What do you think?
Rate this book
Heart of Ice
What happens when the one person who makes your heart sing is also the one person who could destroy everything you’ve worked for?
Laurie “the Hatchet” Emerson is a ruthless leader in Boston finance who’s rumoured to have a block of ice where her heart should be. If only. Recently widowed, Laurie fears she’s broken beyond repair, until a once-in-a-lifetime business deal reignites her passion for work and gives her a shot at proving to the world she still has some life left in her.
Jack Kennedy is a young portfolio manager who aspires to greatness. Unfortunately, she’s so many rungs down the corporate ladder she can’t even scrape up enough money to move out of her mother’s apartment. Her luck changes when her work ethic is finally rewarded with the job opportunity of her dreams.
A blizzard forces their worlds to collide, but what was meant to be a no-strings night of passion becomes more complicated when they both arrive at the office the next morning to discover they each spent the night with the one person in the city who could crush their futures.
Together, they just might hold the keys to everything they’ve ever wanted, but the difference in their ages and positions could spell the end of their careers. Will the ice queen and the protégé find happiness together or lose everything?
Laurie “the Hatchet” Emerson is a ruthless leader in Boston finance who’s rumoured to have a block of ice where her heart should be. If only. Recently widowed, Laurie fears she’s broken beyond repair, until a once-in-a-lifetime business deal reignites her passion for work and gives her a shot at proving to the world she still has some life left in her.
Jack Kennedy is a young portfolio manager who aspires to greatness. Unfortunately, she’s so many rungs down the corporate ladder she can’t even scrape up enough money to move out of her mother’s apartment. Her luck changes when her work ethic is finally rewarded with the job opportunity of her dreams.
A blizzard forces their worlds to collide, but what was meant to be a no-strings night of passion becomes more complicated when they both arrive at the office the next morning to discover they each spent the night with the one person in the city who could crush their futures.
Together, they just might hold the keys to everything they’ve ever wanted, but the difference in their ages and positions could spell the end of their careers. Will the ice queen and the protégé find happiness together or lose everything?
288 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 25, 2020
434 people are currently reading
932 people want to read
About the author
T.B. Markinson
70 books1,152 followersT. B. Markinson is an American writer, living in England. When she isn't writing, she’s traveling the world, watching sports on the telly, visiting pubs in England, or taking the dog for a walk. Not necessarily in that order.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 195 reviews
January 17, 2022
**'Storytelling flies around the truth because it distorts reality in order to achieve that same truth even eliminating all false and irrelevant intrusions then have this dramatic conclusion...'
Unfathomable read!
Just an okay story -- peeved about the huge age difference (20 yrs) and i did not think there was any chemistry (felt forced)
2.5stars!
Unfathomable read!
Just an okay story -- peeved about the huge age difference (20 yrs) and i did not think there was any chemistry (felt forced)
2.5stars!
September 11, 2020
Heart of Ice, the second romance by co-authors T.B. Markinson and Miranda MacLeod, is an entertaining lesbian ice-queen romance in the world of finance. Laurie Emerson (49), known in business circles as the Hatchet, returns to the business world to run her own successful company after a sabbatical to get over the grief and loss of her wife. Now she is back, or rather, the shark is back in the tank.
Everyone fears her, including Jack Kennedy, one of the portfolio managers and twenty years her junior. She's only been working there for about 10 months and knows Laurie just from hearing about her, and that's not very flattering, the woman has a block of ice where there should be a heart. At the lowest level of the company, she hopes that her dedication and her ability will finally be seen and rewarded.
When a Blizzard paralyzes the whole city of Boston, the two women meet that evening by chance in a bar. They spend a super hot night together in the last available room of the nearby hotel, without knowing who the other is. And as satisfying as the night was, the two were sure that they would never see each other again. But the "Goddess of Work" had other weird ideas.
In my opinion, the Markinson/MacLeod duo has written a fun and entertaining ice-queen story. Jack is a lovable, down-to-earth, hard-working woman who wants to work her way to the top. She is not deterred by Laurie's sometimes impossible behavior, but she has her principles and is loyal. And she challenges Laurie in business and private matters. Her somewhat quirky and weird mother also plays a special role.
Laurie is a fascinating, sometimes annoying, and then slowly melting ice-queen. She is often ruthless, sharp-tongued, and has an unpredictable temperament like an angry bull. But she also shows vulnerability when it comes to love and her lost wife, sometimes she just doesn't know how to deal with the growing attraction to Jack and can't put it into words. I don't think I could have lasted as long as Jack under her thumb. I am a person who needs a team that works together at eye level and a boss who pulls the same rope. Only in this way can I deliver my best work
The romance is written beautifully and fluently, the tempo is perfect and also the insight into the financial world is interesting and not entertaining. The attraction between the two women is palpable and the sex is hot. But although both claim that it's just sex, it goes deeper than that from the beginning. I loved that both main characters allowed insights into their desires and also showed their vulnerabilities. The characters are very well developed, I loved Jack from the beginning and Laurie slowly crept into my heart despite her harsh and sometimes unfair behavior.
Recommended to all romance lovers who like a story with not much angst and drama. My rating 4.5 stars
Thanks to the authors for providing an ARC for an honest review.
Everyone fears her, including Jack Kennedy, one of the portfolio managers and twenty years her junior. She's only been working there for about 10 months and knows Laurie just from hearing about her, and that's not very flattering, the woman has a block of ice where there should be a heart. At the lowest level of the company, she hopes that her dedication and her ability will finally be seen and rewarded.
When a Blizzard paralyzes the whole city of Boston, the two women meet that evening by chance in a bar. They spend a super hot night together in the last available room of the nearby hotel, without knowing who the other is. And as satisfying as the night was, the two were sure that they would never see each other again. But the "Goddess of Work" had other weird ideas.
In my opinion, the Markinson/MacLeod duo has written a fun and entertaining ice-queen story. Jack is a lovable, down-to-earth, hard-working woman who wants to work her way to the top. She is not deterred by Laurie's sometimes impossible behavior, but she has her principles and is loyal. And she challenges Laurie in business and private matters. Her somewhat quirky and weird mother also plays a special role.
Laurie is a fascinating, sometimes annoying, and then slowly melting ice-queen. She is often ruthless, sharp-tongued, and has an unpredictable temperament like an angry bull. But she also shows vulnerability when it comes to love and her lost wife, sometimes she just doesn't know how to deal with the growing attraction to Jack and can't put it into words. I don't think I could have lasted as long as Jack under her thumb. I am a person who needs a team that works together at eye level and a boss who pulls the same rope. Only in this way can I deliver my best work
The romance is written beautifully and fluently, the tempo is perfect and also the insight into the financial world is interesting and not entertaining. The attraction between the two women is palpable and the sex is hot. But although both claim that it's just sex, it goes deeper than that from the beginning. I loved that both main characters allowed insights into their desires and also showed their vulnerabilities. The characters are very well developed, I loved Jack from the beginning and Laurie slowly crept into my heart despite her harsh and sometimes unfair behavior.
Recommended to all romance lovers who like a story with not much angst and drama. My rating 4.5 stars
Thanks to the authors for providing an ARC for an honest review.
September 14, 2020
Loved it. It has a lot of tropes: age gap, boss/employee, ice queen. I love both Markinson and MacLeod separately and together they’re even better. Highly recommend.
September 10, 2020
Ice Queen turns softie for love + workplace romance + age gap. This is so my kind of story and this one delivered it perfectly!! I LOVED IT!! Jack and Laurie were meant for each other. The chemistry was just mind-blowing and all the longing and the dialogues between them just made it all more enticing. And some of the side characters were amazing too! Jack’s mom is definitely unique! I love her 😂
It’s the first time I read a book by this duo of writers and I gotta say that I was wowed! I’m definitely going to read more books by them now. They definitely know what they are doing. 100% recommend this amazing sexy book!
It’s the first time I read a book by this duo of writers and I gotta say that I was wowed! I’m definitely going to read more books by them now. They definitely know what they are doing. 100% recommend this amazing sexy book!
June 1, 2021
I enjoyed this a lot, despite an extreme age gap and power imbalance in their romance. I'm still processing it a bit, but sometimes I need to write the review to figure out what I'm thinking. So this will likely ramble a bit and I'm not entirely certain where I'll end up.
The age gap works, despite technically being a squick formula* violation. Part of it working is the authors delaying the internal reveal for quite a bit. They made it feel natural for both protagonists to go with their internal evaluations (off by about a decade) without having any event that would pull that data out (like a birthday, for example, where you'd naturally find out the actual number). What this did was serve to show how mature Jack comes across as well as how youthful Laurie presents. So while they're aware of the age difference, neither is aware of how far it goes until they've connected pretty strongly.
The power gap is more problematic. Laurie is the big boss and Jack a fairly low-level flunky that she pulls into her direct orbit for plot purposes. This power gap not only adds a negative motivation** that drags their relationship progress into a tar pit of suck, but it also trades back and forth so sometimes it's Jack hesitating and sometimes Laurie and then they have a moment or two of near-connection when they're both at low tide. Which didn't feel arbitrary while reading but kind of feels that way in retrospect.
Speaking of plot, I'm not sure this one holds together very well. I don't know anything about investment or funds management, really, but the mono-focus of their pet project and the corporate leadership just didn't gel for me, here. Laurie is more than a little arbitrary in a lot of her actions and her nemesis, Toby, was that times a jillion. Where's the board? Are there shareholders? Why is nobody reining in the excesses of the jackass or the arbitrary dictates of the ice queen? None of which really matters for the story, but it niggled. Also, Greek shipping tycoons aren't really great good guys if you want any kind of realism. Seriously, shipping magnates aren't nice people because nice people don't do well in a segment where large portions of the company assets are in international (i.e. ungoverned) waters at any given time.
I'm not sure any of that matters, though. The truth is that I liked Jack to an unreasoning degree. She was awesome. I particularly liked her backbone and integrity in a shark-eat-shark world. And her interactions with Laurie were outstanding, and I mean that in every dimension. The authors knock their interaction out of the park. It's easy to see how much they care about and for each other and how conflicted that makes them for all the interesting reasons.
This might have managed five stars despite all the plot issues I just glided over in my head if not for a late-story dark moment. Interestingly, it wasn't the moment itself that pushed me out because that actually made a bit of sense as . The problem wasn't the break, but the resolution was a little too facile and relied on the authors pulling out an extreme coincidence to make it work. I mean, .
So this comes in at four stars, and pretty much all of that is Jack and Laurie being awesome for each other and how well the authors made them fit together. The rest of it is all window dressing, as far as I'm concerned.
A note about Steamy: There are three and some explicit sex scenes putting this in the upper range of the middle of my steam tolerance. They are actually very well done and extend the characters in important ways. I didn't even mind the extraneous last one in the epilogue because they made it fit the relationship development so well.
* Squick Formula: The formula is age of the older divided by two and add seven. So for Laurie and Jack, you have Laurie's 49 / 2 = 24.5 + 7 = 31.5. Jack is 29, so while close, it's still over the line. And seriously, it's a generous line...
** Negative Motivations: I kind of hate that the term "negative motivation" isn't widespread, yet. Since it isn't, I'm going to save off this little jag to append to my reviews that feature the term. Jennifer Crusie blogged about it a bit back (or, if that link doesn't work, here's a cache of the original) and it changed how I understand story. The problem with the term is that if you've never heard it before, you'd assume it meant motivations that are harmful or immoral. Not so. What it refers to is motivations not to do something. The thing is that many of us are motivated to not do things for a lot of different, perfectly valid and reasonable, reasons. The problem is that in a story motivations to not do things are a huge drag on the plot—particularly considering the fact that most negative motivations are overcome by the character simply deciding they don't care any more (or, rather, that they do care and are now motivated to do the thing). So not only do you have a counter to action but you also have a situation where to overcome it, all a character has to do is change their mind. Which means eventually, the reader is rooting for the character to get over him/herself already and do the thing we want them to do. Conflict drives story. Conflict between a reader and a main character drives readers away from story.
The age gap works, despite technically being a squick formula* violation. Part of it working is the authors delaying the internal reveal for quite a bit. They made it feel natural for both protagonists to go with their internal evaluations (off by about a decade) without having any event that would pull that data out (like a birthday, for example, where you'd naturally find out the actual number). What this did was serve to show how mature Jack comes across as well as how youthful Laurie presents. So while they're aware of the age difference, neither is aware of how far it goes until they've connected pretty strongly.
The power gap is more problematic. Laurie is the big boss and Jack a fairly low-level flunky that she pulls into her direct orbit for plot purposes. This power gap not only adds a negative motivation** that drags their relationship progress into a tar pit of suck, but it also trades back and forth so sometimes it's Jack hesitating and sometimes Laurie and then they have a moment or two of near-connection when they're both at low tide. Which didn't feel arbitrary while reading but kind of feels that way in retrospect.
Speaking of plot, I'm not sure this one holds together very well. I don't know anything about investment or funds management, really, but the mono-focus of their pet project and the corporate leadership just didn't gel for me, here. Laurie is more than a little arbitrary in a lot of her actions and her nemesis, Toby, was that times a jillion. Where's the board? Are there shareholders? Why is nobody reining in the excesses of the jackass or the arbitrary dictates of the ice queen? None of which really matters for the story, but it niggled. Also, Greek shipping tycoons aren't really great good guys if you want any kind of realism. Seriously, shipping magnates aren't nice people because nice people don't do well in a segment where large portions of the company assets are in international (i.e. ungoverned) waters at any given time.
I'm not sure any of that matters, though. The truth is that I liked Jack to an unreasoning degree. She was awesome. I particularly liked her backbone and integrity in a shark-eat-shark world. And her interactions with Laurie were outstanding, and I mean that in every dimension. The authors knock their interaction out of the park. It's easy to see how much they care about and for each other and how conflicted that makes them for all the interesting reasons.
This might have managed five stars despite all the plot issues I just glided over in my head if not for a late-story dark moment. Interestingly, it wasn't the moment itself that pushed me out because that actually made a bit of sense as . The problem wasn't the break, but the resolution was a little too facile and relied on the authors pulling out an extreme coincidence to make it work. I mean, .
So this comes in at four stars, and pretty much all of that is Jack and Laurie being awesome for each other and how well the authors made them fit together. The rest of it is all window dressing, as far as I'm concerned.
A note about Steamy: There are three and some explicit sex scenes putting this in the upper range of the middle of my steam tolerance. They are actually very well done and extend the characters in important ways. I didn't even mind the extraneous last one in the epilogue because they made it fit the relationship development so well.
* Squick Formula: The formula is age of the older divided by two and add seven. So for Laurie and Jack, you have Laurie's 49 / 2 = 24.5 + 7 = 31.5. Jack is 29, so while close, it's still over the line. And seriously, it's a generous line...
** Negative Motivations: I kind of hate that the term "negative motivation" isn't widespread, yet. Since it isn't, I'm going to save off this little jag to append to my reviews that feature the term. Jennifer Crusie blogged about it a bit back (or, if that link doesn't work, here's a cache of the original) and it changed how I understand story. The problem with the term is that if you've never heard it before, you'd assume it meant motivations that are harmful or immoral. Not so. What it refers to is motivations not to do something. The thing is that many of us are motivated to not do things for a lot of different, perfectly valid and reasonable, reasons. The problem is that in a story motivations to not do things are a huge drag on the plot—particularly considering the fact that most negative motivations are overcome by the character simply deciding they don't care any more (or, rather, that they do care and are now motivated to do the thing). So not only do you have a counter to action but you also have a situation where to overcome it, all a character has to do is change their mind. Which means eventually, the reader is rooting for the character to get over him/herself already and do the thing we want them to do. Conflict drives story. Conflict between a reader and a main character drives readers away from story.
January 29, 2021
4.3 stars
Very nice ice-queen age gap romance. Great characters, a bit of humour and very well written. I enjoyed this story very much and would read other books these authors are going to co-write.
Very nice ice-queen age gap romance. Great characters, a bit of humour and very well written. I enjoyed this story very much and would read other books these authors are going to co-write.
September 2, 2020
An office romance at it's best! This book starts in the fifth gear with a "hangover" later when mc's meet in the office.
