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Hot Off the Ice #3
Skater Boy
In a world that measures success in dollars, how do you put a price on happiness?
Love, marriage, and a baby carriage. It’s all Alex Staunton has ever wanted. Well, that and an Olympic medal for figure skating. The medal he got. The rest of it - not so much.
When his most recent poor decision comes to a door-slamming end, Alex moves into the house of his best friend, Thunder starting goalie, Sergei Pergov. But when tragedy strikes, giving Sergei custody of the twins he fathered confidentially, Alex’s problems take a backseat to the needs of two infants, and Alex vows to be the best fake-dad and house-husband he can be.
Sergei is dazzled by the way Alex makes managing all the craziness look as easy as doing a triple-axel. As their friendship grows even deeper, Sergei realizes he doesn’t want to imagine a life without Alex in it. Alex is the one who makes their house a home; his love makes them a family. How can Sergei make Alex understand he’s worth everything?
Skater Boy is a story about falling in love with your best friend. It contains discussions about baby poop, day drinking, girls’ night out, and the purchase of a mini-van.
Love, marriage, and a baby carriage. It’s all Alex Staunton has ever wanted. Well, that and an Olympic medal for figure skating. The medal he got. The rest of it - not so much.
When his most recent poor decision comes to a door-slamming end, Alex moves into the house of his best friend, Thunder starting goalie, Sergei Pergov. But when tragedy strikes, giving Sergei custody of the twins he fathered confidentially, Alex’s problems take a backseat to the needs of two infants, and Alex vows to be the best fake-dad and house-husband he can be.
Sergei is dazzled by the way Alex makes managing all the craziness look as easy as doing a triple-axel. As their friendship grows even deeper, Sergei realizes he doesn’t want to imagine a life without Alex in it. Alex is the one who makes their house a home; his love makes them a family. How can Sergei make Alex understand he’s worth everything?
Skater Boy is a story about falling in love with your best friend. It contains discussions about baby poop, day drinking, girls’ night out, and the purchase of a mini-van.
303 pages, ebook
First published January 9, 2018
128 people are currently reading
780 people want to read
About the author
A.E. Wasp
42 books619 followersAfter time spent raising children, earning several college degrees, and traveling the world with the U.S. State Department, she is returning to her first love - writing.
A dreamer and an idealist, Amy writes about people finding connection in a world that can seem lonely and magic in a world than can seem all too mundane. She invites readers into her characters’ lives and worlds when they are their most vulnerable, their most human, living with the same hopes and fears we all have. An avid traveler who has lived in big cities and small towns in four different continents, Amy has found that time and distance are no barriers to love. She invites her readers to reach out and share how her characters have touched their lives or how the found families they have gathered around them have shaped their worlds.
Born on Long Island, NY, Amy has lived in Los Angeles, London, and Bangkok. She currently lives in Fort Collins, Colorado for who knows how long.
A dreamer and an idealist, Amy writes about people finding connection in a world that can seem lonely and magic in a world than can seem all too mundane. She invites readers into her characters’ lives and worlds when they are their most vulnerable, their most human, living with the same hopes and fears we all have. An avid traveler who has lived in big cities and small towns in four different continents, Amy has found that time and distance are no barriers to love. She invites her readers to reach out and share how her characters have touched their lives or how the found families they have gathered around them have shaped their worlds.
Born on Long Island, NY, Amy has lived in Los Angeles, London, and Bangkok. She currently lives in Fort Collins, Colorado for who knows how long.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 151 reviews
January 17, 2018
This book gets 4 stars despite the various editing issues, which the author seriously needs to address. When numerous reviews mention the distraction of multiple grammatical mistakes (e.g., run-on sentences, names not capitalized, missing words, extra words, and sentences that just make no sense), it's time to do something about it!
Setting the grammar aside, I can say that I really enjoyed the story. Sergei is a big, buff dream of a man, so damn sexy and crazy in love with his best friend Alex. Thinking of Alex sets him on fire, which is unusual, since Sergei is demisexual.
Alex was harder to like, at least for me. Insecure and prickly, Alex worries about being a kept man. He makes all these rules around physical affection that keep Segei at arm's length. He does come around though, and his Big Gesture was perfect!
Get ready for minimal relationship angst, moderate steam (with a very intense slow burn), a lovely HEA (those jerseys! GAH!), and much family bonding (two hairless cats included).
I loved the secondary characters (Sergei's teammates and their significant others), even if Alex's friendship with Allie struck me as unrealistic.
Setting the grammar aside, I can say that I really enjoyed the story. Sergei is a big, buff dream of a man, so damn sexy and crazy in love with his best friend Alex. Thinking of Alex sets him on fire, which is unusual, since Sergei is demisexual.
Alex was harder to like, at least for me. Insecure and prickly, Alex worries about being a kept man. He makes all these rules around physical affection that keep Segei at arm's length. He does come around though, and his Big Gesture was perfect!
