Smexy Books

Romance and Urban Fantasy Reviews

  • Review Request
  • Contact
    • Smexy Reviewers Profiles
    • New Reviewer Application
    • Contact
  • Advertising
  • Home
  • Reviews
    • By Genre
      • BDSM
      • Contemporary
      • Erotic
      • Fantasy
      • F/F
      • Historical Romance
      • Historical PNR
      • LGBTQ+
      • M/M Romance
      • New Adult
      • Urban Fantasy
      • Paranormal Romance
      • Sci-Fi
      • Romantic Suspense
      • Young Adult
    • By Letter Grade Rating
      • A Reviews
      • B Reviews
      • C Reviews
      • D Reviews
      • DNF Reviews
  • Features
    • New Releases
    • Smexy Deals!
    • Retro Review
    • Weekly Wrap-Up
    • Blog Tour
    • Scenic Sunday
    • To Be Read
    • Guest Post
    • Top Ten/Happy Friday
    • Smex Scene Sunday
  • The Psy/Changeling Channel
You are here: Home / Berkley / Review: Melting The Ice by Jaci Burton

Review: Melting The Ice by Jaci Burton

February 6, 2014 by Tori 6 Comments

17338293Melting The Ice (Play by Play, #7) by Jaci Burton
Romance Contemporary
Paperback, 336 pages
February 4, 2014
Berkely Heat

Reviewed by Tori

Favorite Quote: I definitely see you. Can you see me?

Carolina Preston is finally seeing her dreams come true. Getting ready to launch her own designer fashion line, she only needs one more thing to make it a success…Drew Hogan. But she and Drew have a past that led to her embarrassment and heartbreak in college so she decides to let sleeping dogs lie. When Carolina’s brother Gray informs Drew that she needs his help modeling her clothing, Carolina finds herself having to shore up her heart against the one man who has the ability to hurt her all over again.

Drew Hogan, professional hockey player, regrets hurting Carolina so long ago. He admits that back in college, he acted like a jerk and didn’t handle the gift she had given him very well. Now Drew has a another chance. He is older, wiser, and knows that the boy who wanted her so long ago is now the man who is able to handle the love  that was there all along.

First, everyone must take a minute to pet and drool over the cover. *pets softly*

*wiping mouth* Good. Now for my review.

Melting the Ice, number seven in Burton’s sexy sports romance series, brings us Gray Preston’s little sister Carolina and his best friend, Drew Hogan for a lightweight second chance romance. Though enjoyable, this wasn’t as addictive. Since Playing To Win, I’ve noticed Burton’s books have undergone a transformation. Softer edges and less volatile characters produces more emotionally based romances without the intense external and internal conflicts that were seen with the Riley siblings. I will admit to missing the deliciously dirty sex scenes that were abundant and varied in the first three books. Regardless, Melting The Ice gives us a sweet romance that, though simplistic in its evolution and resolution, is enjoyable on the whole.

Our protagonists, Carolina and Drew, are extremely similar in their character makeup. Intelligent, loyal, and witty with a lack of the usual deep seated emotional baggage that often sparks the tension and must have misunderstandings in these romances. Though hard working, their well balanced personalities and dry humor sparks throughout the story, helping their burgeoning romance by using the tools and attitude that can only come with age. Drew’s confident and easy going outlook on life was the perfect foil for Carolina’s more quiet nature.

Getting both protagonists points of view allows us an intimate view of their thoughts and emotions concerning their growing romance. We learn what happened so long ago and how both have changed in the years that have passed. Burton doesn’t make it easy for Drew to recapture Carolina’s trust but neither is it a never ending drama fest. He admits he was wrong in how he handled her years ago but his reasons were solid and he is honest in his apologizes to Carolina.

The storyline is relatively straight forward. Seamless writing and engaging dialogue makes the progression of the romance smooth and steady. Drew wants another chance and spends his time teasing, cajoling, and subtly pushing his way back into Carolina’s life and bed. Carolina isn’t so sure she can handle Drew being anywhere around her, but slowly begins to open up to him; first in bed then in her heart. The subplots, Drew and Carolina’s respective careers and the pressures involved, intertwine effortlessly into the main conflict and show that with some work and honest communication, you can have your cake and eat it too. The sex scenes, while frequent and inventive, lacked the intensity and heat of the previous books. Certain phrases repeated with each encounter and I found they didn’t engage me much past the second excerpt. Though, I did like the exhibitionist vibe. It played well against the nice and well behaved tone that prevalent in our characters.

As this storyline follows friends of the Riley’s we don’t get to see any of that rambunctious family but we do get to spend time with Gray and his fiancee and previous characters are mentioned in various conversations. Some new characters are introduced whose story lines look to be in the making for future books; plus, we are given the intro to book number eight-Straddling The Line– which involves a dual sports star and his childhood mentor’s daughter. Looks yummy. Book eight is set to release July 1, 2014.

As always, Burton’s contemporary romances offer a pleasant respite from the banalities of everyday life. I look forward to reading more about her sexy sports heroes who play hard on and off the field and the woman who are more than able to handle them.

Rating: C+

Prior Jaci Burton Reviews

Recent Reviews:
Cocktails and Books
Reading With Style

Goodreads I Author Website I Series List

Amazon I Barnes & Noble

 

Share this:

  • Tweet
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit
  • Click to share on Mastodon (Opens in new window) Mastodon
  • More
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window) WhatsApp

Like this:

Like Loading...

Related

Filed Under: Berkley, C Review, Contemporary Romance, Jaci Burton

Comments

  1. Nancy Mcgregor says

    February 6, 2014 at 2:44 pm

    I don’t think I’ll bother then. I’ve noticed a drop in the sexy bits and more dull romance filler. I think I’ll stick to Lorelei James.

    Loading...
    Reply
    • Tori says

      February 7, 2014 at 7:24 am

      It’s still a good book, just not quite as wild and dirty as the Rileys.

      Loading...
      Reply
  2. Jamie Beck says

    February 6, 2014 at 3:33 pm

    Yes, that is a nice cover. Unlike the prior comment, I actually don’t consider non-sex stuff “filler.” I want relationship building and romance in my romance books. Otherwise, I’d just go buy porn. This balance you describe in this book might actually work for me. I’m going to download a sample today. Thanks.

    Loading...
    Reply
    • Tori says

      February 7, 2014 at 7:25 am

      Hope you enjoy. :)

      Loading...
      Reply
  3. Patoct says

    February 7, 2014 at 8:11 am

    On my list. As always, love the covers.

    Loading...
    Reply
    • Tori says

      February 7, 2014 at 9:24 am

      Her covers are to die for. Hope you enjoy!

      Loading...
      Reply

Leave a ReplyCancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Welcome to Smexy! If you are reader feel free to use our search feature to find a specific book or browse through our features to find Smexy Deals, New Releases, and book news!

As an Amazon Associate, we do earn from qualifying purchases. We also earn a small commission on affiliate links to Apple, Barnes and Noble, Smashwords,  Booksamillion, and Bookshop,org.

 

Shop our Affiliates!

Amazon

B&N

Apple

Smashwords

Booksamillion

Angela

Melanie

Jen

Kate

Iby

Kate H.

Sign Up for Daily Emails


Thank you!

You have successfully joined our subscriber list.

.

Follow Us!

Follow Us on FacebookFollow Us on TwitterFollow Us on Instagram

Top Posts & Pages

  • Smexy Deals- Deals for books by Lyla Sage, Maisey Yates, Sherry Thomas, and more!
    Smexy Deals- Deals for books by Lyla Sage, Maisey Yates, Sherry Thomas, and more!
  • New Releases- Week of June 2-6, 2025
    New Releases- Week of June 2-6, 2025
  • Review: Archangel's Ascension by Nalini Singh
    Review: Archangel's Ascension by Nalini Singh
  • Review: All Superheroes Need PR by Elizabeth Stephens
    Review: All Superheroes Need PR by Elizabeth Stephens
  • Smexy’s Top Ten Favorite Sex Scenes of 2012
    Smexy’s Top Ten Favorite Sex Scenes of 2012
  • Review: Manacled by SenLinYu
    Review: Manacled by SenLinYu
  • Review: The Last Letter by Rebecca Yarros
    Review: The Last Letter by Rebecca Yarros
  • Review: The Plated Prisoner Series by Raven Kennedy
    Review: The Plated Prisoner Series by Raven Kennedy
  • Smex Scene Sunday
    Smex Scene Sunday
  • Review: The Road Trip by Beth O'Leary
    Review: The Road Trip by Beth O'Leary

Disclosure

The majority of the books reviewed at this site have been provided for free by publishers, authors, or other third parties like NetGalley or Edelweiss. Acceptance of a free copy does not guarantee a review or a positive review.

As an Amazon Associate, we do earn from qualifying purchases. We also earn a small commission on affiliate links to Apple, Barnes and Noble, Smashwords, and Booksamillion.

Shop our Affiliates!

Amazon

B&N

Apple

Smashwords

Booksamillion

 

Find Our Reviewers

Angela @fv-angela.bsky.social l Goodreads

Melanie @melonreads.bsky.social l  Goodreads

Jen .@thebooknista l Goodreads

Kate  @kateminasian l Goodreads

Iby Instagram l Goodreads

Kate H. @Naranjadia l Goodreads

Copyright © 2025 · Beautiful Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

 

Loading Comments...
 

    %d