Both mc's are intriguing personalities. With Laurie's nickname being "the hatchet", you know she is one you'll love to hate.
The conversations in this book are witty and funny to read and the character of Laurie balances the thin line of loving and hating in a good way. I could certainly identify with Jack, not seeming to be scared of "the hatchet" and handling the boss/employee dynamics in a daring but respectful way.
In the business part of this book there was a twist I did not expect to go that way, so that was a nice surprise (won't spoil that for you here). It's not a big thing, but it's always nice not to have the obvious happen.
The chemistry between Jack and Laurie is good and so are the sexy scenes. Despite there being an age gap between characters, it wasn't a big deal for me in this book. So when you don't like age gap-romance: I don't think this will bother in this romance story.
Authors did a good job writing this romance together.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Check out other reviews at https://lesfic.home.blog
Both mc's are intriguing personalities. With Laurie's nickname being "the hatchet", you know she is one you'll love to hate.
The conversations in this book are witty and funny to read and the character of Laurie balances the thin line of loving and hating in a good way. I could certainly identify with Jack, not seeming to be scared of "the hatchet" and handling the boss/employee dynamics in a daring but respectful way.
In the business part of this book there was a twist I did not expect to go that way, so that was a nice surprise (won't spoil that for you here). It's not a big thing, but it's always nice not to have the obvious happen.
The chemistry between Jack and Laurie is good and so are the sexy scenes. Despite there being an age gap between characters, it wasn't a big deal for me in this book. So when you don't like age gap-romance: I don't think this will bother in this romance story.
Authors did a good job writing this romance together.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Check out other reviews at https://lesfic.home.blog
September 5, 2020
5 Stars - so much fun to read - lol moments - perfect cringe and angst - i f'ing loved this book
omg - you guys!! This book was great. I am not a super fan of ice queens but when it's done right I am all in. One of the things I appreciated about this book is the ice queen's love interest was pretty spunky and wasn't a push over. There are several points in the book that I was chuckling and smiling. It definitely has it's funny bits. The story beyond just the romance was interesting as well.
This is just a 100% fun read with a wonderful age gap ice queen romance. I loved it. If you have kindle unlimited, make this your no-brainer next read.
p.s. picture Naomi Watts as Laurie and Sophie Cookson as Jack. You're welcome.
omg - you guys!! This book was great. I am not a super fan of ice queens but when it's done right I am all in. One of the things I appreciated about this book is the ice queen's love interest was pretty spunky and wasn't a push over. There are several points in the book that I was chuckling and smiling. It definitely has it's funny bits. The story beyond just the romance was interesting as well.
This is just a 100% fun read with a wonderful age gap ice queen romance. I loved it. If you have kindle unlimited, make this your no-brainer next read.
p.s. picture Naomi Watts as Laurie and Sophie Cookson as Jack. You're welcome.
June 8, 2025
A quick and easy read that flowed really well, with some genuinely sweet moments! I especially appreciated how well-developed the supporting characters were—though I’ll admit I didn’t totally love Jack’s mum.
Laurie made a solid main character, and I liked her overall, but I had a bit of a hard time with her relationship with Jack. It leaned a little too heavily on their professional dynamic. I get that work was a huge part of Laurie’s identity and she wanted someone who fit into that world—but when her big declaration of love boiled down to 'Sorry I fired you over a misunderstanding—come back because we worked well together', I just didn’t fully buy into the romance.
That said, if you enjoy workplace dramas with ice queen vibes, this one might really work for you.
Laurie made a solid main character, and I liked her overall, but I had a bit of a hard time with her relationship with Jack. It leaned a little too heavily on their professional dynamic. I get that work was a huge part of Laurie’s identity and she wanted someone who fit into that world—but when her big declaration of love boiled down to 'Sorry I fired you over a misunderstanding—come back because we worked well together', I just didn’t fully buy into the romance.
That said, if you enjoy workplace dramas with ice queen vibes, this one might really work for you.
February 3, 2022
Review of Heart of Ice by TB Markinson and Miranda Macleod, narrated by Stephanie Murphy
I have really enjoyed each story by the artistic partnership between TB Markinson and Miranda Macleod, my favourite so far is The AM Show but I enjoyed this one too.
Laurie “the Hatchet” Emerson is a finance CEO who is rumored to have a heart of ice. Widowed a year ago, she comes back from a sabbatical to win an important account which could be the deal of her life. Jack Kennedy is a young portfolio manager in Laurie’s company who is used to being sidelined by the finance boys’ club. When a blizzard leaves them both stranded, they get involved in a one-night stand only to discover the following day that they are working together…
This was an entertaining age-gap, workplace romance between an ice-queen boss and her much younger subordinate. This trope has been used a lot, especially in fanfic of The Devil Wears Prada but it’s still very popular among WLW readers. Who doesn’t like to see an ice queen melt for a special person?
Both characters are well fleshed out and they are both likable but, for me, Jack Kennedy stole the show. It might be my nerdy love for politics but I found that the development of her character was very clever. Who calls her daughter Jacqueline Kennedy? Her mother’s obsession with the Kennedy clan was fun to read about.
I also liked that despite being an ice queen, the readers can see Laurie’s self-doubt and shortcomings from the front row. She’s bad-tempered and irascible, but more as a result of her own insecurities than pure bitchiness, but her heart is in the right place. Together both main characters have great chemistry and the intimate scenes were very well written.
