Series: Beer League Belles #1
Author: Toni Aleo
Published May 30th 2025
Goodreads Synopsis
I never thought I’d see her again.
Fable Winthrop was my only partner on the ice. I’d been the hockey player turned figure skater overnight, and she was the prim, proper ice princess who didn’t take my crap.
I did everything to make her smile, I worked hard to get her the gold, and I loved every moment of it. Even though her parents warned me to stay away from her, I fell desperately in love with her. Since I couldn’t have her the way I wanted, I made her my best friend, the girl who knew me better than anyone, in the hope that, after it was all over, we could choose each other.
But after winning the gold, her parents pulled us apart.
I chose the rough, fast world of hockey. She stayed in figure skating, not only winning two more golds, but carving out a name for herself as one of the best coaches in the sport.
Now, twenty years later, she’s back. And after a letter from the grave, she is the co-owner of my rink.
The rink was supposed to be mine, and now, she’s not only in my space, she’s in my head. We have to work together like we did all those years ago, but so much has changed. Not only are we older, but the past weighs heavy on both our hearts. While Fable still reminds me of the girl I remember, she’s a woman now.
And she’s still in my heart.
When the chance comes to skate with her again, I jump onto my blades faster than I could say yes. I don’t just want a second chance at skating; I want a second chance with her.
But Fable has spent years building walls around her heart, and our past continues to chase me. We were unstoppable once—two kids who could conquer the ice together. Now, I have to prove to her that we still can.
Goodreads
Review
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher, via BookSirens. This in no way impacted on my view.
It's been over 20 years since Fable Winthrop and Jett Cook won gold at the Olympics, or even saw each other again. Jett was sent to college to play hockey, whereas Fable was on a solo route, winning another two golds before fleeing town and doing everything she can to forget her family, and Jett. But now she's back in town, and stuck here for at least a year due to stipulations in her grandfather's will. If she leaves, Jett loses the ice rink he's made his own, and Fable would never do that to him. She's tried to forget about her childhood friend and crush, but being partners once again is stirring up the old feelings, and she doesn't want to fight them any longer.
I loved this book! From the first few pages, I was hooked, and the fact that it was dual POV made it all the better. We got to see both Jett and Fable's characters, seeing their flaws and their mistakes, but also what made them uniquely perfect for each other. The yearning and sheer love they had for each other was magnificent, and the fact that it was not all plain sailing, but there were arguments and animosity as they rediscovered themselves and each other, made it even more enjoyable. The extended cast of characters, especially the Belles, were a hoot, and I only wish that Fable's parents got their comeuppance because they were truly vile and disgusting characters. I need to read book 2, and hope that Jett and Fable play a large part in it!
Dates Read:
August 7-8, 2025
Rating
4 Stars
