| Title | : | Fire \u0026 Ice |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | - |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Kindle Edition |
| Number of Pages | : | 298 |
| Publication | : | First published October 15, 2019 |
Max Lauren made a mistake that shattered her pride, her heart, and her career in one fell swoop. Relegated to covering the lowly game of curling, she already resents the so-called “sport,” and then she steps onto the ice, where things get infinitely worse. She’s been knocked down before, and she’s always gotten back up, but a frosty resolve goes only so far in a world of people who thrive on ice.
Callie Mulligan is the amiable skipper of America’s second-place curling team. Upbeat, optimistic, and with a fiery passion for an icy sport, she has both the mental and physical skills to become Team USA’s top contender. What she doesn’t have is the fame or the funding. Coverage from a journalist of Max’s caliber could be the answer to both problems if only Max wasn’t so cold to the idea. As Callie tries to warm her to the sport, a little bit of heat grows into a fire neither of them can contain.
Passion, competition, ambition, redemption, and raw need collide as the bright lights of success and celebrity grow hotter, but can the fire between Max and Callie be sustained when it’s put on ice?
Fire \u0026 Ice Reviews
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4.25 Stars. This was a really good sports romance. I’m a big Spangler fan but I have not had a chance to read many of her newer releases. Reading this book was like a big duh sign hit me right in the face. Of course I enjoyed this because this is the Spangler I know and love and it reminded me just how much I missed her books.
There are a few authors that really know how to write sports romances and Spangler is one of them. What Spangler is great at is having the perfect amount of sports to romance. While most sports romances don’t have enough sports, they can occasionally swing the opposite direction so that the romance takes a backseat. Spangler gets the ratio perfect so that both the romance and the sport featured shines.
Let’s talk about this sport first and that is curling. I would not be surprised if some people’s eyes are glazing over right now. Curling doesn’t have the excitement of most sports I enjoy like soccer or tennis, but it is surprisingly addictive to watch. I’m obsessed with the Olympics so every four years, in winter, I get sucked into curling and enjoy it for a few weeks. That’s it, I’m not a “real” curling fan, but Spangler actually made me wish I was. She explains the basics well and even goes a little farther for those interested in strategy, but doesn’t overdue it so it isn’t boring for someone like me who’s not that into the sport. The real sports story is about how hard these athletes work and what they put up with just for the chance to go to the Olympics. So fear not, you don’t have to be a curling fan to enjoy this. However, Spangler might just make you to want to check the sport out after you read this.
When it came to the romance I was a very happy camper. I don’t know why but I have been noticing a lack of good chemistry in romances of late. I’m happy to say that was not the case here at all. These two had chemistry and sparks big enough for anyone to see. I loved the flirting, the witty banter and of course the well written sex scenes, everything was on point.
I do have to mention one of the main characters is pretty unlikable in the beginning. Don’t let that worry you. Once you unpack her baggage and get to really know her, everything makes sense and you will soon fall for her too. I was so invested in both characters that during some conflict I found myself having to grab a tissue. I love when an author makes me feel like that because it means I really do care about the characters.
I absolutely recommend this to sport romance fans. Even if you don’t know anything about curling, if you appreciate athletes and a good romance, that’s enough to enjoy this book. Now, I need some free time so I can read a few of those Spangler books that are sitting on my Kindle. I honestly had forgotten why Spangler was such a favorite author of mine. I won’t be making that mistake again.
A copy was given to me by
https://lezreviewbooks.com for a honest review -
The thing I like about Rachel Spangler is her choice of not so famous sports! I’ve really enjoyed “Edge of Glory” which covered Snowboarding and I seriously had no clue about this sport, but yet she managed to make me get into it and not just understand but rather enjoy that part of the story.
Unfortunately this didn’t happen with Curling. The good thing is I really liked the romance and loved the characters! But the sport itself, I couldn’t get into it. Now I ask myself, a whole book about a sport that I don’t know, didn’t care about (I’m extremely sorry if I’m offending anyone who plays this sport but I don’t like it. I also don’t like hockey so we’re good it’s not personal), but yet I rated 3.5 and rounded it up to 4? Now this I think goes back to the amazing writing of the author! How did she manage to make me enjoy this book when I don’t like the subject? So for that, I raise my hat 🎩 😊
I loved the relationship and dynamics of this team! I just felt that if I would ever choose to play this game, I would be lucky to have them as team mates! The MC “the skip” was the most adorable and good hearted MCs I’ve come across lately. And her connection with the other MC was literally “fire and ice” ..
I imagine if this book was about soccer or tennis or any of my fav sports, I would’ve definitely rated it at 5. But I guess you can’t help which sport you like or dislike!
I recommend this book for sure..
p.s: I ended up watching some curling games on YouTube and even spoke about the game with some of my colleagues today :) oh and did u know that in Buffalo, they call it “wings”, not “buffalo wings”?
“I received an ARC for an honest review.” -
Another sports fiction book, another lesbian romance book, another book read and enjoyed that happened to have been written by Spangler. I’m far from having read everything by this author, but I believe I have a review somewhere that after a certain book, they moved into my, basically, auto-buy category.
(nothing spoilery in the proceeding section, I just accidentally rambled).
This specific book follows two point of views. Right off the bat I’m frozen in my writing as I contemplate how I do not recall ages being given and racking my brain to think if any were given. No matter. Book, as noted, involves two point of views. And most of the side characters are connected to one of these two characters due to various reasons (one doesn’t really have friends/family/etc./but does have a boss).
One of the main characters is Max Lauren, a reporter. One who ‘did something’ (the ‘something’ isn’t revealed until deep into the book) that has jeopardized her career and deeply wounded her career. She had made a good name for herself, though, before ‘the something’ happened, so her boss was able to get her some work. Steady work at that – following a sports team for four months as they head to the championships. Max immediately says no, but her boss talks her into taking the job. Why’d Max so quickly to no? Because of the sport involved - one that Max doesn’t actually think is a sport. She mocks it and calls it various names, like ‘housework on ice’ (because of the brooms). What’s this sport? Curling.
I’ll now wait for everyone to become upset with Max for mocking Curling.
Anyone? No one? Everyone? No clue what the stats would be for the sport, in terms of those who would be annoyed at Max for her mocking/and or watch the sport. The afterward noted that few seem pay attention to the sport except when people inhale everything Olympics, and curling is an Olympic sport. I, personally, knew of the sport – even before I saw Marge Simpson take a curling team to the Olympics (Simpson’s is one of those shows you can take 10 to 20 years off from watching, and still have a huge storehouse of Simpson’s stuff lodged in your brain). While I knew of the sport, I knew next to nothing. Heck, I know more about Cricket, and that’s a sport that can have matches that seem to last weeks. And I’ve never been able to make heads or tails of a Cricket rule book (and yes, while I was in England, I looked at one).
The other main character is kind of Max’s polar opposite in terms of emotion and maturity (well, it seems that way in the beginning – Max is shown as bitter, always pouting, and with the maturity level of a person who takes a job, and takes months before making an effort to learn anything about said job; while Callie Mulligan is shown as being a happy person (or, as the book description puts it ‘upbeat, optimistic, and with a fiery passion’)). That other main point of view, as noted, is Callie Mulligan. Skipper of her team (I’d call her ‘leader of her team’ or ‘player-coach of her team’ but those are apparently different positions, neither of which Callie fills). Callie has spent her live, at least since ‘middle grade’ participating in this sport, and is quite good. Both at doing her own job, and in motivating her team to do their best.
Callie and team is happy to have some reporter highlight their sport and give them a boost. That is until they actually meet the reporter and learn that she, Max, both knows nothing about the sport, and mocks it. Then they see her first article and . . . well, depending on perspective it’s a ‘hit piece’, or a ‘humor column’. That’s the way to do it, eh, when trying to ‘rebound’ from failure, when trying to ‘jump start’ her career back in the correct direction. Write a mocking article of the team you are supposed to follow for four months, burning your bridges with them when you still need, oh, months of access to them.
Flip, Max’s boss, is vaguely worried about Max’s performance so far, then threatens her job after Max’s first ‘on-air’ performance. Max begs to not be fired, and gets slightly more time to turn things around. Kind of. It’s complicated. Most of the team don’t want anything to do with Max, though, but Callie is still willing to give her a shot. A tiny shot.
Book flows from there. Max trying to restart her career, get a new fix on just what ‘curling’ might be; Callie training, practicing, and participating in matches. Meanwhile Max and Callie slowly develop certain friendly feelings. Then something more romantic.
As expected, certain ‘issues’ complicate any and all possibilities for relationships, and . . . stuff.
Rating: 4.68
October 21 2019 -
A sports romance about Curling, who would have thought that this could be such an exciting story. It isn’t the most popular sport in Switzerland too, but the women’s and men’s teams are both ranking fourth place in the world. I did know a little bit about this sport, and I must say, after watching a game the first time a few years ago, I was really impressed with this very technical and strategic game. I really love Spangler’s sports romances. She keeps the perfect balance of sport and romance. And you always learn something about the specific kind of sports in her books. Fire & Ice is about the dreams of an athlete and of a sports reporter.
Max Laurens had a fabulous career as a sports reporter until she made a colossal mistake and trusted the wrong person. Her career is shattered in an instant and she’s relegated to cover the unpopular discipline of curling. In Max’s opinion A sport where stones are pushed, the ice is wiped with brooms and nobody earns enough money to live. And to make things better, she has a really bad start with Team Mulligan, not the best way to earn their trust.
Callie Mulligan is the so-called skip in her team, she is the most experienced player and is leading the team. Her big dream is the Olympic Games, and she is working really hard for it. Working for a living and practice, practice and practice. She wants her team to be the number one in the US and therefore they have to sacrifice a lot. She is fed up with people who do not value their sport, she doesn’t need a snooty reporter to tell her the same again.
Both main characters are intriguing and complex characters, career-driven and focused to reach their dream. The job comes always first. But after the first awkward and sometimes spiteful meetings, Max and Callie are drawn together neither of them had anticipated. But the longer they know each other, the more the sparks are flying. They had great chemistry and the sex scenes were beautiful and hot. I loved all the dialogues, witty, angry, flirty and serious and how the characters interacted. And not only the main characters, but also the secondary characters, especially Callie’s team members are really great friends, everybody likes to have.
This is an exciting sports romance, a page-turner, which gives some insights into a discipline not everybody knows everything about, like for example in soccer. The story is very well and smooth written and gives a few hours of joyful reading. Recommended to all the sport romance fans and don’t have know curling before, but I’m sure, afterward, you know a few things about.
My rating 4.5 stars
ARC provided by the author and LezReviewBooks.com in exchange for an honest review -
I was really enjoying this f/f romance until I got to the part where secondary character Ella, who as far as I can tell we're supposed to like, confronts main character Max using ableist language:
Ella shook her head. "Are you special?"
"What?"
"Seriously, are you a little slow, like, mentally?"
No one confronts Ella about using this language. It pulled me right out of the story. It's a real shame, because I had enjoyed a previous sports romance by Spangler, Edge of Glory, and I was hoping for a repeat. -
When I first found out that Rachel Spangler wrote another sports romance, only this time, it's about a sport that I don't think I've ever come across in lesfic - CURLING (!!!!) - I was like, "Whaa?!" That, in and of itself, thrilled me to no end because, firstly, it's a sport that no one has written about in a lesbian romance, and secondly, I've been intrigued by curling since discovering the sport whilst watching the Olympics coverage a few years ago. My prior prejudice, prejudgement, presumptions about the sport went out the window upon discovering that there was so much strategy in the game! Like chess! Such complicated scoring criteria, too! Curling was definitely much harder than it looked! At the end of watching the entire match for the first time, I was aghast at the level of quiet competitiveness and stress, and had to admit that it was an intricately charming sport that I could easily get sucked into! *So I could relate to Max (one of the story's MCs)'s initial scoffing of the sport!
