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Rules to Break #2A
Cracking Ice: Episode 1
Hockey was everything to them both… until they met each other.
All Keenan Avali wants to do is play hockey. It doesn’t matter that he’s an alpha, he’s got no interest in dominating anywhere but on the ice.
When Cartwright Johnson joins the Hell’s Flames, he expects to play hard to compensate for being an omega who dared to pursue a professional hockey career. After his last team traded him, he is not making the mistake of falling for a teammate ever again. He’s sure he’s got the control to keep his pants on and his heart closed... until he meets Keenan Avali.
An omega can't trust an alpha, much less one as hot as Avali, but nobody can fail to see they play together like they were made for it. But for how long can they be the perfect teammates on ice when they can't stand to look at each other off it?
This is episode 1 of “Cracking Ice”, a serialized novel that will be published every two weeks for the rest of the year.
Contains hockey, alphas and omegas under the control of their instincts, friendship, romance and very mixed feelings.
“Not Destiny” is a companion novel and it can be read before or after “Cracking Ice”.
Alpha/Omega Hockey Romance.
All Keenan Avali wants to do is play hockey. It doesn’t matter that he’s an alpha, he’s got no interest in dominating anywhere but on the ice.
When Cartwright Johnson joins the Hell’s Flames, he expects to play hard to compensate for being an omega who dared to pursue a professional hockey career. After his last team traded him, he is not making the mistake of falling for a teammate ever again. He’s sure he’s got the control to keep his pants on and his heart closed... until he meets Keenan Avali.
An omega can't trust an alpha, much less one as hot as Avali, but nobody can fail to see they play together like they were made for it. But for how long can they be the perfect teammates on ice when they can't stand to look at each other off it?
This is episode 1 of “Cracking Ice”, a serialized novel that will be published every two weeks for the rest of the year.
Contains hockey, alphas and omegas under the control of their instincts, friendship, romance and very mixed feelings.
“Not Destiny” is a companion novel and it can be read before or after “Cracking Ice”.
Alpha/Omega Hockey Romance.
102 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 4, 2019
87 people are currently reading
200 people want to read
About the author
N.J. Lysk
94 books274 followersN.J. Lysk (pronouns: whatever) is a queer one—in almost every sense of the word—for whom stories have always been their one true home. She studied linguistics and literature (which is to say, someone offered him a genuine excuse to read professionally) and ended up teaching, but writing is their one true love.
Addicted to angst, enamoured of mpreg and always ready to try a new kink (in a book, that’s it!) she became hooked into the Omegaverse through fanfic (but he doesn't have the patience to write other people's characters) and has recently expanded from werewolves to hockey players.
Check out my shelves if you want some recommendations, including books that inspired me ;)
Books can be acquired directly from the website at a reduced rate—new releases also become available there earlier.
Get episode 1 of "Cracking Ice" for free here: https://smarturl.it/FreeCrackingIce
At https://www.njlysk.com you can find exclusive stories for less than a $1 and other discounts as well.
Join my newsletter to get news about releases & sales!
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Dutch: https://sendfox.com/lp/3qqrzv
Check out the pretty people and covers: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/njlysk/
And come play on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/23457...
Addicted to angst, enamoured of mpreg and always ready to try a new kink (in a book, that’s it!) she became hooked into the Omegaverse through fanfic (but he doesn't have the patience to write other people's characters) and has recently expanded from werewolves to hockey players.
Check out my shelves if you want some recommendations, including books that inspired me ;)
Books can be acquired directly from the website at a reduced rate—new releases also become available there earlier.
Get episode 1 of "Cracking Ice" for free here: https://smarturl.it/FreeCrackingIce
At https://www.njlysk.com you can find exclusive stories for less than a $1 and other discounts as well.
Join my newsletter to get news about releases & sales!
English: https://sendfox.com/lp/1gpxj1
Beta readers' list: https://sendfox.com/lp/1x56kp
ARC readers list: https://sendfox.com/lp/3e6x6z
Deutsche Mailingliste: https://sendfox.com/lp/3eg001
Italiano: https://sendfox.com/NJLYSK
Français : https://sendfox.com/lp/m7k2d1
Portugues: https://sendfox.com/lp/mnl0ll
Castellano: https://sendfox.com/lp/3ez0nk
Dutch: https://sendfox.com/lp/3qqrzv
Check out the pretty people and covers: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/njlysk/
And come play on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/23457...
