Review: Cracking Ice: Episodes 5-7 by NJ Lysk #Review #Giveaway

If you missed the reviews for episodes 1-4, you can click here to read those: Truus' Reviews of Episodes 1-4

 You must read these in order....

 EPISODE FIVE:

The Hell Flames have qualified for the semi-finals and Carry and Keenan are closer than ever despite Keenan's blooming romance with Amalia.

He cannot remain silent while omegas suffer, and as he comes into contact with the activists fighting for omega rights, he starts to believe he can really contribute to change things. But Keenan's need to speak out might cost him the very person he's trying to protect.

Carry knows he has to be careful with his public image, but behind closed doors he's taking names and getting organized as for the first time in years he starts to see a way out of the box he's been assigned to as an omega.

But every interaction between Carry and Keenan is a walk down a tightrope and with the bond pulling them closer, can they really keep things professional when they add friendship to their desire?



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EPISODE SIX

Watching Keenan speak out for omega rights, Carry has come to see pretending won't make the world a fairer place, but the revolution neither intended to spark is bringing them closer each day... Can they resist? And should they?



Hockey was everything to them both… until they met each other. All Keenan Avali wants to do is play hockey. It doesn’t matter that he’s an alpha, he’s got no interest in dominating anywhere but on the ice. When Cartwright Johnson joins the Hell’s Flames, he expects to play hard to compensate for being an omega who dared to pursue a professional hockey career. After his last team traded him, he is not making the mistake of falling for a teammate ever again. He’s sure he’s got the control to keep his pants on and his heart closed... until he meets Keenan Avali.An omega can't trust an alpha, much less one as hot as Avali, but nobody can fail to see they play together like they were made for it. But for how long can they be the perfect teammates on ice when they can't stand to look at each other off it?


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EPISODE SEVEN

An omega in heat. His straight alpha teammate. A night they won't forget. A connection they cannot deny.


When Cartwright Johnson joins the Hell’s Flames, he expects to play hard to compensate for being an omega daring to pursue a professional hockey career. But he doesn't count on the instant connection he forms with his alpha linemate... Or on the ^heat it sparks.

All Keenan Avali wants to do is play hockey. It doesn’t matter that he’s an alpha, he’s got no interest in dominating anywhere but on the ice. And he's certainly got no interest in men, no matter how sweet they smell or how beautifully they skate.


Nobody can fail to see they play together like they were made for it. But how close can they get to success without losing something much dearer than a game?



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REVIEWS 

Episode #5 Fire

Ha! My town Rotterdam was mentioned, that is awesome!

With two times two hours a day being around Keenan, Carry could live with it. Every second his aware of Keenan’s present.

“He'd always thought the whole thing about an alpha's voice affecting an omega was bullshit—just like one true pair.”

They all are training hard to win games. With shields up and down it seems workable, but my goodness I found it almost impossible for them. Imagine a constant awareness of the other and not giving in because of skating, because of freedom, because of resistance against what other one's expectations.

The feelings are devastating, wanting someone but not as much as play hockey or freedom, and the most intense thing about it is, the other knows.

Oh, my heart. Keenan, I wished he could have him. He is so strong and dedicated to Carry. With everything he did, he did it with Carry in his mind.

He is one of the few alpha’s, who spoke out in public about equal rights for omega.

Not everyone takes this to the heart. Not convinced of Keenan’s ideas.

There are proponents and opponents about equal rights. There are some comments about Keenan’s only reason is because of one omega.

Carry has fought his whole life against alpha’s and what was expected of him as an omega. It was exhausting to watch him, fight against the strong connection they had. My heart wanted to reach out.

Carry spoke out so many times about hockey comes first, I think he made Keenan believe it.

It was awesome to watch the complications of the mind. It was so well thought out, very impressive. The strong resistance of Carry against what was in front of him gave me a bit of irritation. Come one... I so want them together.

Episode #6 Cracking

The season is over. Keenan has to be honest to himself, if he wasn’t wanted, he should stop being wanted. It isn’t good.

Keenan travels home to his parents.

Talking with Sven he mentioned Amalia, that he loved her and... for a freaking moment I misunderstood the situation.

Even with the pause, Keenan can’t stop thinking about Carry. And it’s ditto with Carry. But knowing Carry, there will be no process, Carry only wants his freedom.

Keenan tries to go on without his true mate.

