Ice Kings Series by Matija Baric

He’s the league’s most feared enforcer. She’s a wedding planner who believes in fairy tales. When they’re forced to work together, the only thing harder than his hits is falling in love. Mark "Tank" Tankowski is a simple man. He hits people on the ice, protects his goalie, and goes home to his quiet cabin. He doesn't do drama. He doesn't do chaos. And he definitely doesn't do weddings. But when his best friend Carter gets married, Tank is on Best Man duty... moreHe’s the league’s most feared enforcer. She’s a wedding planner who believes in fairy tales. When they’re forced to work together, the only thing harder than his hits is falling in love. Mark "Tank" Tankowski is a simple man. He hits people on the ice, protects his goalie, and goes home to his quiet cabin. He doesn't do drama. He doesn't do chaos. And he definitely doesn't do weddings. But when his best friend Carter gets married, Tank is on Best Man duty. That means dealing with the Maid of Honor—who also happens to be the wedding planner from hell. Sofia Rossi is a tornado in a sundress. She’s loud, colorful, and obsessed with creating the perfect "vibe. " She thinks Tank is a grumpy neanderthal. He thinks she’s a walking headache. But when Sofia needs a date to her ex-boyfriend’s engagement party to save face, Tank surprises everyone by stepping up. Suddenly, the "Hard Hitter" is playing the role of the perfect boyfriend. He’s opening doors, buying flowers, and looking at her in a way that makes her knees weak. As the wedding stress mounts and their fake dates turn into late-night confessions, Sofia realizes that the man she thought was a brute might just be the softest place to land. But Tank has a secret—one that could ruin his career and his chance at happiness. Can Sofia break through his defenses before the final buzzer sounds? The Hard Hitter is a standalone hockey romance featuring a grumpy defenseman, a sunshine wedding planner, and a love story that hits you right in the feels. No cheating, no cliffhangers, and a guaranteed Happily Ever After. less

He’s the king of the ice. She’s the girl with the spreadsheet. And their fake relationship is about to get very real. Chloe Davis has her life planned out to the second. Scholarships, internships, and a perfect GPA. But when a failing grade in journalism threatens her future, she’s forced to strike a deal with the campus Liam O’Connell, the brooding, brilliant captain of the hockey team... moreHe’s the king of the ice. She’s the girl with the spreadsheet. And their fake relationship is about to get very real. Chloe Davis has her life planned out to the second. Scholarships, internships, and a perfect GPA. But when a failing grade in journalism threatens her future, she’s forced to strike a deal with the campus Liam O’Connell, the brooding, brilliant captain of the hockey team. The deal? She helps him with his public image by being his fake girlfriend, and he gets her the interview of a lifetime. Liam is cold, arrogant, and utterly unreachable. But as the lines between fake and real begin to blur, Chloe discovers that the campus grump has a heart of gold—and he’s falling for her harder than a slap shot to the chest. Cold as Ice is a spicy, standalone College Hockey Romance featuring a grumpy hero, a sunshine heroine, and a fake dating scheme that turns into the real deal. Perfect for fans of The Deal and Icebreaker. less

He’s the league’s most brutal Enforcer. She’s the only one who can melt his frozen heart. Liam “The Enforcer” O’Connell is a force of nature on the ice and a fortress off it. As a six-foot-three single dad to his five-year-old daughter, Lily, his world is strictly limited to hockey and bedtime stories—in that order. He doesn't have time for fluff, and he certainly doesn't have time for the new publicist the Boston Blades just signed to "fix" his image... moreHe’s the league’s most brutal Enforcer. She’s the only one who can melt his frozen heart. Liam “The Enforcer” O’Connell is a force of nature on the ice and a fortress off it. As a six-foot-three single dad to his five-year-old daughter, Lily, his world is strictly limited to hockey and bedtime stories—in that order. He doesn't have time for fluff, and he certainly doesn't have time for the new publicist the Boston Blades just signed to "fix" his image. Chloe Davies radiates sunshine, even in the dim corridors of the arena. Tasked with polishing the reputation of the team’s least cooperative player, she expects a professional challenge. She didn't expect to find a man of quiet compassion beneath the rugged scowl, or a little girl who would steal her heart with a single smile. What begins as a clash of titans transforms into a dangerous attraction as Chloe chips away at Liam’s resolve. But when a jealous rival leaks their secret, the ensuing scandal threatens Liam’s career, the team's playoff hopes, and Lily’s stability. In the high-stakes world of professional hockey, Liam and Chloe must will they retreat behind their walls, or will they fight for the family they never expected to find? Inside this book, you’ll. Grumpy x Sunshine chemistry. A protective Single Dad hero. Forced Proximity in the front office. An emotional Heal-His-Heart journey. The Boston Blades are playing for the cup, but Liam is playing for keeps. Experience the first book in this bestselling hockey romance series. less

He’s built walls around his heart. She’s determined to tear them down. Ethan “The Wall” Miller is the league’s most formidable defenseman, known for his impenetrable defense on the ice and his equally guarded heart off it. After a devastating betrayal, he trusts no one, especially not the fiery, ambitious sports journalist, Olivia Hayes, who seems determined to uncover every secret he’s buried... moreHe’s built walls around his heart. She’s determined to tear them down. Ethan “The Wall” Miller is the league’s most formidable defenseman, known for his impenetrable defense on the ice and his equally guarded heart off it. After a devastating betrayal, he trusts no one, especially not the fiery, ambitious sports journalist, Olivia Hayes, who seems determined to uncover every secret he’s buried. Their first encounter is a clash of wills, a battle of sharp retorts and simmering tension, leaving no doubt they are sworn enemies. Olivia is on the cusp of a career-defining story, and Ethan Miller is her ticket to the top. She sees past his icy exterior to the pain he carries, a vulnerability that both infuriates and fascinates her. As she digs deeper into his past, she finds herself drawn into his world, a world of high-stakes hockey, fierce loyalty, and a loneliness that mirrors her own. The more time they spend together, the harder it becomes to deny the scorching chemistry that sparks between them. When a dangerous threat emerges, putting Olivia’s life in jeopardy, Ethan finds himself in an unfamiliar role: her protector. Forced into close proximity, their carefully constructed defenses crumble, revealing a passion neither of them can deny. But can a man who’s sworn off love and a woman who thrives on uncovering secrets ever truly trust each other? Or will their pasts, and the very rivalry that brought them together, keep their defensive hearts from finding a love worth fighting for? From MATIJA BARIC, comes a sizzling enemies-to-lovers hockey romance that will keep you on the edge of your seat. If you love brooding heroes, feisty heroines, high-stakes sports, and a slow-burn romance that melts the ice, then grab your copy of ‘The Defensive Heart’ today! Don’t miss this electrifying romance. Buy ‘The Defensive Heart’ now! less