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Snow & Ice Games #4
Fire on the Ice
Blaze Bellamy is the bad girl of the short track speed skating world. Looking like a roller derby bruiser when she’s not in her Team USA uniform, she’s an unlikely American heroine. She’s got a punk attitude to match her provocative dress and her dyed hair, and she’s determined to get onto the front pages of the papers regardless of how she has to do it.
Maisy Harper is the workhorse of the Canadian women’s figure skating team. Serious, modest, and above all, polite, Maisy would prefer to win her victory on the ice rather than in the press, and is exasperated by Blaze’s antics. When she’s not lusting after her anyway. After they both failed to make the medal podium at the last Snow and Ice Games, they drowned themselves in gin—and each other.
Despite their hookup being drunken, they both harbor fond memories of their night together and are keen for a repeat. But they’ve got different ways of going about getting what they want, and Blaze’s willingness to go to any lengths for the spotlight could ruin any chance she has with Maisy.
Maisy Harper is the workhorse of the Canadian women’s figure skating team. Serious, modest, and above all, polite, Maisy would prefer to win her victory on the ice rather than in the press, and is exasperated by Blaze’s antics. When she’s not lusting after her anyway. After they both failed to make the medal podium at the last Snow and Ice Games, they drowned themselves in gin—and each other.
Despite their hookup being drunken, they both harbor fond memories of their night together and are keen for a repeat. But they’ve got different ways of going about getting what they want, and Blaze’s willingness to go to any lengths for the spotlight could ruin any chance she has with Maisy.
Audiobook
First published February 6, 2018
About the author
Tamsen Parker
41 books392 followersTamsen Parker is a stay-at-home mom by day, erotic romance writer by naptime. She lives with her family outside of Boston, where she tweets too much, sleeps too little and is always in the middle of a book. Aside from good food, sweet rieslings and gin cocktails, she has a fondness for monograms and subway maps. She should really start drinking coffee.
You can sign up for her newsletter here to find out about her latest release, sales, or other goings on: http://bit.ly/1Bry07O
You can sign up for her newsletter here to find out about her latest release, sales, or other goings on: http://bit.ly/1Bry07O
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 101 reviews
January 25, 2018
2.5 Stars. I always appreciate a new author trying to write lesfic, but this just didn’t work for me. I had such trouble reading this book. Read the book, put it down. Read more of the book, put it right back down. It took me 3 days to get through a book that should have taken only a few hours.
When I saw the premise of this book I was so excited to read it. A figure skater and a short track speed skater sounded great to me. With the Olympics (I love the Olympics) starting next month, what a perfect time to read a winter sports romance. Actually the sports part of this book I enjoyed, it’s the rest of it that didn’t work for me.
The first half of this book is just about sex. It was actually bordering on being porn instead of erotica to me. I draw the difference as erotica being really hot sex scenes with two people that are in love, have feelings for each other, or at least there is some storyline involved. The first half of this book was just sex scenes with two people that I could not even tell if they even liked each other. Not only that, but the internal thoughts of the characters were so crude, I felt like I was reading about two 16 year-old boys. I’m no prude and I can have a mouth on me, but it was so over the top “locker room” type of talk ( I can’t believe I just used the phrase) it didn’t sound like two women, just like a caricature of a horny bisexual and lesbian.
Now I will admit the second half of the book was better. First half 2 stars, second half 3 stars. It was actually when the characters spent some time apart, I started liking the book. It focused on the sports and I found them enjoyable. Then a sort of tiny romance started; I could actually sense some possible feeling being involved. Did it save the whole book for me? No. But it went from being a possible DNF to at least being palatable.
Unfortunately, I can’t recommend this one. There are so many fantastic lesfic book out there that this doesn’t really hold up against them. As I said above, I appreciate Parker taking a chance on write lesfic, it just didn’t work for my personal tastes.
An ARC was given to me by Netgalley, for a honest review.
When I saw the premise of this book I was so excited to read it. A figure skater and a short track speed skater sounded great to me. With the Olympics (I love the Olympics) starting next month, what a perfect time to read a winter sports romance. Actually the sports part of this book I enjoyed, it’s the rest of it that didn’t work for me.
The first half of this book is just about sex. It was actually bordering on being porn instead of erotica to me. I draw the difference as erotica being really hot sex scenes with two people that are in love, have feelings for each other, or at least there is some storyline involved. The first half of this book was just sex scenes with two people that I could not even tell if they even liked each other. Not only that, but the internal thoughts of the characters were so crude, I felt like I was reading about two 16 year-old boys. I’m no prude and I can have a mouth on me, but it was so over the top “locker room” type of talk ( I can’t believe I just used the phrase) it didn’t sound like two women, just like a caricature of a horny bisexual and lesbian.
Now I will admit the second half of the book was better. First half 2 stars, second half 3 stars. It was actually when the characters spent some time apart, I started liking the book. It focused on the sports and I found them enjoyable. Then a sort of tiny romance started; I could actually sense some possible feeling being involved. Did it save the whole book for me? No. But it went from being a possible DNF to at least being palatable.
Unfortunately, I can’t recommend this one. There are so many fantastic lesfic book out there that this doesn’t really hold up against them. As I said above, I appreciate Parker taking a chance on write lesfic, it just didn’t work for my personal tastes.
An ARC was given to me by Netgalley, for a honest review.
January 19, 2018
When I saw there was a traditionally published F/F book coming out I instantly jumped on it. This is a genre that does not have enough books out there so I was excited to read it. Sadly, for me, the book didn't keep me at that excitement level.
There was just way too much sex in this book, which is not something I would normally complain about but in this book it seemed like there was nothing but sex. And for me those scenes were very robotic and I didn't enjoy them very much.
There really wasn't enough of a story to keep my attention. I wanted to get to know the characters more than I did, especially Maisy since we got little hints of her life outside of the bedroom yet never any more than that. I just never felt like I actually knew these characters and it made seeing them as a couple hard.
Overall, I think I'll still give this author another try since I did like the premise of this story and it had some good parts. Even though this wasn't a winner for me I would still recommend it for anyone that's looking for a fast F/F story.
ARC kindly provided in exchange for an honest review.
October 1, 2020
Tamsen Parker doesn’t write a lot of lesfic but when she does, wow is it hot! And so much fun. Despite being part of the Snow & Ice Games series, Fire on the Ice, the only f/f romance of the series, can be read as a standalone.
Blaze Bellamy, the most scandalous member of the U. S. short track speed skating team, and Maisy Harper, a Canadian figure skater, had a fling at the last Snow and Ice Games four years ago, mostly as a fun way to get over the disappointment of neither winning any medal. At the next edition, both hope to pick up where they left off.
The first part of the story, perfectly narrated by Jill Smith, is focused on Blaze and Maisy reacquainting themselves with one another, and with one another’s body. In short, it’s mostly sex. Hot, steamy, creative and accessorised sex. But the more time they spend together, the more their feelings for each other start peeking out, even though neither wants to acknowledge them.
It’s a classic case of opposites attract. Blaze is a brazen extrovert polyamorous pansexual who will do anything to bring attention to her sport. She’s out, proud and loud. She loves sex and attention and will not let anyone make her feel bad about either. Maisy is shy and a prude, partly as a result of her overbearing parents’ conservative education. She loves skating but her parents took the joy out of it and she doesn’t enjoy the attention competing brings. And yet with Blaze, she can be free and delightfully dominating.
When I started thinking about what to write in this review, what kept coming to mind was how gleefully sexy this story is. It’s exactly what I remember enjoying in my first book by Ms Parker, In Her Court. The chemistry between the characters is tremendous and the sex is pure joy. Sure, the conflict is expected and resolved a bit fast, but none of that ruined my fun. And as is often the case in erotic romance, there’s more to the story than it seems.
If you’re in the mood for an entertaining and light read with a decent amount of angst, give this book a try. And I really recommend listening to it, as the narration is excellent.
Blaze Bellamy, the most scandalous member of the U. S. short track speed skating team, and Maisy Harper, a Canadian figure skater, had a fling at the last Snow and Ice Games four years ago, mostly as a fun way to get over the disappointment of neither winning any medal. At the next edition, both hope to pick up where they left off.
The first part of the story, perfectly narrated by Jill Smith, is focused on Blaze and Maisy reacquainting themselves with one another, and with one another’s body. In short, it’s mostly sex. Hot, steamy, creative and accessorised sex. But the more time they spend together, the more their feelings for each other start peeking out, even though neither wants to acknowledge them.
It’s a classic case of opposites attract. Blaze is a brazen extrovert polyamorous pansexual who will do anything to bring attention to her sport. She’s out, proud and loud. She loves sex and attention and will not let anyone make her feel bad about either. Maisy is shy and a prude, partly as a result of her overbearing parents’ conservative education. She loves skating but her parents took the joy out of it and she doesn’t enjoy the attention competing brings. And yet with Blaze, she can be free and delightfully dominating.
When I started thinking about what to write in this review, what kept coming to mind was how gleefully sexy this story is. It’s exactly what I remember enjoying in my first book by Ms Parker, In Her Court. The chemistry between the characters is tremendous and the sex is pure joy. Sure, the conflict is expected and resolved a bit fast, but none of that ruined my fun. And as is often the case in erotic romance, there’s more to the story than it seems.
If you’re in the mood for an entertaining and light read with a decent amount of angst, give this book a try. And I really recommend listening to it, as the narration is excellent.
January 28, 2018
I received a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
I was really enjoying this novel for at least halfway through. Despite the fact that Maisy and Blaze didn't actually talk for like 30% of the novel as they only had sex, I felt that the characters were both unique individuals, with distinct voices and perspectives.
I really liked Maisy - I liked how reserved she was in every situation outside of the bedroom. There, she wasn't anxious or trying to be the person her parents wanted her to be. She could be herself.
I had a love/hate relationship with Blaze. I liked how confident she was in her sexuality, but I also didn't like how she refused to put herself into other people's shoes and understand their perspective. She was also incredibly selfish. After this scene, my appreciation for this novel decreased and I actively hated Blaze.
Another issue: So I guess you can say I really, really didn't like Blaze, and when you don't like one of the main characters in a novel, you're probably not going to like the rest of the novel, which is what happened here.
The plot was basically Blaze and Maisy hooking up over the course of the Games, and then realising they want a relationship together. But Blaze is poly, which is something Maisy struggles with, and they have to come to a compromise. I'm really appreciative of the fact that we are getting more and more sexual identities being discussed in romance novels.
All in all, I felt that Fire on the Ice was a disappointing novel. I didn't like one of the MCs, and the sex scenes - while great at the start - started to feel robotic and over the top as the first 10 chapters of the novel were dedicated solely to sex scenes and the characters barely talked. I feel that the book had great potential, but I just couldn't overlook these issues.
I was really enjoying this novel for at least halfway through. Despite the fact that Maisy and Blaze didn't actually talk for like 30% of the novel as they only had sex, I felt that the characters were both unique individuals, with distinct voices and perspectives.
I really liked Maisy - I liked how reserved she was in every situation outside of the bedroom. There, she wasn't anxious or trying to be the person her parents wanted her to be. She could be herself.
I had a love/hate relationship with Blaze. I liked how confident she was in her sexuality, but I also didn't like how she refused to put herself into other people's shoes and understand their perspective. She was also incredibly selfish. After this scene, my appreciation for this novel decreased and I actively hated Blaze.
Another issue: So I guess you can say I really, really didn't like Blaze, and when you don't like one of the main characters in a novel, you're probably not going to like the rest of the novel, which is what happened here.
The plot was basically Blaze and Maisy hooking up over the course of the Games, and then realising they want a relationship together. But Blaze is poly, which is something Maisy struggles with, and they have to come to a compromise. I'm really appreciative of the fact that we are getting more and more sexual identities being discussed in romance novels.
All in all, I felt that Fire on the Ice was a disappointing novel. I didn't like one of the MCs, and the sex scenes - while great at the start - started to feel robotic and over the top as the first 10 chapters of the novel were dedicated solely to sex scenes and the characters barely talked. I feel that the book had great potential, but I just couldn't overlook these issues.
February 23, 2018
Full review also on my Blog
Fire On The Ice was a hot mess!
Fire On The Ice is told from the POV of Maisy, a figure skater competing at the SIGS and Blaze, a speed skater. One night together leaves them agreeing to spend the rest of the SIGs with each other.
That’s exactly what they do. For 11 chapters. They do nothing but have sex. Over and over. Friends I don’t mind smutty scenes but this took the cake. On top of that, the plot was non existent, the world building was terrible and the characters sucked! I can’t say I liked much about this book.
Normally if a book is dragging or the plot is lacking I can get by with the characters. The characters make a novel for me. However these two didn’t. Maisy was irritating. She thought she knew what was best for Blaze without even communicating. She constantly judges her while denying she isn’t.
“It’s funny because the women isn’t likely to medal, but gets treated like royalty anyhow. Anything, anything to get attention, and all attention is equal- because all attention is good.”-Fire On The Ice by Tamsen Parker.
I don’t even know we’re to begin with Blaze. I liked her at first. However what happens in the second half ruined her character for me. She’s selfish and thinks only of herself. Throughout the whole book she. Does. Not. Change, like at all. This girl needed some change. She doesn’t confined in Maisy. She does what she has to do for attention without thinking of Maisy’s feelings or even communicating with her.
“Can I promise? I want to. But Maisy….Well, Maisy doesn’t know what’s good for her career. “- Fire on The Ice by Tamsen Parker.
Overall this book was ridiculous. Too much sex and not enough… everything else. I had such high hopes for Fire On The Ice and I can’t say I’m not disappointed. I don’t think the representation was well done. I can’t speak personally for the polyamory rep but it made me uncomfortable every time Maisy made an untold for judgement. I didn’t like the lesbian rep and it was very clear that this book wasn’t ownvoices. I appreciate the fact that this popular author added a f/f romance to her series but it was choppy and I for one didn’t like the ending.
I can tell you honestly : The only thing I enjoyed about this book was the three chapters near the end on figure skating and speed skating. It was clear the author did her research and it’s the only reason this isn’t one star.
*Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me a copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own
Fire On The Ice was a hot mess!
Fire On The Ice is told from the POV of Maisy, a figure skater competing at the SIGS and Blaze, a speed skater. One night together leaves them agreeing to spend the rest of the SIGs with each other.
That’s exactly what they do. For 11 chapters. They do nothing but have sex. Over and over. Friends I don’t mind smutty scenes but this took the cake. On top of that, the plot was non existent, the world building was terrible and the characters sucked! I can’t say I liked much about this book.
Normally if a book is dragging or the plot is lacking I can get by with the characters. The characters make a novel for me. However these two didn’t. Maisy was irritating. She thought she knew what was best for Blaze without even communicating. She constantly judges her while denying she isn’t.
“It’s funny because the women isn’t likely to medal, but gets treated like royalty anyhow. Anything, anything to get attention, and all attention is equal- because all attention is good.”-Fire On The Ice by Tamsen Parker.
I don’t even know we’re to begin with Blaze. I liked her at first. However what happens in the second half ruined her character for me. She’s selfish and thinks only of herself. Throughout the whole book she. Does. Not. Change, like at all. This girl needed some change. She doesn’t confined in Maisy. She does what she has to do for attention without thinking of Maisy’s feelings or even communicating with her.
“Can I promise? I want to. But Maisy….Well, Maisy doesn’t know what’s good for her career. “- Fire on The Ice by Tamsen Parker.
Overall this book was ridiculous. Too much sex and not enough… everything else. I had such high hopes for Fire On The Ice and I can’t say I’m not disappointed. I don’t think the representation was well done. I can’t speak personally for the polyamory rep but it made me uncomfortable every time Maisy made an untold for judgement. I didn’t like the lesbian rep and it was very clear that this book wasn’t ownvoices. I appreciate the fact that this popular author added a f/f romance to her series but it was choppy and I for one didn’t like the ending.
I can tell you honestly : The only thing I enjoyed about this book was the three chapters near the end on figure skating and speed skating. It was clear the author did her research and it’s the only reason this isn’t one star.
*Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me a copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 27, 2018
Rather than a romance this one is better classified as erotica. If you go into it looking for hot and steamy sex with some ice skating thrown in the mix then you'll be a happy camper. The sex starts pretty much right away, There's no build up and not a lot of romance, but there is plenty of scintillating sex. Whether or not you like this book depends on what you're looking for. Erotica for the win. Romance-meh, not so much. As an erotica book I'd go as high as a 3.5 star rating. as pure f/f romance it's more like a 2.5. Not a bad read though, especially if you enjoy a lot of lesbian sex scenes.
Net Galley ARC received for an unbiased review.
Merged review:
Rather than a romance this one is better classified as erotica. If you go into it looking for hot and steamy sex with some ice skating thrown in the mix then you'll be a happy camper. The sex starts pretty much right away, There's no build up and not a lot of romance, but there is plenty of scintillating sex. Whether or not you like this book depends on what you're looking for. Erotica for the win. Romance-meh, not so much. As an erotica book I'd go as high as a 3.5 star rating. as pure f/f romance it's more like a 2.5. Not a bad read though, especially if you enjoy a lot of lesbian sex scenes.
Net Galley ARC received for an unbiased review.
Net Galley ARC received for an unbiased review.
Merged review:
Rather than a romance this one is better classified as erotica. If you go into it looking for hot and steamy sex with some ice skating thrown in the mix then you'll be a happy camper. The sex starts pretty much right away, There's no build up and not a lot of romance, but there is plenty of scintillating sex. Whether or not you like this book depends on what you're looking for. Erotica for the win. Romance-meh, not so much. As an erotica book I'd go as high as a 3.5 star rating. as pure f/f romance it's more like a 2.5. Not a bad read though, especially if you enjoy a lot of lesbian sex scenes.
Net Galley ARC received for an unbiased review.
October 7, 2018
Maisy and Blaze are the newest feature in the SIG, and these two ladies will leave you breathless!
Maisy is a figure skater and Blaze is a speed skater. The two get hot and heavy early on in this book and already have a relationship of sorts going on. It's a nice change from strangers or friends to lovers, to be honest. But if you were thinking these would be soft, vanilla sex scenes - you'd be wrong! Tamsen is shockingly amazing at writing these scenes that they will make you blush (so maybe don't read them in public...?). I think this has to be the "hottest" book of the series so far, so be warned!
The "parents don't like that I'm gay" was something new from Tamsen, but I think it worked well. There needed to be some conflict in this book, and it fit perfectly! I didn't totally enjoy the opposites attract portion of this book, but it fits well enough within this story.
These characters do grow within this story, and I have give me praise to Tamsen for doing such. Having characters that try to change and grow was a lovely addition to tie this book in together. It really shows how much Tamsen is growing as an author - she keeps implementing new and better plot points in her books. Personally, I didn't like the personalities of the main characters (it's a personal problem, to be honest. They remind me of people I know, and you know how that is...). I think in relation to the story, they have the best personality for the scenario, but it just didn't bode with me. It's nothing against this story (because it's a great story, honestly, READ IT).
If anything, I would have liked a little more plot in this story. I found this to be a really heavy romance compared to a plot focused one. This can be great for some readers, but for others it might not work. Keep that in mind if you're going to read it - don't expect a crazy, complicated plot.
This might be my least favourite SIG novel (but they are all fighting for top spot, so it's a tight race for first place) if I had to place them in a list. It's still a fantastic book, I just liked the others more (I related more to the characters from the other books on a personal level).
Overall, I would definitely recommend this story to anyone looking for romance, F/F, or sports romance books. It's still top tier! Comparing them to Tamsen's other books (based on my own personal opinion) it's one of the best, just not MY favourite. It's definitely one of her best.
Four out of five stars.
Side Note: Who would have thought Olympics erotica would be a category of books? It's probably one of the few I never considered until Tamsen actually wrote these books.
I received a copy of this book courtesy of Tamsen Parker and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Maisy is a figure skater and Blaze is a speed skater. The two get hot and heavy early on in this book and already have a relationship of sorts going on. It's a nice change from strangers or friends to lovers, to be honest. But if you were thinking these would be soft, vanilla sex scenes - you'd be wrong! Tamsen is shockingly amazing at writing these scenes that they will make you blush (so maybe don't read them in public...?). I think this has to be the "hottest" book of the series so far, so be warned!
The "parents don't like that I'm gay" was something new from Tamsen, but I think it worked well. There needed to be some conflict in this book, and it fit perfectly! I didn't totally enjoy the opposites attract portion of this book, but it fits well enough within this story.
These characters do grow within this story, and I have give me praise to Tamsen for doing such. Having characters that try to change and grow was a lovely addition to tie this book in together. It really shows how much Tamsen is growing as an author - she keeps implementing new and better plot points in her books. Personally, I didn't like the personalities of the main characters (it's a personal problem, to be honest. They remind me of people I know, and you know how that is...). I think in relation to the story, they have the best personality for the scenario, but it just didn't bode with me. It's nothing against this story (because it's a great story, honestly, READ IT).
If anything, I would have liked a little more plot in this story. I found this to be a really heavy romance compared to a plot focused one. This can be great for some readers, but for others it might not work. Keep that in mind if you're going to read it - don't expect a crazy, complicated plot.
This might be my least favourite SIG novel (but they are all fighting for top spot, so it's a tight race for first place) if I had to place them in a list. It's still a fantastic book, I just liked the others more (I related more to the characters from the other books on a personal level).
Overall, I would definitely recommend this story to anyone looking for romance, F/F, or sports romance books. It's still top tier! Comparing them to Tamsen's other books (based on my own personal opinion) it's one of the best, just not MY favourite. It's definitely one of her best.
Four out of five stars.
Side Note: Who would have thought Olympics erotica would be a category of books? It's probably one of the few I never considered until Tamsen actually wrote these books.
I received a copy of this book courtesy of Tamsen Parker and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
March 25, 2018
As a reader almost exclusively of MM romance I've been keeping my eyes open for an FF story to try. I know the author and thought the premise of the story was a great one, so I thought this might be the book for me.
Well, safe to say FF is never going to be my genre of choice and the erotic scenes (many and creative) didn't add anything to the story for me. I did end up skimming them and thinking, 'wow, two world class athletes, preparing for medal events, they sure have a lot of energy to burn off'. Heh, heh. So if you're a fan of FF sex then this is the book for you!
The descriptions of the sport were pretty good. They're alternating pov's and they comment on both their own sports and the other MC's as well and I enjoyed that.
The author also puts a very interesting spin into the story with Blaze's sexuality. She's polyamorous and is upfront in explaining her needs and desires; likewise, Maizy also is truthful about how she feels so these two mature, confident women work it out - and I liked that.
There's a whole other element going on about each athlete and issues in their sport and performance, so that adds depth to the story as well.
Honestly, it was well written and there were parts I definitely liked about it - if you're a fan of explicit female/female sex with a decent little story thrown in, then this is the book for you.
this book was provided by NetGalley for the purpose of my review
Well, safe to say FF is never going to be my genre of choice and the erotic scenes (many and creative) didn't add anything to the story for me. I did end up skimming them and thinking, 'wow, two world class athletes, preparing for medal events, they sure have a lot of energy to burn off'. Heh, heh. So if you're a fan of FF sex then this is the book for you!
The descriptions of the sport were pretty good. They're alternating pov's and they comment on both their own sports and the other MC's as well and I enjoyed that.
The author also puts a very interesting spin into the story with Blaze's sexuality. She's polyamorous and is upfront in explaining her needs and desires; likewise, Maizy also is truthful about how she feels so these two mature, confident women work it out - and I liked that.
There's a whole other element going on about each athlete and issues in their sport and performance, so that adds depth to the story as well.
Honestly, it was well written and there were parts I definitely liked about it - if you're a fan of explicit female/female sex with a decent little story thrown in, then this is the book for you.
this book was provided by NetGalley for the purpose of my review
July 7, 2020
3.5 stars
I like this book because it's the first one I've been able to finish in over a month but also...I can't say that I really ship these character together, long term. I don't know if they'll make it long term and to be honest, I don't know if I'll be upset if/when they do break up 🤷🏻♀️
I like this book because it's the first one I've been able to finish in over a month but also...I can't say that I really ship these character together, long term. I don't know if they'll make it long term and to be honest, I don't know if I'll be upset if/when they do break up 🤷🏻♀️
May 21, 2020
Maisy likes to take the back seat and not call much attention to herself unlike Blaze who seemed to me like a firecracker that shines and we all notice. Blaze's decision making gets her into some hot water and due to Maisy being one to not want the attention, it creates problems for them. Blaze & Maisy know hot to melt the ice-pun intended but their different views on issues had them bumping heads many times. I wasn't sure if Maisy would be able to accept Blaze with her hot headedness and live happily- you'll have to click and find out for yourself. And if you haven't guessed it, yes this is an f/f read and the chemistry they had was sizzling. Kara~3.5 Stars
Did Not Finish
October 26, 2019Dnf at 45%. The fact that I couldn’t get through half of a 160 page book is crazy. I had such high hopes for this book especially after reading the first couple chapters. It was incredibly well written and interesting. BUT. the 40% I read was all smut. There were 4 different smut scenes in that time and I didnt even know what sport the characters played until the 40% mark. And once I found out it was right back into a sex scene. So if you’re into that, you might like this book, but if not I wouldn’t recommend it.
Did Not Finish
February 4, 2018Review also on the blog: https://fromtoptobottomreviews.com/20...
*A copy of this was provided via NetGalley
DNF at 68% - no rating.
Fire on the Ice is the fourth book in Tamsen Parker's Snow & Ice Games series and can easily be read a s a standalone. Though I recommend you to read the first two books in the series because I really enjoyed them. Haven't read the third one yet, but will do that as soon as it releases.
This isn't the first time Maisy and Blaze have a bit of fun together. They first met during the last Snow and Ice Games and had a secret affair back then too. While Blaze is open about her sexuality, Maisy is not. Other than Blaze, only her parents know -- and they made her stay in the closet. Maisy looked forward to the SIG's not only because of the competition but also because this was another possibility to see Blaze again.
They're familiar with each other both sexually and non-sexually, so getting to know each other happens off-page. I'm a sucker for reading the first time meeting of two characters -- I love that attraction and the first spark, the getting to know each other and slow (or sometimes fast) progress of the main characters relationship). All that was missing here. I feel like in some instances it would have helped to have a bit more insight to that. Particularly because they have a very intense sexual relationship that requires a lot of trust. Though this is only a personal preference and I know some people who would really enjoy this story.
I had high expectations for this when I requested it on NetGalley. Partly because I really enjoyed the first books in the series, and partly because it was an f/f sports romance. The sports aspect wasn't as prominent as I had hoped it would be, but I liked Blaze and Maisy, and liked them more the more I read. Although I would have liked a bit more of the sport, I didn't really miss it. Fire on the Ice was easily on track to be a 4 star read. I really enjoyed how their perceived roles changed when they were alone with each other. You'd think that Blaze is the more dominant one because she's very loud and has a strong personality. Maisy is more quiet and keeps herself hidden. Once they're alone, though, that completely changes.
What I loved about Fire on the Ice was how sex-positive it was. Blaze is bisexual and poly -- she loves sex and she wants a lot of it. There is a small misunderstanding in the story that relates to that -- but I feel like it was handled well by Parker and it showed some of Maisy's insecurities. Also Blaze called her out on the spot and they resolved it fast.
As I said this was fast on track to become a four star read... and then Blaze decided she needed more media coverage and attention, so she set up a photgrapher to be there when Maisy and Blaze were watching a sporting event -- to take photo's of the two of them kissing. Of Maisy, who is not out to the public.
That was the moment that I really did not want the two of them to end up with together. And there is nothing Blaze could possibly do that would ever justify or excuse her decision, so I put the book away. This might not be a no-go for everyone, but for me this was like a roundhouse kick to the stomach and I just couldn't read any more of it.
*A copy of this was provided via NetGalley
DNF at 68% - no rating.
Fire on the Ice is the fourth book in Tamsen Parker's Snow & Ice Games series and can easily be read a s a standalone. Though I recommend you to read the first two books in the series because I really enjoyed them. Haven't read the third one yet, but will do that as soon as it releases.
This isn't the first time Maisy and Blaze have a bit of fun together. They first met during the last Snow and Ice Games and had a secret affair back then too. While Blaze is open about her sexuality, Maisy is not. Other than Blaze, only her parents know -- and they made her stay in the closet. Maisy looked forward to the SIG's not only because of the competition but also because this was another possibility to see Blaze again.
They're familiar with each other both sexually and non-sexually, so getting to know each other happens off-page. I'm a sucker for reading the first time meeting of two characters -- I love that attraction and the first spark, the getting to know each other and slow (or sometimes fast) progress of the main characters relationship). All that was missing here. I feel like in some instances it would have helped to have a bit more insight to that. Particularly because they have a very intense sexual relationship that requires a lot of trust. Though this is only a personal preference and I know some people who would really enjoy this story.
I had high expectations for this when I requested it on NetGalley. Partly because I really enjoyed the first books in the series, and partly because it was an f/f sports romance. The sports aspect wasn't as prominent as I had hoped it would be, but I liked Blaze and Maisy, and liked them more the more I read. Although I would have liked a bit more of the sport, I didn't really miss it. Fire on the Ice was easily on track to be a 4 star read. I really enjoyed how their perceived roles changed when they were alone with each other. You'd think that Blaze is the more dominant one because she's very loud and has a strong personality. Maisy is more quiet and keeps herself hidden. Once they're alone, though, that completely changes.
What I loved about Fire on the Ice was how sex-positive it was. Blaze is bisexual and poly -- she loves sex and she wants a lot of it. There is a small misunderstanding in the story that relates to that -- but I feel like it was handled well by Parker and it showed some of Maisy's insecurities. Also Blaze called her out on the spot and they resolved it fast.
As I said this was fast on track to become a four star read... and then Blaze decided she needed more media coverage and attention, so she set up a photgrapher to be there when Maisy and Blaze were watching a sporting event -- to take photo's of the two of them kissing. Of Maisy, who is not out to the public.
That was the moment that I really did not want the two of them to end up with together. And there is nothing Blaze could possibly do that would ever justify or excuse her decision, so I put the book away. This might not be a no-go for everyone, but for me this was like a roundhouse kick to the stomach and I just couldn't read any more of it.
February 4, 2018
Fire on the Ice is part of Tamsen Parker's Snow and Ice Games series and showcases the world of female skating from the viewpoints of two quite different characters - Blaze, an extroverted speed skater, and Maisy, an introverted figure skater. Where Blaze is all about getting attention, Maisy shies away from the crowds. In the bedroom it's a bit different though, with Maisy delighting in taking control and Blaze happy to follow suit. They both have goals of winning medals at the games, but can they also take their friends with benefits relationship to another level?
The first half of this story reads more like erotica than like a romance. There's a lot of sex, some of it quite inventive but not really any hint of romance between the two characters. On the plus side it's a very sex positive book obviously, and these two aren't shy in private. On the downside, there's little conflict to keep the reader invested in the characters.
The second half of the story is where the real plot begins for me. There are some good scenes with the sports the ladies are involved in that delve into more technical details. As a fan of watching winter Olympics, and skating in particular, these were well done. Also here is where the characters start to show their real selves, with Maisy concerned about public appearances - not because she has a problem being a lesbian but just because that's part of her character, and Blaze quite the opposite. Blaze makes decisions that cause them some problems, and in the end it's she that has to realize that if she wants to be with Maisy for more than a sexual fling, she'll have to really listen to her concerns. Blaze also prefers poly relationships, something Maisy is prepared to accept even if she isn't poly herself. I have some doubts as to whether the couple would really be happy in the long term because of their differences on that front. Still, we get a happy for now ending for the couple. I think in general, if you're looking for a steamy, easy lesbian read, that's what you'll find here.
A copy of this story was provided by the publisher via NetGalley for review.
The first half of this story reads more like erotica than like a romance. There's a lot of sex, some of it quite inventive but not really any hint of romance between the two characters. On the plus side it's a very sex positive book obviously, and these two aren't shy in private. On the downside, there's little conflict to keep the reader invested in the characters.
