Ice, Love, & Other Penalties: A Decker Family Novel

Decker Family #13

by Claudia Y. Burgoa

From USA TODAY Bestselling Author Claudia Burgoa comes an enthralling single dad, hockey romance that skates through the challenges of forbidden love, healing after trauma, and found family.

They say never mix business with pleasure.

As a single father, and the captain of the Seattle Sasquatches, I’m adamant to keep every corner of my life separate and running perfectly.

That is, until Indie Decker walked into my life.

She’s the team owner's little sister, my new nanny, and so completely out of my league.

Our first encounter? Pure fire, clashing wills with a passion that ensnared us both. Our second? A tentative truce, maybe even a budding friendship. But at some point, we slid recklessly into a 'friends with benefits' arrangement, thinking we could stay casual.

Wishful thinking, I know.

With each passing day, our no-strings-attached fling starts weaving threads between us that I’m not ready to cut. Indie’s fierce independence clashes with my need to protect, to heal, and to love her despite her warrines to open up.

But will my steadfast will and soft hands be enough to get through her defenses? Or am I doomed to sit in the penalty box of Indie’s heart?

Ice, Love, & Other Penalties is part of the family Decker but can be read as a standalone.

Genres: Sports Romance, Hockey, Audiobook, Sports, Romance, Hockey Romance, He Falls First

326 pages, Paperback

Published June 18, 2024

About the author

Claudia is an award-winning, USA Today bestselling author.
She writes alluring, thrilling stories about complicated women and the men who take their breath away.
She lives in Denver, Colorado with her husband and her youngest two children. She has a sweet Bichon, Macey, who thinks she's the ruler of the house. She's only partially right.
When Claudia is not writing, you can find her reading, knitting, or just hanging out with her family.
At night, she likes to binge watch shows with her equally geeky husband.

Instagram: http://bit.ly/ClaudiasIG
TikTok: https://bit.ly/CBstiktok
Bloggers/Influencers: https://geni.us/CBBloggers
Newsletter: https://geni.us/CBNewsletter

Reviews

[Isabella · Rating 2 out of 5]

Every survivor’s experience with SA is different, but this felt icky to me. Maybe just me, other survivors may not feel this way, but the FMC was far too blasé about it. And when it’s originally mentioned, it felt so disconnected. It didn’t feel authentic, it was very brushed over, and the character development afterwards didn’t feel realistic to me.
Overall a very rushed story and didn’t feel romantic to me at all.

[Sienasummerrreads · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story follows Indie and Tiberius. As a teenager, Indie fell for her brother’s friend, believing she was in love at eighteen. But one night, everything came crashing down, leaving her struggling with intimacy and relationships. Now, at 26, she is forced by her brother to help one of the hockey stars—a single dad—by working as his nanny until they can find a permanent solution. Can he break down her walls?

This was a quick and enjoyable read. I loved the audiobook narrators and the two main characters, especially the raw emotions that affected the FMC. Because of the book’s fast pace, I struggled a bit. The transition from them knowing each other to the MMC falling hard and fast felt too quick for my taste. I wanted more character development to really establish their relationship. Overall, this was an enjoyable read that I do recommend, but I wished for a little more depth.

Genre/Type: Adult Romance 18+
APK: Audiobook ALC
Audiobook Length: 6hrs 49mins
Narrators: Robert Hatchet and Emma Wilder - Duet
Rating: 🌟🌟🌟.5
Spice: 🌶️. 🌶️
Series or Standalone: A Decker Family Novel Book 13
Tropes or Themes: Single Dad, Sports (Ice Hockey), Age Gap (10yrs), Nanny, Friends To Lovers, Friends With Benefits, He Falls First, Past Trauma, Panic Attacks, Sexual Content.
Mentions: Death Of Parents, Rape Situation, Suicide, Abuse and Child Abuse.
Check Triggers ⚠️ 💫

All Round Romance Reader 
Sienasummerrreads 💕📚
TikTok | Instagram | Goodreads | StoryGraph | Fable | Everand | Amazon | Audible Reviews 💫

[Brooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ice, Love & Other Penalties ALC Review

4.5 ⭐️
2.25 🌶

🏒 Hockey Romance
🩷 Boss/Nanny
🏒 Single Dad
🩷 Friends With Benefits
🏒 He Falls First
🩷 Who Hurt You?
❤️ Slow burn 🔥

This audiobook is penned as a duet but it honestly a dual narration. Even with the dual narration I really enjoyed the narrators takes on Indie and Ty. They gave these characters the life that they deserved outside of words on a page. They were given a new dimension other than a 2D character.


Indie and Ty had gotten off on the wrong foot from the very beginning. He is a take no nonsense type of guy while she tries to have some humor and add color into life. While both of these characters have had their traumatic pasts, it was obvious they had some chemistry. Ty's daughter Myra was always making sure that she let Indie know that she wanted to spend time with her, because she craves that motherly attention.