In this sports romance, Spangler truly characterised and epitomised the sport of curling with rigour as I learned so much about it with all the details that she weaved into the story - terms, tactics, scores, movements, strategy plays, the hard work, sports coverage. What better to tell a story about curling than having the skipper (leader) of a small town curling team and a seasoned sports reporter who was recently relegated to the bottom pit in the world of sports reporting because of a huge scandal and steadfastly reluctant to be assigned to do a coverage on an unknown curling team in a small town. Bam, that's Spangler's story right there with all the intricacies, conflict, and other intriguing ingredients for a well-told and written slow-burn romance between two ambitious professionals from either side of the sport's world. An athlete and a reporter.
Full commentary here...
In Bugs' Own Words
*A non-obligatory ARC was received as a surprise & generous gift (cheers, Ms. West!) from the publisher! -
Despite not being sure about it in the beginning, I really grew to enjoy Fire & Ice. This is the kind of story I could see making a great movie, especially with actors who could capture the delicious chemistry and adorable banter that eventually develops between Max and Callie. It’s not quite enemies to lovers, but if that’s your kind of thing, you’ll probably like this book. Plus, there’s even a scene with them bonding over poutine that’s freaking adorable—what more could a Canadian want?
Full review:
https://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/r... -
The only thing I knew about the sport of curling before I read this book was from the little of it I watched during the Olympic Games. I'm not from a part of the U.S. where this is commonly played and even after watching the Olympics, I still knew almost nothing about it. And really - if Rachel Spangler hadn't written about it, I may never have given it much of a thought until the next winter Games. But I can say that I have much more of an appreciation for it now - the challenges, dedication and sacrifices players must have to do it professionally.
My primary interest in reading this was the romantic aspect, but Spangler is such a good writer that she figured out an interesting way to incorporate one with the other. When a recently disgraced well-known sports reporter is reassigned to cover a professional curling team for several months - the number two team in the U.S., no less - she considers it a real step down. Hell, she doesn't even consider curling a real sport or the players real athletes. But rather than get fired and lose her livelihood entirely, she grudgingly has to learn the sport to be able to cover it. While she slowly learns aspects of the game and develops a respect for it, this reader did as well. The charismatic leader ("skipper") of the team, Callie Mulligan, knows it will only benefit her team to have the coverage reporter Max Lauren will provide - but she realizes Max's attitude about sport will hinder that and is determined to change it. Over time, the two MCs learn that while their professions are quite different, their work ethic and drive make them more alike than they first realize. Callie's focus has always been on curling. Everything else she does in her life centers around her sport and she is determined that her team will be the best in the world. She has no time for relationships. But even though their pairing would be less than ideal, she and Max have a magnetic pull neither can deny.
I'm really glad I read this book. It's something different than I would normally read and I can genuinely say that I learned something and developed an appreciation for the sport. When the next winter Olympics come around, I'll certainly see curling in a different light. And the romantic aspect of the story was quite satisfying. -
I really enjoy Spangler. In fact
Edge of Glory is one of my faves. I recently did a reread as a matter of fact. I was super excited to see this and couldn't wait to read it. It did not let me down!!I love her depiction of strong, driven women who find themselves vulnerable. Her MCs are great with witty convo. Secondary characters are well developed and add a lot of depth.
Just a really great read. -
I'm ashamed to say this is my first Rachel Spangler book. After reading 'Fire & Ice' I can say, with a lot of confidence, it won't be my last.
This is a sport romance in the truest sense as the book deals with the sporting aspect as much as the romantic aspect. As someone who doesn't watch sports and has only faintly heard of curling, this book stole all my attention. I picked this book up at my local library as it was only one of few WLW books they had available. I'm so happy I did.
