Audio Tour and Review: Broken Ice, Mended Hearts by Ryan Taylor and Joshua Harwood, Performed by Nick J. Russo

19 April of 2024 by ButtonsMom2003

Broken Ice, Mended Hearts By Ryan Taylor and Joshua Harwood, Performed By Nick J. Russo

Genre: Contemporary Romance, GLBTQ, MM,

Tropes: Rivals-to-friends-to-lovers, hurt/comford, bisexual awakening, hockey

Released: Audio: April 3, 2024; eBook: March 20, 2024

Publisher: Wainscott Press

Series: Bethesda Barracudas Hockey, Book 6

Length: 10 hrs, 10 mins / 358 pages

Cover Design: R. Bosevski of Story Styling Cover Designs

Synopsis

PIERRE (“GAGS”)

My life is complicated.

Hell, I’m complicated.

I don’t know a life beyond how I’m perceived. After a devastating divorce, it looked like I never would.

Can a hockey fight change your life?

I may not understand my attraction to Sven Holmer, but I can tell you my obsession with kissing him started in the middle of a fight. When we met again, the conversation was easy, the banter effortless. Once stolen glances gave way to secret touches, I was more confused than ever. How the hell am I supposed to handle it when everything I’ve always believed about myself no longer fits?

Things are great… until they aren’t.

Our connection deepens with every minute we spend together, but like me, Sven is no stranger to betrayal and heartache. Between my stubbornness, his reservations, and the start of a new season, how can we survive months apart?

When tragedy strikes, all bets are off. I just hope it’s not too late.

Broken Ice, Mended Hearts features two thirty-something hockey players hardened by heartbreak. This compelling, angsty book includes a bisexual awakening, hurt/comfort, found family, first times, high heat, and a hard-earned HEA. Though it is part of the Bethesda Barracudas Hockey series, it can be read as a standalone.

Review

Reviewed by ButtonsMom2003

They fought hard for their HEA.

I loved this book when I read it with my eyes and Nick J. Russo made a wonderful story even better. Ryan Taylor and Joshua Harwood have written many good hockey stories but this one was really special. The two MCs had both been hurt badly in the past but their relationship eventually healed those past hurts. Below is what I said when I reviewed the eBook.

Book six in the Bethesda Barracudas series, Broken Ice, Mended Hearts can easily be read as a standalone story. It’s been two years since I read the last book in the series (which means I’ve read about 700 books since then) and I never felt lost. Characters from the other books do appear and the other books are great, so please check them out.

This story offers a fair amount angst as both MCs are recovering from broken relationships. Gags was recently divorced from his cheating now ex-wife and Sven recently broke up from his now ex-boyfriend. This book gave me all kinds of feels; it’s funny in places but there were also tears involved when things got tough for them.

I loved that both MCs were over thirty-years-old and that they each wanted a life with a partner that they couldn’t live without; they just didn’t know it would end up being each other. The blurb already lets you know that something tragic happens and that served as the wake-up call that Gags needed.

The story spans more than a year and the epilogue, set two years later, was the perfect finishing touch.

Story: ♥♥♥♥♥

Narration: ♥♥♥♥♥

O Factor: Scorcher

Bethesda Barracudas Hockey Series

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About Author

Ryan Taylor and Joshua Harwood are a dynamic duo crafting contemporary gay romance with heat and heart. Beyond a shared love of travel, Ryan’s devotion to swimming and Josh’s passion for music fuel their creativity. They began writing to celebrate their own romance, and their commitment to sharing authentic love stories about queer men has since captured the hearts of readers around the world.

Ryan and Josh’s books are known for their fascinating blend of fiery romance, heartwarming storytelling, and remarkable characters. Readers and listeners love the Bethesda Barracudas Hockey and Mohegan U Hockey series, and the couple’s recent bestsellers, Swimming Against the Tide, My Perfect Screwup, and Christmas for Keeps, have captivated hearts and minds.

Join Ryan and Josh on their journey as they champion romance and “happily-ever-afters” for all. Love, passion, and adventure await on every page.

Author Links

Nick J. Russo

Narrator Links

Facebook Page | Facebook Group | Audible

Promotional materials and review copy provided by the authors.