While Ty fell first for Indie, she definitely wasn't ready for anything other than a friendship. But Ty had other plans, friends with benefits come into play and they begin that part of their relationship. Indie, bless her heart ❤️, really struggles with Intimacy and that is to be expected with the trauma that she endured when she was younger. I was rooting for her to at least tell one of her siblings or to reach out for some mental health resources. Doing trauma on your own is so hard. I was so proud that Ty was supportive of her reaching out to someone.

I was so happy when I head howninvolved Myra's character was involved in this storyline. I know he is a single dad, but not always are the children that big of a part in the storyline. I loved that Ty was beginning to see that he needed to spend more one on one time with Myra. Those are the moments you can't get back!

I truly enjoyed this story and can't wait to read more by Claudia and this storyline!

🔥 Let's Talk About Sex Baby 🥵: 🌶️🌶️.25 /5

Indie and Ty had great chemistry and it truly showed in the way that they shared moments within the scenes.

I received a complimentary copy via Claudia Burgoa. All opinions are my own, honest and voluntary.

[Dino Queen · Rating 4 out of 5]

please note that the trigger warnings and topes/themes may contain spoilers
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
HEA: yes
POV: dual 1st person POV
spice: several open-door spicy scenes
TWs: abuse, anxiety, bribery, child abuse (off page), death of parent, depression, emergency c-section, emotional abuse, manipulation, parental abandonment, PTSD, r@pe, spousal abuse, suicide
Kinky Content: dirty talk, fingering, finger licking good, oral, praise, sexting
standalone: book 13 of Decker Family series, interconnected standalones
final thoughts: so much angst and emotional whiplash in this book! While this was an emotional read with a fair number of triggers, there was a lot of support between the MCs and the side characters that helped it to not feel so heavy. Myra was such a cute and fun character that also helped to add levity throughout the story.
While I loved the story and the spice, I felt like there was so much more to their story that we didn’t get on page. Maybe we’ll see them as side characters in the series moving forward to see what happens next?

read this book if you love
🔢 age gap (26/36)
😬 angst
👦 boss’s sister
🍿 celebrity adjacent
🥵 dirty talk
💬 epistolary (texts)
😳 forbidden lovers (boss’s sister)
🏝️ forced proximity
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 found family
👦 he falls first and hard
🤫 hidden secrets
🩹 hurt/comfort
💘 instalust
🛏️ “it’s just a fling”
💞 mutual pining
👩‍👦 nanny
🥰 nicknames
🙏 praise
👩‍👦 single parent
💓 slowburn
🏒 sports romance (hockey)
🌍 world building

[Marivel (marislitcorner) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ice, Love, & Other Penalties was full of the angst that I’ve come to expect from Claudia Burgoa. This single dad/nanny romance had the extra layer of forbidden due to the FMC is the sister of the MMC’s boss. Tyberius “Ty” Brynes and Indigo “Indie” Decker are both holding onto secrets that they are unwilling to divulge, making the road to their HEA a bit bumpy, but full of chemistry.

Indie was no-nonsense and stubborn as heck to her own detriment. If only she weren’t so stubborn, she could’ve leaned on her loving and supportive family instead of hiding her anxiety. There were many instances during her anxiety attacks that I found myself trying to breathe with her. Indie was so reticent about love and relationships that I found her to be a bit harsh with Ty at times. Luckily for her, Ty took it all in stride and amped up his efforts to win her over.

Ty was undeniably swoon-worthy and had so much patience with Indie. My heart went out to Ty when his feelings of failure took over, trying to navigate being a single dad to his daughter, Myra, while leading his hockey team as captain. This man took on a responsibility that not many would take, and that was a twist I didn’t see coming.

“𝘚𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘐 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶’𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘧𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘴𝘰𝘶𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘭𝘦𝘨𝘴, 𝘥𝘢𝘳𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨."

The banter through text between Indie and Ty was quite entertaining, especially once they made their friends with benefits deal. I enjoyed the interactions between Indie and her family. I loved the Decker family! I loved how supportive and loving they were and just all up in each other’s business.

Claudia Burgoa delivered an angsty love story full of banter. It had just the right blend of slow burn, fun, and spice.

[Tanja OMGReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

I might have met my favorite MC ever written by Claudia Burgoa. Hello Tyberius- if we're looking for a definition of a great man, I'm sure his picture is in the dictionary. He loved his daughter, would've moved heaven and earth for her and when he found out what happened to Indie in the past he was so patient with her.

Indigo aka Indie has survived a traumatic experience that has left her going through life with firm rules in place. The biggest one is to never let herself get attached. But meeting the cute girl and her gorgeous dad was not in her plans. But their bond is too strong to ignore and slowly she lets them in and together they could start the healing process they both need.

From start to finish this story took hold of my heart and it would let it go until the end. Both our MC were broken but together they created a beautiful new piece of happiness they both deserved. I highly recommend this book!