Get ready for minimal relationship angst, moderate steam (with a very intense slow burn), a lovely HEA (those jerseys! GAH!), and much family bonding (two hairless cats included).
I loved the secondary characters (Sergei's teammates and their significant others), even if Alex's friendship with Allie struck me as unrealistic.
January 25, 2018
Tercer libro en esta serie de jugadores de hockey y más o menos sigue en la línea de los anteriores, no destaca, pero tiene una pareja adorable y sus momentos dulces, lo que la convierten en una lectura agradable. La pareja principal es muy mona, su historia bonita, aunque las cosas pasan con mucha rapidez, con poca explicación y de una forma que cuesta un tanto asimilar la rapidez con la que evolucionan los personajes.
Aunque cuenta con errores de editado, afortunadamente no tanto como sus predecesores. El segundo libro sigue siendo mi favorito, me ha encantado volver a encontrarme aquí a sus protagonistas.
Poco creíble, pero un libro para cuando necesitas desconectar sin pensar demasiado, a veces es eso todo lo que queremos.
Aunque cuenta con errores de editado, afortunadamente no tanto como sus predecesores. El segundo libro sigue siendo mi favorito, me ha encantado volver a encontrarme aquí a sus protagonistas.
Poco creíble, pero un libro para cuando necesitas desconectar sin pensar demasiado, a veces es eso todo lo que queremos.
November 10, 2023
Enjoyed this! I’m kind of surprised I like it so much - friends to lovers and didn’t really follow the traditional romance novel formula but I actually really ended up enjoying it.
But Alex really bathed the cat and the baby in the bath tub together and I just can’t stop thinking about that 😬😬😂
But Alex really bathed the cat and the baby in the bath tub together and I just can’t stop thinking about that 😬😬😂
January 21, 2018
Another lovely addition to this series
4.5*
This is my favourite one yet in Amy's Hot Off the Ice series. Sergei has been around the Thunder since the beginning of the series and the big Russian goalie has always intrigued me.
Now we get his long time in the coming love story with Alex, the former Olympic ice skater who's been his best friend since they were 16.
I know I've mentioned previously about odd little niggling typos or editing mistakes, and my friend Dani commented on some in this one, but I have to say this time I only spotted a couple where someone had missed a capital letter on a name and a stray comma or two.
I'm mentioning it because, when the narratives are always very well designed and the characters and romance believable, it's great to not be distracted from that with an ebook that still has mistakes.
I loved Sergei, he has a heart as big as Russia. Alex I took a while to warm to but I could completely understand why he was like he was. It must be soul destroying to live your life having to be validated by a judge's score on your professional efforts.
Once I did get into he head though, I wanted to hug him and make him open his eyes to how Sergei saw him. Thankfully he did get there and there's an awesome cast of supporting characters, include a bunch of brilliant women, to help him find his own worth.
The romantic big gesture from Alex once he realises where he is in Sergei's heart was suitably awesome as was the epilogue and I loved it.
4.5*
This is my favourite one yet in Amy's Hot Off the Ice series. Sergei has been around the Thunder since the beginning of the series and the big Russian goalie has always intrigued me.
Now we get his long time in the coming love story with Alex, the former Olympic ice skater who's been his best friend since they were 16.
I know I've mentioned previously about odd little niggling typos or editing mistakes, and my friend Dani commented on some in this one, but I have to say this time I only spotted a couple where someone had missed a capital letter on a name and a stray comma or two.
I'm mentioning it because, when the narratives are always very well designed and the characters and romance believable, it's great to not be distracted from that with an ebook that still has mistakes.
I loved Sergei, he has a heart as big as Russia. Alex I took a while to warm to but I could completely understand why he was like he was. It must be soul destroying to live your life having to be validated by a judge's score on your professional efforts.
Once I did get into he head though, I wanted to hug him and make him open his eyes to how Sergei saw him. Thankfully he did get there and there's an awesome cast of supporting characters, include a bunch of brilliant women, to help him find his own worth.
The romantic big gesture from Alex once he realises where he is in Sergei's heart was suitably awesome as was the epilogue and I loved it.
January 28, 2018
They were adorable. What can I say? I have a weak spot for the friends to lovers trope. Specially when one of them is pretty inexperienced.
The steam buils up as Alex realizes that Sergei is all he ever wanted. I loved their love story. It took a while for Sergei to realize the depth of his feelings for Alex but once he did, he was all in.
That cover made me down the rating. I hate it when the guys depicted in the cover don’t match their description in the book. Is it so difficult to find a guy with dark eyes and a blond with long hair?
Anyways, highly recommend. This series is getting better and better so much so that I decided to act oblivious to the fact that there just cannot be that many gay/bi hockey players in the same team (pun intended). Next thing we know, the whole team will be LGBTQ. But, if their stories keep on being this good, I will remained blind to the impossibility of the situation and enjoy the heck out of these stories.
