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haletostilinski1's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars
I'm sorry to say that this was my least favorite of the series. Not that I didn't enjoy it, I did. I loved Sergei, and the story and plot was as interesting as the past three books in this series have been.
But while I liked Alex...he frustrated me beyond belief in this. While his hang ups are completely understandable, I think it was just the way he was written - how he dealt with things, how he acted, and so on, that frustrated me.
And just the way the story was structured, too. About half of the book is spent mainly on these two and them developing their relationship into a romantic one, and them going slow - which was understandable, because they were transitioning from around 16 years of friendship to romance, but then the curveball of the children was thrown in, and the last half was mainly focused on them and adjusting to life with them.
It meant that while the first half was a slow burn, the second half was taken up mostly by the kids, and the focus, while still on Alex and Sergei, was kind of expanded to include these other two individuals and I felt that the balance of both their romance and adjusting to the kids wasn't handled the best.
When I picked this up I thought them acquiring Sergei's kids (and was this mentioned in the last book, that) would happen near the beginning and that would leave a lot more time to deal with how their relationship would work with kids in the equation.
It just felt rushed and not at the same time? The first half was Alex putting the breaks on things, making them go slow, which was completely understandable, but then the last half was like going 10mph to 60mph like that. And the characters even pointed that out to themselves at times, but that didn't stop the speeding train of their relationship anyway.
I found the ending sweet, but I still felt it was rushed. So I was having mixed emotions reading this, happy for these two, but also not feeling it came across entirely genuine, or maybe the better way to phrase it is that it didn't come across completely realistic.
And Alex is dealing with his insecurities until the very end, and while I don't have a problem with that, I feel like, while he still is mostly struggling with them, he gets over them fairly quickly and makes a gesture too big for where he was like 5 seconds ago. He still has them, but him being able to get over the hurdle of dealing with them, of facing them and getting over them, came quicker than I think it should have.
Also, this series continues to lack in editing - for some reason several times Alex's sibling's names weren't capitalized, and there were many more mistakes here and there. I ultimately don't care because I do adore these stories and I get that self-published isn't always the best edited. But I really think this author should get their work looked ever before they publish it. It's getting a little frustrating at this point.
Also, while what steam we DID have was incredibly hot, I feel like we could have had a lot more throughout this book, but there wasn't enough.
So, while I did enjoy this, there were just too many little things - and one or two big things - that I had a problem with that I just couldn't enjoy this as much as the others I've read.
I'm really excited about the next one in this series, though, with Liam and Joey, like SUPER excited, so I will be eagerly awaiting it, but yeah, this one was kind of a miss for me in an otherwise awesome series. Still enjoyed it...just didn't love it like I have the others.
P.S.
I'm sorry to say that this was my least favorite of the series. Not that I didn't enjoy it, I did. I loved Sergei, and the story and plot was as interesting as the past three books in this series have been.
But while I liked Alex...he frustrated me beyond belief in this. While his hang ups are completely understandable, I think it was just the way he was written - how he dealt with things, how he acted, and so on, that frustrated me.
And just the way the story was structured, too. About half of the book is spent mainly on these two and them developing their relationship into a romantic one, and them going slow - which was understandable, because they were transitioning from around 16 years of friendship to romance, but then the curveball of the children was thrown in, and the last half was mainly focused on them and adjusting to life with them.
It meant that while the first half was a slow burn, the second half was taken up mostly by the kids, and the focus, while still on Alex and Sergei, was kind of expanded to include these other two individuals and I felt that the balance of both their romance and adjusting to the kids wasn't handled the best.
When I picked this up I thought them acquiring Sergei's kids (and was this mentioned in the last book, that
Spoiler
Sergei had kids with his friend from Russia because she wanted them and he was mostly in a donor roll at first and was gonna be just Uncle Sergei to these kids? I didn't remember this, so learning that "oh, he had kids, what?" out of the blue surprised me. Unless I just don't remember the last book mentioning it. But even then, I feel like it should have been reintroduced, because it had been months since I read the last book. Anyway...It just felt rushed and not at the same time? The first half was Alex putting the breaks on things, making them go slow, which was completely understandable, but then the last half was like going 10mph to 60mph like that. And the characters even pointed that out to themselves at times, but that didn't stop the speeding train of their relationship anyway.
I found the ending sweet, but I still felt it was rushed. So I was having mixed emotions reading this, happy for these two, but also not feeling it came across entirely genuine, or maybe the better way to phrase it is that it didn't come across completely realistic.
And Alex is dealing with his insecurities until the very end, and while I don't have a problem with that, I feel like, while he still is mostly struggling with them, he gets over them fairly quickly and makes a gesture too big for where he was like 5 seconds ago. He still has them, but him being able to get over the hurdle of dealing with them, of facing them and getting over them, came quicker than I think it should have.
Also, this series continues to lack in editing - for some reason several times Alex's sibling's names weren't capitalized, and there were many more mistakes here and there. I ultimately don't care because I do adore these stories and I get that self-published isn't always the best edited. But I really think this author should get their work looked ever before they publish it. It's getting a little frustrating at this point.
Also, while what steam we DID have was incredibly hot, I feel like we could have had a lot more throughout this book, but there wasn't enough.
So, while I did enjoy this, there were just too many little things - and one or two big things - that I had a problem with that I just couldn't enjoy this as much as the others I've read.
I'm really excited about the next one in this series, though, with Liam and Joey, like SUPER excited, so I will be eagerly awaiting it, but yeah, this one was kind of a miss for me in an otherwise awesome series. Still enjoyed it...just didn't love it like I have the others.
P.S.
Spoiler
while I'm sure the hockey world int his universe would handle Sergei coming out and being in a relationship with Alex a lot better after Robbie and Paul came out, I was surprised that we got nothing on how the hockey world reacted? Or about Sergei coming out? Did he even have to? That is also something I feel could have been included.achillespatroclus's review against another edition
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
rissa53's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 really!
I heart Sergei! I like all the supporting characters too!
I also like how even though it's part of a series, I was never once lost. The author explained well. It was just frustrating with the misspelled words, wrong names, etc.
I heart Sergei! I like all the supporting characters too!
I also like how even though it's part of a series, I was never once lost. The author explained well. It was just frustrating with the misspelled words, wrong names, etc.
isalaur's review against another edition
4.0
Friends to lovers with fun twists
I really enjoyed this fourth book in the Hot Off the Ice series. I’ve liked Sergei in his previous appearances and it’s nice to see him get his HEA with Alex. This more of the “family you make” genre and it’s a heartwarming one as out of tragedy comes fulfillment of wishes.
Sergei is the kind of guy everyone wants as a partner. Alex’s lack of self esteem grows weary after a while and is a bit hard to swallow from an Olympic gold medal winner. Athletes don’t get to that level of success without confidence though I guess the message here is that it doesn’t translate to everyday life. I just found it hard to buy.
I really liked Paul’s contribution to the storyline and it makes it important to note that you really need to read the series in order. I’m anxious to get to book five as we had the preview of it in book three. Hoping for more in this series.
I really enjoyed this fourth book in the Hot Off the Ice series. I’ve liked Sergei in his previous appearances and it’s nice to see him get his HEA with Alex. This more of the “family you make” genre and it’s a heartwarming one as out of tragedy comes fulfillment of wishes.
Sergei is the kind of guy everyone wants as a partner. Alex’s lack of self esteem grows weary after a while and is a bit hard to swallow from an Olympic gold medal winner. Athletes don’t get to that level of success without confidence though I guess the message here is that it doesn’t translate to everyday life. I just found it hard to buy.
I really liked Paul’s contribution to the storyline and it makes it important to note that you really need to read the series in order. I’m anxious to get to book five as we had the preview of it in book three. Hoping for more in this series.
cadiva's review against another edition
5.0
Another lovely addition to this series
4.5*
This is my favourite one yet in Amy's Hot Off the Ice series. Sergei has been around the Thunder since the beginning of the series and the big Russian goalie has always intrigued me.
Now we get his long time in the coming love story with Alex, the former Olympic ice skater who's been his best friend since they were 16.
I know I've mentioned previously about odd little niggling typos or editing mistakes, and my friend Dani commented on some in this one, but I have to say this time I only spotted a couple where someone had missed a capital letter on a name and a stray comma or two.
I'm mentioning it because, when the narratives are always very well designed and the characters and romance believable, it's great to not be distracted from that with an ebook that still has mistakes.
I loved Sergei, he has a heart as big as Russia. Alex I took a while to warm to but I could completely understand why he was like he was. It must be soul destroying to live your life having to be validated by a judge's score on your professional efforts.
Once I did get into he head though, I wanted to hug him and make him open his eyes to how Sergei saw him. Thankfully he did get there and there's an awesome cast of supporting characters, include a bunch of brilliant women, to help him find his own worth.
The romantic big gesture from Alex once he realises where he is in Sergei's heart was suitably awesome as was the epilogue and I loved it.
4.5*
This is my favourite one yet in Amy's Hot Off the Ice series. Sergei has been around the Thunder since the beginning of the series and the big Russian goalie has always intrigued me.
Now we get his long time in the coming love story with Alex, the former Olympic ice skater who's been his best friend since they were 16.
I know I've mentioned previously about odd little niggling typos or editing mistakes, and my friend Dani commented on some in this one, but I have to say this time I only spotted a couple where someone had missed a capital letter on a name and a stray comma or two.
I'm mentioning it because, when the narratives are always very well designed and the characters and romance believable, it's great to not be distracted from that with an ebook that still has mistakes.
