Off the Ice

3.75 stars--OFF THE ICE is the fourth instalment in LP Dover’s contemporary, adult BREAKAWAY hockey, romance series focusing on the men and women of the Charlotte Strikers, professional hockey team. This is all-star center / reality TV star Justin Davis, and single mother/ primary school teacher Meghan Taylor’s story line. OFF THE ICE can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Justin and Meghan) OFF THE ICE follows the building relationship between all-star center / reality TV star Justin Davis, and single mother/ primary school teacher Meghan Taylor. The Charlotte Strikers have just won their second Stanley Cup, and Justin is desperate for some down time in the wake of the televised break-up with his ‘reality TV fiancee’ Miranda Davenport- a spoiled rich heiress whose father pulls the purse strings of many of Hollywood’s leading producers. Time alone to work on his newly acquired Wyoming ranch finds Justin face to face with his future, neighboring rancher, single mother and primary school teacher Meghan Taylor. What ensues is the building but secret relationship between Meghan and Justin, and the potential fall-out as the end of summer approaches, and Justin heads back to get ready for the upcoming hockey season.

Justin Davis is a former bachelor reality star whose personal life had spiralled out of control when the woman he chose made his life a living h*ll. One year later Justin proclaims the end of their relationship on national TV, then ventures to Wyoming for some well-deserved R&R where he will meet single mother Meghan Taylor. Hoping to protect her daughter from the prying eyes of the media, Meghan and Justin keep their relationship on the down-low until the couple find themselves on the front pages of the local rags.

The relationship between Meghan and Justin is one of immediate attraction. Meghan has loved and lost, but isn’t willing to risk her daughter’s happiness for a few weeks of $ex and fun; Justin is hoping for his own happily ever after. The $ex scenes are passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

Most of the previous story line couples play secondary and supporting characters including Maddox Ledger and Lacey Easton (Playmaker #3) and Dallas Easton and Justin’s sister Callie Davis (Blocked #2). We are introduced to Meghan’s daughter Ellie, and Meghan’s sister Kimberly.

The world building follows the building romance and love between Meghan and Justin, as well as the potential fall-out of Justin’s aborted relationship between Justin and Miranda.

OFF THE ICE is a fast paced, story of romance and love, friends and family. The premise is engaging and captivating; the characters are colorful and real; the romance is spirited and true. The story line conflict is limited. OFF THE ICE is a welcome addition to LP Dover’s BREAKAWAY series.

Justin plays in the NHL and he was on a reality bachelor show on TV ... every woman’s bad boy crush. But he needs a break from it all, so he buys a ranch in Wyoming. Meghan’s husband died 8 years ago while serving his country in Afghanistan. Meghan and their daughter Ellie still live on the ranch and Meghan is a school teacher. When Justin and Meghan meet, their chemistry is too hard to resist, so they agree to a summer affair and then they will part ways.

This is a sweet romance and the characters are very likeable, but everything is very predictable. And for being a romance with a hockey player ... there’s actually next to no hockey on the book. I did like that the author chose for Meghan to be a mother and that Ellie was a sweet little girl.

I received an ARC courtesy of the author in exchange for a honest review.