The steam buils up as Alex realizes that Sergei is all he ever wanted. I loved their love story. It took a while for Sergei to realize the depth of his feelings for Alex but once he did, he was all in.
That cover made me down the rating. I hate it when the guys depicted in the cover don’t match their description in the book. Is it so difficult to find a guy with dark eyes and a blond with long hair?
Anyways, highly recommend. This series is getting better and better so much so that I decided to act oblivious to the fact that there just cannot be that many gay/bi hockey players in the same team (pun intended). Next thing we know, the whole team will be LGBTQ. But, if their stories keep on being this good, I will remained blind to the impossibility of the situation and enjoy the heck out of these stories.
January 18, 2018
If I could give this book 10 stars it still would not convey just how absolutely fabulous this book is. In this 4th book in the series, Ms. Wasp scores a shutout! She has managed to perfectly weave romance, hot sex, family and humor into a book that made me laugh, cry and yeah made my jeans uncomfortably tight on more than one occasion. Alex and Sergei are genuine, hot as heck, real and flawed, which means they are just like you and me. Having known each other since they were both in their teens, Alex has been in love with Sergei forever. I love how Ms. Wasp likes to use characters that have issues... Robbie with his learning diasabilities in "Country Boy", Sergei with his language issue, Paul with the church he grew up in and Alex with his insecurities. It just makes these characters that much more like all of us and much more relatable. I think the one aspect of this book that pushes it the top of the heap in this series is the increased amount of humor that is deftly integrated into it. Sergei is like perfection; he is so loving, passionate and there for Alex. Even when they were just best friends, Sergei has been Alex's rock and shelter whenever life gets rough. I loved the fact that because of this, taking their relationship to a new level is just the natural next step in their lives together. I also loved the way that Alex was there for Sergei just as Sergei was for him. Clearly one without the other was just not possible in the natural order of the universe. I recommend that anyone who loves a sizzling hot romance between two incredible men read this book and the others in this series.
March 31, 2024
3+
Alex trochę mnie frustrował, bo jak się uwiesił jakiejś durnej myśli, to można było łepetą o ścianę bić...
Edycja niezmiennie potrzebna wręcz dramatycznie 🤦♀️
Alex trochę mnie frustrował, bo jak się uwiesił jakiejś durnej myśli, to można było łepetą o ścianę bić...
Edycja niezmiennie potrzebna wręcz dramatycznie 🤦♀️
January 20, 2018
3.5 stars
I'm sorry to say that this was my least favorite of the series. Not that I didn't enjoy it, I did. I loved Sergei, and the story and plot was as interesting as the past three books in this series have been.
But while I liked Alex...he frustrated me beyond belief in this. While his hang ups are completely understandable, I think it was just the way he was written - how he dealt with things, how he acted, and so on, that frustrated me.
And just the way the story was structured, too. About half of the book is spent mainly on these two and them developing their relationship into a romantic one, and them going slow - which was understandable, because they were transitioning from around 16 years of friendship to romance, but then the curveball of the children was thrown in, and the last half was mainly focused on them and adjusting to life with them.
It meant that while the first half was a slow burn, the second half was taken up mostly by the kids, and the focus, while still on Alex and Sergei, was kind of expanded to include these other two individuals and I felt that the balance of both their romance and adjusting to the kids wasn't handled the best.
When I picked this up I thought them acquiring Sergei's kids (and was this mentioned in the last book, that ) would happen near the beginning and that would leave a lot more time to deal with how their relationship would work with kids in the equation.
It just felt rushed and not at the same time? The first half was Alex putting the breaks on things, making them go slow, which was completely understandable, but then the last half was like going 10mph to 60mph like that. And the characters even pointed that out to themselves at times, but that didn't stop the speeding train of their relationship anyway.
I found the ending sweet, but I still felt it was rushed. So I was having mixed emotions reading this, happy for these two, but also not feeling it came across entirely genuine, or maybe the better way to phrase it is that it didn't come across completely realistic.
And Alex is dealing with his insecurities until the very end, and while I don't have a problem with that, I feel like, while he still is mostly struggling with them, he gets over them fairly quickly and makes a gesture too big for where he was like 5 seconds ago. He still has them, but him being able to get over the hurdle of dealing with them, of facing them and getting over them, came quicker than I think it should have.
Also, this series continues to lack in editing - for some reason several times Alex's sibling's names weren't capitalized, and there were many more mistakes here and there. I ultimately don't care because I do adore these stories and I get that self-published isn't always the best edited. But I really think this author should get their work looked ever before they publish it. It's getting a little frustrating at this point.
Also, while what steam we DID have was incredibly hot, I feel like we could have had a lot more throughout this book, but there wasn't enough.