* * * Review copy requested and reviewed on behalf of OMGReads Blog * * *

[Sheila Schoenauer · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good majority of the Decker family is stubborn to a fault. They are loving, loyal and can be trusted to have each others backs. But Indigo? This gal is seriously stubborn! She knocked me over constant with the way she kept putting Ty off. She also had be internally screaming... "it was not your fault!" She needed to seriously get all that fear out and talk to her family. Why did she hide it? Why did she think she was better off not telling them? I didn't understand that. Her family gave her so much love and support. She wasn't living, she was barely surviving. Thank goodness for Ty and Myra.

I absolutely loved Ty. He was a little out of his element at times. But he was trying and he wasn't giving up. I absolutely loved how he didn't give up on Indie. Now his secret? Honestly, I did not see that one coming. Ms. Burgoa wrote that surprise perfectly.

These two were the perfect match. They complimented each other perfectly. I don't think they would have been happy with anyone else. Ty needed Indie and Indie needed Ty. And Myra? She needed her family. I loved it.

After all that? I'm now more intrigued with Harper. I will be patiently waiting for her HEA.

*I voluntarily read an advanced copy of this book for my honest and unbiased review*

[Queen B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ice, Love, & Other Penalties had the classic Claudia Burgoa level of angst. But, as always, she addresses it head on and everyone eventually goes to therapy and learns to communicate.

Ty was the star here. He deals with his insecurities and dysfunctional family history, and he doesn’t let Indie push him away. Their relationship has that hint of forbidden, but the banter from their text messages really gives life to the characters and explains them both so well.

Indie is exceptionally stubborn, but Ty doesn’t give up and she finally begins to lean on her family and friends and accept help and love. Their chemistry was there from the beginning, but I’m glad this was more of a slow burn, I enjoyed the wait.

Another winner from one of my favorites.

[Karla Escutia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Indie and Ty love them and how he falls first when he was not expecting indie at all. Indie has a trauma in her past that makes her weary of forming a connection. So when Ty offer her a deal.. she does not know if it’s a good idea on top of it she is his temporary nanny… loved it from start to finish..

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

ICE, LOVE & Other Penalties

Beautiful, emotional story. The previous paths these two have lived make up who these two amazing people are, and who they have grown up to be. They may be a bit suspicious of others motives, but afraid of putting themselves out there. The drama is real, their feelings are real, the fear of what it's are real! Follow their journey from, her helping out a single dad, as a nanny, yet gives her encouragement to be there by reaching out for her feelings! Beautifully written.

[Kaity · Rating 5 out of 5]

so damn swoony... ;)

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ty and Indie brought the angst!!! I didn't really know what to expect going in but I was hooked!

Ty and Indie have both been through so much but their connection seems to soothe old wounds and create healing.

I have loved the entire Decker family but each one is better than the one before it. I don't really know how that's possible but I've decided that I'm no longer choosing favorites. I am already dying for the next one!

[Marrissa Horton · Rating 4 out of 5]

The narrators sucked me into this story from the beginning, they were phenomenal! If you’re in the mood for a sports romance audiobook on the shorter side, filled with some angst, lots of love, big family dynamics, and interesting characters, check this one out! It’s part of a large series, but it was my first Decker story, and I didn’t feel like I was missing anything.

🎧 Robert Hatchet and Emma Wilder were an amazing pairing, I loved listening to them bring Ty and Indie to life. Their voices were perfect together, and they both brought out the emotion and personalities of the characters in the best ways!

Listen if you like ⇣
•Hockey romance
•Single dad x Nanny
•Friends to lovers
•He falls first
•Boss’s little sister
•Forbidden
•Love after trauma
•Dual POV
•Spice

Thank you @mustloveaudio @lyricaudiobooks and @claudia_b360 for the ALC!

[Erin Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 star review Ice, Love & Other Penalties (Decker Family #13) by Claudia Burgoa

Audio/eBook/

This was a terrific addition to the Decker Family series. This is Indigo (Indie) Decker and single dad and captain of the Seattle Sasquatches Tyberius (Ty) Brynes’s story and what an emotional read it was.

I fell hard for Ty and admired his persistence with Indie and his relationship with his daughter Myra was swoon worthy. The chemistry between them was hard to ignore and once they crossed the line, all bets were off. The banter was witty and their texts had me smiling at times.

The Deckers make an appearance and as is typical with this family they get all up in one another’s relationships. This just adds to the enjoyment of the story. Ice, Love & Other Penalties is a good mix of drama, angst, romance, humor, and passion.

From the moment they met, the sparks flew. Both have secrets and when they are revealed will it bring them together or rip them apart?

The narration by Emma Wilder and Robert Hatchet was spot on.
Not only did they bring all the passion, angst, pain and drama to life with their narration and they did justice to the wonderful characters that Ms. Cane created. Their voices are easy to listen to and brought the story to life for me.

