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Snow & Ice Games #2
Seduction on the Slopes
Welcome to the Snow and Ice Games where competition is not the only thing that is heating up! The second book in bestselling Tamsen Parker's romance series continues with two competitive teammates.
Miles Palmer has dominated the downhill slalom in every Snow and Ice Games he’s competed in. Double gold, double gold, double gold, and he’s confident he can round out his career and his trophy case with two more medals in his last appearance at the games. The only thing that could stop him? Crash Delaney.
Crash is a young upstart who came out of nowhere and shocked the downhill world with his swagger and untraditional style. As a kid, Crash didn’t have the resources to learn how to race properly, but he begged, borrowed, and stole equipment, and went to any competition he could thumb a ride to. Now the only thing between him and his dreams coming true is his childhood hero, the man whose posters have graced his walls since before he’d ridden in his first chairlift.
Miles and Crash are technically teammates, but you wouldn’t know it from the way they fight. The veteran and the nobody have both got big things riding on this race, and neither can afford any distractions. Especially not each other.
Miles Palmer has dominated the downhill slalom in every Snow and Ice Games he’s competed in. Double gold, double gold, double gold, and he’s confident he can round out his career and his trophy case with two more medals in his last appearance at the games. The only thing that could stop him? Crash Delaney.
Crash is a young upstart who came out of nowhere and shocked the downhill world with his swagger and untraditional style. As a kid, Crash didn’t have the resources to learn how to race properly, but he begged, borrowed, and stole equipment, and went to any competition he could thumb a ride to. Now the only thing between him and his dreams coming true is his childhood hero, the man whose posters have graced his walls since before he’d ridden in his first chairlift.
Miles and Crash are technically teammates, but you wouldn’t know it from the way they fight. The veteran and the nobody have both got big things riding on this race, and neither can afford any distractions. Especially not each other.
165 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 16, 2018
5 people are currently reading
199 people want to read
About the author
Tamsen Parker
43 books390 followersTamsen Parker is a stay-at-home mom by day, erotic romance writer by naptime. She lives with her family outside of Boston, where she tweets too much, sleeps too little and is always in the middle of a book. Aside from good food, sweet rieslings and gin cocktails, she has a fondness for monograms and subway maps. She should really start drinking coffee.
You can sign up for her newsletter here to find out about her latest release, sales, or other goings on: http://bit.ly/1Bry07O
You can sign up for her newsletter here to find out about her latest release, sales, or other goings on: http://bit.ly/1Bry07O
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews
January 14, 2018
2.5
If you're after a sweet/sexy MM story this might be the one for you.
Miles and Crash are both skiers.Miles is older and has more experience in dealing with every aspect of the sport.Crash is the opposite,and especially struggles with the many press interviews that are required......he needs something to calm him down......his preference would be marijuana but he definitely can't go there,so that leaves his other method ....sex.
So Miles offers to help him out,so to speak....
I had a hard time believing the connection/and quick progression of their relationship here and both men's inner monologues started to bore me.
ON a positive note I loved the fact it was about an interracial couple,the sex scenes were pretty steamy and Crash was super cute.
Not a massive hit,for me,but an enjoyable read in places.
Review copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley
If you're after a sweet/sexy MM story this might be the one for you.
Miles and Crash are both skiers.Miles is older and has more experience in dealing with every aspect of the sport.Crash is the opposite,and especially struggles with the many press interviews that are required......he needs something to calm him down......his preference would be marijuana but he definitely can't go there,so that leaves his other method ....sex.
So Miles offers to help him out,so to speak....
I had a hard time believing the connection/and quick progression of their relationship here and both men's inner monologues started to bore me.
ON a positive note I loved the fact it was about an interracial couple,the sex scenes were pretty steamy and Crash was super cute.
Not a massive hit,for me,but an enjoyable read in places.
Review copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley
January 8, 2018
***2 Stars***
This was my first time reading Tamsen Parker, and unfortunately, I really struggled with this book.
I had a hard time connecting to the characters, story, and writing. Everything felt forced. And though I don't have any issues reading first person POV, here it felt very clunky and tried too hard at being funny and dishing out one liners. Like WAY TOO MANY one liners.
The transition and evolution of Miles and Crash's relationship was off as well. A lot of internal monologue, and not many substantive conversations. Nothing felt fully fleshed out and developed. It felt more like the author was following a chapter outline (chapter 5 handjob, chapter 9 sex, chapter 11 maybe feelings, etc) rather than letting Miles and Crash's relationship naturally progress.
And because of all that, I didn't believe the "I love you's" after one week together. And I certainly didn't buy into talk of marriage and forever.
Also, the conflict of how their relationship in the bedroom would affect their performance on the slopes was rushed. It turned into an anti-climatic let down.
Overall, this was a book that I really wanted to like but didn't find anything to connect with or really sink my teeth into.
***ARC courtesy of publisher, via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review***
January 11, 2018
Seduction on the Slopes (Snow & Ice Games #2) by Tamsen Parker was cute and sexy but not a home run. There were quite a few things that I enjoyed.
-The characters were lovable.
-The story had a fun vibe to it.
-Interracial couple.
-Age gap.
-Childhood crush.
-Opposites attract.
But I couldn't get past the clunky relationship development. It was bad.
1. I found Miles' and Crash's "arrangement" to help Crash with his anxiety highly far-fetched. I don't care how much you love your team but the likelihood of someone stepping up for that on a whim- pfft, doubtful. If you want to know what I'm referring to
2. The transition from "helpful arrangement" to "I have feelings for you" is nonexistent. I thought I'd accidentally scrolled past a chapter, seriously. It was off.
3. And because of reason number two, it made the end feel rushed and not wholly believable.
In the end, I'll give it 2.75 rounded up to 3 Stars, like I said it was cute and sexy just not 100% successful in its storytelling.
-The characters were lovable.
-The story had a fun vibe to it.
-Interracial couple.
-Age gap.
-Childhood crush.
-Opposites attract.
But I couldn't get past the clunky relationship development. It was bad.
1. I found Miles' and Crash's "arrangement" to help Crash with his anxiety highly far-fetched. I don't care how much you love your team but the likelihood of someone stepping up for that on a whim- pfft, doubtful. If you want to know what I'm referring to
2. The transition from "helpful arrangement" to "I have feelings for you" is nonexistent. I thought I'd accidentally scrolled past a chapter, seriously. It was off.
3. And because of reason number two, it made the end feel rushed and not wholly believable.
In the end, I'll give it 2.75 rounded up to 3 Stars, like I said it was cute and sexy just not 100% successful in its storytelling.
July 22, 2018
Review also on my blog • Twitter • Bookstagram
I received an arc from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Seduction on the Slopes has a strange premise, to say the least. It takes place at a Snow and Ice Games, following Crash and Miles. They are both skiers, Miles being a veteran to the sport and Crash being young and up and coming. However, Crash has anxiety when it comes to the press. Initially Miles it told to help him get more confident with the press, and because of Crash's anxiety it's shown to be difficult. A way for Crash to relax would be smoking marijuana, which would be illegal. This leads to the idea of Miles helping by giving him hand jobs before interviews.
This book just... didn't work for me. The premise felt odd and very childhood fantasy, especially since not only did Crash already have feelings for Miles, but he was how he realised he was gay. This felt a little too fantasy-ish in my opinion. And I still don't totally understand why he couldn't just masturbate.
I did like Miles. I like how it was pointed out how white and heteronormative the culture around winter sports is, being a black gay man. I think it would've been good to look more into it though. I didn't love how quickly he seemed to fall in love with Crash. Before they started their arrangement he couldn't even stand him.
The relationship was okay. I didn't hate it. I don't even know how to explain how I feel about this book. It was really just very mediocre. I was planning to read this whole series but I think I'll just read the f/f and be done.
I received an arc from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Seduction on the Slopes has a strange premise, to say the least. It takes place at a Snow and Ice Games, following Crash and Miles. They are both skiers, Miles being a veteran to the sport and Crash being young and up and coming. However, Crash has anxiety when it comes to the press. Initially Miles it told to help him get more confident with the press, and because of Crash's anxiety it's shown to be difficult. A way for Crash to relax would be smoking marijuana, which would be illegal. This leads to the idea of Miles helping by giving him hand jobs before interviews.
This book just... didn't work for me. The premise felt odd and very childhood fantasy, especially since not only did Crash already have feelings for Miles, but he was how he realised he was gay. This felt a little too fantasy-ish in my opinion. And I still don't totally understand why he couldn't just masturbate.
I did like Miles. I like how it was pointed out how white and heteronormative the culture around winter sports is, being a black gay man. I think it would've been good to look more into it though. I didn't love how quickly he seemed to fall in love with Crash. Before they started their arrangement he couldn't even stand him.
The relationship was okay. I didn't hate it. I don't even know how to explain how I feel about this book. It was really just very mediocre. I was planning to read this whole series but I think I'll just read the f/f and be done.