So, while I did enjoy this, there were just too many little things - and one or two big things - that I had a problem with that I just couldn't enjoy this as much as the others I've read.
I'm really excited about the next one in this series, though, with Liam and Joey, like SUPER excited, so I will be eagerly awaiting it, but yeah, this one was kind of a miss for me in an otherwise awesome series. Still enjoyed it...just didn't love it like I have the others.
P.S.
I'm sorry to say that this was my least favorite of the series. Not that I didn't enjoy it, I did. I loved Sergei, and the story and plot was as interesting as the past three books in this series have been.
But while I liked Alex...he frustrated me beyond belief in this. While his hang ups are completely understandable, I think it was just the way he was written - how he dealt with things, how he acted, and so on, that frustrated me.
And just the way the story was structured, too. About half of the book is spent mainly on these two and them developing their relationship into a romantic one, and them going slow - which was understandable, because they were transitioning from around 16 years of friendship to romance, but then the curveball of the children was thrown in, and the last half was mainly focused on them and adjusting to life with them.
It meant that while the first half was a slow burn, the second half was taken up mostly by the kids, and the focus, while still on Alex and Sergei, was kind of expanded to include these other two individuals and I felt that the balance of both their romance and adjusting to the kids wasn't handled the best.
When I picked this up I thought them acquiring Sergei's kids (and was this mentioned in the last book, that ) would happen near the beginning and that would leave a lot more time to deal with how their relationship would work with kids in the equation.
It just felt rushed and not at the same time? The first half was Alex putting the breaks on things, making them go slow, which was completely understandable, but then the last half was like going 10mph to 60mph like that. And the characters even pointed that out to themselves at times, but that didn't stop the speeding train of their relationship anyway.
I found the ending sweet, but I still felt it was rushed. So I was having mixed emotions reading this, happy for these two, but also not feeling it came across entirely genuine, or maybe the better way to phrase it is that it didn't come across completely realistic.
And Alex is dealing with his insecurities until the very end, and while I don't have a problem with that, I feel like, while he still is mostly struggling with them, he gets over them fairly quickly and makes a gesture too big for where he was like 5 seconds ago. He still has them, but him being able to get over the hurdle of dealing with them, of facing them and getting over them, came quicker than I think it should have.
Also, this series continues to lack in editing - for some reason several times Alex's sibling's names weren't capitalized, and there were many more mistakes here and there. I ultimately don't care because I do adore these stories and I get that self-published isn't always the best edited. But I really think this author should get their work looked ever before they publish it. It's getting a little frustrating at this point.
Also, while what steam we DID have was incredibly hot, I feel like we could have had a lot more throughout this book, but there wasn't enough.
So, while I did enjoy this, there were just too many little things - and one or two big things - that I had a problem with that I just couldn't enjoy this as much as the others I've read.
I'm really excited about the next one in this series, though, with Liam and Joey, like SUPER excited, so I will be eagerly awaiting it, but yeah, this one was kind of a miss for me in an otherwise awesome series. Still enjoyed it...just didn't love it like I have the others.
P.S.
maybe
September 24, 2018Freebie at amazon.com right now: https://smile.amazon.com/Skater-Boy-H...
May 5, 2024
I adored Sergei in earlier entries, so I was super excited for Skater Boy.
Unfortunately, I don't think it delivered.
I thought the set-up with Alex and his situation with Charles had potential, but it doesn't feel well explored or well executed at all.
My main gripe is that after the two MCs decide to get together (which is relatively early in the book), there is no interesting conflict left to keep a reader's attention. I ended up skimming the rest of the book.
My disappointment is immeasurable.
Unfortunately, I don't think it delivered.
I thought the set-up with Alex and his situation with Charles had potential, but it doesn't feel well explored or well executed at all.
My main gripe is that after the two MCs decide to get together (which is relatively early in the book), there is no interesting conflict left to keep a reader's attention. I ended up skimming the rest of the book.
My disappointment is immeasurable.
April 21, 2018
There was a lot of this to really like, but just as much to bog it down for me. I loved the slow burn of it all, even if I didn't quite get Alex's hesitance, considering they were best friends, and Alex has pretty much been in love with Sergei for half his life. It's not like they have to get know each other, that's already been done. I actually didn't get most of Alex's hangups. He kept talking about not wanting to be a "kept man" anymore, but he was only with Charles for a few months, and was 27, so he had to have supported himself some of the time.
And I usually love stories with babies, but once they came on the scene, I felt like the story got bogged down in the minutae of new parenthood, and we didn't get enough of the guys just being together. As soon as they both were all in, the babies happened.
Also, it has to be mentioned that the editing has issues. Missing words- some of which were just Sergei's way of speaking, as English isn't his first language. But Alex being called Sergei, when Sergei wasn't even in town, was a bit much.
