| Title | : | Defying Gravity (Ice Tigers #1) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | - |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Kindle Edition |
| Number of Pages | : | 228 |
| Publication | : | First published January 30, 2019 |
Defying Gravity (Ice Tigers #1) Reviews
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đ FREE on Amazon today (3/6/2019)! đ
Blurb:
Two men, a womanâan unexpected love story.
Tyler Wolfe has it all, or does he? Heâs living his dream, playing pro hockey for the Boston Ice Tigers, and at thirty heâs become one of the NHLâs top scorers. Everything would be perfect if he didnât have to hide the most important thing in his life.
Danny Fisher has had enough. Almost two years of hiding his relationship with Tyler have taken a toll on him, and when his very own hockey hottie is supposed to take part in his teamâs social media dating show romancing women, Danny considers leaving Tyler.
Lily Parker is struggling with her career. Training young horses isnât an easy jobâone where she has recently been lying in the dirt more than being on the horse. An evening meant to leave her problems behind her leads to a chance encounter with Danny and Tyler, complicating her life even more.
Can Lily help Danny and Tyler overcome their problems, or will her presence cause even more trouble in their relationship? -
When Lily saves Tyler, a professional hockey player, from possibly being outed by the paparazzi, he brings her into the fold of his relationship with his friend and lover, Danny. You see, Tyler, being a professional athlete, has a problem, a big problem. He's in love with his longtime friend and lover, but he cannot let the world know. There are no out gay professional hockey players, and he certainly does not want to be the first one. And yet, Danny is tired of being Tyler's big secret, and he just might be leaving Tyler if Tyler will not be open about his love and relationship. What's an athlete to do?
Well, in this case, Lily becomes a cover of sorts. But that cover soon turns authentic as feelings and attraction abound between all three of them. And I really enjoyed how the author brought this menage about. It felt authentic and realistic, along with being both steamy and emotionally satisfying. I am pretty picky about the menage stories I read, whether they are MMF as this is, or MFM, because I like the physical and emotional aspects to be well balanced. Defying Gravity is well-balanced for the most part, although at times I felt like they used sex in the place of communicating. But I could tell the feelings were equal to the attraction, even if they didn't always express those feelings well. Although this is the first story I've read by Isabella Cassazza, it definitely won't be the last now that I've read this one and have found out just how well she writes athletes and love stories.
ARC via Enticing Journey Book Promotions for an honest review.
Full review posted here --->
Live Through Books Blog. -
~Jenna
This is my first read from this author and I can definitely say that I'll be reading more from her! This story starts out right away with drama and suspense. Tyler and Danny are having trouble with their relationship. But here comes Lily to shake things up. I enjoyed the storyline and how things flowed fairly nicely. These 3 characters really drew me in and their personalities were quite relatable. I also really loved how the author gives us points of view from all 3 characters. I enjoyed how the story ended, especially the steamy epilogue. And close to the end, there's even a sneak peek at what may come next for this author. I can't wait to read more! -
Beware MMF, but freebie at the zon.com right now:
https://smile.amazon.com/Defying-Grav... -
Such a cute story! Tyler and Danny have been dating for a couple of years but they have to hide their relationship because Tyler plays hockey and they worry about the repercussions if he comes out. Lily, a horse trainer, goes to one of Tylerâs games and overhears Danny and Tyler arguing afterward. She realizes they are together and sees a paparazzi about to take a picture of them as they are about to kiss. She intervenes and from there becomes Tylerâs fake girlfriend and a close friend to both of them. As time goes on, the men begin developing feelings for Lily and Lily starts falling in love with them.
