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Rules to Break #2
Cracking Ice
Hockey is everything to them both. Until they meet each other.
All Keenan Avali wants to do is play hockey. It doesn’t matter that he’s an alpha, he’s got no interest in dominating anywhere but on the ice.
When Cartwright Johnson joins the Flames he expects to play hard to compensate for being an omega who dared to pursue a professional hockey career, but after his last team traded him, he is not making the mistake of falling for a teammate ever again. He’s sure he’s got the control to keep his pants on and his heart closed... until he meets Keenan Avali.
An omega can't trust an alpha, much less one as hot as Avali, but nobody can fail to see they play together like they were made for it. For how long can they be the perfect teammates on ice when off it they can't stand to look at each other?
Cracking Ice is their story. Contains social commentary, alphas and omegas under the control of their instincts, friendship, romance and very mixed feelings. An unconventional omegaverse novel.
This volume contains episodes 1-7 of "Cracking Ice".
All Keenan Avali wants to do is play hockey. It doesn’t matter that he’s an alpha, he’s got no interest in dominating anywhere but on the ice.
When Cartwright Johnson joins the Flames he expects to play hard to compensate for being an omega who dared to pursue a professional hockey career, but after his last team traded him, he is not making the mistake of falling for a teammate ever again. He’s sure he’s got the control to keep his pants on and his heart closed... until he meets Keenan Avali.
An omega can't trust an alpha, much less one as hot as Avali, but nobody can fail to see they play together like they were made for it. For how long can they be the perfect teammates on ice when off it they can't stand to look at each other?
Cracking Ice is their story. Contains social commentary, alphas and omegas under the control of their instincts, friendship, romance and very mixed feelings. An unconventional omegaverse novel.
This volume contains episodes 1-7 of "Cracking Ice".
740 pages, Paperback
First published March 30, 2020
5 people are currently reading
127 people want to read
About the author
N.J. Lysk
93 books273 followersN.J. Lysk (pronouns: whatever) is a queer one—in almost every sense of the word—for whom stories have always been their one true home. She studied linguistics and literature (which is to say, someone offered him a genuine excuse to read professionally) and ended up teaching, but writing is their one true love.
Addicted to angst, enamoured of mpreg and always ready to try a new kink (in a book, that’s it!) she became hooked into the Omegaverse through fanfic (but he doesn't have the patience to write other people's characters) and has recently expanded from werewolves to hockey players.
Check out my shelves if you want some recommendations, including books that inspired me ;)
Books can be acquired directly from the website at a reduced rate—new releases also become available there earlier.
Get episode 1 of "Cracking Ice" for free here: https://smarturl.it/FreeCrackingIce
At https://www.njlysk.com you can find exclusive stories for less than a $1 and other discounts as well.
Join my newsletter to get news about releases & sales!
English: https://sendfox.com/lp/1gpxj1
Beta readers' list: https://sendfox.com/lp/1x56kp
ARC readers list: https://sendfox.com/lp/3e6x6z
Deutsche Mailingliste: https://sendfox.com/lp/3eg001
Italiano: https://sendfox.com/NJLYSK
Français : https://sendfox.com/lp/m7k2d1
Portugues: https://sendfox.com/lp/mnl0ll
Castellano: https://sendfox.com/lp/3ez0nk
Dutch: https://sendfox.com/lp/3qqrzv
Check out the pretty people and covers: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/njlysk/
And come play on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/23457...
Addicted to angst, enamoured of mpreg and always ready to try a new kink (in a book, that’s it!) she became hooked into the Omegaverse through fanfic (but he doesn't have the patience to write other people's characters) and has recently expanded from werewolves to hockey players.
Check out my shelves if you want some recommendations, including books that inspired me ;)
Books can be acquired directly from the website at a reduced rate—new releases also become available there earlier.
Get episode 1 of "Cracking Ice" for free here: https://smarturl.it/FreeCrackingIce
At https://www.njlysk.com you can find exclusive stories for less than a $1 and other discounts as well.
Join my newsletter to get news about releases & sales!
English: https://sendfox.com/lp/1gpxj1
Beta readers' list: https://sendfox.com/lp/1x56kp
ARC readers list: https://sendfox.com/lp/3e6x6z
Deutsche Mailingliste: https://sendfox.com/lp/3eg001
Italiano: https://sendfox.com/NJLYSK
Français : https://sendfox.com/lp/m7k2d1
Portugues: https://sendfox.com/lp/mnl0ll
Castellano: https://sendfox.com/lp/3ez0nk
Dutch: https://sendfox.com/lp/3qqrzv
Check out the pretty people and covers: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/njlysk/
And come play on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/23457...
Ratings & Reviews
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
April 11, 2025
Whelp, went and read it anyway.
NOT your typical ABO storyline. Interesting subversion of ABO dynamics, rebelling against genetics, unpacking power dynamics and discrimination.
I liked the various worldbuilding tidbits, from the society being bi-normative, with mono-sexuals being the outliers, to widespread public transit being the norm, to bits of tech like condensation water bottles.
However, I didn't realize going in that this is a serial, which I guess it my fault for starting. The drawn out and and repetitive nature of the interactions, the episodic sidequest chapters all I'm sure work better when reading in installments over time. As a novel, less so.
It was also weird how it started intensely hockey focused, even giving play-by-plays, but eventually we left the ice and just... never returned. Like, I get that the season eneded, but except for their linemate Thomas, those other characters and players just faded away. I would have thought the epilogue would have touched on the new season, but no.
NOT your typical ABO storyline. Interesting subversion of ABO dynamics, rebelling against genetics, unpacking power dynamics and discrimination.
I liked the various worldbuilding tidbits, from the society being bi-normative, with mono-sexuals being the outliers, to widespread public transit being the norm, to bits of tech like condensation water bottles.
However, I didn't realize going in that this is a serial, which I guess it my fault for starting. The drawn out and and repetitive nature of the interactions, the episodic sidequest chapters all I'm sure work better when reading in installments over time. As a novel, less so.
It was also weird how it started intensely hockey focused, even giving play-by-plays, but eventually we left the ice and just... never returned. Like, I get that the season eneded, but except for their linemate Thomas, those other characters and players just faded away. I would have thought the epilogue would have touched on the new season, but no.
January 18, 2020
Anger, hurt, control, denial, acceptance, rejection -
Is it love if genetic conformation and pure instinct seem to be what draws two individuals to each other? Do intimate physical attraction, similar life interest, or everyday proximity create a real bond between an alpha and an omega?
The excruciating doubts, denials, acceptance, rejection - all woven into a braid of an alpha/omega universe and hockey team dynamics - keep a deep current hurricane of emotions spiraling throughout this installment. The importance of genetic makeup that determines interactions between alphas and omegas in this world is regulated by laws of consent, but when trust is destroyed by those who don't follow the rules, how can two true mates ever be sure that they could be together? Perhaps complete denial would make things better...right?
A real page turner, but with a slight breather towards the end, allowing the reader to catch a moment of relief from the very strong emotions portrayed excellently through the greater part of the story. And, although not quite a cliffhanger ending, there is something big, besides the finals of the hockey season, that can be sensed looming on the horizon...
Is it love if genetic conformation and pure instinct seem to be what draws two individuals to each other? Do intimate physical attraction, similar life interest, or everyday proximity create a real bond between an alpha and an omega?
The excruciating doubts, denials, acceptance, rejection - all woven into a braid of an alpha/omega universe and hockey team dynamics - keep a deep current hurricane of emotions spiraling throughout this installment. The importance of genetic makeup that determines interactions between alphas and omegas in this world is regulated by laws of consent, but when trust is destroyed by those who don't follow the rules, how can two true mates ever be sure that they could be together? Perhaps complete denial would make things better...right?
A real page turner, but with a slight breather towards the end, allowing the reader to catch a moment of relief from the very strong emotions portrayed excellently through the greater part of the story. And, although not quite a cliffhanger ending, there is something big, besides the finals of the hockey season, that can be sensed looming on the horizon...
September 16, 2020
I am definitely not into omegaverse due to it being so FM and the idea of a pregnant man has always sounded too ridiculous to me. But that was until a friend recommended Cracking Ice to me! And i just binged on it for 2 days straight (unfortunately cannot live my life just reading books but it is my end goal) staying up late until just dropping the phone and falling asleep.
1. I loved characters, they were well developed, multidimensional, changing through the book.
2. There was no usual sense of ridicule when reading omegaverse story.
3. And the parallel with feminist movement was so distinct and clear that i wished i could just make all the people in my life read it! But well MM is my secret guilty pleasure and also i do not think ppl around me ready for omegaverse.
4. The ending was a bit anticlimatic with all the pillow talks and love making but it was nice.
So the bottom line is that i am still not into omegaverse but if there are other exceptions like this i am totally adding them to my trl.
1. I loved characters, they were well developed, multidimensional, changing through the book.
2. There was no usual sense of ridicule when reading omegaverse story.
3. And the parallel with feminist movement was so distinct and clear that i wished i could just make all the people in my life read it! But well MM is my secret guilty pleasure and also i do not think ppl around me ready for omegaverse.
4. The ending was a bit anticlimatic with all the pillow talks and love making but it was nice.
So the bottom line is that i am still not into omegaverse but if there are other exceptions like this i am totally adding them to my trl.
January 24, 2021
Fascinating! Both the world of professional ice hockey and the author's highly detailed world-building surrounding alpha, beta and omega relationships. This is far from your standard ABO book; there's nothing 'fluffy' about the MC's relationship, their struggles and their fears.
Special note must be made of the interesting use of odour as a means of expressing feelings.
This is a story that will stay in my memory for a long time to come.
Special note must be made of the interesting use of odour as a means of expressing feelings.
This is a story that will stay in my memory for a long time to come.
December 30, 2020
It's even better all in one edition!
I read all the individual episodes when they were released and enjoyed them but re-reading it all together helped the story flow. I love romances between a prickly, self-protective protagonist and a straightforward, devoted one. This is a great example.
I love the parallel universe that the story is set in and I had no difficulty sinking into the story whereas sometimes I find differences and similarities are a distraction. The world building is fabulous and there are lots of supporting characters that I hope will get their own stories in future. I want to know more about how Keenan and Carry make things work in the future.
I borrowed this edition from Kindle Unlimited as I already own the individual episodes.
I read all the individual episodes when they were released and enjoyed them but re-reading it all together helped the story flow. I love romances between a prickly, self-protective protagonist and a straightforward, devoted one. This is a great example.
I love the parallel universe that the story is set in and I had no difficulty sinking into the story whereas sometimes I find differences and similarities are a distraction. The world building is fabulous and there are lots of supporting characters that I hope will get their own stories in future. I want to know more about how Keenan and Carry make things work in the future.
I borrowed this edition from Kindle Unlimited as I already own the individual episodes.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews