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Whipped
If she can’t get through to her in the office, she’ll smash into her on skates. . .
Newly minted lawyer Cheyenne Flores-Moore is excited to start her career at one of the most prestigious law firms in Miami. That is, until she meets her mentor Erica. It seems that no matter what she does, she can’t win her over - something the perennially sunny Cheyenne has not experienced before.
Just when Cheyenne is ready to accept that she will never thaw the frost between them, opportunity strikes. Cheyenne discovers that the very uptight and hyper-professional Erica plays roller derby and decides to join an opposing team. She hopes competing with Erica on neutral ground will show her mentor a different side.
Erica Torres is laser-focused on making partner at her firm. When her boss tasks her with mentoring a new lawyer to demonstrate her leadership skills, she jumps at the chance. But her bubbly mentee is too nice to survive in the shark-infested waters they swim in, and she soon regrets her assignment. What’s worse, the human Golden Retriever has discovered Erica’s secret passion for roller derby.
Tensions rise until Erica and Cheyenne are forced together and start to see each other for who they really are. In this new light, something unexpected blooms. The only question is can Erica get out of her own way and let Cheyenne penetrate her icy exterior?
This excruciatingly slow-burn, workplace romance is hot enough to melt any ice queen’s frosty shell.
Newly minted lawyer Cheyenne Flores-Moore is excited to start her career at one of the most prestigious law firms in Miami. That is, until she meets her mentor Erica. It seems that no matter what she does, she can’t win her over - something the perennially sunny Cheyenne has not experienced before.
Just when Cheyenne is ready to accept that she will never thaw the frost between them, opportunity strikes. Cheyenne discovers that the very uptight and hyper-professional Erica plays roller derby and decides to join an opposing team. She hopes competing with Erica on neutral ground will show her mentor a different side.
Erica Torres is laser-focused on making partner at her firm. When her boss tasks her with mentoring a new lawyer to demonstrate her leadership skills, she jumps at the chance. But her bubbly mentee is too nice to survive in the shark-infested waters they swim in, and she soon regrets her assignment. What’s worse, the human Golden Retriever has discovered Erica’s secret passion for roller derby.
Tensions rise until Erica and Cheyenne are forced together and start to see each other for who they really are. In this new light, something unexpected blooms. The only question is can Erica get out of her own way and let Cheyenne penetrate her icy exterior?
This excruciatingly slow-burn, workplace romance is hot enough to melt any ice queen’s frosty shell.
347 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 24, 2021
88 people are currently reading
519 people want to read
About the author
J.J. Arias
36 books1,270 followersHello! And thank you for finding me!
I am an independent author writing about fictional lesbians of all varieties.
My writing journey began with fan faction, and as much as I LOVED being part of a community of super fans, I got tired of working with other people’s characters to tell my stories. I started asking myself: Why should we string together pieces of subtext when our community deserves well-developed main-text about LBGT people and those who love them! So, that is what I aim to deliver.
If you want to know a little more about me personally, J.J. Arias is my pen name. I do have a day job, and due to the industry I’m in, I can’t write under my given name. Although who knows, maybe one day I can write full-time and come out of the … office? I am a Scorpio woman (I know, I know, but I’m a nice one I PROMISE) happily married to a uniquely wonderful Cancer lady. Together we have several fur babies of the feline and canine varieties.
So, here I am, and I hope you enjoy my writing! I’m very open to thoughts, comments, critiques, and knock-knock jokes, so please feel free to message me with any of the above – or anything else you would like to say!
I am an independent author writing about fictional lesbians of all varieties.
My writing journey began with fan faction, and as much as I LOVED being part of a community of super fans, I got tired of working with other people’s characters to tell my stories. I started asking myself: Why should we string together pieces of subtext when our community deserves well-developed main-text about LBGT people and those who love them! So, that is what I aim to deliver.
If you want to know a little more about me personally, J.J. Arias is my pen name. I do have a day job, and due to the industry I’m in, I can’t write under my given name. Although who knows, maybe one day I can write full-time and come out of the … office? I am a Scorpio woman (I know, I know, but I’m a nice one I PROMISE) happily married to a uniquely wonderful Cancer lady. Together we have several fur babies of the feline and canine varieties.
So, here I am, and I hope you enjoy my writing! I’m very open to thoughts, comments, critiques, and knock-knock jokes, so please feel free to message me with any of the above – or anything else you would like to say!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
December 31, 2021
I've said it before and I'll say it again - J.J. Arias knows how to write an excellent slow-burn novel. Phew, it's slow but definitely well worth the wait as the romantic tension between Cheyenne and Erica built to an extraordinary level.
