| Laverentz crafts a sharp, yet edgy contemporary | | | | reporter, Emily's ex-husband resurfaces and gives her |
| romance with "Thin Ice." Centered around the sport | | | | a beating she won't forget. Emily tries to push Eric |
| of hockey, Eric Cameron and Emily Jordan are | | | | away, which breaks his heart. In order for Emily to |
| haunted by their pasts, and before they can truly | | | | completely embrace the love Eric offers her, she'll |
| become a couple, they'll have to deal with the | | | | have to find the strength to put the demons of her |
| demons that threaten to tear them apart. | | | | past to rest. |
| Eric is a professional hockey player who has just | | | | Laverentz's plot is solid and she treats the topic of |
| been taken by the Minnesota Saints. He's a bit of a | | | | domestic violence with sensitivity and care. The |
| drifter, going from team to team. After a bar room | | | | writing has a nice air of authenticity to it and you can |
| brawl, he goes to the ER where he meets Doctor | | | | tell Laverentz has done her research. |
| Emily Jordan. He finds himself drawn to the beautiful | | | | Laverentz uses a good economy of words, bringing |
| doctor with tender hands. | | | | her descriptions alive. It's easy to picture her world. |
| Emily has worked hard to overcome hardship and | | | | The dialogue is real, accenting the characterization |
| become a doctor. She watched her mother endure | | | | well. Both Emily and Eric are rich and complex. Emily is |
| an abusive relationship and she herself was married | | | | a character that's easy to relate to on many levels, a |
| to a man who abused her before she found the | | | | single parent, career orientated, with a kind heart, |
| strength to leave. Now she puts long hours into her | | | | yet it's not easy to earn her trust. Eric has overcome |
| career and balances that with raising her son, Robbie, | | | | a lot in his life, yet success is lonely without a family. |
| who is eight. Emily abhors violence. When she sees | | | | With Emily, he learns to temper his anger and |
| Eric in the ER, the extent of his injuries rattle her. | | | | patience. |
| Eric is persistent and works hard to earn a degree of | | | | The love scenes are sophisticated/intense and |
| Emily trust. She soon comes to learn that Eric is a | | | | tastefully done. If anything, the point of view |
| hockey player and the violence in his life is from that. | | | | narration switches within scenes, which can leave the |
| Eric also makes friends with Robbie at a school | | | | reader confused at times. Overall, "Thin Ice," is a |
| presentation. It's Robbie's acceptance of Eric which | | | | story full of substance, suspense, and the power of |
| gives Emily pause to think. | | | | love. |
| Slowly, Emily lets Eric into her life, but it's one step | | | | Written by Liana Laverentz |
| forward, two back. The physical attraction between | | | | Wild Rose Press |
| the couple is combustible and they soon make love. | | | | ISBN: 1-60154-016-7 |
| Emily, however, is haunted by old hurts and finds it | | | | $15.99 |
| hard to emotionally commit to Eric. | | | | 373 pages |
| After a series of articles about domestic violence | | | | 4 Stars. |
| which Emily does for Carmen Martinez, a newspaper | | | | |