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Portland Evergreens #1
Melting the Ice
Brody’s got enough on his plate.
Recovering from a knee injury he hopes won’t keep him off the ice. His team, the Portland University Evergreens, have a brand new coach, and he’s hoping to impress the legendary leader. Plus, he's got to make a decision once and for all about playing professional hockey or using his love of science to go a totally different direction.
The last thing he needs is a sexual awakening at the large, calloused hands of his football player roommate.
Dean is big and brawny and taciturn, but he doesn’t need words to woo Brody. He wants Dean, even if he thought he was straight. And Dean? Doesn’t matter that he’s never hooked up with a guy before, either.
They’re discovering new pleasures every night, while pretending during the day that they’re just roommates.
Except the heat burns so hot between them, it doesn’t just melt all the ice on Brody’s rink, it melts all his beliefs about who he is and what he wants.
But even more, it destroys the lie that he can’t fall hard for a guy. Because Brody is falling hard for Dean, and he discovers he’s not alone.
Recovering from a knee injury he hopes won’t keep him off the ice. His team, the Portland University Evergreens, have a brand new coach, and he’s hoping to impress the legendary leader. Plus, he's got to make a decision once and for all about playing professional hockey or using his love of science to go a totally different direction.
The last thing he needs is a sexual awakening at the large, calloused hands of his football player roommate.
Dean is big and brawny and taciturn, but he doesn’t need words to woo Brody. He wants Dean, even if he thought he was straight. And Dean? Doesn’t matter that he’s never hooked up with a guy before, either.
They’re discovering new pleasures every night, while pretending during the day that they’re just roommates.
Except the heat burns so hot between them, it doesn’t just melt all the ice on Brody’s rink, it melts all his beliefs about who he is and what he wants.
But even more, it destroys the lie that he can’t fall hard for a guy. Because Brody is falling hard for Dean, and he discovers he’s not alone.
391 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 3, 2024
775 people are currently reading
1249 people want to read
About the author
Beth Bolden
77 books682 followersA lifelong Oregonian, Beth Bolden has just recently moved to North Carolina with her supportive husband and their sweet kitten, Earl Grey. Beth still believes in Keeping Portland Weird, and intends to be just as weird in Raleigh.
Beth has been writing practically since she learned the alphabet. Unfortunately, her first foray into novel writing, titled Big Bear with Sparkly Earrings, wasn’t a bestseller, but hope springs eternal. She’s published fourteen novels and five short stories.
Beth has been writing practically since she learned the alphabet. Unfortunately, her first foray into novel writing, titled Big Bear with Sparkly Earrings, wasn’t a bestseller, but hope springs eternal. She’s published fourteen novels and five short stories.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 302 reviews
October 13, 2024
This was so mind numbing that my focus for the review isn't even the romance or the MMCs.
I don't know if the author realized how much they flip flopped with Ramsey's character in this.
First, he was just some guy that Brody was going to room with, not because they were particularly friends but because they were on the same team and Brody had figured....better the devil you know. And Ramsey is supposed to be this guy that's so chill he can hardly be arsed to make an effort for anything.
And he's enough of a dick to bail on his roomie, not tell him anything about leaving him with another random person as a roomie and not be apologetic about it.
But then, that's not who Ramsey is. Somewhere, the author seemed to realize Brody needed a bestie and just.....cast Ramsey.
Suddenly, he's the guy Brody runs to with questions about his bi-awakening. He's the one giving good advice. He's the one most hurt by Brody's angst over not knowing whether he's going to go pro or go to med school. He's the one who has Brody as an emergency contact. He's the one Brody refers to as a 'best friend'. Lol what?
I feel gaslit. When did this happen? How on earth do you possibly go from.... 'I don't talk to this guy at all during break but he's okay to room with maybe' to 'this guy is my best friend and I don't know if this is the best way to tell him I'm having doubts about my future'
Anyway. About the romance.
Two basic guys room together after one's random teammate turned bestie pulls a bait and switch on him. They kiss, decide they like it, hook up more often, think ooey gooey stuff about each other but don't say it out loud until eventually they do.
Would have loved to have the epilogue explore their life after the draft but what we get instead is ✨possibility✨.
Lol. Basically confirmation of where one's headed for the NFL.
Oh, and them reminiscing about the first time they touched each other's willies.
Yay us, I guess?
Nothing to write home about.
I don't know if the author realized how much they flip flopped with Ramsey's character in this.
First, he was just some guy that Brody was going to room with, not because they were particularly friends but because they were on the same team and Brody had figured....better the devil you know. And Ramsey is supposed to be this guy that's so chill he can hardly be arsed to make an effort for anything.
And he's enough of a dick to bail on his roomie, not tell him anything about leaving him with another random person as a roomie and not be apologetic about it.
But then, that's not who Ramsey is. Somewhere, the author seemed to realize Brody needed a bestie and just.....cast Ramsey.
Suddenly, he's the guy Brody runs to with questions about his bi-awakening. He's the one giving good advice. He's the one most hurt by Brody's angst over not knowing whether he's going to go pro or go to med school. He's the one who has Brody as an emergency contact. He's the one Brody refers to as a 'best friend'. Lol what?
I feel gaslit. When did this happen? How on earth do you possibly go from.... 'I don't talk to this guy at all during break but he's okay to room with maybe' to 'this guy is my best friend and I don't know if this is the best way to tell him I'm having doubts about my future'
Anyway. About the romance.
Two basic guys room together after one's random teammate turned bestie pulls a bait and switch on him. They kiss, decide they like it, hook up more often, think ooey gooey stuff about each other but don't say it out loud until eventually they do.
Would have loved to have the epilogue explore their life after the draft but what we get instead is ✨possibility✨.
Lol. Basically confirmation of where one's headed for the NFL.
Oh, and them reminiscing about the first time they touched each other's willies.
Yay us, I guess?
Nothing to write home about.
October 1, 2024
I don't think it's possible for Beth Bolden to write a "poor" sports romance because every one she's tackled brings something different to the narrative imho.
Here we're kicking off her new series with a college age new adult romance between an unlikely pair who have not only had completely different upbringings, but who are also at vastly different points when it comes to considering their futures.
Brody is torn between his love for the ice and his desire to follow in his parents' footsteps and become a doctor. He's newly returned to the Evergreens following time off for an injury and this has had a major impact on how he now sees his life going.
Dean, on the other hand, has a single minded focus to get his NFL draft pick and play professional American Football, it's his way of escaping his upbringing and gaining financial security for himself.
Their paths shouldn't even have crossed but, thanks to interference from Brody's ice hockey best friend Ramsey, they find themselves roommates and a tentative friendship forms.
The more they spend time together, the more feelings develop and I definitely bought into the awkward way they first express their desires for something physical, it seemed wholly realistic as they stumbled their way on the couch after a night out.
Now, while I believe Beth utterly nailed the confusion and unwillingness to confront each other about what had happened and have that conversation about where things might go, I did also get a tad weary of the slightly repetitive avoidance section that then occurs.
Probably more a me thing than the book itself though as I'm not a 20-something college student finding out they're attracted to their own sex and the added pressures of also hoping to be a professional athlete.
And the way it's finally concluded also seemed a bit more along the lines of hormonal horny-ness taking over than them coming to any decisive conclusions about their relationship's future!
However, those two very minor personal niggles aside, I felt this book really excels in showing the complexities of dealing with changing feelings, with new futures opening up while existing ideas you've held to become obsolete.
It's setting appropriately hot too, the chemistry is clear to see and the way each young man appreciates the other for their character and determination, as well as their support and strength, not just the physical attraction, is beautifully demonstrated.