The way all of the characters interacted was great. It felt very believable. I loved that the chapters switched between all three of them so we could watch the relationship develop for each of them. And it was nice to see a slow build up before they got together, they didnât just suddenly jump in bed after a few days. Definitely recommend this for anyone who likes triad stories with slow burn and sweet romance.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. -
DNF @ 60%
I'm not leaving a star rating for DEFYING GRAVITY because I DNFed for a personal preference reason but I wanted to leave a review for other readers who might be in the same boat as me. Up to the 60% mark the story was good. The writing was a bit choppy and repetitive but I really liked the characters. Tyler is a closeted gay hockey player who has been secretly dating Danny for 2 years. During an argument in a parking garage a paparazzo almost gets a picture of them kissing but Lily, who was looking for her car, realizes what's about to happen and intervenes which leads to Tyler kissing her instead. Unfortunately the paparazzo publishes pictures of them claiming Tyler and Lily are a couple and they decide to just go with it so that Tyler can avoid a bachelor auction fundraiser his hockey team is requiring all the single guys to participate in. All parties are on board with this plan and they start to develop a friendship while Tyler and Lily play a happy couple who spend a lot of time with their roommate, Danny.
My reason for DNFing comes at 60% and is a bit of a spoiler so I'll hide it in spoiler tags. It centers on how things go from a fake relationship to real and to me it was cheating and I have a hard and fast "no cheating" rule for my romances. I know this might not bother some readers and that's totally fine, but it doesn't work for me.
()
Anyway, take that how you will and if it doesn't bother you then you might really like this one. It was certainly cute and the characters were really likable. -
Tyler and Danny have been together for a couple of years but due to Tyler being in the NHL he canât come out. Danny is ok with this as he know it wonât be forever.
Lily comes across them arguing about a dating show Tyler has been asked to appear on, as a straight man. They are arguing and saying things that shouldnât be said in the open and Lily spots a paparazzi and quickly intervenes so that they are not outed.
Tyler and Danny are both grateful and Tyler asks her to pose as his fake girlfriend so that he wonât have to do the show and upset Danny further.
This was a good MMF read. Tyler and Danny were everything, they were so loving towards each other. When Lily came along she was their salvation in a way. By being Tylerâs girlfriend, they were all able to go out together and experience things together that they have never previously done. Along the way attraction grows between all of them.
Tyler and Lily are the first to give into the temptation and I was a little sad for Danny. Tyler was so consumed with his lust for Lily that he didnât really care about Dannyâs feelings and Lily was much the same. I would have liked it better if there was a conversation between them all.
Although this caused a little conflict it was quickly resolved and their coupling took place and boy was their sex hot.
This was an easy quick read with angst, hot mm scenes and even hotter mmf scenes and I look forward to seeing where the series goes.
*copy received for an honest review*
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Overall Ratings;âŁ
First Sex Scene @ 25%
Hero - âď¸âď¸âď¸âď¸
Hero - âď¸âď¸âď¸âď¸
Heroine - âď¸âď¸âď¸âď¸
Story - âď¸âď¸âď¸
Angst - âď¸âď¸âď¸
Steam - âď¸âď¸âď¸âď¸
Chemistry - âď¸âď¸âď¸âď¸ -
This is the first in a series and the first novel for this author. Not a bad start if I do say so. I love hockey romance and this once has the added twist of a M/M/F. Lots of things to work through and agree to in this type of relationship.
The author handles the tension of Tyler and Danny's relationship and layers on the added feelings they both start developing for Lily. Loved all the sports in this one--both hockey and competitive Horsemanship. I also really appreciated that once they came together as a trio, there was very little angst. Lots of communication and wanting to communicate to help make things work out with them all. And a whole lot of chemistry between all of them!
Overall, a great story by a new author. Can't wait to see what other Ice Tigers we will be hearing about next.
*Complimentary copy provided for an honest review. -
Defying Gravity by Isabella Cassazza is book One in the Ice Tigers Series. This is the story of Tyler Wolfe, Danny Fisher and Lily Parker.
Tyler is a pro hockey player for the Boston Ice tigers which puts him in the public eye. Tyler is also in a secret relationship with Danny for the last two years, but hasn't publicly acknowledged it. Then Danny learns that Tyler is being pressured to be on a social media dating show looking for women, which of course adds to some upset. Lily is a horse trainer who works hard and happens to help out Tyler and Danny. This leads them to ask her to be a fake girlfriend to buffer their to the public eye. But they all start to have more than fake feelings towards each other.