[Rachael · Rating 3 out of 5]

indie and Tyberius - spoilers

Prologue starts with sexual assault and that wasn’t mentioned in the synopsis or reviews. The romance between Indie and Ty feels forced. Indie was cold and shut off due to her sexual assault and Ty was sort of a jerk about her personality. Most of their relationship seems to occur via text. Each of them trying to force the other’s secrets but neither wanted to share their own secrets. Was a slow burn with eventual spicy scenes. Ending sort of came out rushed and forced and some of scenes felt borderline pushy. Finished because I paid for it but not really enjoyed it.

[Rachel]

DNF at 58%

Was I reading the same book as everyone else? I wanted to really like this book based on the tropes, but it just fell flat to me. There was no chemistry between Indie and Ty and their relationship did a complete 180 that ultimately made me DNF. There was very little tension and then for their first kiss to be described as a flashback?? For me, it completely killed whatever tension there was. Ty goes from thinking she's completely off limits yet lusting after her constantly to suddenly giving in and apparently pushing Indie into a FWB situation. Just made me uncomfortable given Indie's relationship history. Also the text chats were so long and felt completely unnatural - when did Ty become the next great American novelist?

Also didn't help that this was my first book by this author and there are soooooo many mentions of what I presume to be characters from previous books that I was constantly confused. I'll give this author another chance, but I definitely need to start at the beginning of a series.

[kreadsoften · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ice, Love, and Other Penalties
is the thirteenth book in the Decker family series, but it can be read as a standalone.

Indigo “Indie” Decker and Tyberius “Ty” Brynes had attraction from the start, but neither gave in right away.

Indie had been through something traumatic when she was younger. She didn’t tell anyone, but it had a huge effect on her, making her closed off to any sort of romantic relationship.

Ty was a single dad and a hockey player. He knew he had a hectic schedule, but he did everything he could to make sure his daughter, Myra, was well cared for and loved. And with Indie, he was so dang sweet and patient. He never pushed her, and he was there for her when she finally opened up.

As with all Claudia Burgoa novels, this was angsty and emotional. It was also full of love (from friends and family) and healing.

What to expect:
Single Dad x Nanny
Traumatic Past
Forbidden Love
Hockey Romance
Found Family

[Courtney Tani · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the concept of the book but I just felt like there were a lot of gaps in the story. It was great in the beginning but I feel at the end it just jumped from not wanting each other to being in a relationship and so on. There was no a smooth transition.

[Valeen Robertson (Live Thru Books Blog) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Universal



Ty's nanny has just given her notice, and Ty's completely at a loss. Thank God a savior in the form of his boss's sister comes along and saves him and his daughter. But there's one little problem - there's a spark between them that they cannot give into. After all, she's his boss's sister, and his temporary nanny...



Indie has long held a secret that has left its mark on her in the form of not just emotional and physical damage, but has given her anxiety attacks and nightmares. She hides it from her family and tries to act as if everything is fine in front of them. Then along comes Ty and his beautiful daughter who start to break down her barriers. Now she's realizing she needs to get herself straight if she wants a future with them.



I gotta say that Ty is a saint. He's Indie's rock, and exactly what she needed - someone to love her through her healing, love her through her stubbornness (and damn is she freaking stubborn!!!) and love her enough to stick around when she pushed him away. I felt for her even though her stubbornness caused a lot of pain, both for herself and for Ty. Considering what had caused her behavior, though, I can absolutely get behind her even though she was really frustrating. Her and Ty's story is so heartfelt. Some angst, funny texting banter, and two stubborn, damaged, but lovable people who find love with each other while traveling down a very bumpy road.



ARC provided by The Author Agency for an honest review.

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[Maja · Rating 5 out of 5]

That was a good, full of angst story. I loved this story from start to finish. It deserves more than five stars. I am starting to like this author more and more.
I received an ARC copy of this book through Literally PR in exchange for an honest voluntary review.

[Patti Lucas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Claudia Burgoa has done it again! I absolutely loved Ice, Love, and Other Penalties, an incredible single father age gap love at first sight love story. Claudia Burgoa continues to show that she is an amazing storyteller and continues to be one of my favorite authors to read. It was impossible to put Ice, Love, and Other Penalties down, and I loved every moment on every page. Ice, Love, and Other Penalties is the story of Indigo “Indi” Walker Decker, and Tyberius “Ty” Brynes, captain of the Seattle Sasquatches in the National Hockey League and single father to five-year old, Myra. Indigo’s brother, Jude is the general manager and owner of the new expansion team, the Seattle Sasquatches and Indi has been facilitating getting his team relocated and settled in Seattle. Shortly after relocating from Florida, Ty’s nanny informs him that she will be returning home because of a family emergency leaving Ty without a nanny for Myra. Jude convinces Indi to take over the nanny duties while they search for a suitable replacement. Ty had worked with Indi during his relocation, and does not know that she is Jude’s sister, since she uses her mother’s last name, Walker. Ty tries to resist Indi because of their age difference and Indi does not trust in love lasting forever. I love the chemistry between Indi and Ty, and the conversations between them flow so easily, with innuendos and playful banter, and Ty constantly flirting and dirty talking with Indi and Indi’s snarky replies. After a heart-to-heart conversation, Indigo shares her secrets about her life and her past and Ty shares his own secrets about his family. I love how Ty is fascinated with the fact that Indi is a Decker. Indi helps him realize how alike she is to Myra and how she can help her accept things. I love everything that Tyberius wants to do for Indigo. I love the banter in the text stream between Indi and Ty, and how they get to know one another through the text stream. As things change between Indi and Ty, she begins to avoid him, because she thinks that after his career is over, he will return to Florida and leave her. As they spend time together with Indi taking care of Myra and hanging out together things quickly change between them. I love Indi's relationship with Myra. An unexpected plot twist changes things between them and puts their relationship in jeopardy and makes their relationship stronger. I love that Indi finally admits to her family what really happened to her when she went away to college in New York. I love everything that Tyberius does to help Indigo realize what she really means to him. I love that they admit their feelings for one another in the text stream. I love all the changes that Indi makes in her life to have a life with Ty and that her family helped her find herself and that she is opening a business with her sisters. Who does not love hot sexy men, strong females, loving families, and friends, who always support one another? I really enjoy how the book is told in the first person from the perspective of the main characters. I love getting the insight and feelings from the different characters. I love how Claudia Burgoa always manages to create the "perfect" heroine, who is a strong, sassy woman on her own, to balance out the sexy, swoon worthy man. Ice, Love, and Other Penalties is filled with the heartbreaking and heartwarming moments that I have come to love and expect in a Claudia Burgoa love story, and she did not disappoint, especially with the poignant and bittersweet moments that filled this page turner. I love the ending of their love story and how they admit their feelings for each other and the question that Myra asks Indi. Another favorite part of a Claudia Burgoa love story is always the epilogues that go above and beyond the happily ever after, I loved Ty’s proposal, and the location. I love the characters in Ice, Love, and Other Penalties, they feel like family and friends. I loved catching up with all the Deckers. Who does not love a family that always have each other’s backs? I thoroughly enjoyed Ice, Love, and Other Penalties, who does not love a single father age gap love story. Highly recommend this incredible love story and am so looking forward to reading the other books in the Decker series. I received an advance copy from the author.

[Bette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful Story & Listen🎧 Compelling & Heartfelt!

Ice, Love, & Other Penalties
A Decker Family Novel
By: Claudia Burgoa
Narrated by: Jason Clarke, Emma Wilder

Claudia Burgoa does it again and pens another amazing novel, a sports romance that tugs at your heartstrings and captivates your attention the entire time. The Decker family world is one of my favorite places to spend time in, well, it is the stars of that world and my favorite characters, the Deckers, all their relations, extended family and loved ones included. This book is Indigo “Indie” Decker’s and Tyberius “Ty” Byrnes’ story and wow, talk about emotions, you can feel how much heart Burgoa put into this story as the emotions pour off the pages and go straight into your own heart. Indie is working with her brother Jude, owner of a professional hockey team, the Seattle Sasquatches, and when Tyberius, the team captain, is in a bind, he gets Indie on it to help him. Ty, a single father of six-year-old daughter, Myra, is new to Seattle, and has no family to help, and when his daughter’s nanny quit without notice, he had no choice but to reach out to his boss, Jude, who agreed to help. Indie’s first impression of Tyberius was not the best, and she did not love the idea of having to help him, but she agreed and stepped in to watch Myra until she could find someone qualified to take over. Ty does not trust easily and was reluctant to place his trust in Indie, but she stood her ground and up to his insecurities, while staying true to herself. Indie battles with inner demons because of PTSD from a past incident with someone she puts trust in, another hockey player, so she prefers to steer clear, and after meeting Ty, that includes him, but for a different reason, the feelings he stirs up. It was great to watch these two get to know each other, staring with dancing around one another while navigating their new situation, listening to the back-and-forth banter between them and then seeing their relationship morph into something more, despite Indie fighting it. These two were perfect together and for each other, both had their own issues to get past, and each encouraged the other, two broken people whose pieces fit together perfectly. I loved all the layers of the story and how it all played out with the perfect balance of drama, a touch of angst, some heartwarming moments, lots of heartfelt emotions and a slow burn, but so worth the wait romance. As always, the writing, plot and world building are incredible, as are the character growth and development. Claudia Burgoa, thank you for another beautiful and wonderfully amazing and loving story and the emotional rollercoaster ride.