I believed in them as a couple, even with the hiccups they had along the way. I believed they'd stick together through whatever life throws at them and, while Brody might think the picket fence concept wasn't something he was interested in, I could definitely see them in an LA condo with vistas to die for.
There's also some cool guest appearances here, which I won't spoil, from Beth's wider universe and they also felt organically included, not just chucked in to create interest.
I'm very much intrigued by the next pairing, as well as those in the other two books after that, but I'm also very much wondering where Ramsey's story's at Beth?!
#ARC kindly received from the author via Neon Rainbow ARC Reviews, I am voluntarily leaving a review.
Here we're kicking off her new series with a college age new adult romance between an unlikely pair who have not only had completely different upbringings, but who are also at vastly different points when it comes to considering their futures.
Brody is torn between his love for the ice and his desire to follow in his parents' footsteps and become a doctor. He's newly returned to the Evergreens following time off for an injury and this has had a major impact on how he now sees his life going.
Dean, on the other hand, has a single minded focus to get his NFL draft pick and play professional American Football, it's his way of escaping his upbringing and gaining financial security for himself.
Their paths shouldn't even have crossed but, thanks to interference from Brody's ice hockey best friend Ramsey, they find themselves roommates and a tentative friendship forms.
The more they spend time together, the more feelings develop and I definitely bought into the awkward way they first express their desires for something physical, it seemed wholly realistic as they stumbled their way on the couch after a night out.
Now, while I believe Beth utterly nailed the confusion and unwillingness to confront each other about what had happened and have that conversation about where things might go, I did also get a tad weary of the slightly repetitive avoidance section that then occurs.
Probably more a me thing than the book itself though as I'm not a 20-something college student finding out they're attracted to their own sex and the added pressures of also hoping to be a professional athlete.
And the way it's finally concluded also seemed a bit more along the lines of hormonal horny-ness taking over than them coming to any decisive conclusions about their relationship's future!
However, those two very minor personal niggles aside, I felt this book really excels in showing the complexities of dealing with changing feelings, with new futures opening up while existing ideas you've held to become obsolete.
It's setting appropriately hot too, the chemistry is clear to see and the way each young man appreciates the other for their character and determination, as well as their support and strength, not just the physical attraction, is beautifully demonstrated.
I believed in them as a couple, even with the hiccups they had along the way. I believed they'd stick together through whatever life throws at them and, while Brody might think the picket fence concept wasn't something he was interested in, I could definitely see them in an LA condo with vistas to die for.
There's also some cool guest appearances here, which I won't spoil, from Beth's wider universe and they also felt organically included, not just chucked in to create interest.
I'm very much intrigued by the next pairing, as well as those in the other two books after that, but I'm also very much wondering where Ramsey's story's at Beth?!
#ARC kindly received from the author via Neon Rainbow ARC Reviews, I am voluntarily leaving a review.
October 10, 2024
I love Beth Bolden's story / sports universe and this was such a perfect addition to it!
Dean and Brody were adorable together and I loved their chemistry, but I would have liked a little more emotion when Brody was coming to a decision on his future, and when Dean was figuring out how to make room in his life for more than football - I always want a book to hit me hard in the emotions and this just missed that, but it was still a great read.
I loved that Ian was Dean's agent, that tie in to the Condor's was what I love to see in an extended story universe, and the team he gets drafted to in the epilogue... I may have done a little squeal because I know it means there's a very good chance of Dean, maybe Brody too, popping up again in future when the Toronto football series becomes a thing!
I'm also looking forward to the rest of the books in this series - I'm genuinely excited for every single one of them and the plots and pairings all look like exactly what I love to read!
Dean and Brody were adorable together and I loved their chemistry, but I would have liked a little more emotion when Brody was coming to a decision on his future, and when Dean was figuring out how to make room in his life for more than football - I always want a book to hit me hard in the emotions and this just missed that, but it was still a great read.
I loved that Ian was Dean's agent, that tie in to the Condor's was what I love to see in an extended story universe, and the team he gets drafted to in the epilogue... I may have done a little squeal because I know it means there's a very good chance of Dean, maybe Brody too, popping up again in future when the Toronto football series becomes a thing!
I'm also looking forward to the rest of the books in this series - I'm genuinely excited for every single one of them and the plots and pairings all look like exactly what I love to read!
July 9, 2025
2.75 - 3⭐
This was cute, it was, but absolutely excruciating to read.
It took me days and still I could hardly finish it.
I don't know this author, so I don't know if this is just her writing style (if that's the case, I'm finishing this series and then I'm out) or this was just a bad start to the series.
The setting is good, the main characters are good, but I absolutely didn't like the way their story was written.
🟢 Hockey player / football player
🟡 College
🔵 Double bi-awakening
🟣 They were roommates
🟢 Found family (not developed enough)
🟠 HFN
🔵 Slow paced, hard to read
🌶️ Sex is descriptive and good, but a lot of it is off-page; oral, penetrative; a lot of kissing; t/b
Dean and Brody are roommates, both athletes in college, one aiming to go pro, the other deciding not to; they're both very work-focused, good in school, calm, not really in favour of partying and hooking up, so when Ramsey, Brody's friend, swaps his place as Brody's roommate and offers it to Dean, it turns out they're really the perfect match.
"They were both lone wolves, fighting for what they wanted, for what they needed, in a world that didn’t always understand them."
Soon enough Brody and Dean started getting curious and their bi-awakening was pretty well done, I liked it, I wish more of it could be on-page looking at everything that followed between them sexually; we get told they do all these things and have crazy sex, but we just get the first few times on-page and even those are few and far in between.
"Dean knew people did that. Knew they enjoyed sex— otherwise, why do it? But he couldn’t imagine it. Of course, in the best of circumstances he wasn’t a fan of sharing. But if he actually met someone he really wanted and really loved? They’d own him for life."
What bothered me the most was how the story was written. You've got scarce dialogues and every short dialogue is followed by paragraphs upon paragraphs of explaining and back-stories. And even the back-stories didn't do justice to their past, especially with Dean.
To really get the gist of the story you then have to go back a couple of times and re-read the dialogues and get into that vibe to appreciate what's coming next.
Their journey to an official relationship was sweet, hot, but again, so many side characters and other developments are taking up that space that you don't really feel it's a romantic story for the most part. Their relationship is almost like a by-product of everything that's going on and the main part of it is developing off-page, you just get a few bits and pieces and looking at how great they were together, a lot more of the story could be focused on them alone, especially on their intimacy.
Brody and Dean didn't talk, they didn't say a lot of the things they should've said until the very end, but I guess that was also part of the charm, because they did get a sweet, sexy love story. They had amazing sexual chemistry, they really got along, so I have no idea why the author didn't make them the sole focus of this book, it should've been just about them and maybe the backstory of how they got to be roommates should've been included in the book, everything told beforehand, not pushed in between the dialogues or put as a bonus story.
In the end, Dean gets drafted and we don't know what happens after that. So Brody and Dean's story doesn't even have a happy ending, they're still in college and even though they know they're not breaking up, we don't know that. The epilogue could've happened a few years down the line, at least.
Ramsey was another part of this story that I just didn't get. First he's a teammate, then he's a guy they both kind of know, then suddenly he's Brody's best friend, then he's taking up too much page time and getting a far too important role in everything and I suspect he's going to be mentioned over and over in books to come and as most things in this book, he's also a confusing character, so I'm not particularly fond of him right now.
I definitely am interested in all the other side characters' stories, I'm just hoping they're going to be written better than this one.
This was cute, it was, but absolutely excruciating to read.
It took me days and still I could hardly finish it.
I don't know this author, so I don't know if this is just her writing style (if that's the case, I'm finishing this series and then I'm out) or this was just a bad start to the series.
The setting is good, the main characters are good, but I absolutely didn't like the way their story was written.
🟢 Hockey player / football player
🟡 College
🔵 Double bi-awakening
🟣 They were roommates
🟢 Found family (not developed enough)
🟠 HFN
🔵 Slow paced, hard to read
🌶️ Sex is descriptive and good, but a lot of it is off-page; oral, penetrative; a lot of kissing; t/b
Dean and Brody are roommates, both athletes in college, one aiming to go pro, the other deciding not to; they're both very work-focused, good in school, calm, not really in favour of partying and hooking up, so when Ramsey, Brody's friend, swaps his place as Brody's roommate and offers it to Dean, it turns out they're really the perfect match.
"They were both lone wolves, fighting for what they wanted, for what they needed, in a world that didn’t always understand them."
Soon enough Brody and Dean started getting curious and their bi-awakening was pretty well done, I liked it, I wish more of it could be on-page looking at everything that followed between them sexually; we get told they do all these things and have crazy sex, but we just get the first few times on-page and even those are few and far in between.
"Dean knew people did that. Knew they enjoyed sex— otherwise, why do it? But he couldn’t imagine it. Of course, in the best of circumstances he wasn’t a fan of sharing. But if he actually met someone he really wanted and really loved? They’d own him for life."
What bothered me the most was how the story was written. You've got scarce dialogues and every short dialogue is followed by paragraphs upon paragraphs of explaining and back-stories. And even the back-stories didn't do justice to their past, especially with Dean.
To really get the gist of the story you then have to go back a couple of times and re-read the dialogues and get into that vibe to appreciate what's coming next.
Their journey to an official relationship was sweet, hot, but again, so many side characters and other developments are taking up that space that you don't really feel it's a romantic story for the most part. Their relationship is almost like a by-product of everything that's going on and the main part of it is developing off-page, you just get a few bits and pieces and looking at how great they were together, a lot more of the story could be focused on them alone, especially on their intimacy.
Brody and Dean didn't talk, they didn't say a lot of the things they should've said until the very end, but I guess that was also part of the charm, because they did get a sweet, sexy love story. They had amazing sexual chemistry, they really got along, so I have no idea why the author didn't make them the sole focus of this book, it should've been just about them and maybe the backstory of how they got to be roommates should've been included in the book, everything told beforehand, not pushed in between the dialogues or put as a bonus story.
In the end, Dean gets drafted and we don't know what happens after that. So Brody and Dean's story doesn't even have a happy ending, they're still in college and even though they know they're not breaking up, we don't know that. The epilogue could've happened a few years down the line, at least.
Ramsey was another part of this story that I just didn't get. First he's a teammate, then he's a guy they both kind of know, then suddenly he's Brody's best friend, then he's taking up too much page time and getting a far too important role in everything and I suspect he's going to be mentioned over and over in books to come and as most things in this book, he's also a confusing character, so I'm not particularly fond of him right now.
I definitely am interested in all the other side characters' stories, I'm just hoping they're going to be written better than this one.
January 11, 2025
I am crying over how brilliant and perfect this book was. The characters, the slow burn, the love, the choices, the everything. Man, what a book. What. A. Book. I don't even know what to say but that.
dropped
December 30, 2024***no rating***
dropped @8%
1h into the audio, 10hrs remaining.
Don’t know if it’s the narrator or the story itself but I’m bored as fuck. Maybe another time.
dropped @8%
1h into the audio, 10hrs remaining.
Don’t know if it’s the narrator or the story itself but I’m bored as fuck. Maybe another time.
August 20, 2025
Tropes: forced proximity, roommates, college sports
Feels: 2/5
Steam*: 1.75/5
Kinks: n/a
Angst: low
HEA: yes
Pairing: MM
Triggers/potential icks/content warnings/representation: absentee father, neglectful mom, past food insecurity / poverty, past injury
Cheating between MCs: No
Any cheating: No
Other person drama: no manwhores, Dean and Brody are both bordering on demisexual, focused on things other than hooking up. Neither have any ex drama
3.5 stars
Dean and Brody are 21. Brody shows up at the apartment he's supposed to share with his hockey teammate Ramsey, only to find that Ramsey has decided they don't make a good fit as roommates because Brody is too much of a nun and their lifestyles don't fit. So Ramsey has found Brody another roommate, a football player named Dean who is just as much of a serious guy as Brody is. Brody injured his knee last year and needed surgery, so he's returning this year nervous about whether his knee will hold up. Also during the last few months he's been thinking about whether he wants to Go Pro in the NHL or whether he wants to pursue being a doctor like his parents are, he's very interested in medicine. He's at a crossroads.
He strikes up a friendship with Dean. Dean has come from a single mother household where he was neglected, and they struggled with poverty. For Dean, getting to the NFL is his only way of changing his life and building himself a good future. Brody is from a rich family and has had a very different experience from Dean. But they find they have a lot in common, they mesh very well, they support each other. And while they both thought they were straight and have never been too fussed to be hooking up with people, they find themselves attracted to each other. They start hooking up, but they're not sure where they will be in the next year or two with their futures hanging over them. But this is more than just sex between them.
This was a sweet enough story. It was refreshing to see two mmcs that were so focused, serious, and the opposite of wild college manwhores. They had a good connection together. There were good moments of them really supporting each other in small and silent ways.
They're probably could have been a bit more steam between the two characters. There wasn't a lot of hot and heavy sensual passion between them which I would say is fine, it's fine for a book to be lighter on the steam, but it was implied they felt that for each other, but you just didn't feel it coming across in the writing, so that's why I ding it a bit. There was one seat in particular where Ramsey was flirting with Brody and it was supposedly driving Dean into a fit of jealousy and possessiveness, but that didn't come across in the pages whatsoever, Dean could have been not batting an eye, calmly sipping a drink for all that was coming across on the pages.
I think the book spent too much time on other characters then it did on Dean and Brody. During the first 60% of the book I was annoyed with how much Ramsey was mentioned, this isn't his book, yet he was taking up so many pages, and he was playing such a key role in Brody's life, that I just wished we were seeing more of Dean and Brody being there for each other. And there were so many mentions of all the past and future couples from the author's other books. It felt like we were spending too much time checking in on everybody from the past and setting up all the future couples when I just wanted to be in the moment invested in emotional intensity of the story of Dean and Brody.
Some notable moments:
I respect Dean's commitment. "“He’s a young guy on my team. A forward. He’s about as anti-practice as they come.” “He’s wrong,” Dean declared matter-of-factly. “Why?” “Practice’s the measure of an athlete. How dedicated they are to getting better. How determined they are to hone their skills. Anyone can show up on game day and be ready, but are you ready every single day? Do you bring it when there’s no team opposite you?” Dean shrugged. “I approach every single practice like a game, and every game like a practice.”"
"I don’t usually want to strip my friends naked and explore every inch of their bodies,” Dean said. The top of Brody’s head blew right off, and the only appropriate response he could come up with was to kiss him again, hard, pouring everything he’d thought about into it. Dean’s hands slid up, cupped his cheeks, and it wasn’t tender, not exactly, but it was full of . . .something. Not just heat, not anymore. But there was plenty of heat, too, if Dean’s hard cock was any indication. Brody knew he had to be feeling his, too, and he nearly said fuck it and just rubbed it against Dean’s muscled body, openly chasing pleasure. “You can’t say shit like that,” Brody said, after he broke the kiss. “You really fucking can’t say it.” “Why not?” Amusement—and arousal—glinted in Dean’s pale green gaze. “’Cause that’s gonna make me just hump your leg and not feel an ounce of shame.”"
*FYI about steam: I rate steam based on a combination of quality & quantity. I note kink separate from steam because I don't want to underrate steamy reads that don't have much kink.
**Note about spoilers: I like to comment on the plot of a book in reviews, so I almost always mark my reviews as containing spoilers. But I try to avoid spoiling the big dramatic moments! As a reader, I personally like to know what I'm getting into before I read a book so I know more about the content and if it's to my taste/mood, so I try to give that information in my reviews for myself when I'm considering rereading and also for other readers.
Feels: 2/5
Steam*: 1.75/5
Kinks: n/a
Angst: low
HEA: yes
Pairing: MM
Triggers/potential icks/content warnings/representation: absentee father, neglectful mom, past food insecurity / poverty, past injury
Cheating between MCs: No
Any cheating: No
Other person drama: no manwhores, Dean and Brody are both bordering on demisexual, focused on things other than hooking up. Neither have any ex drama
3.5 stars
Dean and Brody are 21. Brody shows up at the apartment he's supposed to share with his hockey teammate Ramsey, only to find that Ramsey has decided they don't make a good fit as roommates because Brody is too much of a nun and their lifestyles don't fit. So Ramsey has found Brody another roommate, a football player named Dean who is just as much of a serious guy as Brody is. Brody injured his knee last year and needed surgery, so he's returning this year nervous about whether his knee will hold up. Also during the last few months he's been thinking about whether he wants to Go Pro in the NHL or whether he wants to pursue being a doctor like his parents are, he's very interested in medicine. He's at a crossroads.
He strikes up a friendship with Dean. Dean has come from a single mother household where he was neglected, and they struggled with poverty. For Dean, getting to the NFL is his only way of changing his life and building himself a good future. Brody is from a rich family and has had a very different experience from Dean. But they find they have a lot in common, they mesh very well, they support each other. And while they both thought they were straight and have never been too fussed to be hooking up with people, they find themselves attracted to each other. They start hooking up, but they're not sure where they will be in the next year or two with their futures hanging over them. But this is more than just sex between them.
This was a sweet enough story. It was refreshing to see two mmcs that were so focused, serious, and the opposite of wild college manwhores. They had a good connection together. There were good moments of them really supporting each other in small and silent ways.
They're probably could have been a bit more steam between the two characters. There wasn't a lot of hot and heavy sensual passion between them which I would say is fine, it's fine for a book to be lighter on the steam, but it was implied they felt that for each other, but you just didn't feel it coming across in the writing, so that's why I ding it a bit. There was one seat in particular where Ramsey was flirting with Brody and it was supposedly driving Dean into a fit of jealousy and possessiveness, but that didn't come across in the pages whatsoever, Dean could have been not batting an eye, calmly sipping a drink for all that was coming across on the pages.
I think the book spent too much time on other characters then it did on Dean and Brody. During the first 60% of the book I was annoyed with how much Ramsey was mentioned, this isn't his book, yet he was taking up so many pages, and he was playing such a key role in Brody's life, that I just wished we were seeing more of Dean and Brody being there for each other. And there were so many mentions of all the past and future couples from the author's other books. It felt like we were spending too much time checking in on everybody from the past and setting up all the future couples when I just wanted to be in the moment invested in emotional intensity of the story of Dean and Brody.
Some notable moments:
I respect Dean's commitment. "“He’s a young guy on my team. A forward. He’s about as anti-practice as they come.” “He’s wrong,” Dean declared matter-of-factly. “Why?” “Practice’s the measure of an athlete. How dedicated they are to getting better. How determined they are to hone their skills. Anyone can show up on game day and be ready, but are you ready every single day? Do you bring it when there’s no team opposite you?” Dean shrugged. “I approach every single practice like a game, and every game like a practice.”"
"I don’t usually want to strip my friends naked and explore every inch of their bodies,” Dean said. The top of Brody’s head blew right off, and the only appropriate response he could come up with was to kiss him again, hard, pouring everything he’d thought about into it. Dean’s hands slid up, cupped his cheeks, and it wasn’t tender, not exactly, but it was full of . . .something. Not just heat, not anymore. But there was plenty of heat, too, if Dean’s hard cock was any indication. Brody knew he had to be feeling his, too, and he nearly said fuck it and just rubbed it against Dean’s muscled body, openly chasing pleasure. “You can’t say shit like that,” Brody said, after he broke the kiss. “You really fucking can’t say it.” “Why not?” Amusement—and arousal—glinted in Dean’s pale green gaze. “’Cause that’s gonna make me just hump your leg and not feel an ounce of shame.”"
*FYI about steam: I rate steam based on a combination of quality & quantity. I note kink separate from steam because I don't want to underrate steamy reads that don't have much kink.
**Note about spoilers: I like to comment on the plot of a book in reviews, so I almost always mark my reviews as containing spoilers. But I try to avoid spoiling the big dramatic moments! As a reader, I personally like to know what I'm getting into before I read a book so I know more about the content and if it's to my taste/mood, so I try to give that information in my reviews for myself when I'm considering rereading and also for other readers.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 14, 2024
This was a really good college sports story about two boys finding themselves and each other.
Brody is returning to college and hockey team after a knee injury. He's nervous about going back and it isn't helped that he thought he was moving in with his team mate but it turns out his new roommate is broody football player Dean. It takes a bit of adjustment for them both but they slowly become friends and they find out they are chemistry between them after they kiss which leads them to exploring together. They are good for each other. Brody is struggling with his future. He knows he wants to be a doctor but he has been drafted but he isn't sure he wants to be a professional hockey player but Dean is a good support for him. Dean on the other hand knows he wants to be a professional football player but he is very closed off but Brody helps him relax and enjoy himself and have a support system. I really enjoyed this story.
Brody is returning to college and hockey team after a knee injury. He's nervous about going back and it isn't helped that he thought he was moving in with his team mate but it turns out his new roommate is broody football player Dean. It takes a bit of adjustment for them both but they slowly become friends and they find out they are chemistry between them after they kiss which leads them to exploring together. They are good for each other. Brody is struggling with his future. He knows he wants to be a doctor but he has been drafted but he isn't sure he wants to be a professional hockey player but Dean is a good support for him. Dean on the other hand knows he wants to be a professional football player but he is very closed off but Brody helps him relax and enjoy himself and have a support system. I really enjoyed this story.
August 16, 2025
RECENSIONE A CURA DI ELYXYZ
Non conoscevo quest’autrice, ma ho letto con piacere questo primo volume di una serie sportiva. Ogni libro avrà una coppia diversa, ma incrociamo già qui i vari personaggi.
Brody e il suo compagno di appartamento Dean sono i primi protagonisti che incontriamo.
Il loro background familiare è molto diverso: Dean ha dovuto lottare con le unghie e con i denti per avere un futuro, per avere cibo in tavola, per avere un po’ di stabilità, a causa di una madre assente ed egocentrica, che si è disinteressata di lui fin da ragazzino; il padre non è pervenuto.
Brody invece è figlio di due medici, ha una famiglia solida alle spalle che lo aiuta, lo supporta e tranquillità economica.
Ciò che accomuna i due ragazzi è la passione per lo sport che praticano con devozione e in cui eccellono – hockey per Brody, football per Dean – e l’impegno che ci mettono nello studio, sfatando la convinzione popolare che gli sportivi del college siano tutti zucconi dediti solo alle feste universitarie e al campo di gioco.
Continua sul nostro blog!
Non conoscevo quest’autrice, ma ho letto con piacere questo primo volume di una serie sportiva. Ogni libro avrà una coppia diversa, ma incrociamo già qui i vari personaggi.
Brody e il suo compagno di appartamento Dean sono i primi protagonisti che incontriamo.