Carry got issues with his suppressants and he knows he can trust Keenan, not to bite or bond him. He is conflicted, can he ask to have sex with him? No, no there are other Alphas. Still, it’s nagging in his head.

Finally, FINALLY Carry understands what real freedom is. I wanted to fall on my knees and kiss the ground he was on.

Dang what a hard read. I almost disliked Carry all over again. I’m trying hard and wanted to understand him, I did at some points, but he makes it difficult for himself, he isn’t quite lovable. Then, he starts to open up, omg I can’t believe my eyes.

Like all the installments before this is an amazingly written story. A journey I’m so happy to be part of, its exceptional in every way. A well thought out plot. The characters are excellently developed, I’m a bit overwhelmed.

Episode #7 Light

Glorious final installment thank you thank you.

Finally Carry cracked and the only option he had was to offer Keenan his heart. I cried, I wanted to stand on a chair and waving a flag, a rainbow flag to be specific!!! Yahhhh

To be honest, in the back of my head I was afraid and never thought this would ever happen, but finally.

Dear, dear Keenan, at last, he could hold his omega. *sob* I had so much respect for him.

I swear I could smell them like they could. It made me delirious.

I felt so much compassion for Keenan, even with Carry in his arms he was so unsure and cautious when Carry opened his mouth. He had a fear of saying or doing the wrong thing. Afraid Carry would... he didn’t know what, but it would shatter him.

Still, it isn’t easy, they just started and have to learn about the other and their relationship. Carry is complicated, vulnerable, afraid for many reasons and wary about his person. They have a long difficult way to go, both know it will be worth as long as they are together.

For me, this was the best story about alpha’s, omega’s, mates, and especially the aspect ‘scent’, the scent of the ocean and sand, caramel and candied apples. It was EVERYTHING. Also, this story has one of the most complicated characters I ever read about, the shields levels were so intense. The author did a tremendously good job. The story was strongly consistent and because of that, it felt reliable, acceptable, realistic and last but not least immensely entertaining.

A series I highly recommend to read!

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Random Review: Cracking Ice by N.J. Lysk Episodes 1-4 #Review #Giveaway

Hockey was everything to them both… until they met each other.

All Keenan Avali wants to do is play hockey. It doesn’t matter that he’s an alpha, he’s got no interest in dominating anywhere but on the ice.

When Cartwright Johnson joins the Hell’s Flames, he expects to play hard to compensate for being an omega who dared to pursue a professional hockey career. After his last team traded him, he is not making the mistake of falling for a teammate ever again. He’s sure he’s got the control to keep his pants on and his heart closed... until he meets Keenan Avali.

An omega can't trust an alpha, much less one as hot as Avali, but nobody can fail to see they play together like they were made for it. But for how long can they be the perfect teammates on ice when they can't stand to look at each other off it?

Cracking Ice is a 240,000 words story, published in episodes.

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Review

Episodes 1-4

Episode #1 Ice

Cartwright Johnson is traded from The Titans to ice hockey club Hell’s Flames. As an omega being part of a hockey team is exceptional, just like his speed. Cartwright has his own beliefs and doesn’t want any protection from alphas! Doesn’t want to get involved with any alpha, certainly not Keenan Avali. Not after what he’d been through.

Yes, they are competitive, and they don’t like each other, period. Well maybe only the scent of the other, and strangely enough they also know where the other is, like all the time!

Vigorously denying what is in front of you doesn’t work. Still, Keenan is busy to explain and convince himself why he can’t get Carry out of his head.

“How could his body react to something his mind rejected?”

Even though they barely talk to each other, on the ice they work perfectly, open, sharp, and winning. When it seems to become somewhat more, the rumors start. What’s going on between them?

When I get the chance to read about alphas and omegas, I’m sold. This one didn’t disappoint!

I think it’s a nice start to a series. It’s pictured from a different angle and I love that!

We meet the teammates. I have to confess it’s not my best quality remembering names, so I was happy with the team list at the beginning of the book, I copy/paste the list so I could easily switch to look who was who. I loved the original touch to the alpha omega dynamic.

Captivatingly written story, I think this start is a good fundament to what comes next

Episode #2 Thaw

I never read a story with true mates who worked hard so they would NOT be together, my head was confused. I wanted them together and all they did was fight against it.

Keenan was quite oblivious to the whole mate thing, he never felt something for a guy and didn’t want to start. Carry’s first priority was hockey, now with his real mate before him he has to work hard to disguise his feelings and hold up all kinds of shields to protect himself. Walls don’t work on ice, he has to know where Keenan is to play his best game.

