For the Love of Skating

by Madeline Fay

I am strong.
I am graceful.
I am his princess.
Wait no... I'm nobody's princess, especially not Granger's.
He's a hot, assholey, grumpy, god who stomps around campus like he owns the place, just because he's the captain of the hockey team.
Women fall to their knees before him. I won't be one of them.
The only thing we have in common is the ice.
I have a plan.
Finish college. Leave home. Figure skate my heart out and live my life without someone bossing me around.
I just need to keep my distance from the one man who makes my heart race... either with desire or anger. I'm going with anger.
Granger isn't getting to this woman. Nope. Not happening. Maybe.

Genres: Sports, Sports Romance, College, Romance, Contemporary, New Adult, Hockey Romance

261 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 20, 2020

About the author

About Madeline Fay
Madeline lives in rural Michigan in a castle with all her fur babies and her lovely husband. She loves to read; you’ll find her in her tower with her Kindle and drinking boba tea or coffee.
She has a few addictions: chocolate is her weakness, and fanfiction Dramione.
She likes to pretend she’s a main character in a Korean drama and listens to K-pop as she dances around the house.
Her brain never stops creating conversations with WIP characters… You should see her Google Drive. It’s ridiculous how many tabs are opened for new stories to write.
She’s a zombie half the time during the day until the coffee kicks in, but at night she watches over her city in the shadows and calls herself Batman.
Not really, but she keeps hoping it might come true one day.
She’s in her bat cave writing and plotting mad, evil genius stories while sipping some wine.

Reviews

[Renée · Rating 5 out of 5]

For The Love of Skating by Madeline Fay is an enemies to lovers, fake relationship, college sports romance which will captivate your heart.

Kat and Granger are both lost in a world where skating is their main release. One through beauty and talent, and the other through strength and determination. A chance encounter will be all it takes to bring these two together.

There’s an intensity of hatred and anger deep with in both Kat and Granger that’s explored throughout the story, as each is lost to their own world and goals. That is until they collide with raw and untamed passion, for each to never be the same again.

For The Love Of Skating is filled with passion and heartbreak, and a story I would definitely recommend to lovers of contemporary sports romance, especially hockey romances.

[Coco.V]

🎁 FREE on Amazon today (7/18/2020)! 🎁

[Carli Ashdown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely LOVED this book it was gripping as well as heartbreaking, it has amazing characters with a fantastic story line add some hot scenes and WOW. Madeline Fay is brilliant I was hooked from the first page this has all the feels needed. A must read people

[Art of Reading · Rating 5 out of 5]

I hardly read sports romance but once in a while i find one that I’m absolutely in love with and this one is it!

This one held my attention from beginning to ending and it was a total page turner! It was also heartbreaking in some parts but the overall story line was amazing!

The connection between Kat and Granger was off the charts and I loved how they grew from the beginning to the end.

I definitely had my emotions played with on multiple occasions!

If you’re looking for a good sports romance then this is the one for you! 5 stars and i highly recommend this!

[Abstract ♥ Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

All my reviews can be found on my blog : ABSTRACT BOOKS

For the Love of Skating is the Standalone novel based on sports theme by Madeline Fay.

This has to be the first Sports theme novel I have ever read and it was absolutely amazing. I just loved the chemistry between Kat and Granger!! She literally wasn't exaggerating when she said that he was an asshole!!!

Being active in sports, I understood Pretty well about Kat's compassion to playing hockey. Granger was hot and ass-holish captain of hockey team who was a bit unpleasant to her in the start. But pretty soon he got over is tendencies and they both became close. It was fascinating to watch , how easily Kat and Granger fit together. They had this connection that is so rare!! Both of them Had their fascination in sports as their binding point and it was amazing to watch them both support each other!!

I absolutely loved this world of sports that Madeline Fay has introduced me to!! This book is recommended to all the sports romance lovers!!


         

[Myriam · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t even know where to start, but maybe with a big exclamation mark that this was one of my favourite books of all times!!!! I loved it so hard, I have trouble finding words. All I want now is more contemporary romance from this author.
This book called to me so loud and I grabbed it without thinking about the genre or story line, or anything, really. I just had to read it. So when I started, I had no idea what it was about, I just started reading and falling in love with the characters and their story, not to mention loving the author so much more for writing it.
I wanted to read this book more than I’ve felt like reading a book in a long time. And I read it almost at once, apart from a couple interruptions that made me really angry. I switched off my phone and read, not willing to be interrupted anymore. It was amazing! But I’m not going to lie, it is heavy and heartbreaking, and I probably love it even more for it. But have a box of tissues ready, because if this book does not make you cry, you are not human.
The story itself is great, it sucked me in and I could not stop reading, I had to see what happens. The characters are simply amazing, so complex and broken, and strong and resilient and determined, they were everything and I could not love them more. Their bond and chemistry is out of this world and despite all the hard and heavy and obstacles and ugly, they still manage to find happy and funny and sarcastic with each other.
Even the side characters are great and well developed and I can’t help hoping that the author might decide some day to write more about them. This is seriously one of the best books out there. A must read. For real, seriously fantastic!

