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Ice #1
Crossing the Ice
Falling hard never felt so good.
Pair skaters Courtney and Mark have one shot left at their Olympic dream. They vow not to let anything get in their way, especially not Josh and Stephanie, the wealthy and talented brother and sister team.
The heart doesn’t always listen to reason, though…
The more time Courtney spends with sweet, shy Josh, the harder she falls for him. But they are on opposite sides of the competition, and their futures are headed in opposite directions. Will their friendship blossom into more or are their paths too different to cross?
After you finish the book, read the bonus epilogue here! http://bit.ly/1nGYTO0
Pair skaters Courtney and Mark have one shot left at their Olympic dream. They vow not to let anything get in their way, especially not Josh and Stephanie, the wealthy and talented brother and sister team.
The heart doesn’t always listen to reason, though…
The more time Courtney spends with sweet, shy Josh, the harder she falls for him. But they are on opposite sides of the competition, and their futures are headed in opposite directions. Will their friendship blossom into more or are their paths too different to cross?
After you finish the book, read the bonus epilogue here! http://bit.ly/1nGYTO0
308 pages, Paperback
First published August 7, 2014
116 people are currently reading
2477 people want to read
About the author
Jennifer Comeaux
9 books598 followersJennifer Comeaux is a tax accountant by day, writer by night. There aren’t any ice rinks near her home in south Louisiana, but she’s a diehard figure skating fan and loves to write stories of romance set in the world of competitive skating. One of her favorite pastimes is traveling to competitions, where she can experience all the glitz and drama that inspire her writing. When she's not writing, traveling, or calculating taxes, you can find her feeding her television addiction.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 209 reviews
March 31, 2015
I discovered Jennifer Comeuax by a happy accident when I stumbled upon her first book Life On The Edge. She writes sweet and clean romances with New Adult aged characters that stand out differently than most other NA because her characters don't follow the same old tropes or issues so often found there. Her romances center around strong athletic girls in the world of Figure Skating.
Crossing The Ice is a companion series to Jennifer Comeaux's Edge Series but can be read as a stand alone. This story picks up years after the Edge series ends. If you read that series then you will remember Courtney who was one of Emily's first young pair skaters to coach with Sergei. Here she is all grown up and in her year leading up to the Olympics. I won't restate the summary since it is written right under the book title above.
I have enjoyed all of this author's books, but I think this one is my new favorite. I liked the dynamics between the various characters and the unexpected twists thrown our way. The problems are all realistic and the characters react in realistic ways that I felt right along side them. No over the top manufactured angst here. Instead, you get a realistic emotions and events. I was especially impressed with the way the book climax played out and how I felt everything Courtney felt right along side of her.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who is looking to read a clean romance that is of the sweet variety with empowered, strong heroines. Josh is a nice guy beta hero which, for me, was another thing that made this book stand out in a good way. He is very unique from a lot of heros in that he is quiet and even a bit shy. I like diversity in my heros. I am really tired of all those controlling, dominating, violent alpha guys New Adult keeps trying to pass off as heros so this was a breath of fresh air.
Crossing The Ice is a companion series to Jennifer Comeaux's Edge Series but can be read as a stand alone. This story picks up years after the Edge series ends. If you read that series then you will remember Courtney who was one of Emily's first young pair skaters to coach with Sergei. Here she is all grown up and in her year leading up to the Olympics. I won't restate the summary since it is written right under the book title above.
I have enjoyed all of this author's books, but I think this one is my new favorite. I liked the dynamics between the various characters and the unexpected twists thrown our way. The problems are all realistic and the characters react in realistic ways that I felt right along side them. No over the top manufactured angst here. Instead, you get a realistic emotions and events. I was especially impressed with the way the book climax played out and how I felt everything Courtney felt right along side of her.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who is looking to read a clean romance that is of the sweet variety with empowered, strong heroines. Josh is a nice guy beta hero which, for me, was another thing that made this book stand out in a good way. He is very unique from a lot of heros in that he is quiet and even a bit shy. I like diversity in my heros. I am really tired of all those controlling, dominating, violent alpha guys New Adult keeps trying to pass off as heros so this was a breath of fresh air.
July 6, 2016
This is the perfect kind of cheer-me-up book, believe me. It has great romance, an interesting plot, and a passion shared by most of the characters, which I love in books. There's just something about passionate characters that I adore, and I was more than satisfied with this book. While the characters in this particular novel are very intense, sometimes a little bit too much, about their Olympic dream, it was refreshing to read about ambitious characters who take sports seriously.
I might as well be dead from all the feelings this book gave me! The romance is swoon-worthy and it's really well done. I loved the chemistry between the characters and I do think that this is more than your typical forbidden love story.
The only disappointment I had regarding this book is about the fact that it's part of a series - I know, it doesn't really make sense. I should have known this beforehand, but I didn't really look up this book before reading it. It's not that I dislike series, but I do prefer some types of books as stand-alones rather than as series. This novel could have been a stand-alone, in my opinion, so I'm not entirely sure if I'll read the rest of the series, even though it's probably really good. It's just me being weird, really.
I'd definitely recommend this novel, especially if you're into ice skating!
Thank you NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I might as well be dead from all the feelings this book gave me! The romance is swoon-worthy and it's really well done. I loved the chemistry between the characters and I do think that this is more than your typical forbidden love story.
The only disappointment I had regarding this book is about the fact that it's part of a series - I know, it doesn't really make sense. I should have known this beforehand, but I didn't really look up this book before reading it. It's not that I dislike series, but I do prefer some types of books as stand-alones rather than as series. This novel could have been a stand-alone, in my opinion, so I'm not entirely sure if I'll read the rest of the series, even though it's probably really good. It's just me being weird, really.
I'd definitely recommend this novel, especially if you're into ice skating!
Thank you NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
January 29, 2015
I've only recently discovered the wonderful thing that is audiobooks. Only a few months back I listened to my first one and was hooked. However I do find that my enjoyment has a lot to do with the narrator. If it's not how I imagined, I can find my mind drifting a little while I'm reading. But I didn't have that problem once with Crossing the Ice. Emily Stokes did a wonderful job of alternating voices so that I was never in doubt over who was speaking. I especially loved Sergei's voice. She also expertly captured each characters different emotions, and it was so easy to be swept away in the story.
I'm not shy in admitting that I have a real thing for bad boys. They're usually a little broken and I find myself really attracted to that. But let me tell you, the shy and quiet type may just be my new thing. I adored the ease with which Josh's cheeks reddened, but I also loved experiencing his comfort and Joy at being with Courtney. Josh was just so, so beautiful, and sweet, and caring, and loving. When a guy treats a girl the way that Josh treated Court, it was impossible not to want to swoon at his feet.
I also really Liked Courtney. She was competitive and dedicated and committed to her dream of getting to the olympics. She was sweet and she loved completely and always tried her hardest to make everyone around her comfortable.
Although Crossing the Ice is listed as New Adult it had a real YA sweetness about it. But don't get me wrong, while there was no overly descriptive scenes, in fact it was a very clean read, there was lots and lots of kissing. Lots of yummy kissing.
I absolutely loved the competition of the ice skating in this book. There were times I was sitting on the edge of my seat just waiting for the scores to be revealed after a skate. There was tension and joy and plenty of ups and downs.
I didn't realise until after I finished listening to this that it was a spin off of The Edge series. But let me say that it in no way made any difference that I've jumped straight in with this one. But I will definitely be going back and picking up the other series for a read.
I must make mention of one issue with the audiobook, although it is no fault of the authors, in one of the early chapters it kept backtracking and repeating lines over and over, and it got to the point that I just had to skip forward past that chapter. But that was the only issue with my whole listening experience.
Crossing the Ice really snuck up on me and grabbed me. It was sweet, with touches of heat, there was tension to hold my interest and a really beautiful romance. I'm really excited to see what comes next for Court and Josh.
"He's simply adorable. I could put him on a cracker. "
4/5 Sweet Josh Tucker Stars.
I'm not shy in admitting that I have a real thing for bad boys. They're usually a little broken and I find myself really attracted to that. But let me tell you, the shy and quiet type may just be my new thing. I adored the ease with which Josh's cheeks reddened, but I also loved experiencing his comfort and Joy at being with Courtney. Josh was just so, so beautiful, and sweet, and caring, and loving. When a guy treats a girl the way that Josh treated Court, it was impossible not to want to swoon at his feet.
I also really Liked Courtney. She was competitive and dedicated and committed to her dream of getting to the olympics. She was sweet and she loved completely and always tried her hardest to make everyone around her comfortable.
Although Crossing the Ice is listed as New Adult it had a real YA sweetness about it. But don't get me wrong, while there was no overly descriptive scenes, in fact it was a very clean read, there was lots and lots of kissing. Lots of yummy kissing.
I absolutely loved the competition of the ice skating in this book. There were times I was sitting on the edge of my seat just waiting for the scores to be revealed after a skate. There was tension and joy and plenty of ups and downs.
I didn't realise until after I finished listening to this that it was a spin off of The Edge series. But let me say that it in no way made any difference that I've jumped straight in with this one. But I will definitely be going back and picking up the other series for a read.
I must make mention of one issue with the audiobook, although it is no fault of the authors, in one of the early chapters it kept backtracking and repeating lines over and over, and it got to the point that I just had to skip forward past that chapter. But that was the only issue with my whole listening experience.
Crossing the Ice really snuck up on me and grabbed me. It was sweet, with touches of heat, there was tension to hold my interest and a really beautiful romance. I'm really excited to see what comes next for Court and Josh.
"He's simply adorable. I could put him on a cracker. "
4/5 Sweet Josh Tucker Stars.
October 16, 2015
I received a digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. To see the full post, please go to my website at this link: http://www.themoralofourstories.com/b...
Forbidden love – it’s a tale as old as time. The heart has a funny way of choosing the one person we think we should stay away from and earnestly begin to yearn for. Especially when the stakes are high, and you have everything to lose.
This story revolves around the lives of pair ice skaters Courtney and Mark. These two are dedicated athletes who have poured everything they have into their art, and the refuse to let anything stop them, including their arch rivals. Stephanie and Josh are a force to be reckoned with both on and off the rink. But as fate and love would have it, Josh slowly begins to melt the ice around Courtney’s heart, and she quickly finds herself in the direst place a driven woman can. She is faced with the difficult decision of having to choose what is the most important to her, and that struggle is perfectly depicted in this work.