Ratings & Reviews
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
December 28, 2019
Cartwright Johnson is traded from The Titans to ice hockey club Hell’s Flames. As an omega being part of a hockey team is exceptional, just like his speed. Cartwright has his own beliefs and doesn’t want any protection from alphas! Doesn’t want to get involved with any alpha, certainly not Keenan Avali. Not after what he’d been through.
Yes, they are competitive, and they don’t like each other, period. Well maybe only the scent of the other, and strangely enough they also know where the other is, like all the time!
Vigorously denying what is in front of you doesn’t work. Still, Keenan is busy to explain and convince himself why he can’t get Carry out of his head.
“How could his body react to something his mind rejected?”
Even though they barely talk to each other, on the ice they work perfectly, open, sharp, and winning. When it seems to become somewhat more, the rumors start. What’s going on between them?
When I get the chance to read about alphas and omegas, I’m sold. This one didn’t disappoint!
I think it’s a nice start to a series. It’s pictured from a different angle and I love that!
We meet the teammates. I have to confess it’s not my best quality remembering names, so I was happy with the team list at the beginning of the book, I copy/paste the list so I could easily switch to look who was who. I loved the original touch to the alpha omega dynamic.
Captivatingly written story, I think this start is a good fundament to what comes next
Yes, they are competitive, and they don’t like each other, period. Well maybe only the scent of the other, and strangely enough they also know where the other is, like all the time!
Vigorously denying what is in front of you doesn’t work. Still, Keenan is busy to explain and convince himself why he can’t get Carry out of his head.
“How could his body react to something his mind rejected?”
Even though they barely talk to each other, on the ice they work perfectly, open, sharp, and winning. When it seems to become somewhat more, the rumors start. What’s going on between them?
When I get the chance to read about alphas and omegas, I’m sold. This one didn’t disappoint!
I think it’s a nice start to a series. It’s pictured from a different angle and I love that!
We meet the teammates. I have to confess it’s not my best quality remembering names, so I was happy with the team list at the beginning of the book, I copy/paste the list so I could easily switch to look who was who. I loved the original touch to the alpha omega dynamic.
Captivatingly written story, I think this start is a good fundament to what comes next
January 2, 2020
Interesting..
I love hockey and especially any hockey sports romance books. But I’ve never read one with A/B/O elements. So this was rather different. I liked this alternate universe because the author gives omegas choices and are able to step out of their predetermined roles of bearer and carer. Omegas tend to be the weak ones. Not here! Pretty good. I like!
I love hockey and especially any hockey sports romance books. But I’ve never read one with A/B/O elements. So this was rather different. I liked this alternate universe because the author gives omegas choices and are able to step out of their predetermined roles of bearer and carer. Omegas tend to be the weak ones. Not here! Pretty good. I like!
May 8, 2022
DNF @ 17%
It didn't take me long to decide this wasn't going to work for me. The writing was oddly formal and over-written, which made it feel juvenile and the dialog was terrible. Not to mention that the first three chapters were nearly all telling and no showing with minimal dialog. Also, there was a barrage of character names and team names that just swam past me. I knew the bad writing would distract me throughout the story, so I'm dropping this.
It didn't take me long to decide this wasn't going to work for me. The writing was oddly formal and over-written, which made it feel juvenile and the dialog was terrible. Not to mention that the first three chapters were nearly all telling and no showing with minimal dialog. Also, there was a barrage of character names and team names that just swam past me. I knew the bad writing would distract me throughout the story, so I'm dropping this.
Want to read
January 11, 2020🎁 FREE on Amazon today (1/11/2020)! 🎁
October 4, 2019
A Joyfully Jay review.
3.5 stars
Cracking Ice is a multi-part serial with the episodes coming out every few weeks. It will be one long story that will follow the relationship between Keenan and Carry. As this first installment opens, Carry has been traded to Keenan’s team and there is protocol surrounding an omega joining a team with an alpha. Carry just wants to play hockey and be known for his skill on the ice, but the media only wants to focus on the fact that he is an omega. Keenan has never been attracted to a man before and has to figure some things out for himself as he’s not sure if he’s really attracted to Carry as a person or just his pheromones.
