P
Palo Verde
April 30, 2026
Verified Purchase
Far, far above most genre romance novels
If you're looking for an ordinary hockey romance with pedestrian writing—this is NOT your book. If anything, this book leans towards the more literary sort of novel while remaining clearly in the mm romance mode. The writing is exquisite: nuanced, quiet, dealing with physical and metaphorical walls and the spaces between them. Hockey binds the characters together; it's detailed (indicating a deep knowledge of hockey or help from someone else who knows the sport) yet remains a quiet net that keeps the characters together and drives the story forward. The author acknowledges the influence of Rachel Reid and her Game Changers series of books with specific nods sprinkled into the story. Indeed, I find that Fresh Ice has the feel of the best of fanfiction—and there are incredibly talented writers producing excellent fanfiction. Bravo/brava to Riley Bauer! This story is something I'll remember.
A
Avid reader 123
April 29, 2026
Verified Purchase
Book starts off interesting with a press release. The idea of the expansion team full of “unwanted” or unknowns is interesting concept. Avi and Ash play vital roles on the team. Within the novel, they represent a combination of topics covered in life. There are some parts of Ash’s and more so Avi’s past that are vital to his present that are glazed over. All the characters are pretty one dimensional. However, the text exchanges are entertaining. It seems like the author ran out of steam and the book just ended. However, good effort.
There isn’t anything not to love about this book series. The writing is good, the dialogue is clever, sometimes hilarious, and the characters are the kind you get behind and fall in love with.
There’s Avi Ikonen, the stoic Finnish Captain who’s been living in the closet for 15 years.
Ryan Asher, Ash, is the golden retriever alternate captain who, as a Free Agent, chose to move across the country to start over with a new team in a new city, following his divorce.
The Rookies and the Veterans who make up the rest of the team have distinct personalities larger than life and you’ll love each of them as the story unfolds.
Add in the Team Cat and a Coach who refuses to answer questions about said cat and it becomes hilarious in places.
The Five Hole Fiction Book Club, where all of the rookies and some of the veterans are reading, and critiquing, Hockey Romance novels, is the best thing ever and I’m here for it!
Highly recommend.
This has a lot of good qualities, but there are a ton of inconsistencies that pull you out of the story. There are a few earlier in the book, but they become larger and more jarring towards the end. What time of day it is, how much time has passed between events, is one character sleeping at the arena or on his couch or??? In one memorable sequence a chapter ends with Avi and Ash in the kitchen, only for the next chapter to reset them in the same moment but now in the entryway. That's just one but there are several like that over the last 10-20 percent of the book (the ones earlier in the story are notable but not nearly as abundant). It's a shame bc I liked the characters and the team's book club chats were very cute, but the book left me wondering if it was written by a human who just forgets everything they wrote a minute ago or if this is something else. I liked the beginning enough that I bought the second book, but if that one has the same issues I'll be skipping the rest.
A
A J Dancer
March 24, 2026
Verified Purchase
Avi and Ash building something new and wonderful
Avi and Ash are co-captians on a expansion team filled with hockey players no one else really wanted. But what they're building will change the trajectory of not only the puck on the ice but their lives also.
But will they have the courage to take the steps? Will what they're building stand the test? Can they hold on to what really matters? Can they let love in?