[The Lusty Literarians · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't know what it is about her, but I see something within the shadows in her eyes. Maybe she's missing broken pieces of herself just like me.

Fay's foray into contemporary sports romance is a slam dunk, home run, touchdown... I could do this all day and probably not come up with a single hockey related sports saying other than... hat trick! Seriously though, I loved everything about this book. Kat isn't some simpering puck bunny or someone completely unfamiliar with ice sports herself (how sick are we of those hockey romance storylines? am I right?) Kat is an athlete herself, having been a figure skater for the vast majority of her life. She is a fantastic complement to Granger, the bitter alphahole hockey Captain of the hockey team at the university where each of them are students. Don't even get me started on Granger's dirty mouth! I AM HERE FOR IT!!!!

While there are some darker moments to this story overall I found it to be funny, sexy and captivating. Kat and Granger were great but I also loved secondary characters Mary and Beast. Fingers crossed they get some sort of spin off. That would make me so happy!

[Algreads · Rating 3 out of 5]

3⭐️
I was so annoyed while reading this book.
It was a mix of the deal and icebreaker but the characters were so dumb, naiv and annoying af. The girl was supposed to be sassy and like a baddie, but she was such a pick me. Like pleaseee!!! It was quite clear that H liked her but she was like "he can have any girl he want, why would he want someone like me 👉🏼🥹👈🏼 GURLLLL PLEASE!!!!! And the guy needed some serous therapy and anger management. Just saying!!

[Fiction Vixen Book Review · Rating 5 out of 5]

Madeline Fay had me crying like a baby from page one! I absolutely LOVED everything about Kat and Granger's story! They are two sides of the same coin and let's face it, Granger is Book Boyfriend material! Seriously hoping for a book 2 to make it a series! There's so much more I want to know.

I was kindly provided with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Skye Yanovsky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great sports romance

Great sports romance where both the main characters are athletes. I loved that instead of just the hero being the athlete. The characters were well done, the storyline was compelling & emotional and it was steamy. This is a fabulous story that I thoroughly enjoyed reading.

[Solara! · Rating 2 out of 5]

(1.5/5) *sigh* that was an absolute train wreck. lets start with the pros before i start hating on this book

pros —
- figure skater x hockey player romance (which i love)
- strong fmc (sort of)
- cute relationship (not rly)

welp! thats abt it bc the rest of the book was just so bad

cons —
- insta-lust
- dirty talk when they met two days ago?!
- super faced paced
- had no plot
- kept jumping between tropes and then forgetting them (supposed to be enemies to lovers but they start fake dating?! idk)
- stereotypes for hispanic / latina women (now me personally im not hispanic but as a woc i found it very alarming that mary’s character was constantly being talked abt as the “angry or mad latina girl” especially considering all the stereotypes alr put on woc.
- *spoilers*

third act breakup that could have EASILY been resolved if kat had stayed to listen to granger and it also didnt make sense because she then started crying to him and saying she missed him after three days?? what was the point then. anyways i dont like being a hater but this book was just a waste of my time😔

[Cheria · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this story. If you love MF college hockey romance standalones, definitely check this one out. It's fairly low internal angst, there's miscommunication but it doesn't drag out. The story is told in Dual-POV, featuring grumpy a**hole H who's been burned in the past and just wants to focus on his goals of hockey, school and going pro, and the shy, sheltered h who becomes a spitfire of sass with the H but expects the worst and guards her heart and has lost sight of her dreams.

"I'm about to break down the shell she's put around herself and wait with open arms, because this girl needs me - - probably as much as I need her."
🥺🥺���

It's insta-connection while still having a build up of the relationship with each other as well as building up themselves. They each push each other while being there to support each other. First as frenemies, then friends plus a fake relationship arrangement that becomes more faster than either is ready to admit.

I really loved Kat and Granger. Even though "Princess" is a hard pass for me for nicknames, I would let that man call me it - that's how much he won me over.

[Kayla Busch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh how I love a good college romance and this one featured a figure skater, which was really intriguing to me because I haven't read a book with a figure skater in it yet. I have always thought that there is just something so beautiful and mesmerizing about figure skating. The grace, strength and beauty they have is phenomenal. The whole story is gripping and draws you in immediately. I loved the back and forth banter between Kat and Granger and let me tell you, their chemistry was also off the charts. I thought my kindle was going to burst into flames. Their whole relationship sparked flames and I loved every second of it. Both Kat and Granger are strong and amazing characters and I loved every minute of their journey in this book!

[Danielle Melo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book hooked me from the start and I truly never wanted it to end.
Kat has a hard life, a life no one would wish upon their enemy. Kat lives and breathes skating. She needs it like she needs air.
Granger is the captain of the University Hockey team. He's had a rough go with teammates and an evil ex. What happens when the two stumble on the ice together? Sparks and explosions are what! Kat needs to get out of a terrible situation she doesn't have anyone who can help her. Granger see's a way to help them both at the same time. Could his idea truly help them both? Please pick up this book and find out You'll fall for Kat and Granger in an instant. They're amazing!

[laura port · Rating 5 out of 5]

I saw a post about this book about a year ago in the authors Facebook group and bing a fan of her previous books and hockey romance this was a book combo made I heaven for me!!! The anticipation for reading this book was well worth the wait. The story was full of drama,romance with plenty of up’s and down along the way making this an emotional read that made you really feel for the characters is was written about. They were both so easy to relate to and that makes you more invested in the outcome of the story and it was a true pleasure reading where they were taken. Overall the book was extremely well planned out beautifully written,one of favourite reads of the year and the wait was so totally worth it,brilliant book

[Melissa, Book Boyfriend and Husband Make Three · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first book by this author, and I was pleasantly surprised.

I was hooked in the first few pages my heart was broken for Kat, then it broke even more. The moment Kat and Granger shared their first angry words there was a connection between them. The connection grew with every interaction from a spark that started their slow burn to an atomic bomb, and I loved every single second of it.

Their emotional connection was just as fierce as the physical. They both had some heavy baggage that they were trying to work through. I was all up in my feels with them on several occasions, you could feel their pain and heartbreak on the pages. I adored Kat’s strength you could feel the difference as her character grew into this amazingly strong woman.

The banter shifted from angry, flirty, HOT and caring with ease. I LOVED the secondary characters almost as much as I loved Kat and Granger so I’m really hoping for more of this incredible world Madeline created.

[Dawn Milligan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a stand alone, I told my self no new books till I finish my TBR list...... Annnnd I couldn't resist Madeline delivers a fabulous story!! Phenomenal characters and I had to read it!! You need to too!!!!

[M Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

So much love

I downloaded and finished within a day. I couldn’t put it down! These characters were relatable and the chemistry was amazing. A great read!

[Cleocutie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good story with well done characters and a romance that seems like it might never happen, but somehow manages to.

[dia ୨୧ · Rating 1 out of 5]

1st read: 3 stars
2nd read: 1 star

Why did i ever gave this 3 stars is beyond me, it's genuinely so bad.
And don't make me start on the "angry latina" character that only knows how to say one word in spanish 🤦🏻‍♀️

[Lyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'll start with, I'm not a reviewer that hashes out the story. I figure if you're reading the reviews you already know what it's about. I also purposely don't give details because I don't want to spoil anything for anyone else. I will tell you what I look for in a review: what I like (or don't) about the book. This is a great quick read. It was a page turner for me, I was up until I couldn't hold my eyes open any longer last night playing the "one more chapter" game. I love that it alternates POV between the main characters so you get both sides of the story. The characters are fully fleshed out, likeable, and believable. The dialog is intelligent and engaging. The characters are college age, but you don't see any of the immaturity in them that sometimes creeps in with this age group. The story moves at a good pace, without lagging or rushing. I smiled, laughed, and teared up throughout the book. It hit all the emotional marks for me and left me satisfied. I would love to see Beast and his Latina Goddess get their own story and perhaps give us an update on Granger and Princess. This was my first book by this author, but it won't be my last. Do yourself a favor and read it. I don't think you'll be disappointed.

[Bookiechick Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

A love story for the ages

This is a sports NA college romance and it hits you with all the feels.

From the first word, the emotions hit me. I was gripped and consumed by this book. I absolutely loved this. Granger and Kats story is emotional, heartbreaking, swoony and filled with sexual tension. I love how even with their first reactions being to run, that they still come together to work through it all, to over come the obstacle and move forward.