'Fire & Ice' is the story of a journalist, Max, who is forced, because of a career ending scandal, to take a job covering the curling team. Callie is the skipper, or leader, of the curling team Max is sent to cover. Things start off on the wrong foot between them and stay that way for a while. When we first meet Max she has a chip on her shoulder is very rude and obnoxious to the team. My favorite thing, and reason I give this story 5 stars, is watching Max's character growth throughout the book.
'Fire & Ice' is well written with witty dialogue and passionate, emotional scenes throughout. I highly recommend this for anyone who loves romance...especially if you're into sports as well...and maybe even if you don't. -
I was postponing this. Curling? Ugh, no. But, my mind kept telling me: “it’s Rachel Spangler, obviously you’re going to like it”. So, with a lot of work to do and zero will to do it, I decided the book was a better idea.
I feel you Max, what a boring “sport”, but Callie was a pretty good incentive. I don’t know if I would have done that thing Max did at the end, but her background history made it a possibility instead of a romantic gesture just for the sake of one. So points for that.
I usually have a difficult time tolerating all good, all American, all preachy characters, and I thought Callie would be a character like that. Glad to be wrong. She does have flaws. On the other hand I was pretty sure Max was going to be a tantrum prone adult crying because her life wasn’t going how she wanted it. And to some extend she was, but her journey, the way she screwed it over and over again, win me over and she was my favorite of the MCs. -
I keep finding myself thinking that Spangler just gets better and better. Just a perfect read. And now I know something about curling! I especially liked that as perfect as Callie is when it comes to sports and leadership, she's a bit less perfect when dealing with emotions and relationships. She might have been too perfect otherwise, but it's wasn't too hot and it wasn't too cold ... it was just right. Goldilocks happily tucked in and put all away.
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From the first chapter to the epilogue I was hooked. I can't wait to see what Rachel Spangler brings to the table next!
Check out my full review below:
https://lesreveur.com/2019/10/28/fire... -
For everyone who hasn’t yet heard of the sport Curling, get ready to fall in love with the game. Yes, this is a romance – but it is as much a romance between two women as it is romancing a practically unknown sport – and gosh, both the romances are completely bewitching.
Read the full review @
https://bestlesficreviews.blogspot.co... -
Am I an anti-curling snob? I didn't really get it and because of that the MCs didn't work for me. I didn't like them. And somehow I feel guilty about that. It was the sort of story I should love. But I didn't. Sorry.
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I rented an entire arena to learn curling with a group of friends for a big birthday, so know how fun the sport is, but damn was the info dump drrryyyy as the desert for the first 24% of the book. MC Max was horrible, negative, moody, basically zero redeeming qualities, and because there was no other hook except curling explanations, nothing prompted me to keep going. Even the other MC love interest, Callie, was wooden. While I know this author would have eventually driven to a better resolution, I sadly didn't have the patience for this. I'm clearly an outlier here though! And Ms. Spangler's other books rock! (ha, rock....curling.....)
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4.5 stars
Following on from romances set in the worlds of tennis, snowboarding and baseball, Rachel Spangler’s latest sports romance follows the rapid rise of a curling team, and in particular their outstanding “Skip” Callie Mulligan.
Callie is obsessed with her ‘real’ job – curling - and has fought off the negative attitude of everyone from family, friends and bosses that it is a hobby, not a real sport. She has dragged 3 school friends along with her, building them up with her own style of leadership and charisma until they are USA Team 2, ranked in the top 15, with chance to fight for a place at the Olympics in two seasons… what they lack is support; each woman works full time and barely gets enough sponsorship to cover travel and hotels.
Max has been at the top of the sports reporter tree, writing in depth character pieces about the big names, until she falls for the wrong woman and the wrong story and loses everything; the girlfriend, the position and most importantly her own self respect. Sent to the icy North East to cover Team Mulligan for a season, she quickly dismisses curling as housework on ice.