I adored the way Jennifer Comeaux fashioned her characters. Each one is filled with intense drive and purpose, determined to reach their goals no matter what stands in their way. Comeaux is inventively clever by weaving each of the individual’s paths together. No path is clear, and each member of this story must encounter obstacles to reach their desired destination. More often than not, these obstacles were people, and even more terrifying, their feelings about the people they once thought they could mow over without a second thought.
The voice of Courtney stood out to me immensely. Of course, her name is PERFECT (I felt like I was in a book!) but so is her personality. She thinks exactly like a real woman would, especially one that is trying to sort out the mess her heart seems to have created of her professional career. It always seems it is so much more difficult for women to manage their professional and personal lives, and my thoughts on that is because we never want to let anyone down, including ourselves. Courtney perfectly embodies this thought in a light and realistic way that I instantly fell in love with.
I also fell hard for Josh. His tone and charisma swept me and my book counterpart off of our feet in a matter of mere pages, it just took some time to realize it. He is the perfect book boyfriend, and I was so sad to have the book end as it meant my relationship with Josh was over by extension. However, I will let him live on in my heart long down the line, and he has most certainly made my top book boyfriend list.
This book was a fast paced read and very light hearted. It was an enjoyable read in which I could just melt into this world and leave my cares behind. Comeaux has created a beautiful world to get lost in for a while, and I plan on visiting again very soon.
I give this book 4 out of 5 stars. This was a very sweet, happy romance novel that was more than well done. It was structurally sound as well as exquisitely penned. This was my first book by Comeaux, but I know for certain it will not be my last.
Forbidden love – it’s a tale as old as time. The heart has a funny way of choosing the one person we think we should stay away from and earnestly begin to yearn for. Especially when the stakes are high, and you have everything to lose.
This story revolves around the lives of pair ice skaters Courtney and Mark. These two are dedicated athletes who have poured everything they have into their art, and the refuse to let anything stop them, including their arch rivals. Stephanie and Josh are a force to be reckoned with both on and off the rink. But as fate and love would have it, Josh slowly begins to melt the ice around Courtney’s heart, and she quickly finds herself in the direst place a driven woman can. She is faced with the difficult decision of having to choose what is the most important to her, and that struggle is perfectly depicted in this work.
I adored the way Jennifer Comeaux fashioned her characters. Each one is filled with intense drive and purpose, determined to reach their goals no matter what stands in their way. Comeaux is inventively clever by weaving each of the individual’s paths together. No path is clear, and each member of this story must encounter obstacles to reach their desired destination. More often than not, these obstacles were people, and even more terrifying, their feelings about the people they once thought they could mow over without a second thought.
The voice of Courtney stood out to me immensely. Of course, her name is PERFECT (I felt like I was in a book!) but so is her personality. She thinks exactly like a real woman would, especially one that is trying to sort out the mess her heart seems to have created of her professional career. It always seems it is so much more difficult for women to manage their professional and personal lives, and my thoughts on that is because we never want to let anyone down, including ourselves. Courtney perfectly embodies this thought in a light and realistic way that I instantly fell in love with.
I also fell hard for Josh. His tone and charisma swept me and my book counterpart off of our feet in a matter of mere pages, it just took some time to realize it. He is the perfect book boyfriend, and I was so sad to have the book end as it meant my relationship with Josh was over by extension. However, I will let him live on in my heart long down the line, and he has most certainly made my top book boyfriend list.
This book was a fast paced read and very light hearted. It was an enjoyable read in which I could just melt into this world and leave my cares behind. Comeaux has created a beautiful world to get lost in for a while, and I plan on visiting again very soon.
I give this book 4 out of 5 stars. This was a very sweet, happy romance novel that was more than well done. It was structurally sound as well as exquisitely penned. This was my first book by Comeaux, but I know for certain it will not be my last.
January 15, 2015
I should go on the record- I'm not a big user of audiobooks. That being said, I made an exception when I came across Crossing the Ice. I helped take part in a book blitz for the book awhile back, and was eagerly awaiting the chance to read (or listen to) it. For reason unbeknownst to me, I absolutely adore books with sports themes. Ice skating falls snugly right into that category. This is my first reading experience from Jennifer Comeaux, but I hope it won't be the last. This hit the spot.
I feel like this book is really well informed. I have not ever been involved with ice skating more than a just-for-fun skate at a rink set up here in Chicago for the Christmas season. That said, I'm relatively unversed in the topic, save for what I have picked up from watching the Olympics over the years. But I was never confused throughout this story set in the competitive skating world, and honestly I probably walked away learning a thing or two about it. It's clear to me that the author knows way more about it than I do, and did her research, which makes for a better setting and deeper story.
I also really liked the characters. You feel for them, whether you love or hate them (and you will hate some). I liked that Courtney stood her ground and went after what she wanted, both on and off the ice. I also loved Josh. He's so sweet and coy and I would like to just carry him around in my pocket with me. ....And then there's Stephanie. -glare- That's all I'll say about that for fear of giving away spoilers.
As for the audiobook itself, it had its ups and downs. I think the narrator's voice was pleasant enough, and it held my attention throughout most of the story. However, there were a few times where it was awkwardly paused or stumbled over, I felt. Over all it was easy to listen to, but it wasn't anything to necessarily write home about either.
I'd recommend this to anyone in the mood for a new adult romantic comedy or anyone who has an interest or affinity for ice skating or competition. Thanks so much to YA Bound Book Tours and Jennifer Comeaux who provided me with an audiobook in exchange for my honest review.
This review can also be found on my blog, Bitches n Prose.
I feel like this book is really well informed. I have not ever been involved with ice skating more than a just-for-fun skate at a rink set up here in Chicago for the Christmas season. That said, I'm relatively unversed in the topic, save for what I have picked up from watching the Olympics over the years. But I was never confused throughout this story set in the competitive skating world, and honestly I probably walked away learning a thing or two about it. It's clear to me that the author knows way more about it than I do, and did her research, which makes for a better setting and deeper story.
I also really liked the characters. You feel for them, whether you love or hate them (and you will hate some). I liked that Courtney stood her ground and went after what she wanted, both on and off the ice. I also loved Josh. He's so sweet and coy and I would like to just carry him around in my pocket with me. ....And then there's Stephanie. -glare- That's all I'll say about that for fear of giving away spoilers.
As for the audiobook itself, it had its ups and downs. I think the narrator's voice was pleasant enough, and it held my attention throughout most of the story. However, there were a few times where it was awkwardly paused or stumbled over, I felt. Over all it was easy to listen to, but it wasn't anything to necessarily write home about either.
I'd recommend this to anyone in the mood for a new adult romantic comedy or anyone who has an interest or affinity for ice skating or competition. Thanks so much to YA Bound Book Tours and Jennifer Comeaux who provided me with an audiobook in exchange for my honest review.
This review can also be found on my blog, Bitches n Prose.
July 30, 2014
“I’ve always wondered what it would be like to skate with someone you’re dating,” I said. “If there would be just this crazy amount of energy.”
Josh turned to me and held my gaze. “I bet it would feel incredible.”
**
A few years have passed since we last left off and Courtney is all grown up and living her dream. She is well on her way to the Olympics with her partner Mark at her side. Then the unthinkable happens. She is forced to work side by side with her competitors...day in and day out. Soon feelings start developing between Josh and Court and there is nothing they can do to stop it. How on earth could a relationship work with so much stacked against it? Courtney and Josh are about to find out the hard way.
I love being back in Comeaux's world of skating. The Edge series she wrote is one of my all-time favorites ever and I got absolutely giddy when I started reading this one. Seeing Emily and Sergei again....seeing old characters get their own story, experiencing some of the best and sweetest romance I have ever read before...it was great to be back.
You fall and you fall hard for these characters and soon you realize they are a part of you. You care about them and want the best for them as well. And seeing them go through the sweet stuff makes a reader’s heart melt. But seeing them go through the rough spots, hurts you too. There was a scene towards the end of the book that had me tearing up. I hurt for two characters and what they were dealing with. And it wasn't what was happening between Court and Josh. Actually it was happening between Court and Emily. They've been through it all and in the end it just festered to a nasty head. And I am not going to lie...it hurt me as the reader to read that part. But Comeaux handled it like a boss and gave us a story that everyone is going to love.
The romance was beautiful. It had me excited to see new love emerging, even if it was sort of forbidden. Courtney and Josh have a long road ahead of them as they try to evade their feelings through most of the book and move on with their lives as if these feelings they were experiencing were not there. But in the end, I couldn't have asked for a more real, more believable read.
Most definitely pick this book up and give it a go. 5 Beautiful Stars!
Josh turned to me and held my gaze. “I bet it would feel incredible.”
**
A few years have passed since we last left off and Courtney is all grown up and living her dream. She is well on her way to the Olympics with her partner Mark at her side. Then the unthinkable happens. She is forced to work side by side with her competitors...day in and day out. Soon feelings start developing between Josh and Court and there is nothing they can do to stop it. How on earth could a relationship work with so much stacked against it? Courtney and Josh are about to find out the hard way.
I love being back in Comeaux's world of skating. The Edge series she wrote is one of my all-time favorites ever and I got absolutely giddy when I started reading this one. Seeing Emily and Sergei again....seeing old characters get their own story, experiencing some of the best and sweetest romance I have ever read before...it was great to be back.
You fall and you fall hard for these characters and soon you realize they are a part of you. You care about them and want the best for them as well. And seeing them go through the sweet stuff makes a reader’s heart melt. But seeing them go through the rough spots, hurts you too. There was a scene towards the end of the book that had me tearing up. I hurt for two characters and what they were dealing with. And it wasn't what was happening between Court and Josh. Actually it was happening between Court and Emily. They've been through it all and in the end it just festered to a nasty head. And I am not going to lie...it hurt me as the reader to read that part. But Comeaux handled it like a boss and gave us a story that everyone is going to love.
The romance was beautiful. It had me excited to see new love emerging, even if it was sort of forbidden. Courtney and Josh have a long road ahead of them as they try to evade their feelings through most of the book and move on with their lives as if these feelings they were experiencing were not there. But in the end, I couldn't have asked for a more real, more believable read.
Most definitely pick this book up and give it a go. 5 Beautiful Stars!
January 23, 2015
Did I enjoy this book: I did enjoy Crossing the Ice. I loved Ms. Comeaux’s Edge series, and I couldn’t wait to read the first book in this spinoff series.
It started off a bit slow. It took me a bit to get into the story, and I’m not exactly sure why. That may have been a personal reading issue. I’m not sure. However, once I got into the story, I didn’t want to put it down.