Bonding over their love of being on the ice they start off as a mild type of enemies which morphs into a fake relationship that blurs the lines from the first moment. The world build of this story is well written, the details are well thought out and accurate and so much vivid imagery.

The characters are each unique and compliment the story and each other. Well developed and the character growth is in spades, which makes for a pleasurable read. I’d love to see more of beast and Mary. Their story intrigues me and I bet would be a blast to see. I’m not ready to let granger and Kat go! I want more of their story and I feel like they still have so much to give.

This is definitely a book worth reading. Love it.

[Tinaj Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good story

I am not usually into sports stories but really enjoyed this one. Both the FMC and MMC were athletes where normally it is just one. This was a quick, easy read for me. I believe this is a standalone, does not end with a cliffhanger, but I wonder if we will ever read Maria and Beast’s story. I also have a hard time imagining Kat doesn’t have future issues with her father.

[K.M. Raya · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books so far of 2020. Granger is amazing and I'm in love. Kat is strong, beautiful, talented and resilient. This book was emotional and so moving. Madeline Fay did THAT THING. She did it for US! 6 stars! 🌟

[Nora Schmid · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had me hooked from beginning to end. Kat has lived a messed up life but things change when she meets hockey player Granger. Granger had been betrayed and struggles to trust again. Can these two get the happy ending they both deserve? To find out read it you won’t be disappointed!

[Jodie Bond · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really ❤️ the characters in this book. I thoroughly enjoyed the story line. So different than most sport romance books. I just have one question. Are you going to write a book for Mary and the Beast???

[H NELMS · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great story

Another great story from a favorite author of mine...full of angst and heartbreaking moments...but ending in the most beautiful heartwarming love.

[L. Starla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Summary
Kat is a broken woman, hardened from years of living under the thumb of her abusive father. Ice skating is her one true passion, a means to escape the s**t show that is her life and a way to connect with the memory of her late mother.

Granger has plenty of his own baggage. Betrayed by his girlfriend and teammates, he is determined to focus on his dream of going pro with ice hockey. Relationships will only complicate matters.

Neither Kat nor Granger are ready for the sparks that fly when they first meet each other on their college ice rink, so they channel their feelings into mutual disgust. But there is no denying the intense chemistry between them and over time a strong friendship develops. But can they trust each other enough to take things further?

Review
I enjoyed this book, despite its flaws. I was grabbed by the main characters from the get-go, especially Kat whose prologue had me tearing up big time. The slow burning relationship between Kat and Granger was intense and full of sexual tension (something I love in a romance). The secondary characters could have used a little more work though. I felt that the two best friends were a bit 2-dimensional.

Madeline Fay has a very raw writing style that puts you right into the emotional headspace of the protagonists, alternating their first-person perspectives. Her language is colourful, even a bit gratuitous at times with a f**k tonne of F-bombs throughout. Even though this sort of language does not offend me, I did find the excessive swears were distracting.

While this was a sports romance, it was not heavy on the sporting theme. Ice hockey fans might be disappointed, I don’t know. For me this was a positive because I’m not a big sports buff. I thought there was just enough focus on the game to develop the characters without detracting from the romance plot. It can be a tricky balancing act and I feel that the author did a good job.

For the Love of Skating is a steamy “enemies to lovers” romance with plenty of titillating tension building scenes. I recommend it for anyone who likes a hot romance novel.

(Free ARC copy given in exchange for an honest review)

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐️ rounded up to four. I really enjoyed the book and was sucked into the story right away. The relationship moved REALLY fast, there was something missing a bit in the relationship development, particularly in a fake dating trope, though I can’t quite put my finger on it. I took a half star away because the third act conflict was miscommunication and assumptions on both parts and didn’t seem to match up with how they’d acted previously.

Overall, an easy Saturday read, even with some heavy topics in the plot. College hockey player magic❤️

CW: parental death, abusive parent, sexual assault

[Klauuss · Rating 1 out of 5]

Solo me he acabado de leer el libro por enterarme del drama y el smut.
1. Los pensamientos sexuales del interés amoroso cuando la chica estaba pasando un mal momento?!?!?
2. Se la pasan insultando a Victoria por abortar sin decirselo a Granger cuando ella tiene el derecho a decidir sobre su propio cuerpo 🤡
3. Y el hecho de que la mejor amiga es el cliché de chica latina que solo tiene sexo y esta el 90% del tiempo modo violenta?
im sick n tired