by Bal Khabra
Part of Off the Ice
First published 2025
Sierra Romanova once competed in the Olympics as a figure skater. Then an accident left her with panic attacks every time she steps onto the ice. Now in her final year at Dalton University, she wants to return to competition. Dylan Donovan plays hockey until his reckless behavior gets him kicked off the team. His NHL dreams crumble, but he refuses to abandon the rink entirely. When Dylan pushes Sierra to prove herself, she laces up her skates again. He starts helping her rebuild her skills, though he enjoys needling her in the process. Sierra needs a pairs partner for her comeback. Dylan is the only skater at her level, even if he comes from hockey rather than figure skating. She brings years of professional experience. He brings unpredictability and raw talent. Their partnership could work on the ice, but their clashing personalities create friction off it.
Genres: romance, contemporary, sports, contemporary-romance, college, sports-romance
Vibes: character-driven, competitive, emotional, romantic, tension-filled
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, forced-proximity, second-chance, slow-burn
Setting: Dalton University
416 pages · Paperback · Berkley
Content warnings: anxiety