I really enjoyed this novel, with Erica being an exceptional ice-queen who takes a very long time to thaw. But as usual with this trope, it's worth waiting around for as once she melts, the romance is wonderful.
The roller derby aspect of this novel was super interesting to read, as I have no experience in this world. Mix that with the workplace romance and it was definitely a great read.
Another solid book from J.J. Arias.
I really enjoyed this novel, with Erica being an exceptional ice-queen who takes a very long time to thaw. But as usual with this trope, it's worth waiting around for as once she melts, the romance is wonderful.
The roller derby aspect of this novel was super interesting to read, as I have no experience in this world. Mix that with the workplace romance and it was definitely a great read.
Another solid book from J.J. Arias.
March 12, 2022
High 4 ⭐️
Wonderful and an enjoyable read. A slow-burn workplace romance featuring ice-queen Erica and Cheyenne, who is just the opposite of Erica. Both are lawyers and Erica, a 5th-year associate, is tasked to be Cheyenne’s mentor. Both dabble in roller derby, a sport that I’ve no idea what it is all about until I googled it - which incidentally is not common in my part of the world. You can feel the romance brewing between Erica and Cheyenne but went nowhere even when they were thrown together for days. It was well into the second half of the book when the ice finally thawed. The epilogue was just so sweet with Erica showing she is not all cold and icy when it comes to matter of the heart.
Wonderful and an enjoyable read. A slow-burn workplace romance featuring ice-queen Erica and Cheyenne, who is just the opposite of Erica. Both are lawyers and Erica, a 5th-year associate, is tasked to be Cheyenne’s mentor. Both dabble in roller derby, a sport that I’ve no idea what it is all about until I googled it - which incidentally is not common in my part of the world. You can feel the romance brewing between Erica and Cheyenne but went nowhere even when they were thrown together for days. It was well into the second half of the book when the ice finally thawed. The epilogue was just so sweet with Erica showing she is not all cold and icy when it comes to matter of the heart.
June 2, 2024
4 stars
January 2, 2022
I always like to try authors I have not read if I find someone in my friend list recommending it. J.J.Arias I didn’t know before, so I had no idea what to expect.
The introduction of the characters raised my interest from the start. What followed is probably the slowest slow burn romance I have read so far, but it kept my interest throughout and the sometimes hilariously funny dialogues carried me through the story. The romance is so highly unlikely, you sometimes ask yourself: why her? But when it finally clicks it is amazing. The development to the climax is very inventive and shows a development in Cheyenne, that absolutely makes her one of my most favourite characters.
I wholeheartedly recommend this.
The introduction of the characters raised my interest from the start. What followed is probably the slowest slow burn romance I have read so far, but it kept my interest throughout and the sometimes hilariously funny dialogues carried me through the story. The romance is so highly unlikely, you sometimes ask yourself: why her? But when it finally clicks it is amazing. The development to the climax is very inventive and shows a development in Cheyenne, that absolutely makes her one of my most favourite characters.
I wholeheartedly recommend this.
January 13, 2025
2.75⭐
Slow-burn workplace romances are my favorite, so this really disappointed me.
I didn't like the characters and I didn't believe in their relationship at all.
I just didn't understand how we went from disliking each other to suddenly being in love.
There were quite a few things that rubbed me the wrong way or just really annoyed me.
Cheyenne and her friends gossiping about Erica reminded me of immature teenagers.
Cheyenne spying on Erica and then also sharing her secret with her friends. You just don't do stuff like that in my opinion, so that made me dislike Cheyenne.
Erica was just so fucking rude, snapping at Cheyenne ever 3 seconds.
I don't see why you'd want to date someone that humiliated you and made you feel like crap multiple times.
And maybe I just missed it, since I started skimming quite a bit, but I never saw any of them apologize for their behavior or really talk about it.
Slow-burn workplace romances are my favorite, so this really disappointed me.
I didn't like the characters and I didn't believe in their relationship at all.
I just didn't understand how we went from disliking each other to suddenly being in love.
There were quite a few things that rubbed me the wrong way or just really annoyed me.
Cheyenne and her friends gossiping about Erica reminded me of immature teenagers.
Cheyenne spying on Erica and then also sharing her secret with her friends. You just don't do stuff like that in my opinion, so that made me dislike Cheyenne.
