Member Reviews
Thanks to NetGalley & the publisher for an eARC of this title!
A Hockey Romance? SIGN ME UP! This one was a light, fun & cute read with just a small side of smut.
From the beginning I instantly loved the characters, It was hard not to. Living in Florida myself, about an hour from St Pete, it made me feel like I was right there with the characters… Obviously I think you’ll fall in love with the characters regardless of where you live. Logan’s dynamic with Poppy is just too stinkin cute & the chemistry between Logan and Coco was just too irresistible to not fall for these characters.
I’m excited there will be 2 more books released in this series. Based on the small blurbs it seems as though they will be standalone books but hopefully we will still read an appearance from Logan & Coco. But also excited to follow different story lines & get to know some of the other hunky hockey players too.
"The Cutting Edge" is a cute rom-com that is exactly what it set out to be: a cozy, fireside romance that oscillates between tension and fluff. But that's it.
I enjoyed the fact that Logan is a single parent and is a a good parental figure, involving Poppy... in the first half of the book. After that I felt like she was forgotten about. Poppy's character was wonderful but I wish she had more depth and involvement in the story: right now, her impact on the story is minor.
I also liked the sections about Coco's backstory, especially as a follower of competitive figure skating myself. Hockey, not as much, but it was still fun.
I must admit, I found myself losing focus during several of the long chunks of banter in this book. The characters make niche references and jokes that don't really make sense to everyone. And the miscommunication for no reason at all gets annoying after a while.
Also, I have always found it disconcerting when real people are included in fictional books. Vera Wang? Seriously?
However, for a lighthearted book to pass a couple hours? It's decent. Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Final rating: 3/5
... I kinda feel bad about this rating lmao
If you're a fan of cheesy, slightly over-the-top, corny reads, this is for you. From some of the jokes/humor to the insane amount of gifts that Logan showered her with - there were several PAGES dedicated to each and every gift he gave, not including flowers and food - and a very simple plotline, there wasn't much that called to me personally.
Add in the insta-love and the child who was not mentioned in the premise and disappears once she had successfully introduced the two leads, and the best part about the book was their banter and its speed.
This was an advanced copy, so there were several issues I found with spelling/grammar/duplicated paragraphs, but those should not be included in the final draft. And the premise on GoodReads somewhat covers the story? But it skips over the entire reason the two meet (his child and giving her a concussion) and she doesn't strike the deal with the coach for a while into the story, so she hasn't been lying to Logan the entire time.
The conflict between the two was a little forced to me and then resolved way too quickly for how blown up Coco (that's the lead, not Bella) made the whole thing, and I'm still on the fence about the whole "curse-breaking" deal in the first place because the coach never said she couldn't tell Logan - he said she couldn't tell everyone but Logan probably wouldn't mind her reasons - and she felt horrible for lying but she still told her best friend? If I feel that guilty over something, I'd probably tell the person I've wronged instead of my best friend, if I had to choose. (I'd probably tell both, tbh)
Most of the book's contents weren't for me. But if any of this sounds interesting to you, I recommend you check it out.
thank you Netgalley for the free copy
Thank you to the publishers and netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Whenever I see a hockey romance, I know I need to read it! This book was cute. It was giving instant love, star NHL hockey player and a olympic figure skater fall in love. I felt the second half of the book didn't live up to the first half. I loved the story at the beginning, the incident, the connection between Poppy, Coco and Logan. But the second half felt a little rushed. When Coco's ex just randomly came into the second half of the book after only being mentioned twice before in passing, his out of left field aggression?? It felt off. The miscommunication was not it for me. They both started the relationship off of lies, lying to each other is never a good way to start a relationship.
Overall, I'd never say no to a hockey romance but this one fell a little flat. It was still a cute read but not one of my favourites.
The Cutting Edge by Lisa Daily was the perfect steamy sports rom-com!
This was such a cute story. I thought this was very well done and the story drew me in from the very beginning. I enjoyed the drama and the sweet romance.
The writing flowed great and Daily kept my attention throughout.
"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."
Thank You NetGalley and Siesta Key for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!
This super light and fluffy romance is hiding an insightful commentary on the way that professional sportspeople are paid, how much they are paid and essentially how random this is. On the surface Logan, a hockey player, falls for Coco, an Olympic ice skater, after giving her a concussion by hitting her with a hockey puck. This rather cute (and trope-free) meeting sets them up for sparkle and banter and lots of chemistry..
Lisa Daily obviously had a ball choosing the gifts that a cashed-up and very guilty Logan could send to Coco and they are just fabulous! Hot tips for non-book boyfriends everywhere!
The necessary tension comes from a miscommunication but the core issue in the book is how Coco is so broke, hustling for every dollar, having inadequate family support, little effective health insurance and a struggle for every costume, every training session, every service. Logan, who is a single dad, is able to throw money at all his problems, and has team support, a nanny, an assistant, delivered meals to his beautiful home. There's lots of hockey and nicknames, not much steam, and unfortunately a lot of repetition of internal dialogue.
It's a fun easy read, with smartly observed social observation :)
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for an ARC.
An Olympic figure skater and a famous NHL player — could have been super cute! I’m a sucker for a good hockey rom com. Unfortunately, this was not it. I stopped reading about 30% through the book. The characters have potential, but the writing and development is pretty dreadful. The book is very long and detailed in sections it doesn’t need to be and underdeveloped and lacking in parts it needs to be longer. There were also a few instances where sentences were repeated and I had to make sure I wasn’t rereading the same page. I wanted to like it and appreciated the opportunity to give it a try, but this one was not for me!
Such a lovely story between Coco & Logan! Coco ends up in the hospital after Logan sends a hockey puck straight into her head - the sparks are flying like the puck but will their relationship make it out of the hospital with Coco? Amazing writing, lovable characters and a series i can’t wait to continue
Thank you to Siesta Key, NetGalley and Lisa Daily for a copy of this book!
2/5 Stars - Unfortunately stopped reading 71 pages into it.
Poppy and Logan are a super sweet father-daughter duo, with Logan being an NHL superstar and Poppy a figure-skating student of Coco's an Olympic figure-skater. After an unfortunate accident involving a hockey puck and Coco's forehead (!) Coco and Logan bond together during her hospital stay.
I loved the premise of this book, especially as a hockey, romance, and hockey romance lover myself, however I couldn't get past page 71 due to a number of specific reasons. Firstly, the so-called humour was honestly just cringey - Logan pretending to have lobster claws... please. Daily also used some very similar sentences early on in the book, just a few paragraphs from each other, I had to keep swapping back and forth to check I wasn't reading the same page over and over as it really felt repetitive. I also think perhaps a little more research would've made all the difference - it's not hard to check little facts about hockey practices etc (no, NHL players aren't doing on-ice practice for 4+ hours at a time!).
I do have to give it to Daily, she did make me laugh with Poppy's character and I would definitely like to try out some of her other works!
A striking-out NHL hockey star, Logan Rivers crosses paths with a down-on-her-luck Olympic hopeful, Coco Charmont, after his shot goes astray during practice. The result will change Logan and Coco’s journeys forever. A delicious, heart-warming sports romance written against the backdrop of the NHL hockey league pressures and the demands and sacrifices placed on Olympians pursuing their dream with a degree of realism sometimes missing in other sports romances I have read, given these professions are high stakes and physically arduous.
The meet-cute of this story is genius and pulls you quickly to Logan and Coco’s lives. I thought the writing was cleverly done, especially since a good part of the book takes place on the backdrop of a hospital before ramping up into the glitz and glamour of the NHL Hockey stars' world that Coco is dragged into. I felt despite being confined to one room, the dynamics built there between Logan and Coco build their connection filling the pages with punchy banter and rip your heart will they won’t-they moments.
I felt the miscommunication trope was wonderfully executed within the story; twisting me up inside with knots as I longed for Coco and Logan to come together. Each pinnacle moment had a fresh twist and turn, keeping the pace and tension on building the love. I felt for Logan, there was almost an insta-love or fated element connection to Coco, portrayed from his pov. But things were a slow burn of highest and lows for Coco who feels more strains and tests from her growing attraction to Logan.