There is a corporate war subplot which was OK for me but didn’t find it particularly engaging. I was much more invested in the romance which I really enjoyed. I trust that the authors captured the setting of Boston authentically as they both live in the nearby area. The description of the blizzard and the circumstances around it was priceless.
I haven’t heard many audiobooks performed by Stephanie Murphy but I heard a couple of her narrations of erotica as Piper Fairweather. She’s a very good voice actor and I thought she did a very good job here. If you are looking for an age gap workplace romance with a likable ice queen, then this one is for you. 4 stars.
Length: 8 hours, 53 minutes.
I have really enjoyed each story by the artistic partnership between TB Markinson and Miranda Macleod, my favourite so far is The AM Show but I enjoyed this one too.
Laurie “the Hatchet” Emerson is a finance CEO who is rumored to have a heart of ice. Widowed a year ago, she comes back from a sabbatical to win an important account which could be the deal of her life. Jack Kennedy is a young portfolio manager in Laurie’s company who is used to being sidelined by the finance boys’ club. When a blizzard leaves them both stranded, they get involved in a one-night stand only to discover the following day that they are working together…
This was an entertaining age-gap, workplace romance between an ice-queen boss and her much younger subordinate. This trope has been used a lot, especially in fanfic of The Devil Wears Prada but it’s still very popular among WLW readers. Who doesn’t like to see an ice queen melt for a special person?
Both characters are well fleshed out and they are both likable but, for me, Jack Kennedy stole the show. It might be my nerdy love for politics but I found that the development of her character was very clever. Who calls her daughter Jacqueline Kennedy? Her mother’s obsession with the Kennedy clan was fun to read about.
I also liked that despite being an ice queen, the readers can see Laurie’s self-doubt and shortcomings from the front row. She’s bad-tempered and irascible, but more as a result of her own insecurities than pure bitchiness, but her heart is in the right place. Together both main characters have great chemistry and the intimate scenes were very well written.
There is a corporate war subplot which was OK for me but didn’t find it particularly engaging. I was much more invested in the romance which I really enjoyed. I trust that the authors captured the setting of Boston authentically as they both live in the nearby area. The description of the blizzard and the circumstances around it was priceless.
I haven’t heard many audiobooks performed by Stephanie Murphy but I heard a couple of her narrations of erotica as Piper Fairweather. She’s a very good voice actor and I thought she did a very good job here. If you are looking for an age gap workplace romance with a likable ice queen, then this one is for you. 4 stars.
Length: 8 hours, 53 minutes.
March 25, 2021
I do have a soft spot for ice queens, especially when they're guarding a broken heart, and Laurie Emerson definitely didn't disappoint. I couldn't put this book down, absolutely loved it!
December 8, 2020
This age-gap romance novel is an absolutely great read! Despite their age difference and power imbalance, the chemistry between the main characters is just perfect. This is just the perfect office romance type book I truly enjoy.
September 28, 2020
Ice-queen, age-gap, workplace romance with hot sexy scene... What's not to like especially since this is so up my alley.
September 21, 2020
First book I read by T.B. Markinson and Miranda MacLeod, and I have to say, this was impeccably written and edited. So, kudos to the authors and the editor! The writing was cleanly done and I appreciate that.
The pacing for the story was done really well too, which is something I find many contemporary romance books are making a mess of lately. The no-strings ONS wasn't just written in passing. It effectively set the grounds for initiating the chemistry between two strangers, who never even asked each other's names yet weren't able to resist the allure of the other. All the sex in this book were capital H.O.T. 🔥 ...with the exception of a particular sexual gesture in the epilogue that grossed me out 😖
At first I was worried the age gap between the MCs would bother me since a 20-year gap is double the number I'm comfortable with, but with how the authors bridged it by making Laurie look so much younger and Jack a bit more mature-looking made things agreeable to me.
Laurie and Jack's relationship in and out of work was well-balanced. Despite dealing with an ice queen, Jack didn't let herself become a pushover. Their union near the end was unromantic, since Laurie still has a habit of hiding her true feelings, but surprisingly, I find the whole exchange okay. Well, their other intimate moments together certainly made up for it.
I had some funny reactions to scenes that I thought were leading to the conflict. I say they were funny because the stuff I thought would happen were much worse than what actually occurred 😂 In the end, I was laughing at myself for how mad I was while reading those scenes. You know, like how you go ballistic when a character does something dumb and you want to yell, "THIS IS THE CAUSE OF CONFLICT ISN'T IT?!" Lol! But nah, the conflict didn't turn out so bad 😅
So, what's missing here?
While I do appreciate this book veering away from the typical story of a widow still mourning the death of her spouse, I thought it was odd that Laurie and Jack didn't have a deep conversation about Bonnie. After all, Bonnie's only been gone for a year. Idk, maybe I was looking for a small bit of heartfelt drama considering Laurie's state in the beginning.
The cover design could use better editing. While the skyscrapers and font design look great, the moon was comically blown up too much to the point the size doesn't match the setting. The outfit of the woman on the left was kind of a poor choice if that was supposed to portray Jack, and the woman on the right, as pointed out by Laura S, seems to have alien fingers. Anyway, just thought the great quality of the writing and story inside should also match the face of the book outside 🙂
I recommend this for: office romance, great chemistry, steamy scenes.
