Cruising on Ice: a friends to lovers, hockey romance

Cruising on Ice by Kerry Evelyn is the first book of the Palmer City Voltage series. Taylor Ranford did not expect to be on a cruise with her longtime crush. When her sister suddenly becomes ill, Kingston Brewster agrees to go with her. As the season was over, Kingston had a bunch of free time on his hands, so why wouldn't he spend the time with her. After all, she has always been there for him and even helped him through his playing slump. Neither realize that the other holds feelings beyond friendship. Their five day cruise brings them closer and they have an amazing time together. When the career making call that he has been waiting for comes, Kingston realizes that it’s now or never. He needs to tell Taylor about his feelings but still he hesitates. Could revealing his feelings break both their hearts? 

I am fairly new to the hockey romance genre and I looked forward to this friends to lovers, hockey romance. I enjoyed Taylor as she was bubbly and positive and Kingston, as the fun, handsome hockey player. While I was a bit disappointed that there is little hockey in the story itself, the cruise was a different setting. They meet fun and colorful characters on the cruise and I enjoyed the slow transition from friends to lovers. They had tons of chemistry and I could easily see them as a couple. There were great fun moments and sweet romantic moments. It is a predictable romance but sweet and the story flowed well. I didn’t like the miscommunication break up near the end but the makeup was sweet. Overall, I enjoyed this story. If you enjoy friends to lovers, hockey romance, I recommend Cruising on Ice. 

Cruising on Ice is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

Love on the Edge: suspense, faith and healing

Love on the Edge is the first book in the Crane’s Cove series by Kerry Evelyn. Lanie Owens has survived a horrific attack by an obsessed stalker. Her grandfather, a retired army colonel, decides to hide her at a remote resort in Maine so she can heal in peace away from the constant fear and threat. She is horrified to learn that he has hired a bodyguard to pose as her new husband. Matt Saunders is an Army Ranger who has spent the last year recovering from a battlefield injury. Anxious to prove he is ready to go back overseas, he accepts the bodyguard job. While the resort is tranquil, safe and certainly a place to heal, their own individual debilitating nightmares stay with them. As they open up to each other, they realize they have a lot in common and help each other heal from their traumas. Soon a crack in their security net allows the stalker to find her, they must fight their psychological demons in order to confront the very real threat in front of them. 

Kerry Evelyn’s books have been hit and miss for me. I haven’t been able to truly connect with her characters or writing style. However, Love on the Edge is a definite hit! A friends to lovers, bodyguard, fake marriage romance, it is sweet, suspenseful and deeply emotional. Ms. Evelyn doesn't hold back as she describes the PTSD Lanie experiences after the brutal attack as well as Matt’s own PTSD as a soldier. My heart broke as Lanie and Matt breakdown under the weight of their hurts. However, I loved that despite their breakdowns, they refused to give up and they fought back. I love that, despite the character’s religious faith, they still struggle with doubt as they try to reconcile their trust in God and the horrible events which they have experienced. It is an honest and real depiction and Ms. Evelyn doesn’t sugar coat it. The build up to the stalker finding Lanie and the final confrontation was very suspenseful. I look forward to the rest of the Crane’s Cove series. I highly recommend Love on the Edge.  

Love on the Edge is available in paperback and eBook

Love on the Ice: a sports romance

Love on the Ice by Kerry Evelyn is a novella prequel for the Palmer City Voltage series. Ginny Perdita has put her Olympic figure skating dreams behind her when a tragic accident leaves her niece and nephew orphaned. Alexei Kriz is new to the Palmer City Voltage and is ready to throw himself into his new teams and the sport he loves. One day, he runs into Ginny, the one who got away. Ginny does not enjoy seeing Alexei again, especially since he never called her again. When they are forced to work together on a fundraiser, Ginny finds the ice around her heart melting and Alexei is determined to not let her get away a second time. However, will she open herself to a second chance at love? 

I was looking forward to this story. I’m new to the sports romance genre. However, I was not impressed. I enjoyed the Czech phrases that the characters spoke from time to time but the constant translations in parentheses instead of translating in the responses or in another subtle way was tiresome. I also didn’t care for Ginny. The constant reminders that she left her dreams behind to take care of her niece and nephew was annoying. Alexei was a better character. As a novella, the story was way too fast. There was no real character development or growth. There was just way too much going on for a novella. I wish it was a longer story. I do not recommend Love on the Ice. 

Love on the Ice is available in paperback and eBook