The second half of the story is where the real plot begins for me. There are some good scenes with the sports the ladies are involved in that delve into more technical details. As a fan of watching winter Olympics, and skating in particular, these were well done. Also here is where the characters start to show their real selves, with Maisy concerned about public appearances - not because she has a problem being a lesbian but just because that's part of her character, and Blaze quite the opposite. Blaze makes decisions that cause them some problems, and in the end it's she that has to realize that if she wants to be with Maisy for more than a sexual fling, she'll have to really listen to her concerns. Blaze also prefers poly relationships, something Maisy is prepared to accept even if she isn't poly herself. I have some doubts as to whether the couple would really be happy in the long term because of their differences on that front. Still, we get a happy for now ending for the couple. I think in general, if you're looking for a steamy, easy lesbian read, that's what you'll find here.
A copy of this story was provided by the publisher via NetGalley for review.
February 25, 2018
Maisy and Blaze’s chemistry crackles from their first meeting in the bar, and it only gets better and better. Although Blaze’s larger than life personality would make her an obvious choice as the dominant in the bedroom, it’s actually Maisy who controls many of their encounters, garnering compliance from Blaze that it’s hard to imagine her giving to anyone other than Maisy. And while Maisy has dated or slept with far fewer people than Blaze, she also never judges Blaze for her sexual history or for being polyamorous. Between Blaze’s polyamory and bisexuality, and Maisy’s ice queen persona—which can be, and is by some in the story, interpreted as prudishness—there were plenty of opportunities for sex negativity or shaming. Thankfully they never happened, and it was clear that Tamsen Parker set out to deliver a romance between women that celebrates sex—and does it ever! Also, because Blaze and Maisy are always true to themselves while still honoring each other, their happily ever after is just perfect for them, even if it may not be what regular romance readers are used to seeing.
Full review: http://www.curvemag.com/Reviews/Revie...
Full review: http://www.curvemag.com/Reviews/Revie...
March 25, 2018
this is a mess
so this book is a two povs alternating about blaze (bisexual, polyam) and maisy (lesbian) who are two athletes competing in snow & ice games which are basically olympics. so they met once and had a spark and now they meet again and have sex. and have sex. and have sex. literally 11 chapters of this book is porn. like porn with a little plot. i dont mind sex in general but honestly, it was too much for me.
but this is not the biggest problem of this book.
maisy specifically asked blaze not to pull her into her games. what does blaze do? she outs maisy before the whole world because she [blaze] needs a scandal and "maisy doesn't know what's good for her career". this is a bad conflict, imo. outing people without their consent is an absolute no-no and a shitty thing to do and it wasn't even explored here properly.
also i absolutely didn't like the writing, it was very dry and both heroines sounded absolutely the same, no distinction whatsoever.
1.5 stars.
I've received the arc from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
so this book is a two povs alternating about blaze (bisexual, polyam) and maisy (lesbian) who are two athletes competing in snow & ice games which are basically olympics. so they met once and had a spark and now they meet again and have sex. and have sex. and have sex. literally 11 chapters of this book is porn. like porn with a little plot. i dont mind sex in general but honestly, it was too much for me.
but this is not the biggest problem of this book.
maisy specifically asked blaze not to pull her into her games. what does blaze do? she outs maisy before the whole world because she [blaze] needs a scandal and "maisy doesn't know what's good for her career". this is a bad conflict, imo. outing people without their consent is an absolute no-no and a shitty thing to do and it wasn't even explored here properly.
also i absolutely didn't like the writing, it was very dry and both heroines sounded absolutely the same, no distinction whatsoever.
1.5 stars.
I've received the arc from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
February 23, 2018
content warnings: mild homophobia, mild polyamory phobia, a lot of sex (maybe >40% of the book is explicit sex scenes)
So, there are two scenes that get this up to a two-star (maybe) and considering that this book is essentially a lot of sex, it seems strange that they are very quiet moments. And it's really hard to rate this book because if I hadn't been made aware of the black moment issues and wanted to see for myself, I probably would have stopped reading much earlier.
Here's the thing, the book never really feels cohesive, part of me wonders if this is an aspect of the editing and the speed with which this series was released. You have the sex scenes in the beginning, some time to talk, the inappropriate black moment, and then whatever came next. None of this seemed to fit together. And it's dueling first person present without much differentiation in the voices. Saying all of this hurts because I really wanted to like this book. I had hopes for this book, instead I had to tap out.
I think the sex scenes are fascinating because they seemed so far from sexy. The activities were not those you'd typically see and were very detailed, but there was no emotional connection to them, except maybe the fisting scene. But while sexually compatible, Blaze and Maisy barely have time to get to know each other outside of sex. And I'm reluctant to assign this an erotic romance label because there was so little romance. By the time I stopped reading (at 66%), only 20% of the book could be considered close to romance.
The thing I'm really upset about is the black moment that happens at around 66% of the book. We have just come off of a very good scene where Blaze does a lot of emotional work for Maisy in terms of confirming that Maisy is enough for her while battling Maisy's issues with the fact that Blaze is polyamorous. And then every ounce of respect I had for Blaze vanished with what she does next.
The thing that comes next is a spoiler for the plot, but I also feel like if you identify as queer in any capacity, you need to know what comes next. This is not something I could ever forgive a person for doing.
So, there are two scenes that get this up to a two-star (maybe) and considering that this book is essentially a lot of sex, it seems strange that they are very quiet moments. And it's really hard to rate this book because if I hadn't been made aware of the black moment issues and wanted to see for myself, I probably would have stopped reading much earlier.
Here's the thing, the book never really feels cohesive, part of me wonders if this is an aspect of the editing and the speed with which this series was released. You have the sex scenes in the beginning, some time to talk, the inappropriate black moment, and then whatever came next. None of this seemed to fit together. And it's dueling first person present without much differentiation in the voices. Saying all of this hurts because I really wanted to like this book. I had hopes for this book, instead I had to tap out.
I think the sex scenes are fascinating because they seemed so far from sexy. The activities were not those you'd typically see and were very detailed, but there was no emotional connection to them, except maybe the fisting scene. But while sexually compatible, Blaze and Maisy barely have time to get to know each other outside of sex. And I'm reluctant to assign this an erotic romance label because there was so little romance. By the time I stopped reading (at 66%), only 20% of the book could be considered close to romance.
The thing I'm really upset about is the black moment that happens at around 66% of the book. We have just come off of a very good scene where Blaze does a lot of emotional work for Maisy in terms of confirming that Maisy is enough for her while battling Maisy's issues with the fact that Blaze is polyamorous. And then every ounce of respect I had for Blaze vanished with what she does next.
The thing that comes next is a spoiler for the plot, but I also feel like if you identify as queer in any capacity, you need to know what comes next. This is not something I could ever forgive a person for doing.
January 22, 2018
3.5 Stars
This is my 2nd book this author (the first being the M/M pairing in the same series), and once again, I found the story to be charming and delightful. The author has a knack for creating distinct characters with relatable and often hilarious voices. The sex scenes were plentiful, creative and all in all, most excellent. My favorite thing about the book was how sex-positive both characters were. Blaze was unapologetically promiscuous AND a well-known attention seeker, and even though Maisey was a quiet, prudish character, she was highly adventurous behind closed doors. You could see the conflict between them coming a mile away but I did like the issues that were raised as they each worked through their differences. It was an entertaining and sexy read with just the right amount of sweetness.
ARC courtesy of Netgalley in exchange for fair and honest review.
This is my 2nd book this author (the first being the M/M pairing in the same series), and once again, I found the story to be charming and delightful. The author has a knack for creating distinct characters with relatable and often hilarious voices. The sex scenes were plentiful, creative and all in all, most excellent. My favorite thing about the book was how sex-positive both characters were. Blaze was unapologetically promiscuous AND a well-known attention seeker, and even though Maisey was a quiet, prudish character, she was highly adventurous behind closed doors. You could see the conflict between them coming a mile away but I did like the issues that were raised as they each worked through their differences. It was an entertaining and sexy read with just the right amount of sweetness.
ARC courtesy of Netgalley in exchange for fair and honest review.
January 19, 2018
Words can't come close to describing what a load of garbage this book is i won't even waste my time trying to list all the faults of this book it would be much easier to list what went right which is that it ended. I wish is was possible to give this thing masquerading as a romance novel no stars but alas it is impossible another disappointment where this book is concerned #epicfail
April 1, 2021
4 Stars
I absolutely enjoyed Blaze and Maisy's story. It was realistic, heartfelt and the steamy scenes are just right as the situation calls for it. I like how bold Blaze can be when it comes to encouraging Maisy to do what makes her happy. They really compliment each other as they develop their friendship from a hook-up four years ago.