The pacing for the story was done really well too, which is something I find many contemporary romance books are making a mess of lately. The no-strings ONS wasn't just written in passing. It effectively set the grounds for initiating the chemistry between two strangers, who never even asked each other's names yet weren't able to resist the allure of the other. All the sex in this book were capital H.O.T. 🔥 ...with the exception of a particular sexual gesture in the epilogue that grossed me out 😖
At first I was worried the age gap between the MCs would bother me since a 20-year gap is double the number I'm comfortable with, but with how the authors bridged it by making Laurie look so much younger and Jack a bit more mature-looking made things agreeable to me.
Laurie and Jack's relationship in and out of work was well-balanced. Despite dealing with an ice queen, Jack didn't let herself become a pushover. Their union near the end was unromantic, since Laurie still has a habit of hiding her true feelings, but surprisingly, I find the whole exchange okay. Well, their other intimate moments together certainly made up for it.
I had some funny reactions to scenes that I thought were leading to the conflict. I say they were funny because the stuff I thought would happen were much worse than what actually occurred 😂 In the end, I was laughing at myself for how mad I was while reading those scenes. You know, like how you go ballistic when a character does something dumb and you want to yell, "THIS IS THE CAUSE OF CONFLICT ISN'T IT?!" Lol! But nah, the conflict didn't turn out so bad 😅
So, what's missing here?
While I do appreciate this book veering away from the typical story of a widow still mourning the death of her spouse, I thought it was odd that Laurie and Jack didn't have a deep conversation about Bonnie. After all, Bonnie's only been gone for a year. Idk, maybe I was looking for a small bit of heartfelt drama considering Laurie's state in the beginning.
The cover design could use better editing. While the skyscrapers and font design look great, the moon was comically blown up too much to the point the size doesn't match the setting. The outfit of the woman on the left was kind of a poor choice if that was supposed to portray Jack, and the woman on the right, as pointed out by Laura S, seems to have alien fingers. Anyway, just thought the great quality of the writing and story inside should also match the face of the book outside 🙂
I recommend this for: office romance, great chemistry, steamy scenes.
November 23, 2021
Another fun read from Markinson and MacLeod. I have been gobbling up their books one after the other because they are just the perfect blend of romance and not-so-real-life.
January 1, 2021
A sizzling age gap office romance featuring a widowed ice queen and her younger employee who challenges her like no one else.
Sometimes fate has a sense of humor and through a random series of events you end up going down a path you never expected but was exactly what you needed.
Nearly one year after the loss of her Wife/business partner Laurie is still swimming in a sea of grief. Looking to get back to work to save her company. Jack is determined, intelligent, hard working, and talented, she just needs someone to give her a chance to prove it. That chance comes when the boss comes back to town and recruits her to her team. When the two meet at a bar later that night sparks fly. They exchange banter and flirtation but no names. When a snow storm sets in they share a room and a fiery night that ignites a passion Laurie thought had died with her Wife. The next day the two of them discover they are working together and that’s when the real fun begins.
This story is absolutely stunning. This is my favorite book by McLeod and Markinson to date which is really saying something as these are two of my favorite authors. The cheeky playful banter and back and forth power plays are superb. I love the passion and tension between Laurie and Jack and how well they compliment one another.
Laurie and Jack are amazing characters and I loved the growth and development of the both of them. Laurie especially has such a great arc that was truly perfect. The chemistry between Laurie and Jack leaps off the page and I loved every wicked, angsty, tender, sexy interaction they shared.
This romance was impressive with how fun, flirty, and upbeat it was despite dealing with grief and immeasurable loss. A perfect balancing act that fills the heart and completely satisfies.
Sometimes fate has a sense of humor and through a random series of events you end up going down a path you never expected but was exactly what you needed.
Nearly one year after the loss of her Wife/business partner Laurie is still swimming in a sea of grief. Looking to get back to work to save her company. Jack is determined, intelligent, hard working, and talented, she just needs someone to give her a chance to prove it. That chance comes when the boss comes back to town and recruits her to her team. When the two meet at a bar later that night sparks fly. They exchange banter and flirtation but no names. When a snow storm sets in they share a room and a fiery night that ignites a passion Laurie thought had died with her Wife. The next day the two of them discover they are working together and that’s when the real fun begins.
This story is absolutely stunning. This is my favorite book by McLeod and Markinson to date which is really saying something as these are two of my favorite authors. The cheeky playful banter and back and forth power plays are superb. I love the passion and tension between Laurie and Jack and how well they compliment one another.
Laurie and Jack are amazing characters and I loved the growth and development of the both of them. Laurie especially has such a great arc that was truly perfect. The chemistry between Laurie and Jack leaps off the page and I loved every wicked, angsty, tender, sexy interaction they shared.
This romance was impressive with how fun, flirty, and upbeat it was despite dealing with grief and immeasurable loss. A perfect balancing act that fills the heart and completely satisfies.
August 28, 2020
Lovely Read
As always, T.B., along with her co-author Miranda, has produced a novel worth reading again and again. I enjoyed Jack’s wit and ability to hold her own with a powerful businesswoman like Laurie. Their banter was refreshing and exciting, especially their first meeting in the bar. I enjoyed the secondary characters, including Mack, and their parts in crafting this story into one I couldn’t place down until the end.
Looking forward to more novels from these two authors!
As always, T.B., along with her co-author Miranda, has produced a novel worth reading again and again. I enjoyed Jack’s wit and ability to hold her own with a powerful businesswoman like Laurie. Their banter was refreshing and exciting, especially their first meeting in the bar. I enjoyed the secondary characters, including Mack, and their parts in crafting this story into one I couldn’t place down until the end.
Looking forward to more novels from these two authors!
