Confession time:My name is Noel Sandlund and I play professional hockey–defense to be exact.I lead a pretty good life. I’m not hurting for money and the ladies seem to like me.And now things have gotten even better–I think I may have fallen in love.See, while I was in Sweden playing in the world hockey championships this off-season, I met Maisie Troy.And, man, she’s it for me.Confession time:… she’s it for me.
Confession time:
I’m Maisie Troy.
This summer I met a man who’s everything I’ve ever wanted and more.
His name is Noel and he’s hot and sweet and plays amazing hockey.
I think he could be the one.
Too bad there’s one huge problem–I’m not who he thinks I am.
No, I’m just an illusion.
An illusion that’s about to shatter . . . like ice.
Illusion on Ice is the seventh novel in the bestselling Boys of Winter hockey romance series.
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They met in Sweden. Maisie was stuck there after her mom abandoned her in a strange country with no way home. Noel was there playing hockey for Team America. Falling in love was almost too easy, but for Maisie, it was too good to be true. She was used to getting the wrong end of the stick and after virtually using Noel for a ticket to the U.S., she didn’t believe they had a future. Never doubt the power of love, people! Noel was a fool for this woman and nothing and no one, not even the girl herself, was going to prevent him from finding his happy ending.
I’ve read all but one of the books of the Boys of Winter series and S.R. Grey has created some pretty hot and tempting heroes. Noel was an absolute sweetheart and she made me a sappy mess for this man. All he wanted was to make life easy and comfortable for his woman. How can you not love a man like that? If you’re looking for a soft and sweet romance, any of these books will fit the bill!
Maisy is doubtful, insecure, felt that she was never good enough. Everyone in her life has left her. Will Noel leave her too?
What Noel had to do is convince her not to run, be strong and believe in them. I enjoyed listening to this story narrated by Avie Paige.
audiobookobsessionreview
Maisie and Noel story was fantastic, I love how they meet and how everything developed between them. She was stranded in Sweden and he was a hockey star in disguise, they both fell in love while traveling but when reality comes back they both struggle to find their way to be together again. Fantastic story and the audiobook is so good. Avie Paige did a terrific job.
Maisie Troy is such a wonderfully complex damaged soul and the perfect character to be matched with good-guy hockey star Noel Sandlund. He’s probably the only one who can heal her emotional damage without taking away from the strong but pure soul she is in her core. This is an incredibly fun book, but it’s also a powerfully great one. Perfect for fans of hockey star romance (count me in) and of just outright great contemporary romantic tales (me again). Highly recommended.
I really wanted to like this book, but from the beginning, it rubbed me the wrong way. I didn’t care that Maisie’s way to solve her predicament was to con a man. This made her sound just as awful as her mother. Noel seemed like a ditz or had some major rose shaded glasses on when it came to Maisie. Once Maisie found herself attracted to Noel, she should have been upfront with him. This is a fast read, however, I just couldn’t get into the storyline.
I received a free copy in exchange for my honest review.
“Illusions on Ice” by S.R. Grey is a quick and easy hockey romance read. Not my first book by this author or in this series. In this book we meet down on her luck Maisie, abandoned and left to her own devices in Sweden. Noel is a professional hockey player, playing for the olympic team abroad. They meet. For him it’s attraction at first sight, for her a means to an end. They get together and discover that there is more to them than simple attraction. Working through their problems they eventually get their happily ever after. This was a good read but not my favorite by this author, regardless I look forward to reading the rest of the series. (I read an ARC and am voluntarily leaving a review.)
This was a sweet sports romance.
Maisie Troy finds herself abandoned in Stockholm after her mother leaves her to run around Europe with her boyfriend. Maisie has to figure out how to get a plane ticket back home. She decides to pursue one of the pro hockey players staying in her hotel. Noel Sandlund is a defenseman for the Las Vegas Wolves hockey team. He is in Stockholm playing on Team USA in the world championships. He stops into the hotel bar and is immediately smitten by a gorgeous brunette, Maisie. They hit it off, start dating and quickly fall in love. She gets kicked out of the room she has been staying in and given a ticket home. She decides to stay in Vegas instead of returning to get mother’s trailer and gets a job in a convenience store. Joel’s teammate recognizes her and calls Noel who immediately comes to get her. They make up and she moved in to his home. He buys her a fancy car and helps her enroll in college business classes. They have to work on a lot of her baggage/issues but eventually get their HEA.
Noel and Maisie meets under strange circumstances. Noel is ready to settle down and live a life of love and family. Maisie has never had those assurances in her life and doesn’t trust that any good can happen to her. The story is told of a young guy who knows he has found his life partner and pursues her with his whole heart. It takes a confidant man to lead a skittish woman to their beliefs. It has plenty of steamy scenes but is also adorable in the way he loves.
This was my first story in the series and it was just okay read for me. I couldn’t connect with Noel and Maisie’s character. As I read more of their story it just made me less interested with their journey. There was some cute, sweet moment, but overall I wanted more.
I listened to the Audible version. While this is the 7th book in the series, I never felt like it was referencing events from other books and characters from prior books weren’t prominent in this one. It can truly be read as a stand alone.
I liked writing style and how the story started off, however I didn’t like the female main character. As a result, it made the middle/end feel slow with what felt like the same issue repeated. I liked the slow build up of the relationship at the beginning and really appreciate that the whole story unfolded over the better part of a year.
The narrator did a great job making it interesting and being easy to listen to, although I wasn’t a big fan of the female voice. I did appreciate that there was a definite difference in voice between characters. I’m interested in listening to/reading more of the series to see if I like the other story lines better.
#AudiobookObsession
I’m a fan of this series. That statement shouldn’t be a surprise if you check out my reviews of the series. I like it for a lot of reasons, but mostly because I feel like I could read about it forever. I can only think of a handful of other sports romance series that even come close. I’m also a fan of this author but truth be told, I haven’t read much outside of this series LOL but it doesn’t mean the books are not in my kindle 😉 …some day I will read them all! But I digress …
I was captivated but these two from the beginning. They were fun and they had really good chemistry. It wasn’t something that built for me, I felt it from the beginning and it put a huge smile on my face and my heart was happy! Noel especially made me happy. I didn’t expect him. He was a great character. All in all the time. Nothing was getting in the way. *sigh* This book is good kids. Really good.
NoelMaisie! Wonderful Story & Audible Listen
Illusion on Ice
Boys of Winter, Book 7
By: S.R. Grey
Narrated by: Avie Paige
I enjoyed everything about this great book, S.R. Grey’s writing style, the storylines and characters she created as well as the wonderful narration. This is the 7th book of the “Boys of Winter” series, but my first and it can be enjoyed completely as a stand-alone. I enjoyed it so much I added the rest of the series to my wish list. This story had my attention right from the start and held it to the end. Maisie, the female lead, is left to fend for herself in Stockholm, Sweden after her mother takes off to travel Europe with her wealthy boyfriend. She left Maisie in his luxurious hotel room with funds or money to return back to the US. Maisie needs to come up with the funds to get her home, so she masterminds a plan to befriend someone who can help her out. She finds out the US hockey team are in the playoffs and are staying at the same hotel. She heads to the bar to find a target. Noel is walking in the lobby when Maisie catches his eye and he follows her to the bar and then strikes up a conversation with her. The two hit it off and Maisie’s plan does not come off easy for her, she struggles with crossing lines and being dishonest, which is something I loved about her. Noel is such a nice guy, understanding and has such a huge heart. I loved how their story played out, from the getting to know you phase to when Maisie thought she was doing the right thing to what happens when they return to the states. This is an enjoyable sweet romance, there is never a dull moment here, there is drama, emotions, some fun times as well as heartfelt ones. S.R. Grey, thank you for another great and entertaining story and emotional rollercoaster ride.
I listened to the Audible edition, Avie Paige is a wonderful narrator and voice performer. She brings these characters to life, gives each their own voice and personality and a whole lot of heart. She does an amazing job projecting the emotions of the characters in to her performance. She is an entertaining storyteller and a pleasure to listen to. Thank you for this great listen
Thank you @AudiobookObsession #AudiobookObsession #AudiobookObsessionReviewer
Illusion On Ice by S.R.Grey is the 7th book in the Boys of Winter series. This hockey sports romance was a sweet easy read with some bumps along the way and I enjoyed it. I loved Noel, he was such a caring, generous sweetheart, Maise took a little longer to warm up to as I thought she was immature, but she did grow on me in the end.
The audiobook was narrated by Avie Paige. I enjoyed her narration and her portrayal of the characters were distinguishable.
This book reminds me so much of a Cinderella story! Stuck in a place so far away from home with no idea of how you will get back and yet luckily enough to find your perfect other half. Another great book with fantastic narration!
Overall I enjoyed the story but I think that Maisie was a bit too immature and I really felt that what she did was underhanded (although what would the story be without the deception). I thought Noel was a sweet character and completely lost for Maisie but Avie Paige’s male voice could have been a bit better. Her pacing was well done and the characters were very distinguishable.
#AudiobookObsession
AudiobookObsession
Illusion on Ice is another fun and steamy romance in S.R. Grey’s Boys of Winter series. Noel Sandlund and Maisie Troy meet while they are both in Sweden. Noel is using the off season to play hockey on team USA, while Maisie was vacationing when she was stranded there by her mom. They are both in the same hotel and Maisie feels that charming Noel is her only chance to get home. Noel has it all but has been feeling like he is missing something important in his life. When he meets Maisie, he knows that she is his answer. The sparks fly between them right from the start and they have a great time together. As they really start to connect, Maisie’s feelings grow more authentic and she’s afraid he will leave her like everyone else in her life. I loved how sweet and earnest Noel is, he will do whatever it takes to prove how perfect they are for each other. I really enjoyed Avie Paige’s narration. She captured each characters personality so perfectly. Her voice changes were expressive and dynamic and she moved from lighthearted to meaningful to steamy so effortlessly. Paige is a joy to listen to, and she really made this story even more funny and captivating. I can’t get enough of this sexy hockey team and can’t wait for more!
Illusion on Ice Boys of Winter, Book 8 gives you a bit of passion, ice sport, and peaks and valleys in this hockey romance series. Noel Sandlund is a treasure, swoon worthy man. Maisie Troy and Norl Sandlund have bat of the eye magnetism & sky high chemistry. Entertaining, sweet, sensual and visionary. Witty moments spool through the pages of this sprightly listen.
I loved the bubbly ending. Looking forward to listening to the next audiobook in this series Forbidden on Ice, which is Blake’s story when available.
Narator Avie Paige did a suasive performance. A mélange of inflection. She is zealous and a bit overdramatic.
Illusion on Ice
Boys of Winter, Book 7
By: S.R. Grey
Narrated by: Avie Paige
There are times when I need something to rejuvenate my listening, and I can always count on SR Grey to help me out. Her writing is smart, has a great story, a lot of humor and always that warm, passion that brings me back to loving romances. This 7th book in the Boys of Winter series is a little different, taking us to the World Hockey Championships with Noel. He meets the beautiful Maisey who has been stranded in Sweden by her less than caring mother. Determined to get back to the states, she is planning to use her feminine wiles on Noel to get him to buy her a plane ticket home. But things are never that simple! What wonderful characters these two are! I love Maisey. She is not only beautiful, but a little naive in her thinking. She is unassuming, finds herself swept up in what is Noel. Noel is just a wonderful surprise. I fell for him immediately. Not only a great athlete, but he is truly beautiful on the inside. This love story is sweet, spicy and all around full of humor and good feelings. I loved it! (Not so much Maisey’s mom though!)
I have never heard Avie Paige before this story and I loved her. She is passionate and has a great array of voices. I enjoyed her pacing and loved the way her voice pulled me into the story. I will be looking for more of her work!
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HOOKED, from the beginning! Love S.R. Grey’s hockey books. The Boys of Winter series is amazing. This new addition was well worth the wait. The chemistry between the characters is great. The writing is smooth and captivating. Characters from previous books in the series make appearances, which is great, but if you haven’t read them, it is ok. This book can totally be read as a standalone, but I highly recommend reading the whole series!
stuck in Sweden after her mom abandoned her with no way home, Maisie was alone. Noel was their playing hockey for team america. noel rescued Maisie bu giving her a place to sleep and getting her a ticket home, but Maisie grew up believe nothing this good could ever happen to her, will they both be able to have their happy every after or will Maisie ruin it for both of them?