The Play-by-Play series by Jaci Burton continues with a short novella just in time for Christmas. Holiday on Ice is packed full of sweet romance, scorching chemistry and the spirit of the season. Burton always impresses whether it's with a quick holiday read or a full length novel. Fans of the series will love this one and want to see what happens with some new characters introduced in this one, as well as, checking in with some old favorites. If you love Hockey and steamy romance, you can't go wrong with this one!What I liked:Jaci Burton is one my favorite erotic romance writers. She just has a knack for knowing when to make the moment hot and steamy and when to make it romantic and sweet. Her Play-by-Play series is one of my favorites for just that reason. Her stories never seem forced or paced to quickly. Even with this shorter novella format, she still makes the flow of the story seem so natural and organic. I love the holidays and Holiday on Ice really hit the spot for me and started getting me in the Christmas mood. Seasonal books are some of my favorites and readers are sure to love this one.I'll be the first to say that I don't usually go for sports related romances, but the Play-by-Play series is an exception to the rule. Holiday on Ice centers around Patrick "Trick" Neimeyer, a hockey player and Stella Solvinski, a dancer who has just landed a Broadway lead. They already share a past and have hooked up on several occasions before and that helps with the pacing of this story. Because they already have a foundation it did not cause the novella to take on that insta-love feeling. It made it seem natural that it was time to take their relationship to the next level. It was surprising that it was Trick's idea and not Stella's. I enjoyed the role reversal aspect of the book as well.These two really steam up the pages when it comes to the bedroom but the best parts of the story for me were the tender moments, like decorating the Christmas tree and skating in Central Park. The chemistry between them was amazing in and out of the bedroom. With such a short format to work with Jaci Burton did a fantastic job of showing the love that was developing between these characters. They have work issues and some past hurts to work through but it's obvious to the reader from the time the reconnect that this one was meant to be.Bottom Line:If you are fan of the series, you can't miss this novella, it's simply wonderful. Burton once again reminds me of why I enjoy a good romance. Just enough passion and tenderness to make me warm and fuzzy. And enough Christmas spirit to make me want to sing Christmas songs and drink cocoa. I loved this one and can't wait for the next full length novel in the series! The weather might be cold outside, but Jaci Burton and her Play-by-Play series knows just how to heat things up! In HOLIDAY ON ICE, Burton takes hockey player, Patrick “Trick” Niemeyer and dancer Stella Slovinski and gives them a second chance at true love. After a torrid affair that ended only because their work schedules became too much for them, Trick and Stella are now looking to rekindle the flame they lost. However, with Stella’s mind firmly on her career and past experiences with commitment scaring her off, Trick will have to convince Stella that he is in it for the long run.Expect much of the same hot sex, confident characters and sports emphasis in this book as both characters are athletes in this one. As committed as they are to their careers, I loved seeing how important they saw one another and made time to simply be together. In Contemporary Romances, I think that’s what really makes the story believable. Jaci Burton is quickly becoming an autobuy author for me. With her flowing writing and willingness to push her characters to face their fears, I’ve learned to love everything that Burton has to offer!
What do You think about Holiday On Ice (2014)?
read first chapter and decided no. was feeling like I was losing IQ points as I read.
—johnsonli
3 to 3.5 stars. Really liked this story up until the end.
—reny
