Blooming with Books: Fire and Ice ~ Review

Fire and Ice JustRead Blog Tour

Welcome to the Blog Tour for

Fire and Ice by Carolyn Miller,

Fire and Ice
Northwest Ice Division #1
By Carolyn Miller

Hannah Wade has always loved sports, especially hockey. With her dreams of professional playing shattered along with her ankle. But not wanting to leave her love of sports in the dust, Hannah has pursued the one option left to her - sports analyst. Unfortunately, such a career is believed to be better handled by men in the opinions of many. And Hannah's first live interview goes very wrong, seemingly proving the naysayers correct.

Franklin James is Calgary's newest addition, who is glad to be returning to his home. When an interview goes wrong, he does what he can to help fix the situation. There is something about Hannah that he connects with, he just didn't realize that he had once met her years ago when she was a teenager.

Fire and Ice gives one a glimpse not only into the world of professional hockey but also the world of sports reporting. As Hannah finds her place in her chosen career, she faces public and private opinions that women don't belong in such a world. Her years of experience as an athlete aren't given the weight they deserve because she's just a woman. No matter that she has more playing experience than her coworkers.

But Fire and Ice is more than a sports book that explores the world of hockey. No, this book also delves into matters of the heart. And no, I don't mean romance, though there is the possibility of that. No, I'm referring to the spiritual heart, the reawakening of her faith when she most needs it.

This is an enjoyable read, and I'll admit it I'm not a hockey fan, so I found this to be an informative read too. I've read a few of the author's works before, but most of them have been her historical offerings rather than contemporary ones. I found the characters to be relatable; most are likable, though there were a small handful that were just Ugh! But all came across as realistic and reminded me of people one would meet in one's own life. A well-written and engaging story that could make me watch, on occasion, a hockey game. Maybe from home.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations, but that I provide my honest opinion - all thoughts expressed are my own.

About the Book

Title: Fire and Ice
Series: Northwest Ice Division #1
Author: Carolyn Miller
Publisher: Independently Published
Release Date: July 10, 2023
Genre: Christian Contemporary Romance

Hannah Wade loves sports, so when injury is swiftly followed by an opportunity to be one of Calgary's first female sports analysts, she jumps at the chance. Trouble is, some of the old dinosaurs she works with thinks she's nothing but a fluff-piece, there to add ratings and stir controversy among the fiercely loyal hockey fans. She longs for the chance to prove herself, so when an opportunity comes along to interview newly traded defenseman Franklin James, she meets him, with disastrous effect.
Growing up with three sisters means Franklin thought he knew something about women, but nothing had ever prepared him for the sparkling firecracker that is Hannah. And yet her vibrant personality holds a sweetness and soft side, something that draws his interest and protectiveness when an interview goes south
Can these two overcome prejudice and see a way forward? And what has faith - or the lack of - got to do with anything? Fire and Ice is the first book in the new Northwest Ice hockey romance series, a sweet and swoony, slightly sporty, Christian contemporary romance series that continues the legacy of the Original Six, and is perfect for fans of Becky Wade, Courtney Walsh and Susan May Warren.

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About the Author

Carolyn Miller lives in the beautiful Southern Highlands of New South Wales, Australia, with her husband and four children. A longtime lover of romance, Carolyn loves drawing readers into fictional worlds that show the truth of God’s grace in our lives. Her bestselling, award-winning Regency and contemporary novels are stories that offer hope, heart, and a twist of Aussie humour.