Icing the Play cover art

Icing the Play

A Friends to Lovers Hockey MM Romance (Desert Ice Hockey, Book 6)

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About this listen

Living with my high school crush is a bad play. Living with him while keeping my feelings on ice? Impossible.

Myles

Hockey is my dream.

But if I don’t make it to the NHL, I’ll be the family failure—especially with my little brother on his way.

Then Cooper struts back into my life. My high school crush.

The guy who made my chest ache with emotions I buried so deep, I wished they’d disappear.

He’s heading to the NFL and setting me up with his friend.

But my heart’s never raced for anyone the way it does him.

When he needs a place to live, I can’t say no.

Even if living with him might break me.

Cooper

I came to Arizona for football, not for Myles Cummings.

But the instant I see him again, I know my feelings back then weren’t just friendship.

And now? It’s stronger than ever.

There’s one big problem.

He doesn’t know I like guys, and my friend has his eye on Myles.

When Myles lets me move in, keeping my secret—and my hands off him—might be the hardest play of my life.

Icing the Play is the sixth book in the college hockey series, Desert Ice Hockey, and is the follow up to the Rock U series. It features a hockey player crushing on his old friend, a football player hiding his sexuality, forced proximity, hurt/comfort, a short love triangle, second chances and found family. Desert Ice Hockey follows a group of queer hockey players, known as the squad, while they each battle for their HEA.

Buy now to explore a world where emotions run as high as the heat and hockey isn’t the only game in town!

©2025 Christie Gordon Publishing LLC (P)2025 Christie Gordon Publishing LLC Contemporary Romance Sports Hockey Heartfelt
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Listener received this title free

I’m reviewing the audio version of this book. To get this out of the way – although I love Finnley Cole and have always enjoyed his performances - his ‘Canadian’ was, well, not always fun to listen to. As a Canadian who has lived in various places in the country all her life. Finnley’s Canadian is sometimes Newfie and, for the record, no one in this country says ‘aboot’. Myles is supposed to be from Vancouver. Not with that accent. I will say it’s true that more Canadians say ‘eh’ (myself included). So that worked.

Okay, otherwise I loved Finnley and was able to deal with the above issue. He’s a great narrator and perfect for a series about university students.

Onto the book.

I enjoy stories of unrequited love turned into real love. Myles has crushed on Cooper since high school and never thought to see him again. Then he walks into class in university in Arizona and there’s the man he’s always had feelings for. But Myles is part of the ‘squad’ of out hockey players. Cooper is oblivious to Myles’s feelings, and very much no out.

When they wind up living in the same house, things get interesting. And yeah, things heat up.

I loved seeing other members of the squad turn up at various times. Myles is the last one to find love, but what I believe will be the next series – football – is well set up. There’s a bit of angst in the book, but nothing serious. Not as much as some of Christie’s other books. I did love the ending.

I really enjoyed this one and can’t wait for me. A good one, eh?

High school crush

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Listener received this title free

I really really really liked the chemistry between Myles and Copper. They were absolutely amazing together. They played some really fun games. Chef's kiss.
All the books in the series have a great found family theme and I loved how Myles' friends supported him and helped him gain his confidence. Cooper was also wonderful and very caring.
The narrator was absolutely fantastic, I loved the character voices and the audio quality was great. I had such a fun time listening the audiobook, the story was brought to life beautifully!

Wonderful book

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Listener received this title free

Audiobook - excellent narration, I really enjoyed the accents.
Story - 4 stars. Very good addition to a series I have really enjoyed. The lack of self-confidence of Myles and the worries both felt around coming out to their families felt very realistic. I would have preferred skipping the JJ dating part, it didn't feel quite right. This is a good way to make connections to start off another interconnected series.

very good

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Listener received this title free

rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

feelings:  🥰🥵😍🫠😡😄

narration: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐


This book is a very sweet friends to lovers story. Cooper is such a gem. Although he has intense feelings for Myles himself, he tries to help his friend JJ in his crush on Myles.


But ever since their high school days, Cooper has been Myles's biggest crush and eventually they find each other. 


I love how Christie Gordon writes her characters. She leaves no doubt about the deep feelings they have for each other. She creates a world of acceptance that you can revel in and that promises hope and reassurance.


It's spiced up with very steamy scenes and just enough adversity to keep you enthralled with the characters and their story.


Finnley Cole is a great narrator. I read the book and loved it, but he brings the characters to life so well that it makes it even more emotional for me. I'm a little sad to see the squad go, but I'm also pretty pumped for Christie's next series, Desert Football!

Frieds to lovers 😍

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