Summer Skate

Former NHL player Avery (Ice Capades) and romance writer Cohen (My Ride or Die) team up for a sexy, multifaceted beach read pairing a Manhattan author on sabbatical with a talented hockey player headed for stardom. Author Jessica Riley loves her husband and boisterous young children but trying to write around them has become untenable. When she’s offered an opportunity to stay in the Hamptons over the summer to finish her book, she jumps on it. Her peace and quiet is disrupted by the party house next door, where New York Rangers rookie Carter Hughes and his friends are spending the summer. Jessica decides to let the antics of the younger men inspire her writing. Meanwhile, she and Carter have an immediate spark, but many obstacles stand in their way, most notably Jessica’s marriage and Carter’s insecurities. Avery and Cohen make the sexual tension ring true as both of their nuanced leads try to fight their desires. The result is an angsty, sensual tale complete with fast-paced drama both on and off the ice. Sports romance fans who like things on the soapy side will be thrilled. (Sept.)