Erica was just so fucking rude, snapping at Cheyenne ever 3 seconds.
I don't see why you'd want to date someone that humiliated you and made you feel like crap multiple times.
And maybe I just missed it, since I started skimming quite a bit, but I never saw any of them apologize for their behavior or really talk about it.
March 8, 2023
2.75/5 ⭐️
This is really a slow burn book
By the time they got together i was bored out of my mind and couldn’t care less
I didn’t feel any chemistry between the MCs and one of them was childish and annoying.
But at least when they got together which was around 80% of the book, things got better 🤣.
This is really a slow burn book
By the time they got together i was bored out of my mind and couldn’t care less
I didn’t feel any chemistry between the MCs and one of them was childish and annoying.
But at least when they got together which was around 80% of the book, things got better 🤣.
October 12, 2023
I feel mixed about this one. It took me a long time to get into but I flew through the second half. Roller derby was interesting but actually think it wasn’t that necessary for the story. I liked the characters and always enjoy a good ice queen- and in this case I especially liked Erica’s parents- would have loved to see more from Cheyenne’s mom. The supporting characters were great, especially Anwar. Loved the last chapter and Cheyenne most of all.
Short summary:
Erica wants to make partner but first she has to show she can play nice with others. She’s assigned a mentee who’s as attractive as she is smart and bubbly but Erica doesn’t have time for distractions. Until Cheyenne shows up at derby and becomes infuriating in addition to a nuisance.
Short summary:
Erica wants to make partner but first she has to show she can play nice with others. She’s assigned a mentee who’s as attractive as she is smart and bubbly but Erica doesn’t have time for distractions. Until Cheyenne shows up at derby and becomes infuriating in addition to a nuisance.
April 23, 2024
I am not a fan of roller derby but I do really like this author’s books, so I was willing to give the book a try. I can’t say I ended up liking roller derby by the end because I didn’t. This was sadly a two star read for me and I gave the second star for Cheyenne's character otherwise this would be a 1 star for me. Although Cheyenne was also weirdly pushy and wouldn’t respect Erica’s boundaries. It was really odd that she decided to go stalk Erica after work, find out Erica likes roller derby and joined an opposing team just to annoy Erica. It was bizarre and out of pocket.
Despite this, I really liked Cheyenne and I appreciated her attempts to connect with Erica. I didn’t like Erica at all from the beginning or by the end to be honest. She was unnecessarily rude and cruel to Cheyenne and it frustrated me that Cheyenne kept giving her the benefit of the doubt. And near the end Cheyenne started to feel like a pushover and it annoyed me to see her constantly try to be polite to Erica and get nothing back.
I think I would have liked this book more if it was only from Cheyenne’s POV because it would have made me like Erica more. Erica’s perspective didn’t make me understand why she was so needlessly cruel to Cheyenne. Cheyenne says that Erica is an acquired taste, which I never acquired a taste for by the end.
“Cheyenne would not be silenced. “Then stop pretending—”
“I’m not pretending anything,” she snapped.
“Yes, you are. You’re acting as if nothing happened between us. Like you want me to pretend too and go back to the way it was before. Well, guess what? I can’t and I won’t.” Cheyenne’s face burned, but she refused to back down.”
“Erica looked distraught for a moment before her eyes went dark and cold. “It was a momentary loss of control. We had too much wine. It’s better if we just put it behind us and move on.”
I’m sorry but this is giving desperate. It felt like Cheyenne was the one constantly reaching out to Erica, and after while, I wished Cheyenne would just respect herself and give up. It was sad, embarrassing and not at all romantic. To be completely honest, I didn't feel like they had any chemistry, and throughout the whole book their relationship felt very one sided.
“Plus, Cheyenne was still so young. Who the hell knew what they wanted at twenty-seven?" I don't know what the hell Erica is talking about here... she's only 7 years older, and she's talking like they have this huge age-gap??
“Cheyenne would take anything Erica would give. ” NO. You deserve so much better. Leave her and find someone you don't have to fight tooth and nail to get a scrap of attention from. PUT YOURSELF FIRST.
“Cheyenne was kind and patient,” To a fault and to her own detriment.
Despite this, I really liked Cheyenne and I appreciated her attempts to connect with Erica. I didn’t like Erica at all from the beginning or by the end to be honest. She was unnecessarily rude and cruel to Cheyenne and it frustrated me that Cheyenne kept giving her the benefit of the doubt. And near the end Cheyenne started to feel like a pushover and it annoyed me to see her constantly try to be polite to Erica and get nothing back.