Il loro background familiare è molto diverso: Dean ha dovuto lottare con le unghie e con i denti per avere un futuro, per avere cibo in tavola, per avere un po’ di stabilità, a causa di una madre assente ed egocentrica, che si è disinteressata di lui fin da ragazzino; il padre non è pervenuto.
Brody invece è figlio di due medici, ha una famiglia solida alle spalle che lo aiuta, lo supporta e tranquillità economica.
Ciò che accomuna i due ragazzi è la passione per lo sport che praticano con devozione e in cui eccellono – hockey per Brody, football per Dean – e l’impegno che ci mettono nello studio, sfatando la convinzione popolare che gli sportivi del college siano tutti zucconi dediti solo alle feste universitarie e al campo di gioco.
Continua sul nostro blog!
October 9, 2024
Beth Bolden could write a grocery list and I’d probably eat it up. But not the way I ate this up ✋🏻 I AM A MISCOMMUNICATION/AVOIDANCE GIRLIE AND I WILL DIE ON THE HILL OF ITS SUPERIORITY! And this was the perfect mix of all of that + figuring out who and what you want to be post-college.
You can’t go wrong with a sports romance by this author. They’re light, while still tackling some tough things, and they’re just fucking ✨ fun ✨
No notes, Beth. Keep slayin’.
You can’t go wrong with a sports romance by this author. They’re light, while still tackling some tough things, and they’re just fucking ✨ fun ✨
No notes, Beth. Keep slayin’.
June 10, 2025
This took me forever to finish.
Why? I love slow burn romances and pining and however long it takes the guys to get there.
After getting there the book lost its momentum for me and I had to really really convince myself to pick the book back up.
I know. I'm weird.
Why? I love slow burn romances and pining and however long it takes the guys to get there.
After getting there the book lost its momentum for me and I had to really really convince myself to pick the book back up.
I know. I'm weird.
October 9, 2024
I love hockey books and I love football books.
This book has a hockey MC and a football MC, which doubles my love for this book
Brody and Dean are roomates because Ramsey, Brody's best friend, decides to give up staying in the apartment with Brody but gets a replacement, who although he plays another sport is very similar to Brody.
They start with strangers, acquaintances, friends and hooking up
Can they be something more?
This book has a hockey MC and a football MC, which doubles my love for this book
Brody and Dean are roomates because Ramsey, Brody's best friend, decides to give up staying in the apartment with Brody but gets a replacement, who although he plays another sport is very similar to Brody.
They start with strangers, acquaintances, friends and hooking up
Can they be something more?
October 9, 2024
4.5 stars
So so good!!! Double bi-awakening, hockey/football romance, insta connection, forced proximity, this story had all the right tropes for a wonderful romance.
But besides the romance, the intimacy, the physical exploration, I loved very much all the worries and the fears about the future: Brody's personal journey to choose his path were very well written. I really liked that Dean was supporting and, despite being the opposite because he was determined to pursue a career as an athlete, also very understanding; finally Brody had someone to lean on who didn't push him towards any direction, but who just gave him space to feel what would be the right path for him.
The sex scenes are emotional and beautiful and I liked that the physical side of their relationship progressed slowly.
I would have loved for their love declaration to come sooner and also to have a little more about their future. I hope we'll see them in the next books of the series.
I deeply regret to not having read Beth Bolden's previous series, especially Charleston Condors, because they're full of amazing characters.
Higlhy recommended
I received an ARC of this book from Neon Rainbow and this is my honest review.
So so good!!! Double bi-awakening, hockey/football romance, insta connection, forced proximity, this story had all the right tropes for a wonderful romance.
But besides the romance, the intimacy, the physical exploration, I loved very much all the worries and the fears about the future: Brody's personal journey to choose his path were very well written. I really liked that Dean was supporting and, despite being the opposite because he was determined to pursue a career as an athlete, also very understanding; finally Brody had someone to lean on who didn't push him towards any direction, but who just gave him space to feel what would be the right path for him.
The sex scenes are emotional and beautiful and I liked that the physical side of their relationship progressed slowly.
I would have loved for their love declaration to come sooner and also to have a little more about their future. I hope we'll see them in the next books of the series.
I deeply regret to not having read Beth Bolden's previous series, especially Charleston Condors, because they're full of amazing characters.
Higlhy recommended
I received an ARC of this book from Neon Rainbow and this is my honest review.
January 7, 2025
I loved this! It was sweet and cute and everything I needed. I loved how their relationship progressed, even if they were a bit clueless about it.
Brody meets Dean when he moves into his shared apartment with Ramsey, but Ramsey has given his spot to Dean. Brody plays for the Evergreens hockey team, while Dean plays for the football team at Portland University. And to be honest, Ramsey was right, Brody and Dean are perfect roommates. They click from the start and while both are more reserved, they open up to each other pretty easily. I loved that they told each other things they didn't really tell other people, and I also lovee that they really understood and knew each other.
I enjoyed their journey through their awakenings and how they really enjoyed what they were getting up to.
I just really enjoyed them as a couple, they gave me all the warm fuzzy feelings. They were oblivious to what their feelings were for a while there, and it was fun to see some of their friends try to help them see the truth and nudge them into talking about their changed feelings. I was really feeling the romance and tenderness in this book and I loved Dean's gentleness despite his size. I got a bit emotional at the end because I was just so happy for things working out for them and for Brody making some tough decisions.
Definitely an enjoyable read! The pacing was good, the writing was beautiful and I really enjoyed how their relationship went from tentative friends to FWB to something more. It was clear from the get go that this was no casual thing for either of them, so it was interesting to watch how long they'll fool themselves and each other into thinking things are casual.
I have to say that I count my reps at the gym just the way Dean does, which was fun to see.
I hope Ramsey will get his own book sometime in the future, but right now I'm just happy to continue this series and see all the characters again.
Brody meets Dean when he moves into his shared apartment with Ramsey, but Ramsey has given his spot to Dean. Brody plays for the Evergreens hockey team, while Dean plays for the football team at Portland University. And to be honest, Ramsey was right, Brody and Dean are perfect roommates. They click from the start and while both are more reserved, they open up to each other pretty easily. I loved that they told each other things they didn't really tell other people, and I also lovee that they really understood and knew each other.
I enjoyed their journey through their awakenings and how they really enjoyed what they were getting up to.
I just really enjoyed them as a couple, they gave me all the warm fuzzy feelings. They were oblivious to what their feelings were for a while there, and it was fun to see some of their friends try to help them see the truth and nudge them into talking about their changed feelings. I was really feeling the romance and tenderness in this book and I loved Dean's gentleness despite his size. I got a bit emotional at the end because I was just so happy for things working out for them and for Brody making some tough decisions.
Definitely an enjoyable read! The pacing was good, the writing was beautiful and I really enjoyed how their relationship went from tentative friends to FWB to something more. It was clear from the get go that this was no casual thing for either of them, so it was interesting to watch how long they'll fool themselves and each other into thinking things are casual.
I have to say that I count my reps at the gym just the way Dean does, which was fun to see.
I hope Ramsey will get his own book sometime in the future, but right now I'm just happy to continue this series and see all the characters again.
January 7, 2025
A MM romance with Footballer x Hockey player, Roomies being friendly 😗, College shenanigans, Size difference, Double bi-awakenings, &... uncertainties, worry, crushes, hope, & unexpected love!
This was my 1st book of 2025! I got this as #ARC with book 2 😍, read within 8hrs over 2 days. Loved Brody, Dean, & friends!
Brody is charming, friendly, hardworker, "book smart" with a bio major (#same). He plays defense in the college hockey team. He's recovering from a season-ending knee-injury.
Dean is a big man of few words, socially awkward, intense & determined, "street smart" with physical education major. He's linebacker in their college (American) football team.
