Series Review: Is this series worth your time? Does it get better as the novels progress? Or does it get worse? Find out below:
Synopsis for Cross Stroke (from Goodreads):
Tracey…
One night left my heart shattered and my reputation ruined, and now my only hope is to transfer to another university far from home. Although I’m a champion figure skater and am used to succeeding, I can’t dump the burden of distrust and intimacy I’m carrying.
But when I literally crash into the cocky captain of the hockey team, sparks fly, and the attraction is as undeniable as it is unwanted.
No way is this arrogant hottie the one to help me move past my fears. Or is he…?
Dak…
Overwhelmed with guilt and remorse, I can’t forget the tragic accident that killed my first love. To avoid ever feeling that kind of agonizing loss again, I vow to stick with one-night stands with every puck bunny who glides my way and focus on keeping my position on the hockey team.
But after I meet a feisty figure skater and am then thrown together with her as a lab partner, I find I want to melt the icy walls we’ve built around our hearts.
If we don’t strangle each other first.
Series: On the Edge
Author: Elizabeth Hartey
# of Books: 4 (Full Reading Order)
Book Order: Connected
Complete?: No, sequels are in the works
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary, Romance, Sports
Heat Rating: Hot
Point of View: First Person, Alternating
Publication Date: January 16, 2018 – ongoing
Source & Format: Enticing Journey Book Promotions–eARC (#1-#2); Kindle Unlimited (#3)
Add: Goodreads | Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble
**This post was originally posted as a Blog Tour review of the first book of the series. It has now been updated to include the newest publications in the series.**
Why I Picked it Up / My Expectations:
I love a good sports romance. I especially love the romances that have a “hate to love you” vibe to them. And throw in the “lab partner” trope and you have me sold! I was really excited to glide (see what I did there?) into Dak and Tracey’s story about learning to love again with someone you least expect.
The Plot:
I really enjoyed the start because these two just kept running into each other much to Tracey’s dismay. But near the middle of the book, the pacing just got a little weird for me. That was around the time their relationship becomes more physical and the rest of the story takes a backseat. But it definitely won me over by the end again.
The Characters:
I loved Dakota immediately. He was so adorable in his attraction to Tracey. And the whole mix up at the start was fun to read. I wish it was strung out a little further because it was entertaining to read. But I also liked his backstory and how scared he was to truly care about someone again.
Tracey I had a harder time getting a read on. She has quite the backstory, so rightfully so, she’s a bit of a mess. But I found her character to be all over the place. I’m not sure if she had maybe too much on her plate and that overwhelmed her as a character. Nevertheless, she really does have some great development though near the end so I appreciated that.
The Romance:
One of the really noteworthy things about these two was their communication. I loved how these two talked about their past and put everything out there early on. It helped cement a relationship of understanding to build their relationship on. However, I needed to see more of that emotional connection in the middle of the book. By that point, the focus shifts to their physical chemistry and I wanted to see that friendship/emotional connection grow more. There’s no denying the heated chemistry between these two but I loved those moments of reflection and discussion we saw earlier in the book.
My Expectations for the Rest of the Series:
I am very, very excited for Nikki’s book and seeing the rest the boys get their stories!
–June 11, 2018– Book #2: Cross Drop
Check out my full review here as a part of my Blog Tour hosting stop for this release!
–December 20, 2019– Book #3: Cross Crease
I made reading this book a priority when I resubscribed to Kindle Unlimited. I was so excited to get this slightly forbidden romance since it’s been brewing since the first book.
Honestly, after Chapter 11, I skipped all the chapters and just read the last chapter and epilogue. This book was a huge disappointment for me.
It all just seemed so shallow because all it seemed like these two cared about was banging each other. I got so tired of hearing Heaven moan about her virginity and how she wanted Wolfe to be the one to take it. But her reasoning seemed to be because he was hot and not because of who he was as a person. I think their BFF status was established behind the scenes and didn’t translate to the scenes we got.
I wanted something deeper, like the other two books in the series.
My Rating: 3/5
Cross Stroke 3/5 | Cross Drop 4/5 | Cross Crease 2/5
I think fans of sports romances who want to dive into the world of New Adult will enjoy this take. Some books are stronger than others at delivering a solid romance read.
Read if You Like: sport romances, learning to love again stories
Avoid if You: dislike sexy times
- The Goal by Elle Kennedy (Off Campus Series #1)
- Forbidden Dance by Deanna Roy (Lovers Dance Series #1)
- No Pants Required by Kim Karr
Elizabeth Hartey
As a lover of the northeast US, Elizabeth moved with her husband to the Poconos several years ago to open a Chiropractic Clinic. Four children and a menagerie of animals later, she has finally found time to fulfill her lifelong dream of writing novels. The wild ride of writing books is one of the most difficult things she’s ever done in her life. But the opportunity to get her stories out of her head and down on paper and send them out into the world is also one of the most wonderful things she’s ever done. A dreamer at heart, romance is the genre she spends most of her time writing and reading into the wee hours of the morning. And having readers fall in love with her characters as much as she does is almost as exciting as giving birth (just not as painful!) When not juggling work responsibilities and writing, she enjoys spending time with her family, hiking the beautiful hills and woods around her home, swimming, knitting, watching old classic movies and travelling. As an avid hockey fan she has to compromise with her husband—one night of hockey for her in exchange for a night of football for him.
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