I think I would have liked this book more if it was only from Cheyenne’s POV because it would have made me like Erica more. Erica’s perspective didn’t make me understand why she was so needlessly cruel to Cheyenne. Cheyenne says that Erica is an acquired taste, which I never acquired a taste for by the end.
“Cheyenne would not be silenced. “Then stop pretending—”
“I’m not pretending anything,” she snapped.
“Yes, you are. You’re acting as if nothing happened between us. Like you want me to pretend too and go back to the way it was before. Well, guess what? I can’t and I won’t.” Cheyenne’s face burned, but she refused to back down.”
“Erica looked distraught for a moment before her eyes went dark and cold. “It was a momentary loss of control. We had too much wine. It’s better if we just put it behind us and move on.”
I’m sorry but this is giving desperate. It felt like Cheyenne was the one constantly reaching out to Erica, and after while, I wished Cheyenne would just respect herself and give up. It was sad, embarrassing and not at all romantic. To be completely honest, I didn't feel like they had any chemistry, and throughout the whole book their relationship felt very one sided.
“Plus, Cheyenne was still so young. Who the hell knew what they wanted at twenty-seven?" I don't know what the hell Erica is talking about here... she's only 7 years older, and she's talking like they have this huge age-gap??
“Cheyenne would take anything Erica would give. ” NO. You deserve so much better. Leave her and find someone you don't have to fight tooth and nail to get a scrap of attention from. PUT YOURSELF FIRST.
“Cheyenne was kind and patient,” To a fault and to her own detriment.
December 27, 2024
This was a good novel, from a great author who has never disappointed me. This was a lot of fun, with some very satisfying and enjoyable moments (a few “big reveals” that I had been looking forward to). More than a few times this novel took a turn into unexpected directions, and I really enjoyed that spontaneity. This was well written, nicely paced, and overall satisfying.
My Rating: "A"
GoodReads: 5-stars
“Well-rounded and full”, would be one of the best ways that I would describe this novel. There were a lot of elements in this novel, including workplace romance, sport rivals, disaster scenario, complicated family’s and complicated emotions, yet it didn’t feel overly packed at any point. All of these elements worked together quite well. Each element was somewhat under-represented compared to what I expected (particularly the roller derby) but I don’t mean that in a bad way; these elements served their purpose which was to facilitate the actual point of the novel which was the protagonist’s relationship. It was a nice balance of having other elements in the novel without having them take over the focus.
I did think that the “conflict” between the protagonists was a bit weak on the second half of the novel (can’t elaborate without spoilers) but it still worked. “Somewhat basic” isn’t a serious complaint after all in the grand scheme of things. There were a few minor elements that could have been better that might have elevated this novel to “incredibly amazing” instead of “really good”, which is still a perfectly fine rating/description.
My Rating: "A"
GoodReads: 5-stars
“Well-rounded and full”, would be one of the best ways that I would describe this novel. There were a lot of elements in this novel, including workplace romance, sport rivals, disaster scenario, complicated family’s and complicated emotions, yet it didn’t feel overly packed at any point. All of these elements worked together quite well. Each element was somewhat under-represented compared to what I expected (particularly the roller derby) but I don’t mean that in a bad way; these elements served their purpose which was to facilitate the actual point of the novel which was the protagonist’s relationship. It was a nice balance of having other elements in the novel without having them take over the focus.
I did think that the “conflict” between the protagonists was a bit weak on the second half of the novel (can’t elaborate without spoilers) but it still worked. “Somewhat basic” isn’t a serious complaint after all in the grand scheme of things. There were a few minor elements that could have been better that might have elevated this novel to “incredibly amazing” instead of “really good”, which is still a perfectly fine rating/description.
October 6, 2022
Whipped is one of my favourite books of this year. The storyline and plot is so beautifully thought out and delivered that I couldn't put it down! Erica is officially my favourite 'ice-queen', and watching her thaw enough to develop the romance yet still be the same prickly woman was perfection. This is a slow burn romance but I assure you, it makes Erica and Cheyenne getting together all the more magical. Add this one to your TBR! Now, I'm off to add the paperback to my Christmas list.
June 27, 2023
Oh this book was so much fun! Erica was the grumpy to Cheyenne’s sunshine and I just couldn’t put it down. The backdrop of roller derby was so well written that I was able to visualize all of the action. All of the supporting characters really added to the story as a whole. I loved this book so much!
January 7, 2022
A very well written slow burn romance. JJ Arias is automatic. she’s one of the authors that I trust to produce real good stories. Whipped is slow burn and captivating. a must read.
December 28, 2021
Another winner. I wasn't sure about the roller skating but I also know I'm going to enjoy J J Arias' books and this was no exception. As usual the characters were likeable and their interaction was entertaining. And I surprised myself by getting right into the roller skating. Totally recommend.
January 15, 2022
so awesome
Who doesn’t love roller derby. JJ Arias does it again! Such a great story that left me smiling in the end.
Who doesn’t love roller derby. JJ Arias does it again! Such a great story that left me smiling in the end.
July 10, 2025
I like roller derby.
Having now read most of JJs classic romance, she's a solid choice for a little love story. Characters are always likable and the storylines interesting. I liked that in this book the turning point happened for a reason and didn't manifest out of no where.
Having now read most of JJs classic romance, she's a solid choice for a little love story. Characters are always likable and the storylines interesting. I liked that in this book the turning point happened for a reason and didn't manifest out of no where.
January 4, 2022
Another Winner
As with all J.J. Arias books this has it all. As always well written. Make sure you have time to read it when you pick it up. Highly recommend .
As with all J.J. Arias books this has it all. As always well written. Make sure you have time to read it when you pick it up. Highly recommend .
March 3, 2022
Great plot, delivery, and pacing. Fun story all around.
So I really enjoyed this book, partly because I'm a huge roller derby fan! This story was engaging on and off wheels. One thing I wished for was more insight into Erica's character. That or having the book 100% from Cheyenne's POV. I felt Erica was a really interesting character but I never got to really understand her and why she was the way she was. It seemed deeper than her just wanting be to a bit opposite of her parents. At moments I wonder if she was on the autism spectrum, like when she'd frequently have trouble predicting people's responses and reactions to her words, and even more so when she'd become confused or surprised when her blunt delivery of her honest opinions would upset people. Most neurotypical people who behave the way she does know they are doing it and exactly how others read it and they simply don't care. She seemed to fluctuate between those two modes, and I thought she could have been better developed on that, sticking with either struggling to connect because of her neurodivergence or else being an intentionally abrasive ice queen. If she was meant to be the latter, I would have liked more insight and understanding as to why, because I wanted to like her, and enjoyed reading about her, but also kept feeling like Cheyenne deserved better, not that she was perfect either.
Cheyenne's character was brilliantly done, she was flawed, not the perfect pixie dream girl she seemed at first glance. She holds a grudge like a champ, is a little stalkery, let's be honest about that, and she was more than a little bratty on several occasions, which was all somehow both infuriating and adorable at the same time.
At the end of the book, I felt like I could psychoanalyze Cheyenne based on information I was given, but not Erica without filling in the considerable blanks myself.
So I really enjoyed this book, partly because I'm a huge roller derby fan! This story was engaging on and off wheels. One thing I wished for was more insight into Erica's character. That or having the book 100% from Cheyenne's POV. I felt Erica was a really interesting character but I never got to really understand her and why she was the way she was. It seemed deeper than her just wanting be to a bit opposite of her parents. At moments I wonder if she was on the autism spectrum, like when she'd frequently have trouble predicting people's responses and reactions to her words, and even more so when she'd become confused or surprised when her blunt delivery of her honest opinions would upset people. Most neurotypical people who behave the way she does know they are doing it and exactly how others read it and they simply don't care. She seemed to fluctuate between those two modes, and I thought she could have been better developed on that, sticking with either struggling to connect because of her neurodivergence or else being an intentionally abrasive ice queen. If she was meant to be the latter, I would have liked more insight and understanding as to why, because I wanted to like her, and enjoyed reading about her, but also kept feeling like Cheyenne deserved better, not that she was perfect either.
Cheyenne's character was brilliantly done, she was flawed, not the perfect pixie dream girl she seemed at first glance. She holds a grudge like a champ, is a little stalkery, let's be honest about that, and she was more than a little bratty on several occasions, which was all somehow both infuriating and adorable at the same time.
At the end of the book, I felt like I could psychoanalyze Cheyenne based on information I was given, but not Erica without filling in the considerable blanks myself.
January 15, 2025
This was a real slow burn. It's not until page 100 that they start to feel a small attraction to one another. Until then the book was kind of boring to me because of all this law topics and the small talk.
Erica is a very unlikeable person. It's not only the way she treats Cheyenne, it's the way she thinks and lives her life. I'm truly amazed by the fact that a person like her could ever find someone to love her. Rude people are the worst and she is extremely rude. The lack of social skills is so annoying.
Cheyenne from the other hand has no ego and that is something that really irritates me. She's putting herself out there all the time talking about her feelings when she should bale and make Erica go after her. I mean she is like a puppy.
I couldn't relate with neither of them. It's very important to me to relate with one of the main characters in a book and when I can't do that I feel confused.
I have other concerns too. How did they get together exactly? Is it natural for them to start a relationship after only a few interactions? Is it possible to fall in love with someone who constantly pushes you away like that? It's not believable and they have zero chemistry.
Also, even if the book was 500 pages somehow the author didn't manage to introduce the main character properly. I don't recall depth and meaningful conversations. I never got to know who they were. I recall meaningless conversations and rude behaviour and in the end we never get to know why.
The sex scene was boring with no good description. It's not hot at all.
The only thing that I liked from this book were the few pages when they were stuck inside the house. The tension was great there between them. I thought that after that the book would be better but it only got worst.
Nopeeee
Erica is a very unlikeable person. It's not only the way she treats Cheyenne, it's the way she thinks and lives her life. I'm truly amazed by the fact that a person like her could ever find someone to love her. Rude people are the worst and she is extremely rude. The lack of social skills is so annoying.
Cheyenne from the other hand has no ego and that is something that really irritates me. She's putting herself out there all the time talking about her feelings when she should bale and make Erica go after her. I mean she is like a puppy.
I couldn't relate with neither of them. It's very important to me to relate with one of the main characters in a book and when I can't do that I feel confused.
I have other concerns too. How did they get together exactly? Is it natural for them to start a relationship after only a few interactions? Is it possible to fall in love with someone who constantly pushes you away like that? It's not believable and they have zero chemistry.
Also, even if the book was 500 pages somehow the author didn't manage to introduce the main character properly. I don't recall depth and meaningful conversations. I never got to know who they were. I recall meaningless conversations and rude behaviour and in the end we never get to know why.
The sex scene was boring with no good description. It's not hot at all.
The only thing that I liked from this book were the few pages when they were stuck inside the house. The tension was great there between them. I thought that after that the book would be better but it only got worst.
Nopeeee
February 5, 2023
Again, a wonderful J. J. Arias book!! I never thought I enjoyed slow burns until I started reading them, and now I am hopelessly hooked.
There were a few things I found slightly questionable or difficult to get past. Foremost among them is Erica’s personality. The ice queen archetype is a marvelous one, but it is a challenge to straddle the line between “cold and attractive” (personality-wise) and “hateful and despotic.” Unfortunately, Erica falls more toward the latter for much of the book, even once she feels something toward Cheyenne.
The other slight issue I have is the clear breaks in the story. There are three sections: roller derby, hurricane and subsequent cohabitation, and Erica’s Thaw. More so than many other works, this felt like three wholly separate parts. If not for the occasional mention of preceding events, it would certainly read as three separate stories.
Even so, I find myself enamored with the relationship between Cheyenne and Erica. They have one of the greatest differences in an ice queen / sunshine type paring (that I have read, at least). No matter Erica’s brutal honesty or (unintended) tear-downs of Cheyenne’s work or personality, Cheyenne manages to retain her sunny disposition. Honestly, I aspire to that level of kindness; she sees the best in everything (after a time), and gives Erica the benefit of the doubt more than seems warranted.
Erica, for her part, does grow from her initial rudeness toward colleagues, which is something I feel is lacking in other, similar works.
Oh, I do wish we could have seen the reactions from Anwar and Dasia during the retreat. I hate missing such moments.
There were a few things I found slightly questionable or difficult to get past. Foremost among them is Erica’s personality. The ice queen archetype is a marvelous one, but it is a challenge to straddle the line between “cold and attractive” (personality-wise) and “hateful and despotic.” Unfortunately, Erica falls more toward the latter for much of the book, even once she feels something toward Cheyenne.
The other slight issue I have is the clear breaks in the story. There are three sections: roller derby, hurricane and subsequent cohabitation, and Erica’s Thaw. More so than many other works, this felt like three wholly separate parts. If not for the occasional mention of preceding events, it would certainly read as three separate stories.