But it wasn't horrible, and the guys were actually really hot and sweet together, I just wanted more.
And I usually love stories with babies, but once they came on the scene, I felt like the story got bogged down in the minutae of new parenthood, and we didn't get enough of the guys just being together. As soon as they both were all in, the babies happened.
Also, it has to be mentioned that the editing has issues. Missing words- some of which were just Sergei's way of speaking, as English isn't his first language. But Alex being called Sergei, when Sergei wasn't even in town, was a bit much.
But it wasn't horrible, and the guys were actually really hot and sweet together, I just wanted more.
January 29, 2018
Great story but all of the Russian and French mixed in took pulled me from story. I enjoyed the SAPS and the way that they incorporated Alex into their group. Ms Wasp, please hire a decent editor and do your wonderful stories justice!
July 4, 2020
En general me ha gustado bastante, por eso le doy 4⭐; Alex y Sergei son adorables y su historia bonita, pero me he quedado con la sensación que los dos personajes tenían más desarrollo, más pasado que superar, y que en la trama me ha faltado algo....
March 2, 2018
3.5 Stars
This hurts me to have to write because not only do I really love this author’s work, I’ve also absolutely adored this series, but this book just didn’t work for me. It wasn’t bad, but it was missing something, especially compared to the first three books, all of which were fantastic.
I loved Sergei, but something about Alex rubbed me the wrong way and I never quite warmed up to him throughout the story. I can’t even pinpoint what I didn’t like, he just didn’t do it for me, for some reason.
I thought that even though Alex tried to put the brakes on what was happening between him and Sergei, it didn’t work and the progression felt too fast considering Alex had just gotten out of a relationship, err.. arrangement.
Although the progression was too fast they had good chemistry and the sex was steamy and well-written.
I feel like this review is mostly negative and that wasn’t my intention. This story wasn’t bad, it just didn’t work for me, but I’m definitely looking forward to Robbie and Paul’s story and I hope whatever magic was in the first three books in this series is recaptured in their story.
Although Skater Boy wasn’t my favorite in this series, it’s still a recommendable read.
* Copy provided to the reviewer for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. *
This hurts me to have to write because not only do I really love this author’s work, I’ve also absolutely adored this series, but this book just didn’t work for me. It wasn’t bad, but it was missing something, especially compared to the first three books, all of which were fantastic.
I loved Sergei, but something about Alex rubbed me the wrong way and I never quite warmed up to him throughout the story. I can’t even pinpoint what I didn’t like, he just didn’t do it for me, for some reason.
I thought that even though Alex tried to put the brakes on what was happening between him and Sergei, it didn’t work and the progression felt too fast considering Alex had just gotten out of a relationship, err.. arrangement.
Although the progression was too fast they had good chemistry and the sex was steamy and well-written.
I feel like this review is mostly negative and that wasn’t my intention. This story wasn’t bad, it just didn’t work for me, but I’m definitely looking forward to Robbie and Paul’s story and I hope whatever magic was in the first three books in this series is recaptured in their story.
Although Skater Boy wasn’t my favorite in this series, it’s still a recommendable read.
* Copy provided to the reviewer for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. *
January 30, 2019
Heckin’ fun
This was very sweet and funny. Alex and Sergei were great characters and I liked getting both POV’s. The dialogue was introspective at times with Alex struggling to redefine his sense of self-worth. It was also witty and fun, although I kind of wish Alex hadn’t been defaulted to a “mom” type role with the kids. I did enjoy all the words of wisdom from their friends which included the team and their wives. There were a few minor issues but I still thoroughly enjoyed this one.
This was very sweet and funny. Alex and Sergei were great characters and I liked getting both POV’s. The dialogue was introspective at times with Alex struggling to redefine his sense of self-worth. It was also witty and fun, although I kind of wish Alex hadn’t been defaulted to a “mom” type role with the kids. I did enjoy all the words of wisdom from their friends which included the team and their wives. There were a few minor issues but I still thoroughly enjoyed this one.
July 10, 2019
A hockey romance with a friends to lovers between a hockey goalie and a figure skater. An instant family also comes into play and the vulnerability that comes through beautifully. The part that is most touching was the slut shaming that Alex does to himself. The self worth some people find from another person is heartbreaking and an endless cycle and I'm so glad a character like him so important and glad that it was a part of this story.
March 25, 2018
The best in the series imo. Sergei & Alex are adorable together.
February 4, 2018
3.5 stars
Not my favorite book in the series but still an entertaining installment.
Not my favorite book in the series but still an entertaining installment.
April 9, 2018
This was so pure and satisfying... I loved it.
It's no secret that I love a good friends-to-lovers, that I am a sucker for different kinds of slowburn, and that I'm all for soft, gentle things.
This wasn't a slowburn in the strict sense of the word, but in a way it still felt like that to me. It was a sort of "emotional" slowburn, due to the process of the characters to get to be on the same page emotionally... Okay, I'm rambling, and not making any sense. I know you won't consider this a slowburn, but I have my own measuring category for special cases, and this one fits anyway.
I loved seeing Alex and Sergei entering as friends, and the obvious conflicting emotions the shift in the relationship's dynamics awoke in them- to different degrees. I loved how adult they both were about everything (even when, for the sake of drama, it could have been handled with them being complete babies about it). With this loving, healthy dynamics, there came another perk to the story: the angst was minimal cause they *gasp* talked through their problems! They communicated with each other about their feelings! It was glorious! I loved every second of it and I was SO here for that! Honestly, fiction (and M/M romance especially) needs more of that: I've had it with the miscommunication/misunderstanding-induced drama! Most of the times, we're dealing with adults who behave like moody infants. I was so blessed because nothing could be further than that here!
I gotta admit, when the bomb was dropped so late in the story, I was kind of skeptical about the whole thing, and I thought it would be detrimental to the pace of the story- I couldn't have been more wrong! The shift was handled perfectly, and it flowed seamlessly within the narrative, adding more color to the already delightful development of the relationship between Sergei and Alex- and of the characters' individualities as well!
Last, but not least, I just have to mention how delighted I was with Sergei's character: both he and Alex were amazing, but Sergei- demisexual, bookish, shit-at-putting-emotions-into-words Sergei- hit so damn close to home I just couldn't not feel slightly bias towards him; if it had been only one of those qualities, I wouldn't even mention this, but it warmed my heart so much at seeing so much of myself in his character that I had to say something about it.
It's no secret that I love a good friends-to-lovers, that I am a sucker for different kinds of slowburn, and that I'm all for soft, gentle things.
This wasn't a slowburn in the strict sense of the word, but in a way it still felt like that to me. It was a sort of "emotional" slowburn, due to the process of the characters to get to be on the same page emotionally... Okay, I'm rambling, and not making any sense. I know you won't consider this a slowburn, but I have my own measuring category for special cases, and this one fits anyway.
I loved seeing Alex and Sergei entering as friends, and the obvious conflicting emotions the shift in the relationship's dynamics awoke in them- to different degrees. I loved how adult they both were about everything (even when, for the sake of drama, it could have been handled with them being complete babies about it). With this loving, healthy dynamics, there came another perk to the story: the angst was minimal cause they *gasp* talked through their problems! They communicated with each other about their feelings! It was glorious! I loved every second of it and I was SO here for that! Honestly, fiction (and M/M romance especially) needs more of that: I've had it with the miscommunication/misunderstanding-induced drama! Most of the times, we're dealing with adults who behave like moody infants. I was so blessed because nothing could be further than that here!
I gotta admit, when the bomb was dropped so late in the story, I was kind of skeptical about the whole thing, and I thought it would be detrimental to the pace of the story- I couldn't have been more wrong! The shift was handled perfectly, and it flowed seamlessly within the narrative, adding more color to the already delightful development of the relationship between Sergei and Alex- and of the characters' individualities as well!
Last, but not least, I just have to mention how delighted I was with Sergei's character: both he and Alex were amazing, but Sergei- demisexual, bookish, shit-at-putting-emotions-into-words Sergei- hit so damn close to home I just couldn't not feel slightly bias towards him; if it had been only one of those qualities, I wouldn't even mention this, but it warmed my heart so much at seeing so much of myself in his character that I had to say something about it.
January 10, 2018
I am a big fan of this series and even pre ordered this book though I knew it would be on Kindle Unlimited to which I subscribe.
I think this book is really most pleasurable if you have read the series as the timelines overlap and wind around each other. I think the character development of Alex and Sergei leans a bit too heavily on the earlier books but that will make for fun rereading.
Sergei is a wonderful gentle giant of a hockey player hero who is a bookworm and multilingual. He has a very sorrowful backstory and is a very best friend. He is also demisexual though his sexuality isn't explicitly named.
Alex is way more of a mess adjusting from not being a competitive figure skater and yet another failed and trust destroying relationship.
This first part of the book deals with the conflict of Alex not wanting to jump into another relationship. Also, he struggles to really process Sergei's sexuality which is very different from his own.
They are such dear friends and the sexual tension is wonderful. Then, just as they settle in as boyfriends, their family grows to include babies.
The support Sergei and Alex give each other in grief and fatherhood is lovely. The exhaustion of child rearing is well renders as is some of the struggles with class and what equality in a relationship means.
Alex takes a bit too long to trust and even with baby weariness I think the sex scenes once all the rules against moving to fast are removed need to be more vivid to connect a bit more.
Great cast and some engaging side plots and friendships.
I think this book is really most pleasurable if you have read the series as the timelines overlap and wind around each other. I think the character development of Alex and Sergei leans a bit too heavily on the earlier books but that will make for fun rereading.
