Melting the Ice by Jaci Burton – a Review

Melting The Ice
Play by Play series – Book # 7
by Jaci Burton
Release Date: February 4, 2014

Links to order Melting the Ice: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo / The Book Depository

Description:
Everything’s coming together for budding fashion designer Carolina Preston. Only months away from having her own line, she could use some publicity. That’s when her brother suggests his best friend as a model—hockey player Drew Hogan.
Carolina and Drew already have a history—a hot one, back in college. Unforgettable for Carolina, but for Drew, just another slap shot. This time, though, it’s different. His perfect body would be for professional use only. This time, she could use him.
Drew is all for it. He’s looking forward to the exposure. Plus, it would give him a chance to prove to Carolina that he’s changed. If only he could thaw her emotions, convince her to let down her guard and let him in just one more time…

Review:
For anyone who knows me, they know I love my sports, especially hockey.  So it shouldn’t come as a surprise I’m once again reviewing Melting the Ice, another hockey themed book by Jaci Burton. I just love her Play by Play series as every book has another hero who’s a professional athlete.  I had never heard of Jaci before her previous hockey themed book Taking a Shot which I reviewed for TRC, afterwards, I had to go back and read the others.  I wasn’t disappointed that I did, and am glad I’m trying to keep up with this series.   So when I heard she had another hockey themed book coming out, I couldn’t wait.  I had to read about her latest hockey hero Drew Hogan and his lady love, well, he wants her as his lady love, Carolina Preston. 

Drew and Carolina have a history dating back to a one night stand in college.  At the time Drew was spooked by his strong feelings for Carolina so like a coward he was back then, left and never contacted her again, and that didn’t sit well with Carolina.  Now it’s eight years later and she’s trying to make a mark in the fashion world, so when her brother Gray(One Sweet Ride) suggests his best friend and hockey star Drew Hogan as a model, Carolina isn’t so sure. However, once she sees him again, things really progress between them.  Ms. Burton really hit the mark with these two characters. They just brought the story to life with their personalities, witty banter, playfulness, sexual chemistry that was off the charts, and just a real sense of ease and comfort around each other. I found them to compliment and balance each other just right, but at the same time, each had their own edge to their personalities that drove them professionally and personally. I really liked these two characters and found the story just flew by for me because of it. It was so easy to sit back and read about these two characters and enjoy what was happening.  When a book can fly by like that for me, and before I know it I’m reading the last page, then I know I’ve really enjoyed what I’ve just read, but am sad I’m done that book so soon. 

The hero and heroine weren’t the only well written characters.  All the secondary characters in the book were equally as good and help to move the story along and add depth and personality to not only the story, but our main couple.  We get to see pieces of them through the eyes of the secondary characters.  We get to see Caronlina’s family again, and also get to see just how much her family has always seen Drew as family through his friendship with Gray.  Watching Gray first catch Caronlina in Drew’s bed at their family home over Christmas, then come to terms with their relationship was fun to watch.  He had that whole ‘big brother must protect little sister’ thing going on, very sweet.  It was also fun to watch Drew muddle his way through this relationship.  He’s your typical jock, who is more comfortable in his sport skin, then relationship skin.  He had me chuckling as I read the scene where he finally was attempting to admit his feelings to Carolina.  Even though he was doing a semi bad job at it and tripping over his words, I loved the scene for it was sweet and endearing and made me love Drew all the more for it. Watching Drew slowly whoo Carolina and get her to see he changed from college and is really ready to settle down and that she’s the only girl for him, can I just say swoon time.  Drew is so charming, fun, and sexy as hell, plus a professional hockey player, that spells perfect male for me. 

This was a fun and fast paced read for me. I loved every aspect of the book from beginning to end.  The slow to build romance, the fast paced hockey scenes and team mate camaraderie, playfulness between Drew and Carolina, and the off the charts chemistry and love scenes between them that left me needing a cold glass of water.  Let me just tell you, I will never be able to go to a hockey game again, or watch one on tv without thinking of the underwear photo shoot scene that Carolina did with Drew on the ice in front of the net, wooo baby…fanning self.  Once again Jaci has out done herself with this latest installment in her Play by Play series.  Now I have to wait a whole year before the next one comes out. 

Until next time, happy reading everyone

Reviewed by Marcie