🎧📚🎧 Jason Clarke and Emma Wilder were the perfect cast to bring these characters to life and did so with a complete understanding of who they were portraying, humanizing them while giving them voices that are fitting. I loved how they owned their roles, sounding believable and just as I imagined the characters to sound. Wilder was a natural in Indie’s role, grasping every aspect of her personality, from her battles with her inner demons to her fierceness. Clarke did the same in Ty’s role, and was just as amazing showcasing his personality while dealing with his own inner battles and being an awesome dad, team player and person. Both were equally fantastic performing the roles of the secondary/side characters, including Myra, who was adorable. They set the right tone for the story, captured all the characters’ emotions and had you feeling each one. These two made a fabulous team, with voices and talent that complement each other and a performance that is entertaining and a pleasure to listen to.

[Jean · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book in The Decker Family and it is Indie and Ty’s story and omg it is definitely a must read. Indie was adopted by Jacob and Pria Decker after her father died and her mother gave up and eventually died as well and even though Indie grew up surrounded by love the same as her siblings even though they didn’t share the same blood and were all treated the same Indie didn’t believe in love after trying it one only for it to destroy her in the worst way possible and leaving scars that she still felt to this day so now she lived her life by her own rules and terms and trust was a very big issue to her because of everything that had happened and what she had gone through. Ty is a single dad to his daughter Myra after her mother decided that she didn’t want the responsibility or be a mother and now Ty had a nanny because of his busy schedule especially as he is the coach for The Seattle Sasquatch’s NHL team and they had a game and also traveling to New York for another one but now his nanny had just quit which put Ty is a bind because he didn’t have anybody else to look after Myra and needed a solution as soon as possible and that is where Indie came in. When Indie and Ty met for the first time there attraction and chemistry was so strong and Indie connected with his daughter Myra straight away which not only settled Ty do he could do his job without having to constantly worry but they would still need to find a nanny because Indie was only do it for a short time to help Ty out. The more time That Indie and Ty spent together the harder there feelings for each other grew but with everything that Indie had gone through and still suffering from the after effects she held herself back but sometimes things are undeniable and when you have a love that is strong as Indie and Ty sometimes you just have to take a chance to get the happiness and future that you both want and deserve. Wow this book certainly takes you on a rollercoaster ride of emotions with everything that Indie and Ty had been through in there lives and I was in tears with all the heartbreak and even though they had many ups and downs and there relationship definitely wasn’t plain sailing I absolutely loved the outcome and the ending was just what I was hoping for. There are twists and turns that you didn’t see coming but still had you turning the pages because you are unable to put this book down and I read it in one sitting as it was totally addictive. Claudia Burgoa is an incredible author and writer and she certainly know how to keep her readers on the edge of their seats while breaking your heart and then putting it back together in the most important and beautiful way possible. I really look forward to reading more of her books in the future.

[Ria Alexander · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartfelt romance

Claudia Burgoa has delivered another fantastic addition to her Decker Family World. ICE, LOVE & OTHER PENALTIES is as friends to lovers, boos/nanny, single dad, he falls first romance which did not disappoint. With a stubborn, sweet sassy heroine and a swoonworthy hero I just knew fireworks were going to explode, and they did.

Indigo "indie" Decker had been hurt in the past and being the stubborn woman she is, she kept her secret from everyone, including her family. Her fear of repeating the past kept her from considering any type of relationship. That is until she meets a man who challenges her in every possible way. Tyberius "Ty" Brynes is captain of his hockey team and dad to little Myra. His nanny has quit, and he finds himself at a loss, how can he continue with hockey and look after Myra at the same time? Lucky for him the team's owner comes to the rescue, and Ty's realises his life may never be the same again.

I really enjoyed watching the relationship between Indigo and Ty evolve. She has built some massive walls around her heart and is determined to keep them up, however the more time she spends with Myra and Ty the lower those walls become. Meeting Indie brought someone special into Ty and Myra's life, and I loved that he began to fall for her first. My heart melted with the friendship that developed between Indie sand Myra, she may have just been the nanny, but to a little girl who didn't have a mum she was everything. When Ty saw Indie occasionally struggle with her thoughts and emotions he gave her space, yet he also knew when she needed support and encouragement and wasn't ashamed when he put a little pressure on her. I loved their banter, the texts they shared, their deep and meaningful conversations. It soon became hard to maintain a professional relationship, especially when the chemistry and attraction between them was explosive. They were good for each other, while he was healing her of her hurt from the past, she was healing him.

Claudia Burgoa has written a heartfelt story. One of healing, support, and love. She showed perfect empathy when describing Indie's emotional struggles, her anxiety, and her fear of divulging her secret to her family. I loved that Indie's family automatically welcomed Ty and Myra into their lives, showing them abundant love and support.

ICE, LOVE & OTHER PENALTIES was an absolute page turner. I devoured this story, fell hard for Indie, Ty and Myra, felt all the emotions that poured from the pages, and just wanted so much more of this amazing couple. A highly recommended read.