But Callie and Max need each other, one to give the team and the sport exposure, the other to regain her good graces with the bosses and her standing as an honest and engaging sports writer. Their initial meeting couldn’t go any worse, but both have an inner strength and determination that wont let them give up, and ultimately their magnetic attraction is stronger than their icy distance.
Spangler is a master of sports romances, bringing us into worlds we don’t know and possibly don’t care about – snowboarding and curling are certainly sports I knew little about – but like the great writer she is Spangler makes the people the centre of interest and their sport the backdrop. As a reader we learn almost by osmosis as the sport is explained both to an incomer and by example.
The main characters are both intriguing, strong, independent, sure of themselves but with one major fault line, Callie’s her exclusion of anything but curling from her life and Max’s horrendously bad decision to allow her heart and compassion to rule her head. The supporting cast of Team Mulligan provide a strong group background, but I particularly liked the cameos of Callie’s family, her grandpa steals the scene, and Max’s long surpassed rival Tom, both of whom play a tiny part but are critical scenes.
What impresses me most about Spangler’s growth as a writer is the increasing subtlety of the character development, romance and the pivotal angst of the plot. Callie and Max come together almost despite themselves, seemingly honest about their personal goals and life choices, the angst isn’t overdone, they play out their roles, until, of course, the crisis hits and the hurt overcomes their maturity. But even then Spangler doesn’t overplay, they miss each other, it affects their lives and makes them reconsider their choices, but without the chest-beating drama of so many romances. With a bit of prompting from BFF’s and unpleasant egotists they come to recognize how their priorities have changed.
I really enjoyed this one, read it in a day, couldn’t put it down, not because it’s a page turning drama but because I enjoyed seeing the interaction and growth of the two main characters, literally fire and ice coming together to make steam. Excellent reading and highly recommended. -
Great story & romance centered around the sport of Curling. I love watching Curling so this was right up my alley. But, the story was so good that even someone who never heard of Curling would enjoy it.
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Well, I admit that I really may not understand the rules and scoring of the sport of Curling much better than I did before I read this, but I have gained more insight than I thought possible. You know what helps? The fact that the author has created strong characters, brilliant scenes and descriptions, delightful and dramatic dialogue, and a slow burn romance that will take your breath away. And if you read the acknowledgments at the end, you will learn just a little more about the how and why.
I was totally engaged in the story from the beginning because I am a total sports nut, so learning about a sport I know nothing about was fascinating to me. Pair that with a romance between two women and you have me hooked. I think you will love the characters, be frustrated with them, and even cheer them on. Just sayin’, I think you should give them a chance…you will be so glad you did. -
4/5 stars
This was honestly fantastic. I’ve been really getting into sports romance recently (despite not being a big sports fan), and I think this has quickly become one of my new favourites. It was fiery, sweet and just so compelling. The characters had amazing chemistry, an unbelievable amount of tension between them and we’re also just super loveable in their own right. Somehow, just as Callie changed Max’s mind about curling, I have also found myself very compelled about a sport I never knew much about.
I have read a number of Spangler’s books now and am definitely a big fan. She writes really wonderful chemistry and character-driven romances with complex women. This was really no different in that respect. Both of our leads were extremely determined and ambitious, both trying to prove themselves and others that they were worth a shot. Together, these two women with huge personalities, just bounced off each other in the best kind of way. They got off on the wrong foot, so this was a kind of enemies to lovers (although i wouldn’t say they were enemies necessarily) with such strong sexual tension and chemistry. There was so much flirting, fun banter and passionate fights. The romance for me really was the highlight of this book, it just jumped off the page. And I’m not just talking about those initial flirty stage. The romance was strong from start to finish, from flirting to great sex scenes, from impassioned arguments to a sweet and supportive partnership. -
Lesbian romance set in the world of professional curling! Max is a sports reporter used to covering bigtime stars, so when she’s relegated to covering the #2 curling team in the U.S., she is less than impressed. Unlike flashy professional sports where players get multimillion-dollar contracts, sports like curling don’t pay the bills. Callie, the team skipper, doesn’t mind the grind as long as she can play the sport she loves at the highest level, but she does have a problem with Max’s snooty attitude. Max is truly insufferable at the beginning--she had a long way to go to win me over, but if anyone could melt the heart of a grump, it’s sunny, optimistic Callie.