Sergei is a wonderful gentle giant of a hockey player hero who is a bookworm and multilingual. He has a very sorrowful backstory and is a very best friend. He is also demisexual though his sexuality isn't explicitly named.
Alex is way more of a mess adjusting from not being a competitive figure skater and yet another failed and trust destroying relationship.
This first part of the book deals with the conflict of Alex not wanting to jump into another relationship. Also, he struggles to really process Sergei's sexuality which is very different from his own.
They are such dear friends and the sexual tension is wonderful. Then, just as they settle in as boyfriends, their family grows to include babies.
The support Sergei and Alex give each other in grief and fatherhood is lovely. The exhaustion of child rearing is well renders as is some of the struggles with class and what equality in a relationship means.
Alex takes a bit too long to trust and even with baby weariness I think the sex scenes once all the rules against moving to fast are removed need to be more vivid to connect a bit more.
Great cast and some engaging side plots and friendships.
March 25, 2021
2021
Upgrade to 4 stars ... most of my points in my first review are still true but I enjoyed it much more
2019
this one is so hard to rate as I liked it but was also annoyed with it. First of all: I read just the first book in this series, but not the second. but I think these books can be read as stand-alone, therefore that does not make a difference in the rating.
what annoyed me most was that the blurb, as it is written on Goodreads, is a major spoiler because that has all the important factors in it but not in the right order - so you are waiting for things which you think comes first, but they come at 60% or the other way round
what I liked where the friendship between Sergey and Alex - that was soo well done and most of the time i got the tension between them also. but that brings me to the point which annoyed me: Alex was hard to like because he says all the time, money is not important for him but he measures his whole life like that and that has consequences for his behavior towards Sergey.
all in all it was a nice read but could have been so much better - I was a bit disappointed because I loved the first book. but I will read this author again
Upgrade to 4 stars ... most of my points in my first review are still true but I enjoyed it much more
2019
this one is so hard to rate as I liked it but was also annoyed with it. First of all: I read just the first book in this series, but not the second. but I think these books can be read as stand-alone, therefore that does not make a difference in the rating.
what annoyed me most was that the blurb, as it is written on Goodreads, is a major spoiler because that has all the important factors in it but not in the right order - so you are waiting for things which you think comes first, but they come at 60% or the other way round
what I liked where the friendship between Sergey and Alex - that was soo well done and most of the time i got the tension between them also. but that brings me to the point which annoyed me: Alex was hard to like because he says all the time, money is not important for him but he measures his whole life like that and that has consequences for his behavior towards Sergey.
all in all it was a nice read but could have been so much better - I was a bit disappointed because I loved the first book. but I will read this author again
January 23, 2018
I really enjoyed this, but just a few too many typos.
January 11, 2018
I was waiting for this one. And it was worth it.
Sergei and Alex have known each other since they were adolescents. Sergei the big, appearingly brutish hockey player with a heart of gold. Alex the Olympic winning figure skater, now retired and struggling to figure out what to do with his life. Not getting into a lot of details (you can read/enjoy those for yourself) Alex finds himself without a place to live, and his long-time friend brings him to his house.
While the book is about the relationship between Sergei and Alex, I found it was focused on Alex's feelings about finding his place in the world and figuring out what it meant to be a true partner outside of finances.
Overall, the book was well-written and sweet. I truly loved Sergei. He is the dream companion that everybody wants for themselves. I do wish the blurb had not mentioned the children. That happens after the half point and though possibly foreseeable, it would have been a nice discovery without the knowledge ahead of time. I loved the role Paul played in this. It was unexpected, sincere, and touching.
I look forward to the next book... in fact I've spent a bit of time wondering who it will center upon. Hmmm...
(I received a copy of the ARC of this book from the author.)
Sergei and Alex have known each other since they were adolescents. Sergei the big, appearingly brutish hockey player with a heart of gold. Alex the Olympic winning figure skater, now retired and struggling to figure out what to do with his life. Not getting into a lot of details (you can read/enjoy those for yourself) Alex finds himself without a place to live, and his long-time friend brings him to his house.
While the book is about the relationship between Sergei and Alex, I found it was focused on Alex's feelings about finding his place in the world and figuring out what it meant to be a true partner outside of finances.
Overall, the book was well-written and sweet. I truly loved Sergei. He is the dream companion that everybody wants for themselves. I do wish the blurb had not mentioned the children. That happens after the half point and though possibly foreseeable, it would have been a nice discovery without the knowledge ahead of time. I loved the role Paul played in this. It was unexpected, sincere, and touching.
I look forward to the next book... in fact I've spent a bit of time wondering who it will center upon. Hmmm...
(I received a copy of the ARC of this book from the author.)
February 19, 2019
4.5 stars.
This was a tearjerker for me. Pushes all the buttons.