Hot read. -
What an amazingly sweet romance! I couldn't put this one down.
Tyler and Danny are amazing together. But keeping their relationship a secret to protect Tyler's career, is starting to take its toll on Danny. While arguing in a parking garage they both aren't paying enough attention and are almost outed by the paparazzi. Lily sees what is going on and intervenes. Becoming Tyler's fake girlfriend seems like an easy thing to do for two people who are so sweet, but once she starts to develop feelings for the guys, things get complicated.
Defying Gravity was so much more than I expected and I fell completely in love with these amazing characters. I can't wait to see what comes next with this series! Isabella Cassazza definitely has a new fan after this one! -
Defying Gravity is the first installment in the Ice Tigers Hockey series and the first novel by Isabella Cassazza.
If you are a fan of hockey, horses, chocolate and steamy M/M/F this book is for you.
The love story is strong and intense in this story which is what I liked the most. First between Tyler and Danny and later on with Lily as every character will forgive each other several times.
Both men will expand their hearts to make room for a new addition to their relationship meanwhile Tyler and Lily will discover new aspects of their personalities.
Each individual has something to bring to the trio which is why they complete each other.
Moreover I found the issue of homosexuality in sports being raised in the story interesting but I was disappointed by its turn of event. The problem was tackled but there was no attempt of solving it. Similarly, I felt like at times things happened too fast, especially regarding the characters' feelings towards each other and the resolution of arguments which often ended up with some make-out and sex.
Although, I am looking forward to the continuation of this series as secondary potential characters among hockey players were introduced in this first installment.
*NB: M/M/F is usually not my cup of tea but I decided to give it a try so I wrote my review in an objective way. -
4 stars!
Review by Nancy
Late Night Reviewer
Up All Night w/ Books Blog
An unexpected menage, Defying Gravity by Isabella Cassazza is the first book in the Ice Tigers Hockey series. It is also her debut novel. A great read, easy to follow and well written. A story about three people finding themselves in a world that isnât always accepting.
Tyler has it all. Heâs a famous hockey player, handsome, charming and talented. The fame he has comes with a lot of critics and judgments. He is madly in love with Danny but has to keep his relationship a secret because how do you openly admit to a hockey team that you are in love with a man. I had a lot of opinions as to why Tyler couldnât just say he was gay, he wouldnât be the first athlete, but then I understood that it played a big role in the development of the story and so I tried to be objective on the subject.
Danny has been in love with Tyler for a long time. He has sat on the sidelines and accepted the fact that their relationship had to stay behind closed doors. But how much is too much? When he finds out Tyler is supposed to be on the reality TV show, Romancing Women, he decides heâs had enough and wants to call it quits on their relationship.
In comes Lily Parker. Lily unexpectedly finds herself in the middle of a relationship between two very handsome men. After saving Tyler and Danny from being outed to the paparazzi, she finds herself with an offer she canât even fully process. Playing Tylerâs fake girlfriend will keep him from the reality TV show that is breaking up his relationship with Danny. Little did Lily know she would soon be falling in love, with not one but two amazing men. But she canât get in the way of an already functioning relationship, what is she to do?
I, for one, am not a huge fan of menages, but this book was one I thoroughly enjoyed. Cassazza did a great job with the development of the characters. Danny, Lily, and Tyler were truly one relationship. They just clicked and it was wonderful to see them explore and find their sexuality. I am excited to read the next installment in this series!
***ARC provided in exchange for an honest review*** -
This is book one in the Ice Tigers series. I love reading about hockey. I say that every time I review one. Nothing has changed. I have never read a book about hockey in this genre and I have to say I loved it. This is a m/m/f book. You get man loving as well as male and female loving. It starts off with a bang and I sat back end enjoyed the ride. The pace is great and well as the premise. That is what drew me in beside hockey.
The book starts off with Tyler and Danny hiding what they are to each other. Tyler has been selected to do a dating show and his lover Danny is mad. No, he isn't mad he is pissed. He feels it is disrespectful for Tyler to do it. I agree but Tyler can't come out. The league isn't ready for that and neither is Tyler. Danny is ready to walk away. They have been together two years and everyone thinks they are roommates.
After a game, Lily is walking to her friend's car and she sees a heated argument between the two men and decides to intervene as the paparazzi are watching. Danny and Tyler have no clue and Lily is easily able to pick up the argument then the makeup kiss that is about to happen. She saves them both.
The only way that Tyler can get out of the social media dating show is having a girlfriend. With the cat being out of the bag so to speak Lily is now the fake girlfriend.
Lily loves horses and she trains them and gets them ready. She breaks them in so to speak. I loved reading about that. Not only that Lily is a great person with a big heart and when she finds herself falling for not one of them but both of the men she decides she can't and tries to back off. She doesn't want to be the reason to put a wedge between Tyler and Danny.
This book was an easy read. The chemistry and passion between the men is hot hot hot. Then put Lily on the middle of them and that is even hotter. They all can read each other well. They are a great fit. I liked Tyler's teammates as well as Lilyâs mom.
I am looking forward to the next book in the series. -
Review by: Jennifer
(4 stars)
This is the first of the Ice Tigers series, and boy does it start with a bang. Not sure if the whole series will be MMF, but this sure was. Tyler and Danny are in a secret relationship. To the outside world Danny is just Tyler's roommate, but behind closed doors they have been together for two years. So far everything is just fine, no one suspects a thing, in fact they are doing such a good job that Tyler is to be on a reality romance show. The two absolutely hate the idea, but the owner of the team is the one calling the shots. When Lily ends up helping the two out of a potentially bad situation, the guys are so thankful. In fact they end up asking Lily if she will be Tyler's "beard", his fake girlfriend. Lily thinks about it, and they end up not having much of a choice as they wound up getting photographed and their pictures in the paper the next day. Everything was working out so well, until Lily realized that she was getting feelings for not just Tyler but Danny as well. What happens when the fake feelings in the fake relationship start becoming real for everyone?
As far as MMF books go, this was just ok. I didn't really like how the whole thing was handled when Tyler realized that he had feelings and then acted on them. To me that was crossing a certain line that I shall not name. This looks like its the author's first book, and I must say that the rest of this was done very well. This has loads of drama, and some hot naughty bits. I give this 4 stars. -
Isabella Cassazza delivers a beautiful story about love in all its many forms.
Hockey player Tyler has been hiding his true self for several years, especially after entering into a relationship with his beloved boyfriend, Danny. To the world They're just roommates but they're actually so much more. Tyler is convinced the league isn't ready for an openly gay hockey player and Danny understands why they have to keep their relationship secret but when the team orders Ty to take part in a Bachelor type dating show, Danny doesn't know if he can live the charade any longer.
Out of nowhere, except the goodness of her heart, Lily explodes into their lives. Saving them from being outed by the paparazzi, she steps in and becomes Tyler's fake girlfriend. Except the more time they all spend together, the less fake it becomes. She's fallen for her boyfriend, and HIS boyfriend! She could never imagined they'd feel the same way. What a tangled web her life has become.
This was a really lovely story about finding yourself and finding love. Lily had a great of gold and takes the weight of the world on her shoulders. She'd do anything to protect Ty and Danny, even if it meant sacrificing her own happiness. Tyler and Danny were the perfect complements to each other, a real yin and yang. It was awesome watching them grow together and become so much more together. Great story! -
Isabella Cassazza is another new to me author, and I am very excited about her new series after this debut story, Defying Gravity. I've come to love hockey stories a ton, and this one is very original, with it starting off with Tyler & Danny, the two men in love, but in secret, as men in hockey don't come out of the closet. And the drama is high when Tyler is selected to do a dating show, which upsets Danny, because obviously he doesn't want him to do it. Lily comes on the scene when she's going out to her car after a game, and witnesses them arguing, along with the paps, and she decides to save the moment when she kisses Tyler. Now, all of a sudden she's Tyler's pretend girlfriend in the media, and as it goes on, all of a sudden, she becomes the third as feelings develop. I'm not going to say anymore, as I feel like it will give too much away, but there's a lot of angst, confusion, drama, hotness, and a lot of sweetness as well. The story is told in 3 POVs which really made it the best, as I got everyone's emotions, which in turn, really had my emotions involved the most as well. If you want to see how it all pans out, you'll just have to read it for yourselves, as I HIGHLY RECOMMEND!
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This was my first book by this author and I'm in love. This book has a sweet feel to it. It jumps right into Tyler and Danny's relationship. You can feel the love and respect between them. They have the sweetest and hottest relationship. I swear these two have some major chemistry and can break some walls. So there's a catch.. they have to keep silent. No one has came out as gay in hockey. Enter Lily. She's the breathe of fresh air these two need in their lives. She just doesn't know it at first. She was sweet girl, who loved her horses and that was where her focus was. Meeting Tyler and Danny was fate. I loved how we get 3 povs and get to know the characters a lot better. I loved how even though they were a committed relationship, there's still some things they haven't done. Tyler was never attracted to girls always the guys but Lily changes that real quick. Danny was bi and knew it. Both were afraid to admit how they felt about Lily. Things start falling into place for them after meeting. I will definitely be checking out more from this series and this author!! I loved everything about this book!!
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Isabella Cassazza wins with DEFYING GRAVITY, the first book in the Ice Tigers series. Boston Ice Tigers NHL star, Tyler Wolfe, has a secret, his boyfriend, Danny Fisher. Their lives change after meeting, Lily Parker. This contemporary sports romance is suitable for adult audiences.
I adored this story. Tyler, Danny, and Lily are all amazing characters. They are all very different but fit together. Tyler is an in the closet athlete. He distances himself from his teammates fearing they will discover his secrete. Danny is his patient bisexual boyfriend. He is a physiotherapist; this is great considering Tyler and Lily are athletes. Then horse trainer, Lily, enters their lives changing it forever.
Lily is a sweet person. She has good intentions. I felt horrible for what her friend, Nathalie, went through. Itâs understandable how Lily becomes involved with Tyler and Danny. I enjoyed the horse training aspect of the story. It was very detailed, and I felt like I learned a few things.
I adored how the characters developed throughout the story. They make a serious positive impact on each otherâs lives. I love that Tyler opens to his teammates. Everything about this story was perfect. It was believable. There were relevant obstacles. Isabella Cassazza does a fantastic job getting you in the characters' heads.
I appreciated Isabella Cassazza writing style. DEFYING GRAVITY was skillfully written and engaging. It had me hooked from start to finish. I cannot wait for book two, CENTER OF GRAVITY. I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book. -
This was my first book by this author and I'm in love. This book has a sweet feel to it. It jumps right into Tyler and Danny's relationship. You can feel the love and respect between them. They have the sweetest and hottest relationship. I swear these two have some major chemistry and can break some walls. So there's a catch.. they have to keep silent. No one has came out as gay in hockey. Enter Lily. She's the breathe of fresh air these two need in their lives. She just doesn't know it at first. She was sweet girl, who loved her horses and that was where her focus was. Meeting Tyler and Danny was fate. I loved how we get 3 povs and get to know the characters a lot better. I loved how even though they were a committed relationship, there's still some things they haven't done. Tyler was never attracted to girls always the guys but Lily changes that real quick. Danny was bi and knew it. Both were afraid to admit how they felt about Lily. Things start falling into place for them after meeting. I will definitely be checking out more from this series and this author!! I loved everything about this book!!
REVIEW BY AMY -
4 stars
Isabella Cassazza delivers a beautiful story about love in all its many forms.
Hockey player Tyler has been hiding his true self for several years, especially after entering into a relationship with his beloved boyfriend, Danny. To the world They're just roommates but they're actually so much more. Tyler is convinced the league isn't ready for an openly gay hockey player and Danny understands why they have to keep their relationship secret but when the team orders Ty to take part in a Bachelor type dating show, Danny doesn't know if he can live the charade any longer.