Read and Reviewed for Reading Is Our Satisfaction

✨✨✨✨✨ FIVE HEARTFELT STARS ✨✨✨✨✨

[Mayville (Tourbiez Reads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 Stars

"From the first time I saw you, I knew that you were the one to complete our puzzle. Just like when you found the right piece for Myra. You... were my missing piece. I've never felt so whole. In your eyes, I've found my home. In your smile, I've found my peace. And in your love, I've found the very essence of my being." - Tyberius Brynes

Ice, Love and Other Penalties is another Decker Family novel. This family is known to have stories with heavy angst that shake up your emotions. Claudia has already pre-warned that this has lighter angst than her usual Decker novels, so I didn't expect much on this one. Nevertheless, I didn't intend to miss this because... it's a Decker novel!
Tyberius Brynes is the captain of the hockey team owned by Jude Decker, a loving father to the adorable Myra, and a man who happens to have fallen in love at first sight with his boss's sister. Behind the hot, intense, looks he possesses is a man who hides a secret. Having lived poorly and grown up with an erratic mother, he had the role of the responsible breadwinner at a very young age and worked hard to become a good man and one of the best hockey players.
Indigo "Indie" Decker is a young, strong, witty, independent, lone-wolf, and reticent woman who hides a traumatic past from her family. She has fears of intimacy and suffers from a worrying panic attack upon being triggered. Her stubbornness is her defence mechanism and her heart is shielded by a thick wall that is hard to penetrate. Ty took that as a challenge and I have admired his tenacity to break her shell and become his. His proposal to have a casual, friends with benefits, relationship became so convoluted that he cannot curb his feelings towards Indie any longer. Myra was a huge facet in winning Indie's heart too. Her friendship with Indie as her nanny has grown into love and she wanted her to be part of her and Dad's life.
After weeks, which turned into months of being a nanny to Myra, and also enduring those flirty conversations and intense moments alone with Ty, Indie finally fell for him. Her longtime guilt has been stripped off, conquered her fear of being romantically loved and realized that it isn't a waste of time.
As much as I wanted to give this a perfect 5 stars, this didn't kick my emotions into a frenzy as compared to what I have experienced from the other Decker novels. However, I'm still giving this a higher rating because Ty is one heck of an irresistible man whom I would love to meet... even in my dreams.
Still, I would recommend this if you fancy a love story with a bit of angst, age gap, family drama, and humour.

[Monica (The Accidental Romance Blogger) Barbosa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tyberius Bryne is in a pickle. He's recently relocated to Seattle to be the Sasquatches' captain. He's still trying to find his footing around Seattle when his nanny quits. Right before a game. So Ty calls the team owner with this family emergency and he lets him know that his relocation coordinator is going to fix this or step in as a nanny herself. 

When Indie Decker took a job with her brother's hockey team, she wasn't expecting to end up being the emergency nanny to a six-year-old little girl, but that is where she finds herself. 

Ty and Indie clash in the beginning. Ty's very set in his own ways and Indie is as skittish as they come. As they try to get along, they start looking at each other in a different way. A "friends with benefits" situation develops, but as Ty is willing to take things to a deeper level, Indie is adamant to keep the "no strings attached" rule. As they get more comfortable with each other, secrets from the past come to the surface and maybe there is hope for them after all. 

Even though there are some heavy topics dealt with in the story, this is still a pretty "light" read. Narrated dual style by Emma Wilder and Robert Hatchet, this short audiobook can be easily listened to in one sitting. Emma and Robert are flawless. Emma plays the standoffish but vulnerable Indie perfectly and Robert's soothing voice is just right for the charming, loyal and determined Ty.

This hockey romance gives you a handsome player, a dedicated dad, a "nanny" who is a modern Mary Poppins, an adorable little girl, fun and flirty texts (narrated in duet),  a wonderful family who proves blood is NOT thicker than water, and a lot of healing of broken spirits. I'm sure you will be rooting for Indie and Ty. 

Content notes (SPOILERISH): anxiety, depression, mentions of abuse, child abuse (off page), mentions of rape, PTSD, mentions suicide, loss of parents (off page), toxic relationship with a parent, issues related to adoption, drug addiction (mention), panic attacks on page

[Kim Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first, or maybe second time reading a Claudia Burgoa book. I feel like I’ve read one before but liked it better? I’ve seen Decker Family books advertised and this was the first one I picked up. While I enjoyed the angst and trust issues that took up the whole book, I’m not sure if I like this style of story telling. I felt like I was mentally fighting Indie the whole book. While I think it’s great that the book follows someone who was raped and the mental frustration and struggles she went through, a bigger part of me wanted a happier story. I wanted Indie to fall into Ty’s arms and explore the forbidden aspect of their relationship. I also wasn’t a fan of the slow burn. I never liked those but sometimes, if an author is going to write a story with that, there’s a way you can do it without frustrating the reader. I was frustrated the whole time reading this, and not the good kind. Sure there were moments that their attraction was explored physically, but it wasn’t until the very end of the book it happens. I didn’t like how all of a sudden, after fighting Ty the whole time about starting a type of relationship, she decides to try with him. I don’t know what led her to thinking that or her thought process so when she finally accepts Ty into her life, it felt sudden. All her fears and worries just disappeared and she gives in, even accepting he loves her and admitting it to herself. I couldn’t accept this. I needed to know why and that information is deliberately left out. It left an unsettled feeling after finishing the book. Yet, I still give this a 4 because of the complex subject and how it was written, even though I may not understand what Indie went through but I can appreciate the hurdles she climbed to get to that point with Ty. I just would like to know what triggered that. For any future Decker books in the works, or already written, I’m not sure if I’ll be diving in any time soon.

