Gods of the Ice Series by Adrian R. Hale

Ryder KingstonActing on impulse is my specialty, but hey, I’m a man of action.My reckless words land me in hot water when some jerk captures a moment meant for my teammates' ears only.Unfortunately, the video goes viral and turns me into public enemy number one.To rehabilitate my image, my agent demands I undergo sensitivity training—whatever the heck that is. With my new hockey team thinking I’m not worth the trouble & considering trading me, yet again, I’m forced to agree... moreRyder KingstonActing on impulse is my specialty, but hey, I’m a man of action.My reckless words land me in hot water when some jerk captures a moment meant for my teammates' ears only.Unfortunately, the video goes viral and turns me into public enemy number one.To rehabilitate my image, my agent demands I undergo sensitivity training—whatever the heck that is. With my new hockey team thinking I’m not worth the trouble & considering trading me, yet again, I’m forced to agree.The biggest issue? My golden boy of a tutor and new housemate is none other than my childhood best friend-turned-enemy, Knox Contraire…who probably still hates my guts.Forcing us together is bound to teach me a lesson, I’m just not so sure it’s the one I’m meant to learn.Knox ContraireYou think you know a guy until he turns on you and makes your life a living hell.In a twist I didn't see coming, my best friend became my biggest enemy, and I lost the person closest to me.Hurt, fear, and betrayal pushed me into the closet. My career as a tight end in the NFL has kept me there. Now, I live quietly to keep others comfortable, even if it means missing out on the life I really want.In an unexpected turn of events, I’m thrown into the spotlight when my past shows up on my literal doorstep. If I want to keep my job, I have to take him in and teach him how to control his troublemaking mouth.The only problem is I don’t know how to let Ryder Kingston back into my life, while keeping him out of my heart.He’s here to learn a lesson, but what happens when the teacher becomes the student? less

Two shattered pasts. One chance to heal.SebastianUnder the brightest lights, I’m supposed to be unshakable—captain of a brand-new hockey team, single dad to a boy who’s the mirror of the wife I lost, and son to parents who think love comes with instructions. But the truth is, I’m cracking under the weight of expectations I can’t seem to meet. I’m desperate for something—anything—that feels like peace.Then I meet Tucker... moreTwo shattered pasts. One chance to heal.SebastianUnder the brightest lights, I’m supposed to be unshakable—captain of a brand-new hockey team, single dad to a boy who’s the mirror of the wife I lost, and son to parents who think love comes with instructions. But the truth is, I’m cracking under the weight of expectations I can’t seem to meet. I’m desperate for something—anything—that feels like peace.Then I meet Tucker. Flannel-wearing, steady-eyed, and achingly patient, he trains service dogs for wounded veterans—and somehow, he sees right through me. One visit to his puppy-filled facility is all it takes for my son to light up... and for me to feel something I haven’t in my racing mind to calm.When I finally let my grief spill free, Tucker doesn’t just listen—he holds space for it. Holds me. And suddenly, I’m thinking about him everywhere I shouldn’t. But letting him in means challenging everything I thought I knew about myself—and risking a chance at something more than just the next game.TuckerI walked away from my career in law enforcement after losing two partners in the line of duty. Now I keep my world small—just me, my staff, the dogs we train, and the veterans whose lives they change. Publicity isn’t my thing, but when the Hydras hockey team offers to sponsor a service dog, my nonprofit needs the boost too badly to say no.I wasn’t counting on meeting Sebastian. Gorgeous, driven, hopelessly devoted to his son... and carrying a grief I recognize in my bones. I know better than to fall for a straight guy, but every time he looks at me like I’m his safe place, my defenses crumble.Our connection is fierce and fragile all at once—something that could shatter when faced with the scars we both hide. But maybe, if we’re brave enough, this time the temptation is worth the heartbreak.Perfect for readers who crave slow-burn heat wrapped in raw emotion, Temptation On Ice delivers an unforgettable M/M hockey romance about a single dad finding love after loss, a man rediscovering himself through a sexually fluid awakening, and two strangers from different worlds bound by grief, healing, and hope. If you love found family, friends-to-lovers tension, and the kind of chemistry that simmers until it finally ignites, this story will break your heart, mend it, and leave you believing in second chances. MM hockey romance, single dad/ widower, sexually fluid awakening, different worlds, connection through grief, strangers to friends to lovers, love after loss, slow burn, workplace romance less