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Original Six Hockey #2
Love on Ice
She’s focused on winning gold. He wants to lose the player tag. Can a fake relationship become something real?
Aussie short track skater Holly Travers has one goal - make the Vancouver Games, no matter what it takes. She has no time for distractions, even if they come in the handsome form of her best friend’s twin brother. This hockey player may say he’s not a player, but can she trust him?
Brent Karlsson has one goal - make his sister’s best friend realise he’s a changed man and she should give him a chance. When a set-up in Hawaii helps these two opposites realize they have more in common than they thought, what happens when he wants to turn their fake relationship into something real? And how can a relationship work when these two elite athletes never see each other and live on opposite sides of the world?
Aussie short track skater Holly Travers has one goal - make the Vancouver Games, no matter what it takes. She has no time for distractions, even if they come in the handsome form of her best friend’s twin brother. This hockey player may say he’s not a player, but can she trust him?
Brent Karlsson has one goal - make his sister’s best friend realise he’s a changed man and she should give him a chance. When a set-up in Hawaii helps these two opposites realize they have more in common than they thought, what happens when he wants to turn their fake relationship into something real? And how can a relationship work when these two elite athletes never see each other and live on opposite sides of the world?
404 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2022
29 people are currently reading
212 people want to read
About the author
Carolyn Miller
57 books1,062 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Carolyn Miller lives in the beautiful Southern Highlands of New South Wales, Australia, with her husband and four children. A longtime lover of romance, Carolyn loves drawing readers into fictional worlds that show the truth of God’s grace in our lives. Her bestselling, award-winning Regency and contemporary novels are stories that offer hope, heart, and a twist of Aussie humour. Connect with her at www.carolynmillerauthor.com where you can find our more about her books, and sign up for her newsletter to be the first to know her book news.
Carolyn Miller lives in the beautiful Southern Highlands of New South Wales, Australia, with her husband and four children. A longtime lover of romance, Carolyn loves drawing readers into fictional worlds that show the truth of God’s grace in our lives. Her bestselling, award-winning Regency and contemporary novels are stories that offer hope, heart, and a twist of Aussie humour. Connect with her at www.carolynmillerauthor.com where you can find our more about her books, and sign up for her newsletter to be the first to know her book news.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
October 2, 2023
I finally continued this series, and just in time for the Sports Romance September Storygraph challenge too.
Love on Ice was a bit more exciting than the first book, with both main characters being athletes. Brent, who we met in The Breakup Project is a hockey player, and Holly (who we also saw there) is a short track skater.
Before going into this book, I knew exactly zero things about short track, and when I say zero, I really do mean zero. But after, I feel like I know enough about it to tell people who compete that they have hearts of steel!! You would not catch me doing that, no sir.
I really liked both Brent and Holly, him with his jokes and her with her sass. They're a good match. And maybe it's because I'm also long distance with my partner, but their relationship spoke to me more than Bree and Mike's did.
I could relate to their struggles with time zones, busy/conflicting schedules and then finally being able to see each other after a long time apart.
There were also some emotional moments when Holly got injured, I cried, of course. For a second I thought we were going to have an amnesia plotline, but luckily it didn't go in that direction, crisis averted (I'm a seasoned amnesia trope hater).
I found the depiction of Holly after her big injury to be realistic, that was probably when I cried the most. I'm so glad it worked out for her in the end.
This book had more sports than the previous one, I like when sports romances have some sports inside so I didn't mind this at all.
To circle back to the relationship for a second, waiting for them to kiss was AGONYYYYYY. But in a good way. If you thought Bree and Mike were slow burn, well, you ain't seen nothing yet.
Tori Popovic is my honorary Slavic character of the day, you go girl!!! Need her and Vlad from book one to get together, I see the vision.
Jai's book is next, I likely won't jump into it immediately (gotta let this one marinate a lil), but I am excited to read more of this series.
This one gets 5 stars for the emotional damage inflicted.
Love on Ice was a bit more exciting than the first book, with both main characters being athletes. Brent, who we met in The Breakup Project is a hockey player, and Holly (who we also saw there) is a short track skater.
Before going into this book, I knew exactly zero things about short track, and when I say zero, I really do mean zero. But after, I feel like I know enough about it to tell people who compete that they have hearts of steel!! You would not catch me doing that, no sir.
I really liked both Brent and Holly, him with his jokes and her with her sass. They're a good match. And maybe it's because I'm also long distance with my partner, but their relationship spoke to me more than Bree and Mike's did.
I could relate to their struggles with time zones, busy/conflicting schedules and then finally being able to see each other after a long time apart.
There were also some emotional moments when Holly got injured, I cried, of course. For a second I thought we were going to have an amnesia plotline, but luckily it didn't go in that direction, crisis averted (I'm a seasoned amnesia trope hater).
I found the depiction of Holly after her big injury to be realistic, that was probably when I cried the most. I'm so glad it worked out for her in the end.
This book had more sports than the previous one, I like when sports romances have some sports inside so I didn't mind this at all.
To circle back to the relationship for a second, waiting for them to kiss was AGONYYYYYY. But in a good way. If you thought Bree and Mike were slow burn, well, you ain't seen nothing yet.
Tori Popovic is my honorary Slavic character of the day, you go girl!!! Need her and Vlad from book one to get together, I see the vision.
Jai's book is next, I likely won't jump into it immediately (gotta let this one marinate a lil), but I am excited to read more of this series.
This one gets 5 stars for the emotional damage inflicted.
November 4, 2022
Love on Ice was fantastic! I stayed up late into the night reading this book because I had to know what happened with these characters. This is book two in the Original Six Hockey series, yet you could easily jump into this book without having read book one. Since I did read the first book, I really appreciated how much Brent had changed and the way he had turned back to God and was trying to live his life in a way that honored him. He was a great character and I loved the way he was continually there for Holly, offering her support as a friend and being very patient with her as she struggled with a lot of stress and worry.
It was great getting an inside look into the lives of two elite athletes and feeling like I was going through everything with them. Their love story had a lot of bumps and hurdles to overcome and Holly struggled with being defined by what she did rather than by simply knowing her importance as a child of God.
The author did a great job of creating an atmosphere where these two had to spend a lot of time apart communicating through Face Time, text, and email. The frustrations and longing through those encounters felt very real and amplified the emotions for when Brent and Holly were able to be together in person.
I loved this story from start to finish, just as I did book one, The Breakup Project. I am really enjoying this series!
You can read this review on my blog:
https://brittreadsfiction.wordpress.c...
It was great getting an inside look into the lives of two elite athletes and feeling like I was going through everything with them. Their love story had a lot of bumps and hurdles to overcome and Holly struggled with being defined by what she did rather than by simply knowing her importance as a child of God.
The author did a great job of creating an atmosphere where these two had to spend a lot of time apart communicating through Face Time, text, and email. The frustrations and longing through those encounters felt very real and amplified the emotions for when Brent and Holly were able to be together in person.
I loved this story from start to finish, just as I did book one, The Breakup Project. I am really enjoying this series!
You can read this review on my blog:
https://brittreadsfiction.wordpress.c...
November 21, 2021
Love on Ice by Carolyn Miller is the second book in the Original Six Hockey series, and it is a fantastic page turner! Love on Ice features the love story of Holly Travers from Australia who is a short track skater, and Brent Karlsson, a professional hockey player.
I appreciated reading the author’s description of short track skating and hockey. As someone who knows very little about either sport, I felt like she did a great job and my lack of knowledge did not hinder my reading of the story. I felt like a true hockey and short track fan after reading the story!
“You are not what you do. You are so much more than just your skating.”
Getting to know both characters as they navigated falling in love while both having careers in elite sports made for a wonderful read. I was very drawn into the story and found myself rooting for both characters as they walked through challenging issues, fell in love and kept pursuing their faith.
This is a wonderful romance that will not disappoint! I highly recommend it.
I was given a complimentary copy and not required to write a review.
I appreciated reading the author’s description of short track skating and hockey. As someone who knows very little about either sport, I felt like she did a great job and my lack of knowledge did not hinder my reading of the story. I felt like a true hockey and short track fan after reading the story!
“You are not what you do. You are so much more than just your skating.”
Getting to know both characters as they navigated falling in love while both having careers in elite sports made for a wonderful read. I was very drawn into the story and found myself rooting for both characters as they walked through challenging issues, fell in love and kept pursuing their faith.
This is a wonderful romance that will not disappoint! I highly recommend it.
I was given a complimentary copy and not required to write a review.
December 16, 2023
Enjoyable love story between two elite athletes. A hockey player and a speed skater both with the goal of representing their respective countries at the Vancouver Olympics. I love watching both of these sports and really enjoy the winter Olympics. The speed skating scenes make me feel like I was right there with Holly and felt intense. I found the build up at the beginning a bit slow, but it picked up and once the Olympics happened I was fully invested in the characters. I enjoyed seeing the change in Brent from book one and how he pursued Holly and tried to live for God. It was nice to see Bree and Mike again, I enjoyed catching up with them.
January 24, 2024
A very sweet romance full of action and excitement. I learned a lot about short track, something I knew nothing about. I also truthfully do not care about sports at all, but I do enjoy reading stories where that is a big part of the setting.
I liked Brent and Holly a lot. I loved the long distance trope. I feel like I should read more stories like that because I find it very interesting. I could relate to Holly in not wanting to have kids right away. I went through my own season of that. Now all I want is to be at home with my baby. Oh the irony. 🤣 Isn't it funny how God works in our hearts over time?
I definitely recommend this book.
I liked Brent and Holly a lot. I loved the long distance trope. I feel like I should read more stories like that because I find it very interesting. I could relate to Holly in not wanting to have kids right away. I went through my own season of that. Now all I want is to be at home with my baby. Oh the irony. 🤣 Isn't it funny how God works in our hearts over time?
I definitely recommend this book.
January 30, 2022
Carolyn Miller’s ability to pull you into a story is outstanding! Her descriptions of short skating are gripping, giving me heart thumping anticipation for the result, and trepidation when danger comes. Add to this the tender love growing between two young people living their life dreams of sporting excellence and the tyranny of physical distance thrown in to challenge them, and you have a brilliant story of romance, exhilarating sporting excitement and devastating disappointment of hurdles to be overcome.
The end outcome is a book that is unputdownable displaying all of Miller’s literary skills she has revealed in her previous books.
I never thought I would give 5 stars to a book about ice hockey and speed skating!
I was given a copy of this book with no requirement to give a favourable review
The end outcome is a book that is unputdownable displaying all of Miller’s literary skills she has revealed in her previous books.
I never thought I would give 5 stars to a book about ice hockey and speed skating!
I was given a copy of this book with no requirement to give a favourable review
November 19, 2021
This is the second book in the Original Six hockey series and is best read after The Breakup Project.
Holly is an Australian short track skater with a dream to become the best in her sport and make it to the upcoming winter Olympics. Her best friend Bree has just gotten married, and she clashes with Bree's brother Brent. Brent has just recently been through a bad breakup, but as he watches Holly, he becomes attracted to her beginning with her work ethic and talent and through their emails back and forth. As they begin to fall for each other, Brent and Holly realize the distance that separates them might not be so great after all, but will their careers keep them apart forever?
I enjoyed this book very much, especially the relationship between Brent and Holly. To go from disliking one another to being in love is a common storyline, but it was well done and quite believable here. It was easy to sympathize with the characters and become emotionally invested in their story. I was personally encouraged by the biblical principles presented, and though I personally did not agree with all of the characters' decisions, I can heartily recommend this book to anyone who enjoys good fiction.
I received a copy of this book from the author. A positive review was not required, and all opinions expressed are entirely my own.
Holly is an Australian short track skater with a dream to become the best in her sport and make it to the upcoming winter Olympics. Her best friend Bree has just gotten married, and she clashes with Bree's brother Brent. Brent has just recently been through a bad breakup, but as he watches Holly, he becomes attracted to her beginning with her work ethic and talent and through their emails back and forth. As they begin to fall for each other, Brent and Holly realize the distance that separates them might not be so great after all, but will their careers keep them apart forever?
I enjoyed this book very much, especially the relationship between Brent and Holly. To go from disliking one another to being in love is a common storyline, but it was well done and quite believable here. It was easy to sympathize with the characters and become emotionally invested in their story. I was personally encouraged by the biblical principles presented, and though I personally did not agree with all of the characters' decisions, I can heartily recommend this book to anyone who enjoys good fiction.
I received a copy of this book from the author. A positive review was not required, and all opinions expressed are entirely my own.
January 12, 2024
Sports, faith and love!
Wow! This book is amazing! It's a brilliant mix of sports, faith and love! It was so interesting to me to read about short track skating and hockey! I also liked traveling to different places, like Australia and Hawaii!
The characters are so wonderful and easy to like! I found myself cheering Holly and Brent as they competed in their sports! My heart also ached as Holly suffered a horrible injury. I liked the importance of family that came across the pages. It was very heartwarming!
My favorite aspect of all was the parts about faith in God! It was so encouraging and inspiring! My favorite quote is: "All this time, I've been wanting to prove myself when God has been saying 'just trust me'. So I've released it all to Him. I'm trying to do my best to live more in each moment instead of with my worries about the future." This is something that can be applied day by day!
I highly recommend this book and I can't wait to read more books by Carolyn Miller!!
Wow! This book is amazing! It's a brilliant mix of sports, faith and love! It was so interesting to me to read about short track skating and hockey! I also liked traveling to different places, like Australia and Hawaii!
The characters are so wonderful and easy to like! I found myself cheering Holly and Brent as they competed in their sports! My heart also ached as Holly suffered a horrible injury. I liked the importance of family that came across the pages. It was very heartwarming!
My favorite aspect of all was the parts about faith in God! It was so encouraging and inspiring! My favorite quote is: "All this time, I've been wanting to prove myself when God has been saying 'just trust me'. So I've released it all to Him. I'm trying to do my best to live more in each moment instead of with my worries about the future." This is something that can be applied day by day!
I highly recommend this book and I can't wait to read more books by Carolyn Miller!!
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August 28, 2021Beta read
October 30, 2021
This might just be my favorite hockey book. Maybe my favorite sports book. (But the rest of the series isn’t out yet..) I just love the characters and the conflict. Talk about a swoon worthy book. Loved it.
October 18, 2021
Adrenaline, chemistry, romance, and lots of wooing! Love on Ice is the second in Miller’s Original Six series and is even more thrilling than book one. Holly and Brent have a friendship thanks to Brent’s sister, Bree, who just happens to be Holly’s best friend. Holly is well aware of the history and rumors surrounding Brent and determines to take her coach’s advice of “no distractions” very seriously. She’s not looking for a relationship, especially from a known player. No matter how attractive he might be. Except, he’s also attentive and caring and not at all what she thought. When she finds herself being wooed by Brent, she re-evaluates her first impression and lets his behavior speak for itself. As their feelings deepen, so do the challenges that elite athletes on opposite sides of the world would face. This book is full of sweet moments, hockey, and short track. Friendship, loyalty, humility, and perseverance are key themes. You do not have to be a fan of sports or even knowledgeable in hockey and short track to appreciate the love story.
I received a complimentary copy from the author and all opinions expressed are my own, freely given.
October 12, 2021
Carolyn Miller scores another win with Love on Ice, the second book in her Original Six Hockey series. I love the fact that both the hero and heroine are athletes and each strongly focused to excel in their respective sports. Competing at opposite sides of the globe make it difficult to forge a relationship, but can this keep them apart? What are they willing to sacrifice to succeed? Their individual journeys of self-discovery involve some high and low moments that point towards their faith in God. I absolutely loved the faith thread in this story. Its message that success does not lie on what we do, but who we are is powerful.
I received a complimentary copy from the author/publisher. I was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.
I received a complimentary copy from the author/publisher. I was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.
September 19, 2021
Love love and love this story!! It's so amazing how God places certain dreams in our heats and then works everything out to get us right where He wants us to be. The journey can be long, painful, and full of detours, but He ultimately gets us there. He gave us those dreams for a reason, we just have to trust Him through the process
February 5, 2022
“BANG!
Skate, skate, skate. Holly pumped her arms, her skates eating up the ice. Yes! She was in the lead. She scooted around the corner, her left hand hovering over the ice. She had to maintain the pace and not to get outwitted on the turns.”
A perfect read as we head into the Olympics. Miller brings a winning story about finding love in the highly competitive world of high level sports. I really enjoyed the feel of this book. We rarely see the focus on female athletes and this is a tremendous look at what it takes to be a competitor in the world of female short track speed skating. Holly is a true champion but it’s taking so much for her to get there and her dreams of Olympic level proportions seems out of reach. It was inspiring seeing her drive and dedication for her sport, but the cost is high in her relationships. When feelings change for her best friend’s brother, she struggles between being an athlete and having more. Then there is Brent. I really love Brent and seeing his radical change and realizing he doesn’t want to live the fast life of partying that’s expected in his hockey world.
“Holly, I just wanted to know…if maybe, one day, you’d consider letting me kiss you?”
Her eyes widened further. “What?”
“I don’t want you confused about how I feel, Holly. I want you to know I’m very, very serious about you.”
She gulped. “Oh. Wow”
The romance between Brent and Holly is sweet and refreshing. Brent is super patient with Holly even when she is ready to throw in the towel (romance and racing). He continues his encouragement of her and her dreams. Waiting for that first kiss really made the magic come together. “Love on Ice” is full of all the feels from this dynamic duo. At times, their relationship seems to drag on a little too long in the waiting game. However, I do believe it’s a true representation of trying to combine relationship and high level sports. I really love the focus on trusting God to bring everything together.
“Take the pressure off, and let God be your true measure of success.”
Overall, I found this book was an incredible and unexpectedly, enjoyable read. Miller drew me right into the story and I loved learning more about short skate and hockey. The scenery, travel, and side characters added so much, too. It was amazing learning more about Canada and Australia. The faith element was woven in beautifully. Though this is the second book in the series, it could easily be read as a standalone.
I was given a copy of this book by the author. All opinions are my own and have been given honestly.
Skate, skate, skate. Holly pumped her arms, her skates eating up the ice. Yes! She was in the lead. She scooted around the corner, her left hand hovering over the ice. She had to maintain the pace and not to get outwitted on the turns.”
A perfect read as we head into the Olympics. Miller brings a winning story about finding love in the highly competitive world of high level sports. I really enjoyed the feel of this book. We rarely see the focus on female athletes and this is a tremendous look at what it takes to be a competitor in the world of female short track speed skating. Holly is a true champion but it’s taking so much for her to get there and her dreams of Olympic level proportions seems out of reach. It was inspiring seeing her drive and dedication for her sport, but the cost is high in her relationships. When feelings change for her best friend’s brother, she struggles between being an athlete and having more. Then there is Brent. I really love Brent and seeing his radical change and realizing he doesn’t want to live the fast life of partying that’s expected in his hockey world.
“Holly, I just wanted to know…if maybe, one day, you’d consider letting me kiss you?”
Her eyes widened further. “What?”
“I don’t want you confused about how I feel, Holly. I want you to know I’m very, very serious about you.”
She gulped. “Oh. Wow”
The romance between Brent and Holly is sweet and refreshing. Brent is super patient with Holly even when she is ready to throw in the towel (romance and racing). He continues his encouragement of her and her dreams. Waiting for that first kiss really made the magic come together. “Love on Ice” is full of all the feels from this dynamic duo. At times, their relationship seems to drag on a little too long in the waiting game. However, I do believe it’s a true representation of trying to combine relationship and high level sports. I really love the focus on trusting God to bring everything together.
“Take the pressure off, and let God be your true measure of success.”
Overall, I found this book was an incredible and unexpectedly, enjoyable read. Miller drew me right into the story and I loved learning more about short skate and hockey. The scenery, travel, and side characters added so much, too. It was amazing learning more about Canada and Australia. The faith element was woven in beautifully. Though this is the second book in the series, it could easily be read as a standalone.
I was given a copy of this book by the author. All opinions are my own and have been given honestly.
March 22, 2022
Oh, my goodness, what a fantastic story! I really loved every minute of Love on Ice by Carolyn Miller. One of my complaints about Sports Romances is that there is usually very little sport. I get it … most people reading these types of Romance stories want the romance and not so much the sport, but I still typically find the sport side skimpy at best. As a person who played sports for over 17 years, I like Sport Romances for the sport. Carolyn Miller delivered in this story. My most favorite aspect to this story is the sport details. WHOA! Was I on the edge of my seat through all of Holly’s skate races, or what?! Short-track skating is terrifying. I was so stressed every time Holly took to the ice, I’m sure my blood pressure was at its highest during these moments in the story. And I really enjoyed all of Brent’s hockey matches. His play got seriously stressful towards the end. I loved this so much — this sport aspect — because it kept me coming back to the story ASAP, and there was no skimping on the details. Clearly, Miller likes her sports, too!
In addition to the sports details, I really loved the relationship that blooms between Holly and Brent. In this aspect, Miller returns to what she does best — craft characters who are not only endearing and relatable, but who are also completely realistic. I appreciate the conflict that arises between Holly and Brent, and I appreciate how they deal with their relationship issues. Long distance relationships are hard. Very hard, to be sure. And not many last. So, I feel like it is very realistic that Holly struggles with moving the friendship between her and Brent into something more than just friendship. How could two outstanding-in-their-fields athletes who travel all over the nation and the world to play actually make a real, lasting relationship work? To me, this is a really excellent question. It would make anyone pause before jumping into a serious relationship. And I enjoyed watching Holly and Brent maneuver through this conflict. I LOVE how both Holly and Brent realize that everything boils down to trust. Because when your trust someone 100%, you really can overcome anything … even long distances.
There is actually quite more to discuss in regard to Love on Ice. Miller has successfully penned a book that is more than just some Sports Romance. But I don’t want to spoil anything. Love on Ice is a good story and I highly recommend it! Purchase yourself a copy today. You won’t be disappointed you did!
I purchased a copy of this novel in eBook form from Amazon.com on January 26, 2022, in order to review. In no way has this influenced my review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.
In addition to the sports details, I really loved the relationship that blooms between Holly and Brent. In this aspect, Miller returns to what she does best — craft characters who are not only endearing and relatable, but who are also completely realistic. I appreciate the conflict that arises between Holly and Brent, and I appreciate how they deal with their relationship issues. Long distance relationships are hard. Very hard, to be sure. And not many last. So, I feel like it is very realistic that Holly struggles with moving the friendship between her and Brent into something more than just friendship. How could two outstanding-in-their-fields athletes who travel all over the nation and the world to play actually make a real, lasting relationship work? To me, this is a really excellent question. It would make anyone pause before jumping into a serious relationship. And I enjoyed watching Holly and Brent maneuver through this conflict. I LOVE how both Holly and Brent realize that everything boils down to trust. Because when your trust someone 100%, you really can overcome anything … even long distances.
There is actually quite more to discuss in regard to Love on Ice. Miller has successfully penned a book that is more than just some Sports Romance. But I don’t want to spoil anything. Love on Ice is a good story and I highly recommend it! Purchase yourself a copy today. You won’t be disappointed you did!
I purchased a copy of this novel in eBook form from Amazon.com on January 26, 2022, in order to review. In no way has this influenced my review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.
February 29, 2024
The second in the Original Six series, Love on Ice is Brent and Holly’s story! Both of these characters were introduced in the first book, so it was exciting to read their story. I had just read the first book and while I already liked Holly, Brent had to grow on me a bit, just like he did on Holly! Both were focused on their athletic careers. Yet, they found them continually brought together. As they got to know one another, they found their commonality and complementary aspects.
Holly was so passionate about short track. She was chasing her goals and so didn’t feel like her life had space for a relationship, and certainly not with Brent. She saw him as prickly, prideful, and a bit of a player. As she began to see the man God was shaped him to be, she had to consider what her ultimate goals were. What was her life about? Was it enough to steal moments between endless training and competitions? I loved her growth over the story. Ms. Miller writes characters who truly grow and are forced to fall on the Lord. I don’t want to spoil anything, because a lot happens in the last third or so of the book, but Holly has to go through some twists and turns.
Like I said before, Brent had to grow on me. In the previous book, he was a bit lost, but here he is seeking to pursue a relationship with God. I loved his relationship with his family. He still had to deal with the consequences of his choices. He had to woo Holly, who knew some of his past and was wary. I really enjoyed seeing how much Brent fell for Holly! He also had to learn to trust God, with his circumstances and with people.
The focus of the story is the character growth and how they grow together. It does feel a bit slow at points, but I feel like it really picks up about halfway. Overall, this is an enjoyable Christian sports romance. It does feature struggles like loss, injury, and fame. There is only kissing.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion, I was not required to write a positive review.
Holly was so passionate about short track. She was chasing her goals and so didn’t feel like her life had space for a relationship, and certainly not with Brent. She saw him as prickly, prideful, and a bit of a player. As she began to see the man God was shaped him to be, she had to consider what her ultimate goals were. What was her life about? Was it enough to steal moments between endless training and competitions? I loved her growth over the story. Ms. Miller writes characters who truly grow and are forced to fall on the Lord. I don’t want to spoil anything, because a lot happens in the last third or so of the book, but Holly has to go through some twists and turns.
Like I said before, Brent had to grow on me. In the previous book, he was a bit lost, but here he is seeking to pursue a relationship with God. I loved his relationship with his family. He still had to deal with the consequences of his choices. He had to woo Holly, who knew some of his past and was wary. I really enjoyed seeing how much Brent fell for Holly! He also had to learn to trust God, with his circumstances and with people.
The focus of the story is the character growth and how they grow together. It does feel a bit slow at points, but I feel like it really picks up about halfway. Overall, this is an enjoyable Christian sports romance. It does feature struggles like loss, injury, and fame. There is only kissing.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion, I was not required to write a positive review.
February 16, 2023
"How long had Holly put her pride in being seen to be successful? How long had Holly put her pride in being seen to be successful? How long had she put her own interests above God? Yet time and again, this had come at the cost of her peace of mind, her relationships, her health. Striving in her own strength had only shown how weak she truly was, and she'd spent her rest time the afternoon after the conversation with her mother in her room, not resting but repenting and releasing, asking God to restore her relationship with Him. Confessing her selfishness. Realizing that she needed to seek first God's kingdom above her own desires. The peace from that encounter had soaked in as the weight lifted, false expectations crumbled, and she came to a fresh understanding that her identity, for so long entwined with her performance, was based not on what she did but who she was. Whose she was."
As a professional speed skater, Holly has given her all to the sport. Too bad that Australia is unable to support their winter sports athletes very well. She finds unexpected support from her best friend's brother. Brent is a hockey player, and he understands how much the ice can demand. Can they find a way to make their relationship work? Especially since they are often on different continents.
If you are a winter sports enthusiast, this is the book for you. I would say that this book contains a bit more technical information about the sports than the other ones in the series. I really enjoyed that aspect.
This book is more closely connected to the first book in the series. Bree is introduced in book 1, and since this book is about her best friend and brother, the characters do overlap. I liked interacting with these characters again.
As a professional speed skater, Holly has given her all to the sport. Too bad that Australia is unable to support their winter sports athletes very well. She finds unexpected support from her best friend's brother. Brent is a hockey player, and he understands how much the ice can demand. Can they find a way to make their relationship work? Especially since they are often on different continents.
If you are a winter sports enthusiast, this is the book for you. I would say that this book contains a bit more technical information about the sports than the other ones in the series. I really enjoyed that aspect.
This book is more closely connected to the first book in the series. Bree is introduced in book 1, and since this book is about her best friend and brother, the characters do overlap. I liked interacting with these characters again.
February 2, 2022
This is the second book in the Original Six series by Carolyn Miller. It features Holly Travis a short course speed skater hoping to make the Australian Winter Olympic team in Vancouver. As speed skating isn’t a big sport in Australia Holly needs to work to afford to train and travel. She does get a little assistance with some of the travel from the government but mostly she has to earn her money as its not a professional sport. Ice hockey which Brent Karlsson plays for the Detroit Wings is a professional sport where he is paid well and really has no idea the struggles Holly has to participate.
In many ways this book isn’t just about a long-distance relationship its about the haves (aka professional sports people) and the have nots (aka amateur sports people). Through out this book we can see Holly’s struggle to be the best she can.
Along the way to do learn more about short course track skating and in the scenes, I could see the races in my mind as I enjoy watching them in the Olympics. I will admit I am not a fan of Ice Hockey, I don’t understand it and besides the Mighty Ducks don’t really watch it but I did learn some things about the game.
I like how both Holly and Brent have goals and was interested to see how it would pan out. I will admit there were times I found it slower due to some of the races but look forward to seeing what the next book in the series will be about.
In many ways this book isn’t just about a long-distance relationship its about the haves (aka professional sports people) and the have nots (aka amateur sports people). Through out this book we can see Holly’s struggle to be the best she can.
Along the way to do learn more about short course track skating and in the scenes, I could see the races in my mind as I enjoy watching them in the Olympics. I will admit I am not a fan of Ice Hockey, I don’t understand it and besides the Mighty Ducks don’t really watch it but I did learn some things about the game.
I like how both Holly and Brent have goals and was interested to see how it would pan out. I will admit there were times I found it slower due to some of the races but look forward to seeing what the next book in the series will be about.
October 18, 2022
It is very much a sports romance. Book 1 of the series has more romance, but if you like sports, that probably won't bother you. In the first 40% of the book, there were big chunks with the couple on opposite sides of the world with the girl more interested in sports than the guy. I found those parts a slow read as it seemed more women's fiction. The parts with the couple together were fun and interesting.
After the 40% mark, the couple are closer and interact more frequently. That's when the book became an easy read (more the romance fiction style I enjoy), and I quickly finished it off. The girl's character flaw of being insecure got on my nerves a bit. I really liked the guy. I didn't expect that after reading who he was in the first book, but he's a great hero--patient, kind, dedicated, and working hard to please God. He really carried the first 40% of the book for me.
The epilogue is technically a 'clean' read, but for me the honeymoon scene was TMI. I really liked the author's note at the end which explained her inspiration for the story.
It's a good book with some great scenes, but I found it a bit too sporty for me.
After the 40% mark, the couple are closer and interact more frequently. That's when the book became an easy read (more the romance fiction style I enjoy), and I quickly finished it off. The girl's character flaw of being insecure got on my nerves a bit. I really liked the guy. I didn't expect that after reading who he was in the first book, but he's a great hero--patient, kind, dedicated, and working hard to please God. He really carried the first 40% of the book for me.
The epilogue is technically a 'clean' read, but for me the honeymoon scene was TMI. I really liked the author's note at the end which explained her inspiration for the story.
It's a good book with some great scenes, but I found it a bit too sporty for me.
January 22, 2024
It takes an author with a gift for words to draft a good contemporary story with almost steamy romance scenes in it, without ever crossing that line. In Love on Ice, Carolyn Miller gives us a sweet romance between two professionals, Holly, a short track skater and Brent, a professional hockey player. Holly’s striving to be the best in her field leaves her with a devastating injury that may ruin her dream of competing in the Olympics representing Australia. Brent’s dream is to make it on to the Canadian hocky team, representing Canada at the Olympics. One major obstacle for these two to overcome is how to balance their careers and a long-distance romance. Great research and writing give us a close look into the struggles, training, and anticipations of both sports. I learned so much about both sports. A strong thread of faith is woven throughout the story as Holly learns how to rely on Him and His love for her and Brent learns how to live according to God’s principles and His will. A fun and entertaining book. I recommend it to anyone that likes Christian romantic fiction.
January 12, 2024
Love on Ice is the first book selection for the Around the World in 50 (minus 1) book challenge. January & February book selection settings are in Australasia. Ice Hockey takes the reader on a world tour: USA - Hawaii, Utah, Michigan (Detroit), Australia - Sydney, Wollongong , Brisbane, Canada - Toronto, Calgary, Vancouver and Asia - Japan, China, Bulgaria and Korea.
This retired high school teacher is not a huge sports fan. I have attended a few Michigan Red Wings games. I am awed when watching athletes preforming figure skating and speed skating at the Winter Olympics. Carolyn Miller does an excellent job crafting her contemporary romance story, including dangers on and off the ice, plus training and travel. Regardless of career choices: young adults often need to concentrate what THEY CAN DO right NOW, not the IFs, the fairytales, and what-would-never-be. An inspiring read for winter sports enthusiasts and arm chair travelers.
This retired high school teacher is not a huge sports fan. I have attended a few Michigan Red Wings games. I am awed when watching athletes preforming figure skating and speed skating at the Winter Olympics. Carolyn Miller does an excellent job crafting her contemporary romance story, including dangers on and off the ice, plus training and travel. Regardless of career choices: young adults often need to concentrate what THEY CAN DO right NOW, not the IFs, the fairytales, and what-would-never-be. An inspiring read for winter sports enthusiasts and arm chair travelers.
June 1, 2022
Another great addition to the series!
Despite not being into sport (I often avoid sports romances), I really enjoyed this story! The characters were wonderful with familiar crossovers between this novel and book 1, and the sports-heavy journey kept me entertained without any boring details.
I appreciated Brent in this story having followed him through the eyes of his twin sister and best buddy in the previous book. The changes he made in his life went a long way to securing Holly's affections. The frenemies vibe these two shared in Bree and Mike's book also added to this story.
I loved travelling the globe with Holly, and the crazy impromptu overseas trip! The pressure to perform/win held me glued to the pages at times, and the competition scenes were gripping.
A wonderful, faith-filled read.
Despite not being into sport (I often avoid sports romances), I really enjoyed this story! The characters were wonderful with familiar crossovers between this novel and book 1, and the sports-heavy journey kept me entertained without any boring details.
I appreciated Brent in this story having followed him through the eyes of his twin sister and best buddy in the previous book. The changes he made in his life went a long way to securing Holly's affections. The frenemies vibe these two shared in Bree and Mike's book also added to this story.
I loved travelling the globe with Holly, and the crazy impromptu overseas trip! The pressure to perform/win held me glued to the pages at times, and the competition scenes were gripping.
A wonderful, faith-filled read.
January 6, 2024
This was a 4.5 star read for me. It is the second book in the Original Six Hockey series and is the story of two people we are introduced to in the first book. The two main characters are, Holly a short track speed skater and Olympic hopeful, and Brent who is a professional hockey player. I found the characters very relatable even though I'm not a hockey fan and know very little about short track skating. Carolyn Miller presented their challenges in a way that I could connect to them even though I don't play those sports. I enjoyed finding out more about short track and the danger and commitment involved. She does a great job of tacking the idea of where do we find our identity. Does it come from success and how the world views it or does it come from the fact we are created by God for his purpose. It was fairly predictable, but I actually didn't mind that.
January 24, 2024
There was no way Holly Travers could have predicted that spending a year as an exchange student with the Karlsson family would have a massive impact on her life. But here she is, a decade later, returning to act as maid of honor for her best friend, Bree, and dodging her determination to set Holly up with Bree's twin brother, Brent. Yes, he's a good-looking, professional hockey player, but his reputation as a lady's man precedes him. Holly has bigger goals than having a boyfriend, like finally making it to the Olympic Games.
Love on Ice by Carolyn Miller is a fast-moving contemporary Christian novel whose characters explore what success and love mean as they discover that they are so much more than the sports they play.
Love on Ice by Carolyn Miller is a fast-moving contemporary Christian novel whose characters explore what success and love mean as they discover that they are so much more than the sports they play.
March 3, 2022
Meet Holly and Brent. She’s an Aussie short track skater, and he’s a Canadian ice-hockey player. ‘Can a relationship work when these two elite athletes never see each other and live on opposite sides of the world?’ One of the things I loved about this book was the fact both main characters are elite athletes and both successful in their own rights. There were no misunderstandings or competition in terms of their careers. The whole way through the book, you’ll be cheering on Holly and Brent. Hoping they’ll connect and work things out between them, but also cheering them on in their sporting endeavours. This adrenaline fuelled story will have you laughing and crying as you turn the pages.
March 26, 2024
Love on Ice by Carolyn Miller continued my love of this author's hockey books. There was a swoony hero and an interesting heroine. This book was sportier than the first book in the series in that we were with Holly as she competed in various races and we were more involved in the hockey games with Brent. It was an enemies to love story, but the enemies part was quickly resolved. It was very inspirational in how Holly relied on the Lord and eventually turned everything over to Him. It was also neat to watch Brent turn from a ladies' man into a man seeking the Lord. I'm excited to continue reading this series!
February 11, 2024
Love On Ice is a tension filled romantic story. Holly and Brent make great leading characters for a beautiful read with extra depth. Miller tackles trusting God and giving Him room to determine your path. I love how she shows each character doing what they are called to do in their own personal lives and the way it melds. Love on Ice is filled with descriptions of settings, characters and moments, which also brings about skillful character development and great romance in their relationship.
January 28, 2025
I know next to nothing about hockey or short track ice skating but when I read Love on Ice I felt the chill of the ice on my hand as Holly rounded a curve. I felt the hits against the boards as Brent pushed for a win. Most of all, I felt the need for validation via performance that they both (especially Holly) struggled with. It’s not in our performance or the opinion of others but in Whose we are. Grace is truly amazing and clearly demonstrated in this book. Can’t wait for the next one in this series.
February 8, 2022
hope you’re a sports fan
I enjoyed the story like the first one in the series. It might have got a bit slow for some readers if you’re not into sports. There was a lot of description of skating events and hockey games, if you’re a sports fan you would probably be right into it. It did make the romance move a bit slowly and sometimes was A little bit frustrating as waiting for them to finally overcome the problems that kept them apart. But overall you will enjoy the story.
I enjoyed the story like the first one in the series. It might have got a bit slow for some readers if you’re not into sports. There was a lot of description of skating events and hockey games, if you’re a sports fan you would probably be right into it. It did make the romance move a bit slowly and sometimes was A little bit frustrating as waiting for them to finally overcome the problems that kept them apart. But overall you will enjoy the story.
April 25, 2022
I loved this book more than the first!! I did love that this book was intertwined with Bree's and Mike's story. I loved that you could feel the tension in the schedules between Holly and Brent. And I love that Holly was a very relatable character! Such a great story. I love how often the characters are praying, that Bible study is a part of their lives and that you can see how God is apart of their story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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