Tamsen Parker is a new author to me and she didn't disappoint in introducing me to my first Lesfic. I like how she has articulately written the fears and apprehension lesbians may have when coming out. I would love to read more by this author. If you're looking for straight-to-the-point, steamy, and engaging Lesfic romance I recommend this one.
July 16, 2019
https://celebrityreaders.com/2019/07/...
I received a free copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest and unbiased review/opinion.
3.5 stars — I will admit I was a bit concerned when our MCs jumped right into bed, and what followed were a lot of very descriptive and hot sex scenes, with only sprinklings of emotions (mostly leftover from their previous encounter). I guess I was expecting a steamy romance, and really got more an erotica with romance. The thing that saved it for me was that I *did* get some emotions and hints of depth in that first half, and when we got over the lust hump, there was a lot of interesting stuff to unpack. But if you’re not down for immediate (and gratuitous) sex scenes, you might want to try a different F/F.
So, outside of ALL the sex (some of which were uber steamy, some of which were just long), we have two very flawed and broken MCs who deal with their brokenness in vastly different ways. Blaze takes all the shaming coming her way and gives the world a big FU, whilst still internalizing some of the hurts (because, you know, human). And Maisy keeps herself all bottled up and private, allowing the shaming to become voices that she has to try to work around. It was kind of heart breaking actually. Despite all that, it was a pretty sex positive book. Both characters weren’t themselves ashamed of who they were…they were just shouldering the burdens of shame heaped upon them. It made for some passionate, aggressive, and without apologies sex scenes, and I appreciated that. I loved the dichotomy of recognizing slut shaming, being fucking pissed about it, but still having it affect you, no matter how strong you are. It was very realistic and human.
Once we got to more than just sex, I really appreciated the little ways we got to see them start to care for one another, and the way their chemistry extended beyond the bedroom. There were a lot of sweet moments and silly moments that I loved. I also really appreciated the way they handled obstacles, and mistakes, and forgiveness. There were some great genuine apologies and epiphanies to be had.
The book also gave us an interesting look into what it might mean to be polyamorous. I appreciated that it wasn’t sensationalized, and that we got to see how it might play out. I’m fascinated by it from a “not for me” perspective, and I still can’t wrap my head around the emotions/trust involved.
And as with all the books in this series, the sport was fucking ON!! I love the Olympics, love winter sports, love both of these sports, and I loved the time and attention that the author showcased to BOTH of them, and the athleticism of both women. This is not one of those sports romances where the sport is token, it was part of the plot. I loved that. It’s probably my favourite part of the series.
So yeah. I can see this book not being for everyone, but I enjoyed what it brought me. Just go in expecting erotica, and you’ll have better expectations I think.
I received a free copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest and unbiased review/opinion.
3.5 stars — I will admit I was a bit concerned when our MCs jumped right into bed, and what followed were a lot of very descriptive and hot sex scenes, with only sprinklings of emotions (mostly leftover from their previous encounter). I guess I was expecting a steamy romance, and really got more an erotica with romance. The thing that saved it for me was that I *did* get some emotions and hints of depth in that first half, and when we got over the lust hump, there was a lot of interesting stuff to unpack. But if you’re not down for immediate (and gratuitous) sex scenes, you might want to try a different F/F.
So, outside of ALL the sex (some of which were uber steamy, some of which were just long), we have two very flawed and broken MCs who deal with their brokenness in vastly different ways. Blaze takes all the shaming coming her way and gives the world a big FU, whilst still internalizing some of the hurts (because, you know, human). And Maisy keeps herself all bottled up and private, allowing the shaming to become voices that she has to try to work around. It was kind of heart breaking actually. Despite all that, it was a pretty sex positive book. Both characters weren’t themselves ashamed of who they were…they were just shouldering the burdens of shame heaped upon them. It made for some passionate, aggressive, and without apologies sex scenes, and I appreciated that. I loved the dichotomy of recognizing slut shaming, being fucking pissed about it, but still having it affect you, no matter how strong you are. It was very realistic and human.
Once we got to more than just sex, I really appreciated the little ways we got to see them start to care for one another, and the way their chemistry extended beyond the bedroom. There were a lot of sweet moments and silly moments that I loved. I also really appreciated the way they handled obstacles, and mistakes, and forgiveness. There were some great genuine apologies and epiphanies to be had.
The book also gave us an interesting look into what it might mean to be polyamorous. I appreciated that it wasn’t sensationalized, and that we got to see how it might play out. I’m fascinated by it from a “not for me” perspective, and I still can’t wrap my head around the emotions/trust involved.
And as with all the books in this series, the sport was fucking ON!! I love the Olympics, love winter sports, love both of these sports, and I loved the time and attention that the author showcased to BOTH of them, and the athleticism of both women. This is not one of those sports romances where the sport is token, it was part of the plot. I loved that. It’s probably my favourite part of the series.
So yeah. I can see this book not being for everyone, but I enjoyed what it brought me. Just go in expecting erotica, and you’ll have better expectations I think.
August 8, 2019
Fire is right! ~wipes brow~
The good:
- The Snow and Ice Games stand in for the Olympics, because copyright, and it's fun to watch people from totally different sports interact. Blaze only wants to go to events ruled by the clock, while Maisy wants to check out curling and ice dancing.
- Maisy and Blaze's public personas are near opposites, but their personalities have enough in common to make this thing work.
- Their sports have given them very different bodies - the thick thighs of a speed skater, the petite build of a figure skater - and they love each other for it.
- Yea for a name check of Surya Bonaly, who is badass.
- Blaze is bi, poly, and out and proud, while Maisy prefers to shield her private life, including being lesbian, from prying eyes. Her homophobic parents, who have repressed her in all kinds of ways her entire life, are part of that.
- There's bunches of interesting conflict to drive the story forward. Will this be a hookup like before, or a relationship that lasts? Can Blaze resist the urge to drag Maisy into the spotlight? Will Maisy ever go against her parents?
- Harmful stereotypes about people who are bi, as well as those who are poly, are challenged head on. They talk about how important communication is in a relationship, and then they actually do it. Woot.
- The story fits the length, a novella-esque 169 pages. There's nothing slapdash, no hanging ends.
There are a bunch of lovely sex scenes, all different and smoking. However...
The not-so-good:
- ...they all come at the front of the book. It makes sense - this is a re-hookup, and both ladies are eager to get back into bed as soon as possible. It slows the story to a crawl, though, when you spend that much time doing one thing, no matter low lovely it is. For a while there I was worried the whole book would be pron without plot.
- The story is there, almost all in the second half, and the sex dries up to nothing. It all makes sense as far as event timing goes, but at the same time I would rather the sex and plot were more balanced.
It all evened out into an average read for me, and I'm interested in reading more from Parker even though I won't be searching it out right away. It's rare for a single romance series to have differently gendered pairings, and I love how this one has m/f, f/f, and m/m all mixed together.
The good:
- The Snow and Ice Games stand in for the Olympics, because copyright, and it's fun to watch people from totally different sports interact. Blaze only wants to go to events ruled by the clock, while Maisy wants to check out curling and ice dancing.
- Maisy and Blaze's public personas are near opposites, but their personalities have enough in common to make this thing work.
- Their sports have given them very different bodies - the thick thighs of a speed skater, the petite build of a figure skater - and they love each other for it.
- Yea for a name check of Surya Bonaly, who is badass.
- Blaze is bi, poly, and out and proud, while Maisy prefers to shield her private life, including being lesbian, from prying eyes. Her homophobic parents, who have repressed her in all kinds of ways her entire life, are part of that.
- There's bunches of interesting conflict to drive the story forward. Will this be a hookup like before, or a relationship that lasts? Can Blaze resist the urge to drag Maisy into the spotlight? Will Maisy ever go against her parents?
- Harmful stereotypes about people who are bi, as well as those who are poly, are challenged head on. They talk about how important communication is in a relationship, and then they actually do it. Woot.
- The story fits the length, a novella-esque 169 pages. There's nothing slapdash, no hanging ends.
There are a bunch of lovely sex scenes, all different and smoking. However...
The not-so-good:
- ...they all come at the front of the book. It makes sense - this is a re-hookup, and both ladies are eager to get back into bed as soon as possible. It slows the story to a crawl, though, when you spend that much time doing one thing, no matter low lovely it is. For a while there I was worried the whole book would be pron without plot.
- The story is there, almost all in the second half, and the sex dries up to nothing. It all makes sense as far as event timing goes, but at the same time I would rather the sex and plot were more balanced.
It all evened out into an average read for me, and I'm interested in reading more from Parker even though I won't be searching it out right away. It's rare for a single romance series to have differently gendered pairings, and I love how this one has m/f, f/f, and m/m all mixed together.
January 16, 2018
I never thought I needed Olympic erotica in my life, clearly I didn’t know what I was missing. Tamsen Parker writes insanely hot sex of all kinds. Seriously ff mm mf, she does it all and she does it exquisitely. Maisy is a Canadian figure skater and Blaze is a speed skater and on the surface they could not be more different but when it comes to the bedroom, their tastes are insanely hot. The issue here is Maisy is monogamous whereas Blaze is poly, Maisy wants Blaze to be faithful to her at least for the duration of the games and they have the hottest most mind blowing and possibly the most graphic sapphic sex I have ever read in a romance novel. Will their relationship make it? Will they be able to get over their differences? Absolutely read this one guys, you won’t be sorry.
Thank to netgalley for the ARC
Thank to netgalley for the ARC
July 27, 2019
Blaze is a short track speed skater, Maisy is a figure skater. Every 4 years (I assume) the Snow and Ice Games (SIG) happen. 4 years ago at the last SIG, Blaze and Maisy had a red hot affair. Both are down for the same at this event.
There were some things I liked; the figure skating and speed skating and the last couple of chapters.
Blaze was a unique character (she's bisexual, polygamous (and very open with who she is) which is something not really seen in romance- it did take some getting used to). Maisy on the other hand was more of a wallflower and didn't want to be. I wanted her to stand up to her parents/coach and do what she wanted.
What I didn't: the first 3/4 of the book was sex and sex and more sex. There was no plot, no character development.
1st part: 1*
2nd part: 3*
Average: 2*
Ripped Bodice Bingo: F-F contemporary
There were some things I liked; the figure skating and speed skating and the last couple of chapters.
Blaze was a unique character (she's bisexual, polygamous (and very open with who she is) which is something not really seen in romance- it did take some getting used to). Maisy on the other hand was more of a wallflower and didn't want to be. I wanted her to stand up to her parents/coach and do what she wanted.
What I didn't: the first 3/4 of the book was sex and sex and more sex. There was no plot, no character development.
1st part: 1*
2nd part: 3*
Average: 2*
Ripped Bodice Bingo: F-F contemporary
Read
June 1, 2018Overall, I have mixed feelings about this book. It has deep characterization, great chemistry, wonderful sex scenes and lovely sports details, but I wasn’t on board with them as a couple; it felt like they each let something go that was actually a big important issue, which never got resolved in a way that worked for me as a reader.
Read my full review on my blog.
Content Warnings
Read my full review on my blog.
Content Warnings
January 20, 2018
Blaze knew only one person saw her for who she really was. The person she kept private and not the flamboyant one portrayed in the press. Maisy Harper was not all she appeared to be. The quiet and reserved woman changed once the door as closed. Two sides that matched one another providing the support and rekindling a relationship that threatened to burn them up in flames. As they both try again at a relationship and winning a medal will it be enough to keep them together?
November 25, 2023
Blaze is the absolute worse. My only hope is that Maisy wised up after this novella ended and dumped Blaze for good. And then cut ties with her awful parents while she’s at it. Her parents’ mistreatment of her is probably why she so easily forgave Blaze without Blaze doing anything to make up for . Personally, I would have blocked Blaze’s number and been done for good. But since this is a romance, she at least should have had to grovel until the end of time. Blaze’s callous disregard for anything outside of herself made me so angry and I’m not convinced she understands how badly she screwed up, nor do I believe she won’t do it again. She did not deserve an HEA.
Less importantly but still annoying: this had so many logistical issues. I wouldn’t recommend this because I hated Blaze but I especially wouldn’t recommend it to anyone who follows the Olympics (what the Snow and Ice Games are based on). The idea of I also didn’t find the sex scenes hot, which is a shame since that’s at least half of this novella. Blaze being polyamorous and Maisy being monogamous needed more development too in order for me to believe Maisy would ultimately be okay with sharing Blaze.
I’ve enjoyed other books by this author but this was a colossal miss.
Characters: Blaze is a polyamorous bisexual white American short track speed skater and a Switch. Maisy is a lesbian white Canadian figure skater and a Domme. This is set during the Snow and Ice Games.
Content notes: forced outing of FMC by other FMC , toxic and homophobic parents, sexual shaming (internalized and external), perceiving infidelity , slut-shaming by Maisy (countered), polyamory-phobia, head wound (crashed during race), on page sex, light D/s, strap-on, vaginal fisting, sex toys, alcohol, casual ableism, “lady parts” as euphemism, gendered pejoratives, gender essentialism, ableist language, hyperbolic language around suicide
*Love it or Leighve it* (aka cleaning out my Kindle)
Purchased: 2020
Why did I buy it? JenReadsRomance recommended it and said it was hot. Reader, it was not.
Less importantly but still annoying: this had so many logistical issues. I wouldn’t recommend this because I hated Blaze but I especially wouldn’t recommend it to anyone who follows the Olympics (what the Snow and Ice Games are based on). The idea of I also didn’t find the sex scenes hot, which is a shame since that’s at least half of this novella. Blaze being polyamorous and Maisy being monogamous needed more development too in order for me to believe Maisy would ultimately be okay with sharing Blaze.
I’ve enjoyed other books by this author but this was a colossal miss.
Characters: Blaze is a polyamorous bisexual white American short track speed skater and a Switch. Maisy is a lesbian white Canadian figure skater and a Domme. This is set during the Snow and Ice Games.
Content notes: forced outing of FMC by other FMC , toxic and homophobic parents, sexual shaming (internalized and external), perceiving infidelity , slut-shaming by Maisy (countered), polyamory-phobia, head wound (crashed during race), on page sex, light D/s, strap-on, vaginal fisting, sex toys, alcohol, casual ableism, “lady parts” as euphemism, gendered pejoratives, gender essentialism, ableist language, hyperbolic language around suicide
*Love it or Leighve it* (aka cleaning out my Kindle)
Purchased: 2020
Why did I buy it? JenReadsRomance recommended it and said it was hot. Reader, it was not.
January 23, 2018
Blaze loves living life at a fast pace. She is in the top ranks as a speed skater for the USA, and her sex life is just as charged. Identifying openly as bisexual and polyamorous, nothing is off limits.
Maisy is a Canadian figure skater, always in the top ten but never in the medals. Controlled by parents, coaches and the team managers, she has mastered the quiet acquiescence required to slip through life without standing out. Only Blaze knows this is a ruse.
After a drunken night at the last Snow and Ice Games, Blaze and Maisy commiserated their losses with days of sexual escapades. It has stuck in their minds and both are relishing the thought of getting together again at the current SIG competition.
This was an erotic romance that had some believable interactions and a nice setup. I liked how the characters interacted; there was a good sense of build up even though they got together fairly early in the book. This gave Parker an opportunity to skip over the ‘just met’ introductions, and move onto the second part of a relationship, in which the characters can’t keep their hands off each other but are still trying to work out how they fit together. It’s an interesting place in a relationship to locate a book.
It does also give Parker an opportunity to really explore the sexuality of the characters, and she does this with gusto. The sex scenes are explicit and hot, and there are plenty of them. A sweet romance this isn’t. However, one of the characters was honest about the fact that she was bisexual and polyamorous, and the other is more comfortable being monogamous, so it was interesting to see how the characters managed that.
Knowing several polyamorous friends, I loved seeing that reflected in a book. Even in lesbian fiction, most of our romance books reflect the idea of two people forming a monogamous bond. While that is a common partnering arrangements in most cultures, it is lovely to see another version that is also honest and respectful of the characters.
This is the fourth book in a series by Parker. I haven’t read any of her other books, but it looks like she writes a range of sexually charged romances, mostly hetero, but including characters who are lesbian, gay, bi and trans. It’s an interesting mix.
Parker handles the characters and the erotic aspects well, and I think it must be difficult to do as this is actually really rare in the books I’ve read. I have now bought a number of her other books. Enjoy.
Advanced reading copy provided by NetGalley for an honest review.
Maisy is a Canadian figure skater, always in the top ten but never in the medals. Controlled by parents, coaches and the team managers, she has mastered the quiet acquiescence required to slip through life without standing out. Only Blaze knows this is a ruse.
After a drunken night at the last Snow and Ice Games, Blaze and Maisy commiserated their losses with days of sexual escapades. It has stuck in their minds and both are relishing the thought of getting together again at the current SIG competition.
This was an erotic romance that had some believable interactions and a nice setup. I liked how the characters interacted; there was a good sense of build up even though they got together fairly early in the book. This gave Parker an opportunity to skip over the ‘just met’ introductions, and move onto the second part of a relationship, in which the characters can’t keep their hands off each other but are still trying to work out how they fit together. It’s an interesting place in a relationship to locate a book.
It does also give Parker an opportunity to really explore the sexuality of the characters, and she does this with gusto. The sex scenes are explicit and hot, and there are plenty of them. A sweet romance this isn’t. However, one of the characters was honest about the fact that she was bisexual and polyamorous, and the other is more comfortable being monogamous, so it was interesting to see how the characters managed that.
Knowing several polyamorous friends, I loved seeing that reflected in a book. Even in lesbian fiction, most of our romance books reflect the idea of two people forming a monogamous bond. While that is a common partnering arrangements in most cultures, it is lovely to see another version that is also honest and respectful of the characters.
This is the fourth book in a series by Parker. I haven’t read any of her other books, but it looks like she writes a range of sexually charged romances, mostly hetero, but including characters who are lesbian, gay, bi and trans. It’s an interesting mix.
Parker handles the characters and the erotic aspects well, and I think it must be difficult to do as this is actually really rare in the books I’ve read. I have now bought a number of her other books. Enjoy.
Advanced reading copy provided by NetGalley for an honest review.
January 31, 2018
oooh i liked this one. it was so steamy. damn. it was a task to kep my face neutral while reading these sex scenes with family members around lol but i did iiiit!
Again, the strength of these books is the character voice. Maisy and Blaze are vastly different people. Maisy's more conservative and shy and Blaze is soo the opposite. Blaze unapologetically loves the spotlight and has made a career out of it, she's also not shy when it comes to her sex life. I loved both characters. How they were so different in general but oh so compatible in the bedroom. Those sex scenes, damn. it's how their relationship started four years ago and how it continued this round of the SIGs so of course there was a lot of sexy times, as they decide that's all their relationship will be til the end of the games (right sure girls...juuust sex, who you foolin>.>)
Of course conflict arises that yeh had me pissed at both women because assumptions were made on Maisy's part, which Blaze called her out for which was amazing! i loved that. and yeh Maisy saw how wrong she was for what she said nice. Thennnn Blaze, *shakes head at her* does something foolish that le sigh i wanted to shake her (these girls I STFG!) so frustrating, but i iked how each didnt just easily accept the other's apology.
The sports aspect was also pretty intriguing even though i know zero about these winter sports. Well i've watched figure skating before but Blaze's sport, the speed skating i knew nada about and googled after but it sounded so hardcore! I loved how we get a sense of how these women push their bodies as athletes.
Apart from the character personalities shining through in the text, throughout the books i've read in the series so far, the psychology of athletes we get to see as well, was also something i enjoyed.
So i enjoyed Maisy and Blaze a lot and am waiting on the last book in the series.
Again, the strength of these books is the character voice. Maisy and Blaze are vastly different people. Maisy's more conservative and shy and Blaze is soo the opposite. Blaze unapologetically loves the spotlight and has made a career out of it, she's also not shy when it comes to her sex life. I loved both characters. How they were so different in general but oh so compatible in the bedroom. Those sex scenes, damn. it's how their relationship started four years ago and how it continued this round of the SIGs so of course there was a lot of sexy times, as they decide that's all their relationship will be til the end of the games (right sure girls...juuust sex, who you foolin>.>)
Of course conflict arises that yeh had me pissed at both women because assumptions were made on Maisy's part, which Blaze called her out for which was amazing! i loved that. and yeh Maisy saw how wrong she was for what she said nice. Thennnn Blaze, *shakes head at her* does something foolish that le sigh i wanted to shake her (these girls I STFG!) so frustrating, but i iked how each didnt just easily accept the other's apology.
The sports aspect was also pretty intriguing even though i know zero about these winter sports. Well i've watched figure skating before but Blaze's sport, the speed skating i knew nada about and googled after but it sounded so hardcore! I loved how we get a sense of how these women push their bodies as athletes.
Apart from the character personalities shining through in the text, throughout the books i've read in the series so far, the psychology of athletes we get to see as well, was also something i enjoyed.
So i enjoyed Maisy and Blaze a lot and am waiting on the last book in the series.
February 3, 2018
~~I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads ~~
This is the fourth book in the series, and I am enjoying the variety of romances that are going on at the SIG. To be honest this starts out firmly in the lust, chemistry and passion genre, but as time moves on and the competition heats up, there are some good twists and turns in the story.
There are some good sports themed issues raised, such as commitment, passion, injury and media interest. It was fun to get behind the scenes, and see how competitors at such a big event spend their free time (no real surprise!). And certainly Maisy's decision, fuelled by Blaze's comments, is significant in showing how much she is affected by their connection.
Maisy's insecurities, and the 180 degree view on sex that she and Blaze have causes some painful moments, but somehow Ms Parker gets them all straightened out. It works for them, and that is all that one can ask of any relationship, is it not?
This is the fourth book in the series, and I am enjoying the variety of romances that are going on at the SIG. To be honest this starts out firmly in the lust, chemistry and passion genre, but as time moves on and the competition heats up, there are some good twists and turns in the story.
There are some good sports themed issues raised, such as commitment, passion, injury and media interest. It was fun to get behind the scenes, and see how competitors at such a big event spend their free time (no real surprise!). And certainly Maisy's decision, fuelled by Blaze's comments, is significant in showing how much she is affected by their connection.
Maisy's insecurities, and the 180 degree view on sex that she and Blaze have causes some painful moments, but somehow Ms Parker gets them all straightened out. It works for them, and that is all that one can ask of any relationship, is it not?
February 6, 2018
I was given a copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads.
This is a fun and delightfully smutty romp. Released just in time for the Winter Olympics, I’m not sure I’ll be able to watch the figure skating without recalling a few dirty fantasies from this book.
This series about relationships between athletes in an Olympic village-like setting has been about sex and fantasies from the start and this might be the steamiest of the stories I’ve read. It’s the story of a wild child speedskater and an ice queen figure skater. They’re an unlikely pair but when prim and proper Maisy gets out her collection of sex toys, she proves she’s able to match Blaze, kink for kink in the bedroom.
There is a surprising amount of character and relationship development in this book. Parts of Maisy’s story are predictable but Blaze is an original and refreshing character. The story starts with a hook-up but romance follows. I loved the author’s approach to Blaze’s bisexual, polyamorous identity. Ultimately, I really enjoyed both Blaze and Maisy and the skating competitions add excitement to the story. This is an easy, sexy read with two likeable (and insatiable) leads.
This is a fun and delightfully smutty romp. Released just in time for the Winter Olympics, I’m not sure I’ll be able to watch the figure skating without recalling a few dirty fantasies from this book.
This series about relationships between athletes in an Olympic village-like setting has been about sex and fantasies from the start and this might be the steamiest of the stories I’ve read. It’s the story of a wild child speedskater and an ice queen figure skater. They’re an unlikely pair but when prim and proper Maisy gets out her collection of sex toys, she proves she’s able to match Blaze, kink for kink in the bedroom.
There is a surprising amount of character and relationship development in this book. Parts of Maisy’s story are predictable but Blaze is an original and refreshing character. The story starts with a hook-up but romance follows. I loved the author’s approach to Blaze’s bisexual, polyamorous identity. Ultimately, I really enjoyed both Blaze and Maisy and the skating competitions add excitement to the story. This is an easy, sexy read with two likeable (and insatiable) leads.
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