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darkness223's review
5.0
This was a great book i just loved it and could not put it down read it in one go.This book will take you on an emotional roller coaster my heart just broke at times for Alec and you cant help but feel for Annie too.This was a super read and i cant wait to read more.
javalenciaph's review
4.0
Check out the full review on Bookaholics Not-So-Anonymous.
Note: This ARC was provided by Entangled Publishing in exchange for an honest review.
Simmering Ice is the second book in the Atlantic City Hustlers series by the writing duo of Veronica Forand and Susan Scott Shelley. This is a fairly quick read but is actually longer than its predecessor, Flirting on Ice and is about Alec O'Meara, who was introduced in the first book and is a member of the Atlantic City Hustlers ice hockey team, and Annie Davidson, a physical therapist who happens to be good friends with one of Alec's teammates. Alec loved his late wife for years and her memory still shines brightly and, thanks to her insecurities, Annie wonders if Alec is attracted to her because she reminds him of his wife. Alec's character no longer seems to be mourning the death of his wife, but it's obvious that he's never met anyone who could even come close to inspiring the same intensity of feeling he had for her...until he meets Annie, who is beautiful and successful but still listens to her mother's belittling.
The story doesn't suffer from the same case of insta-love that the first one did, since the relationship between Alec and Annie develops over a longer period of time. They have issues that they need to resolve in order to truly make a go of what's going on between them, but I felt that one of the main issues--Annie's toxic relationship with her mother--wasn't resolved as satisfactorily as I wanted, especially since she was the main source of Annie's feelings of doubt and inadequacy. Alec and Annie are likable lead characters and there's a definite chemistry that goes on between the two of them, one that doesn't feel fabricated or forced. Their interactions with the rest of the Atlantic City Hustlers team was a good opportunity to also see more of the other players and who had potential of getting their story told next in the series. I enjoyed reading Simmering Ice and look forward to finding out who'll be starring in book three. Four stars! ♥
Note: This ARC was provided by Entangled Publishing in exchange for an honest review.
Simmering Ice is the second book in the Atlantic City Hustlers series by the writing duo of Veronica Forand and Susan Scott Shelley. This is a fairly quick read but is actually longer than its predecessor, Flirting on Ice and is about Alec O'Meara, who was introduced in the first book and is a member of the Atlantic City Hustlers ice hockey team, and Annie Davidson, a physical therapist who happens to be good friends with one of Alec's teammates. Alec loved his late wife for years and her memory still shines brightly and, thanks to her insecurities, Annie wonders if Alec is attracted to her because she reminds him of his wife. Alec's character no longer seems to be mourning the death of his wife, but it's obvious that he's never met anyone who could even come close to inspiring the same intensity of feeling he had for her...until he meets Annie, who is beautiful and successful but still listens to her mother's belittling.
The story doesn't suffer from the same case of insta-love that the first one did, since the relationship between Alec and Annie develops over a longer period of time. They have issues that they need to resolve in order to truly make a go of what's going on between them, but I felt that one of the main issues--Annie's toxic relationship with her mother--wasn't resolved as satisfactorily as I wanted, especially since she was the main source of Annie's feelings of doubt and inadequacy. Alec and Annie are likable lead characters and there's a definite chemistry that goes on between the two of them, one that doesn't feel fabricated or forced. Their interactions with the rest of the Atlantic City Hustlers team was a good opportunity to also see more of the other players and who had potential of getting their story told next in the series. I enjoyed reading Simmering Ice and look forward to finding out who'll be starring in book three. Four stars! ♥
barbistull's review
4.0
Annie is a physical therapist who has a nonexistent personal life after a bad relationship. One perk of her job is that players from the local hockey team, the Hustlers, come by to visit with and encourage her patients. During one visit she meets Alec O'Meara, aka Sequoia, who she feels an instant spark with. A well-meaning friend tricks Annie and Sequoia into having dinner together one night and it was clear there was more than a one-sided attraction. Annie struggles with her insecurities throughout, but it made for a great and quick read.
I love a sports romance and hockey romance in my favorite! 4 out of 5 stars.
Thank you NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for a review copy!
I love a sports romance and hockey romance in my favorite! 4 out of 5 stars.
Thank you NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for a review copy!
caseroo7's review
4.0
Review originally posted at Ramblings From This Chick
Simmering Ice is the second book in the Atlantic City Hustlers Series by Veronica Forand and Susan Scott Shelley. This book can be read as a standalone though and the characters are interconnected. This novella was short and sweet and I really enjoyed it. It is my first book by either of these authors, but I am definitely looking forward to more from them and this series.
Annie Davidson hasn't been lucky in love and she hasn't been looking for someone after breaking up with her cheating ex. But when she meets star hockey player Alec O'Meara, she decides it might be time for her to get back out there. Alec lost his wife to cancer and hasn't been able to entertain the thought of anyone since. But with Annie he finds himself finally considering a relationship. But with Annie's insecurities and Alec's painful loss, can they have a chance at a future together?
I liked these two a lot. They were great for each other, and I really liked them together. Alec and Annie had a lot of fun together and got along great right from the start. I loved how they both were with the kids that Annie worked with, and Alec could not have been a better guy. These two had a great connection and chemistry and I really enjoyed seeing them get to know one another. Their relationship was so natural, and I felt invested in them right away.
If you are looking for a short and sweet contemporary read, this is definitely one you will want to check out. Being a hockey fan, I really enjoyed this book. I think this is one of those books that sports fans and non-fans alike will enjoy though, and I can't wait to read more from these two authors.
**ARC Provided by Publisher**
Simmering Ice is the second book in the Atlantic City Hustlers Series by Veronica Forand and Susan Scott Shelley. This book can be read as a standalone though and the characters are interconnected. This novella was short and sweet and I really enjoyed it. It is my first book by either of these authors, but I am definitely looking forward to more from them and this series.
Annie Davidson hasn't been lucky in love and she hasn't been looking for someone after breaking up with her cheating ex. But when she meets star hockey player Alec O'Meara, she decides it might be time for her to get back out there. Alec lost his wife to cancer and hasn't been able to entertain the thought of anyone since. But with Annie he finds himself finally considering a relationship. But with Annie's insecurities and Alec's painful loss, can they have a chance at a future together?
I liked these two a lot. They were great for each other, and I really liked them together. Alec and Annie had a lot of fun together and got along great right from the start. I loved how they both were with the kids that Annie worked with, and Alec could not have been a better guy. These two had a great connection and chemistry and I really enjoyed seeing them get to know one another. Their relationship was so natural, and I felt invested in them right away.
If you are looking for a short and sweet contemporary read, this is definitely one you will want to check out. Being a hockey fan, I really enjoyed this book. I think this is one of those books that sports fans and non-fans alike will enjoy though, and I can't wait to read more from these two authors.
**ARC Provided by Publisher**
nicki_theoverflowingbookcase's review
5.0
This story was fabulous. Annie and Alec have instant chemistry but their pasts keep them from moving forward. Through a great plot the two come together and get their happily ever after. I would recommend this book to all - even those who do not like hockey. This was romance at its best.
shannon_cocktailsandbooks's review
This review was originally posted on Cocktails and Books.
This book was reviewed by a member of the review staff at Cocktails and Books. The name of the reviewer can be found under the post categories.
This book was reviewed by a member of the review staff at Cocktails and Books. The name of the reviewer can be found under the post categories.
mags_louise's review
4.0
I read Simmering Ice & Flirting on Ice as a box set called ICED which was kindly provided to me by Entangled Publishing in exchange for an honest review and I enjoyed both of these novellas a lot.
They were both sweet and easy reads with likable characters and each had a couple of hot moments.
Out of the two novellas I enjoyed Flirting on Ice more. As i felt Zac and Heather had more of a connection and the story drew me in more. That's not to say though that Simmering Ice didn't draw me in. It did I just didn't really feel the spark between Annie and Alec and Annie frustrated me at times too. But I still enjoyed it and if you like your hockey romance sweet and easy then I would certainly suggest giving these two novellas a go.
They were both sweet and easy reads with likable characters and each had a couple of hot moments.
Out of the two novellas I enjoyed Flirting on Ice more. As i felt Zac and Heather had more of a connection and the story drew me in more. That's not to say though that Simmering Ice didn't draw me in. It did I just didn't really feel the spark between Annie and Alec and Annie frustrated me at times too. But I still enjoyed it and if you like your hockey romance sweet and easy then I would certainly suggest giving these two novellas a go.
katekat's review against another edition
4.0
I absolutely loved the first book in this series and I quite enjoyed this one as well. For me it was not as good as the first book but it was still a fun and sweet read. I look forward to reading more form this author both form this series and whatever else she chooses to write.
amburhostyn's review against another edition
5.0
I read SIMMERING ICE in the box set of the first two books in the Atlantic City Hustlers series, called ICED, and I really enjoyed both of them!!!
Out of the two novellas, I did love SIMMERING ICE a bit more than FLIRTING ON ICE though! I loved Alec and Annie, and I felt like their story was a little more flushed out than Zac and Heather's was, but both were absolutely adorable!! I really loved the team aspects of the story, and the romance was sweet and had a really wonderful build!
What I loved more about SIMMERING ICE was that we saw a lot more about both Alec and Annie. We learned about both of their pasts and why they were reluctant in love, and I thought that the authors did a great job of showing both characters' insecurities. They also did an amazing job at showing the chemistry between the characters! Alec and Annie had amazing chemistry, and they were extremely well suited together! They had so much in common, and I thought they complemented each other perfectly! I was actually pretty amazed how well their relationship was developed because this was a pretty quick read.
SIMMERING ICE actually holds up pretty well against even full sized romances! It checked ALL of my boxes for romance books, and I really loved it! If you haven't started the Atlantic City Hustlers series yet, now's a good time since you can get this one and the first novella, FLIRTING ON ICE, in the ICED Boxset. ;) I'd recommend them to fans of sweet, contemporary romances!
Out of the two novellas, I did love SIMMERING ICE a bit more than FLIRTING ON ICE though! I loved Alec and Annie, and I felt like their story was a little more flushed out than Zac and Heather's was, but both were absolutely adorable!! I really loved the team aspects of the story, and the romance was sweet and had a really wonderful build!
What I loved more about SIMMERING ICE was that we saw a lot more about both Alec and Annie. We learned about both of their pasts and why they were reluctant in love, and I thought that the authors did a great job of showing both characters' insecurities. They also did an amazing job at showing the chemistry between the characters! Alec and Annie had amazing chemistry, and they were extremely well suited together! They had so much in common, and I thought they complemented each other perfectly! I was actually pretty amazed how well their relationship was developed because this was a pretty quick read.
SIMMERING ICE actually holds up pretty well against even full sized romances! It checked ALL of my boxes for romance books, and I really loved it! If you haven't started the Atlantic City Hustlers series yet, now's a good time since you can get this one and the first novella, FLIRTING ON ICE, in the ICED Boxset. ;) I'd recommend them to fans of sweet, contemporary romances!
katekat's review
4.0
I absolutely loved the first book in this series and I quite enjoyed this one as well. For me it was not as good as the first book but it was still a fun and sweet read. I look forward to reading more form this author both form this series and whatever else she chooses to write.
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