Prestyn and Nick are set up on a date and end up agreeing to be FWB. The set up to get these two on a date leans in to how silly romance novels sometimes are and absolutely works without coming across as cheesy. I did not understand why Prestyn was so eager to only physical and not interested in a relationship despite getting herself in that situation by being on a dating website looking for a relationship, but her coming up with the idea led to the "guy falls first" trope many people love so I'll take it.

Trial by Fire was rom com joy with open door spicy scenes throughout the story and great side character best friends (Bayleigh and Delaney are the best), and likeable lead characters.

A misunderstanding has the lonely heiress Prestyn Caine being set up on a blind date with her new friend’s brother Nick. Professional hockey goalie, Nick Williams, wants nothing more than to keep out of the limelight. A traumatic past has made him distrustful of most people except his twin sister. Prestyn and Nick soon find they have more in common than first thought. While neither is looking for love or romance they decide that they may be able to help out one another in other ways.

Trial by Fire is friends with benefits, sports romance with plenty of spice. It is book two in author M.E. Carter’s Florida Glaze Hockey series. I have not yet read the first book but this one can be read as a stand-alone.

The MCs have excellent banter from the beginning. The banter is swoony and sometimes humorous. This book is open-door and while it is quite spicy that only adds to the overall storyline. (In some books it can be a distraction but not in this case.) It is a necessary and much appreciated part of the plot.

I did like that we got some background on some of the other players and side characters to help “world build” for future books in the series. It also gives depth to the overall storyline.

This is the first book that I have read from this author but it will not be the last. I look forward to reading the rest of this series and checking out some of her other work.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to NetGalley and Author Collective 20!