Courtney and Mark are trying their best to achieve their dream. You can’t help but root for them. I wanted them to skate their best, to do their best. I was behind them immediately. I didn’t like Mark’s attitude toward their training mates, but I understood it. They tried their best to make the most out of an awkward situation.
I loved Josh. He was my favorite. And I could just see he and Courtney together. If only this were a movie, it would be fantastic to watch unfold. So romantic. So sweet. I’m jealous of Josh’s piano playing ability. I have never been able to play by ear–put a piece of music in front me, and I can play it; but play a piece of music, and I cannot replicate it. Anyway, I love their friendship, their past, their wishes/hopes, and their future.
I loved Emily’s and Sergei’s roles in this book. Emily really grew up from the Edge series. It made me happy to see them coaching together. And their twins!! So cute. Personal preference, I don’t like reading baby talk. I don’t speak it to my kids. It is cute when relayed or heard from them, but to read it, it’s a bit awkward. But there wasn’t that much of it. So, it was okay.
The ending was fantastic. I loved it. I can’t wait for the next book. I need to know what happens!!!
Would I recommend it: Yes, especially if you love romance and figure skating. I can’t wait for the next book!
Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
http://everyfreechance.com/2014/08/ch...
It started off a bit slow. It took me a bit to get into the story, and I’m not exactly sure why. That may have been a personal reading issue. I’m not sure. However, once I got into the story, I didn’t want to put it down.
Courtney and Mark are trying their best to achieve their dream. You can’t help but root for them. I wanted them to skate their best, to do their best. I was behind them immediately. I didn’t like Mark’s attitude toward their training mates, but I understood it. They tried their best to make the most out of an awkward situation.
I loved Josh. He was my favorite. And I could just see he and Courtney together. If only this were a movie, it would be fantastic to watch unfold. So romantic. So sweet. I’m jealous of Josh’s piano playing ability. I have never been able to play by ear–put a piece of music in front me, and I can play it; but play a piece of music, and I cannot replicate it. Anyway, I love their friendship, their past, their wishes/hopes, and their future.
I loved Emily’s and Sergei’s roles in this book. Emily really grew up from the Edge series. It made me happy to see them coaching together. And their twins!! So cute. Personal preference, I don’t like reading baby talk. I don’t speak it to my kids. It is cute when relayed or heard from them, but to read it, it’s a bit awkward. But there wasn’t that much of it. So, it was okay.
The ending was fantastic. I loved it. I can’t wait for the next book. I need to know what happens!!!
Would I recommend it: Yes, especially if you love romance and figure skating. I can’t wait for the next book!
Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
http://everyfreechance.com/2014/08/ch...
August 5, 2014
Big thanks to Jennifer for an ARC copy for review.
What a fun and delightful novel. I must say that Jennifer Comeaux has really turned me into an avid skating fan just by reading her books. I can always see her dedication and love for this sport come alive in her writing. This was truly another treasure.
This book follows Courtney Foster, one of Emily and Sergei's pair students, who was also in the previous series. We get to see her journey in trying to make it to the Olympics along with her along with her skating partner Mark, but something inspires that she wasn't planning on. Falling in love. This has everything from friendships, heartbreak, competition, forbidden romance and of course all things ice skating. I really loved Courtney as a narrator. She is fun, smart, and independent, but my favorite thing about her was how she stuck up for herself. She didn't let people walk all over her, especially when it came to Stephanie and Kyle.
Now as I mentioned there is competition for Courtney and Mark. A brother and sister pair skating team, Josh and Stephanie, that Sergei and Emily want to help train as well. I didn't care for the sister at all. She was rude and thought she was better than everybody, basically a stuck-up princess. Now Josh was completely opposite. He was sweet, shy, and caring, and he always considered everybody's feelings before his own. Seriously he was a sweetheart.
Even with all the tension on the ice you can't miss the attraction that forms between Courtney and Josh. Those two have an instant connection and I love how open and honest they are with each other. Though not everybody approves of them together and for the most part their relationship stays a secret. But they share some electrifying kisses.
"I leaned across then console and pressed my mouth to Josh's. He responded immediately and curled his hand behind my neck, pulling me closer. His lips were hot and sweet, and they erases all the ache, all the longing. God, I wanted the kiss to last forever." ~ Courtney
It was wonderful seeing Emily, Sergei and their twins, who are adorable. As well as seeing the close bond that Courtney and Liza have. There was a nice surprise glimpse of Chris and Aubrey at a certain event.. I won't spoil it, so you'll have to read to find out. I loved the way Jennifer ended Courtney's story and couldn't have asked for anything better.
My review also posted at:Jess Time To Read
What a fun and delightful novel. I must say that Jennifer Comeaux has really turned me into an avid skating fan just by reading her books. I can always see her dedication and love for this sport come alive in her writing. This was truly another treasure.
This book follows Courtney Foster, one of Emily and Sergei's pair students, who was also in the previous series. We get to see her journey in trying to make it to the Olympics along with her along with her skating partner Mark, but something inspires that she wasn't planning on. Falling in love. This has everything from friendships, heartbreak, competition, forbidden romance and of course all things ice skating. I really loved Courtney as a narrator. She is fun, smart, and independent, but my favorite thing about her was how she stuck up for herself. She didn't let people walk all over her, especially when it came to Stephanie and Kyle.
Now as I mentioned there is competition for Courtney and Mark. A brother and sister pair skating team, Josh and Stephanie, that Sergei and Emily want to help train as well. I didn't care for the sister at all. She was rude and thought she was better than everybody, basically a stuck-up princess. Now Josh was completely opposite. He was sweet, shy, and caring, and he always considered everybody's feelings before his own. Seriously he was a sweetheart.
Even with all the tension on the ice you can't miss the attraction that forms between Courtney and Josh. Those two have an instant connection and I love how open and honest they are with each other. Though not everybody approves of them together and for the most part their relationship stays a secret. But they share some electrifying kisses.
"I leaned across then console and pressed my mouth to Josh's. He responded immediately and curled his hand behind my neck, pulling me closer. His lips were hot and sweet, and they erases all the ache, all the longing. God, I wanted the kiss to last forever." ~ Courtney
It was wonderful seeing Emily, Sergei and their twins, who are adorable. As well as seeing the close bond that Courtney and Liza have. There was a nice surprise glimpse of Chris and Aubrey at a certain event.. I won't spoil it, so you'll have to read to find out. I loved the way Jennifer ended Courtney's story and couldn't have asked for anything better.
My review also posted at:Jess Time To Read
January 16, 2015
Since I listened to this one, I'll start with the narrator. Emily Stokes is the narrator. I thought the narration was fine. Some of her voices seemed dramatic but there is was nothing that had me wanting to stop listening. I'm not sure the quality of the audio was as good as it could have been. There were just some odd places with strange sounds and pauses.
This book is super sweet. Courtney and Josh may be in their early twenties but they have the feel of much younger characters. I think the reason for this is the their skating careers. It's stopped them from participating in a lot of things that average young adults would experience. This makes this the book feel more YA than NA. I still enjoyed it.
Josh has been crushing on Cort ever since he met her. Their seven minutes of heaven wasn't even close so Cortney didn't think Josh liked her. He became her competition on the ice. She didn't pay attention after that. But when Josh and his sister come to train with Cortney and Mark, she notices alright. She notices that his sister Steph is a royal B. She notices that Josh is shy and sweet. Adorable actually. She just can't resist him even though she tries.
I really enjoyed how they took things slow and really fell in love before things got serious. Lots of romance combined with lots of patience on Josh's part to make this one sweet and yummy. And kisses? Yes, lots and lots of kisses. I so love kisses.
I think this one would appeal to those who really enjoy sweet YA books. Though, it's not YA, it reads that way.
This book is super sweet. Courtney and Josh may be in their early twenties but they have the feel of much younger characters. I think the reason for this is the their skating careers. It's stopped them from participating in a lot of things that average young adults would experience. This makes this the book feel more YA than NA. I still enjoyed it.
Josh has been crushing on Cort ever since he met her. Their seven minutes of heaven wasn't even close so Cortney didn't think Josh liked her. He became her competition on the ice. She didn't pay attention after that. But when Josh and his sister come to train with Cortney and Mark, she notices alright. She notices that his sister Steph is a royal B. She notices that Josh is shy and sweet. Adorable actually. She just can't resist him even though she tries.
I really enjoyed how they took things slow and really fell in love before things got serious. Lots of romance combined with lots of patience on Josh's part to make this one sweet and yummy. And kisses? Yes, lots and lots of kisses. I so love kisses.
I think this one would appeal to those who really enjoy sweet YA books. Though, it's not YA, it reads that way.
Read
May 18, 2023I read this as part of the Xpresso Book Tours, and received a copy from NetGalley. I think the tour ended right after I received my copy, but that's not going to stop me from leaving a review because I was so swept away with this book!
Who doesn't love a good figure skating love story? I mean, I definitely watched the Cutting Edge a few times in a row when I was younger. This book has it's own unique take on the pairs skating competition an the romance that blooms on and off the ice. I felt like the details were well researched but also placed in a way that added to the story rather than detracting from it. I was fully immersed.
Who doesn't love a good figure skating love story? I mean, I definitely watched the Cutting Edge a few times in a row when I was younger. This book has it's own unique take on the pairs skating competition an the romance that blooms on and off the ice. I felt like the details were well researched but also placed in a way that added to the story rather than detracting from it. I was fully immersed.
August 6, 2014
I'm so happy I can finally share this book with the world! I had so much fun writing it and falling in love with these characters :) I hope you'll love the story and the characters as much as I do!! Courtney and Josh are near and dear to my heart :)
March 5, 2023
There’s something so intriguing to me about a figure skating romance that I love, and Crossing The Ice by Jennifer Comeaux checked all of my boxes. I’ll be going through the pros and cons of this book (although the cons are very slim) and there will be a few spoilers so you’ve been warned! P.S. Thank you Jennifer for generously gifting me a copy of the book, you’re amazing!
Pros of Crossing The Ice by Jennifer Comeaux
The Sport
Of course, one of the main reasons I was intrigued by this book was the plot centred around the sport of figure skating. Since I was a kid, I loved watching Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir represent Canada at our Olympics, and this book brought me back to it. The book takes place mostly in 2009 and as the year ends and 2010 begins, so do the Olympics in Vancouver. I remember watching those Olympics and being so enamoured by the figure skaters, I just loved the way the author wrote their experience as if they were really in the actual Olympics; I felt like I was reading an athlete's memoir, and it was amazing.