They seem opposites with different upbringings but when Ramsey does roomies matchmaking, B+D find they've a lot in common. Love wolves? homebodies (I relate)? Straight? Hah! Not for each other 😉. (Odd fact: Bisexual is said 0 times by MCs!)
The story had a *slow* start as it build dynamics, Beth did good in introducing all the characters! D+B did roommates –> hookups? friends? benefits?—> lovers lol! It was entertaining, especially when they stopped avoiding eachother! Quite a #slowburn, eh?
B's "self-identity mess" contrasting with D's "game hyper-focus" are cool subplots! I loved these boys finding certainty about their future. Romantic ice-skating 🥰, Cute ending! I'd've loved a ch with them as official bfs, I'll be looking forward to it in book 2 😗. The bonus has me feral for a Ramsey book!
Story Ratings:
POV: 3rd person, Dual POV
1) Overall Enjoyment—> 5/5
2) The Characters: 5/5
3) Top feels: 😆😅🤨🤭😍😌😏🙃😁🥺😯😂😬🙌😤😗😳😭🥰
4) Steamy scenes: 2.5/5
5) Levels: Cute+Swoon: 4/5
Angst: 2.5/5
Dark: 1/5
6) Creativity + world: 4.6/5
7) Plot arc: (Roomies to more, Identity & Sports) 4.25/5
8) Writing style + pace: 4.5/5
This was my 1st book of 2025! I got this as #ARC with book 2 😍, read within 8hrs over 2 days. Loved Brody, Dean, & friends!
Brody is charming, friendly, hardworker, "book smart" with a bio major (#same). He plays defense in the college hockey team. He's recovering from a season-ending knee-injury.
Dean is a big man of few words, socially awkward, intense & determined, "street smart" with physical education major. He's linebacker in their college (American) football team.
They seem opposites with different upbringings but when Ramsey does roomies matchmaking, B+D find they've a lot in common. Love wolves? homebodies (I relate)? Straight? Hah! Not for each other 😉. (Odd fact: Bisexual is said 0 times by MCs!)
The story had a *slow* start as it build dynamics, Beth did good in introducing all the characters! D+B did roommates –> hookups? friends? benefits?—> lovers lol! It was entertaining, especially when they stopped avoiding eachother! Quite a #slowburn, eh?
B's "self-identity mess" contrasting with D's "game hyper-focus" are cool subplots! I loved these boys finding certainty about their future. Romantic ice-skating 🥰, Cute ending! I'd've loved a ch with them as official bfs, I'll be looking forward to it in book 2 😗. The bonus has me feral for a Ramsey book!
Story Ratings:
POV: 3rd person, Dual POV
1) Overall Enjoyment—> 5/5
2) The Characters: 5/5
3) Top feels: 😆😅🤨🤭😍😌😏🙃😁🥺😯😂😬🙌😤😗😳😭🥰
4) Steamy scenes: 2.5/5
5) Levels: Cute+Swoon: 4/5
Angst: 2.5/5
Dark: 1/5
6) Creativity + world: 4.6/5
7) Plot arc: (Roomies to more, Identity & Sports) 4.25/5
8) Writing style + pace: 4.5/5
October 8, 2024
3.75 stars rounded up
This is the first in a new series focused on the ice hockey team at Portland University, the Portland Evergreens. Brody is a super wound tight junior fighting with himself if he wants to go to the NHL after college (which he’s already been drafted for) or to go to medical school and pursue being a doctor like both his parents. Brody is an equally wound tight junior on the football team who becomes Brody’s roommate after their mutual friend Ramsey plays matchmaker to get out of living with Brody himself. They come from very different backgrounds which leads to some awkwardness and a little jealousy but once they get to know each other they realise they have a lot in common despite this.
Beth Bolden doesn’t know how to write a bad sports romance and ‘Melting the Ice’ is no different. This isn’t my favourite book that she’s written, but it is strong and she has created some very likeable characters who I’m looking forward to learning more about. Dean was an absolute delight but there was just something about Brody I couldn’t connect with which affected my enjoyment of the book overall.
After reading the blurbs for book 2-4, and seeing that Ramsey is not in line for a book is something I find blasphemous! Lol I *NEED* him to find love as a side character in an upcoming book, or perhaps be an MC in a not yet announced series. He is a bit of a wild card guy but a truly wonderful friend to Brody, and that poor dude deserves to be loved unconditionally. I look forward to hopefully seeing more of him as a side character in the remaining books of the series.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
This is the first in a new series focused on the ice hockey team at Portland University, the Portland Evergreens. Brody is a super wound tight junior fighting with himself if he wants to go to the NHL after college (which he’s already been drafted for) or to go to medical school and pursue being a doctor like both his parents. Brody is an equally wound tight junior on the football team who becomes Brody’s roommate after their mutual friend Ramsey plays matchmaker to get out of living with Brody himself. They come from very different backgrounds which leads to some awkwardness and a little jealousy but once they get to know each other they realise they have a lot in common despite this.
Beth Bolden doesn’t know how to write a bad sports romance and ‘Melting the Ice’ is no different. This isn’t my favourite book that she’s written, but it is strong and she has created some very likeable characters who I’m looking forward to learning more about. Dean was an absolute delight but there was just something about Brody I couldn’t connect with which affected my enjoyment of the book overall.
After reading the blurbs for book 2-4, and seeing that Ramsey is not in line for a book is something I find blasphemous! Lol I *NEED* him to find love as a side character in an upcoming book, or perhaps be an MC in a not yet announced series. He is a bit of a wild card guy but a truly wonderful friend to Brody, and that poor dude deserves to be loved unconditionally. I look forward to hopefully seeing more of him as a side character in the remaining books of the series.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
February 8, 2025
size difference went triple platinum in my head!!! they were so hot, all the touching without really touching and then actually touching, yes please!
i feel like we didn’t really get to know dean which made me sad because he seemed like such a good character to know more about! dean and malcom are kinda one in the same.
brody was so sweet and i actually liked his parents. they were willing to listen to their kid and give good advice. a win in my book!
i’m so mad at the ending like i wanted to know here dean was going! i’m glad brody didn’t end up injuring his knee again and letting that be the decided factor in his career. he just genuinely didn’t love the game anymore AND THATS OKAY!!!
i loved them together and im glad that even though they were friends with benefits they weren’t fucking every chance they got, made the story move along A LOT better.
i feel like we didn’t really get to know dean which made me sad because he seemed like such a good character to know more about! dean and malcom are kinda one in the same.
brody was so sweet and i actually liked his parents. they were willing to listen to their kid and give good advice. a win in my book!
i’m so mad at the ending like i wanted to know here dean was going! i’m glad brody didn’t end up injuring his knee again and letting that be the decided factor in his career. he just genuinely didn’t love the game anymore AND THATS OKAY!!!
i loved them together and im glad that even though they were friends with benefits they weren’t fucking every chance they got, made the story move along A LOT better.
October 27, 2024
Wahałam się nad oceną już w trakcie czytania, ale ostatecznie 3 gwiazdki lepiej oddają moje emocje. Bardzo polubiłam Brody'ego i Deana. Także relacja między nimi rozwijała się w dobrym tempie i była wiarygodna. Plus, mieli oni swoje problemy i życie poza związkiem, co się zawsze chwali. I, jak na książkę, której akcja rozgrywa się na uniwersytecie, nie było tu gloryfikacji alkoholu.
Ale ten brak komunikacji czasami mnie męczył. Rozumiem, że na początku związku nikt nie chce się uzewnętrzniać, ale potem? Wszystkie ważne momenty zostały rozwiązane przez przypadek, co zmusiło ich do rozmowy. Ile można?
Nie przeszkodziło mi to jednak w zamówieniu następnych 3 tomów tej serii :D.
Ale ten brak komunikacji czasami mnie męczył. Rozumiem, że na początku związku nikt nie chce się uzewnętrzniać, ale potem? Wszystkie ważne momenty zostały rozwiązane przez przypadek, co zmusiło ich do rozmowy. Ile można?
Nie przeszkodziło mi to jednak w zamówieniu następnych 3 tomów tej serii :D.
October 5, 2024
Holy Hockey!! This book was spectacular. Absolutely gripping. I have to go back and read all the backlist of the author of which luckily there are many 😁! I’ve had Beth Bolden on my TBR for ages and I’m so happy I started here and have tons to look forward to.
I absolutely and completely loved Dean and Brody. The way the author chose to introduce them to each other.. sublime .. I was hooked instantly. The way Beth Bolden navigates the romance & sport plot lines overlayed with their inherent personal struggles was chefs kiss. I love that this is a start to a series, were introduced to a tonne of characters whom I am looking forward to seeing more of.
If you want a charmingly written, steamy, sports romance with great emotional depth I really hope you give this one a go!
Expect:
- Football player x Hockey Player
- Roommates to friends to lovers
- Forced proximity
- First times
- Bi awakening
I absolutely and completely loved Dean and Brody. The way the author chose to introduce them to each other.. sublime .. I was hooked instantly. The way Beth Bolden navigates the romance & sport plot lines overlayed with their inherent personal struggles was chefs kiss. I love that this is a start to a series, were introduced to a tonne of characters whom I am looking forward to seeing more of.
If you want a charmingly written, steamy, sports romance with great emotional depth I really hope you give this one a go!
Expect:
- Football player x Hockey Player
- Roommates to friends to lovers
- Forced proximity
- First times
- Bi awakening
January 9, 2025
I was never a big fan of bi awakenings, especially doubled bi awakenings (or gay awakenings) so, right away I'm a little sceptical from the start. I usually prefer when at least one of the MC's knows his path in life but that's just me, it doesn't mean anything or take away from the story. This book took its time perhaps a little too much time and got thrown off balance. That said, it was a really cute book. Brody and Dean were fantastic together and it is what it is, a college sports story with life decisions to be made. I enjoyed it and based on the bonus chapter we can probably tell that Ramsey's book is next. Beth bolden does not disappoint.
33%in and I feel something is missing. Too much talking and beating around the bush. Too much unsureness about... everything (life).
After the hook up it all gets weird. I guess that's the point but still, it's not all that enjoyable. But then, oh wow. They burn.🔥
33%in and I feel something is missing. Too much talking and beating around the bush. Too much unsureness about... everything (life).
After the hook up it all gets weird. I guess that's the point but still, it's not all that enjoyable. But then, oh wow. They burn.🔥
December 30, 2024
This is the first book I’ve read from Beth Bolden and I really enjoyed it. I thought Brody and Dean’s transition from roommates to friends to lovers was really well done and I loved the chemistry the pair had together. I also liked how Dean was there for Brody when he was trying to decide between a professional hockey career and going to med school. And how Brody made Dean realize that there’s more to life than just football.
The only thing that kind of threw me off was Ramsey. While I can understand that he grew more serious during the story I was kind of confused about his relationship with Brody. At first it was said that they were just teammates and then it was made out to be like they were best friends. Other than that I liked him as a character and the banter he had with Brody!
I’m for sure looking forward to the next book in the series since it’s going to be Mal and Elliott’s story!
The only thing that kind of threw me off was Ramsey. While I can understand that he grew more serious during the story I was kind of confused about his relationship with Brody. At first it was said that they were just teammates and then it was made out to be like they were best friends. Other than that I liked him as a character and the banter he had with Brody!
I’m for sure looking forward to the next book in the series since it’s going to be Mal and Elliott’s story!
October 6, 2024
Loved it !! All the Beth Bolden’s tropes that I love: roommates to lovers, sports romance, bi-awakening. I love all the secondary characters and Ramsey is the best of all (such an eccentric, amazing guy) - also the biggest matchmaker ever.
What a surprise for Brody when he discovers that his roommate isn’t who he was supposed to be, but in the end it’s a good thing, Dean is nice, serious, busy and centred on football. Meanwhile recovering from a knee injury Brody is lost between his love for hockey and a pro career and his newfound and powerful love for science. With all of this in mind, he doesn’t have the time to focus on his h0t roommate but how can he resist, he’s supposed to be straight but Dean is taller, stronger and right there with him to discover new pleasures.
Dean is focused on football and a career in the NFL, there is nothing else for him, no alternative - until he’s been said that he should learn to relax a little - and who’s better to help him than his s*xy roommate?
Truly a beautiful story, with a lot of s€xual exploration between roommates, lot of questioning about life and the future, what about dreams, plans, careers?
I loved it, and the dynamic between Dean and Roby is top-notch, also the other hockey/football players are right there for everything else !! Cannot wait to read more of the series !
I received an ARC Copy of this book from Neonrainbow Arc Reviews, this review is from my own thoughts 😍
What a surprise for Brody when he discovers that his roommate isn’t who he was supposed to be, but in the end it’s a good thing, Dean is nice, serious, busy and centred on football. Meanwhile recovering from a knee injury Brody is lost between his love for hockey and a pro career and his newfound and powerful love for science. With all of this in mind, he doesn’t have the time to focus on his h0t roommate but how can he resist, he’s supposed to be straight but Dean is taller, stronger and right there with him to discover new pleasures.
Dean is focused on football and a career in the NFL, there is nothing else for him, no alternative - until he’s been said that he should learn to relax a little - and who’s better to help him than his s*xy roommate?
Truly a beautiful story, with a lot of s€xual exploration between roommates, lot of questioning about life and the future, what about dreams, plans, careers?
I loved it, and the dynamic between Dean and Roby is top-notch, also the other hockey/football players are right there for everything else !! Cannot wait to read more of the series !
I received an ARC Copy of this book from Neonrainbow Arc Reviews, this review is from my own thoughts 😍
January 12, 2025
story of Brody and Dean
This is a roommates to more college sports romance, featuring Brody and Dean, and is book one in the Portland Evergreens series.
Brody arrives at his new apartment expecting to see his best friend, Ramsey, but he finds Dean instead. Shocked an understatement but Brody soon realises it’s for the best and they try to make the most of it. And then really make the most of it, wink wink.
This book was low angst, sweet, about two guys finding attraction and love when they both thought they never would. I really like how their double bi awakening was portrayed, there was a little freaking out but ultimately they took their time and explored their attraction. Both of them were not that good at keeping in the FWB box. Loved the HEA.
I would love to know what happened to Ramsey in the future, fingers crossed he gets a book.
Things to expect in this book are:
Book 1 in series
MM college sports romance
Roommates to more
Hockey player x football player
Low angst
Double Bi awakening
FWB & Exploring
Secret relationship
Calls him pretty boy
Bit of Spice & dirty talk
Catching feelings
Found family
Sweet HEA
This is a roommates to more college sports romance, featuring Brody and Dean, and is book one in the Portland Evergreens series.
Brody arrives at his new apartment expecting to see his best friend, Ramsey, but he finds Dean instead. Shocked an understatement but Brody soon realises it’s for the best and they try to make the most of it. And then really make the most of it, wink wink.
This book was low angst, sweet, about two guys finding attraction and love when they both thought they never would. I really like how their double bi awakening was portrayed, there was a little freaking out but ultimately they took their time and explored their attraction. Both of them were not that good at keeping in the FWB box. Loved the HEA.
I would love to know what happened to Ramsey in the future, fingers crossed he gets a book.
Things to expect in this book are:
Book 1 in series
MM college sports romance
Roommates to more
Hockey player x football player
Low angst
Double Bi awakening
FWB & Exploring
Secret relationship
Calls him pretty boy
Bit of Spice & dirty talk
Catching feelings
Found family
Sweet HEA
February 10, 2025
“I love you,” Dean said again, because no other words felt sufficient to explain this goddamned miracle of a man he’d found and somehow managed to keep. “Love you more,” Brody said.My eyes were leaking tears of joy pretty steadily throughout this book. The world Beth created where it's not "taboo" to be gay in sports and it's not "terrifying" to share that you're falling for your male roommate was so beautiful. It made me think even harder about how shitty it is that people even have to worry about this type of thing in our society.
This book is why I don't fling around 5⭐ easily. You have to understand that Brody & Dean are special. And the way they treat each other is special. I want to say it's a slow-burn, and it is, but the sexual tension is always there and they are incredibly hot together on page.
I appreciate that these two communicate strongly, never put each other through heartache, and their struggles are unique, at least as far as from what I've previously read. Sine they don't have to struggle with being gay athletes they are able to focus on what they want from life and how ultimately that is each other. Simply a joy to read💙
August 13, 2025
Strana Family Book Blog
Brody è un giocatore di Hockey, uno di quelli bravi che è stato selezionato per diventare un professionista. Dean, invece, è un fenomeno del football e presto verrà selezionato a sua volta, per una carriera nel settore. Entrambi sono convinti di andare a convivere con Ramsey: migliore amico e compagno di gioco di Brody. Scopriranno, però, di diventare coinquilini, senza nemmeno conoscersi e la reticenza iniziale tra i due è esilarante. Fra loro sono scintille deboli che prendono forza a ogni sguardo rubato, parola e tocco involontario, dando vita a un fuoco dalle fiamme incontenibili. Alle prime armi, così simili e così diversi, sono uno spettacolo tenero e dolce di cui non potrete fare a meno. Sensibili, timorosi e delicati vi faranno emozionare come se non foste mai cresciuti. Un MM che tocca le corde più delicate e le fa suonare con quei sentimenti ingenui che caratterizzano un amore in erba, che vi catturerà proprio con la sua naturalezza e semplicità. Ve lo consiglio vivamente, se amate le storie dolci e sensibili. Tra l'altro, non conoscevo quest'autrice e sono felice di averle dato una possibilità, perché merita.
Valutazione: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spicy: 🌶🌶
Emozione: 💘💘💘💘
Brody è un giocatore di Hockey, uno di quelli bravi che è stato selezionato per diventare un professionista. Dean, invece, è un fenomeno del football e presto verrà selezionato a sua volta, per una carriera nel settore. Entrambi sono convinti di andare a convivere con Ramsey: migliore amico e compagno di gioco di Brody. Scopriranno, però, di diventare coinquilini, senza nemmeno conoscersi e la reticenza iniziale tra i due è esilarante. Fra loro sono scintille deboli che prendono forza a ogni sguardo rubato, parola e tocco involontario, dando vita a un fuoco dalle fiamme incontenibili. Alle prime armi, così simili e così diversi, sono uno spettacolo tenero e dolce di cui non potrete fare a meno. Sensibili, timorosi e delicati vi faranno emozionare come se non foste mai cresciuti. Un MM che tocca le corde più delicate e le fa suonare con quei sentimenti ingenui che caratterizzano un amore in erba, che vi catturerà proprio con la sua naturalezza e semplicità. Ve lo consiglio vivamente, se amate le storie dolci e sensibili. Tra l'altro, non conoscevo quest'autrice e sono felice di averle dato una possibilità, perché merita.
Valutazione: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spicy: 🌶🌶
Emozione: 💘💘💘💘
January 17, 2025
Review: Melting the Ice by Beth Bolden
Dean and Brody are such a cute couple, I absolutely loved their story.
These roommates slowly come to realise they're attracted to each other and hello double awakening! They decide to have an “experiment” (for science! Just for the science) together and from there get into a casual relationship. Then we have an adorable idiots in love story. Perfection!
Dean is a big squishy marshmallow on the inside, love him!
Loved the funny inner monologues in this one.
File this one under: His inner voice and mouth won't cooperate. Dean's inner voice and mouth are not teammates!
What to expect:
Casual to more
College
Double awakening
Football
Hockey
Hockey player x football player
Idiots in love
Inner monologues
Low angst
Manhandling him
“Pretty Boy”
Roommates
Sports romance
Dean and Brody are such a cute couple, I absolutely loved their story.
These roommates slowly come to realise they're attracted to each other and hello double awakening! They decide to have an “experiment” (for science! Just for the science) together and from there get into a casual relationship. Then we have an adorable idiots in love story. Perfection!
Dean is a big squishy marshmallow on the inside, love him!
Loved the funny inner monologues in this one.
File this one under: His inner voice and mouth won't cooperate. Dean's inner voice and mouth are not teammates!
What to expect:
Casual to more
College
Double awakening
Football
Hockey
Hockey player x football player
Idiots in love
Inner monologues
Low angst
Manhandling him
“Pretty Boy”
Roommates
Sports romance
Read
October 10, 2024Beth Bolden has taken a few steps into a new sport with Melting the Ice, a college/New Adult romance featuring Brody, a hockey junior on the cusp of the NHL, who is recovering from a serious injury, but holds on to her first love, football by making Dean, the man Brody falls for, an up and coming defensive lineman on the school's football team with dreams of going pro himself.
This book is a double bisexual awakening, roommates to lovers story with a slow build, lots of conversation and two sweet guys who 'get' each other. It's fairly low angst and you also meet many of the secondary characters who will feature later in the series! If you like a good college sports romance, you'll want to add Melting the Ice to your tbr immediately!
This book is a double bisexual awakening, roommates to lovers story with a slow build, lots of conversation and two sweet guys who 'get' each other. It's fairly low angst and you also meet many of the secondary characters who will feature later in the series! If you like a good college sports romance, you'll want to add Melting the Ice to your tbr immediately!
October 25, 2024
I enjoyed this book a lot more than I thought I would! Dean and Brody reminded me so much of Sam and Heath if they had better communication skills and more open to loving each other. I loved the moments were they didn't fight their attraction and just came together. They made sense they really did. I am still not sure of the team dynamic and how they all fit together really.
This was a great first book and I cannot read the rest of the series.
This was a great first book and I cannot read the rest of the series.
January 3, 2025
So sweet..
I was nervous about reading this after looking at a few reviews.. but I am happy that I pursued on. It was a sweet awakening book that had me going until the end. The lack of communication was beyond frustrating and I yelled at the book more than once. Lots of good character intros for future books that I hope include cameos of Dean and Brody. When you know you know and it was overall a sweet book.
I was nervous about reading this after looking at a few reviews.. but I am happy that I pursued on. It was a sweet awakening book that had me going until the end. The lack of communication was beyond frustrating and I yelled at the book more than once. Lots of good character intros for future books that I hope include cameos of Dean and Brody. When you know you know and it was overall a sweet book.
January 5, 2025
Melting the Ice by Beth Bolden is book one in the Portland Evergreens series. I have really enjoyed Beth’s sports romances in the past, so I was looking forward to starting this hockey series. Brody is anticipating moving in with teammate Ramsey. However, Ramsey pulled a switcheroo and had football player Dean move in with Brody instead. The two bond over their similarities and soon discover that they are attracted to each other. I love how the relationship developed slowly and organically. I could feel the attraction between them. I also love how Brody figured out what he would like to do with his life. This was just a very enjoyable story and I am looking forward to reading about the other teammates.
I received an ARC from Neon Rainbow Readers for my honest review
I received an ARC from Neon Rainbow Readers for my honest review
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