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An enjoyable romance that focuses on a sport that gets very little attention.
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I'm an outlier here. I didn't enjoy this as much as I'd hoped. It doesn't seem like romance was the focus of the story, and as a romance gal, that was a letdown for me.
Not that I don't find curling interesting, but the romantic arc wasn't exactly convincing for me. I'm not even sure if I could pinpoint a buildup for the chemistry, let alone enough chemistry itself. I believe the problem started with my strong dislike for Max right off the bat. Her arrogance to take on a challenge against an athlete for a sport she knew nothing about really ground my gears. Sure, one could say she was being headstrong in that moment. But to me, she came across as disrespectful, unteachable, and utterly pompous. I get it if you're not into the sort of thing someone else enjoys, but to dismiss that activity altogether? Sorry, but people who look down on others should bugger off in my book. To add more to this, as someone who prides herself as a good reporter, she went to work without doing prior research on a sport that's entirely unknown to her? Mmkay...
While I did enjoy some bits and banter, the conflict towards the end reminded me of my dislike for Max. Yeah, I'm on Callie's side on that one. It's funny because it even looked like Max was being daft for not noticing Callie's actual feelings on the matter at hand during that time.
Anyway, this book is making me think twice about reading romance novels with sports as the accompanying genre. But then again, maybe the balance between the two was just off on this one. -
I didn't know curling (yup, sorry, I'm one of those gals who don't watch tv or the Olympics) so despite the fact that half the book felt like Curling for dummies, I had to google it to see what it looked like. It looks fun. While the book make it look more grueling than fun.
I like Spangler sporting book usually, because you have gorgeous, focus athlete and yum ^^.
But...
the reporter grated me. She was unlikable during more than half the book.
Worst, her awful past (being the non-recognized victim of moral harassment) annoyed me in its treatment. I remember very well attending at 16-years old a conference on moral harassment with my mom; Twas enlightening.
This case here is textbook and it's not named properly. The victim is considered the culprit... but it's never rectified. Even after the explaining, the answer is "She made a bad mistake". Nope, she didn't. She was morally harassed and so cannot be held responsible for those actions committed.
The romance is pretty standard, secondary characters seemed uni-dimensional though. -
Wow! Who’d have thunk that a sports romance centering around a sport like curling would blow my mind?! Well in the hands of Rachel Spangler it did just that. She managed to share the beauty, drive and athleticism of what I now appreciate as a legitimate sport, while at the same time telling a terrific love story, with interesting characters and love scenes that were fun to read and story forwarding. As someone who prefers ‘fade to black’ in my love scenes and generally just skims them, I found myself devouring every word.
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Who knew curling could be so interesting and yes I watched some games on YouTube. I loved Callie and her all encompassing spirit, drive and she was so easy to like. Max down for the count but fighter doesn’t stay down long. This pairing was a great combo and enjoyed this story very much.
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Sports romance at its finest. Love the workaholic main characters and their feistiness. Both MC’s are out to prove themselves and neither wanted or expected life to bring in complications of each other.
The writing is brilliant with surprising and wonderful burst out loud moments.
The sweetness of Callie is balanced beautifully in her fire and dedication to her love of curling.
Max’s drive to fight once again up the ladder of reporting after a publicly humiliating disgrace is intense and powerful.
All the characters are such real people, even those we meet for just a scene or two.
The story is real and raw, the pain and fear so intensely human.
I adore Spanglers writing and will be reading many more of their books in the future.
Shout out also to Ann Etter for a superb performance of the audio book.