I loved Sergei, he has a heart as big as Russia. Alex I took a while to warm to but I could completely understand why he was like he was. It must be soul destroying to live your life having to be validated by a judge's score on your professional efforts.
Once I did get into he head though, I wanted to hug him and make him open his eyes to how Sergei saw him. Thankfully he did get there and there's an awesome cast of supporting characters, include a bunch of brilliant women, to help him find his own worth.
The romantic big gesture from Alex once he realises where he is in Sergei's heart was suitably awesome as was the epilogue and I loved it.
galinette's review against another edition
1.0
Where to begin with this book?
Horrible mistakes when a character speaks another language he's supposedly fluent in? Check!
Unrealistic depiction of babies? Check!
Book about hockey but the author couldn't even be bothered to get Connor McDavid's name right? Check!
For real though, this author needs to get an editor. Or a better one, if they already have one.
Horrible mistakes when a character speaks another language he's supposedly fluent in? Check!
Unrealistic depiction of babies? Check!
Book about hockey but the author couldn't even be bothered to get Connor McDavid's name right? Check!
For real though, this author needs to get an editor. Or a better one, if they already have one.
terriaminute's review against another edition
5.0
I did not expect perfection. This is delightful from first to last word.
This is one of the best lifelong friends-to-lovers stories I've ever read. The whole cast is beautifully written, and the more who join in, the better it gets. And! I cannot believe how much parenting wisdom's in here! Particularly the 'pay attention to each other, too' parts. But all the other parts, too. Including that very last scene. :) So typical.
Highest recommendation. You don't have to have read the series or know anything about hockey. But you should probably have a passing acquaintance with babies and how much time they require, or at least trust me when I say Wasp didn't exaggerate. Like, at all.
This is one of the best lifelong friends-to-lovers stories I've ever read. The whole cast is beautifully written, and the more who join in, the better it gets. And! I cannot believe how much parenting wisdom's in here! Particularly the 'pay attention to each other, too' parts. But all the other parts, too. Including that very last scene. :) So typical.
Highest recommendation. You don't have to have read the series or know anything about hockey. But you should probably have a passing acquaintance with babies and how much time they require, or at least trust me when I say Wasp didn't exaggerate. Like, at all.
goodbyepuckpie's review against another edition
3.0
Lots of touches I really liked - good supporting characters, different POV on events shown in different books - but this one didn't quite land as well as the others in the series for me. 3.5 stars would be a better indication.
alextweetsbooks's review against another edition
3.0
I have received this book via Gay Book Promotions in exchange for an honest review.
Skater Boy is the first book I have read from this series and while I did not know characters from before, I loved Sergei. I learnt Russian for a while and I did LOVE how the author incorporated the Russian words in it as well as sometimes shown that Sergei is a foreigner. On the other hand, Alex uses French words as well, especially the ‘curses’ which I found really funny. I have had a Canadian teacher who explained their system of curses to us and I found it really entertaining.
I thought the relationship would take longer to develop, and that the babies would appear earlier in the story. I did like the friendship, but Alex was out of a delicate situation in the beginning and he had some problems, so I thought it would take longer and that he would deal with it more.
When the babies enter the scene, it all shifts. The relationship between Alex and Sergei strains as there are twin babies to take care of and that means a lot of responsibility for Alex as Sergei travels a lot. And even though they all advise Alex to get help, he stubbornly tries to do it all himself.
I really loved how the wives of the players took Alex as one of their own and even helped him with babies. The friendship with Alex’s ex’s (ex-)wife however, was hardly believable. I just could not see this development happening.
It was an enjoyable book with good characters and I liked the ending. My favourite part though, was the support the team shows for Alex and Sergei.
Skater Boy is the first book I have read from this series and while I did not know characters from before, I loved Sergei. I learnt Russian for a while and I did LOVE how the author incorporated the Russian words in it as well as sometimes shown that Sergei is a foreigner. On the other hand, Alex uses French words as well, especially the ‘curses’ which I found really funny. I have had a Canadian teacher who explained their system of curses to us and I found it really entertaining.
I thought the relationship would take longer to develop, and that the babies would appear earlier in the story. I did like the friendship, but Alex was out of a delicate situation in the beginning and he had some problems, so I thought it would take longer and that he would deal with it more.
When the babies enter the scene, it all shifts. The relationship between Alex and Sergei strains as there are twin babies to take care of and that means a lot of responsibility for Alex as Sergei travels a lot. And even though they all advise Alex to get help, he stubbornly tries to do it all himself.
I really loved how the wives of the players took Alex as one of their own and even helped him with babies. The friendship with Alex’s ex’s (ex-)wife however, was hardly believable. I just could not see this development happening.
It was an enjoyable book with good characters and I liked the ending. My favourite part though, was the support the team shows for Alex and Sergei.
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