever after is going to look like. ❤️

[madsxr3ads · Rating 3.75 out of 5]

a little repetitive but i liked it

[mikayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought of so many ways to start this review and absolutely none of them did justice to what this book did to me. all I can say is I'm very lucky to have read this on my kindle because my paperback would have had severe water damage. I was in tears basically the entire time and once one river was filled and I was okay, it just started right back up again. but luckily I have so much to say so buckle up.

₊˚⟢ main characters ₊˚⟢
evie🕊️: oh my gosh sweetie. if evie was real and I met her in person I don't know which I would do first. hit her or hug her until I die. hit her for the heartbreak she caused me by reading her story (NOT YOUR FAULT BABE) and hug her for what the story held. she was so strong even when she was breaking. the way she held her pain by herself for so long and protected herself when no one cared enough to do it for her (looking at you Carter you fricken bent breadstick) absolutely killed me. but I also loved how her trauma wasn't the only thing about her. its a super hard line for authors when the characters abuse is such a core plot line, not to make it the only one (minus the romance ofc). but mads executed this wonderfully and so kindly as well. she approached this topic with such care and just overall respect.

matteo: UGH I LOVE YOU. men, if you are ever wondering how to treat a woman, unless you can be this man just give up now. the way he absolutely ADORED evie with every fibre of his being? SWOON. how he held her and loved her when she couldn't love herself. how he saw her when no one else did. believed her when no one would give her the time of day. ughhhh we love a man that yearns but also one that is just... so perfect. your ex cheated on you with your best friend? let's DEMOLISH his car and shove a potato up the exhaust. oh and better yet, how about I just break his nose. you're depressed but don't want to talk about it? hey that's okay, im here for you. let me just make you coffee everyday and food and literally everything you could ever want. you want to talk about what that scum of the earth did to you? im here and im listening. my heart breaks for you. now excuse me whilst I go kill him. now seriously don't read that spoiler if you haven't read the book but I rest my case. Matteo = perfect. thank you for listening to my ted talk.

everyone else
caleb: kinda overreacted about m&e but came through like three chapters later and boy, this man does not do things half way. #redeemedhimself
kieran: i forgot about his own experience for like half the book and when I remembered (when he was talking to evie - iykyk) I started bawling. love this man
the complete waste of perfectly good oxygen who shall remain nameless for the point of a) my sanity and b) not spoiling the book: I HATE YOU AND I HOPE YOU ROT IN PRISON LIKE YOU DESERVE YOU DESPICABLE HUMAN BEING. there is a special place in hell for you.
all of evie's friends: bless your hearts!! you are what she needed and everything you bring made this book so beautiful.
the hockey players: 1. yummy 2. yes please 3. I love them all

₊˚⟢ final thoughts/summary ₊˚⟢
I don't even know how to describe this book without spoiling it so I'm not going to describe it very much. what I will say though is this book was by far the hardest one I have ever read. the emotional journey this took me one was so incredibly heartbreaking that I felt right there with them. 'chasing hope' was extremely well written and whilst it focused on some really hard topics, they were handled so well with such care for anyone going through it. it was intense, but the outcome was beautiful. I'm ready for book four whenever you are mads, keep em coming they are truly wonderful reads (even if I leave every single one sobbing)

left this book feeling so encouraged to soar and I reckon you will too x (read it).

[Megan Jeal · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advance copy of Chasing Hope by Mads Rafferty.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️… honestly, this deserves a million stars.

Mads never misses with her books, but I genuinely think this is the best one she’s written so far. It also covers the hardest topic she’s tackled to date, and I honestly don’t think it could have been handled with more care or compassion.

Stories that centre around sexual assault and abuse carry such a huge responsibility, and Mads did this topic complete justice. You don’t just read about what Evie has been through, you feel it. You feel her pain, her dissociation, her fear, and the way she’s trying to navigate life after everything that’s happened to her. It was heartbreaking, but it also felt incredibly real.

These things happen every single day to women, men, girls, and boys, and I don’t think they’re talked about nearly enough. I’m so grateful that Mads chose to tell this story with so much honesty while also showing that healing isn’t linear.

Even though this book deals with such heavy topics, it also gives us one of the most beautiful romances. Matteo and Evie have been orbiting each other since they were children, and it honestly feels like they were always meant to find their way back to one another. Matteo’s yearning absolutely stole my heart. I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of a man who’s completely gone for his girl, and Mads somehow manages to write the best book men every single time.

I also loved seeing the strength of the female friendships throughout the story. And getting to see Grayson, Kieran, Layla, Bella, and everyone else again felt like coming home. They’re the reason I fell in love with this series in the first place. But this is Evie and Matteo’s story, and their love is something really special.

I’m going to keep this review spoiler-free because I genuinely think everyone should experience this book for themselves.

Please make sure you check the trigger warnings before reading. As beautiful as this love story is, it doesn’t shy away from some incredibly difficult subjects.

As a woman whose own experiences resonated with parts of Evie’s story, this book hit me in ways I wasn’t expecting. I know there will be other women and men who see pieces of themselves in these pages too. My hope is that if this story resonates with you, it reminds you that you’re not alone, that healing is possible, and that asking for help is one of the bravest things you can do.

Thank you, Mads, for writing a story that is as devastating as it is hopeful. This book is one I’ll be thinking about for a very long time, and it’s one I’ll recommend to everyone.

[Souki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another 5 stars for Mads Rafferty! This series is quickly becoming a favorite of mine.

This book was absolutely heartbreaking. I felt every emotion Evie and Matteo were going through, but I especially felt so sad for Evie and Caleb. Their story broke my heart in so many ways. And yet, despite all the heartbreak, this book was also incredibly beautiful and meaningful.

Evie is such an amazing FMC, and I’ve grown to care about her so much. But Matteo completely stole my heart. What a sweetheart. He may be quiet, but his love for Evie was anything but. The way he was so attentive, patient, and kind had my whole heart.

I also loved the found family dynamic. The people they surround themselves with are such a wonderful group, and this book is such a beautiful reminder that family doesn’t have to be connected by blood.

If it wasn’t already obvious, I absolutely loved this book with my whole heart. 🥹

[za_010 · Rating 3 out of 5]

rate: 3,7 stars

This was a really good book, but it was just too heavy for me. Whenever a character is going through something difficult, it always hits a soft spot, and I end up feeling everything right along with them. Reading this felt like I was living through the fmc' nightmare, which made it emotionally exhausting for me.

Because of that, I’ll be DNFing it, not because the book is bad, but because it’s just too much for me to continue. The writing itself was great, the characters were beautifully developed, and the tension between the mmc and fmc was done really well. I was genuinely invested in them.

For me reading is something that’s meant to bring enjoyment and help me unwind, and this book ended up causing more anxiety than pleasure ngl. I can definitely see why others would love it, but unfortunately it wasn’t the right fit for me emotionally.

[Ashley Seay · Rating 5 out of 5]

After finishing this book, Mads note at the beginning still sticks with me: “For those who are not aware of the complexities of the mind, if there is any doubt to the main characters story line please google how the brain can respond to trauma.”

I don’t want to make this a spoiler review, but I will say this book is very, very heavy. I loved the first book and this series, I loved this one just as much. It was emotional, heartbreaking, and consuming. I genuinely couldn’t put it down.

Evie and Matteo are two characters who will stay with me for a long time. This one hurt, but the ending was worth it. Honorable mention goes to Kieran in this book to face his own trauma to be there for Evie. I also need the rest of Caleb’s story.