Zoe SimmonsZoe Simmons receives a text on her wedding day. Her fiancé called off the wedding. No explanation and he is soon traded to another hockey team, the Detroit Steels. She is devastated and has an emotional breakdown. After a few months she returns to her lonely life. Numb and withdrawn, she throws herself into her work as an assistant to general manager of the NHL team The San Jose … The San Jose Otters. Fast forward three years, The Otters are contenders for the Stanley Cup that include a shocking trade, Killian “Ki” Connery. The man who left her at the altar in humiliation and shame. Another blow comes when her father, Jed Simmons, negotiated the trade of her former fiancé without telling her. How will she be able to endure being around the man her heart yearns for but her mind rebels against? Not to mention the scandal that is about to break opening up her private life to further scrutiny by the media?
Killian “Ki” Connery
The woman he loves jilted him at the altar and he is banished to Detroit to play for The Steels. The former star and captain of The Otters is crushed by the betrayal of his love he’s never gotten over. He survives through sheer will power and playing hockey while fighting the underlying demons plaguing him. Jesse Ward comes into his life and they become America’s Sweethearts of the media. Little does Ki know the part Jesse played in his breakup with his true love Zoe.
This story will keep you on your toes with an intense love story, challenges, betrayal and overcoming the odds that love conquers all.
Another great angsty book by Trisha Harley McCarthy, author of the acclaimed Granite Bay Series.
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Yall, this book is angsty that my head is still spinning. As yall know, I can’t stand that but the way that Ms. McCarthy wrote Ki and Zoe’s story, it made complete sense. It needed to be that way for these two to get together. There is so much going on between them that drives them apart time and time again but the payoff is totally worth it. Between the lies, betrayals, major family issues and then communication breakdown between Ki and Zoe…good law, the angst.
Ki and Zoe are a great couple. I truly did love them from the beginning. Ki reminded me of Mark Messier from the New York Rangers hockey team. I’m a hockey junkie and I did work for the Dallas Stars when they won and then lost the Stanley Cup. So I can be highly critical of hockey romances but Ms. McCarthy nails every aspect of the sport. From the front office to the press, it is brutal. Zoe knows this, as does Ki and they really do their best to avoid it but can’t. Mix in Jesse, Zoe’s former best friend, and Flynn and are the lies to be believed?
Jesse is a piece of work, however, I loved how Ms. McCarthy does redeem her in the end. Trust me, I didn’t spoil it because you just need to read the book. She trusts the wrong person and when she figures that out, it’s game on for her. Loved how she fought back when she realizes that and eventually helps Zoe and Ki find their way back to each other. Flynn is another character that is a douche in the beginning but slowly redeems himself in the end. Possible spoiler but something you need to know…after the breakup of Ki and Zoe, Zoe and Flynn date. Normally, I don’t like a love triangle/quad but it works in this story. Don’t be turned off by it. Keep reading, it’s worth it.
The family issues are a doozy. Jed is an ass and Ki’s mother needed to be slapped upside her head and in a way she does. However, I would love a bit more of a comeuppance but I was satisfied in the end. I won’t go into all of the family issues but damn. The secrets and how Ms. McCarthy came up with everything is just WOW! Like head spinning WOW! That’s all I can say about that. Anything more would be a spoiler.
Ms. McCarthy is a new to be me author and she knocked it out of the park for me. Angst and all. I read this book in one afternoon and I will definitely re-read it again. It was that good and despite all of the head-spinning that I experienced, I can’t wait to read another book from her. Plus, it has hockey players. I’m a sucker for those. Heck, we named our son after a hockey player. Go figure.
A novel with more unexpected twists, turns and fun than behind the goal seats during sudden death. Whew! What a rush! This is not a love story for the faint of heart. It’s real, raw and downright ugly at times but that’s what makes it resonate. Trisha is a genius with character creation and doesn’t hesitate in delving into the darkest corners of the human psyche. Zoe and Ki are not your cookie cutter heroes—far from. They’re flawed and torn and often misunderstood. They’re so real that they—and their love—jumps off the page. An emotional ride to say the least, but so worth taking.
The characters go through a gammet of hardships and emotions that will have your heart bleeding for them. The twists and turns in this book are unpredictable and will keep you guessing until the end. This is a great read that you wont want to miss!
I really enjoyed reading Zoe and Ki’s story. I have to admit, I usually shy away from celebrity romances because I always figure I won’t be able to relate to the characters, but the author did a terrific job of humanizing this power couple. On Ice pulls back the veil from what one might consider a very glamorous lifestyle and sheds light on the hardest parts of celebrity ie. dealing with the media, paparazzi and the darker sides of the sports/entertainment business, not to mention she brings several mental health issues to the forefront.
Killian “Ki the Sly” Connery is a star hockey player and team captain for the Otters and Zoe is the daughter of the team’s general manager. Their relationship takes so many twists and turns that I was on the edge of my seat reading the whole time. This book is filled with colorful characters, intrigue and… well, a whole league’s worth stone cut abs. I can’t wait to read more about Harley McCarthy’s hot hockey guys. Go Team!