Keenan is a bit short-sighted. He kind of wants to ignore the true pair thing. Carry is at a disadvantage; he feels everything and has to work hard to suppress.

Keenan understands some, he feels too, but hard-headed as he is, he is in denial.

Their bond is strong, Keenan doesn’t even know how strong because Carry doesn’t let him see or feel everything. They can take advantage of it on ice, together they can be invincible, and no one will find out!

Most of the time Carry feels largely screwed by the universe!

When his heat strikes again one message is enough.

It’s all about not opening up too much because it will overwhelm the other, who definitely can’t find out.

I’m a HUGE fan of alpha omega dynamic, and I’m even more turned on by the scent ‘thing’. Cracking Ice is full of it! I can’t get enough of it all!

This story gives me all different kind of feelings, I love the unbearable tension and their hot sexual encounters, I hate the aloof they put between them, and I love they struggle with it.

After this second installment, I felt even more connected with both men.

Luckily the size of every part of this series is manageable, but it makes me restless not to know what will happen next. With Cracking Ice it can go every direction.

Overall a well-written story, I love the fact I wasn’t head over heels with both men, they had to work hard to conquer my heart, I do want to get to know and understand them better.

I love the content and I love all the focus to the real-pair issues.

Episode #3 Heat

Keenan wants to have a mate, the feeling of arms around each other. That he’s aware of this because of Carry, doesn’t mean he wants it with Carry. Noooo, he’s monosexual, he tells himself about every day. It made me crazy and I wanted to smack his stubborn head so much.

They have to play against the Titans, the club who traded Carry. Who traded him for a reason!

Both men still fight each other, out of control sometimes. They are stubborn, somehow, they aren’t at the same level. Keenan has the urge to protect and Carry on the other hand doesn’t want to be protected or defended by Keenan or any alpha.

He can take care of himself, always, except when he is in heat.

My favorite thing from the world of A/O is about scent. The scent of caramel, sand, ocean, sour, sweet even burned hair you name it, they are aware of it. Just delicious to watch and imagine all the sensations.

It's hard to watch them struggle, head and body are separated, rational tells to take space but the body only wants to get closer.

I felt sorry for both men, Keenan because he is unaware and Carry because he’s too aware.

I think this line perfectly describes the big struggle:

 “There was nothing there about how to deal with a man he was highly attracted to, hormonally driven to fuck, and personally unsure about.”

One thing is stronger and screams louder and that’s the ice.

Keenan wonders how Carry gets through his heats. When he gets his answer, it shakes up his whole being.

At some point, the tables turned. It’s getting a bit messier and both men have to go their own way because being near the other isn’t gonna work.

The moves on the ice are awesome and exciting, it was well described as if watching a game in real life. Reading about this content from a different, subtle angle is... confusing I think, but I love the unpredictable side of it! The way Carry and Keenan are around each other is devastating, hurtful, and everything. I screamed to encourage them to do differently. All the feelings are palpable and for me, at times, a bit depressing. I know it’s a series and everything can happen, but at the moment, I’m not sure they will manage and end up together, ever.

Well, that’s a plus for this series, to get me so far, confused and desperate to read on and on.

Episode #4 Warmth

Keenan tries to get on with his life without a chance to bond with Carry. They will only be involved professionally and even though it hurts he has to go on. He learned from the master himself to shield his feelings and now he can’t stop.

Women around him are available and that’s what he will take. Omega Amalia seems the one for him.

After an interview with a prejudiced small-minded reporter, Keenan speaks up for omega’s and their place in society and after that, we are in the middle of politics and rules for alphas, omegas, and betas. It causes a shockwave, quite a revolutionary turn in this story.

Even though the romantic side in this story is lower, other things are rising.

I have to be patient (I’m bad with that). I can’t imagine what will happen when both men let all their shields down.

I think Keenan is getting stronger and more stable as a person. Carry is consistent in all his beliefs and actions.

I found the plot well thought out and the whole story captivatingly worked out. One event or action went smoothly over into the other.

A plausible story where all the little precious society boxes are shaken up and everybody has to reevaluate their biased beliefs and look at what is fundamentally real and important. I think ‘ask’ is one of the keywords.

Funny fact is I convinced myself I can’t handle continuing stories but here I am, in the middle of a wonderful series, with gnashing teeth, nails stuck in my hand and a stuttered heart, I can’t wait to start the next installment!

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