The world building wasn’t completely clear to me for some aspects. Carry is taking suppressants so he doesn’t go into heat. But I do not think this world involves mpreg, so I then had to wonder what was the point of him going into such uncontrollable heat in the first place. Both men are conditioned to believe certain things about alphas and omegas and they react accordingly, so there is then a distinct lack of communication at this point. We are told about some of the ways the men have grown up being an alpha and an omega, but there was either something in the delivery or a lack of information that left me with a lot of questions and not completely sure what was happening with everything. There is also mention of Carry having hooked up with a former alpha teammate that didn’t go well, but the details are slim.
Read Michelle's review in its entirety here.
3.5 stars
Cracking Ice is a multi-part serial with the episodes coming out every few weeks. It will be one long story that will follow the relationship between Keenan and Carry. As this first installment opens, Carry has been traded to Keenan’s team and there is protocol surrounding an omega joining a team with an alpha. Carry just wants to play hockey and be known for his skill on the ice, but the media only wants to focus on the fact that he is an omega. Keenan has never been attracted to a man before and has to figure some things out for himself as he’s not sure if he’s really attracted to Carry as a person or just his pheromones.
The world building wasn’t completely clear to me for some aspects. Carry is taking suppressants so he doesn’t go into heat. But I do not think this world involves mpreg, so I then had to wonder what was the point of him going into such uncontrollable heat in the first place. Both men are conditioned to believe certain things about alphas and omegas and they react accordingly, so there is then a distinct lack of communication at this point. We are told about some of the ways the men have grown up being an alpha and an omega, but there was either something in the delivery or a lack of information that left me with a lot of questions and not completely sure what was happening with everything. There is also mention of Carry having hooked up with a former alpha teammate that didn’t go well, but the details are slim.
Read Michelle's review in its entirety here.
April 21, 2022
New to me author. This is a mm romance story release in chapters, not a new format for me. This story combines my two favourite genres ice hockey and omegaverse but I just didn’t click with the story. Main characters are Keenan the alpha and Carry the omega, who both play on the same Ice hockey team. Set in the Uk and Europe.
January 14, 2021
This was... ok. I was very aware of the fact that this was an "episode 1" so my feelings have nothing to do with the length, or lack thereof, of this book.
In general I thought that there were some gems - I like the little bit we saw of the omega verse she's creating - but I really didn't feel any connection between the two characters. I don't feel this is to do with the length, I just didn't get the "spark" I need between characters to keep me interested in their development, alone or together.
In general I thought that there were some gems - I like the little bit we saw of the omega verse she's creating - but I really didn't feel any connection between the two characters. I don't feel this is to do with the length, I just didn't get the "spark" I need between characters to keep me interested in their development, alone or together.
November 12, 2019
4.5 out of 5
NJ has a style that I have yet to get used to despite reading their other novels. Thankfully this novel isnt as angsty and heart wrenching as the others (yet.) I’ll gladly continue to see where this is going and how Keenan and Carry can make it work.
4.5 cause the changing POV confused me when both MCs called each other different names. I thought I was reading a novel about 4 people/two hockey couples.
NJ has a style that I have yet to get used to despite reading their other novels. Thankfully this novel isnt as angsty and heart wrenching as the others (yet.) I’ll gladly continue to see where this is going and how Keenan and Carry can make it work.
4.5 cause the changing POV confused me when both MCs called each other different names. I thought I was reading a novel about 4 people/two hockey couples.
February 25, 2025
Carry and Keenan's story begins on the ice. Carry was picked up by the Hell's Flames after his first season. He's small compared to most hockey players but he's fast and very skilled. Keenan is more seasoned and highly skilled. In a world where humans are identified as alpha, beta, and omega there is difficulty. Carry is at a disadvantage in the sport, he's an omega and hockey isn't a ‘traditional’ profession for someone like him. Keenan is an alpha. Carry hasn't had a great history with alphas after being burned by his last team, so isn't inclined to trust Keelan even if they are one true bond mates.
