Sugar and Ice is the first full-length novel in the Rinkside in the Rockies Series by Aven Ellis!
Josephine Rossi has recovered from a broken heart, but has vowed that she’s all about the desserts now as a recipe tester for Bake It! Magazine. Cheesecake never breaks your heart. Unless it cracks on the top, but still, it tastes amazing if you bake it just right. She knows what to do in the … knows what to do in the kitchen as far as making luscious desserts. Men? Apparently she’s not so good at figuring them out, so she refuses to bother. Josephine knows it is safer to stay in the kitchen than to take another chance with her heart.
Denver Mountain Lions forward Cade Callahan is passionate about hockey but is also about finding love. He thought he had it once, but a disastrous romance last holiday season has him keeping his heart in check. While he’s fearless on the ice, he’s guarded with his heart. Cade is determined history won’t repeat itself again. He won’t let his guard down until he’s certain he’s met The One.
However, Cupid’s arrow might just strike when these two least expect it. When an oven goes out, and a cheesecake for testing has to be baked, and Cade just happens to live in the same building with a working oven…Well, things other than cheesecake might just heat up in the kitchen. Can these two passionate people learn to trust their hearts again? Can love override fear for Josephine and Cade? And will they find the combination of sugar and ice is the sweetest one of all?
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So lovely. Very heartwarming and romantic. Loved both characters. Enjoyed the storyline development and the characters relationships. A fabulous book with a amazing ending!
Cute book! Loved the characters.
Finally a true love story
A fun read. Kept me up at night to finish it. Not often this happens. Only when I get so engrossed I can’t stop reading.
This one warmed my heart. Convinced me to feel as suggested about the boss and the boss’s boss. Brought me a new appreciation for Hockey. I fell in love with both couples … and am rooting for Max and Sky
The book is advertised as a Hockey Romance, but just because the main love interest is a hockey player does not make it a hockey romance.
The major conflict, which wasn’t really a conflict wrapped up WAY TOO QUICKLY. Not a bad book, but not what I wanted/expected. Wouldn’t read this author again.
Sugar overload!
This book was too sweet – almost sickeningly so and not just because JoJo is a baker.
She and Cade had an instant connection but I never felt much heat or passion for each other. More of a lukewarm simmer like shy teenagers.
The whole story is from JoJo’s POV so we only see her crazy neurotic brain but I feel like Cade’s is probably the same way. I got tired of her internal “screams” after anyone said something nice to her. I can hear the ‘ohhh’ and ‘ahhh’ in my head but I got tired of reading it.
The whole thing was like a movie on Oxygen or Hallmark. It was just ok for me. I have a toothache.
I had so much fun reading this book! So many laugh out loud moments.
I have enjoyed Aven Ellis books this one did not disappoint
Chick lit for sure. Nothing too deep here but…
THE GOOD: Such a sweet love story. Easy read. A fun protagonist worth rooting for. The grandmother was by far the most interesting character.
THE BAD: Author did not always follow through on key story points. Author also failed to be true to the character’s desire. If passion is a big part of the story, show don’t tell. Not saying there had to be a play-by/play but to skim over after building up to it is a complete ripoff.
THE UGLY: The end of the book was so over-the-top sappy with repeated phrases/ideas it was both unbelievable and frustrating. I almost didn’t bother finishing it.
Very interesting to me since I am a hockey fan and it was pretty realistic on many details.
I couldn’t finish this book. It was too repetitious. Yes, it was light reading. Yes, eventually it got to the secret of Grama Nan (I skimmed the last chapter). Honestly, I got tired of reading that Nan was not liked by her daughter, or that the granddaughter (main character I forget her name) was broke and going to get evicted and she didn’t know anything about tea! And, of course, there is a murder! Get on with the story, Please! I didn’t like the book. Others will and that’s good.
A nice slow romance between a baker and a hockey player.
Great reading for a stay inside cold weekend.
cute, sexy story.
A great cast of characters build and share family history, stories and personal strength. Fun dynamics.
I love Aven Ellis’ writing style! Her characters are so detailed right down to the little quirky habits that you can’t help but think of them as real people who you could befriend. Then the action bits of the story are unique. Her actions scenes don’t consist of the usual date of a dinner and a movie. No, they are things like a trip to the grocery store to teach how to properly pick out produce or pasta making 101.
I really enjoyed these characters and their story. I look forward to continuing the series. I hope we get to hear more about how Josephine puts Angelique in her place in future books. But I know that’s a long shot.