Nick J. Russo is so perfect for this series!

I loved reading Blake and Sako’s story with my eyes when it was first published and I loved it all over again when I listened to this audiobook. Nick J. Russo does such a great job with New Adult stories and he’s really been doing a wonderful job with this series.

Playing for the same team, Blake and Sako begin as adversaries sniping at each other every chance they get. After bonding over a prank, they become co-conspirators pulling more pranks on their teammates. Agreeing to be “ice in public, heat in private,” their behavior confuses many of their teammates; others suspect that there is more to their relationship than that of adversaries.

They take things pretty slow, trying not to let their nearly uncontrollable attraction to each other escalate their relationship too quickly. Most of this story is fairly angst free and there are several light-hearted moments. But conflict is often needed to keep readers interested and there are a couple of great scenes where their relationship nearly blows up. I really felt the connection between these two MCs, as well as the connection all of their teammates had to each other.

One of my favorite parts of this story, and one that made my eyes leak way too much, was when Sako came out to his family. If a writer can get me emotionally invested in a book (e.g., bring me to tears 😊) then it’s nearly a sure bet that I am loving everything about it; that definitely applied to this story.

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awesome and fun

Ryan Taylor and Joshua Harwood are synonymous with heartwarming and entertaining books and Ice Devils is no exception. I love it when a book is authentically told and I can identify with the characters.
I like sports romances and these two authors describe the events in such detail that you feel like you're right there: in the locker room, on the ice, and in the protagonists' free time. And when the Barracudas have a hockey game, I can't help but root for them.
Mark and Blake are initially hostile to each other, but you can tell there is tension between them. Blake catches Mark playing a few pranks on the team and suddenly the two become unusual partners. I loved the tension and banter between the two.
What I also really enjoyed was meeting protagonists you already know from the previous volumes. The book can be read as a standalone, but if you've already read the other books, you'll have even more reading pleasure.
My favorite part of the book was when Mark came out to his parents. It was very emotional and very heartwarming. So good!
Great chemistry between the protagonists, romance, some hot moments, some humor, of course hockey and great camaraderie make Ice Devils an absolute feel good book.

Nick J. Russo brought the story to life with his pleasant narration pace and different voices for the various protagonists. He nailed the characters perfectly and he portrayed the emotions very well. An absolute pleasure to listen to!

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1 person found this helpful

Ice devils for all times

Josh and Ryan always know how to reach me as a reader so that I feel I am on the bench next to ice, in the lockerroom or a fly on the wall with the characters they create. And what I like best is that we keep meetibg previous characters for more than a cameo

This was a hot and hockey heavy mm romance about Mark and Blake who are the pranksters 'ice devils' of their hockey team. They have a snarky animosity, but through their pranks they bond and find there is more happening under the surface and become boyfriends whilst keeping the chirps going for their teammates.

Throughout the book their relationship develops and they both find their way to better communicate what they want and need from each other and realize it really is love. True to their writing style Mark and Blake have a sweet hea.

Josh & Ryan delivered another volume to their Barracuda hockey series and I am silently hoping for 'Gags' to have his story told next.

Update 31/5/22
For the audiobook:
Nick J. Russo brought the right amount of humour, care, love and heat in his narration of a book I really enjoyed reading and listening to. I can totally recommens this book and the ohters both in written and nareated form.

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Fun!

4.5 Stars!

Awww, I absolutely adored Ice Devils! While it's not quite part of a series, I recommend reading Nice Catching You since it's where Blake appeared first.

I loved Blake from the moment he showed up in NCY, he's so sweet, good-natured, and charismatic. He also has a naughtier side, loving to play pranks on his teammates, which is what makes him and Mark Sakamoto move past their prior animosity into a tentative friendship that quickly turns into more, but not before Sako messed things between them a few times. I liked Mark, even if it took me a while to get there. He did a few things that didn't endear him to me, but by the end, I was very invested in Blake and Mark getting their HEA (which was well worth the wait, btw).

Blake and Sako were great together, had amazing chemistry and I really enjoyed the progression of their relationship from enemies to friends to lovers.

I think one of my favorite parts of the book was a conversation Mark had with his parents. I found myself tearing up at the poignant scene. And like I've said before, one of the things I've liked the most about these books is the hockey action, Taylor and Harwood do a great job at making it relatable and fun to this hockey newbie.

You simply can't go wrong with a Nick J. Russo narration. His voice is youthful and he has this amazing and very pleasant timbre and wide range of different voices, not to mention fantastic comedic timing, which made listening to Ice Devils and Mark and Blake's story and their antics a great experience.

Overall, this was a great audiobook to listen to, fun and sweet and hot. Very recommendable!

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