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Rules to Break #2C
Cracking Ice: Episode 3
This is episode 3 of “Cracking Ice”, a serialized novel that will be published every two weeks for the rest of the year. Please start on 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?
Alpha/Omega Hockey Romance.
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?
Alpha/Omega Hockey Romance.
- GenresRomance
113 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 1, 2019
10 people are currently reading
34 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!
English: https://sendfox.com/lp/1gpxj1
Beta readers' list: https://sendfox.com/lp/1x56kp
ARC readers list: https://sendfox.com/lp/3e6x6z
Deutsche Mailingliste: https://sendfox.com/lp/3eg001
Italiano: https://sendfox.com/NJLYSK
Français : https://sendfox.com/lp/m7k2d1
Portugues: https://sendfox.com/lp/mnl0ll
Castellano: https://sendfox.com/lp/3ez0nk
Dutch: https://sendfox.com/lp/3qqrzv
Check out the pretty people and covers: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/njlysk/
And come play on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/23457...
Addicted to angst, enamoured of mpreg and always ready to try a new kink (in a book, that’s it!) she became hooked into the Omegaverse through fanfic (but he doesn't have the patience to write other people's characters) and has recently expanded from werewolves to hockey players.
Check out my shelves if you want some recommendations, including books that inspired me ;)
Books can be acquired directly from the website at a reduced rate—new releases also become available there earlier.
Get episode 1 of "Cracking Ice" for free here: https://smarturl.it/FreeCrackingIce
At https://www.njlysk.com you can find exclusive stories for less than a $1 and other discounts as well.
Join my newsletter to get news about releases & sales!
English: https://sendfox.com/lp/1gpxj1
Beta readers' list: https://sendfox.com/lp/1x56kp
ARC readers list: https://sendfox.com/lp/3e6x6z
Deutsche Mailingliste: https://sendfox.com/lp/3eg001
Italiano: https://sendfox.com/NJLYSK
Français : https://sendfox.com/lp/m7k2d1
Portugues: https://sendfox.com/lp/mnl0ll
Castellano: https://sendfox.com/lp/3ez0nk
Dutch: https://sendfox.com/lp/3qqrzv
Check out the pretty people and covers: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/njlysk/
And come play on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/23457...
Ratings & Reviews
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
December 28, 2019
Keenan wants to have a mate, the feeling of arms around each other. That he’s aware of this because of Carry, doesn’t mean he wants it with Carry. Noooo, he’s monosexual, he tells himself about every day. It made me crazy and I wanted to smack his stubborn head so much.
They have to play against the Titans, the club who traded Carry. Who traded him for a reason!
Both men still fight each other, out of control sometimes. They are stubborn, somehow, they aren’t at the same level. Keenan has the urge to protect and Carry on the other hand doesn’t want to be protected or defended by Keenan or any alpha.
He can take care of himself, always, except when he is in heat.
My favorite thing from the world of A/O is about scent. The scent of caramel, sand, ocean, sour, sweet even burned hair you name it, they are aware of it. Just delicious to watch and imagine all the sensations.
It's hard to watch them struggle, head and body are separated, rational tells to take space but the body only wants to get closer.
I felt sorry for both men, Keenan because he is unaware and Carry because he’s too aware.
I think this line perfectly describes the big struggle:
“There was nothing there about how to deal with a man he was highly attracted to, hormonally driven to fuck, and personally unsure about.”
One thing is stronger and screams louder and that’s the ice.
Keenan wonders how Carry gets through his heats. When he gets his answer, it shakes up his whole being.
At some point, the tables turned. It’s getting a bit messier and both men have to go their own way because being near the other isn’t gonna work.
The moves on the ice are awesome and exciting, it was well described as if watching a game in real life. Reading about this content from a different, subtle angle is... confusing I think, but I love the unpredictable side of it! The way Carry and Keenan are around each other is devastating, hurtful, and everything. I screamed to encourage them to do differently. All the feelings are palpable and for me, at times, a bit depressing. I know it’s a series and everything can happen, but at the moment, I’m not sure they will manage and end up together, ever.
Well, that’s a plus for this series, to get me so far, confused and desperate to read on and on.
They have to play against the Titans, the club who traded Carry. Who traded him for a reason!
Both men still fight each other, out of control sometimes. They are stubborn, somehow, they aren’t at the same level. Keenan has the urge to protect and Carry on the other hand doesn’t want to be protected or defended by Keenan or any alpha.
He can take care of himself, always, except when he is in heat.
My favorite thing from the world of A/O is about scent. The scent of caramel, sand, ocean, sour, sweet even burned hair you name it, they are aware of it. Just delicious to watch and imagine all the sensations.
It's hard to watch them struggle, head and body are separated, rational tells to take space but the body only wants to get closer.
I felt sorry for both men, Keenan because he is unaware and Carry because he’s too aware.
I think this line perfectly describes the big struggle:
“There was nothing there about how to deal with a man he was highly attracted to, hormonally driven to fuck, and personally unsure about.”
One thing is stronger and screams louder and that’s the ice.
Keenan wonders how Carry gets through his heats. When he gets his answer, it shakes up his whole being.
At some point, the tables turned. It’s getting a bit messier and both men have to go their own way because being near the other isn’t gonna work.
The moves on the ice are awesome and exciting, it was well described as if watching a game in real life. Reading about this content from a different, subtle angle is... confusing I think, but I love the unpredictable side of it! The way Carry and Keenan are around each other is devastating, hurtful, and everything. I screamed to encourage them to do differently. All the feelings are palpable and for me, at times, a bit depressing. I know it’s a series and everything can happen, but at the moment, I’m not sure they will manage and end up together, ever.
Well, that’s a plus for this series, to get me so far, confused and desperate to read on and on.
November 12, 2019
A Joyfully Jay review.
3 stars
This story is episode three in the Rules to Break series and, while I think the series has a great premise, the execution is not working for me. This installment was largely a transition story as Carry and Keenan work hard to stay away from each other. The know they want one another and their scent drives the other crazy when they are near each other, but Keenan is not ready to admit yet that his mate is male and Carry doesn’t want to be beholden to an alpha at this point in his life.
The world building is still non-existent for me. There are mentions of contraception and pregnancy, but Carry never refers to them with regard to his own life, and none of it is clear. That is the issue I have with this series as a whole — that it is not fully clear what is going on. The writing goes around in circles and I have to really parse through it to figure out what is happening and it’s a rather odd reading experience for me.
Read Michelle's review in its entirety here.
3 stars
This story is episode three in the Rules to Break series and, while I think the series has a great premise, the execution is not working for me. This installment was largely a transition story as Carry and Keenan work hard to stay away from each other. The know they want one another and their scent drives the other crazy when they are near each other, but Keenan is not ready to admit yet that his mate is male and Carry doesn’t want to be beholden to an alpha at this point in his life.
The world building is still non-existent for me. There are mentions of contraception and pregnancy, but Carry never refers to them with regard to his own life, and none of it is clear. That is the issue I have with this series as a whole — that it is not fully clear what is going on. The writing goes around in circles and I have to really parse through it to figure out what is happening and it’s a rather odd reading experience for me.
Read Michelle's review in its entirety here.
August 27, 2020
Anger, hurt, control, denial, acceptance, rejection
Is it love if genetic conformation and pure instinct seem to be what draws two individuals to each other? Do intimate physical attraction, similar life interest, or everyday proximity create a real bond between an alpha and an omega?
The excruciating doubts, denials, acceptance, rejection - all woven into a braid of an alpha/omega universe and hockey team dynamics - keep a deep current hurricane of emotions spiraling throughout this installment. The importance of genetic makeup that determines interactions between alphas and omegas in this world is regulated by laws of consent, but when trust is destroyed by those who don't follow the rules, how can two true mates ever be sure that they could be together? Perhaps complete denial would make things better...right?
A real page turner, but with a slight breather towards the end, allowing the reader to catch a moment of relief from the very strong emotions portrayed excellently through the greater part of the story. And, although not quite a cliffhanger ending, there is something big, besides the finals of the hockey season, that can be sensed looming on the horizon...
Is it love if genetic conformation and pure instinct seem to be what draws two individuals to each other? Do intimate physical attraction, similar life interest, or everyday proximity create a real bond between an alpha and an omega?
The excruciating doubts, denials, acceptance, rejection - all woven into a braid of an alpha/omega universe and hockey team dynamics - keep a deep current hurricane of emotions spiraling throughout this installment. The importance of genetic makeup that determines interactions between alphas and omegas in this world is regulated by laws of consent, but when trust is destroyed by those who don't follow the rules, how can two true mates ever be sure that they could be together? Perhaps complete denial would make things better...right?
A real page turner, but with a slight breather towards the end, allowing the reader to catch a moment of relief from the very strong emotions portrayed excellently through the greater part of the story. And, although not quite a cliffhanger ending, there is something big, besides the finals of the hockey season, that can be sensed looming on the horizon...
November 8, 2020
At this point in the story, I'm very interested on what is going on. I had issues with the first two parts but there was something about it that keep making me back to read it and I'm glad I did. I love that the emotions are being more out there, at least when it comes to Keenan. I didn't liked some of the events that happened but I guess things will work out better in the end. I definitely plan on keep reading the next in series.
Want to read
December 5, 2020ch.29
February 25, 2025
Keenan and Carry are on the same line and they work well with each other and even better since they started using the mental bond that is forming between them.
November 1, 2019
Thank you for the ARC read, I voluntarily give this book an honest review.
The upcoming match with Carry's old team the titans pushes a wedge even further between him and Keenan . When questioned about Puccio and Villiers Carry shuts-down even more. Two losses so far and one heat with a stranger later. Can Carry and Keenan find their way out of the hole they have sunk into? Finding out about the other alphas was a breaking point but how will Carry act when he the tables are turned completely on him?
The more of this episode I read, the more my heart just goes out to poor Keenan . He was happy in his own little world of monosexuality until he opened Pandora's box of Carry goodness. Cliffhanger. Yes this is on going episode book the next chapter can not get here fast enough.
The upcoming match with Carry's old team the titans pushes a wedge even further between him and Keenan . When questioned about Puccio and Villiers Carry shuts-down even more. Two losses so far and one heat with a stranger later. Can Carry and Keenan find their way out of the hole they have sunk into? Finding out about the other alphas was a breaking point but how will Carry act when he the tables are turned completely on him?
The more of this episode I read, the more my heart just goes out to poor Keenan . He was happy in his own little world of monosexuality until he opened Pandora's box of Carry goodness. Cliffhanger. Yes this is on going episode book the next chapter can not get here fast enough.
November 14, 2019
I hate that ilove this
I told myself not to be too excited that it may have angst and this goes beyond angst. Character growth is phenomenal! Right now they are steady but i know that they are going to go through another lapse. And what i want for Cartwright is to find another alpha or something like that so He and keenan can finally get it together. This is a complicated mess and i cant wait to see how it turns out.
I told myself not to be too excited that it may have angst and this goes beyond angst. Character growth is phenomenal! Right now they are steady but i know that they are going to go through another lapse. And what i want for Cartwright is to find another alpha or something like that so He and keenan can finally get it together. This is a complicated mess and i cant wait to see how it turns out.
February 8, 2020
I can't help but hold my breath when reading this series! The emotions are riding so high! amazing job!
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews