Competitive figure skater Addisyn Miles has been running her whole life—both from her overprotective sister Avery and toward her dream of competing in the Olympics. Despite the compromises she’s made along the way, her future has never looked brighter—until a single moment shatters not only her dearest hopes but also her relationship with the man for whom she sacrificed her principles. In search of answers, Addisyn escapes to Whistler, Canada, where she meets Darius Payne, a lonely man with a crushing secret. But when Darius’s past threatens their relationship and Addisyn receives an unexpected invitation to return to the world she left behind, they’re both confronted by the truth they may not be brave enough to face.
Meanwhile, heartbroken by her younger sister’s rejection, Avery Miles has uprooted her life and relocated to Estes Park, Colorado. There, she seeks to bury her painful memories in the peace of the mountains—and the love of the God Who made them. She’s struggled to erase Addisyn from her thoughts entirely, but then she comes face-to-face with an unwelcome bit of her past—someone who poses the ultimate threat to Addisyn. Haunted by her own darkest fears, Avery must summon the courage to love her sister again—and find her before the clock runs out.
Compelling and captivating, When the Ice Melts is a story of broken dreams, desperate decisions, and the relentless grace of a love that never lets go.
A worshiper of the Creator and a wanderer of creation, Ashlyn McKayla Ohm is most at home where the streetlights die and the pavement ends. She is passionate about shaping stories that weave together unfailing truths, vivid characters, and dramatic natural settings—bringing readers face-to-face with not only the mountains but also the God Who still moves them.
How do you bounce back after losing a chance at an Olympic gold medal?
I can only imagine how devastating it must be to work for years perfecting your skill, only to lose out by tenths or hundredths of a second. I’ve always been curious about how this knowledge affects a professional athlete. What does it do to their sense of identity?
If you’ve always defined yourself by your dream and it’s suddenly taken away, who are you NOW?
Ashlyn McKayla Ohm examines why we continually value and seek to identify with our accomplishments. To do so, she introduces us to the Miles sisters, Avery and Addisyn. Avery is the protective older sister with a solid connection to God. Addisyn is feisty and acts before she thinks. She’s a competitive figure skater on her dream to the Olympics and has sacrificed her principles for someone who claims he can make her a star. The Miles girls have had a tough start to life (their backstory is available for free in a novella on the author’s website) and have become estranged, knowing nothing about each other and with no way to contact one another.
When Addisyn’s Olympic dreams are shattered, she hides out in Whistler, Canada to search for the answers. She meets Darius Payne, another athlete who is struggling with the outcome of a reckless choice. Whistler proves to be the perfect place to decide ‘what next’ … until her past comes calling with an attractive offer.
I enjoyed this beautiful faith story about broken dreams, desperate decisions, sibling love and relentless grace. It was good to be reminded that sometimes, losing our dreams means finding ourselves.
*Although I could appreciate the significance, I was initially slowed down by Avery’s choice of the Hebrew name for God, El Shaddai. For any B.C. readers or anyone who’s been to Whistler, they’ll notice a few tiny inconsistencies. Neither will stop me from reading this series!
A lovely book about pursuing your dreams and knowing when to let them go, understanding what love and forgiveness are, and the importance of family relationships and never giving up on those you love. When the Ice Melts has it all—faith, romance, and powerful truths.
"I can't expect God to overlook a horrible choice that was all my own fault. That hurt a lot of people." "Overlook? Certainly not ... I'm talking about forgive." "To overlook a sin is to sweep it under the rug and allow it to fester in darkness. To forgive is to call it out, acknowledge it - and then heal it."
This is a powerful book about the mistakes we make, the consequences that can follow but more importantly the forgiveness we can find.
Addisyn let go of everything to be an ice skater. She concentrated on the be the best she could be as well as on her manager who she had a personal relationship with despite her sister's concerns. That is another part she let slide - she destroyed her relationship with her sister because of her decisions.
Some might consider Darius to be hiding. The life he is living now is certainly different than from several years ago. He may not recognize it, but he is punishing himself for the path he followed for a season.
Can Addisyn find a new way? Will Darius be able to move on? Is redemption even possible?
This is a contemporary fiction book with some elements of romance, a bit of suspense and also a bit of the supernatural. The power of prayer and restoration is definitely a key element of the story. I think the different parts worked together to form a beautiful story.
As someone who used to love watching Olympic figure skating, I loved that part of the book. Adventure and risk are also a part of the plot. Overall, this was such a great storyline. I really enjoyed the book!
I was provided an ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I wanted to write a review.
I love when I find a Faith based book that I love. One that I can read and feel the spirit of God through. This is a beautiful story of God’s Grace. Looking forward to more stories from this author!
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. When the Ice Melts by Ashlyn McKayla Ohm is a contemporary, Christian inspirational novel about a young figure skater who must rediscover her lost identity when her hopes of going to the Olympics are dashed. It’s also the story of estranged sisters whose fierce love leads them to scour North America to find each other (this is my very favourite part of the book). And above all, it’s the story of a God whose love never gives up. This book is the first in the Climbing Higher series. I’ll aim to avoid spoilers in this review.
Ashlyn McKayla Ohm clearly knows her genre spectacularly well, able to dish out what we want and still make the story sweetly unique. When the Ice Melts is spiritually astute, illustrating spiritual warfare and the ways real people deal with it in a manner which is familiar and yet still highlights new planes of God’s power. The characters are compelling - it’s not every day you meet a character, like one in this book, who is a real-life superhero. And yet, the characters still feel grounded, feeling the things we feel and doing the things we do. The book also has the best kind of ending - the kind which keeps us hanging until almost the last minute. There is enough resolution time to complete the story beautifully without giving in to the temptation to tie off every loose end perfectly with a bow. Ohm is a skilled storyteller, leading us by a piece of string where she wants us to go. Multiple points of view are used brilliantly to build tension. The author’s passion for the outdoors is infectious and her personality shines through the pages.
There are some things I feel could have been improved about the story. Although the book was in general extremely relatable, some of the characters’ thoughts and feelings concerning their experiences didn’t feel completely authentic. The characters also took actions, at times, which I would expect to be thwarted by very significant challenges, however there was little explanation given as to why these challenges either didn’t materialise or were overcome. Additionally, I felt that one character’s eventual encounter with God was a little rushed; the character held certain misunderstandings about God, and I was surprised the truth didn’t require a little more unpacking for them. Phrasing could also be a bit strange or unclear, landscape descriptions were mildly repetitive in places, and I would suggest that some passages could be more immersive. These criticisms did not majorly impact on my enjoyment of the book.
Overall, I would recommend this book to anyone who loves a sensitive and cathartic story with strong family themes. The book is, in my view, appropriate for adults and teenagers, due to its very mild sex references. These themes are implied only; there is nothing explicit. I will be keeping an eye out for future books by this author and will look forward to Climbing Higher Book 2. I would like to thank Ashlyn McKayla Ohm for allowing me to read this advanced copy.
When competitive figure skater Addisyn Miles suffers a devastating defeat at Eastern Sectionals, her dreams of making the Olympic team appear to be over. Especially with a coach who seems to have given up on her as well. Feeling she's lost everything, she flees to the mountains for refuge.
Darius Payne is hiding a secret. But when he meets Addisyn, all the pain from his past seems to melt away. Who is this girl and how ca she capture his heart so quickly?
When figure skating coach Brian Felding realizes he's let a genuine talent slip through his fingers, he begins searching for her. But is he more concerned about his own future or Addisyn's?
This novel is highly introspective with strong spiritual themes. As a figure skating fan, I love a good skating story, though there does need to be a healthy suspension of disbelief when it comes to Addisyn's possible Olympic journey. I thought the author's writing was strong overall, though less might have been more effective when it comes to certain emotions and the number of point of view characters. The story does wrap up some things but leaves room for a sequel, which I would love to read.
I would recommend this book for fans of winter sports and contemporary fiction with a strong spiritual arc.
An inspiring read when two sisters reconnect and start again. They deal with the bad and the good choices they've made along the way. They build strength from adversity and a rotten upbringing, and they use strong faith to help them back on the right path. It doesn't end with a certainty that a romance will happen, but I'm going to believe it does.
Kudos to Ashlyn! I couldn't put this book down. I love to have a quote saved from the books I read. However, not to give a spoiler I won't disclose my two quotes from this book... Yes, two quotes. The skillful crafting of the protagonist was masterful. I'm guilty of murder... well in a sense... Ashlyn's development of the villain made me want to track him down and beat him silly. Laughter, tears, and a heartwarming story that will be an ageless classic. Well worth your time.
When the Ice Melts is a captivating, inspirational story of God's forgiveness and second chances. The descriptions of the scenery and towns made me feel like I was there. As a kid, I would watch figure skating on tv and marvel over the skaters' abilities. Reading this book, I could see the figure skating in my head as I was reading the scenes. The characters were easy to love - except for the one who isn't supposed to be, of course. This is a very engaging book and I can't wait to read the next one.
A gripping contemporary novel about identity, family and the power of redemptive love. When the Ice Melts features two sisters who share a dark past but are estranged due to choices that have torn them apart. After Addisyn, the younger sister, who is a competitive figure skater, loses the chance to compete in the Olympics, the soul crushing disappointment takes her on a journey that will reunite her with her sister and with her sister's God- El Shaddai, the God of the mountains. 🏔
You would never guess this book is the authors debut novel- it's engaging, inspiring and thoughtful with deeply emotional characters and strong settings. Her descriptions of Whistler, B.C. and Estes Park, Colorado made me feel like I was there and the successes and struggles her characters experience make them relatable and all the more lovable. ❤️
I am so excited for this book to grace the world! Not only will it entertain and engage you but it will draw you deeper to the God who loves each and every one of us and yearns to give us a second chance. I can't wait to read what comes next from this author!
I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Recently I finished Ashlyn McKayla Ohm’s When the Ice Melts, a powerful book that fits into the Contemporary Christian Fiction and Sisters Fiction genres. It came out last month and is definitely worth a read and the author is worth following.
The main character in this story is Addisyn Miles, an elite figure skater who’s in the midst of a career interruption on her path to the Olympics. After she and her sister, Avery, escaped from their abusive father, Addisyn threw herself into figure skating, finding new confidence and success.
The primary question in this book is how people recover from abusive relationships and other traumas. Avery’s approach is to withdraw into prayer in the mountains, which makes her a challenging character to follow as it takes about a hundred pages before she actually talks to someone who isn’t a dog. Addisyn’s approach is to get into a new abusive relationship with her figure-skating coach. And then there’s Darius, a caring guy who wants to honor his parents’ memory, but he has a hard time relating to others.
The book is an intriguing blend of romance elements and personal drama. A romance is over when the couple reconciles, but this book leaves you guessing, is the book going to be over when Addisyn figures out what to do about her sister, the thoughtful guy, the mean guy, her career, or God?
There are a few soft spots in the book – Darius’ backstory has some holes in it, leaving his current issues a little confusing. Also, given how cash-strapped most of the characters are, there are a surprising number of last-minute cross-country plane tickets purchased. And there’s one thing in the book’s promo blurb that drives me nuts – it says Addisyn escapes to the Canadian Rockies when she goes to Whistler. (It’s in the Coast Range, 500 miles to the west.)
But these are minor problems. All in all, it’s a good book, and you should look it up. One cautionary note about the title – if you type When the Ice Melts into Amazon, you want the one with the cover of a woman in the gray shirt carrying ice skates above a picture of the mountains. Don’t click on the When the Ice Melts cover with the woman wearing a red bra while holding ice skates. That one’s a non-fiction book about an elite figure skater who reaches a juncture in her career and takes an, um, different path.
I read the first few chapters of this book for free and then ordered the paperback. At first I wasn’t sure how much I would like it, since the writing style was a little different than what I’m used to, but I was intrigued that it was about skating and I haven’t seen that many books about ice skaters. But I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this book. The author certainly has a knack for drawing the reader in, and there were multiple times I kept reading when I probably should have been doing something else (Okay, just ten more minutes...) The story is about ordinary people (well, maybe Olympians aren’t that ordinary) but the characters are realistic and Ashlyn has a way of creating fascinating scenes in everyday places (a coffee shop, an outdoor store, an airport.) But overall I really enjoyed the experience of reading the book. On occasion the prose could get a little flowery for my taste, and Avery sometimes get a little gushy about “El Shaddai”, but these were little things that didn’t keep me from reading on. Since this is a Christian book, I really appreciated that there was at least one strong Christian among the main characters – even one with a bit of prophetic gifting. A lot of Christian books will feature a main character who is either a non-Christian or a “fallen-away” Christian, and it was nice to see this departure from the norm. If you like contemporary fiction at all, I would definitely recommend. I will be ordering the second book.
The second I started reading this book I was hooked. There was something about it that drew me in. The writing flowed so smoothly and carried me along on this beautiful journey. I truly loved this book, it was an amazing story filled with heartbreaking truth about how we often see ourselves. As Christians, so often we forget who we are in Christ, we think we aren't worthy of love or forgiveness. That is where these characters are. They have to struggle through some tough things to find their place in God. It was an emotional journey, but a great one.
I can honestly say that I was so invested in this story that it flew by and ended far too soon. I really wanted to see more of these characters. While it did come to a satisfying end, I also felt like it was just the beginning of so much more.
This book is one best experienced. I would hate to ruin that by talking about all the delicate little details that shape this into such a moving and powerful read. It was well written, something that creates a strong emotional connect between you and the story. It was beautiful. I hope to read more from this author.
I received an ARC of this book for free, and I am voluntarily leaving this honest review.
This is a new author to me but I enjoyed the story very much.
Avery and Addisyn were sisters who lived with their cruel father. When Avery had enough, she took her younger sister, Addisyn, and moved to New York City. Avery was still a child herself but she did her best to care for her sister and provide everything she needed at great self sacrifice. Avery had a belief in God but Addisyn did not. When Brian, a famous figure skating coach, came to sweep Addisyn away, Avery was left with nothing but pain.
A few years later when Addisyn began to see that Brian was not her Prince Charming but instead was selfish and self-absorbed, she had to get away to find herself and by doing so, began to see that the great sacrifice Avery had made for her. She wanted her sister's forgiveness, if not her love.
There is so much to this story including forgiveness, discovery and love. I really want to see what happens with Darius. I hope there is a second story to continue his story.
I was given an arc copy of this book and I willingly offer my honest review.
OH MAN, I found myself crying when Addisyn didn't listen to Avery and left with the smooth talking Brian to pursue her Olympic dreams of getting the gold medal in ice skating. Even though Avery had taken her younger sister and fled to New York from their abusive father, worked two low pay jobs, cut coupons to make her money stretch Addisyn never appreciated her efforts but only harp on telling her about God. I liked that Avery walked and talked with God and prayed for her sister. The best part was when the sisters searched for each other in New York, AND I CAN'T WAIT TO READ BOOK TWO!!
This was a good book, mostly about shattered dreams and finding God. while growing up and maturing as well. I enjoyed it. The characters were very well written and fleshed out.The scenery made you feel like you were there and seeing the towns. I will for sure look for more from this author, as this was my first book by her. The book was clean and any delicate subjects were handled with care. No real cliff hangers which I appreciate. “I received a free copy of this book and voluntarily reviewed. All opinions are my own.”
The story was well done. I learned a lot about skating and how the competition works and got into characters' heads and their POV. It definitely has faith content, redemption and love and second chances. Only thing about this book that kept me from hitting five stars is pacing. The pacing was slow and it took time for me to get into the story. Overall, I really enjoy it. And I thought the sisters reunion was a beautiful way to wrap the story. I hope to see the sequel for Darius and Addisyn. They deserve a happy ending.
I took a chance on a NTM author and I book I had heard little about and oh was it worth it! A story about sisters separated after a fall out. Addison is about to realize her dream when it all comes crashing down. Avery embarks on a new life in a new location until the past walks into her life reminding her of the sister she lost. I was on the edge of my seat and couldn't stop turning pages. I love how the love of God, second chances and redemption is woven into the story. HIGHLY RECOMMEND.
Oh!!! If you like a story with lots of twists and turns, you'll love this one! I hope there will be a sequel. It can be easy to be so blinded by pride in our own dreams or successes that we forget who and Whose we really are. I loved addisyn's and Avery's journeys. Both sisters learned very valuable lessons. Very well done!!!
Amazing!! I loved the story and characters!! There is nothing better that a good Christian book!! Clean and wholesome. without giving anything away, I highly recommend this book. it won't let you down!! I received a free copy in exchange foe an honest review.
I only read this because it was on a book club list. I didn’t finish it. It’s preachy and overly dramatic and unrealistic. Many of the characters are flat stereotypes. If you enjoy Hallmark movies, you might enjoy this book.
I really loved the depth of characters in this book. Each one has a complex back story that lends to the development of the plot. Each one finds and experienced God’s grace and redemption not only for their current actions but also for their past mistakes and failures.
Estranged sisters- will they find each other again? Lost dreams- can they be found again? 2 men to choose from God or the world What will Addisyn choose? A good read, not preachy, realistic