Ice Cold

by Victoria Villeneuve

“You don’t usually do this kind of thing, do you Alexa?” he asked. I've been a good girl my whole life. But even good girls are allowed one night of amazing, unbridled passion with no consequences, right? Wrong. It turns out the panty-droppingly sexy MMA fighter Ice, with his sculpted body and hands that know exactly what I need, is going to be my stepbrother. And it also turns out the more time I spend with him, the more I hate him. He's so arrogant; the cockiest, most infuriating person I've ever met. An absolute bastard, and a total asshole. No question. So why can't I stop thinking about him? ** Ice Cold is a full length novel, and also includes the bonus novel BOSS, also by Victoria Villeneuve **

Genres: Romance, Sports, Forbidden Love

386 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 12, 2016

About the author

Hi! I’m Victoria Villeneuve. I’m a small town girl at heart, with dreams of living in a cabin in the country with my two dogs and my amazing boyfriend Mike. When I’m not writing you can usually find me enjoying a nice mocha in my local coffee shop, reading some of my favourite books by the lake or playing soccer with my friends.

Reviews

[Zaynab · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 cold Stars!!!

[Angela James]

The version of this book that I read, the story ended at 45% and the rest of the file was a bonus novella/backmatter. I was caught off-guard, the story felt abrupt and short and not really finished or developed. It felt like a good beginning, though!

[Aruna Mahadeo · Rating 1 out of 5]

Crap

This book was pure nonsense. I am mad that I wasted my time. First off, it need proofreading and editing. Then the scenario was so far fetched that it didn't make any sense. How is the hero a MMA fighter but he is constantly drinking and partying. MMA fighters have strict diets and rules, they also do some time of martial arts in their training. I believe the author either needs more research on MMA or she just got boxing mixed up with MMA. I didn't even waste my time on the second free book.

[Sivutha · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Fighting Stars

Shayne is MMA fighter. He's cocky, arrogant and so full of himself. He thinks that every women will through themselves at his feet until he met Alexa.

Lex recently graduated from college and decided to celebrate by going to the bar with her friend, Stacey.

That's where Shayne tried to woo Lex and she's not giving him the time of day lol.

Love it.

ARC/R2R received for my honest review.

[Tianna✸loves books✸ · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didn't like the heroine. Desperate bimbo. She just sleeps with the Hero after he gives her VIP passes. Yuck. And she is supposed to be a nerd.

[Strider28 · Rating 4 out of 5]

MMA fighter "Ice" Malone, gets his name from his piercing light blue eyes. Of course that's not all that has the ladies throwing themselves at him. His six pack, toned muscles and a face straight out of a GQ magazine don't hurt when it comes to getting into any woman's panties that he wants. Ice's life consists of training all day, drinking and partying all night and ending up with a different woman in his bed almost every night. And of course the fights.
Alexa has just graduated from college. She's spent her college years studying hard and avoiding having much fun because it was important for her to get a good job when she graduated. (We learn later why this is so important to her.) Alexa is out with her best friend and total opposite, Stacey. Stacey partied through college. Her idea of a perfect relationship is a one night stand. And now that Alexa is moving from Chicago back to New Haven she's hell bent on getting Alexa to let loosen up and spend a night out on the town with her before she leaves for home.
Stacey's doing a darn good job of getting Alexa drunk when she spots Ice across the bar. Stacey gets all excited and when she sees Ice checking out Alexa she tries to get Alexa to go after him. Alexa, who has no idea who Ice is would never go after a guy much less a guy like Ice. Don't get me wrong. She's not blind. She can see how hot he is but it's just not in her to chase after a guy that will only end up in a one night stand.
Stacey has no such inhibitions. She's across the bar and letting Ice know she's up for a good time. But for some reason Ice only has eyes for Alexa.
After Alexa shoots Ice down for a one night stand he gives her two VIP tickets to his fight the next night and asks her to come. Suffice it to say Stacey makes sure that they go to the fight. Alexa had felt the sexual tension between Ice and herself so she begins to wonder what it would be like to let herself have a one night stand before she leaves town.
After having her one night stand Alexa is mortified with herself. She leaves ashamed but she can't get Ice out of her mind. Ice seems to be having the same problem.
But it doesn't matter because Alexa leaves to go home and Ice goes on the road for his next series of fights.
From here we follow Alexa home and the surprises just keep on coming from here on out! There is a side story with Alexa's mom, Maxine. A side story involving Ice's dad, Calvin. And a surprise job offer for Alexa. Eventually though strange circumstances lead Alexa back to Ice. She finds herself working with him and due to their own hangups and insecurities they go through a roller coaster of emotions while around each other. Hate, lust, friends, lust and then a big blowout fight has Ice sending Alexa packing for good.
But another shocking twist in the story that I never saw coming has Ice realizing he's in love with Alexa and he might lose her forever. She's in danger and it's his fault. Alexa knew before Ice threw her out that she had strong feelings for him but she didn't think he would ever feel the same for her so she never told him how she felt. Now it seems she'll never get to tell him because she probably be dead in a day or two.
How is Alexa going to survive? How will Ice be able to find her? The suspense will keep you turning the pages with record speed.

