Off The Ice (Boston Hearts Book 1) Book Review - No Spoilers
Plot Summary
Off The Ice (Boston Hearts Book 1) by Emma O’Dea follows kindergarten teacher Cassie Dwyer after a painful breakup. She has no home and ends up crashing with her best friend’s older brother—Liam Brynn, an NHL star known for being private and distant. Liam is focused, disciplined, and done with distractions; Cassie’s bright heart and stubborn spirit slowly chip away at his walls. As they live under the same roof, their connection grows through late-night talks and quiet moments. It’s a grumpy-sunshine, slow-burn romance full of emotional healing and hockey-town charm. The forced proximity plots the space for both characters to grow, and they each find comfort and clarity off the ice.
Why I Love This Book
I love that the romance builds slowly and realistically. I love how Cassie’s warmth and resilience bring real light to Liam’s guarded world. I love how their late-night heart-to-hearts feel so honest. I love the tension between his emotional distance and her hopeful persistence. I love that it’s a clean read with no explicit scenes but lots of emotional heat. I love the way the hockey-world backdrop adds both structure and softness to the story. I love how I found myself rooting for them long before they admitted what was growing between them. I love how beautifully they heal each other.
Who Will Like This Book
If you enjoy slow-burn romance, grumpy/sunshine dynamics, sports-themed love stories, or emotional healing arcs, you’ll like this. It’s great for people who like clean, heartfelt romance set in a hockey-town world.
⚠️ Trigger warning: This book touches on emotional heartbreak and themes of loss and vulnerability. I think it’s wise to be aware before diving in.
Tagged As
slow burn, grumpy/sunshine, forced proximity, clean romance, sports romance, hockey romance, emotional healing, small town, standalone, indie romance, HEA
Steam Level
The emotional intimacy is real and touching, but the scenes stay closed-door. It’s all about connection, not physical steam.