Read
April 2, 2025This isn't even a cliffhanger, it just-
“And we are going to do that by, what, having a nice candlelit dinner?” Sharp and molten and burnt underneath, like he was barely keeping a lid on his anger.
Keep Reading Cracking Ice 2!
Got as a freebie, but probably wouldn't have picked it up if I had realized I'd already 1-starred this author. Or if I had realized this is only the first few chapters of a story that stops without warning.
All said and done though, I liked it alright so far. But certainly not enough to spend $20 on the next 6 installments to finish.
“And we are going to do that by, what, having a nice candlelit dinner?” Sharp and molten and burnt underneath, like he was barely keeping a lid on his anger.
Keep Reading Cracking Ice 2!
Got as a freebie, but probably wouldn't have picked it up if I had realized I'd already 1-starred this author. Or if I had realized this is only the first few chapters of a story that stops without warning.
All said and done though, I liked it alright so far. But certainly not enough to spend $20 on the next 6 installments to finish.
August 9, 2020
I liked the book. I was a little mad at times with Carry, because of some hostile conduct he had sometimes, but in general I liked him and the story. It was interesting as were the characters. And even though I enjoyed reading it, I wasn’t happy to get to the end of it and didn’t felt the sense of an ending. It was a bit frustrating but the story is good so I’ll keep reading.
October 27, 2021
Histoire difficile à lire.
Ce tome est censé être lu en 2:30, hors il m'a fallu 4 jours pour passé à travers ce premier tome. Structure de l'histoire rend ce tome difficile à lire et il manque d'intérêt pour soutenir le lecteur. Je vais quand même lire le tome 2 pour voir si l'histoire va être plus soutenue.
Ce tome est censé être lu en 2:30, hors il m'a fallu 4 jours pour passé à travers ce premier tome. Structure de l'histoire rend ce tome difficile à lire et il manque d'intérêt pour soutenir le lecteur. Je vais quand même lire le tome 2 pour voir si l'histoire va être plus soutenue.
April 15, 2025
LOVED this!!!
Omgosh!
The 'family' kiss?! Never once seen it being used in any other A/B/O books/fics! Brilliant!
But to find out their true mates?! No wonder Carry is fighting this tooth and nail!
I rated it 4/5 because I'm not a big fan of enemies to lover, BUT this series might change my mind!
Cannot wait to sink my teeth into the next book!
Omgosh!
The 'family' kiss?! Never once seen it being used in any other A/B/O books/fics! Brilliant!
But to find out their true mates?! No wonder Carry is fighting this tooth and nail!
I rated it 4/5 because I'm not a big fan of enemies to lover, BUT this series might change my mind!
Cannot wait to sink my teeth into the next book!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 1, 2020
I already knew I didn't like omegaverse, but I'm willing to challenge my reading tastes sometimes and try again with a different story.
This one was decently written, but it confirmed again that omegaverse is just not my cup of tea.
This one was decently written, but it confirmed again that omegaverse is just not my cup of tea.
July 19, 2023
This story is very stecato.
The writer jumps allover the place making it very confusing. Which made me lose interest. And that made it tedious to read.
Maybe it would have helped if I knew anything about ice hockey!
The writer jumps allover the place making it very confusing. Which made me lose interest. And that made it tedious to read.
Maybe it would have helped if I knew anything about ice hockey!
March 22, 2025
3.5! It was a good start, but it is a bit slow and Johnson is so obstinate the whole time you don’t even really get a feel for him or Keenan. The story however seems like it’ll be interesting! Not sure yet if I’ll continue.
May 19, 2025
I read this book as a book club genre prompt and it is absolutely not for me.
I feel bad giving it a rating because I don’t think there was anything really bad about the book but the omegaverse just isn’t my vibe at all.
I feel bad giving it a rating because I don’t think there was anything really bad about the book but the omegaverse just isn’t my vibe at all.
January 27, 2021
I love omegaverse and hockey, but this needs an editor. DNF.
August 23, 2024
An omega gets traded and falls for the Alpha, something he vowed never to do again.
March 29, 2025
DNF @ 18%
Read
May 16, 2025Book 1 of iirc 7.
I cannot rate 1/7th of the ehole book!
So far it's intriguing.
I cannot rate 1/7th of the ehole book!
So far it's intriguing.
November 19, 2025
Just imagine the most annoying brain dead MCs ever
February 21, 2020
Cracking ice
I usually adore all things hockey but I struggled with all the names in the book, the two main characters had about 3 names each that were used interchangeably with given names, nicknames and surnames which made keeping up with the story challenging
I usually adore all things hockey but I struggled with all the names in the book, the two main characters had about 3 names each that were used interchangeably with given names, nicknames and surnames which made keeping up with the story challenging
February 22, 2020
New to me
This was a first read for me from this author. It was certainly a different outlook on the alpha/ omega world. I enjoyed it and am looking forward to reading more of this couple, Cartwright and Keenan.
This was a first read for me from this author. It was certainly a different outlook on the alpha/ omega world. I enjoyed it and am looking forward to reading more of this couple, Cartwright and Keenan.
February 22, 2020
Bitchy omegas.
Fun hockey.😊
Fun hockey.😊
January 15, 2020
The reader is plunged into an alpha/omega/beta world with little or no preparation, forcing one's own acumen to fill in and catch up on what seems to be taken for granted by the characters of the story. An excellent tactic, which obliges the readers to think while they feel, to extrapolate a different kind if reality as they come grips with the problems undergone by the main characters.
Interesting hints of non-consensual vs consenting in interpersonal relationships, the question of mind over instinct is confronted, the work of agonistic sports a backdrop for it all.
Obviously only the first part of a series, allowing the readers to gather enough information about writing style and sensations about this particular world to decide if they might enjoy seeing further development and want to read the rest.
Interesting hints of non-consensual vs consenting in interpersonal relationships, the question of mind over instinct is confronted, the work of agonistic sports a backdrop for it all.
Obviously only the first part of a series, allowing the readers to gather enough information about writing style and sensations about this particular world to decide if they might enjoy seeing further development and want to read the rest.
January 16, 2020
This is an interesting take on the A/B/O universe.
The author's writing style is almost subliminal, you're given hints as to the characters thought process, but it's never fully detailed, leading you to draw your own conclusions.
This may not be everyone's cup of tea and I'll admit that initially I struggled to read it, but I powered through and I'm really glad I did.
I really liked Carry and how his strength was portrayed and poor Keenan just seems clueless.
I can't wait to find out more about them.
The author's writing style is almost subliminal, you're given hints as to the characters thought process, but it's never fully detailed, leading you to draw your own conclusions.
This may not be everyone's cup of tea and I'll admit that initially I struggled to read it, but I powered through and I'm really glad I did.
I really liked Carry and how his strength was portrayed and poor Keenan just seems clueless.
I can't wait to find out more about them.
January 15, 2020
Specifically, I like a story to flow free where I don't have to stop and start paragraphs again to try to figure out the intention or direction of the story.
Maybe something's got lost in translation to American English. Was looking forward to a good series.
Maybe something's got lost in translation to American English. Was looking forward to a good series.
October 16, 2019
Good start to a new series
Cracking Ice is a slow paced book about two hockey players. Avail is an alpha on the Flames team, Cartwright or Carry as he likes to be called is a hotshot omega that has been brought to the team. The two don’t hit it off right away mostly due to a bad experience Carry had on his old team. Though the two work thing on on the ice and suddenly on set of heat messes up their work relationship . The book is episodic so if you not into episodes it may put you off. The pace is slow and methodical, the characters likeable.
Cracking Ice is a slow paced book about two hockey players. Avail is an alpha on the Flames team, Cartwright or Carry as he likes to be called is a hotshot omega that has been brought to the team. The two don’t hit it off right away mostly due to a bad experience Carry had on his old team. Though the two work thing on on the ice and suddenly on set of heat messes up their work relationship . The book is episodic so if you not into episodes it may put you off. The pace is slow and methodical, the characters likeable.
January 14, 2020
Wow! Great characters, hockey backdrop and all the feels! I am very glad it's a serial, because no way would this story be enough! Loved it entirely and totally!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews