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Fast Ice #1
Bylines & Blue Lines
He has it all...but he can't have her Brody Mitchell is a damn good hockey player and has the NHL contract to prove it. He loves the game, but he hates the hype, the spotlight and especially the puck bunnies who only want to score an athlete husband. He’s been burned before. He’s not looking to repeat that mistake. The last thing he expected was to make a hot connection with a beautiful brunette at a bar. She doesn’t want to know his name and he’s more than happy not to give it. She just got it all...but she can't keep him Tara doesn’t offer her name to the sexy guy she picks up after bombing out on her first assignment. As a brand-new sports reporter for the Philadelphia Record, she should be more interested in tracking down a hot trade rumor than in how many times the hot stranger can rock her world. Tara and Brody spend one amazing night in bed. But in the light of day, they find themselves on opposite sides of the boards. Will trust issues ruin their budding romance? Or will love win the day?
202 pages, Paperback
Published October 11, 2019
144 people are currently reading
443 people want to read
About the author
Stephanie Julian
166 books1,058 followersStephanie Julian is a USA Today and New York Time best-selling author of contemporary and paranormal romance. She writes stories with sultry heat and sweet heart.
She is the author of the best-selling Salon Games and Indecent series. INVITE ME IN (previously published as BY PRIVATE INVITATION) was an RT Magazine Top Pick. AN INDECENT PROPOSITION was named by BookBub as one of the 20 Best Erotic Books.
Stephanie is happily married to a Springsteen fanatic and the mother of two hairy sons.
Find out why reviewers call Stephanie's stories "fascinating," "truly fantastic," "intoxicating," "highly imaginative" and "hot enough to peel paint."
She is the author of the best-selling Salon Games and Indecent series. INVITE ME IN (previously published as BY PRIVATE INVITATION) was an RT Magazine Top Pick. AN INDECENT PROPOSITION was named by BookBub as one of the 20 Best Erotic Books.
Stephanie is happily married to a Springsteen fanatic and the mother of two hairy sons.
Find out why reviewers call Stephanie's stories "fascinating," "truly fantastic," "intoxicating," "highly imaginative" and "hot enough to peel paint."
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
May 26, 2020
Good start to a new series. Just wish it were longer.
November 10, 2019
4.5-Stars & hopefully a Great Start to a 'Fast Ice series'
While this appears to be a spin-off to Stephanie Julian's long-running sports romance series, let me tell you, Bylines & Blue Lines can stand on its own with a catchy storeline & character's. Hope Stephanie Julian continues this Fast Ice Series with Bylines & Blue Lines listed as Book 1.
While this appears to be a spin-off to Stephanie Julian's long-running sports romance series, let me tell you, Bylines & Blue Lines can stand on its own with a catchy storeline & character's. Hope Stephanie Julian continues this Fast Ice Series with Bylines & Blue Lines listed as Book 1.
March 17, 2022
This isn't a typical hockey romance. It's really hot! And the first 30% of the book starts out that way. Very explicit so it's not for everyone. I thought it was really well written and I enjoyed it.
But although Tara and Brody shouldn't normally be attracted to each other, and their careers are in conflict, they decide to try a relationship. They are so into each other, but then a conflict breaks them apart. We're all hoping they get back together.
I received a copy of the book from the author. This is my honest review. I haven't read anything by this author before, but I'll be looking forward to reading more of her work.
But although Tara and Brody shouldn't normally be attracted to each other, and their careers are in conflict, they decide to try a relationship. They are so into each other, but then a conflict breaks them apart. We're all hoping they get back together.
I received a copy of the book from the author. This is my honest review. I haven't read anything by this author before, but I'll be looking forward to reading more of her work.
October 28, 2019
5 stars for Bylines and Blue Lines by Stephsnie Julian
Always a great read by Stephanie Julian. A great series spinoff. Wanted more. Could not put it down. Loved Brody and Tara. Can't wait for the next instalment of Colonials.
Always a great read by Stephanie Julian. A great series spinoff. Wanted more. Could not put it down. Loved Brody and Tara. Can't wait for the next instalment of Colonials.
December 25, 2022
This feels like a continuation of a previous series with all the characters that crop up and all their backstories, but it doesn’t say that anywhere. (I have now found the other series is called Red Tails Hockey. It really needed to mention that somewhere this series follows off from there). Not having those backstories, it just feels… incomplete. Like you’re getting a teaser of this world, but not actually allowed entry. And the end of the book just feels like a set up for another character to have his own book. There’s too many aside things happening, and there wasn’t enough pages for the main couple to have a completely satisfying story, so it seems redundant to mention all of these others. It’s got some chemistry going on, but not a huge amount of story. But dang, can these two burn the pages up. Phew. Lots of physical and instant attraction, with minimal drama going on and only a slight conflict that never really feels fleshed out. But there’s a slew of sex scenes that don’t feel like they’re in there just for the sake of it, so that was balanced really well.
I don’t know if it was just the paperback, but the text conversations aren’t italicised or indented or given any indication of them and it made them really hard to follow when it was interspersed with thoughts and other things happening. I know it’s a little thing, but it really pulled me out of the story.
Also, there is pretty close to zero ice hockey in here. I think one scene is at practice, but it’s brief and doesn’t detail much.
I don’t know if it was just the paperback, but the text conversations aren’t italicised or indented or given any indication of them and it made them really hard to follow when it was interspersed with thoughts and other things happening. I know it’s a little thing, but it really pulled me out of the story.
Also, there is pretty close to zero ice hockey in here. I think one scene is at practice, but it’s brief and doesn’t detail much.
January 6, 2022
Fast Ice #1
Brody Mitchell was at the Haven Hotel for a family event and now down at the bar where he gets shut down by a blonde. A brunette sitting next to them started laughing at what happened. They end up talking for quite a while and then end up at his place. They were explosive together and she left while he was in the shower, without sharing names.
Tara Downey has been on the job a month at the Philadelphia Record as a general sports writer. She is sent to cover a press conference with Duncan Mitchell, the new Colonials hockey team's GM. Tara is shocked to see one of the players, Brody Mitchell, Colonials defenseman and son of the new GM, the guy she hooked up with the night before. Brody is just as shocked as she is. So now what?
This puts her in a difficult position being a reporter as much as it does Brody being a player. Brody isn't one for relationships or girlfriends but Tara is one he's not ready to stop seeing and she feels the same but it creates issues. Is this a relationship that is worth fighting the odds?
4 stars
Brody Mitchell was at the Haven Hotel for a family event and now down at the bar where he gets shut down by a blonde. A brunette sitting next to them started laughing at what happened. They end up talking for quite a while and then end up at his place. They were explosive together and she left while he was in the shower, without sharing names.
Tara Downey has been on the job a month at the Philadelphia Record as a general sports writer. She is sent to cover a press conference with Duncan Mitchell, the new Colonials hockey team's GM. Tara is shocked to see one of the players, Brody Mitchell, Colonials defenseman and son of the new GM, the guy she hooked up with the night before. Brody is just as shocked as she is. So now what?
This puts her in a difficult position being a reporter as much as it does Brody being a player. Brody isn't one for relationships or girlfriends but Tara is one he's not ready to stop seeing and she feels the same but it creates issues. Is this a relationship that is worth fighting the odds?
4 stars
March 22, 2022
Sucker for an awkward grump!
This book started a little slow for me, so it took a while to get into. BUT I eventually became hooked on Brody's awkwardness, but suaveness when he met his perfect match in Tara. I love this kind of story when two people who just haven't been lucky in love find each other.
This is my first Stephanie Julian book, but I am intrigued about the series this one is an offshoot of and the rest of the Fast Ice books as well - RJ's is going to be interesting!
"...The view was amazing. Except she wasn't looking at the atrium. Brody stood in front of the window, looking so (dang) handsome..." Hint - have you see this cover?!?
More swoon moments:
"I don't think I'll ever have enough of you." - even if he only thought it!
"Being with you makes my world brighter." - sigh!
Much respect for Tara being so upfront with her editor - props for that!!
I do wish there had been more at the end. It ended a little abruptly for me and I always miss it when there isn't an epilogue.
But overall - an enjoyable read and glad I found a new author to me!
This book started a little slow for me, so it took a while to get into. BUT I eventually became hooked on Brody's awkwardness, but suaveness when he met his perfect match in Tara. I love this kind of story when two people who just haven't been lucky in love find each other.
This is my first Stephanie Julian book, but I am intrigued about the series this one is an offshoot of and the rest of the Fast Ice books as well - RJ's is going to be interesting!
"...The view was amazing. Except she wasn't looking at the atrium. Brody stood in front of the window, looking so (dang) handsome..." Hint - have you see this cover?!?
More swoon moments:
"I don't think I'll ever have enough of you." - even if he only thought it!
"Being with you makes my world brighter." - sigh!
Much respect for Tara being so upfront with her editor - props for that!!
I do wish there had been more at the end. It ended a little abruptly for me and I always miss it when there isn't an epilogue.
But overall - an enjoyable read and glad I found a new author to me!
March 8, 2022
Well this was exactly what I needed after a few serious reads! A fun, lighthearted love story that brings a smile to your face! With just a tiny sprinkle of spice to get to heart beating faster and the cheeks flushing pink.
This was your typical sports star and sports reporter romance with them trying to overcome the hurdles of the clashing of their jobs.
Our MC and her love interest had so much chemistry and made it such a fun read. I also enjoyed the side characters that just brought even more humour.
This was the first book I have read by this author but it won't be the last! I can't wait to read the rest of the series.
If you need a read to make you smile, laugh and fall in love, go check this out!
This was your typical sports star and sports reporter romance with them trying to overcome the hurdles of the clashing of their jobs.
Our MC and her love interest had so much chemistry and made it such a fun read. I also enjoyed the side characters that just brought even more humour.
This was the first book I have read by this author but it won't be the last! I can't wait to read the rest of the series.
If you need a read to make you smile, laugh and fall in love, go check this out!
February 21, 2021
Brody is trying to get away from his family for a bit and Tara's just getting away from it all. They both end up in a hotel bar and Tara's witness to Brody getting shot down by a blonde. They hit it off and before you know it they're between the sheets, neither one knowing what the other does for a living.
The next morning when Tara arrives at work, she gets assigned to the hockey press conference. What a shock when she sees Brody on the dais! Brody's pretty shocked too when he finds out she's the press.
Will that keep these two apart or can they separate their personal lives from their professional ones?
A great read!
The next morning when Tara arrives at work, she gets assigned to the hockey press conference. What a shock when she sees Brody on the dais! Brody's pretty shocked too when he finds out she's the press.
Will that keep these two apart or can they separate their personal lives from their professional ones?
A great read!
January 19, 2022
Loved this HOT HOCKEY ROMANCE!! This is my first book by this author and it definitely will not be my last!!! I loved these characters and their steamy scenes as well as their electric chemistry! Yowza so HOT!! I couldn’t stop smiling as my fingers flew turning page after page and I didn’t want it to end. I cant wait to get my hands are more of this series as well as more by this author! If you have never read this you definitely should get it now!!!
April 2, 2022
This book was the Kiss of the Month book club (Facebook group) selection for March.
It was quite a quick read a a cute storyline, about a very involved hockey family and a very involved reporter family.
A guy picks up a girl at a bar, they have an intense one night stand. Next day, she goes to work, which is a press conference about a hockey GM taking over a new team where his son is a player and they’re trying to trade to get his other son, and it turns out the first son is her hook-up from the previous night. Both are shocked as they never even exchanged names,
Drama ensues as they need to stay apart due to their career conflict, but neither one actually wants to.
Great if you enjoy hockey Romance. First in a series.
It was quite a quick read a a cute storyline, about a very involved hockey family and a very involved reporter family.
A guy picks up a girl at a bar, they have an intense one night stand. Next day, she goes to work, which is a press conference about a hockey GM taking over a new team where his son is a player and they’re trying to trade to get his other son, and it turns out the first son is her hook-up from the previous night. Both are shocked as they never even exchanged names,
Drama ensues as they need to stay apart due to their career conflict, but neither one actually wants to.
Great if you enjoy hockey Romance. First in a series.
March 31, 2022
The first romantic scene (all of chapter 2) seemed like a cluster of ideas and nothing thought out. Like it just didn't flow well and was difficult to read. Then, the story improved and seemed interesting, but the end was sudden and abrupt. The whole book just seemed like it was cut and paste without any thought to flow, which was sad for me, as I really wanted to love this hockey story like the rest of my book group ladies seemed to.
January 22, 2022
This was a very quick read - longer than a novella I guess but it felt like the story needed to be flushed out more. I did enjoy the basic outline though which was totally up my alley - one night stand that turns into more even though they meet again professionally. I’d consider some of the authors other hockey reads.
August 3, 2024
Imagining You K. Bolton 5 points
Samanatha was moved to NYC by mom and her agent many years ago. Mom has passed, Dad went to AZ and 2 sisters have been running the family inn without a break for over a decade. Hoping to heal relationship with sisters Sam comes for a visit with a chilly welcome. She has a ghostly experience. Handsome contractor quickly captures her heart. This story is about healing the relationship between the sisters while falling for home and him. It is a sweet and almost completely clean romance.
Samanatha was moved to NYC by mom and her agent many years ago. Mom has passed, Dad went to AZ and 2 sisters have been running the family inn without a break for over a decade. Hoping to heal relationship with sisters Sam comes for a visit with a chilly welcome. She has a ghostly experience. Handsome contractor quickly captures her heart. This story is about healing the relationship between the sisters while falling for home and him. It is a sweet and almost completely clean romance.
October 28, 2020
Awful
Girl meets guy they have sex , surprise surprise they meet again , he talks her into a date they have more sex. They hardly ever see each other . They fall out make up the end .
Girl meets guy they have sex , surprise surprise they meet again , he talks her into a date they have more sex. They hardly ever see each other . They fall out make up the end .
February 11, 2021
So this got a 2* not because it was bad. But I just couldn’t make myself care about anyone in it. I skimmed the later third and honestly considered DNFing it because I was very close to bored. This was just a case of “this is not for me” rather than “this is bad”.
February 13, 2021
Quite enjoyed this plot and book. The lack of italics or anything for the text convos threw me off and made me have to re-read passages which is why 4 out of 5 stars, but the story itself was definitely a 5 star rating. Both characters were well thought out and the story right up my alley.
January 4, 2022
Pretty decent storyline. Its about a hockey player and a reporter who have a one-night stand without names, etc and it was hot. They then discover who each other is at a press conference. The story then evolves from there to a wonderful HEA.
Read
December 22, 2025Random number generator picked book 232 from my kindle list and this was it.
DNF 23%. Seemed promising at first, but I'm quitting in the middle of their chapter long first sex scene because I'm not getting enough... of something. Connection? Just not feeling it.
DNF 23%. Seemed promising at first, but I'm quitting in the middle of their chapter long first sex scene because I'm not getting enough... of something. Connection? Just not feeling it.
December 14, 2020
4.5 Stars
Hot sexy book. Hot read about Brodie, a hockey player and Tara, a sports reporter. From a no names one night stand to a HEA was a hot read.
Hot sexy book. Hot read about Brodie, a hockey player and Tara, a sports reporter. From a no names one night stand to a HEA was a hot read.
January 25, 2021
Nice quick read.
March 21, 2021
3.5 Stars
January 11, 2022
good read
Good read that had an interesting story with strong characters. Was just getting into it when it ended quite abruptly. That said was a good story.
Good read that had an interesting story with strong characters. Was just getting into it when it ended quite abruptly. That said was a good story.
January 23, 2022
Great
Great hockey love story, my first book by this author, but hopefully not my last.
Looking forward to read the next one!
Great hockey love story, my first book by this author, but hopefully not my last.
Looking forward to read the next one!
April 11, 2022
A fun and sexy start to the series which is sure to be fan-worthy!
April 16, 2022
This was an OK book I wasn't too impressed with the content but it was free.
September 26, 2022
Good
I love you and you can get a good time to figure out how to get the job. I am so
I love you and you can get a good time to figure out how to get the job. I am so
February 19, 2023
good book. loved Brody!
Read
November 7, 2024this book felt like two chapters and there definitely could have been more going on. I felt like three mundane things happened and then the book was over.
Read
April 9, 2025Dnf
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews