Promo text
Losing her dreams may mean finding herself.
Competitive figure skater Addisyn Miles erased her older sister Avery from her life years ago–back when her skating career led only to bright horizons. But now her dreams have crumbled, and in a small town in the Canadian Rockies, she’s seeking answers to the questions she never thought to ask. Surprisingly, though, those answers seem to point her toward a quiet man with a crushing secret…and toward the faith he once followed.
Meanwhile, heartbroken by her younger sister’s rejection, Avery Miles left her lonely life in New York and headed toward the sunset. Now, she seeks to bury her painful memories in the peace of the Colorado mountains and the love of the God Who made them. But then she comes face to face with an unwelcome bit of her past–someone who poses the ultimate threat to Addisyn. Struggling against her own darkest fears, Avery must summon the courage to love her sister again…and to find her before it’s too late.
Compelling and captivating, When the Ice Melts is a story of broken dreams, desperate decisions, and the relentless grace of a love that never lets go.
Tropes present
Ending the abuse Addisyn is a figure skater in a toxic romantic relationship with her coach, Brian, who acts more like an abusive sex trafficker than a coach. Getting herself out of his grasp is darned hard, but leaving town begins a recovery arc.
Contemplative faith Addisyn’s estranged sister, Avery, believes in God and several years ago moved to the mountains of Colorado. She prays and thinks about God all of the time, but she starts out the book only talking to her dog.
Slow Burn Addisyn and Darius. They make a sweet and slow connection but it looks like we’re going to have to wait for book two for more to happen.
Dark and troubled past Addisyn and her sister escaped an abusive father. And then Addisyn ended up with an abusive skating coach who controlled her career and took advantage of her sexually, too.
Long-lost relative Avery, Addisyn’s sister, has been completely out of contact with her for years. But when the abusive Brian goes searching across for hints of where Addisyn may have gone, Avery realizes that Addisyn is in need of help.
Traveling at the speed of plot Most of the characters are strapped for cash, but there are an awful lot of last-minute airplane tickets purchased and then poof! there they are on the other side of the continent.
Self-confidence epiphany Addisyn, realizing she doesn’t want to be a hired figure skater for an entertainment company. Oddly, the last straw that makes her have this epiphany is having to wear stage makeup, which makes her feel cheap. (Stage makeup is an ordinary part of life for many performers.)