September 2, 2020
Yet another ice queen CEO who has an affair with her younger subordinate. The execution of this book was poor, with no depth in the characterisations. The ice queen was particularly unfeeling and Jack, the younger woman, let herself be a doormat far too much. Nowhere near the quality of similar storyline’s like “Music and the Mirror” and “The Brutal Truth”.
May 6, 2022
Very enjoyable
This is a very interesting book, beautifully described characters, nice plot, intense scenes and a happy ending. Easy to read and to follow, fully enjoyed it
This is a very interesting book, beautifully described characters, nice plot, intense scenes and a happy ending. Easy to read and to follow, fully enjoyed it
April 28, 2024
2.5 stars rounded up
I didn’t love this book as much as I thought I would. It was a little too “romance novel magic” for me. Everything worked out a little too perfectly.
I didn’t love this book as much as I thought I would. It was a little too “romance novel magic” for me. Everything worked out a little too perfectly.
January 10, 2022
A fun age-gap plot with a very likeable ice queen, IMHO, and well-developed characters. Is there a but here? Well, yes. So let me first say that I truly like stories that Markinson and MacLeod have co-authored and those they write individually. They are stories that are balanced and fun to read.
Aight, here comes the but—it felt as if there were a few slips on name use and places where things didn’t ring true to me. No spoilers. The slips didn’t ruin the whole story for me but interrupted the flow a few times. I would have rated it higher if…just sayin’.
Aight, here comes the but—it felt as if there were a few slips on name use and places where things didn’t ring true to me. No spoilers. The slips didn’t ruin the whole story for me but interrupted the flow a few times. I would have rated it higher if…just sayin’.
January 28, 2021
Laurie Emerson is codenamed Laurie the Hatchet in the world of finance for her notorious ruthlessness. Laurie and her wife Bonnie were co-founders of one of the topmost financial advisory firms and their shared office was called the Shark Tank. When Bonnie's tumour was diagnosed with inoperable, she booked Laurie for a year in a high-end resort and handed the reins of the company to her son, Toby.
Read the full review @ https://bestlesficreviews.blogspot.co...
Read the full review @ https://bestlesficreviews.blogspot.co...
July 3, 2023
3,75/5
This book set her claws into me and didn't let me until the end.I have no what was in this,but I was HOOKED.The first I read from both of these authors and I'm sure it's not going to be the last.
I loved the characters, the relationships.It was funny,it was cute ,it was hot,it was sad,it was soooo good.
This is only one of the few sapphic books where the mc ACTUALLY grovels after she fucked it up.
The dynamic between the main relationship was so well made I have a hard time believing they're not soulmates.
But even so,I still sometimes think Laurie's character was out of line,and i can see why other people won't enjoy it as much
This book set her claws into me and didn't let me until the end.I have no what was in this,but I was HOOKED.The first I read from both of these authors and I'm sure it's not going to be the last.
I loved the characters, the relationships.It was funny,it was cute ,it was hot,it was sad,it was soooo good.
This is only one of the few sapphic books where the mc ACTUALLY grovels after she fucked it up.
The dynamic between the main relationship was so well made I have a hard time believing they're not soulmates.
But even so,I still sometimes think Laurie's character was out of line,and i can see why other people won't enjoy it as much
August 31, 2020
This is the second collaboration between T.B. Markinson and Miranda MacLeod. Their first, Holly and Ivy, received high praise from readers, and I’m quite sure this one will, too. With Heart of Ice the two really hit a creative stride. They have a wonderful writing rapport that readers can really appreciate.
Heart of Ice is a real treat for those that enjoy a well-written ice queen romance. It has a real The Devil Wears Prada feel to it and it immediately hooks readers. The narrative flows so nicely, using a perfect balance of humor and emotion to keep readers engaged throughout. The dialog is witty and effective; it moves the story along with a creative zip that is thoroughly entertaining. Markinson and MacLeod’s ability to tap into the “humanness” of a situation with their well chosen words is a real asset to their storytelling.
As far as character development, the writing duo did a brilliant job here as well. Laurie is a fantastic ice queen. She is a demanding, sharp-tongued and success-driven finance CEO known for her mood swings and fiery temper. If her staff doesn’t put forth 150% effort, they are quickly shown the door. However, as cold-hearted as she seems, she inspires a loyalty among those in her inner circle that confounds her competition.
Markinson and MacLeod do an excellent job making Laurie relatable, and yes, likable. Readers understand what motivates her. They also understand her heartache and loss. They connect to her vulnerability and the emotions behind her loss. Yes, she is cold at times, but she is not heartless. She is real, and the readers feel this.
Jacqueline “Jack” Kennedy plays the heroine in this delightful romance. She’s a plucky and intelligent woman with a strong personality that stands on her own in this story arc. She challenges Laurie and forces her to face her fears. She pushes her to be a better boss and person; she’s fearless in that regard. She softens Laurie and reminds her to embrace life and appreciate it in a way she hasn’t in a long while. Most importantly, though, she mends her broken heart by loving her.
This is the perfect romance in so many ways. I absolutely encourage all lesfic romance readers to pick this one up. It contains all the key components for a well-written romance: a sympathetic heroine, an empathetic hero, believable conflict, sexual tension, and a happy ending. It’s biggest selling point, however, is magic. It’s often referred to as chemistry, but here, in this story, it’s more than that. It is magic, pure and simple. This romance leaves you wanting more in ways many romances, quite frankly, just fall short.
