Mise en jeu

Play by Play #8.5

by Jaci Burton

« Dans cette nouvelle histoire des “Idoles du stade”, Jaci Burton, l’auteure acclamée par le New York Times, offre à ses lecteurs un récit empli de romance, d’hommes musclés, de scènes d’amour torrides et d’humour. » Smexy Books

Véritable as de la glace, Trick ne se doute pas qu’elle est également sa pire ennemie...

Après une interruption d’un an, Patrick « Trick » Niemeyer, superstar du hockey, replonge dans sa liaison torride et sans attaches avec la danseuse Stella. Déjà échaudée par une histoire dont elle ne parle jamais, Stella refuse d’y voir une relation sérieuse, même si Trick, lui, a envie d’autre chose... En cette période de Noël, le jeune homme tient à lui offrir son cœur au pied du sapin. Convaincu que Stella est la femme de ses rêves, il va devoir faire fondre le mur de glace qu’elle a érigée autour d’elle s’il veut l’empêcher de s’enfuir.

« Jaci Burton nous délivre les scènes érotiques les plus passionnées, chaudes et originales que les fans pouvaient attendre. » USA Today
« À dévorer ! » Lora Leigh
« Jaci Burton écrit des romances sensuelles et passionnées comme personne d’autre. » Joyfully Reviewed
« Les personnages sont incroyables. Complexes et attachants, on les considère vite comme des amis. » Night Owl Erotica

Jaci Burton a déjà publié plus d’une soixantaine de titres, figurant régulièrement dans la liste des best-sellers du New York Times et de USA Today.
Deux de ses séries sont publiées chez Milady : « Les Idoles du stade » et « Wild Riders ».
Lorsqu’elle n’est pas en plein rush pour rendre à temps son prochain roman, elle tente de convaincre son mari de refaire la décoration de leur maison en suivant scrupuleusement les conseils d’une émission de télévision qu’elle adore. C’est également une inconditionnelle des histoires à l’eau de rose, et surtout des happy ends, que vous trouverez dans tous ses romans.

Genres: Romance, Sports, Sports Romance, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Hockey, Novella

141 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 18, 2014

About the author

Jaci Burton is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling, award-winning author of over 85 books. She lives in Oklahoma and when she isn’t on deadline (which is often), she can usually be found wrestling with her uncooperative garden, wrangling her dogs, watching an unhealthy amount of television, or completely losing track of time reading a great book. She’s a total romantic and longs for the happily ever after in every story, which you’ll find in all her books.. Visit her website at www.jaciburton.com for excerpts, book information and contests.

Reviews

[Floripiquita · Rating 2 out of 5]

De tan ligera, la trama se evapora de tu cerebro nada más dejar de leer. De repente la pareja protagonista está enamorada y no sabes ni cómo ha pasado y el poco drama / conflicto que hay es tontisimo. Mñe.

[Auntee · Rating 3 out of 5]

I truly love this outstanding series but to be perfectly honest, this was just ok for me.

Nothing new or exciting about the plot--NY career-girl/ soon to be Broadway lead dancer Stella Slovinski is the love 'em and leave 'em type ever since a bad breakup with a fiancé who wanted her to give up her career for his. Stella vows to never have a relationship again (seriously, after one bad experience?) and prefers to just hook-up (therefore, she won't get attached and get her heart broken when boyfriend inevitably lets her down). But she didn't count on the effect that NY Travelers hockey stud Patrick 'Trick' Niemeyer would have on her heart.

'Trick'...


Ever since she met Trick and hooked up with him, Stella knew he was different. This is a guy she could really fall for. Despite some time apart when both their schedules got too busy, neither has forgotten about the other. When a chance meeting happens after not seeing each other for months, Stella figures 'what's the harm' in hooking up with Trick again, as long as they keep it casual. But things are different for Trick now. No longer is casually hooking up enough for him. He wants a relationship with Stella. Does he have enough game to overcome her objections?

This was a pretty easy read. The characters were mostly likable--especially the swoonworthy Trick. I wanted to shake Stella a time or two for not realizing what she had in her life if she would just take a chance on Trick. And for god's sake Stella, "talk to him"! This guy was a total keeper, not some jerky athlete. He was kind and caring, understanding and totally hot! Wake up, Stella!:)

For fans of this series, you could skip this one and not miss anything important. How does it relate to the other books? Well, Stella and Carolina Preston (Melting the Ice) are best friends, and Trick and her husband Drew Hogan are linemates on the Travelers. All in all, and ok read read...it just didn't wow me. 3 1/2 stars

[Emma ~ The Indecisive Reader ~ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Ice hockey, Christmas, a favourite series.
Trick was delicious!!
Short and sexy!

[namericanwordcat · Rating 3 out of 5]

I haven't yet read a Jaci Burton book that I loved. I want to so if you have a favorite, please let me now.

The hero was a great guy. He was sexy and kind, Very good at what he does and a great friend.

The heroine says she isn't very nice and really she isn't. She is a great dancer. She has a great friends and a sisters. She is very commitment adverse. I admire her career focus and ownership of her sexuality. However, these characters felt false when we learn why she doesn't want a relationship or at least that she needs to spend a great deal of time in therapy for her unexamined reactions based on a pretty long ago jerk behavior by her ex (jerk but not abuse).

And her ex's name made me laugh.

Soooo, I read it all but I never settled in and I wasn't rooting for the couple because I thought given the space of the time of the novella that heroine had a lot of stuff to work out I wanted her to be with the hero.

[Jess · Rating 2 out of 5]

Enjoyed Trick, couldn't stand Stella. Review to come...

[Teri · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 stars and 1 and a half of those are for the cover. This is a pretty ranty and angry review, so ya know, feel free to skip it.

so this is definitely a me thing, I guess. I have read this author before and enjoyed the novels, but I did not enjoy this. At all. Stella is just...

I don't understand what Trick sees in her except for banging sex. She's fucking awful. She...sucks. I mean, he has to basically beg her to do anything outside the bed, I mean, she goes and does stuff with him, but fucking reluctantly. He is a doll, treats her like a princess and she is all, oh no, I don't do these things. And excuse the fuck outta me, but her past relationship was not so fucking TRAUMATIZING to allow for her lack of care for Trick's feelings. Why don't you try being a goddamn grown up and have a fucking conversation you dizzy bitch. So yeah, no this shit didn't work for me. Sorry to see Trick settle for less like this.

[diana marcela Ballestas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Corto, rápido y sin mucho drama. Una lectura refrescante y fácil de leer.

[Anna's Herding Cats · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a total Christmas romance win! Sweet Mary. It's steamy, sweet and completely sigh worthy. Jaci Burton does know how to do it right. Total *girly Christmas-infused sigh*. Holiday on Ice was the perfect readery treat to get me in the holiday spirit and a super sexy-sweet romance as Trick and Stella amp up their previously casual fling and find something to truly celebrate for Christmas.

It was a quickie read but oh it was lovely. Romance. Passion. Some hockey thrown into the mix. A little history to work through. Lots of laughs and some serious fan yourself moments. Whew boy!

Alright so these two--Patrick and Stella--used to hook up but demanding jobs--she's a dancer, he's a hockey player--had them falling out of touch for a while until a chance encounter at a bar one night sparks all those long ago flames and, well, keeping their hands off each other...not an option. Thank. Goodness. lol

These two were great. They're both very dedicated to their jobs and just good people. Trick was sexy as hell and his moves off the ice totally rivaled his moves on the ice. *whews* He's sweet, romantic and just a fun laid back guy that so had me panting. I was loving him something fierce. And Stella...well...chickie is scared as all get out of commitment after a bad break up years earlier so she's a little quick to panic but she as a lovely one as well. She works her butt off and would be a good friend I think.

Their chemistry was freaking scorching--there's a lot of lovin' packed in this little read-- but they're also really great together outside of the bedroom. You can tell they just have a good time together whether it's hanging out with friends, having dinner, playing in the park. They just fit. And it was a blast watching their once casual hook up turn into so much more before they even realized it. And even though they fell fast...it so worked for me since they'd known each other for a while now and already had that connection. I love when authors do that kinda thing.

Burton really delivered a fabulous holiday romance with Holiday on Ice. It was the perfect combo of fun and sexy, romance and real life--you get to see a good bit of them both on the job--and just heartwarming holiday spirit that gave me the warm fuzzies and left me smiling. A total Christmasy romance delight!

[Michelle the Romance Witch · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars. fast and hott read with some serious relationship issues coming to a head for two very gorgeous people

[Under the Covers Book Blog · Rating 4 out of 5]

Holiday stories from Jaci Burton are about my most favorite thing to read during this time of year.  No matter whether she does it in the Play by Play series or a separate thing altogether, she always manages to capture the exact feeling I want to get when I read a holiday story.  Jaci Burton truly is the perfect author to read any holiday season!

So here's Drew and Stella.  We go back to hockey players, which I have a thing for, so I was very happy.  Trick has had an on again off again sexual relationship with Stella for a while.  He's busy with his hockey career, she's busy with her career as a dancer.  And while she's sworn off relationships because of her past failed attempt, he may be ready to put in the work to give their almost perfect chemistry a permanent go.

Although I feel that this might be Ms. Burton's tried and true formula (and I may be looking forward to a little different dynamic), celebrity sports player meets powerful career oriented woman who doesn't want a relationship and then proceeds to convince her otherwise, I still enjoyed this story a lot!

This little novella packs a lot of sexy with a dash of sweet in it.  It's a fast read, without a crazy amount of conflict, but just with a couple that are getting a second REAL chance.  I'm a fan of those.  Especially with a novella, I always find it easier to believe when there's history between the couple.  In HOLIDAY ON ICE you can tell from the get go they are perfect for each other.  They get along great, they seem very relaxed around each other, and they have great sexual chemistry.  You can't help but want to be hanging out around them!

This novella now leaves me wanting to know more about Stella's sister and who she may end up with.

*ARC provided by publisher

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[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

original post: 12/13/2014
http://fangswandsandfairydust.com/201...

E-Galley provided by publisher for review. No remuneration was exchanged and all opinions presented herein are my own unless otherwise noted.

The last hockey game I went to was not a great experience. But, the sport has become very popular and we’re sure to be seeing more and more hockey-based couples in romance.

The female love interest in this book was hurt by her love and has sworn off relationships because that ONE didn’t work out. While this story is hot and makes me want to watch a sport I’m not crazy about, this whole, I was hurt once and will never love again thing. A dancer especially — someone who has faced hurt and rejection a lot in a career involving a physical art form and rejections at auditions, someone who is resilient by nature, is going to be able to move on. So, I don’t buy that as motivation, it is not sufficient in my opinion. But the writer needed a reason why Stella is stand-offish.

Patrick, on the other hand is an awesome character; he would be a guy you would want to fix your friends up with: handsome, generous, thoughtful, sexy and caring. He is also emotionally open and honest. He is a keeper.

I did like Stella’s relationships with her friend Carolina, and her sister. We also get insights into her character, like a fondness for zippers. I wonder what the significance is to a characyer’s personality? Does it signify they want to open mysteries or zip up her emotions? Or, does it mean she likes to remove her clothes? Anyway, it was an a good touch. there are fun events in NYC as well, skating, holiday activities and rehearsals. Burton is really good at describing a hockey game; she gives just enough of the specifics but doesn’t do a play by play. I felt I would enjoy watching sports more if they happened in the way Jaci writes them.

Over all, I liked Patrick more than I liked Stella, but I enjoyed this short read placed amidst the hustle and bustle of Manhattan at Christmas. It’s a good way to relax in a busy holiday season!

[Valerie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Characters, story, writing & afterglow...

Characters. I really enjoyed both of the main characters. Trick has always been a player but he's feeling the need for more with a certain dancer. He's sexy and sweet from his steaming up the sheets to his surprising Stella with a Christmas tree topper that's just for her. I enjoyed reading about Trick.

Stella is a very dedicated dancer working on Broadway. Her career is very important to her and it takes all her time. A few random hook-ups worked just fine for her especially after the last time she let her heart get involved, it was broken badly. She's a tough cookie to crack. But Trick is up to the challenge.


Story. It's usually the guy who's determined to avoid the relationship. It was nice to see that turned around. The New York setting was fun and, of course, I really enjoyed the hockey aspect of it.


Writing. This one is well written. It's a novella and those are always a challenge for me. I tend to like novels better. One thing that worked well here was that these two already knew each other. They weren't starting from nothing. There were a few places that a lot of telling happened instead of showing happened. Those weren't my favorite parts.


Afterglow. I felt satisfied when I finished. I would have loved a little more with these two but it was an enjoyable Christmas story.

This one will appeal to fans of this author as well as peeps who want that quick holiday read. Read it in an evening.

[Elizabeth H.]

Jaci Burton’s book covers always warm me up, but this novella left me a little frosty.

Being a bigger lady who doesn’t have issues with body image, makes it difficult for me to relate to heroines like Stella who are constantly counting calories and reciting how much activity they need to do in order to burn off what they just ate. Granted, this time it is because Stella is a dancer and needs to keep a super slim build in order to be competitive but honestly, I’m tired of hearing it.

I do understand that this is a fictional story but there is a lot of truth in it. Every mention of staying slim, counting calories or judging the amount of food they eat by the exercise to counteract it took me right out of the story. There were some very steamy sex scenes, romance and some hockey in this novella but I couldn’t get past the heroine’s—for lack of a better word—obsession with her weight and counting calories.

***I was gifted an eBook copy from the publisher via Net Galley in exchange for an honest review. All conclusions reached are my own***

[LaTisha Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really like this series, so this novella very enjoyable.

We'd already met the main couple as secondary characters in Melting Ice, Carolina and Drew's story and the seventh book in the series, so it was nice to see them again.

Stella Slovinski is the best friend of Carolina Preston and hooks-up with Trick Niemeyer, a teammate of Drew Hogan. They continue the hook-ups on and off for a year before Stella's busy schedule as a professional dancer and Drew's hockey games cause them to drift apart.

They run into each other and things between them heat up again. This is unusual on Stella's part as she doesn't do relationships, having been burned in the past. So this book is mostly about Trick trying to get past Stella's commitment issues.

Stella kind of got on my nerves being too scared to admit her feelings. Her backstory of her failed relationship at the age of EIGHTEEN was not even that bad! I'm just glad that Trick didn't give up on her, because I wouldn't have blamed him if he did.

[Jayme · Rating 2 out of 5]

It is short story, fast and pretty cute. I don't like sudden twists at the end, it makes the story becomes not real. Here again 2.

In this story we find connection to the earlier part of the series. It's about hockey player Patrick “Trick” Niemeyer - he play for New York team as Drew Hogan (Play by Play #7). There is also a new heroine - Stella Slovinski, she is friend of Carolina Preston (also Play by Play #7). Sweet huh?

Not much I can say about that. I thought that Stella sister, Greta will be part of another book. But right now it looks like she is not. We dont't have too much new about Drew and Carolina, if you're counting on it, sorry. So I really don't know where came up idea for this short story.

Why I write about this all connections? Because this is the greatest fun and play in this series.

[mer · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars - Adult Sports Romance

I guess this is my favourite novella in this series. I especially loved this one scene where Trick and Stella did ice dancing. Besides, the book triggers holiday mode and I love Christmas, always.

RD: Nov 18, 2014

[Tania (Real-Listen-Feel) · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars

C'est le genre de novella qui se lit tout seul, mais si ça m'a pris 2 mois... Un peu trop bonbon et fleur bleue à mon goût. Patrick et Stella ne m'ont pas accroché plus qu'il faut et la romance entre les 2 personnages n'a aucune base solide. Ils aiment passer du temps ensemble et pouf! ils sont amoureux. Les disputes en raison d'un non dit, c'est complètement inutile. Bref, vraiment pas ma meilleure lecture dernièrement.

[Clorie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 cute n quick stars

This was an easy quick read with a HEA. The dialogue was good,story and plot were typical for a little novella.

I like hockey books and players and this was a small taste. I would read more of this series when I want fluff.

[Simply Love Book Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rhayne‘s review posted on Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews

4 STARS

Review copy provided for an honest review


When the weather is frightful and you need something to warm you up this short sexy story will prove to be delightful.
I must say I am usually not a big fan of novellas. The perfect balance that I look for in a great story is often lacking. They are either too rushed or too vague. However, with this book that is not the case. I was sucked in from the first chapter and even though we are only sharing a small portion of the relationship between Trick and Stella, it’s a total package.
Trick and Stella have a past. They used to hook up once in a while and enjoy one another in a strictly pleasure only sense until their careers and crazy schedules got in the way and they lost touch. After running into each other one night while out with some friends, it becomes very apparent the spark that used to sizzle between them is still burning strong.
Stella is a dancer and extremely committed to her career on Broadway. She has no time or desire for a relationship. She’s more than willing to spend time with Trick in the bedroom, but that is where she draws the line.
Trick is a professional hockey player and his schedule is chaotic. He has never been interested in anything, but a convenient willing body to satisfy his desires, until now. The more time he spends with Stella the more he wants her to be in his life permanently.
These two have an intense, passionate and incredibly complicated path to travel to find a way to make things between them work. Stella has been burned before and she’s lumped every guy she meets in the same category as her ex. To be honest, it puzzled me just a bit. This book already had the career conflict going for it so to add another layer on top of that made Stella almost annoying at times with her past hang-ups, but she did work through them and by the end I really liked her.
Trick is character that is easy to love and so dang sweet. I honestly though he carried this story. Loved him hard!
If you haven’t grabbed the Play by Play series, you are missing out on some great stories. If you are a fan already, you won’t want to miss out on this new addition. It’s a complete Hat Trick! You get a heartwarming story, a smidge of hockey, and some great holiday magic moments.

[Tina J · Rating 4 out of 5]

Holiday on Ice
Play by Play, #8.5
by Jaci Burton

Release Date: November 18, 2014

Character Introductions:
Patrick “Trick” Niemeyer plays professional hockey for the Travelers. Stella Slovinski is a professional dancer and best friends with Carolina Preston. They met, originally, about a year ago through Carolina and Drew and had an off/on relationship for a few months. Now, she's scored a lead on Broadway and he's still concentrating game to game to make it to the finals, their schedules are even busier than ever. The magnetic attraction is still there between them and Trick wants to try again, but Stella is afraid to commit to a relationship.
----------------------------------------------
A longer novella, this book is falls short of being a full-length novel. The only previous Play-by-Play characters that make an appearance in HOLIDAY ON ICE are the Travelers and new characters are even introduced. Trick and Stella are solid, likable characters. Stella is completely commitment-shy due to a bad experience in her past (quite a while back) while Trick is ready to settle down. The dialogue and interaction feel a little stiff, and almost too proper, in several places. The flow of the story is smooth, however it's sometimes difficult to pack a lot of dimension into it when the book is so short. The plot was not flat, but could have benefited from a little more dynamics. There was a minor conflict which was fairly easy to resolve, extremely minor predictability, and a rock-solid conclusion.
Overall, it was a short and sweet Holiday Novella that fans of Ms. Burton and her Play-by-Play series should enjoy.

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Score: 4.1
Stars: 4
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Reviewing for:
Smut Book Junkie Reviews
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[Cézanne Hayden-Dilbert · Rating 3 out of 5]

Holiday On Ice was a fun holiday story. It was a a quick read but it managed to pack in sweet dialog and tons of steamy scenes.

Patrick "Trick" Niemeyer and Stella Slovinski have had an on again off again fling for the past year. Trick is a hockey player for the New York Travelers and Stella is a trained dancer working on Broadway. Between both of their hectic schedules they had lost touch with each other. When they run into each for the first time in months, the spark between them is still there.

After spending more time together, Trick quickly realizes he wants more with Stella. Even though their relationship had always been casual, they had built a friendship and had a lot in common. In many ways Trick is the perfect guy. He is sweet, funny, considerate, devilishly handsome, and great in bed. Stella likes Trick, always has, but she doesn't do relationships.

After her first relationship ended badly, Stella was hurt and has been running from relationships ever since. Every time Trick showed her how much he cared, it seem to scare her and she would back off. For the most part I liked Stella. She was fun and had a kind heart but at times I wanted to shake her. Trick did some amazingly sweet and considerate gestures and I didn't like how she reacted to his kindness. Yes, she was hurt before but I wished she would have been more forthcoming about her fear of relationships.

I enjoyed this book overall. There was a push and pull to get Stella to open up but Trick made it worth it. Plus their sexually chemistry was amazing!! My main issues were the lack of communication from Stella and at times her attitude. I did truly enjoy the end of the book. If you are looking for a quick holiday read, I would say give Trick and Stella a try :)

[Kayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Holiday on Ice by: Jaci Burton
Review by: Kayla
Synopsis: In this original holiday novella in the Play-By-Play series, New York Times bestselling author Jaci Burton gives readers the gift of “plenty of romance, sexy men, hot steamy loving, and humor.” (Smexy Books)
Superstar hockey player Patrick “Trick” Niemeyer and dancer Stella Slovinski have picked up where they left off a year ago, resuming their hot, uncomplicated affair. Stella refuses to call it dating, or a relationship. But lately, Trick is looking for more…
Stella’s been burned before—in a relationship she never talks about—not with her family, not with her friends, and definitely not with Trick. But now it’s the holiday season and Trick is determined to give Stella his heart wrapped up in a bow. He knows Stella is the right woman for him, but he’ll have to melt the ice surrounding her heart to keep her from walking away.
Includes a preview of Jaci Burton’s Quarterback Draw and Love After All.
Review: I was given a copy of Holiday on Ice by Sunshine and Mountains book blog and netgalley for an honest review.
I liked this holiday novella. It was a sweet and quick read. Jaci Burton does a great job on this novella. It was filled with romance and steamy scenes. Stella and Trick have been seeing each other on and off for the past year. It’s a no strings attached relationship. Stella has been hurt before and she doesn’t want that again. She’s not looking for love. Things change for both Trick and Stella. Stella has to get over her past. She wants true love and happiness. Can she have it with Trick? I liked this novella and I look forward to reading more books by Jaci Burton. I give this book 4 out of 5 stars!

[Michel Reinhard (Saucy Southern Readers) · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC copy provided by publisher, via NetGalley, for a fair and honest review.

Holiday On Ice was a great addition to the outstanding Play By Play series. Jaci Burton has created a series that features sports romances that are emotional and erotic. Each and every book has charismatic characters, red hot romance, and a thrilling escape in the world of professional sports.

Trick and Stella have had an on again off again relationship for the past year. It is a casual relationship without commitment . Trick has realized he wants more than a fling with Stella. He has to convince to take a chance on him. Stella pulls back every time he starts breaking down her walls. Trick shows his devotion throughout this story.

Stella has had a bad experience in matters of love. She does not want to go down that road again. Somewhere along the way her casual relationship with Trick is taking a new direction. Can she let go of the pain and let someone love her again. Can she open up and give Trick the love she has buried away.

What better time to find the true meaning of love than the holidays. The magic between Trick and Stella will warm your heart.

I highly recommend Holiday On Ice by Jaci Burton. It can be read as a stand alone novel or in series order. Holiday On Ice will warm up your holidays.

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The weather might be cold outside, but Jaci Burton and her Play-by-Play series knows just how to heat things up! In HOLIDAY ON ICE, Burton takes hockey player, Patrick “Trick” Niemeyer and dancer Stella Slovinski and gives them a second chance at true love. After a torrid affair that ended only because their work schedules became too much for them, Trick and Stella are now looking to rekindle the flame they lost. However, with Stella’s mind firmly on her career and past experiences with commitment scaring her off, Trick will have to convince Stella that he is in it for the long run.

Expect much of the same hot sex, confident characters and sports emphasis in this book as both characters are athletes in this one. As committed as they are to their careers, I loved seeing how important they saw one another and made time to simply be together. In Contemporary Romances, I think that’s what really makes the story believable.

