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kaceydaniels's review
3.0
All the right bones but not enough depth
3.5 stars
This book had the potential to be outstanding. Despite the cringe title and cover it was really promising. The premise was amazing and all the bones were there. But it was just too short.
The characters needed more time to develop, get to know each other, banter, fall in love, etc.
The time line, including the epilogue, was like a year but it felt like a week tops because of how short the book was.
We got one scene of them meeting, one scene of them bantering back and forth, one scene of them “finally” giving in to the heat, one barely there fight, a live declaration, and then a proposal. All back to back without any development or real depth.
Sometimes books have too many filler chapters, this one had none. There’s a reason they exist and that’s because readers need them to actually develop a connection and care about the characters. To feel like we are a part of the story, rather than just watching a quick summary of someone fall in love.
This could have easily been a 5+ star book if it had been longer because the writing was really well done. But I needed more. More of their time arguing and bantering on the ice. More time seeing the tension between them grow to the point where they can’t help but slam together. More time to see Walker for Eva and interact with Gracie. More time to see Eva and Gracie single-mom&daughter relationship. More time to see her relationship with her mom and sister. More time to see a scene where Walker met Gracie’s dad and beat his ass. More moments with Roscoe and Henny and Eva interacting with the whole team. More time to see Eva meet Walkers mom. The author set it up so that there’d be a perfect flow of her meeting his mom but it never happened. There were a lot of plot holes like that all around. And it just left me wanting so much more.
I love single mom romances where the mmc is a rough and brooding but then melts for his girl and her daughter. Walker had a few cute moments with Gracie but there were only 200 pages so there wasn’t enough of anything, let alone their relationship developing. And it’s so disappointing because this book could have been outstanding. But it fell short because it was too short.
Literally all I can say is that it just left me disappointed because I want so much more. I can’t even talk about the characters and why I liked them because I barely knew them. But they were written well enough that, even with barely knowing them I like them. And that’s what makes it even worse is that it was actually written so good so if the author just gave a little more to it, added some pages, added some details, added some depth honestly would’ve been one of the best single mom hockey romances I’ve ever read. And I know I keep saying that but it’s because that’s how potentially awesomeness book could’ve been and it’s just pissing me off the more I write this review.
I might come back and add some quotes I loved, but right now I need to take a break because I just got annoyed while writing this .
3.5 stars
This book had the potential to be outstanding. Despite the cringe title and cover it was really promising. The premise was amazing and all the bones were there. But it was just too short.
The characters needed more time to develop, get to know each other, banter, fall in love, etc.
The time line, including the epilogue, was like a year but it felt like a week tops because of how short the book was.
We got one scene of them meeting, one scene of them bantering back and forth, one scene of them “finally” giving in to the heat, one barely there fight, a live declaration, and then a proposal. All back to back without any development or real depth.
Sometimes books have too many filler chapters, this one had none. There’s a reason they exist and that’s because readers need them to actually develop a connection and care about the characters. To feel like we are a part of the story, rather than just watching a quick summary of someone fall in love.
This could have easily been a 5+ star book if it had been longer because the writing was really well done. But I needed more. More of their time arguing and bantering on the ice. More time seeing the tension between them grow to the point where they can’t help but slam together. More time to see Walker for Eva and interact with Gracie. More time to see Eva and Gracie single-mom&daughter relationship. More time to see her relationship with her mom and sister. More time to see a scene where Walker met Gracie’s dad and beat his ass. More moments with Roscoe and Henny and Eva interacting with the whole team. More time to see Eva meet Walkers mom. The author set it up so that there’d be a perfect flow of her meeting his mom but it never happened. There were a lot of plot holes like that all around. And it just left me wanting so much more.
I love single mom romances where the mmc is a rough and brooding but then melts for his girl and her daughter. Walker had a few cute moments with Gracie but there were only 200 pages so there wasn’t enough of anything, let alone their relationship developing. And it’s so disappointing because this book could have been outstanding. But it fell short because it was too short.
Literally all I can say is that it just left me disappointed because I want so much more. I can’t even talk about the characters and why I liked them because I barely knew them. But they were written well enough that, even with barely knowing them I like them. And that’s what makes it even worse is that it was actually written so good so if the author just gave a little more to it, added some pages, added some details, added some depth honestly would’ve been one of the best single mom hockey romances I’ve ever read. And I know I keep saying that but it’s because that’s how potentially awesomeness book could’ve been and it’s just pissing me off the more I write this review.
I might come back and add some quotes I loved, but right now I need to take a break because I just got annoyed while writing this .
sb_reads23's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
3.5
Cute book, loved Gracie, she really made the book for me. Cute story overall
justina_staniforth_author's review against another edition
5.0
A flicker that burns brighter and brighter
This is the first Sylvia Pierce book I’ve read and I loved it. The witty banter was light-hearted, real and made me smile as I got to know Eva and Walker, and even Gracie, Henny and Roscoe.
The style of writing was a little strange to begin with, with narration slipped in with first person POV. But once I got into the swing of it, it didn’t slow down the story.
Looking forward to the next book!
Story 5 ⭐️
Spice 3
This is the first Sylvia Pierce book I’ve read and I loved it. The witty banter was light-hearted, real and made me smile as I got to know Eva and Walker, and even Gracie, Henny and Roscoe.
The style of writing was a little strange to begin with, with narration slipped in with first person POV. But once I got into the swing of it, it didn’t slow down the story.
Looking forward to the next book!
Story 5 ⭐️
Spice 3
winterreader40's review
4.0
Walker is recovering from several knee surgeries and wants to get back on the team, but he's plateaued and he still has a long way to go before they'll even consider putting him back on the roster. Enter Eva, who has sworn off hockey players (but the money is to good to turn down), former 2 time Olympic figure skating champion, a special coach to teach him how to skate more efficiently to help protect his knee.
Instant sparks between these 2 alpha personalities, some angry sex and then feelings. This was fun, will probably continue the series at some point.
Instant sparks between these 2 alpha personalities, some angry sex and then feelings. This was fun, will probably continue the series at some point.
skandwm's review against another edition
2.0
This book really felt like there was no plot, and I genuinely didn't enjoy the way that the author shamed the bio dad for not wanting to be a parent - before and after the birth.
It was handled poorly and insensitively.
It was handled poorly and insensitively.
fridarosengren's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
_lc_'s review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
She’s an ex figure skater and he’s an injured NHL player trying to get back on the team. There’s plenty of angsty “we shouldn’t be doing this” vibes and all those cute feelings you get when the MMC falls in love with the kid of the FMC.
Genre: Romance
Genre: Romance
Format: Digital
POV: Dual
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️ /5
Age suggestion: 18+
ashleyreads88's review
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
This was a great first book for December. I read it in one day. Naughty or Ice was a fun read about a strong female main character, Eva who is a former figure skater and an injured hockey player, Walker. Eva is hired to train Walker to get back on the ice and play hockey. There was some angst and a happy ever after.
chocolatesalad97's review against another edition
4.0
Good read
Good book, I enjoyed the writing, but I really feel like there could have been more explored with the plot. The FMC has a child to a hockey player on an opposing team, and their next interaction when MMC plays him is not even there. That is something I would have loved to see explored. The book felt like it got over quickly
Good book, I enjoyed the writing, but I really feel like there could have been more explored with the plot. The FMC has a child to a hockey player on an opposing team, and their next interaction when MMC plays him is not even there. That is something I would have loved to see explored. The book felt like it got over quickly