They are genuinely a perfect couple and a delight to read along their bumps in the road to falling in love with a HEA.
I was really looking forward to reading The Cutting Edge. At the minute hockey romance books are incredibly popular in the book community.
The book centres on Olympic figure skater and kids teacher Coco and single father/NHL star Logan Rivers after he hits Coco in the head with a puck when she enters the practice arena. What ensues is grovelling, pining and a cute five year old.
But, unfortunately, I struggled to enjoy it. There were many instances throughout the book with errors and plot points that made me stop and wonder: what on earth?
Some examples of this is when five year old Poppy says “we’ll take it from here”. It doesn’t suit the language a five year old would use. Another unrealistic element was when Vera Wang, yes superstar fashion designer Vera Wang, phones Coco and has a full conversation with her.
I think with good editing and some more plot points through her hospital stay would greatly improve the book.
Thank you
Great storyline and character development made this book a hot and enjoyable read!
Extremely entertaining, captivating and interesting sexy read. I could not put it down. Wonderfully written with strong, intriguing characters. I want to read more from this author.
4 stars for a cute and funny sports romance with a golden retriever hero.
The Cutting Edge follows Coco, an Olympic ice skater, and Logan, a professional hockey player, and their relationship after their "meet-cute" in which Logan accidentally hits Coco with a puck.
If I were to use a phrase from the book to describe it, I would use:
"Everybody loves a power couple, and there's something so utterly delicious about a figure skater and a hockey player falling in love."
Tropes:
- Single father
- Sports romance
- Friends to lovers (kind of)
- Caretaking, gift-giving
- Slow burn (as much as a book below 250 pages can be)
Things I liked:
- Pacing: the book is under 250 pages, so it wasn't too long or short. I read this book on a flight and almost in one sitting. I didn't get bored at any point.
- Dual POV.
- Writing was easy to read and understand (even for a non-native speaker).
- Poppy was just a fantastic child character. She was funny, smart, and just generally awesome.
- Both Coco and Logan have their ambitions and they respect and understand all the sacrifices professional sports demand of athletes.
- Logan taking care of Coco.
- Logan falls first and harder for Coco.
- Last chapters give a nice setup for the next book and color me intrigued. I will be definitely reading more from this author.
Things I didn't like:
- Third-act conflict: I saw it coming halfway through the book. It was resolved way too quickly (it happened around the 90% mark and not the 70% mark as usual) but since I didn't enjoy the conflict and didn't understand Coco's reasoning, I was glad it got resolved quickly.
- Both Logan and Coco have past traumas/bad experiences and I think they were just breathly mentioned but not really explored.
- Appearance of a certain character, just to create commotion, which did not really lead anywhere.
Let's talk spice:
Since it's a friends-to-lovers/slow-burn romance we don't really get any spice until the end and we get one scene (If I remember correctly) and I personally enjoyed it.
Regarding the editing and formatting of the ebook:
- In chapter 16 there was a dialog in which every character line didn't start on a new line.
- There were many dialogs where the line ended in a coma instead of a full stop. Sometimes inverted commas for the direct speech were put with extra spacing or closer to the non-direct speech, rather than to direct speech.
Needed a light hearted romcom to break up some of my heavier reads
I enjoyed the dynamic between Coco, Logan and poppy; interesting to see how the single parent dynamic played out.
Thank you Net Galley for sending me this ARC for my honest review!
This had a premise of a good book, but a few stuff that didn’t sit well:
- having phones on a bench
- plane for wags (none of others hockey books had it 👀)
- this is not steamy book
I wanted to love this book, I really did. Olympic figure skater and pro Hockey player with a meet-ugly and a cute kid, seriously the set up was fantastic. The execution however was not. Bella drove me nuts with her wishy-washy attitude towards Logan up to an including getting mad at him for keeping something big from her when she did the same damn thing. But the part I really could not excuse was the fact the author had Logan, a pro hockey player and captain of his team, texting during games (and very important ones at that) while on the bench. Every time that happened I was thrown out of the story. Thing is I don't watch hockey, I've never seen a game, but I have read great hockey romances by writers who are hockey fans and know the game so even I know they don't look at or use their cellphones during a game, so I found this inexcusable. Yes, I realize this is fiction BUT if you are going to write about a pro sports player you need to make sure you know about the game and what is and isn't allowed. There were so many times I wanted to put this book down and not finish, but I slogged through it and finished but between the heroine (who I really didn't like for most of the book) and the Hockey errors, it just didn't work for me. I did love Logan and his precious Poppy though.
"The Cutting Edge" by Lisa Daily is an enchanting fusion of hockey romance, romcom charm, and heartwarming moments. Cantered around Logan, a devoted single dad and hockey player, the story takes an unexpected turn when he unintentionally injures his daughter's ice skating teacher. The ensuing misunderstandings weave a delightful tapestry of humor and affection, leaving both Logan and the teacher hopelessly smitten.
The author expertly navigates the realm of insta-love, infusing it with authenticity and emotional depth. While some may view it as a cliché, Lisa Daily masterfully balances the characters' immediate connection with genuine struggles and personal growth, rendering their romance believable and relatable. Readers will revel in the palpable chemistry that permeates every stolen glance and tender moment shared between Logan and the teacher.
The allure of "The Cutting Edge" lies not only in its love story but also in the series of miscommunications that propel the plot forward. Each twist and turn injects excitement and anticipation, keeping readers on edge as they eagerly await the resolution of the characters' misunderstandings. It is through these obstacles that Logan and the teacher experience growth, allowing their connection to blossom into something truly profound.
Lisa Daily's writing style is engaging, characterized by its wit and vivid descriptions. The author's attention to detail brings the world of hockey to life, immersing readers in the sport's thrill and intensity. Furthermore, the dialogues are laced with humor, adding depth and charm to the overall narrative.
I loved Coco and Logan!!!! They were such a fun pair to follow through their ups and downs. What I really valued most was how reliable Logan was a the male lead; he never wavered or had moments where he lacked morally. He was such a like able character that I was instantly drawn into his pursuit of Coco. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series!!
Wow, this book was a lot of fun! I’m glad I was able to read and finally get my nose into a Lisa Daily book! I’ve been attempting to read several of hers for a while now (I have a few in my kindle library waiting… now I know better than to wait and will bump them to the top of the TBR).
The basic premise has been seen before (yes - the movie of the same name starring the beloved Moira Kelly), where a hockey player and figure skater team up… but in actuality, this storyline is absolutely nothing like that! They don’t do any skating! Coco is an Olympic figure skater, yes, but she’s teaching kids between games to earn a living, and when one of her students is late being picked up, they go to find her dad who “works somewhere in the arena”… turns out he’s at another practice rink because he’s captain Logan Rivers of the NHL team practicing there, and had to stay overtime that day. In a bit of a rage after his meeting with the coach, he slap shots a puck that just happened to land on Coco’s head, and this lands her in the hospital with a very nasty concussion.
Queue the apology tour - Logan looking out for her and all her needs during recovery, and somehow getting her lucky necklace which turned into his lucky charm to turn his game around. His coach thinks it’s Coco being his lucky charm, so she’s suddenly got a job as Logan and the team’s lucky charm and mascot, while she’s still banned from the ice with the head injury… oh, and they’re also suddenly in a fake relationship.
A thoroughly enjoyable fake relationship, full of misunderstandings hockey and figure skating rom com - a definite recommendation! I had a few flavors of Helena Hunting and Pippa Grant while reading it, and I’m definitely a new Lisa Daily fan.
I received an advance review copy from NetGalley and Siesta Key, and this is my honest feedback.
This was such a fun and cute read. I adored our main characters. Their banter and chemistry was fantastic and the "twist" near the end had me wondering how things would be resolved. Overall, a great sporty rom-com.