The Romance
There are so many romance novels on the market these days going viral, and I don’t necessarily like them all for one reason; the romance is replaced by spice. This book, however, was refreshingly wholesome with swoon-worthy moments all the same. I believe a romance can be romantic without chapters upon chapters of descriptive consummation, and this book is the testament to that. The way Josh and Courtney take the time and put importance on creating an emotional connection is really mature of them, I can really appreciate it. The sweet words and actions between the two show so much more than lust and indulgence but rather love, appreciation and respect. It’s also note-worthy that when Courtney brought up the fact of not wanting to go the extra mile just yet with Josh, he didn’t pressure her nor make her feel poorly about the situation, but rather made a surprising admission…you’ll just have to read the book to see what I mean by the romance between these two, this book is not to be skipped out on. The two of them made me squeal with excitement, I cannot wait to read the second and third instalments!
Josh and Courtney
For a couple in their early twenties, they were very believable. I can’t stand when a romance has two inexperienced twenty-somethings as the main characters and all of a sudden they become these hyper sexual beings, as if they’ve gained years of experience in the one week they’ve met. These two took things slow and smart - yes, there can be romance in being practical - and it’s very admirable.
Family Dynamic
Not everyone has a storybook childhood, and seeing a bit into Josh’s home life cements that idea. His mother is unaffectionate and judgemental, and his father sets insane standards for his son as well as being demanding; not to mention Josh’s unbearable sister Stephanie who can’t stand Courtney or anyone else for that matter. Courtney, however, has supportive parents and no siblings, but surrounds herself with her coach’s family who’s “adopted” her into their own family in a sense. I like the way the author wrote the dynamics between parents, children, siblings, and romantic partners.
Soundtrack
I’m a sucker for a soundtrack to a book, it just immerses me even deeper into that book’s universe. This book - although it didn’t have a written playlist at the beginning - had many musical references throughout the book, some of which I recognized and loved such as Remember When It Rained by Josh Groban. Music for me just helps with visualisation of a scene even more than without, especially when figure skating goes along with the music it was like the scene played in my head so realistically.
Cons of Crossing The Ice by Jennifer Comeaux
Mark Phillips & Stephanie Tucker
Okay, he wasn’t that bad, but he pissed me off just a bit. I know figure skating partners can get very close with each other, especially after such a long time, but I found Mark too protective over Courtney. It’s not necessarily a critique of the author's writing, because she did a great job at making Mark a character I loved to hate, in a way. As for Stephanie, I didn't love to hate her, I just hated her. She was the worst sister anyone could hope for, I really felt for Josh. Although sometimes siblings don’t see eye to eye, ultimately they’re on the same team, but these two were just polar opposites. She was overbearing - especially when she went through his phone…not cool - and completely obnoxious to Courtney and everyone else on the ice. Again, the author made a great villain for us to hate and for that she’s brilliant.
As I said, there wasn’t much about this book I didn’t like and even then my complaints are minimal. I cannot wait to continue this series, I’d definitely want them on my Keeper Shelf - the first at least for sure - and have them as comfort books to reread anytime I please. I read the book on my iPad, which is great but my eyes do get tired faster when I read online compared to paperback, but if you get the chance to look into this book, it’s available on Amazon Canada!
Pros of Crossing The Ice by Jennifer Comeaux
The Sport
Of course, one of the main reasons I was intrigued by this book was the plot centred around the sport of figure skating. Since I was a kid, I loved watching Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir represent Canada at our Olympics, and this book brought me back to it. The book takes place mostly in 2009 and as the year ends and 2010 begins, so do the Olympics in Vancouver. I remember watching those Olympics and being so enamoured by the figure skaters, I just loved the way the author wrote their experience as if they were really in the actual Olympics; I felt like I was reading an athlete's memoir, and it was amazing.
The Romance
There are so many romance novels on the market these days going viral, and I don’t necessarily like them all for one reason; the romance is replaced by spice. This book, however, was refreshingly wholesome with swoon-worthy moments all the same. I believe a romance can be romantic without chapters upon chapters of descriptive consummation, and this book is the testament to that. The way Josh and Courtney take the time and put importance on creating an emotional connection is really mature of them, I can really appreciate it. The sweet words and actions between the two show so much more than lust and indulgence but rather love, appreciation and respect. It’s also note-worthy that when Courtney brought up the fact of not wanting to go the extra mile just yet with Josh, he didn’t pressure her nor make her feel poorly about the situation, but rather made a surprising admission…you’ll just have to read the book to see what I mean by the romance between these two, this book is not to be skipped out on. The two of them made me squeal with excitement, I cannot wait to read the second and third instalments!
Josh and Courtney
For a couple in their early twenties, they were very believable. I can’t stand when a romance has two inexperienced twenty-somethings as the main characters and all of a sudden they become these hyper sexual beings, as if they’ve gained years of experience in the one week they’ve met. These two took things slow and smart - yes, there can be romance in being practical - and it’s very admirable.
Family Dynamic
Not everyone has a storybook childhood, and seeing a bit into Josh’s home life cements that idea. His mother is unaffectionate and judgemental, and his father sets insane standards for his son as well as being demanding; not to mention Josh’s unbearable sister Stephanie who can’t stand Courtney or anyone else for that matter. Courtney, however, has supportive parents and no siblings, but surrounds herself with her coach’s family who’s “adopted” her into their own family in a sense. I like the way the author wrote the dynamics between parents, children, siblings, and romantic partners.
Soundtrack
I’m a sucker for a soundtrack to a book, it just immerses me even deeper into that book’s universe. This book - although it didn’t have a written playlist at the beginning - had many musical references throughout the book, some of which I recognized and loved such as Remember When It Rained by Josh Groban. Music for me just helps with visualisation of a scene even more than without, especially when figure skating goes along with the music it was like the scene played in my head so realistically.
Cons of Crossing The Ice by Jennifer Comeaux
Mark Phillips & Stephanie Tucker
Okay, he wasn’t that bad, but he pissed me off just a bit. I know figure skating partners can get very close with each other, especially after such a long time, but I found Mark too protective over Courtney. It’s not necessarily a critique of the author's writing, because she did a great job at making Mark a character I loved to hate, in a way. As for Stephanie, I didn't love to hate her, I just hated her. She was the worst sister anyone could hope for, I really felt for Josh. Although sometimes siblings don’t see eye to eye, ultimately they’re on the same team, but these two were just polar opposites. She was overbearing - especially when she went through his phone…not cool - and completely obnoxious to Courtney and everyone else on the ice. Again, the author made a great villain for us to hate and for that she’s brilliant.
As I said, there wasn’t much about this book I didn’t like and even then my complaints are minimal. I cannot wait to continue this series, I’d definitely want them on my Keeper Shelf - the first at least for sure - and have them as comfort books to reread anytime I please. I read the book on my iPad, which is great but my eyes do get tired faster when I read online compared to paperback, but if you get the chance to look into this book, it’s available on Amazon Canada!
April 15, 2018
2 stars might be a bit unfair because this wasn't horrible or offensive or anything, but I just found myself so annoyed. I liked Josh and Courtney at first, but once they got together, they were so overly sappy and saccharine to a point where I found myself rolling my eyes at them rather than finding them sweet. Even before they got together, some of Josh's lines to her were so over the top — it would not have hurt for him to be a little bit more subtle about it. And they both just seemed incredibly mature and naive. They were supposed to be early 20s, but they felt like high school characters most of the time. It made the drama so grating. And I hated how completely 2-dimensional Stephanie was. Although even Josh wasn't really fleshed out much — he was a little too perfect. And Courtney's reaction to And yeah, she later admitted she was wrong, but it took too long for her to get to that point.
It also took me awhile to understand why Courtney was planning on retiring from figure skating at only 21 or 22. From what I know (and, granted, I'm more of a casual fan, so I could be wrong), that's not that old for a pairs skater, and considering she was so close to making the Olympic team, it seemed weird to me that she'd decide to quit then. At the very end, she makes it kind of sound like she had always planned on retiring at that age because of concerns about money, but it took way too long for that to come up. Granted, she never did seem that into figure skating, although I think I was supposed to think she was? Like, she'd pay lip service occasionally to the fact that it was her dream, but otherwise her thoughts were about Josh like all the time. She didn't seem to care very much about skating most of the time.
Also,
Oh, and the college drama stuff also bugged me a bit.
Basically, this was just one where I wanted to like it, and it started off promising, and then I found myself getting increasingly annoyed at every single thing and bored as it went on. It also didn't help to read this immediately after From Lukov, with Love because that was such a superior pairs figure skating romance.
It also took me awhile to understand why Courtney was planning on retiring from figure skating at only 21 or 22. From what I know (and, granted, I'm more of a casual fan, so I could be wrong), that's not that old for a pairs skater, and considering she was so close to making the Olympic team, it seemed weird to me that she'd decide to quit then. At the very end, she makes it kind of sound like she had always planned on retiring at that age because of concerns about money, but it took way too long for that to come up. Granted, she never did seem that into figure skating, although I think I was supposed to think she was? Like, she'd pay lip service occasionally to the fact that it was her dream, but otherwise her thoughts were about Josh like all the time. She didn't seem to care very much about skating most of the time.
Also,
Oh, and the college drama stuff also bugged me a bit.
Basically, this was just one where I wanted to like it, and it started off promising, and then I found myself getting increasingly annoyed at every single thing and bored as it went on. It also didn't help to read this immediately after From Lukov, with Love because that was such a superior pairs figure skating romance.
January 30, 2015
I received an audiobook copy for my stop on the blog tour at Donnie Darko Girl.
Crossing the Ice is a book I've been wanting to read for a while now, and so I jumped at the chance to review the audiobook. I don't have much experience with audiobooks - I borrowed one from the library quite a while ago and didn't like it. But listening to Crossing the Ice was a completely different experience and has made me a fan of audiobooks forever.
The narrator, Emily Stokes, has a pleasant voice, and it was easy to allow her to draw me into the story immediately. I'd listen to any book narrated by her. The only teeny tiny issue I had was the toddler voices. It was slightly jarring to me but didn't take away from my love for this book at all.
Crossing the Ice starts off rocky for Courtney and her skating partner, Mark. Things look bleak for them when they bomb in the free skate, and then they find out their coaches, Em and Sergei, will also be coaching their biggest rivals - Josh and his sister, Stephanie. It felt like a betrayal, and I'm still scratching my head over what the coaches were thinking with that decision.
I couldn't tell you what Josh looks like. I have no idea what his hair or eye color is, how tall or short he is, or any of the physical descriptions authors use to help readers picture a character. The moment I heard the character's name was Josh, I pictured Josh Hutcherson (like perfectly pictured him) and nothing can change my mind about that. ;)
Anyway, I liked Josh from the start once he was away from his stuck up sister. There's so much about him to love. One of his favorite bands is Muse, so when I heard that, I knew I was in love! It was cute how nervous he was around Courtney. I thought he was simply adorable. And there's a moment when U2's "Love is Blindness" plays as Josh and Courtney are both skating that I held onto because it was too sweet. I think there was a hidden message from Em in playing that song - it was perfect.
Stephanie is a terrible person and easy to root against. She's so bitchy and stuck up. I love how Courtney tells her off from time to time - it's nice to see a young woman stand up for herself. It's hard to believe she's Josh's sister!
Crossing the Ice is a sweet love story with all the ups and downs of young love. I ADORE this book, and I was so sad when it was over. I'm planning on listening to it all over again very soon, plus I bought a copy of the book to read. Five stars from me, hands down!
Crossing the Ice is a book I've been wanting to read for a while now, and so I jumped at the chance to review the audiobook. I don't have much experience with audiobooks - I borrowed one from the library quite a while ago and didn't like it. But listening to Crossing the Ice was a completely different experience and has made me a fan of audiobooks forever.
The narrator, Emily Stokes, has a pleasant voice, and it was easy to allow her to draw me into the story immediately. I'd listen to any book narrated by her. The only teeny tiny issue I had was the toddler voices. It was slightly jarring to me but didn't take away from my love for this book at all.
Crossing the Ice starts off rocky for Courtney and her skating partner, Mark. Things look bleak for them when they bomb in the free skate, and then they find out their coaches, Em and Sergei, will also be coaching their biggest rivals - Josh and his sister, Stephanie. It felt like a betrayal, and I'm still scratching my head over what the coaches were thinking with that decision.
I couldn't tell you what Josh looks like. I have no idea what his hair or eye color is, how tall or short he is, or any of the physical descriptions authors use to help readers picture a character. The moment I heard the character's name was Josh, I pictured Josh Hutcherson (like perfectly pictured him) and nothing can change my mind about that. ;)
Anyway, I liked Josh from the start once he was away from his stuck up sister. There's so much about him to love. One of his favorite bands is Muse, so when I heard that, I knew I was in love! It was cute how nervous he was around Courtney. I thought he was simply adorable. And there's a moment when U2's "Love is Blindness" plays as Josh and Courtney are both skating that I held onto because it was too sweet. I think there was a hidden message from Em in playing that song - it was perfect.
Stephanie is a terrible person and easy to root against. She's so bitchy and stuck up. I love how Courtney tells her off from time to time - it's nice to see a young woman stand up for herself. It's hard to believe she's Josh's sister!
Crossing the Ice is a sweet love story with all the ups and downs of young love. I ADORE this book, and I was so sad when it was over. I'm planning on listening to it all over again very soon, plus I bought a copy of the book to read. Five stars from me, hands down!
February 11, 2016
For more reviews click HERE
Actual Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
*I was provided a copy by the author via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
If there’s something you should know about me is that I’m a huge figure skating fan. I’m not even kidding. I haven’t been watching a lot of competitions recently (mostly since Brian Joubert and Nathalie Péchalat/Fabian Bourzat retired a couple of years ago) but it’s still something I really love to watch so when I saw this book on NetGalley I knew I wanted to read it (even if it took me a long time to finally start it). Let me just tell you, I loved this book. I actually never read a book in which figure skating was a big part of it but I’m happy that I started with this one because this is everything I could ask for in a book about figure skating.
I loved Courtney and Josh and how their relationship went from competitors to friendship and only then to an actual romance. It was great to see how they became friends first and how only after a few months they became a couple. I really liked Josh and how sweet he was. He was kind of perfect and full of surprises. Court and Josh were just too cute together. I also really enjoyed the competition aspect of this book and how it really used figure skating terms. With Courtney and Josh competing in different pairs and both competing for a place in the Winter Olympics I was really excited to see how everything would end and how they would react to it mainly because I knew something bad would happen that would cause a rift between them. In the end I really liked the resolution that the author came out with and I think it was the perfect way to finish this book. Another thing I liked was the other characters, especially Em and Sergei and how supportive they were of Courtney.
Overall I really enjoyed this book and it surprised me in a great way. I can’t wait to read the next two books because I already miss Courtney and Josh. I can’t also wait to read the previous series written by the author because I want to know more about Em and Sergei relationship. I definitely recommend this book if you are in need of a cute new adult romance. Actually, I recommend this book for any reason because I loved it and you should give it a try.
Actual Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
*I was provided a copy by the author via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
If there’s something you should know about me is that I’m a huge figure skating fan. I’m not even kidding. I haven’t been watching a lot of competitions recently (mostly since Brian Joubert and Nathalie Péchalat/Fabian Bourzat retired a couple of years ago) but it’s still something I really love to watch so when I saw this book on NetGalley I knew I wanted to read it (even if it took me a long time to finally start it). Let me just tell you, I loved this book. I actually never read a book in which figure skating was a big part of it but I’m happy that I started with this one because this is everything I could ask for in a book about figure skating.
I loved Courtney and Josh and how their relationship went from competitors to friendship and only then to an actual romance. It was great to see how they became friends first and how only after a few months they became a couple. I really liked Josh and how sweet he was. He was kind of perfect and full of surprises. Court and Josh were just too cute together. I also really enjoyed the competition aspect of this book and how it really used figure skating terms. With Courtney and Josh competing in different pairs and both competing for a place in the Winter Olympics I was really excited to see how everything would end and how they would react to it mainly because I knew something bad would happen that would cause a rift between them. In the end I really liked the resolution that the author came out with and I think it was the perfect way to finish this book. Another thing I liked was the other characters, especially Em and Sergei and how supportive they were of Courtney.
Overall I really enjoyed this book and it surprised me in a great way. I can’t wait to read the next two books because I already miss Courtney and Josh. I can’t also wait to read the previous series written by the author because I want to know more about Em and Sergei relationship. I definitely recommend this book if you are in need of a cute new adult romance. Actually, I recommend this book for any reason because I loved it and you should give it a try.
March 3, 2016
I think I'm in love... Crossing the Ice feels like it was made for me! Figure skating and romance... who could ask for more. I adore this book.
Crossing the Ice is told in the first-person perspective of Courtney and it's brilliant to hear about figure skating from the point of view of the person doing the skating. I learnt so much! The writing and story are both simply beautiful. The pace is perfect and I marathoned the whole book in two days. I was just desperate to know of Courtney and Josh could be together and if they would be successful in following their Olympic dreams.
The last few chapters were such a rollercoaster of emotions. First, there were tears of heartbreak for Courtney and, then, tears of absolute happiness. It was brilliant. I truly felt for both Courtney and Josh and I wish everything was easier for them.
I adore Courtney. She takes part in the only sport I would ever be interested in taking part in and this just had me hooked from the very start. And she's pretty damn amazing at it. It is her dream to compete in the Olympics and I was really praying for her. She's not big-headed about her talent either (unlike Stephanie) which is brilliant and strives to be better. I can totally relate to her need to prove herself.
Josh is just perfect. Unlike so many other love interests, he isn't cocky! Instead, he is rather shy and quiet. In a nutshell, he's adorable. I want my own Josh! I could see myself getting on so well with him. He also has the patience of a saint to put up with his bitchy sister, Stephanie. He deserves an Olympic medal just for that. And he is so cute with Courtney.
I absolutely loved everything about Crossing the Ice. It makes me want to dig out my skates and start lessons again (and they didn't go that great first time around either). I need to find more books about figure skating now and I cannot wait to dive into more Jennifer Comeaux books.
I received a copy of Crossing the Ice via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This review and many more can be found at My Expanding Bookshelf.
Crossing the Ice is told in the first-person perspective of Courtney and it's brilliant to hear about figure skating from the point of view of the person doing the skating. I learnt so much! The writing and story are both simply beautiful. The pace is perfect and I marathoned the whole book in two days. I was just desperate to know of Courtney and Josh could be together and if they would be successful in following their Olympic dreams.
The last few chapters were such a rollercoaster of emotions. First, there were tears of heartbreak for Courtney and, then, tears of absolute happiness. It was brilliant. I truly felt for both Courtney and Josh and I wish everything was easier for them.
I adore Courtney. She takes part in the only sport I would ever be interested in taking part in and this just had me hooked from the very start. And she's pretty damn amazing at it. It is her dream to compete in the Olympics and I was really praying for her. She's not big-headed about her talent either (unlike Stephanie) which is brilliant and strives to be better. I can totally relate to her need to prove herself.
Josh is just perfect. Unlike so many other love interests, he isn't cocky! Instead, he is rather shy and quiet. In a nutshell, he's adorable. I want my own Josh! I could see myself getting on so well with him. He also has the patience of a saint to put up with his bitchy sister, Stephanie. He deserves an Olympic medal just for that. And he is so cute with Courtney.
I absolutely loved everything about Crossing the Ice. It makes me want to dig out my skates and start lessons again (and they didn't go that great first time around either). I need to find more books about figure skating now and I cannot wait to dive into more Jennifer Comeaux books.
I received a copy of Crossing the Ice via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This review and many more can be found at My Expanding Bookshelf.
September 27, 2014
To see full binge review click here.
Really 2.5 stars
The good news: the main character is more developed in this spinoff for the first 3/4s of the book. I have to say it’s refreshing to read a character who’s not exactly perfect (unlike Emily).
The sad thing: Josh holds nothing to Sergei and has the personality of a dead noodle.
So it’s essentially the inverse of the Sergei and Emily narrative.
I do think that Comeaux has developed as a writer. The prose was much easier to read in this one. And as always her figure skating scenes were well written. And I was a little stunned by them.
Character development is still a major weakness of hers though. As well as melodrama…
That ending.
Man, did it make me hate Courtney who I actually had liked up until that point.
Why did you do that Comeaux? It made Courtney seem just so childish and then there’s some moments of stupidity I just wanted to hit my head on the desk.
I also wonder how old Courtney is. Her best friend is a fifteen-year-old and that seems a bit awkward for a twenty something.
The chemistry between Josh and Courtney was luke warm at best. I didn’t really feel connected to either of them when they were together, and though Courtney’s actual partner might have better chemistry-alas, that was not meant to be.