I really loved this book. It is character driven which I love. There's a good storyline with some hot sex involved instead of hot sex with no storyline. I like Ms. Villeneuve's writing style. The book is well paced and well written.
P.S. This is a step-brother romance but the whole step-brother aspect doesn't play a big role in this book.

I recommend this book to anyone who loves the cocky, yet charming hot jock. The woman who can bring the playboy to his knees and anyone who loves a good stand alone novel with a HEA! No cliffhanger. No waiting months or longer for the next book!

[Mary Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a most intriguing story and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. It had an extremely interesting storyline and the characters were engaging. Alexa and Stacey are out for a night of decadence and bliss. This was Stacey’s idea of the perfect dream date and Alexa’s worst nightmare. Chicago is a major hub for the MMA, and is Shayne’s home base; everyone knows who he is. Feeling assessed and dismissed by Alexa infuriates Shayne, but to him her aloofness makes her even more irresistible – she has gotten his attention by being different. Alexa and Stacey are given VIP tickets to Shayne’s next fight and Alexa decides to take up Shayne’s offer after the fight. It would be a nice memory of the one time she did something completely reckless and out of character - two strangers, one night, she could deal with that. Alexa’s mother is a divorced socialite and is about to marry Cal, a partner in a law firm, who offers Alexa a lucrative position as an onsite bookkeeper for his son. What a surprise when Alexa meets Shayne again, even though he implies he doesn’t remember her. Shayne’s world is a blur of training, fighting, booze and women, and he is not close to anyone that can be considered relationship material. Then again, if his father can find someone to love, why couldn’t he. Alexa and Shayne have an up and down relationship during their working time together, until the night Shayne makes a remark outside of his usual scripted comments, and puts Alexa’s life in danger. Now the gloves are off!! This is a riveting read, which I would have no hesitation in recommending. I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hot and romantic MMA bad boy

Edit: this review is from 2016. I'm just adding it here in 2025. My tastes have changed a little since then, so no idea if I'd feel the same. I'm not re-reading it, but it seems like it was a hot, easy-to-read, relationship-focused romance without darkness or too much melodrama featuring an alphahole who doesn't turn into a golden retriever. Original review:

This book is romantic and steamy with interesting characters. I love how they grow, especially Shayne. He starts out as a commitment-phobic manwhore who constantly has girls throwing themselves at him. Shayne is a competitor and loves a challenge, and that's what he gets with Alexa. After an intense night, Alexa turns up as Shayne's new bookkeeper. He's getting to know her better, and he likes it.

Luckily for Alexa, Shayne doesn't change too much. There are things that only a bad boy can do.

While there's plenty of scorching sex, the story focuses on their relationship. Don't worry, though; the sex scenes aren't boring. Shayne and Alexa don't hold back.

I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Theresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can Ice Malone melt the Ice Queen?

What could make a stepbrother romance better... adding some fighting to it! Great mix of meeting your new step sibling in bed before mom and dad tell and the classic not good enough feeling. Add a little jealously, a few secrets, and kidnapping and you have an intriguing hit!! And now a bit about the story...

Alexa is set to graduate and her best friend is determined to get her to finally let loose. They run into the infamous Ice Malone, an MMA fighter. Of course Alexa is only there to make her friend happy and has no desire to be anyone's flavor of the night. Unfortunately for her, turning down Ice has the opposite effect... now he must have her at any cost. Trouble is if he can get her will be know what to do and will she still want him the next day? Check it out to find out!!

Favorite passages:
- "You never know," Stacey said with a shrug. "Sometimes the underdog gets lucky."
- I didn't want to sour the evening or my warning feelings toward Cal by deciding he was an unreasonable, controlling ass when it came to his son.

[Carla · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got this book for an honest review by the author and I am sorry for the delay, it got lost on my kindle to read shelf, but now that I have read it I have to say I enjoyed it a lot!

http://thesecretworldofbooklovers.blo...

