Mélanie
⭐️ 4.5/5 | 🌶️ 3/5
I’d been craving a hockey romance for a while, and the moment I came across On Thin Ice, I had a strong feeling it would hit exactly right.
I really enjoyed Bell and Ethan’s story. I went in expecting something far heavier on the angst, but it turned out to be more restrained than anticipated — in a good way. There were so many genuinely sweet moments between the two MCs. The book struck a great balance between light, funny, and tender scenes, while still delivering stretches of tension that had me nearly holding my breath when the emotional pressure peaked.
I loved both main characters. I’m usually drawn to darker personalities, yet Bell — a full-on sunshine — completely won me over. It was refreshing to see a younger character portrayed with emotional intelligence and a solid sense of self. As for Ethan, he frustrated me more than once, but that made the payoff even more satisfying once the story peeled back the layers and revealed why owning his truth felt so impossible for him.
This wasn’t the spiciest read, but the intimate scenes were thoughtfully written and caught me off guard in the best way. There were a couple of kinks I would’ve loved to see explored more than once, though their inclusion at all was already a big plus.
Overall, this was a strong, enjoyable read that I’d easily recommend to fans of age gap romance, grumpy/sunshine dynamics, and secret relationships.
⭐️ 4.5/5 | 🌶️ 3/5
I’d been craving a hockey romance for a while, and the moment I came across On Thin Ice, I had a strong feeling it would hit exactly right.
I really enjoyed Bell and Ethan’s story. I went in expecting something far heavier on the angst, but it turned out to be more restrained than anticipated — in a good way. There were so many genuinely sweet moments between the two MCs. The book struck a great balance between light, funny, and tender scenes, while still delivering stretches of tension that had me nearly holding my breath when the emotional pressure peaked.
I loved both main characters. I’m usually drawn to darker personalities, yet Bell — a full-on sunshine — completely won me over. It was refreshing to see a younger character portrayed with emotional intelligence and a solid sense of self. As for Ethan, he frustrated me more than once, but that made the payoff even more satisfying once the story peeled back the layers and revealed why owning his truth felt so impossible for him.
This wasn’t the spiciest read, but the intimate scenes were thoughtfully written and caught me off guard in the best way. There were a couple of kinks I would’ve loved to see explored more than once, though their inclusion at all was already a big plus.
Overall, this was a strong, enjoyable read that I’d easily recommend to fans of age gap romance, grumpy/sunshine dynamics, and secret relationships.
Added to listOpposites Attractwith 3 books.
⭐️ 4.75/5 | 🌶️ 4/5
I’m having so much fun discovering Alex Pendragon’s voice and narrative style. The last book I read by him was a romance-free erotica, so I was curious to see how he would handle a story where emotions take center stage. Xander Shows Me My Prostate struck a fantastic balance between his unmistakably erotic flair and a genuine love story. What I appreciated most is that, even within a romance framework, nothing felt conventional. The result was refreshing and surprisingly tender.
Luka and Xander’s journey is rooted in sexual exploration and self-discovery, pairing an experienced partner with someone navigating many firsts. That contrast fuels the entire dynamic.
I especially loved living inside Luka’s head throughout the novel. He’s soft, endearing, a little naïve, and deeply human. After coming from Lincoln’s POV in Riley’s Basement (yes, I’m still thinking about him), the shift was striking. Luka’s vulnerability made me want to wrap him up and help him build confidence. Several moments where his self-doubt surfaced genuinely tugged at my heart.
It’s always impressive when an author makes me fall hard for a character without giving me their POV — and Xander absolutely stole the show. He was incredible with Luka, endlessly attentive, generous with praise, and completely undone by him. Watching how deeply Luka occupied his thoughts was beautiful.
Together, they were both achingly sweet and next-level steamy. Alex Pendragon truly delivers when it comes to spice — no holding back.
I loved almost everything about this book: the unapologetic heat, but also the quieter scenes where Luka and Xander simply talked and connected. Those moments grounded the story and made the intimacy hit even harder.
There were a few instances where certain ideas felt slightly repetitive, but nothing that diminished my enjoyment.
Special mention goes to Dan, Luka’s best friend. He reminded me a lot of Lincoln from Riley’s Basement — perpetually horny and unapologetically obsessed with sex. I’m already excited for his book; it promises to be one hell of a ride. 😆 Very likely my next Alex Pendragon read.
⭐️ 4.75/5 | 🌶️ 4/5
I’m having so much fun discovering Alex Pendragon’s voice and narrative style. The last book I read by him was a romance-free erotica, so I was curious to see how he would handle a story where emotions take center stage. Xander Shows Me My Prostate struck a fantastic balance between his unmistakably erotic flair and a genuine love story. What I appreciated most is that, even within a romance framework, nothing felt conventional. The result was refreshing and surprisingly tender.
Luka and Xander’s journey is rooted in sexual exploration and self-discovery, pairing an experienced partner with someone navigating many firsts. That contrast fuels the entire dynamic.
I especially loved living inside Luka’s head throughout the novel. He’s soft, endearing, a little naïve, and deeply human. After coming from Lincoln’s POV in Riley’s Basement (yes, I’m still thinking about him), the shift was striking. Luka’s vulnerability made me want to wrap him up and help him build confidence. Several moments where his self-doubt surfaced genuinely tugged at my heart.
It’s always impressive when an author makes me fall hard for a character without giving me their POV — and Xander absolutely stole the show. He was incredible with Luka, endlessly attentive, generous with praise, and completely undone by him. Watching how deeply Luka occupied his thoughts was beautiful.
Together, they were both achingly sweet and next-level steamy. Alex Pendragon truly delivers when it comes to spice — no holding back.
I loved almost everything about this book: the unapologetic heat, but also the quieter scenes where Luka and Xander simply talked and connected. Those moments grounded the story and made the intimacy hit even harder.
There were a few instances where certain ideas felt slightly repetitive, but nothing that diminished my enjoyment.
Special mention goes to Dan, Luka’s best friend. He reminded me a lot of Lincoln from Riley’s Basement — perpetually horny and unapologetically obsessed with sex. I’m already excited for his book; it promises to be one hell of a ride. 😆 Very likely my next Alex Pendragon read.
Added to listOpposites Attractwith 2 books.
Added to listForced proximitywith 1 book.
Added to listGrumpy sunshinewith 1 book.
Added to listSports romancewith 1 book.