I think with this one you might want to check it out if you had any old interest in the original (parent) series or are a huge fan of figure skating.
Overall Rating: C+
Really 2.5 stars
The good news: the main character is more developed in this spinoff for the first 3/4s of the book. I have to say it’s refreshing to read a character who’s not exactly perfect (unlike Emily).
The sad thing: Josh holds nothing to Sergei and has the personality of a dead noodle.
So it’s essentially the inverse of the Sergei and Emily narrative.
I do think that Comeaux has developed as a writer. The prose was much easier to read in this one. And as always her figure skating scenes were well written. And I was a little stunned by them.
Character development is still a major weakness of hers though. As well as melodrama…
That ending.
Man, did it make me hate Courtney who I actually had liked up until that point.
Why did you do that Comeaux? It made Courtney seem just so childish and then there’s some moments of stupidity I just wanted to hit my head on the desk.
I also wonder how old Courtney is. Her best friend is a fifteen-year-old and that seems a bit awkward for a twenty something.
The chemistry between Josh and Courtney was luke warm at best. I didn’t really feel connected to either of them when they were together, and though Courtney’s actual partner might have better chemistry-alas, that was not meant to be.
I think with this one you might want to check it out if you had any old interest in the original (parent) series or are a huge fan of figure skating.
Overall Rating: C+
March 9, 2016
I would like to thank the author, Jennifer Comeaux, for providing me with the audio version of this book, in exchange for an honest review.
After a less than stellar World Competition, pair skating partners Courtney and Mark are stunned to learn that their long time coaches Sergei and Emily have made a drastic change. In an effort to inspire greatness, they have invited rival skaters Josh and Stephanie Tucker to train at their facility as they vie for two berths at the upcoming Olympics. When the unexpected happens, life definitely gets a lot more complicated for all concerned. Can the skaters put aside their personal feelings and give the performances of their lives?
Crossing the Ice realistically tells of the emotional highs and lows that the extreme pressure of being a world class athlete can invoke. As a former figure skater, I was looking for the author to capture the feel of the sport, whether it be the competitive side, the rivalries, the tension, or the sometimes cutthroat nature behind the scenes. The author did exceedingly well, perfectly placing her characters on the ice, so much that I could visualize being there myself. Although the romance aspect was somewhat telegraphed, it was handled in such a way that it was a great addition to the story. With a realistic plot and well developed characters, Crossing the Ice will keep readers captivated. I highly recommend this book, not only to readers who enjoy realistic fiction about sports, but also to those who enjoy a clean romance.
After a less than stellar World Competition, pair skating partners Courtney and Mark are stunned to learn that their long time coaches Sergei and Emily have made a drastic change. In an effort to inspire greatness, they have invited rival skaters Josh and Stephanie Tucker to train at their facility as they vie for two berths at the upcoming Olympics. When the unexpected happens, life definitely gets a lot more complicated for all concerned. Can the skaters put aside their personal feelings and give the performances of their lives?
Crossing the Ice realistically tells of the emotional highs and lows that the extreme pressure of being a world class athlete can invoke. As a former figure skater, I was looking for the author to capture the feel of the sport, whether it be the competitive side, the rivalries, the tension, or the sometimes cutthroat nature behind the scenes. The author did exceedingly well, perfectly placing her characters on the ice, so much that I could visualize being there myself. Although the romance aspect was somewhat telegraphed, it was handled in such a way that it was a great addition to the story. With a realistic plot and well developed characters, Crossing the Ice will keep readers captivated. I highly recommend this book, not only to readers who enjoy realistic fiction about sports, but also to those who enjoy a clean romance.
May 31, 2015
I am a huge figure skating fan and I obviously love books but I had never read a book about figure skating. Before I started the book, I kept thinking I would either love it or hate it. But as soon as I started reading, I quickly realized it was going to be the latter. Crossing the Ice was funny, nerve-wrecking, sweet, and above all very entertaining.
I thoroughly enjoyed the interactions between Courtney and Josh and in various occasions I found myself laughing out loud. Josh was a different kind of leading man than I'm used to, but it was a refreshing change. I loved his patience, his sweetness and his overall goodness. Then, I found myself biting my nails during the competition and experiencing the same kind of conflicted feelings that Courtney and Josh were battling. It was very emotional and I felt a special connection with this book. I would highly recommend it, whether you are a figure skating fan or not, you are definitely going to enjoy it. It is very well written; the story flows perfectly, keeping you engaged the whole time.
*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
August 2, 2014
ARC Review
So freaking cute, I love Courtney & Josh. Josh is for sure one of my favorite book guys; he is quiet & sweet. He & Court are adorable together, but there is definitely some heat too. I also like that they challenge each other. I did not like Stephanie though, ugh, what a mean girl! It was nice to Em & Sergei as well and some other characters from previous books. I enjoyed the plot as well & I hope to read more of Court & Josh!
So freaking cute, I love Courtney & Josh. Josh is for sure one of my favorite book guys; he is quiet & sweet. He & Court are adorable together, but there is definitely some heat too. I also like that they challenge each other. I did not like Stephanie though, ugh, what a mean girl! It was nice to Em & Sergei as well and some other characters from previous books. I enjoyed the plot as well & I hope to read more of Court & Josh!
November 1, 2014
i wasn't sure...I mean it sounded good but ice skating? well obviously I loved it. it brought out the little girl in me. I smiled I practically cried and I cheer. the main character was incredibly relatable and Stephanie!?!?! give me a break....why did no one break her face? lol the ending was amazing. this book was everything I wanted it to be. im definitely going to recommend this book to every one!
August 29, 2014
3.5 stars
Engaging, Intersting. My favorite bits were the scenes in the restaurant. Josh was super sweet- dreamy. Loved him. Content: While no sex, make out scenes got a bit descriptive for me and went farther than I was all together comfortable with.
Engaging, Intersting. My favorite bits were the scenes in the restaurant. Josh was super sweet- dreamy. Loved him. Content: While no sex, make out scenes got a bit descriptive for me and went farther than I was all together comfortable with.
December 30, 2016
I was given an Ebook copy of this book via NetGalley for exchanging for an honest review.
So much LOVE for this book! <3 Nice story lines and character planning, also the relationships were so romantic! <3
So much LOVE for this book! <3 Nice story lines and character planning, also the relationships were so romantic! <3
January 14, 2015
Check out my review as a part of the Crossing the Ice Audiobook Tour: http://21stcenturyonceuponatime.blogs...
February 6, 2019
A very sweet story with some drama, but none of it awfully over the top. If you're looking for some steamy scenes, then you're not going to get it here, because the most steam is some making out - and guess what? It was a nice change for me even though I did expect Comeaux to give her readers a slightly steamier scene in the end as well.
I really, really liked Josh. He was such a shy and sweet guy and sometimes one simply needs to read about heroes just like Josh. I did expect him to turn out to be a huge jerk because what kind of a NA story doesn't have humongous misunderstanding and a stupid "I'm not good enough for you" situation, but luckily I was proven wrong because Crossing the Ice is just like that. A very welcome change in the NA genre, if you ask me.
The heroine, Court, was a likeable protagonist, but she didn't do it for me like Josh did. She was mostly sensible and down to earth. Knew what she wanted and did what she could to achieve her dreams. Had a head on her shoulders for other purposes than hat wearing, but Josh simply was my favourite of the pair.
Even though I found myself enjoying the story, I don't think I will continue with the series as the next two books are about Josh and Courtney as well... and well, frankly, I thought this book's HFN was a very fitting ending to their story. I simply don't feel like reading 300 more pages about their relationship development. This book's ending didn't have a happily ever after as it left the reader with some hints about the characters' futures, but nothing definite and I liked it just like that.
I really, really liked Josh. He was such a shy and sweet guy and sometimes one simply needs to read about heroes just like Josh. I did expect him to turn out to be a huge jerk because what kind of a NA story doesn't have humongous misunderstanding and a stupid "I'm not good enough for you" situation, but luckily I was proven wrong because Crossing the Ice is just like that. A very welcome change in the NA genre, if you ask me.
The heroine, Court, was a likeable protagonist, but she didn't do it for me like Josh did. She was mostly sensible and down to earth. Knew what she wanted and did what she could to achieve her dreams. Had a head on her shoulders for other purposes than hat wearing, but Josh simply was my favourite of the pair.
Even though I found myself enjoying the story, I don't think I will continue with the series as the next two books are about Josh and Courtney as well... and well, frankly, I thought this book's HFN was a very fitting ending to their story. I simply don't feel like reading 300 more pages about their relationship development. This book's ending didn't have a happily ever after as it left the reader with some hints about the characters' futures, but nothing definite and I liked it just like that.
August 31, 2014
Originally posted on my blog:
I am so excited to be taking part in the Crossing the Ice Blog tour! Thanks for stopping by to check out my review of this amazing book!
I absolutely love figure skating and I could tell from Jennifer Comeaux’s writing that she is a huge fan and really does her research on the sport! Her look into the world of competitive skating was both interesting and very fun!
I loved this book so much! The characters, the skating, the slow burn romance. It was all perfect and I just devoured this book… and quickly too! It was a light, easy and fun read!
Courtney and her partner Mark have one shot left at the Olympics, they have been partners since they were kids. Josh and his sister Stephanie are their biggest competition… and their surprise training partners? Josh and Courtney start spending time together off the ice… but this is the kind of forbidden romance that can crush Olympic dreams!
I really liked these characters a lot! Courtney was such a hard worker and I liked that she was not spoiled and had to work for everything. Josh had everything, but he is sweet, kind and shy. Josh’s sister Stephanie was such a spoiled brat and the type of character that you love to hate! Each character in the book was so well written.
The romance between Josh and Courtney was a perfect slow burn, first love romance and I just ate it up! I understood the push and pull between them and Comeaux wrote this so well! It was full of romance, competition and humor. I laughed and then I even cried. I want more Courtney and Josh!! I am hoping we get to see more very soon!
This was my first Jennifer Comeaux book and I really want to go back and read her other books as well. I did not realize that this was a companion novel and would love to read Em and Sergei’s story next!
Favorite Quotes:
I turned to Josh with my arms folded and my head cocked to the side. “So, you’re an athlete, a dancer and a musician? If you tell me you’re a skilled artist, I’m gonna have to hate you.”He laughed. “I can barely draw a stick figure.”
“Whew.” I swiped my hand across my forehead.“Even if I was the next Picasso, though, I wouldn’t have told you.” He paused and held my gaze. “I don’t like the idea of you hating me.”
My stomach fluttered. Josh didn’t often make extended eye contact, but whenever he locked those sinfully blue eyes on mine, I became a mesmerized puddle of swoon.
“I took two steps in their direction, and then Josh pulled his t-shirt over his head, halting my motor skills. Holy Batman.”
“Em seemed to be forgetting that we were competing for a spot on the olympic team, not the mirror ball trophy on dancing with the stars.”
“Is your dance teacher here yet?” she shimmied her hips. “Yes he is. And you will not spy on us and make fun of us.” She put on an exaggerated insulted face. “I wouldn’t make fun of you. Okay, maybe a litle. There are just too many dirty dancing jokes to be told.” “No spying.” I pointed my finger at her. “Yes, Baby.” she smiled “have the time of your life.” “Ha. Ha.You’re hilarious.”
I am so excited to be taking part in the Crossing the Ice Blog tour! Thanks for stopping by to check out my review of this amazing book!
I absolutely love figure skating and I could tell from Jennifer Comeaux’s writing that she is a huge fan and really does her research on the sport! Her look into the world of competitive skating was both interesting and very fun!
I loved this book so much! The characters, the skating, the slow burn romance. It was all perfect and I just devoured this book… and quickly too! It was a light, easy and fun read!
Courtney and her partner Mark have one shot left at the Olympics, they have been partners since they were kids. Josh and his sister Stephanie are their biggest competition… and their surprise training partners? Josh and Courtney start spending time together off the ice… but this is the kind of forbidden romance that can crush Olympic dreams!
I really liked these characters a lot! Courtney was such a hard worker and I liked that she was not spoiled and had to work for everything. Josh had everything, but he is sweet, kind and shy. Josh’s sister Stephanie was such a spoiled brat and the type of character that you love to hate! Each character in the book was so well written.
The romance between Josh and Courtney was a perfect slow burn, first love romance and I just ate it up! I understood the push and pull between them and Comeaux wrote this so well! It was full of romance, competition and humor. I laughed and then I even cried. I want more Courtney and Josh!! I am hoping we get to see more very soon!
This was my first Jennifer Comeaux book and I really want to go back and read her other books as well. I did not realize that this was a companion novel and would love to read Em and Sergei’s story next!
Favorite Quotes:
I turned to Josh with my arms folded and my head cocked to the side. “So, you’re an athlete, a dancer and a musician? If you tell me you’re a skilled artist, I’m gonna have to hate you.”He laughed. “I can barely draw a stick figure.”
“Whew.” I swiped my hand across my forehead.“Even if I was the next Picasso, though, I wouldn’t have told you.” He paused and held my gaze. “I don’t like the idea of you hating me.”
My stomach fluttered. Josh didn’t often make extended eye contact, but whenever he locked those sinfully blue eyes on mine, I became a mesmerized puddle of swoon.
“I took two steps in their direction, and then Josh pulled his t-shirt over his head, halting my motor skills. Holy Batman.”
“Em seemed to be forgetting that we were competing for a spot on the olympic team, not the mirror ball trophy on dancing with the stars.”
“Is your dance teacher here yet?” she shimmied her hips. “Yes he is. And you will not spy on us and make fun of us.” She put on an exaggerated insulted face. “I wouldn’t make fun of you. Okay, maybe a litle. There are just too many dirty dancing jokes to be told.” “No spying.” I pointed my finger at her. “Yes, Baby.” she smiled “have the time of your life.” “Ha. Ha.You’re hilarious.”
March 31, 2016
**You can see this full review and more at Book Briefs: http://bookbriefs.net**
Crossing the Ice is the first in a new ice skating series by Jennifer Comeaux. It is a spin off series from her Edge series. The ice skaters from the Edge series are the coaches in the Ice series, so they make plenty of appearances. I never read the Edge series, but I so completely loved Crossing the Ice that I am excited to see what the Edge series is about. Figure Skating is my favorite sport in the winter Olympics, so I was really excited to see how Jennifer was going to be able to bring the sport to life through her book. And boy did she ever bring it life.
The routines in the series were particularly exciting for me to read, because I felt like I was actually watching the pairs figure skating on tv. It was pretty incredible how vividly Jennifer Comeaux was able to paint the scenes and how fluid and realistic they felt. Another favorite of the book for me was the main characters and their super sweet romance. It was so nice to see a quiet, nice shy guy get to be the swoon worthy star. And how swoon worthy he really was! I loved Josh. He is beyond thoughtful and ridiculously talented. I loved watching him play the piano and share with Courtney his ear for music. He really is crazy talented.
The romance was not rushed at all. Courtney and Josh baby stepped around each other for the first third of the book, and it was only through their tentative and behind the scenes friendship did they find out just how much they had in common and saw how compatible they were for each other. I really liked both Courtney and Josh, but it was really nice to see the dynamics between the two of them reversed. Don't get me wrong, Josh is all guy, but for once the author was not afraid to make the male character the more sensitive and emotionally fragile one. I mean that in only the best of ways. Josh was not afraid of his feelings for Courtney. And every time he got up the courage to flirt with her even the slightest bit, I swooned a little.
Crossing the Ice is marked as clean New Adult Contemporary romance. It is suitable for young adult readers as well. The plot of Crossing the Ice is not at all predictable. More than once I was surprised at the turn things were taking. Jennifer Comeaux is not afraid to crush your heart into a million little pieces, but luckily she is just as skilled at putting it all back together again. I was so utterly crushed, along with select characters, at something that happened. I felt their pain so clearly and I didn't know how any of us were going to recover. But then Jennifer worked some of her magic and the characters and I were suddenly ok. I loved it. Something that at first seemed so utterly awful, was turned into something that I now think is perfect. Crossing the Ice is a must read for fans of figure skating everywhere. You will fall in love with Josh and Courtney.
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
Crossing the Ice is the first in a new ice skating series by Jennifer Comeaux. It is a spin off series from her Edge series. The ice skaters from the Edge series are the coaches in the Ice series, so they make plenty of appearances. I never read the Edge series, but I so completely loved Crossing the Ice that I am excited to see what the Edge series is about. Figure Skating is my favorite sport in the winter Olympics, so I was really excited to see how Jennifer was going to be able to bring the sport to life through her book. And boy did she ever bring it life.
The routines in the series were particularly exciting for me to read, because I felt like I was actually watching the pairs figure skating on tv. It was pretty incredible how vividly Jennifer Comeaux was able to paint the scenes and how fluid and realistic they felt. Another favorite of the book for me was the main characters and their super sweet romance. It was so nice to see a quiet, nice shy guy get to be the swoon worthy star. And how swoon worthy he really was! I loved Josh. He is beyond thoughtful and ridiculously talented. I loved watching him play the piano and share with Courtney his ear for music. He really is crazy talented.
The romance was not rushed at all. Courtney and Josh baby stepped around each other for the first third of the book, and it was only through their tentative and behind the scenes friendship did they find out just how much they had in common and saw how compatible they were for each other. I really liked both Courtney and Josh, but it was really nice to see the dynamics between the two of them reversed. Don't get me wrong, Josh is all guy, but for once the author was not afraid to make the male character the more sensitive and emotionally fragile one. I mean that in only the best of ways. Josh was not afraid of his feelings for Courtney. And every time he got up the courage to flirt with her even the slightest bit, I swooned a little.
Crossing the Ice is marked as clean New Adult Contemporary romance. It is suitable for young adult readers as well. The plot of Crossing the Ice is not at all predictable. More than once I was surprised at the turn things were taking. Jennifer Comeaux is not afraid to crush your heart into a million little pieces, but luckily she is just as skilled at putting it all back together again. I was so utterly crushed, along with select characters, at something that happened. I felt their pain so clearly and I didn't know how any of us were going to recover. But then Jennifer worked some of her magic and the characters and I were suddenly ok. I loved it. Something that at first seemed so utterly awful, was turned into something that I now think is perfect. Crossing the Ice is a must read for fans of figure skating everywhere. You will fall in love with Josh and Courtney.
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
August 8, 2016
Now, I usually go for the young adult fantasy and paranormal books, but who doesn't like a good old-fashioned romance every now and then? And watching the ice skating portion of the Olympics is a guilty pleasure. Let's start with a synopsis.
Courtney is an ice skater who has been preparing for pair skating in the Olympics with her partner Mark for 9 years since she was 12 and he was 14. At the beginning of the book, this year is her last shot as she is about to start college and Mark is planning on getting engaged to his longtime girlfriend and working in his father's auto-repair shop. Their trainers, a married couple named Emily (Em) and Sergei, take on as their new students Stephanie and Josh, a brother-sister pair skating team that is are from LA, rich and Courtney's (she's called Court in the book) and Mark's main competitors. Stephanie is your average rich girl- snobby, selfish and just a real bitch. Josh is her polar opposite. (Please pardon the pun.) He's kind, sensitive and talented in pretty much everything he does. (Except he can barely draw a stick figure.) This also happens to be Stephanie's and Josh's last shot at the Olympics as Josh will be headed to law school the next year and then to his secured spot at his father''a law firm in LA and Stephanie will be doing what she does best, being a snobby mean girl. Courtney and Josh end up falling for each other and try to fight it as both try to out the other on their way to secure the one open spot on the pairs-skating Olympic team.
I loved Courtney. She was strong, determined and very talented. She worked nights as a bartender at a local restaurant in Cape Cod (where they all lived) and spent the rest of her time training. She lived with Em and Sergei after her parents moved to Boston when her dad got laid off and had to find another job. She loved to help out Em and Sergei by babysitting their toddler twins, Quinn and Alex, even though she was exhausted with her full schedule.
Josh, her love interest, is what I consider to be every girl's dream guy- kind, sensitive, talented, rich and hot. You could tell early on that he was very much into Courtney, even though it took Courtney a lot longer then it did me to see it. It probably didn't help that her skating partner Mark kept being paranoid and suspicious and thinking that Josh was only being nice to her so that he could distract her and sabotage their chances at the Olympic spot. If only he could have seen Josh the way I saw him. (Sigh)
Now, without giving too much away, I will tell you that while this book didn't turn out exactly the way that I wanted it to, it did have a happy ending. And I am very pleased with the way Ms. Comeaux ended it. She gave me closure yet still left it open for a sequel, which can't be an easy task to do! Overall, I loved this book. It kept me wanting to read more and reaffirmed my belief that everyone should read a romance novel at least once in awhile, even if it's not your normal genre. Great job, Ms. Comeaux!
Courtney is an ice skater who has been preparing for pair skating in the Olympics with her partner Mark for 9 years since she was 12 and he was 14. At the beginning of the book, this year is her last shot as she is about to start college and Mark is planning on getting engaged to his longtime girlfriend and working in his father's auto-repair shop. Their trainers, a married couple named Emily (Em) and Sergei, take on as their new students Stephanie and Josh, a brother-sister pair skating team that is are from LA, rich and Courtney's (she's called Court in the book) and Mark's main competitors. Stephanie is your average rich girl- snobby, selfish and just a real bitch. Josh is her polar opposite. (Please pardon the pun.) He's kind, sensitive and talented in pretty much everything he does. (Except he can barely draw a stick figure.) This also happens to be Stephanie's and Josh's last shot at the Olympics as Josh will be headed to law school the next year and then to his secured spot at his father''a law firm in LA and Stephanie will be doing what she does best, being a snobby mean girl. Courtney and Josh end up falling for each other and try to fight it as both try to out the other on their way to secure the one open spot on the pairs-skating Olympic team.
I loved Courtney. She was strong, determined and very talented. She worked nights as a bartender at a local restaurant in Cape Cod (where they all lived) and spent the rest of her time training. She lived with Em and Sergei after her parents moved to Boston when her dad got laid off and had to find another job. She loved to help out Em and Sergei by babysitting their toddler twins, Quinn and Alex, even though she was exhausted with her full schedule.
Josh, her love interest, is what I consider to be every girl's dream guy- kind, sensitive, talented, rich and hot. You could tell early on that he was very much into Courtney, even though it took Courtney a lot longer then it did me to see it. It probably didn't help that her skating partner Mark kept being paranoid and suspicious and thinking that Josh was only being nice to her so that he could distract her and sabotage their chances at the Olympic spot. If only he could have seen Josh the way I saw him. (Sigh)
Now, without giving too much away, I will tell you that while this book didn't turn out exactly the way that I wanted it to, it did have a happy ending. And I am very pleased with the way Ms. Comeaux ended it. She gave me closure yet still left it open for a sequel, which can't be an easy task to do! Overall, I loved this book. It kept me wanting to read more and reaffirmed my belief that everyone should read a romance novel at least once in awhile, even if it's not your normal genre. Great job, Ms. Comeaux!
October 16, 2015
The skating aspect is amazing and so real. The training, the competitiveness is just so real. You feel like you are living these characters hopes, dreams and disappointments. This is a sweet romance. They struggle to get together not because they don’t like each other but because of their skate partners and being each other’s competition. For Josh though this isn’t a issue. He doesn’t care. He has liked Courtney for eight years. She has been his inspiration in the choreography he creates and he has waited so long to be with her. Courtney has the problem but because she is confused. Not over her feelings but over how it would work. Could they concentrate on their skating and if one loses would they be happy for the other?
Each character has their own flair. The twins are cutey patooteys and how they latch to Courtney is precious. Mrs. Cappers cracks me up. Josh’s parents meh they are way to controlling. Love Courts parents though they are the right blend of supportive and loving. Em and Sergei I believe they were trying to do what was right but that doesn’ t always pan out. Stephanie, Josh’s sister, major B*. Mark is Courtney’s partner and he is intense. we don’t get much on him although you can understand his fears, wariness and intensity. This is his last chance at a medal so everything is on the line for him.
All the scheming and evilness of Stephanie I am glad to see doesn’t work. She outs Josh and Courtney but that gets them stronger and closer, she is horrible to Courtney but that only makes Courtney strive for more. Josh is nothing like his sister-he’s kind, thoughtful, sweet, patient and swoony. He treats Courtney like a queen and is so shy and quiet that it isn’t until he says anything that you believe he is liking Courtney or even going to do anything about his crush. As they get closer the relationship takes on new meaning. they now have a support system and trust each other. Unfortunately things do tear at them until Courtney sees that her heart belongs to Josh. She has to get over the sting of loss to be able to move forward. All at once her world crumbles and she is lost. This takes time to come back from. Good thing Josh is a patient guy and loves her.
the story is sweet and I love watching Josh blossom and show himself to others. I love how he gains the courage to show his feeling and intentions to Courtney. I love how it is this love that gives him the courage to stand up for himself and what he wants to do with his life. I felt bad though that his parents never really believed he could make it on his own. So glad that Courtney’s family is their to support them.
This book brings you into the world of competitive skating and the competitiveness. It shows you and has you feel the hopes and dreams of those in the sport. We see love blossom, fears realized, worlds crumble but love pull them through and they come out stronger.
A nice book on love and finding who you are. finding your voice and the support and love you need to help you become who you want to be.
Each character has their own flair. The twins are cutey patooteys and how they latch to Courtney is precious. Mrs. Cappers cracks me up. Josh’s parents meh they are way to controlling. Love Courts parents though they are the right blend of supportive and loving. Em and Sergei I believe they were trying to do what was right but that doesn’ t always pan out. Stephanie, Josh’s sister, major B*. Mark is Courtney’s partner and he is intense. we don’t get much on him although you can understand his fears, wariness and intensity. This is his last chance at a medal so everything is on the line for him.
All the scheming and evilness of Stephanie I am glad to see doesn’t work. She outs Josh and Courtney but that gets them stronger and closer, she is horrible to Courtney but that only makes Courtney strive for more. Josh is nothing like his sister-he’s kind, thoughtful, sweet, patient and swoony. He treats Courtney like a queen and is so shy and quiet that it isn’t until he says anything that you believe he is liking Courtney or even going to do anything about his crush. As they get closer the relationship takes on new meaning. they now have a support system and trust each other. Unfortunately things do tear at them until Courtney sees that her heart belongs to Josh. She has to get over the sting of loss to be able to move forward. All at once her world crumbles and she is lost. This takes time to come back from. Good thing Josh is a patient guy and loves her.
the story is sweet and I love watching Josh blossom and show himself to others. I love how he gains the courage to show his feeling and intentions to Courtney. I love how it is this love that gives him the courage to stand up for himself and what he wants to do with his life. I felt bad though that his parents never really believed he could make it on his own. So glad that Courtney’s family is their to support them.
This book brings you into the world of competitive skating and the competitiveness. It shows you and has you feel the hopes and dreams of those in the sport. We see love blossom, fears realized, worlds crumble but love pull them through and they come out stronger.
A nice book on love and finding who you are. finding your voice and the support and love you need to help you become who you want to be.
December 22, 2015
NetGalley. Thanks for the copy.
I used to ice skate (for single and pair skating) before I was forced to quit (due to medical issues). Because of the years I used to ice skate, I know a lot more about ice skating than the average reader. I was hoping that the book goes into depth for the world building (e.g. begin discussing little things like Axel jump and camel spin and talking how high scores could be), but it didn't. That is a huge disappointment right there.
Let's talk more about the world building. (Alright, I'm a bit peeved by the world building and the lack of details, because ice skating is an amazing sport and it's beautiful. Absolutely gorgeous.) The book doesn't go into the jumps or the spins or the simple parts of the pair skating program. Courtney and Mark are pair skaters. They are close to each other because of what they do. But when Courtney skates with Josh, there should be fireworks and chemistry. Pair skating is very intimate, even in the simplest of touches. It's very unfortunate and a great loss that the author doesn't go into these moments and dive into them.
(On the plus side, I'm very relieved that the author doesn't have her characters do the Pamchenko Twist. I have seen skaters trying to attempt that physically impossible move, and they get hurt. Badly.)
Courtney isn't anything like Kate from The Cutting Edge. (I give points to the author for mentioning that movie. Unfortunately, she doesn't mention The Ice Princess or the sequels of The Cutting Edge. But that doesn't matter very much to the story.) She's willing to work hard to get to the Olympics, and she is determined. A bit paranoid, yes, but the king of paranoia is her partner, Mark. As a narrator, she isn't bad until she starts talking about her skating. Well, she doesn't really narrate her skating experience, to be very, very honest. (A huge disappointment for me!)
The romance is unsurprisingly a huge part of the story. Courtney and Josh are a great couple together, once they start getting to know each other. "Meeting the parents" is always a fun moment, for both sides. However, for Courtney, it's definitely painful. Still, the chemistry is tender but not off the charts.
In conclusion, Crossing the Ice is the light romance that one might read during break time. It isn't anything memorable (but for me, it's absolutely horrifying due to the fact that it barely dives into the wonderful world that is ice skating. It's why I'm giving this book a low rating).
Rating: One out of Five
-ofpaperandwords.blogspot.com
I used to ice skate (for single and pair skating) before I was forced to quit (due to medical issues). Because of the years I used to ice skate, I know a lot more about ice skating than the average reader. I was hoping that the book goes into depth for the world building (e.g. begin discussing little things like Axel jump and camel spin and talking how high scores could be), but it didn't. That is a huge disappointment right there.
Let's talk more about the world building. (Alright, I'm a bit peeved by the world building and the lack of details, because ice skating is an amazing sport and it's beautiful. Absolutely gorgeous.) The book doesn't go into the jumps or the spins or the simple parts of the pair skating program. Courtney and Mark are pair skaters. They are close to each other because of what they do. But when Courtney skates with Josh, there should be fireworks and chemistry. Pair skating is very intimate, even in the simplest of touches. It's very unfortunate and a great loss that the author doesn't go into these moments and dive into them.
(On the plus side, I'm very relieved that the author doesn't have her characters do the Pamchenko Twist. I have seen skaters trying to attempt that physically impossible move, and they get hurt. Badly.)
Courtney isn't anything like Kate from The Cutting Edge. (I give points to the author for mentioning that movie. Unfortunately, she doesn't mention The Ice Princess or the sequels of The Cutting Edge. But that doesn't matter very much to the story.) She's willing to work hard to get to the Olympics, and she is determined. A bit paranoid, yes, but the king of paranoia is her partner, Mark. As a narrator, she isn't bad until she starts talking about her skating. Well, she doesn't really narrate her skating experience, to be very, very honest. (A huge disappointment for me!)
The romance is unsurprisingly a huge part of the story. Courtney and Josh are a great couple together, once they start getting to know each other. "Meeting the parents" is always a fun moment, for both sides. However, for Courtney, it's definitely painful. Still, the chemistry is tender but not off the charts.
In conclusion, Crossing the Ice is the light romance that one might read during break time. It isn't anything memorable (but for me, it's absolutely horrifying due to the fact that it barely dives into the wonderful world that is ice skating. It's why I'm giving this book a low rating).
Rating: One out of Five
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