Ice made me remember why I liked MMA's romance novels, SO HOT! He has the perfect body and a bad-ass attitude to go with it, he is definitely a bad boy, so of course we all love him.
But he has some darkness within too, which gives him an edge that's just irresistible.

Alexa is your regular good girl, she is so out of her comfort zone when he is around him that you can't help but sympathise with her. She is scared and guarded at first but he sets her inner sex goddess free and there's no stopping them.

The stepbrother theme gives it a little bit more spice but its not the usual type of stepbrother romance which worked just perfect for the plot.

The story line is really good, the author keeps you on edge and wanting more, overall a good book !

[Jeannie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was totally captivated as I read this book. I could have read the story in 1 seating if I had started at a better timing. The plot was just that interesting. Having read a few books about MMA fighters, I've come to enjoy reading the action that goes into the ring, the adrenaline, etc. This was no exception. Shane was easy to fall in love with despite his cockiness.

I enjoyed the chemistry of the two leads and boy, sure didn't see that twist coming. I so wished the story was longer and was disappointed that it ended that quickly. The rest of the book was a bonus read (which I've already read). This story definitely didn't feel as complete as the rest of Victoria's books that I've read. I hope she will have more about Shane and Alexa. Overall, still a good book to check out especially if you enjoy reading about MMA fighters.

[Sam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Too many plot bunnies... Left too many unanswered questions.

If you want a fast read this is for you. I felt a little let down from the story line. It started out so strong. The play back and forth was great. But in the last three chapters the author rushed it all together. It left me with more questions than answers. With a beta team, a better editor this might be a great book.

Spoiler alert
She gets caught, gets saved and there are two bad guys, only one was taken care of. The other walks free, we never know who it is or why they do it. After she is kidnapped she is head over heels in love. We never find out what the parents think. This left too many questions unanswered for me.

[Laure · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alexa and Shayne meet in a nightclub, she makes it clear she has no interest in becoming just another notch on his bed post. When the up and coming MMA fighter gives her VIP tickets to his next fight, she let's her best friend convince her to go to the event. After the fight, Alexa decides she doesn't want to be the good girl she has always been, and meets Shayne in the locker room. After a sizzling hot encounter, Alexa walks away knowing she will never see Shayne again. Fantastic book, I loved Alexa and Shayne, and their to journey to find love, and their happily ever after. Exciting, suspenseful and sexy!

I received this ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.

[Lorena Tucholke · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars
Wow, this book book was very interesting. The story line was pretty good. The characters were the way we expected to be. I didn't quite liked the end, because it's like there were lots of loose ends in the story.
"Ice " Malone is a very handsome MMA fighter, and Alexa Carroll is a recently college graduate, they have one night stand and then fate decide to put them in the same place one again. Now as boss and employee, and also as soon to be stepsiblings.
You need to read the story to know more about this to hot characters.

[Sherry Bohrmueller · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Ice Cold was an very good story, it flowed perfectly and kept me interested in Shayne and Alexa's story. This is the second book I've read by this author and once again I thought the writing was amazing. There were surprising twists to the story that make you love the characters all that much more. The characters were perfect for each other. I definitely recommend this book.

[Julie Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. A lovely tale of two people findings each other and then finding out that they will soon be step siblings. Very well written with a storyline that flowed perfectly.

Lex is a new graduate and Shayne is a MMA fighter. She isn't into him at first and she makes that apparent. All too soon she is falling for him.
One bad turn finds them evaluating how they really feel about each other.

Absolutely great book

[Mery · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, this one was a good one! I have to say this book shows an improvement in Victoria's Villeneuve writing and has a good exposing in character's feelings. It was delightful to watch their struggle in admitting how they feel towards each other. Shayne was a bad boy, with a dark past and a cocky attitude but he redeemed himself by allowing the good side of him to take over. I loved this book, so i give it a solid 4 stars.

[Kara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ice cold

Liked it would recommend of coarse I gave it a 5 was a nice quick read
the 2nd book that was attached to it I only give a 3 I didn't like that the girl was treated like a door mat but so ridiculously head over heals for her stepbrother and then in one instant he is all about her. The typos were irritating too many for me

[Jamie Leigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

a great afternoon spicy read.

[Carrie Gubish · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book

This was a good book. It had sex and drama. These two were cute together. And she had sass. It was well written.

[ppar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good Book...

[Lynda · Rating 3 out of 5]

If there was more story it has the potential to be a 5 star read, but it just ends. There no closure of anything it just ends. And that left me disappointed.