Heart of Ice is a real treat for those that enjoy a well-written ice queen romance. It has a real The Devil Wears Prada feel to it and it immediately hooks readers. The narrative flows so nicely, using a perfect balance of humor and emotion to keep readers engaged throughout. The dialog is witty and effective; it moves the story along with a creative zip that is thoroughly entertaining. Markinson and MacLeod’s ability to tap into the “humanness” of a situation with their well chosen words is a real asset to their storytelling.
As far as character development, the writing duo did a brilliant job here as well. Laurie is a fantastic ice queen. She is a demanding, sharp-tongued and success-driven finance CEO known for her mood swings and fiery temper. If her staff doesn’t put forth 150% effort, they are quickly shown the door. However, as cold-hearted as she seems, she inspires a loyalty among those in her inner circle that confounds her competition.
Markinson and MacLeod do an excellent job making Laurie relatable, and yes, likable. Readers understand what motivates her. They also understand her heartache and loss. They connect to her vulnerability and the emotions behind her loss. Yes, she is cold at times, but she is not heartless. She is real, and the readers feel this.
Jacqueline “Jack” Kennedy plays the heroine in this delightful romance. She’s a plucky and intelligent woman with a strong personality that stands on her own in this story arc. She challenges Laurie and forces her to face her fears. She pushes her to be a better boss and person; she’s fearless in that regard. She softens Laurie and reminds her to embrace life and appreciate it in a way she hasn’t in a long while. Most importantly, though, she mends her broken heart by loving her.
This is the perfect romance in so many ways. I absolutely encourage all lesfic romance readers to pick this one up. It contains all the key components for a well-written romance: a sympathetic heroine, an empathetic hero, believable conflict, sexual tension, and a happy ending. It’s biggest selling point, however, is magic. It’s often referred to as chemistry, but here, in this story, it’s more than that. It is magic, pure and simple. This romance leaves you wanting more in ways many romances, quite frankly, just fall short.
August 29, 2020
Office Love
Laurie is a shrewd business woman who is rumored to have a heart of ice and a take no prisoners attitude. Recently widowed she has taken a sabbatical but is now back. Jack is a portfolio manager, being young and female, she is the bottom of the pecking order. With the big boss coming back and no one else in the office, she is chosen to be a part of her team. With the blizzard ragging the two meet at a local bar. Not knowing who the other is, they spend a passionate night only to find the truth the next day. Will they be able to find happiness with each other or will the real world just make things too hard for a chance at happiness?
This is a wonderful story by two VERY talented authors. It flows seamlessly, you would never be able to tell that it is a blended story. I loved Laurie and Jack. They are complex, smart, strong and sexy, together they can do just about anything. There is of course a character you love to hate and he is really well written as well. I loved the chemistry between the leads, the struggles they face and the joy they find. This book was really good and I really enjoyed it. Another win for these two authors!
Laurie is a shrewd business woman who is rumored to have a heart of ice and a take no prisoners attitude. Recently widowed she has taken a sabbatical but is now back. Jack is a portfolio manager, being young and female, she is the bottom of the pecking order. With the big boss coming back and no one else in the office, she is chosen to be a part of her team. With the blizzard ragging the two meet at a local bar. Not knowing who the other is, they spend a passionate night only to find the truth the next day. Will they be able to find happiness with each other or will the real world just make things too hard for a chance at happiness?
This is a wonderful story by two VERY talented authors. It flows seamlessly, you would never be able to tell that it is a blended story. I loved Laurie and Jack. They are complex, smart, strong and sexy, together they can do just about anything. There is of course a character you love to hate and he is really well written as well. I loved the chemistry between the leads, the struggles they face and the joy they find. This book was really good and I really enjoyed it. Another win for these two authors!
August 27, 2020
Recently widowed Laurie meets Jack in a bar on a snowy night and they end sharing a room. The next day is a shock for both when they realize they work in the same place. This gripped me from the beginning, except when Jack made a really stupid decision and I shut my Kindle. That night I could not get the book out of my head and I couldn’t get to sleep.
This has some snarky banter, some sizzle, an ice queen, and an age gap. There’s also a villain of sorts and some surprising twists. I can’t say more with spilling too much, but like I said, I couldn’t get it out of my head. I definitely recommend this.
I received an ARC to review.
This has some snarky banter, some sizzle, an ice queen, and an age gap. There’s also a villain of sorts and some surprising twists. I can’t say more with spilling too much, but like I said, I couldn’t get it out of my head. I definitely recommend this.
I received an ARC to review.
August 28, 2020
T.B.Markinson and Miranda MacLeod did it again. They make a great writing duo. I love a good age gap/ ice queen boss story. It all starts in an Irish pub over drinks during a blizzard. Laurie’s first day back after a year of recovery after her wife’s death and she meets Jack Kennedy. Neither is aware that they will be working together. One night of passion leads to Laurie’s heart starting to thaw. However she isn’t called the hatchet for nothing and poor Jack is on the chopping block. You can feel their passion and desire for each other. Wonderful story to read even though I shed some tears.
I received an Arc copy of this book for my honest review
I received an Arc copy of this book for my honest review
February 15, 2021
Well what can I say this blew me away. I really feel for the characters and loved the story line. I liked the will they or wont they. One of my favorite parts was the ping pong. I liked the age gap and the Ice queen. Jack's mother was hilarious and I wanted to slap her friend when her true colors came through. I really enjoyed the ending but not just their ending but Jack's mum's ending too.
September 18, 2020
I was riveted from the very first page. Loved It!
October 21, 2020
I liked this a lot. We have a legit ice queen and a workplace romance!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 195 reviews