December 26, 2017
*Arc courtesy of Tamsen Parker/NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
Why am I reading a book about winter games in freezing weather when I'm cold and dreaming of the summer? Because Tamsen Parker has another wonderful book out! So maybe reading a book about cold isn't the smartest idea, but Tamsen has some hot and heavy romance in this book to warm you up! (Well, I wish it worked that way...).
Pros:
1. F-Bombs galore! For me, this was actually one of the more amusing parts. There are some perfectly timed f-bombs for comedic purposes. Ah, how I love Tamsen's fruity language.
2. I'm not the biggest fan of M/M books (mainly because most of them are trying to follow the "stereotype" of what society has deemed M/M relationships to be) but this one was more realistic (within the scenario). It's a major plus for this book not to be the stereotypical "norm" that has become some recent M/M books.
3. "Ass-Muffin". That term, that's a pro all on it's own.
4. This book is a rather quick, easy read - I found it to be addicting to the point I wouldn't put it down.
5. There's some great comedic tones within this novel. This book is not just hardcore M/M romance scenes page after page, there's a plot, some sporty goodness and drama all wrapped up into one beautiful bundle. It's also complex in the character development and back stories. These characters aren't Mary Sue's!!!
Cons:
1. Too Short? I felt the first book in this series was to short, and now this one also felt a little too short. But on a positive note, it's also not too long...
2. This can be a pro or a con depending on what type of reader you are - there is lots of CHEESE in this book. And by cheese, I mean cheesey dialogue. For me, I love it (mostly because Tamsen does it "right" in my mind) but it can be considered a con by many - so I'll list it in my con list.
3. Series wise, these books are all focused on different characters. To me, that's kind of a con considering I love some of these characters and want much more of them. Maybe I can convince Tamsen to make some Infinity War-esque novel of all of these characters... Maybe not. It might be worth a shot though...
4. Two books in a row now have had these sugary sweet endings that all tie up perfectly super quickly. That might be my biggest con of all for some of Tamsen's books. It's not a bad thing, but it's definitely something that could be worked on (can you tell I'm in school exam mode right now with the constructive criticism and feedback? Oh boy).
Overall, this book is hella sexy and definitely worth a read. If you are a fan of romance, M/M, sporty novels or a splash of comedy in with your romance, this book is for you!
Five out of five stars!!
Why am I reading a book about winter games in freezing weather when I'm cold and dreaming of the summer? Because Tamsen Parker has another wonderful book out! So maybe reading a book about cold isn't the smartest idea, but Tamsen has some hot and heavy romance in this book to warm you up! (Well, I wish it worked that way...).
Pros:
1. F-Bombs galore! For me, this was actually one of the more amusing parts. There are some perfectly timed f-bombs for comedic purposes. Ah, how I love Tamsen's fruity language.
2. I'm not the biggest fan of M/M books (mainly because most of them are trying to follow the "stereotype" of what society has deemed M/M relationships to be) but this one was more realistic (within the scenario). It's a major plus for this book not to be the stereotypical "norm" that has become some recent M/M books.
3. "Ass-Muffin". That term, that's a pro all on it's own.
4. This book is a rather quick, easy read - I found it to be addicting to the point I wouldn't put it down.
5. There's some great comedic tones within this novel. This book is not just hardcore M/M romance scenes page after page, there's a plot, some sporty goodness and drama all wrapped up into one beautiful bundle. It's also complex in the character development and back stories. These characters aren't Mary Sue's!!!
Cons:
1. Too Short? I felt the first book in this series was to short, and now this one also felt a little too short. But on a positive note, it's also not too long...
2. This can be a pro or a con depending on what type of reader you are - there is lots of CHEESE in this book. And by cheese, I mean cheesey dialogue. For me, I love it (mostly because Tamsen does it "right" in my mind) but it can be considered a con by many - so I'll list it in my con list.
3. Series wise, these books are all focused on different characters. To me, that's kind of a con considering I love some of these characters and want much more of them. Maybe I can convince Tamsen to make some Infinity War-esque novel of all of these characters... Maybe not. It might be worth a shot though...
4. Two books in a row now have had these sugary sweet endings that all tie up perfectly super quickly. That might be my biggest con of all for some of Tamsen's books. It's not a bad thing, but it's definitely something that could be worked on (can you tell I'm in school exam mode right now with the constructive criticism and feedback? Oh boy).
Overall, this book is hella sexy and definitely worth a read. If you are a fan of romance, M/M, sporty novels or a splash of comedy in with your romance, this book is for you!
Five out of five stars!!
January 18, 2018
I think I liked this story? I mean, I liked parts of it and parts of it I was rolling my eyes hard.
Everything happens lightning quick. We meet the two MCs, one is a seasoned veteran of the sport (Miles) who has devoted his entire life to his sport and the other is a young, hotshot (Crash) who doesn't seem to take anything seriously. We find out that may not be the full story for the young'un so the seasoned vet takes the youngster under his wing to coach him. This is all fine and dandy, but they also will compete in the same event. It may be the last time for the old guy, but he is a good guy so he is going to help young'un meet his full potential even if it causes seasoned guy the gold.
That aside, they decide to engage in a sexual relationship which is awkward and perfunctory at best in the beginning. Things heat up quickly as the days go by and by day 5 everything is steaming. So I give the sex a passing grade.
The whole story happens in about a week and everything happens very fast. There is so much internal dialogue that I lost track of the actual conversation on multiple occasions and had to flip back pages to see what the actual question or statement was. That is annoying and takes me right out of the story. Oh, and don't get me started on all the euphemisms! So. Many. I give that a fail.
I liked Crash and I think he was a good guy with drive and potential. He never had anyone to lean on in the past and was struggling with the shame of his upbringing when everyone around him was afforded more. I completely understand his coping mechanisms and his inability to be open about the issues he was dealing with.
I also liked Miles. He is also just a good dude who was willing to put the team above his personal goals. He could see potential in Crash and was willing to help him regardless of what that meant in the long run for Miles himself. As an athlete and a teammate, Miles excelled. As a partner in a relationship, he was barely passing. This is also understandable due to his lack of experience in relationships.
That being said, these two guys who are so opposite in so many ways from upbringing to experience to age, fall in love very quickly. So much so that I am not sure how it happened. Outside of the sexual chemistry and one in-depth conversation, when did they get to know each other enough to be in love? I am not buying it. An HFN would have been more fitting for this book and probably would have made me more convinced of their long-term potential.
2.5-3 stars because I was engaged in the story though it took until about the midway point to get there. Rounded up to 3 for the steamy bits and Crash's growth as a person in just a few short days.
*ARC provided by Netgalley for honest review*
Everything happens lightning quick. We meet the two MCs, one is a seasoned veteran of the sport (Miles) who has devoted his entire life to his sport and the other is a young, hotshot (Crash) who doesn't seem to take anything seriously. We find out that may not be the full story for the young'un so the seasoned vet takes the youngster under his wing to coach him. This is all fine and dandy, but they also will compete in the same event. It may be the last time for the old guy, but he is a good guy so he is going to help young'un meet his full potential even if it causes seasoned guy the gold.
That aside, they decide to engage in a sexual relationship which is awkward and perfunctory at best in the beginning. Things heat up quickly as the days go by and by day 5 everything is steaming. So I give the sex a passing grade.
The whole story happens in about a week and everything happens very fast. There is so much internal dialogue that I lost track of the actual conversation on multiple occasions and had to flip back pages to see what the actual question or statement was. That is annoying and takes me right out of the story. Oh, and don't get me started on all the euphemisms! So. Many. I give that a fail.
I liked Crash and I think he was a good guy with drive and potential. He never had anyone to lean on in the past and was struggling with the shame of his upbringing when everyone around him was afforded more. I completely understand his coping mechanisms and his inability to be open about the issues he was dealing with.
I also liked Miles. He is also just a good dude who was willing to put the team above his personal goals. He could see potential in Crash and was willing to help him regardless of what that meant in the long run for Miles himself. As an athlete and a teammate, Miles excelled. As a partner in a relationship, he was barely passing. This is also understandable due to his lack of experience in relationships.
That being said, these two guys who are so opposite in so many ways from upbringing to experience to age, fall in love very quickly. So much so that I am not sure how it happened. Outside of the sexual chemistry and one in-depth conversation, when did they get to know each other enough to be in love? I am not buying it. An HFN would have been more fitting for this book and probably would have made me more convinced of their long-term potential.
2.5-3 stars because I was engaged in the story though it took until about the midway point to get there. Rounded up to 3 for the steamy bits and Crash's growth as a person in just a few short days.
*ARC provided by Netgalley for honest review*
February 25, 2018
While I enjoyed the general premise of Seduction on the Slopes, I felt the execution was lacking. I really liked the idea of an older athlete mentoring and helping a younger one, but the reason behind the assistance was a little ... strange, to say the least. And that assistance was basically the plot of the novel too, which meant I didn't enjoy the book as much as I thought I would.
The love interests' - Miles and Crash - relationship felt a little forced. I couldn't believe how quickly they were confessing their love for one another. Although I thought they each offered different and important qualities to the relationship, the speed with with they fall in love was frustrating and out-of-the-blue. Despite Crash's childhood crush on Miles, the relationship felt purely sexual and I didn't feel 'feelings' between them.
Despite these few issues, the writing was fantastic, and I did enjoy the characters' personalities seperate to the romance.
Seduction on the Slopes is a quick, bingeable read, and I did have fun with it, for the most part. If you're looking for a quick and steamy series to read over a weekend, definitely pick up the Snow & Ice Games series.
I received a copy of the novel in exchange for an honest review.
The love interests' - Miles and Crash - relationship felt a little forced. I couldn't believe how quickly they were confessing their love for one another. Although I thought they each offered different and important qualities to the relationship, the speed with with they fall in love was frustrating and out-of-the-blue. Despite Crash's childhood crush on Miles, the relationship felt purely sexual and I didn't feel 'feelings' between them.
Despite these few issues, the writing was fantastic, and I did enjoy the characters' personalities seperate to the romance.
Seduction on the Slopes is a quick, bingeable read, and I did have fun with it, for the most part. If you're looking for a quick and steamy series to read over a weekend, definitely pick up the Snow & Ice Games series.
I received a copy of the novel in exchange for an honest review.
January 16, 2018
I was watching (with one eye) the qualifications slalom/skiing for the Olympics. I giggled... I'm reading about this! Awesome!
Miles the leader of the team, with a lot of golden medals, got a roommate, the new boy Crash.
He has to put him in line because he is wild, with not matching equipment and he hates the way Crash behaves.... until he gets to understand there is more than he first thought.
There is a job to do for Miles...
Crash has a crush for Miles since he was a little boy. He wants to be like Miles. And now they are roommates.
There is only one way for Crash to get rid of his problem .....Miles helps him with this....
Crash gets much better with everything and they are growing close...only knowing Crash getting better and better he also is a threat.
Really nice read, entertaining written, not going deep but if you accept it as a light one..!
The solution to the 'problem' didn't convince me at first, but I stepped over this and parked it, glad I did because further in the story this same solution was really sexy done....
Both Miles and Crash are nice, sweet and very competitive. Together they are more than okay.
The writing and the story became better and better.
Kindly received an ARC from the publisher through NetGalley
Miles the leader of the team, with a lot of golden medals, got a roommate, the new boy Crash.
He has to put him in line because he is wild, with not matching equipment and he hates the way Crash behaves.... until he gets to understand there is more than he first thought.
There is a job to do for Miles...
Crash has a crush for Miles since he was a little boy. He wants to be like Miles. And now they are roommates.
There is only one way for Crash to get rid of his problem .....Miles helps him with this....
Crash gets much better with everything and they are growing close...only knowing Crash getting better and better he also is a threat.
Really nice read, entertaining written, not going deep but if you accept it as a light one..!
The solution to the 'problem' didn't convince me at first, but I stepped over this and parked it, glad I did because further in the story this same solution was really sexy done....
Both Miles and Crash are nice, sweet and very competitive. Together they are more than okay.
The writing and the story became better and better.
Kindly received an ARC from the publisher through NetGalley
January 10, 2018
The second story in the Snow and Ice Games stars skiing teammates - Miles, older and wiser at 31 and the Crash a rising star at 21. I love the concept of this series and really enjoyed the first one, Love on the Tracks. This one didn't click for me as well mostly because I didn't feel the chemistry between Miles and Crash. There are several sexy scenes but the age difference felt really big in attitude and life experience - too big for 'I love you' at the end. Still I enjoyed the story overall and the skiing scenes were great. I'm definitely planning to continue the series.
A copy of this story was provided by the publisher via NetGalley for review.
A copy of this story was provided by the publisher via NetGalley for review.
March 17, 2018
3.5/5
Seduction on the Slopes was quite possibly my favorite in this series. This one features skiers and an age-gap romance. And it's an M/M romance. I thought this one was so much fun, and I loved the dynamics between Crash and Miles especially. This was definitely on the sexier side, but we see the two begin to fall in love over the course of the sexy times. I would have loved for this book to be a bit longer because I loved these two different personalities and how well they clicked together.
December 17, 2017
This is kind of an amazing book and I am so happily surprised. It wasa breath of fresh air especially as it challenged so many stereotypes in m/m romance books! I am so so so happy I got to read an arc of this. Full review to come.
January 16, 2018
My Review:
This was the first book I've read by this author and I was completely blown away by the quality of the story.
This is an opposites attract story, but there's really not even an attraction between them at the beginning because they are SO COMPLETELY different. Miles is a rule follower. He's completely disciplined and controlled at all times. That's how he's won his six gold medals.
Crash doesn't even know what the rules are. On his own since the age of fifteen, he's had to scrape and claw his way to get to this level of competitive skiing. His rags to riches story is huge to the media and public, but for him, it's nothing but stress. No, he hasn't had an easy time, but that's all he's known. He hates the attention his upbringing has brought to him. He wants to ski and do that as best as he can. He's unkempt, his skiing style is unconventional, and he regularly tokes up.
In other words, Crash is Miles' nightmare. But Miles can see just how much pure talent Crash has so he's put himself out there to make sure that Crash gets on the team, but that's meant that the coach has put Miles in charge of making that Crash shows up and follows the rules. And that takes some interesting (and extremely sexy) incentives...
This romance is a great one. The two of them are so unlikely, but as they work together to get Crash to do what he needs to do for the team, they begin to truly respect one another and see the other's perspective. I loved that. I also loved the case of hero worship that Crash had going for him. He's always adored Miles as a fan. To be on the team with him is beyond his wildest dreams, but then when things get deeper, I adored Crash's internal fanboy. So much fun to this story.
And dang...it was so sexy. Neither of these guys saw this situation going where it did, but once it does, they get so swept away with it all... Seriously, sexy!
Crash's backstory was heartbreaking...just in how much skiing meant to him and no one ever shared in that excitement with him. His parents were neglectful at best. But the idea that he managed to reach this level of competitive skill with the worst of circumstances and equipment is astounding. His story alone made for really riveting reading.
The guys are opposite personalities, but so much of that is because of their completely opposite upbringing. It was an interesting dichotomy. They both are super-competitive, but I loved Crash's actions at the end.
This was a GREAT book. I definitely look forward to reading this author again.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in return for an honest review.
This was the first book I've read by this author and I was completely blown away by the quality of the story.
This is an opposites attract story, but there's really not even an attraction between them at the beginning because they are SO COMPLETELY different. Miles is a rule follower. He's completely disciplined and controlled at all times. That's how he's won his six gold medals.
Crash doesn't even know what the rules are. On his own since the age of fifteen, he's had to scrape and claw his way to get to this level of competitive skiing. His rags to riches story is huge to the media and public, but for him, it's nothing but stress. No, he hasn't had an easy time, but that's all he's known. He hates the attention his upbringing has brought to him. He wants to ski and do that as best as he can. He's unkempt, his skiing style is unconventional, and he regularly tokes up.
In other words, Crash is Miles' nightmare. But Miles can see just how much pure talent Crash has so he's put himself out there to make sure that Crash gets on the team, but that's meant that the coach has put Miles in charge of making that Crash shows up and follows the rules. And that takes some interesting (and extremely sexy) incentives...
This romance is a great one. The two of them are so unlikely, but as they work together to get Crash to do what he needs to do for the team, they begin to truly respect one another and see the other's perspective. I loved that. I also loved the case of hero worship that Crash had going for him. He's always adored Miles as a fan. To be on the team with him is beyond his wildest dreams, but then when things get deeper, I adored Crash's internal fanboy. So much fun to this story.
And dang...it was so sexy. Neither of these guys saw this situation going where it did, but once it does, they get so swept away with it all... Seriously, sexy!
Crash's backstory was heartbreaking...just in how much skiing meant to him and no one ever shared in that excitement with him. His parents were neglectful at best. But the idea that he managed to reach this level of competitive skill with the worst of circumstances and equipment is astounding. His story alone made for really riveting reading.
The guys are opposite personalities, but so much of that is because of their completely opposite upbringing. It was an interesting dichotomy. They both are super-competitive, but I loved Crash's actions at the end.
This was a GREAT book. I definitely look forward to reading this author again.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in return for an honest review.
January 17, 2018
I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
I picked this book up on a whim because I wanted to read something wintery and I always look for storylines set on the slopes. :) Something about that just makes me happy around the beginning of the New Year. I have read this author before and I had some mixed feelings going in but I gave it a shot anyway. It was... very different than what I was expecting, with both good and bad things about it.
First of, our main characters here have a bit of an age difference. Crash is a young and is just now starting to make his mark on the sport, while Miles may be looking at his last chance at being on top. They have had completely different life experiences, not just because of age but because of their circumstances. There's also the fact that Crash used to idolize Miles since he was a kid, then crushed big time on him when he was a teenager. So being on a team together is hitting all of Crash's fanboy buttons. More than that, when Miles has to take a more hands-on approach to keep Crash from making a bad impression in front of the media, all of Crash's fantasies may come to life.
While I'm not sure I bought into the relationship, other than the physical, on Miles end I think this story gave us some steam. The romance aspect was hard for me to get into because Crash is a bit too young and immature for my liking and I thought Miles was so far away in maturity level from him that any type of relationship between them wouldn't work in my head at least for the future. But seeing Crash's starry eyed adoration for Miles was endearing and probably the one thing about this book that kept me reading.
This was a fast read with the the setting I was looking for so I was glad I picked it up. I'm not sure I'll be looking to read more from this series, though.
*ARC provided by publisher
Reviewed by Francesca❤ ♡ Don't want to miss any of our posts? Subscribe to our blog by email! ♡ ❤
January 17, 2018
Seduction on the Slopes was a quick, hot and fun read that I really enjoyed. It had some of my favorite things in it: sports, opposites attract, age difference, childhood crush, interracial couple and some humor.
I really liked the characters and while I found the initial reasons for them to hookup sexually unbelievable I just went with it and enjoyed the fun. I felt like the feelings from Crash were more believable than on Miles side and I wish there had been a better transition from hooking up to having feelings for each other. The whole thing happened it such a short time frame that I think it would have been more believable had the time period been longer. However, I still enjoyed the two men together and the sex was hot. The ending was wrapped up a little bit too easily and again I'm not sure an athlete at that level would ever make that decision but it was sweet.
So overall, while there were a few things that were a bit unbelievable I enjoyed the characters, the romance and the plot of the book. I didn't read the first book in this series but I will go back and read it now.
A copy of this book was provided to me by Netgalley and the publisher with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book and my comments here are my honest opinion.
I really liked the characters and while I found the initial reasons for them to hookup sexually unbelievable I just went with it and enjoyed the fun. I felt like the feelings from Crash were more believable than on Miles side and I wish there had been a better transition from hooking up to having feelings for each other. The whole thing happened it such a short time frame that I think it would have been more believable had the time period been longer. However, I still enjoyed the two men together and the sex was hot. The ending was wrapped up a little bit too easily and again I'm not sure an athlete at that level would ever make that decision but it was sweet.
So overall, while there were a few things that were a bit unbelievable I enjoyed the characters, the romance and the plot of the book. I didn't read the first book in this series but I will go back and read it now.
A copy of this book was provided to me by Netgalley and the publisher with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book and my comments here are my honest opinion.
February 6, 2018
2.75 stars
It took me ages to write this review, to try to let go of my expectations and hopes for what the book could have been to write about what it actually ended up being. In the end, it feels important to say what I went in expecting, and that I was disappointed.
Read the rest of my review on my site.
Content Warnings
It took me ages to write this review, to try to let go of my expectations and hopes for what the book could have been to write about what it actually ended up being. In the end, it feels important to say what I went in expecting, and that I was disappointed.
Read the rest of my review on my site.
Content Warnings
December 28, 2017
This book was an absolute delight. It was funny (often downright hilarious) and sexy with two highly likeable and relatable heroes. Each character really shone through via the dual POVs and the story flowed at a fast and exciting pace, which suited the sporting event setting perfectly. The tension (in the bedroom and on the slopes) was deliciously palpable and the action (ahem again, in the bedroom and on the slopes) was on point. It was my first time reading this author and I can't wait to check out the rest of the series - plus bonus points for mixed pairings! Highly recommend if you're looking for something light and fluffy.
Read
January 15, 2018DNF @ 46%
This book and I.... we didnt work out sadly. I was hoping we could find some common ground as this was a 1st time read for me by this author.
Yah. No.
I just could not get into it. It was easier to put down, walk away, start another book then it was to finish it.
Time is precious yo and this just wasnt worth it to me.
Connection Connection Connection
Show not TELL.
Mare~Slistread
This book and I.... we didnt work out sadly. I was hoping we could find some common ground as this was a 1st time read for me by this author.
Yah. No.
I just could not get into it. It was easier to put down, walk away, start another book then it was to finish it.
Time is precious yo and this just wasnt worth it to me.
Connection Connection Connection
Show not TELL.
Mare~Slistread
December 31, 2017
What a departure from Personal Geography...
I'd stumbled upon Tamsen Parker's first book a few years ago and was captured by her portrayal of the h-omitting rom-dom Cris and his headstrong, submissive paramour, India. It was the first time I had read something with strong d/s rep with so much chemistry and with such clarity on boundaries and consent. Given the Fifty Shades and an endless number of spin-offs of torture porn masquerading as BDSM, this publication stood out even more for being so deliberate in its intent.
Flash forward to Seduction on the Slopes.
Crash is a scrappy, stoner athlete who appears to be unable to adhere to a level of professionalism required at the Olympics. On the one hand, he's flip, full of gibberish, cute, incorrigible. On the other, he's managed to attain his current spot on the team with very little help, having figured out how to get his GED, get on the slopes, find gear, and get to the tryouts that would open this opportunity to him.
Miles is his polar opposite. Not just because he's steadfast and captain of the team but because he's had supportive parents who have done everything from foot the bill for his training to showing up -- in heart and soul -- at his important events. When it becomes clear that Crash, who has become Miles' responsibility, responds to a strong hand, it also becomes clear they might have something more in common than skiing.
What strikes me about this negotiation of control between the two men is that...well, there is really very little negotiation at all. The D/s aspect of their relationship is more haphazard than in Personal Geography for one. For two, Miles seems to be a bit too willing to give up control, which maybe he needs it but in a real scene, would be a betrayal to his partner, who is counting on him to be more present and accountable than this. Thing is, it's never really played as a true scene, never really played as a D/s relationship...more like Crash is breaking down Miles boundaries, which might or might not be a positive thing for both Crash and Miles. Which leads me to believe the D/s part of their relationship is a ruse more than anything else.
So...I'm a little confused on the intent here and wishing Parker had picked a side to come down on. Because if it was meant to be a bit of fun designed to relax Crash and to break down Miles' boundaries, it was some sexy, schmexy fun.
There is also a moment near the end of the book where Chase took a stance and action so against what Miles stood for, it negated any possibility of the two of them having a HEA in the near future... and I didn't at all believe the spin to explain how they end up together.
Nevertheless.
Putting this aside, I enjoyed Crash's ability to push Miles' buttons and the forbidden nature of their messing around. Crash's dialogue was humorous, if limited to colorful variations of describing vomiting and fooling around (for reasons).
All in all, it was a fun book and remained one I enjoyed once I decided to stop suspending my disbelief in a few key places and determining this was not a D/s relationship but one in which they might decide to pursue one in the future.
Also note an oddity: Miles age was clearly stated as 31 in no less than 3 places but for some reason, I started out thinking he was 28 and later 38. Not sure why this was but I got confused enough that I had to CNTL-F to research it.
I'd stumbled upon Tamsen Parker's first book a few years ago and was captured by her portrayal of the h-omitting rom-dom Cris and his headstrong, submissive paramour, India. It was the first time I had read something with strong d/s rep with so much chemistry and with such clarity on boundaries and consent. Given the Fifty Shades and an endless number of spin-offs of torture porn masquerading as BDSM, this publication stood out even more for being so deliberate in its intent.
Flash forward to Seduction on the Slopes.
Crash is a scrappy, stoner athlete who appears to be unable to adhere to a level of professionalism required at the Olympics. On the one hand, he's flip, full of gibberish, cute, incorrigible. On the other, he's managed to attain his current spot on the team with very little help, having figured out how to get his GED, get on the slopes, find gear, and get to the tryouts that would open this opportunity to him.
Miles is his polar opposite. Not just because he's steadfast and captain of the team but because he's had supportive parents who have done everything from foot the bill for his training to showing up -- in heart and soul -- at his important events. When it becomes clear that Crash, who has become Miles' responsibility, responds to a strong hand, it also becomes clear they might have something more in common than skiing.
What strikes me about this negotiation of control between the two men is that...well, there is really very little negotiation at all. The D/s aspect of their relationship is more haphazard than in Personal Geography for one. For two, Miles seems to be a bit too willing to give up control, which maybe he needs it but in a real scene, would be a betrayal to his partner, who is counting on him to be more present and accountable than this. Thing is, it's never really played as a true scene, never really played as a D/s relationship...more like Crash is breaking down Miles boundaries, which might or might not be a positive thing for both Crash and Miles. Which leads me to believe the D/s part of their relationship is a ruse more than anything else.
So...I'm a little confused on the intent here and wishing Parker had picked a side to come down on. Because if it was meant to be a bit of fun designed to relax Crash and to break down Miles' boundaries, it was some sexy, schmexy fun.
There is also a moment near the end of the book where Chase took a stance and action so against what Miles stood for, it negated any possibility of the two of them having a HEA in the near future... and I didn't at all believe the spin to explain how they end up together.
Nevertheless.
Putting this aside, I enjoyed Crash's ability to push Miles' buttons and the forbidden nature of their messing around. Crash's dialogue was humorous, if limited to colorful variations of describing vomiting and fooling around (for reasons).
All in all, it was a fun book and remained one I enjoyed once I decided to stop suspending my disbelief in a few key places and determining this was not a D/s relationship but one in which they might decide to pursue one in the future.
Also note an oddity: Miles age was clearly stated as 31 in no less than 3 places but for some reason, I started out thinking he was 28 and later 38. Not sure why this was but I got confused enough that I had to CNTL-F to research it.
July 30, 2018
https://celebrityreaders.com/2018/07/...
I received a free copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest and unbiased review/opinion.
3.5 stars — This was one of those ones where I felt a bit conflicted. I was drawn right into this story, and after having been a bit burned out, I was so excited to be pulled into reading again. But our heroes, particularly Miles, were really volatile characters, and occasionally that made me uncomfortable.
I know this is going to sound silly, but I totally didn’t pay close enough attention to the cover to notice that Miles was black! So bonus diversity on this one! And while it didn’t play a huge role, it wasn’t just token either. I loved that he was from the wealthy family, and that he got into skiing because his parents wanted him to fit in in the neighbourhood where they lived. Intriguing.
Occasionally both Miles and Crash were a bit over the top, almost caricatures of themselves. Miles was an extreme stick in the mud…like, I’m a fan of a wide ranging vocabulary, and while the definitions of the words he used were always correct, occasionally they felt a bit forced…I kept meaning to run them by my hubby, b/c he would totes know if they were actually used correctly. It just didn’t feel natural if that makes sense. I was also really turned off by his volatile moods, his quickness to anger, and while he constantly acknowledged that he was being an asshole to Crash, it felt like lampshading. I never saw him grow in that aspect…like, uh, that’s great that you realize you’re being a jerk, but what are you doing to change that and be better? It made it hard to like him. And on Crash’s end, the constant use of stoner type language (the gagillion euphemisms for everything, from throwing up to sex) got old REALLY fast. When we started learning more about Crash, I wasn’t sure if he was putting on a persona, or if that’s really who he was.
Now, saying all of that, I really did come to feel a lot for these guys…though if I’m honest, moreso for Crash than Miles. I did feel for Miles’s fear and uncertainty over his future and the end of his career. But it was Crash’s childhood history, and his constant insecurity, that really got to my heart. I could feel his pain, feel his wounds. And yet he still put himself out there. I just wanted to hug him.
As for the romance…I enjoyed so many parts, and the steam factor was at “hoo boy!” But it also felt fast, and at the beginning I didn’t buy what was drawing them together. Once I let myself buy into it and ignored those misgivings, I was more invested. It’s hard to write romance in the timeframe of an “olympics” type games…it’s always going to feel fast. This one wasn’t bad, but I’ve read better…
The sports felt fairly well done. Made me wish I’d made time to read this during the Olympics, b/c now I’m feeling all winter sports-y.
So all in all, this was a fun addition to the series and is making me want to read more…and the emotions with Crash and the steam factor have me rounding up.
I received a free copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest and unbiased review/opinion.
3.5 stars — This was one of those ones where I felt a bit conflicted. I was drawn right into this story, and after having been a bit burned out, I was so excited to be pulled into reading again. But our heroes, particularly Miles, were really volatile characters, and occasionally that made me uncomfortable.
I know this is going to sound silly, but I totally didn’t pay close enough attention to the cover to notice that Miles was black! So bonus diversity on this one! And while it didn’t play a huge role, it wasn’t just token either. I loved that he was from the wealthy family, and that he got into skiing because his parents wanted him to fit in in the neighbourhood where they lived. Intriguing.
Occasionally both Miles and Crash were a bit over the top, almost caricatures of themselves. Miles was an extreme stick in the mud…like, I’m a fan of a wide ranging vocabulary, and while the definitions of the words he used were always correct, occasionally they felt a bit forced…I kept meaning to run them by my hubby, b/c he would totes know if they were actually used correctly. It just didn’t feel natural if that makes sense. I was also really turned off by his volatile moods, his quickness to anger, and while he constantly acknowledged that he was being an asshole to Crash, it felt like lampshading. I never saw him grow in that aspect…like, uh, that’s great that you realize you’re being a jerk, but what are you doing to change that and be better? It made it hard to like him. And on Crash’s end, the constant use of stoner type language (the gagillion euphemisms for everything, from throwing up to sex) got old REALLY fast. When we started learning more about Crash, I wasn’t sure if he was putting on a persona, or if that’s really who he was.
Now, saying all of that, I really did come to feel a lot for these guys…though if I’m honest, moreso for Crash than Miles. I did feel for Miles’s fear and uncertainty over his future and the end of his career. But it was Crash’s childhood history, and his constant insecurity, that really got to my heart. I could feel his pain, feel his wounds. And yet he still put himself out there. I just wanted to hug him.
As for the romance…I enjoyed so many parts, and the steam factor was at “hoo boy!” But it also felt fast, and at the beginning I didn’t buy what was drawing them together. Once I let myself buy into it and ignored those misgivings, I was more invested. It’s hard to write romance in the timeframe of an “olympics” type games…it’s always going to feel fast. This one wasn’t bad, but I’ve read better…
The sports felt fairly well done. Made me wish I’d made time to read this during the Olympics, b/c now I’m feeling all winter sports-y.
So all in all, this was a fun addition to the series and is making me want to read more…and the emotions with Crash and the steam factor have me rounding up.
January 31, 2018
Reviewed for Just Love.
2.5 Stars
It’s the Snow and Ice Games!!
I should be excited, and I was! And then I wasn’t. This may be a case of “it’s me, not the book”. I’ll leave that for others to decide, but I had some problems with the story.
While Seduction on the Slopes could be pretty sweet, fun, and entertaining, I found myself looking for more. More, and an ending that didn’t piss me off.
So just some thoughts… I liked Crash a lot. He’s a really fun character with very understandable worries. I really did get him. And Miles, while someone I do not relate to, he grew on me quite a bit. What I had a hard time with was the two of them together. In the end I think I understood their attraction, but it really was hard to get while reading the build up. This is mostly because I didn’t feel it from Miles… only from Crash. And even then, at first it felt like pure hero worship and not love or true affection. So this took me a while, and I think I needed to feel the connection from Miles more than I did. Having his POV should have helped me, but it did not, and that was disappointing.
I also had a huge problem with a main point in the story, something that is a major spoiler so I won’t say what it was. But suffice it to say, a big thing happens and I found it to be really unacceptable. The need for Crash to make this decision didn’t sit right with me at all. Possibly, if it wasn’t for this one thing, I could have liked this more. Because I was getting them, finally, when things took this turn and I was really bummed by it. So, I’d finally gotten to the point where I was really feeling it. Totally on board. But alas, I was left not feeling it anymore.
Crash and Miles get their happy ending, and it was good. I enjoyed a lot of their interactions, and their individual stories and struggles. The setting was great, the visuals from the writing were amazing in my mind. I think a lot of readers will really enjoy this story of love and sport. I really do believe my earlier statement that it’s not the book, it has to be me. I’ve only read a couple other books by Parker, and I’ve very much enjoyed them. So give it a shot… it might be just the book for you.
ARC received from publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
2.5 Stars
It’s the Snow and Ice Games!!
I should be excited, and I was! And then I wasn’t. This may be a case of “it’s me, not the book”. I’ll leave that for others to decide, but I had some problems with the story.
While Seduction on the Slopes could be pretty sweet, fun, and entertaining, I found myself looking for more. More, and an ending that didn’t piss me off.
So just some thoughts… I liked Crash a lot. He’s a really fun character with very understandable worries. I really did get him. And Miles, while someone I do not relate to, he grew on me quite a bit. What I had a hard time with was the two of them together. In the end I think I understood their attraction, but it really was hard to get while reading the build up. This is mostly because I didn’t feel it from Miles… only from Crash. And even then, at first it felt like pure hero worship and not love or true affection. So this took me a while, and I think I needed to feel the connection from Miles more than I did. Having his POV should have helped me, but it did not, and that was disappointing.
I also had a huge problem with a main point in the story, something that is a major spoiler so I won’t say what it was. But suffice it to say, a big thing happens and I found it to be really unacceptable. The need for Crash to make this decision didn’t sit right with me at all. Possibly, if it wasn’t for this one thing, I could have liked this more. Because I was getting them, finally, when things took this turn and I was really bummed by it. So, I’d finally gotten to the point where I was really feeling it. Totally on board. But alas, I was left not feeling it anymore.
Crash and Miles get their happy ending, and it was good. I enjoyed a lot of their interactions, and their individual stories and struggles. The setting was great, the visuals from the writing were amazing in my mind. I think a lot of readers will really enjoy this story of love and sport. I really do believe my earlier statement that it’s not the book, it has to be me. I’ve only read a couple other books by Parker, and I’ve very much enjoyed them. So give it a shot… it might be just the book for you.
ARC received from publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
January 5, 2018
Ermergawd!!!! Loved it.
Miles and Crash couldn’t be more different and more perfect for each other in every single aspect of life and romance.
Miles has had an amazing career as a skier for 12 years. This is going to be his final change to win a SIG medal and he wants it more than anything. He’s also super close to his coach, and when he’s charged with mentoring the young addition to the US team, he takes his job with every ounce of seriousness he can muster.
Crash has had a tough break; living on his own since he was sixteen years old, smoking weed every chance he got, and having skiing as the thing that keeps him going and determined. He’s had to steal and scavenge in order to live his dream, and now that he was discovered as a skiing prodigy and has miraculously found himself as part of the US team to the Snow and Ice Games, he’s a combination of cool, nervous and clueless. He’s also a nervous wreck every time he needs to stand in front of the media.
Miles’s job is to get Crash to media events on time. Get him to the athletes’ village by curfew and on the slopes for training. He’s first going to tackle Crash’s vomiting before press events. Miles is very methodical and serious, and before he knows it, he’s head over heels in love with Crash, 12 years his junior and a sort of a wild card.
Crash’s idol is rooming with him in the SIG village. Miles is just as beautiful as on the cereal boxes Crash’s parents bought for him when he was a kid. He’s just as impressive on the slopes and he’s just as frustrating as anyone could guess. But then Crash manages to get through to him, even if it’s by driving him absolutely mad with anger and lust.
I adored the conflicting personalities and their dynamics throughout the story. Miles and Crash are so different, their attraction to each other is inevitable and sweet.
Seduction on the Slopes didn’t disappoint. It’s exceptionally well written, beautifully detailed and encompassing. The romance, the sex, the emotional complexity of the situations and the so many swoons are just lovely.
Miles and Crash couldn’t be more different and more perfect for each other in every single aspect of life and romance.
Miles has had an amazing career as a skier for 12 years. This is going to be his final change to win a SIG medal and he wants it more than anything. He’s also super close to his coach, and when he’s charged with mentoring the young addition to the US team, he takes his job with every ounce of seriousness he can muster.
Crash has had a tough break; living on his own since he was sixteen years old, smoking weed every chance he got, and having skiing as the thing that keeps him going and determined. He’s had to steal and scavenge in order to live his dream, and now that he was discovered as a skiing prodigy and has miraculously found himself as part of the US team to the Snow and Ice Games, he’s a combination of cool, nervous and clueless. He’s also a nervous wreck every time he needs to stand in front of the media.
Miles’s job is to get Crash to media events on time. Get him to the athletes’ village by curfew and on the slopes for training. He’s first going to tackle Crash’s vomiting before press events. Miles is very methodical and serious, and before he knows it, he’s head over heels in love with Crash, 12 years his junior and a sort of a wild card.
Crash’s idol is rooming with him in the SIG village. Miles is just as beautiful as on the cereal boxes Crash’s parents bought for him when he was a kid. He’s just as impressive on the slopes and he’s just as frustrating as anyone could guess. But then Crash manages to get through to him, even if it’s by driving him absolutely mad with anger and lust.
I adored the conflicting personalities and their dynamics throughout the story. Miles and Crash are so different, their attraction to each other is inevitable and sweet.
Seduction on the Slopes didn’t disappoint. It’s exceptionally well written, beautifully detailed and encompassing. The romance, the sex, the emotional complexity of the situations and the so many swoons are just lovely.
January 17, 2018
Miles Palmer is a seasoned Olympic athlete probably looking at his final Snow and Ice Games. He covets that final gold medal too. As a senior member of the team, he's also tasked with mentoring the younger athletes, in particular Crash Delaney.
Crash Delaney is the rising star on the team. At 21 years old, he is brash and cocky and likely to deal with his nerves with recreational marijuana. He's not too thrilled about all the press they are obligated to at the games, and he has a serious case of stage fright that has him literally vomiting on stage. (yuk)
Miles steps in to help with Crash's nerves and there's only one thing that seems to help and it brings them close enough for them to develop an attraction for each other. Miles has been a bit of a idol to Crash and Crash has Miles secretly pining for him, even though Miles knows it would be wrong to take their activities to the next level. Of course, that doesn't work, and things heat up nicely between these two.
This is an opposites attract story – as these two guys couldn’t be any more different, but it's those relationships that often work the best! I loved these two together! They complement each other well and there's some definite heat here. The age and socialization differences between them made for some conflict and made their story interesting.
I love this series. As a sports fan and with the Olympics starting in a few weeks, these stories are a great warm up for the real Olympic games!
An ARC was provided for review.
Crash Delaney is the rising star on the team. At 21 years old, he is brash and cocky and likely to deal with his nerves with recreational marijuana. He's not too thrilled about all the press they are obligated to at the games, and he has a serious case of stage fright that has him literally vomiting on stage. (yuk)
Miles steps in to help with Crash's nerves and there's only one thing that seems to help and it brings them close enough for them to develop an attraction for each other. Miles has been a bit of a idol to Crash and Crash has Miles secretly pining for him, even though Miles knows it would be wrong to take their activities to the next level. Of course, that doesn't work, and things heat up nicely between these two.
This is an opposites attract story – as these two guys couldn’t be any more different, but it's those relationships that often work the best! I loved these two together! They complement each other well and there's some definite heat here. The age and socialization differences between them made for some conflict and made their story interesting.
I love this series. As a sports fan and with the Olympics starting in a few weeks, these stories are a great warm up for the real Olympic games!
An ARC was provided for review.
December 21, 2017
Wow i loved this! So hard. I read it in a few hours and what a delightful read.
From the get go I loved how the character's voices just shone through! Crash is just lol...that guy I swear, he would drive me up a wall too but he'd still have me rolling my eyes and cackling while doing it. And i loved Miles. So serious, so play by the book and competitive.
This is my first time reading sports rom with winter sports and it was awesome! Perfect mix of Crash and Miles relationship unfolding, along with the sports aspect of it. I'll admit to still being hazy on some of the sports details but it didnt take me out of the story or anything like that.
Great complex characters, I loved that Miles still wanted to win regardless of his feelings for Crash. They're so different in every possible way: Miles comes from a wealthy family while Crash's was the opposite. They're both in different stages of their careers:Miles is s veteran in the sport and doesnt have many years left in it, while Crash is just trying to make it to the top.
What i really loved was that their wasn't the stereotype of Miles being the black kid from family trying to make ends meet but in fact *he* comes from the wealthy family. Because let me tell you i was braced for that back story and I was so glad it was flipped.
I feel like I could gush about this forever. the characters just shine through so much in this romance. I loved it!
From the get go I loved how the character's voices just shone through! Crash is just lol...that guy I swear, he would drive me up a wall too but he'd still have me rolling my eyes and cackling while doing it. And i loved Miles. So serious, so play by the book and competitive.
This is my first time reading sports rom with winter sports and it was awesome! Perfect mix of Crash and Miles relationship unfolding, along with the sports aspect of it. I'll admit to still being hazy on some of the sports details but it didnt take me out of the story or anything like that.
Great complex characters, I loved that Miles still wanted to win regardless of his feelings for Crash. They're so different in every possible way: Miles comes from a wealthy family while Crash's was the opposite. They're both in different stages of their careers:Miles is s veteran in the sport and doesnt have many years left in it, while Crash is just trying to make it to the top.
What i really loved was that their wasn't the stereotype of Miles being the black kid from family trying to make ends meet but in fact *he* comes from the wealthy family. Because let me tell you i was braced for that back story and I was so glad it was flipped.
I feel like I could gush about this forever. the characters just shine through so much in this romance. I loved it!
January 16, 2018
~~I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads ~~
3.5*s definitely sloping up to 4*s
This is the second book in the series, but the first I have read, and it was fine as a standalone. I am a big sports romance fan, but there are not many which centre around winter sports, so I was delighted to get a chance to read this. As a skier myself, I loved the descriptions of the sport - and of Crash's improvised kit choices. It is so true that in this sport in particular, being seen in the right kit is almost more relevant that the skill displayed. So Miles's recognition is an important element of the story.
I found the way in which the relationship between the two men started a little surprising, but clearly effective in chilling Crash to help him cope with the pressure. And as we get both their POVs, we soon get to accept that the activity is having far more of an impact on them than they are ready to admit. The juxtaposition of Miles spending the evening with his folks, and Crash with his, is both enlightening and a little heartbreaking.
Ms Parker gives us hope and an ending which is all that any romance reader could possibly want. Thank you.
3.5*s definitely sloping up to 4*s
This is the second book in the series, but the first I have read, and it was fine as a standalone. I am a big sports romance fan, but there are not many which centre around winter sports, so I was delighted to get a chance to read this. As a skier myself, I loved the descriptions of the sport - and of Crash's improvised kit choices. It is so true that in this sport in particular, being seen in the right kit is almost more relevant that the skill displayed. So Miles's recognition is an important element of the story.
I found the way in which the relationship between the two men started a little surprising, but clearly effective in chilling Crash to help him cope with the pressure. And as we get both their POVs, we soon get to accept that the activity is having far more of an impact on them than they are ready to admit. The juxtaposition of Miles spending the evening with his folks, and Crash with his, is both enlightening and a little heartbreaking.
Ms Parker gives us hope and an ending which is all that any romance reader could possibly want. Thank you.
January 16, 2018
A Joyfully Jay review.
4.5 stars
This book is the second in Tamsen Parker’s Snow and Ice Games series. The books are set around an athletic winter games and for this story that is the only connection and it would stand alone fine. The book is filled with a great dynamic between Miles and Crash, as well as entertaining banter and plenty of sexy moments.
Miles is the professional here and he has been training and skiing his entire life. He has had incredible support from his family and has had all the advantages of coaches and training. Miles follows the rules, yet is supportive of the entire team. While he wants to get these last set of medals, he is also concerned about how the team does as whole.
That’s where his relationship with Crash starts. Crash lived most of his life out of a van with his nomadic parents. When at the age of 16, he had enough of the road, his parents left him in the last town they were in. He’s in awe to be recognized at the games, but even more in awe that he gets any kind of attention from Miles. Crash has idolized Miles and not everyone gets to be with the person in the picture they have had on their bedroom wall.
Read Michelle's review in its entirety here.
4.5 stars
This book is the second in Tamsen Parker’s Snow and Ice Games series. The books are set around an athletic winter games and for this story that is the only connection and it would stand alone fine. The book is filled with a great dynamic between Miles and Crash, as well as entertaining banter and plenty of sexy moments.
Miles is the professional here and he has been training and skiing his entire life. He has had incredible support from his family and has had all the advantages of coaches and training. Miles follows the rules, yet is supportive of the entire team. While he wants to get these last set of medals, he is also concerned about how the team does as whole.
That’s where his relationship with Crash starts. Crash lived most of his life out of a van with his nomadic parents. When at the age of 16, he had enough of the road, his parents left him in the last town they were in. He’s in awe to be recognized at the games, but even more in awe that he gets any kind of attention from Miles. Crash has idolized Miles and not everyone gets to be with the person in the picture they have had on their bedroom wall.
Read Michelle's review in its entirety here.
January 21, 2018
I was given a copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads.
Plausibility aside, this is a sexy story about two very loveable men. I loved the idea of sexy goings on between elite athletes in an Olympic village type setting and I enjoyed the skiing in the story.
Miles and Crash’s arrangement to ease Crash’s fear of public speaking isn’t terribly believable. But the chemistry between the affluent, uptight skiing star and his rough and slightly wild challenger is brilliant. There are some crazy hot scenes between these two.
Miles and Crash are both fascinating and well developed characters. Both men really come alive and I really enjoyed them together. Unfortunately, the supporting characters remain types - Miles’ parents are never more than affluent and ambitious and Crash’s parents are predictably messy.
This is a fun, sexy read and I’m looking forward to more books in this series.
Plausibility aside, this is a sexy story about two very loveable men. I loved the idea of sexy goings on between elite athletes in an Olympic village type setting and I enjoyed the skiing in the story.
Miles and Crash’s arrangement to ease Crash’s fear of public speaking isn’t terribly believable. But the chemistry between the affluent, uptight skiing star and his rough and slightly wild challenger is brilliant. There are some crazy hot scenes between these two.
Miles and Crash are both fascinating and well developed characters. Both men really come alive and I really enjoyed them together. Unfortunately, the supporting characters remain types - Miles’ parents are never more than affluent and ambitious and Crash’s parents are predictably messy.
This is a fun, sexy read and I’m looking forward to more books in this series.
December 7, 2017
Copy from netgalley
4.5 stars
I really enjoyed this story. It had funny moments and some really hot moments. I liked the differences in the main characters and the way that completely worked for their relationship. The only slight niggle I had...and I mean slight...was how everything was forgiven very easily at the end. Like they were mad and then boom...they were fine!
But that is very minor and didn't take away from my really enjoyment of this story.
4.5 stars
I really enjoyed this story. It had funny moments and some really hot moments. I liked the differences in the main characters and the way that completely worked for their relationship. The only slight niggle I had...and I mean slight...was how everything was forgiven very easily at the end. Like they were mad and then boom...they were fine!
But that is very minor and didn't take away from my really enjoyment of this story.
January 11, 2018
There’s something just so fun about opposites attract romances. These characters are polar (hehe) opposites in many ways, and the alternating POVs really help understand where each character is coming from. Crash is a “goofy little bastard,” while Miles is a “cantankerous prig.” But the thing that forces them together is their love for skiing – either man would do anything to keep skiing. In a parallel to the first book in the series, where Rowan had been a fan of Zane’s pop band, Crash has looked up to Miles since he was a little boy. Also, while this is the second in a series, it’s completely standalone.
Crash could be the poster boy for stoner snowboarder – except he’s a skier. Crash is used to doing things on his own, and his own way, so it’s safe to say that he butts heads with the extremely by-the-book and straight-laced Miles right off the bat. This isn’t Miles’ first rodeo (he has 6 gold medals from previous games, and is the frontrunner for another 2 at these games), and if it wasn’t for Crash’s insane talent, he’d throw him out of the games for being too much trouble. When the team coach makes the rookie Miles’ responsibility, it’s up to him to figure out what the issue is with Crash and help him solve it.
Crash has admired Miles since he was seven – to the point of saving the front of a Wheaties box with his picture on it. While Crash has managed to get to the games by himself without any formal training or equipment (he used a spray painted football helmet and soccer guards, at one point), part of him is still convinced that he’s a failure and doesn’t belong. His anxiety is especially bad around press conferences, where the media is sure to bring up his rags-to-riches story. When Crash finally opens up about the cause of his issues, Miles realizes that maybe, just maybe, Crash isn’t just a slacker and a screw-up. Together, they’re able to find the one thing to mellow Crash out (*cough* it’s sex *cough*).
I liked how Crash, on the surface, appears to be the one with more problems, when, in fact, it’s Miles who is, in some ways, the most broken. While Crash has made it on his own since he was 16 (and, arguably, even before then), Miles has been supported by his parents since he first realized he was good at skiing, and it truly seems like the only thing in his life – besides his family – is skiing. Considering he’s facing probably his last runs at this SIG, Miles is finally having to face some squishy feelings about life after the games, as well as a possible relationship. Miles has run his life to this point on pride and sportsmanship – to the point of giving Crash some skiing tips that could win Crash the gold medal over Miles – and it was heart wrenching to see Miles contemplate what to do next.
And this is where the cons come in. The ending was wrapped up too quickly and neatly for my taste, especially given the stress of being competitors. While I understood Crash’s choices, I didn’t feel like Miles had the time to process them, and it felt like his actions at the end were more grand gestures than signs of true love. While I definitely felt their love and affection for each other, I wasn’t completely sold that they would make it. Also, while I enjoyed most of the humor, Crash, especially has some pretty cheesy lines (and, also, endless euphemisms for vomiting).
Overall, this is a quick, sexy, and addictive read. Highly recommended!
I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
“Unfortunately, there’s something about Crash Delaney that has crawled under my skin and won’t let go. Everything about him—except the way he makes his way through a course—makes me absolutely fucking crazy.”
Crash could be the poster boy for stoner snowboarder – except he’s a skier. Crash is used to doing things on his own, and his own way, so it’s safe to say that he butts heads with the extremely by-the-book and straight-laced Miles right off the bat. This isn’t Miles’ first rodeo (he has 6 gold medals from previous games, and is the frontrunner for another 2 at these games), and if it wasn’t for Crash’s insane talent, he’d throw him out of the games for being too much trouble. When the team coach makes the rookie Miles’ responsibility, it’s up to him to figure out what the issue is with Crash and help him solve it.
“This guy has got a ski pole wedged so far up his ass I’m surprised I can’t see it when he opens his mouth.”
Crash has admired Miles since he was seven – to the point of saving the front of a Wheaties box with his picture on it. While Crash has managed to get to the games by himself without any formal training or equipment (he used a spray painted football helmet and soccer guards, at one point), part of him is still convinced that he’s a failure and doesn’t belong. His anxiety is especially bad around press conferences, where the media is sure to bring up his rags-to-riches story. When Crash finally opens up about the cause of his issues, Miles realizes that maybe, just maybe, Crash isn’t just a slacker and a screw-up. Together, they’re able to find the one thing to mellow Crash out (*cough* it’s sex *cough*).
“Hurtle down a mountain with a 350-meter vertical drop while executing barely-permitted-by-physics turns on sticks? Sure. Have feelings? Aw, hell, no.”
I liked how Crash, on the surface, appears to be the one with more problems, when, in fact, it’s Miles who is, in some ways, the most broken. While Crash has made it on his own since he was 16 (and, arguably, even before then), Miles has been supported by his parents since he first realized he was good at skiing, and it truly seems like the only thing in his life – besides his family – is skiing. Considering he’s facing probably his last runs at this SIG, Miles is finally having to face some squishy feelings about life after the games, as well as a possible relationship. Miles has run his life to this point on pride and sportsmanship – to the point of giving Crash some skiing tips that could win Crash the gold medal over Miles – and it was heart wrenching to see Miles contemplate what to do next.
And this is where the cons come in. The ending was wrapped up too quickly and neatly for my taste, especially given the stress of being competitors. While I understood Crash’s choices, I didn’t feel like Miles had the time to process them, and it felt like his actions at the end were more grand gestures than signs of true love. While I definitely felt their love and affection for each other, I wasn’t completely sold that they would make it. Also, while I enjoyed most of the humor, Crash, especially has some pretty cheesy lines (and, also, endless euphemisms for vomiting).
“I’ve done the right thing in the best way I know how and while Miles wouldn’t have done the same thing, I think that’s partly why we fit so well. We’ll make each other whole. We can make each other better whether that’s through pushing or reining in, we’ll do it together.”
Overall, this is a quick, sexy, and addictive read. Highly recommended!
I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
January 26, 2018
Review also on From Top to Bottom Reviews
https://fromtoptobottomreviews.com/20...
*A copy of this was provided via NetGalley
What a fun story! This is only the second book I've read by this author. (I read the first book in this series Love On the Tracks right before reading Seduction on the Slopes.) Though I definitely plan to check out more by the author.
The perfect way to describe this book is cute, delightful and sadly waaay to short. I did not want it to end. Miles and Crash are awesome together even though the two of them couldn't be any more different if they tried. Crash is a contradiction in itself. He's combative and seems to be unable to follow even the simplest rules. He's snarky and knows how to best push everyone's buttons, but he can also be charming as hell. Crash had to fend for himself from a young age on, so he is rather independent.
What he wants most during the SIG is to avoid anything to do with the press if possible. Crash has anxiety and just thinking of doing an interview sends him running to the bathroom.
Miles is the polar opposite of that. He's charming and as a veteran at the Snow and Ice Games knows what to do to get the best coverage. Other than Crash's family, Miles has really supportive parents who are interested in his career and accompany their son to his sporting events.
Miles is not happy when he's tasked with keeping Crash in line and making sure that he is on time and present at each interview or doesn't cause trouble otherwise. Which -- knowing a bit about each of them -- does seem like a mess waiting to happen. Somehow though the two -- after Crash publicly throws up right before an interview -- find a way to navigate Crash's anxiety. This is to say that Seduction on the Slopes has the possibly cutest but also kinda weirdest way to start a friends with benefits arrangement that I've ever read. I have also never read so many euphemisms for throwing up as I did in this story.
The tension on and off the slopes between both was delicious and I really loved how Parker took the stereotypes of an out gay man who is dark-skinned and turned them upside down. Sports romances are very white and a lot of times the POC MC is the one who isn't in a great situation financially. This doesn't happen here. On the contrary it's Crash who isn't in a financially stable position.
What I really loved about this story was how delightful, fluffy and light it was. Crash and Miles both charmed me -- though Crash can also be really annoying when he wants to be! But despite being opposites in pretty much every way they just worked together. I loved how each of them learned something from the other one. And I thought Parker did a great job at giving both a believable happy end.
https://fromtoptobottomreviews.com/20...
*A copy of this was provided via NetGalley
What a fun story! This is only the second book I've read by this author. (I read the first book in this series Love On the Tracks right before reading Seduction on the Slopes.) Though I definitely plan to check out more by the author.
The perfect way to describe this book is cute, delightful and sadly waaay to short. I did not want it to end. Miles and Crash are awesome together even though the two of them couldn't be any more different if they tried. Crash is a contradiction in itself. He's combative and seems to be unable to follow even the simplest rules. He's snarky and knows how to best push everyone's buttons, but he can also be charming as hell. Crash had to fend for himself from a young age on, so he is rather independent.
What he wants most during the SIG is to avoid anything to do with the press if possible. Crash has anxiety and just thinking of doing an interview sends him running to the bathroom.
Miles is the polar opposite of that. He's charming and as a veteran at the Snow and Ice Games knows what to do to get the best coverage. Other than Crash's family, Miles has really supportive parents who are interested in his career and accompany their son to his sporting events.
Miles is not happy when he's tasked with keeping Crash in line and making sure that he is on time and present at each interview or doesn't cause trouble otherwise. Which -- knowing a bit about each of them -- does seem like a mess waiting to happen. Somehow though the two -- after Crash publicly throws up right before an interview -- find a way to navigate Crash's anxiety. This is to say that Seduction on the Slopes has the possibly cutest but also kinda weirdest way to start a friends with benefits arrangement that I've ever read. I have also never read so many euphemisms for throwing up as I did in this story.
The tension on and off the slopes between both was delicious and I really loved how Parker took the stereotypes of an out gay man who is dark-skinned and turned them upside down. Sports romances are very white and a lot of times the POC MC is the one who isn't in a great situation financially. This doesn't happen here. On the contrary it's Crash who isn't in a financially stable position.
What I really loved about this story was how delightful, fluffy and light it was. Crash and Miles both charmed me -- though Crash can also be really annoying when he wants to be! But despite being opposites in pretty much every way they just worked together. I loved how each of them learned something from the other one. And I thought Parker did a great job at giving both a believable happy end.
January 17, 2018
Miles is veteran skier on the U.S. downhill team. In the sport longer than some of his competitors have been alive, it’s his last year participating in the prestigious Snow and Ice Games (SIGs), and he plans on taking home two more gold medals. However, after that, Miles isn’t really sure where his life will lead.
Crash is the up-and-coming newest downhill sensation, and after Miles mentions to the U.S. coach the potential he sees in Crash, coach gets Crash on the SIG team and assigns Miles with mentoring duties. Crash loves to ski, but doesn’t love the endless press events and media time required at the SIGs. When his childhood idol, and long-time crush, Miles takes the time to help Crash, he will do whatever Miles says.
Seduction on the Slopes is the standalone sophomore title from Ms. Parker’s Snow and Ice Game series. This time around, romance blossoms between two men on the U.S. downhill team, and wow! is it hot. I like that both Miles and Crash are secure and confirmed gay men - albeit not entirely out of the closet. There is no confusion over preference, allowing for other conflicts to cause hesitation. The primary being that the pair are teammates and competitors. Yet, when Miles discovers why Crash struggles with the media, he genuinely wants to help him, even if that means helping him off in a sexual way.
As the pair spend time together, the mentor/mentee line blurs and a true bond of friendship develops. Their similarities and ability to relate so easily go a long way in closing any age gap that may make things awkward. And while Crash may be younger, he can be wiser at times. The two are competitors first, but because they are both truly good people, they can coexist as friends and lovers.
The romance moves quickly and the story comes with an HEA. I love how they come together and love the simplicity of the title. Sexy athletes falling in love? Sign me up for more!
My Rating: B+ Liked It A Lot
Review copy provided by NetGalley
Originally posted at That's What I'm Talking About
Crash is the up-and-coming newest downhill sensation, and after Miles mentions to the U.S. coach the potential he sees in Crash, coach gets Crash on the SIG team and assigns Miles with mentoring duties. Crash loves to ski, but doesn’t love the endless press events and media time required at the SIGs. When his childhood idol, and long-time crush, Miles takes the time to help Crash, he will do whatever Miles says.
Seduction on the Slopes is the standalone sophomore title from Ms. Parker’s Snow and Ice Game series. This time around, romance blossoms between two men on the U.S. downhill team, and wow! is it hot. I like that both Miles and Crash are secure and confirmed gay men - albeit not entirely out of the closet. There is no confusion over preference, allowing for other conflicts to cause hesitation. The primary being that the pair are teammates and competitors. Yet, when Miles discovers why Crash struggles with the media, he genuinely wants to help him, even if that means helping him off in a sexual way.
As the pair spend time together, the mentor/mentee line blurs and a true bond of friendship develops. Their similarities and ability to relate so easily go a long way in closing any age gap that may make things awkward. And while Crash may be younger, he can be wiser at times. The two are competitors first, but because they are both truly good people, they can coexist as friends and lovers.
The romance moves quickly and the story comes with an HEA. I love how they come together and love the simplicity of the title. Sexy athletes falling in love? Sign me up for more!
My Rating: B+ Liked It A Lot
Review copy provided by NetGalley
Originally posted at That's What I'm Talking About
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