Portland Evergreens Book 3: On Thin Ice by Beth Bolden

 

Portland Evergreens Book 3

Finn has lived with the pressure of hockey’s expectations since he was old enough to understand his father was one of the greatest the sport had ever known.

He’s changed positions. Changed plans. Changed colleges. But he’s never managed to outrun the pressure.

When it starts ruining his performance on the ice, he knows he needs to find a way to conquer it once and for all.

Desperation sends him running to the one man he thinks can help him. Jacob Braun, a goalie who played against his father.

It doesn’t matter that they hated each other, Finn will use him—use everything—to figure out how to beat this mental block. Even seduce his father’s greatest enemy.

What Finn wasn’t expecting was that they don’t just burn hot in bed, but on the ice, too. And that, ultimately, it isn’t Jacob’s brain he wants to pick apart, it’s his heart he wants to own.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/215538359-on-thin-ice

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My Review: 5/5 Stars

The pressure that Finn carries for hockey expectations is one that has become heavier every day. And he is about to break. So he throws out a Hail Mary to see if he can save himself and his future in hockey. And that is to ask (or beg just a bit) former NHL goalie, Jacob, to coach him. He is also the one guy that Finn’s dad hates for being so good because he was never able to score on him. They had a rivalry and who better to teach him to tune out his father and everyone else on the ice than the man who seemed to do it with ease? Retiring earlier than planned, Jacob hasn’t really taken it that well. While he has some ideas now for what comes next, he didn’t expect to step back on the ice anytime soon. Especially when Morgan Reynolds’s son comes to him asking for help. At first it’s a hard no. But when he comes back, well Jacob’s willpower is only so much. There is a strong attraction between them but he won’t cross the line. It has bad idea written all over it, especially if he is agreeing to coach Finn. But their connection is so much stronger than either expected and it’s only a matter of time before they can no longer resist. Really loved Finn and Jacob’s story! Loved how these two formed this really strong connection and knew that being together would be tough but worth it. It was clear how much they cared. And it only got stronger the more they got to know one another and be there for one another through some tough things. I also was delightfully surprised that though it seemed like Finn and his dad had a tough relationship, Finn’s dad wasn’t a total jerk to the point where you hate him. I actually was rooting for them to figure out how to be a better father and son duo. And how everything was gonna turn out once Morgan found out about Jacob and Finn. Gotta say, pretty entertaining everyone’s dynamic. Another great book in this series! Can’t wait for more!

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.