Out of nowhere, except the goodness of her heart, Lily explodes into their lives. Saving them from being outed by the paparazzi, she steps in and becomes Tyler's fake girlfriend. Except the more time they all spend together, the less fake it becomes. She's fallen for her boyfriend, and HIS boyfriend! She could never imagined they'd feel the same way. What a tangled web her life has become.
This was a really lovely story about finding yourself and finding love. Lily had a great of gold and takes the weight of the world on her shoulders. She'd do anything to protect Ty and Danny, even if it meant sacrificing her own happiness. Tyler and Danny were the perfect complements to each other, a real yin and yang. It was awesome watching them grow together and become so much more together. Great story!
AnnMarie - Alphas Do It Better Book Blog -
I need more than 5* for this book. It is my first from this author and I was a bit nervous about reading it because if this genre isn't done well it can be a bit of a train wreck but that was not the case here. I am so sucked into the Ice Tigers world now I can't wait for more.
In this story we met Tyler who is the hot jock but he is so much more than that. He is a softy and I was crushing on him so hard. The situation he was in was awful and I hope that the sporting world is more open minded but most likely not.
We also met Danny who was a sweet guy who had sacrificed so much in the name of love. My heart broke for him thinking about how painful it must have been.
Finally there was Lily. She is such a beautiful soul but she also had a sense of strength about her. If I wasn't so jealous of her situation I would have really loved her (haha)
This was such great start to the series and I am looking forward to more. -
When I read the blurb for Defying Gravity by Isabella Cassazza I was very intrigued to read it. I was not sure how this story would flow, and I was very pleasantly surprised. Tyler Wolfe is at the top of his game as one of the top NHL players. But he has a secret, a big one. Though everyone believes Danny is just a friend, they have been in a secret relationships for a few years. They love each other, but how long can Danny live with being the dirty little secret.
When Tyler has no choice but to star in a dating show for his team, that may be the last straw. Lily enters by helping them out and becomes Tylerâs fake girlfriend, but suddenly there are real feelings involved. The connection between Tyler and Danny was strong and when Lily enters the mix, things definitely heat up. But can it all work out in the end? This was an interesting romance with a lot of emotions.
~ Liz -
Awesome start to a new series ... I was really worried about how Lily was gonna fit in with Tyler and Danny but honestly I felt the chemistry was stronger when they were all together. Danny and Tyler have there own issues when Lily comes into the picture and she smoothes things over and helps them be who they wanna be in a bigger way. Its so sad the extremes Tyler went too, to hide who he really is and how he feels. I do feel they all bring out something in each other that helps them keep on growing.
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The chemistry in this book between was off the charts hot. No slow build with this one. It starts out fast and keeps pace all the way through. The romance in the story was sweet. You can feel the love between Tyler and Danny.
Add in Lily and the sparks really fly.
This was my first read by this author and I totally enjoyed it. I'm a huge hockey fan which had me liking it even more.
This book does deal with a subject that while now is more excepted today then ever before there are still a lot of people who need to open their minds to #loveislove. -
This was a very sweet, steamy read. I love that it was light but also had depth to the characters when it came to their feelings for each other. I would have really liked more back story from the guys though. We get some of their past but not a ton. Not enough for me to feel a deeper connection with them, but enough that I loved them. (Yes I know that is a confusing statement lol)
This book starts off with a beautiful friendship formed and then it seemed to naturally progress from there. Thatâs one of the main things I liked. Danny, Lily and Tyler fell into a love so deep that it was hard to see anything else. I look forward to seeing what this author writes next. 4 stars #2OCCJD -
The instant connection between Lily, Danny, and Tyler was great! My heart was tugged in many directions as this trio tried to figure out their relationship. All three had been hurt somehow in the past, and I loved how they all took that step toward honesty and found love for each other. This was a little steamy, especially between Danny and Tyler, and it was a page turner for me.
I received an ARC through Enticing Journey Book Promotions, and this is my unsolicited review.