[Sarah Slusarczyk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hot Hockey romance…✔! Claudia Burgoa continues her wonderful world building in the next installment in the Decker Family series. This is first and foremost a hockey-sports romance but it also is a single father/falling for the nanny genre. The book can be read as a standalone, like the majority of the books in the series with no spoilers.

-Side note, these names are bonkers, but I am just living for them!-

Tuberius “Ty” Byrnes is single Dad, maga hot, star captain of the Seattle Sasquatches, he’s grumpy, he’s surly. He’s good at his job, the one thing he doesn’t do is mix business with pleasure. Or so he thought, until his new Nanny walked through the door.

Indigo “Indie” Decker is a woman with a past, one that she is still struggling with but surviving everyday. She’s sassy, strong and oh so stubborn and doesn’t take anything B.S from anyone. She follows the rules she has set for her life down to the fine line, but one little glance from a tiny little girl and her sasquatch of a father has her rethinking those rules.

Ty and Indie have such chemistry together, when little Myra joins the group cavities ensue with how sweet they are together. They needed each other in different ways, but how they each helped one another open up and share what needed to be shared and deal with the issues of the past to move on, well it was so perfect to read. Ty wasn’t giving up on Indie no matter how hard she tried to push him away, he knew that he needed to be there for her, and Indie (once she got over her stubborn streak) was with the person she needed to be with to finally heal from her trauma.

Overall I really enjoyed the book, as I do with this author and her amazing story telling. I’ll be curious to see what she does with the next set of love birds. 💕

4 ⭐
2 🌶

[Flavs is Mrs David Gandy♥~♥’ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Indie was a smart, stubborn and take no prisoners kind of girl. Yet she suffers from anxiety, from something that happened to her when she was a younger. And she never told her family about it. When her brother needs a favor, when one of his hockey players needs a nanny, he asks her to fill in till they can find a suitable nanny.

Meeting Ty seemed like something that might not be good for her anxiety. His making her feel things that she swore she would never feel again…

Ty had a hard life; his childhood wasn’t too good and the only solace he found was in hockey. Raising his little girl on his own is hard, but he managed with his nanny. Until she decides to go back home and his left high and dry. When his boss recommends his sister to watch his daughter, at first he wasn’t too keen, but when he meets Indie, it definitely isn’t a good idea. He was happy with hockey and his daughter, now she makes him want so much more…

Both of these characters have so much baggage. But I loved that Ty was willing to do work on it and help Indie with her issues. I totally loved the story. Ty was a good dad, and he was so patient with Indie and her anxieties. Everything about the story was sweet and adorable and had some angst thrown in. The only thing was that it took so long to get to these two together, it literally happened at like 90%, which felt like to me like that ending was rushed. Especially the part of Indie’s problems, which she kept hidden from her family and then there was just a few lines on how she told them, and they supported her… I felt it could have been a bit more than that…

I’m looking forward to the rest of the family's stories (hopefully) 😊

Read on behalf of
Fay’s Corner

[Sharon Moritz-rosenthal · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a complimentary early release e-book prior to release and am voluntarily leaving a review.


This is Indie and Ty's story. Its about two people who have been hurt by love in the past and its still affecting them now years later. They find each other when her brother asks Indie to help Ty out with his daughter when he gets moved to Seattle to play for her brothers hockey team.

This book can be considered a sports romance but honestly there is very little hockey scenes in this book. Indie is a very kind and sweet character but she also is distant from pretty much everyone except her animals and children. She also is 26 and Ty is 36 so there is also an age gap to this story but its never a big deal in the story. While Indie does take care of Ty's daughter, she is not employed in that position. She does it more to help her brother out than about money or a paycheck. Ty is also a single dad, but we never really meet the mother.

The hurt that Indie holds close to herself is related to a sexual assault. If that's a sensitive subject, you can still read this book but skip the prologue/1st chapter. Its not really discussed much in the book other than it is there and Indie really tried to find ways to handle it. She is a really strong character and I loved that about her. As to Ty's hurt, its about the way he grew up and he really overcame it. He is pretty awesome in that he got out and he is mostly good, but he does have this insecurity and it ends up affecting his move to Seattle.

I enjoyed this story a lot. I really wish I saw a better resolution for Indie. In that the guy never gets what he deserves. Her facing her issues is rectified and I loved how Ty waits for her and knows she needs time to heal but I also wanted the guy punished.