Even so, I find myself enamored with the relationship between Cheyenne and Erica. They have one of the greatest differences in an ice queen / sunshine type paring (that I have read, at least). No matter Erica’s brutal honesty or (unintended) tear-downs of Cheyenne’s work or personality, Cheyenne manages to retain her sunny disposition. Honestly, I aspire to that level of kindness; she sees the best in everything (after a time), and gives Erica the benefit of the doubt more than seems warranted.
Erica, for her part, does grow from her initial rudeness toward colleagues, which is something I feel is lacking in other, similar works.
Oh, I do wish we could have seen the reactions from Anwar and Dasia during the retreat. I hate missing such moments.
March 11, 2022
“I became a lawyer just so I could get away from all the arguing and conflict.”
27 year old Cheyenne Flores-Moore never anticipated being given the opportunity to practice law at a prestigious firm so quickly after passing the bar exam. One of the partners saw something in her, and now all she has to do is convince her mentor, 35 year old Erica Torres, that she has what it takes. The only problem is that Erica seems to hate her instantly and their professional relationship is nothing but strained conversations where Cheyenne is left feeling small. She nearly lost all hope until one night she discovered where Erica spends all her personal time. Cheyenne hatches a plan that should have Erica seeing her on equal ground. But you know what they say about plans, even the best of intentions can fail. Neither of them saw what happens next coming.
Jesus… Erica was painful at times, but Cheyenne’s patience seemed to even everything out.
Cliffhanger – no (stand alone)
POV - Cheyenne & Erica
27 year old Cheyenne Flores-Moore never anticipated being given the opportunity to practice law at a prestigious firm so quickly after passing the bar exam. One of the partners saw something in her, and now all she has to do is convince her mentor, 35 year old Erica Torres, that she has what it takes. The only problem is that Erica seems to hate her instantly and their professional relationship is nothing but strained conversations where Cheyenne is left feeling small. She nearly lost all hope until one night she discovered where Erica spends all her personal time. Cheyenne hatches a plan that should have Erica seeing her on equal ground. But you know what they say about plans, even the best of intentions can fail. Neither of them saw what happens next coming.
Jesus… Erica was painful at times, but Cheyenne’s patience seemed to even everything out.
Cliffhanger – no (stand alone)
POV - Cheyenne & Erica
August 10, 2025
If you want the ultimate snooze fest, just mix lawyers and roller derby.
Seriously—nothing happened in the first 30% I read before I gave up.
Erica is just… mean. Why? We don’t know. Surely she has some redeeming traits or a backstory to explain it? Childhood trauma? A tragic love story? If it’s in there, I’m not going to slog through half the book to find out.
Cheyenne? Meh. No real character development here either. She spends the whole time bouncing between almost-crying and wanting to snap at Erica—but never actually doing it. It’s repetitive, and not in a fun “slow-burn tension” way.
I absolutely love Arias’s other work, but her lawyer-centered books have always been weaker for me, and this sealed the deal—I’ll be skipping them from now on. I also wish she’d move away from the ice queen trope. It’s getting old, and honestly, an “ice queen” isn’t sexy when barely anything melts the frost.
Seriously—nothing happened in the first 30% I read before I gave up.
Erica is just… mean. Why? We don’t know. Surely she has some redeeming traits or a backstory to explain it? Childhood trauma? A tragic love story? If it’s in there, I’m not going to slog through half the book to find out.
Cheyenne? Meh. No real character development here either. She spends the whole time bouncing between almost-crying and wanting to snap at Erica—but never actually doing it. It’s repetitive, and not in a fun “slow-burn tension” way.
I absolutely love Arias’s other work, but her lawyer-centered books have always been weaker for me, and this sealed the deal—I’ll be skipping them from now on. I also wish she’d move away from the ice queen trope. It’s getting old, and honestly, an “ice queen” isn’t sexy when barely anything melts the frost.
July 19, 2025
It’s not BDSM smut, I swear!! It’s roller derby!!!!!!
I’m relatively new to romance as a genre so I wasn’t sure what to expect! There wasn’t a whole lot of depth to this one, but I thought the romance was cute, in particular the scenes in the middle of the book that build the romantic tension were done really well.
I do find Erica’s character to be needlessly cold at the beginning of the book, and it was a little bit difficult to suspend my disbelief that she’d change as readily as she did, but I’m new to romance so maybe this is just par for the course and part of “the fantasy”.
I also feel like there wasn’t nearly as much roller derby as I expected, since it’s kinda the premise of the whole book, but again, the romance scenes about halfway through were good enough that I guess I’m willing to overlook it?
This also has to be the least professional law firm in the universe.
I’m relatively new to romance as a genre so I wasn’t sure what to expect! There wasn’t a whole lot of depth to this one, but I thought the romance was cute, in particular the scenes in the middle of the book that build the romantic tension were done really well.
I do find Erica’s character to be needlessly cold at the beginning of the book, and it was a little bit difficult to suspend my disbelief that she’d change as readily as she did, but I’m new to romance so maybe this is just par for the course and part of “the fantasy”.
I also feel like there wasn’t nearly as much roller derby as I expected, since it’s kinda the premise of the whole book, but again, the romance scenes about halfway through were good enough that I guess I’m willing to overlook it?
This also has to be the least professional law firm in the universe.
December 28, 2021
Another excellent book by J. J. Arias. In this story, the legal profession and the world of roller derby are jammed together in this wonderful romance between Cheyenne, with her sunny demeanor, and Erica and her severe and demanding manner. As usual, Arias injects a healthy dose of South Florida culture into the story, firmly tying the story to its setting. Arias also penned some memorable secondary characters that help to bring the story to life. A very sweet story about breaking through walls in both roller derby and in hearts.
December 28, 2021
amazing as usual
J.J. Arias always delivers the most intriguing stories with unforgettable characters. Being Cuban and living in south Florida myself, I really enjoy the snippets of cultural she weaves into her stories. It’s amazing that through the turbulence of the last couple of years, she still found the inspiration to write such a great story. Attorneys who are closet roller derby queens, opposites in every way, the ice queen that melts and a happy ever after - awesome
J.J. Arias always delivers the most intriguing stories with unforgettable characters. Being Cuban and living in south Florida myself, I really enjoy the snippets of cultural she weaves into her stories. It’s amazing that through the turbulence of the last couple of years, she still found the inspiration to write such a great story. Attorneys who are closet roller derby queens, opposites in every way, the ice queen that melts and a happy ever after - awesome
March 26, 2023
This was such a great read. I don’t usually read non fantasy slow burns because without other obstacles besides life the storyline seems to drag on. But I was pleasantly surprised by this story. The slow burn plot gave us a chance to actually learn about both MCs. So seeing them finally get together and develop their relationship was really sweet. Also the spice seems were so good. Really well written and passionate. I would definitely read more books by this author.
December 28, 2021
Another winner
Wasn't sure about the roller skating but I also know I'm going to enjoy J J Arias' books and this was no exception. As usual the characters were likeable and their interaction was entertaining. And I surprised myself by getting right into the roller skating. Totally recommended.
Wasn't sure about the roller skating but I also know I'm going to enjoy J J Arias' books and this was no exception. As usual the characters were likeable and their interaction was entertaining. And I surprised myself by getting right into the roller skating. Totally recommended.
January 3, 2022
This is a decent ice-queen romance with a fun roller-derby twist. When a skating collision threatens to slow things down a hurricane arrives to keep the story line moving. There is a reasonable secondary cast to provide additional insights into the main characters. Overall a good read .
February 7, 2022
the burn was too slow
I wanted to love these characters, and I did… a bit, but the book was soooo slow. The first 40% of the book was the same recycled interactions. This would have been fine if the time spent really developed each character, individually, but it barely did that. There was little depth until the hurricane
I wanted to love these characters, and I did… a bit, but the book was soooo slow. The first 40% of the book was the same recycled interactions. This would have been fine if the time spent really developed each character, individually, but it barely did that. There was little depth until the hurricane
February 15, 2022
Wonderful!
With well defined characters and a captivating enemies-to-friends type of relationship storyline, this book will hold your interest right from the beginning. Who could imagine that roller derby and a hurricane could bring two such vastly different women together? But then again, opposites attract, right? This author belongs on all lesfic fans must read list!
With well defined characters and a captivating enemies-to-friends type of relationship storyline, this book will hold your interest right from the beginning. Who could imagine that roller derby and a hurricane could bring two such vastly different women together? But then again, opposites attract, right? This author belongs on all lesfic fans must read list!
February 1, 2022
This was so fun! I knew nothing about roller derby and I found it fascinating.
I've read other books by J.J. Arias before so I didn't read the blurb... imagine my surprise when derby was introduced!
Fun and low-angst, I absolutely recommend it. :)
I've read other books by J.J. Arias before so I didn't read the blurb... imagine my surprise when derby was introduced!
Fun and low-angst, I absolutely recommend it. :)
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