Strong huge hockey player secretly is in love with svelte figure skater who loves said hockey player but thinks they can only be friends, complications ensue.
This book finally gets the team more involved with the MCs. Previous books mostly revolved around the guys alone. I really loved this one. I thought there were some elements of the story that were not completely finished, some of which were both MC's relationships with the players and their wives. Throw in babies and the tragic death of their mother and the dad and want to be dad are a mess. The ending is very sweet.
With writing this I now think my issue is that there was a much longer story to tell with so many barely touched on elements in the book. Not that it feels really rushed, just that there is some glossing over of important issues. I think Ms. Wasp has important insights into relationships and out sport athletes that should be further explored.
There are a lot of Russian endearments and curses, thankfully translations are found on the internet.
On to book 5.
This was a tearjerker for me. Pushes all the buttons.
Strong huge hockey player secretly is in love with svelte figure skater who loves said hockey player but thinks they can only be friends, complications ensue.
This book finally gets the team more involved with the MCs. Previous books mostly revolved around the guys alone. I really loved this one. I thought there were some elements of the story that were not completely finished, some of which were both MC's relationships with the players and their wives. Throw in babies and the tragic death of their mother and the dad and want to be dad are a mess. The ending is very sweet.
With writing this I now think my issue is that there was a much longer story to tell with so many barely touched on elements in the book. Not that it feels really rushed, just that there is some glossing over of important issues. I think Ms. Wasp has important insights into relationships and out sport athletes that should be further explored.
There are a lot of Russian endearments and curses, thankfully translations are found on the internet.
On to book 5.
January 15, 2018
Friends to lovers
I enjoyed the progress and leap Alex and Sergei made from best friends to lovers.
Alex and Sergei met as teenagers. Both loved each other but did not know how to express their feelings.
Finding that connection after Alex broke up with his boyfriend was the best thing Sergei ever did.
For once they were on the same page and they could finally express their feelings.
As they are figuring out how to have a loving relationship. Sergei has unexpected news.
It was interesting to see how they handled their new additions.
Pleasant enjoyable read.
I enjoyed the progress and leap Alex and Sergei made from best friends to lovers.
Alex and Sergei met as teenagers. Both loved each other but did not know how to express their feelings.
Finding that connection after Alex broke up with his boyfriend was the best thing Sergei ever did.
For once they were on the same page and they could finally express their feelings.
As they are figuring out how to have a loving relationship. Sergei has unexpected news.
It was interesting to see how they handled their new additions.
Pleasant enjoyable read.
April 26, 2018
Skater Boy is the fourth book in the Hot Of the Ice series by A. E. Wasp. I loved this book and this fabulous series. I loved how these guys have a strong connection because of their past, supporting one another and how their love evolved. It was a great story of hockey, teammates coming to help, babies and ultimately both of them truly learning love is really all that matters. I can't wait for the next book in the series to come out. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book.
January 9, 2024
Ah questi atleti di hockey... 🤩🤩🤩
Sono tutti meravigliosi, sia i compagni di squadra che le loro mogli e fidanzate/i.
Sergei portiere russo dei Thunder e Alex ex pattinatore di fugura franco-canadese, amici da una vita...
mi hanno commosso, divertita, tifato per loro, innamorata per la loro forza e per il loro amore.
Evviva i gatti Canadian Sphynx 💖 e i bambini gemelli Tatyana e David!! 💖
Consigliato 💖💖💖💖💖
Sono tutti meravigliosi, sia i compagni di squadra che le loro mogli e fidanzate/i.
Sergei portiere russo dei Thunder e Alex ex pattinatore di fugura franco-canadese, amici da una vita...
mi hanno commosso, divertita, tifato per loro, innamorata per la loro forza e per il loro amore.
Evviva i gatti Canadian Sphynx 💖 e i bambini gemelli Tatyana e David!! 💖
Consigliato 💖💖💖💖💖
June 6, 2019
3.5 really!
I heart Sergei! I like all the supporting characters too!
I also like how even though it's part of a series, I was never once lost. The author explained well. It was just frustrating with the misspelled words, wrong names, etc.
I heart Sergei! I like all the supporting characters too!
I also like how even though it's part of a series, I was never once lost. The author explained well. It was just frustrating with the misspelled words, wrong names, etc.
January 11, 2018
My fave of the series. The characters, the pace, the plot, the romance was just not as good in the previous as this one.
January 14, 2018
Gah! The babies turn up much later than I expected, but by the time they do, we are totally sucked into this burgeoning relationship between Sergei and Alex, and absolutely want this family to work.
Loved all the different languages they speak, and the development of Alex's self-esteem. Maybe it's all too cosy at the end, but I wanted them to have IT ALL!!
Loved all the different languages they speak, and the development of Alex's self-esteem. Maybe it's all too cosy at the end, but I wanted them to have IT ALL!!
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