Jaci Burton is quickly becoming an autobuy author for me. With her flowing writing and willingness to push her characters to face their fears, I’ve learned to love everything that Burton has to offer!

[Janire · Rating 2 out of 5]

Si en Melting the ice los protagonistas eran Carolina y Drew, en Holiday on ice lo son Stella (mejor amiga de Carolina) y Trick (uno de los compañeros de equipo de Drew).

En Melting the ice Stella y Trick ya habían estado juntos, pero era algo sin complicaciones y cuando sus agendas empezaron a ser un problema, dejaron de verse. Peero tras un tiempo sin verse, Trick se encuentra con Stella en un bar y claro se da cuenta de que ella es ELLA y hará lo que sea para conquistarla .

El libro está entretenido, pero al ser una e-novella tengo la impresión de que la autora se ha complicado menos a la hora de escribir la historia. El nudo y el desenlace han sido algo precipitados en comparación con el inicio de la historia.

[Kara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review posted at: http://bookcrushbookreviews.com/2014/...

Rating: 4 stars

This is a holiday novella in the Play by Play series featuring Trick and Stella. Trick is a hockey player, tough and fluid on the ice while Stella is a dancer, graceful and sleek on the floor. They've had "interactions" together in the past with the understanding of no strings attached, which they were fine with...until now. The banter and smooth vibe I witness when Trick and Stella are together is comforting and realistic. They have history with one another so this novella doesn't feel forced or awkward, it seems natural. Stella is facing her fears of commitment and lack of trust while Trick is working on communicating what he wants. Jaci pulls me into her characters' lives quickly and even with this fast-paced novel I developed a connection with Trick and Stella. Some parts came off cheesy in the dialogue, but overall is was fluid and a pleasurable read. Give this a try and find your next book crush!

[Sonya · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to say that I'm not a big fan of novellas. There isn't enough time to get to know the characters and everything is so rushed in them. However, this is a series that I love and don't want to miss anything about it so I gave this one a read. We briefly met Stella and Trick "Patrick" in the last book. They hooked up together previously, but due to their jobs they drifted apart. Trick is a professional hockey player and Stella is a professional dancer. In the past neither of them wanted anything from each other but sex, but now Trick has feelings for Stella. Stella had a bad break up in the past and is not interested in taking things further, she thinks. Things change very quickly in the story. I must say my favorite part is the ice skating/dancing scene. For a quick sexy read Jaci delivers! Can't wait for the next full novel in the series!

[Karen Roma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Holiday on Ice manages to capture the essence of Christmas and address past deception and heartache in this novella length story.

I have always liked Trick’s easy going, charming character and Stella is a strong, independent woman, with a vibrant nature, but she also harbors emotional fears.

While Stella’s insecurities may be overblown and long due to be put to rest, her reasons for protecting her heart are somewhat understandable.

So can Trick walk away from the future he desires, or will he stand and fight for the woman he loves?

Jaci Burton never disappoints, and this Christmas tale was no exception.

[Loz · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one has been my favourite so far in the series. How can you not love Stella? A balls to the wall kind of woman who knows exactly what she wants and isn't afraid to go after it. Awesome.

I'm so glad that Stella and Trick got their own story, they're explosive together.

Though it was the simple things that gave their story a sweet element. A snowball fight with local kids, ice skating/dancing, Christmas tree decorating. *swoon*

It pleased me when her past hurts didn't get dragged out in delaying their HEA. The author kept the angst just right. I even finished the book with a warm and fuzzy feeling which is rare for me.

Bring on more ice hockey books in this series!!

[Catherine Wright (Cat's Guilty Pleasure) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short quick read filled with sweet romance and steamy scenes. Stella and Trick have been seeing each other on and off for over a year. They have a no strings attached kind of relationship, Stella has been hurt before and isn't looking for love. Things change for both of them, but can Stella get over her past and finally find the happiness she wants? I really liked this book, very well written and the characters are great.

I wa given a copy by the publisher via Netgalley in return for an honest review.