When returning on the ice means facing your past.

Synopsis

When falling in love comes with the risk of falling flat on your face …

Former Olympic skating champion Katie Saunders is well known for her ‘ice queen’ persona in the press. On the face of it, perhaps Katie should have forgiven her former skating partner and ex-boyfriend, Alex Michaelson, for the accident that shattered both her ankle and their Olympic dreams – but she just can’t seem to let it go.
When Katie reluctantly agrees to take part in a new TV skating show, it’s only because she’s desperate for cash. What she didn’t count on is the drama – not only is she partnered up with infamous love rat rugby player Jamie Welsh, but one of the judges is none other than Alex Michaelson himself.
As the show progresses, will Katie be shown the hard way, once again, that romance on the ice should remain strictly off-limits?

My review

Former Olympic skating champion Katie Saunders is hitting rock bottom. Her time of fame and fortune is well over after a skating accident that destroyed her career. And it doesn’t help that she appears to be a real ice queen.
When opportunity arises to be back in the spotlight in a new TV show, she reluctantly accepts, as she sees no other option to survive. But not only is she being partnered up with rugby player Jamie Welsh, also one of the judges is Alex Michaelson, the man she holds responsible for destroying her career.

Who of us has never watched a show like ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ or ‘Dancing On Ice’ or however such shows are called in your country?
So having the opportunity to read a book about such a show, surely had my interest.
However this book is not all the glitter and glam we see in such shows.

When I got to know Katie’s story, the first emotion I had, was one of pity. I can only imagine how it feels when your dream suddenly falls apart. But it’s not only the never skating again, but also being alone, and being depicted as an ice queen, unable to forgive and forget.
And I had some difficulties understating her, why she couldn’t forgive Alex. Because it’s all in the past now, I didn’t see the point of holding a grudge.

When she discovers who her partner is, I knew sparks would fly around. And not in a positive way! They are total opposites and  Jamie has his own reputation flushed down the drain. He not only ruined the chance of winning the World Cup, but everyone sees him as a cheater, ruining his own marriage.

But slowly, the more our icing couple progresses in the show, the more secrets are revealed and truths are coming out.
And not all is what it seemed. Katie’s story was a heart – breaking one. Without giving too much away, let me just tell you that once you know what happened to her, you’ll completely understand why she acts in certain ways.
What happened to her, is just cringe – worthy, and I’m not just talking about the accident.
She went through things nobody should ever be going through. And as she had nobody in her corner, made it even more terrible.
And Jamie’s story is not heart – breaking at the same level as Katie’s yet is was also a sad one.

Skating together created a certain intimacy between our characters, and they have to learn to trust each other. They need to be sure they won’t let each other fall, literally and figuratively. Thanks to the ice skating, they get closer and dare to open up and they are ready to share their story.

This story is about second chances,  but also about speaking up. Fear has the ability of making us hold back. But we all should be able to speak up, without being afraid for repercussions. And with the right people by your side, redemption can be found. And not only that, but also learning to trust and love again.

A heart – breaking yet also heart – warming story that it’s never too late and that people will see your true colours and will appreciate you and your efforts even more!