Dreams of Gold (Dream's Edge #2) by Traci Hunter Abramson + Win A Copy of This Book!

 

Nine months ago, Amaliya Marcell’s world was rocked when she nearly lost her parents in a devastating accident. In that moment, everything changed, and it was with no small amount of determination that the former ballerina rebuilt her life into something wonderful alongside the man she loves, her pairs ice-skating partner, Tyler.

Since he was a child, Tyler Linden has dreamed of Olympic gold. And with Amaliya by his side, he’s confident that his goal is finally within reach. The pair is on track to compete in the Winter Games in Leningrad, but the path to gold turns out to be rougher than they expected. A painful injury on the ice shakes Amaliya’s confidence, and it will take every ounce of willpower to keep working toward the competition of her life. But when the discovery of a family secret connects her to the Soviet Union, the truth of her history forges within Amaliya a renewed determination to make her Olympic dreams a reality.

 * Amazon * Goodreads * Deseret Book *

What a fun book to read as the winter Olympics are going on!  Ice skating is one of my favorite things to watch so this book really grooved with where I am right now and what I'm watching.  This is book two in a series you really should read in order.  There are also a couple novellas in this series which again, should be read before this book.  

By now these characters are feeling very familiar to me and I feel like I know them.  Amaliya and Tyler have been working hard and are finally competing, on a quest to get to the Olympics.   There are plenty of bumps in the road- distrustful father, stalker, competitors, and secrets uncovered.  It's quite a ride that has been building for a while now.

This series is pretty gentle in nature.  It flows easily and comes across very naturally and life like.  There is a strong sense of family and lots of good support that comes from that.  The overall theme of working hard and reaching for your goals is easy to feel given that Amaliya and Tyler are athletes.  This book is definitely more climactic and exciting in nature than the other ones.  It has more plot based elements where the others are more character based.  The whole series is great but this book was my favorite of the series.  

Content:  mild peril, mild violence, kissing.

- I received a complimentary copy of this book.  All opinions expressed are my own.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Broken Dreams (Dream's Edge #1.5) by Traci Hunter Abramson + Win A Copy of This Book!

 

A lifetime ago, Maggie Alexander’s parents narrowly missed medaling in the Olympics as pairs figure skaters. Now a coach, her father Gordon is living his dreams through the skaters he trains—until Maggie is forced to deliver heartbreaking news: her mother’s battle against cancer will be a losing one. Shattered, her father loses his dreams in an instant—his beloved wife and his will to coach. Left to pick up the pieces, a devastated Maggie finds herself relying on the steadfast support of her childhood best friend, Lance Whitmore.

Despite the fact that Maggie has never seen Lance as more than a friend, his heart has always been hers. Lance does what he can to help Maggie work through her grief, and soon their friendship blossoms into love. But when distance threatens their relationship, Maggie is torn between building a life with the man she loves and helping her broken father rebuild his life.

 * Amazon * Goodreads * 

This is what I would call "the rest of the story". It's the background story for a character in An Unlikely Pair, book one in this series who will have a more prominent role in the next book. There is a prequel novella as well that does the same thing for another set of characters. All this is in anticipation of book two, coming in February. It's nice to get a more in depth background understanding of key secondary characters because I think it will make the next book all the sweeter.

Gordon Alexander is an Olympic figure skating coach. Tragedy strikes and he loses his will to coach. It was so good to have a better understanding of this pivotal time in his life. He comes into the very end of book 1 in this series as he reluctantly watches Tyler and Amaliya skate for him as they are looking for a coach.

The story is gentle, a bit sad, but ends in a place of hope. We get to watch the sweet romance of Gordon's daughter, Maggie and their neighbor, Lance, which helped balance out the sadness of tragedy. (also, hello Whitmore's! It's a little connection to the Saint Squad series by this author!)

Content: death, kissing
- I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

An Unlikely Pair (Dream's Edge #1) by Traci Hunter Abramson

After a family tragedy, aspiring ballerina Amaliya Marcell is adrift. When she is forced to leave behind everything she knows, the lost young woman struggles to build a new life in an unfamiliar city. But when she meets a handsome world-class figure skater, she finds a glimmer of hope.

After his sister’s unexpected retirement from figure skating, Tyler Linden is devastated to give up his shot at the US national championships. His only hope is to find a new partner, a task that proves nearly impossible—until he observes a beautiful young woman at the local ice rink.
Struck by her grace and poise, Tyler takes an unthinkable risk and asks Amaliya to become his new partner. To both of their surprise, she agrees. The path to the championship won’t be easy, but Amaliya and Tyler quickly establish a solid partnership and a profound connection—both on and off the ice. But competition at the championships is fierce, and when the time comes, they will be forced to put everything on the line if they hope to achieve their dreams. 

 * Amazon * Goodreads * Deseret Book * 

This book makes me wish I could watch the winter Olympic games RIGHT NOW, specifically figure skating.  It's one of my favorite things to watch.  I'm always so fascinated by how graceful and how fast these skaters are.  The few times I tried to ice skate were laughable because I just couldn't get the hang of it.  Not Tyler and Amaliya though.  They are the epitome of elegance, grace and strength.  I just love figure skating!!

Amaliya begins this book as a dancer- a premiere ballet dancer, just like her mother but with a love for the ice like her hockey playing and coaching father.  When Amaliya gets the chance to skate her natural skills and hard work propel her forward, right into Tyler's arms.  I love that they had a slow burn start to their romance but built a solid base of friendship first.  This story is so gentle and so easy to read.  There is nothing heart pounding or fast paced about it- just a good, solid story about two people working hard and finding love along the way.  I really enjoyed it.

It was also fun to see Amaliya's parents in this book and even get their perspective every now and then to help me remember that connection I had with them in their novella (Dancing to Freedom).

If you are a fan of figure skating, don't miss this one!  It's so sweet. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway