Icebreaker• Wildfire • Daydream book review! ⛸️🔥😍
#hannahgrace #maplehillsseries #forcedproximity #collegeromance #forcedproximity
Icebreaker: (1 in series)
Overall Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ 🌶️
My Thoughts: I absolutely love this book! Anastasia is a college figure skater with commitment issues, and she hates hockey players, and Nate. Nate is a goofy, protective, and very loyal college hockey player. They usually practice on separate rinks but, the hockey rink was vandalized so they had to share the same rink with the figure skaters. They had to communicate with Anastasia and figure out who was going to use the rink, and when. They figured it out, and over time Anastasia realized that the hockey team wasn’t that bad, she started to like the guy she hated, and there was lots of spice!!
I love that they all got comfortable with each other and became good friends! This book had lots of plot twists and elements that kept me wanting to keep reading!
Wildfire: (2 in series)
Overall Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
My Thoughts: Definitely my favorite of the three books in this series, but Icebreaker is a close second! I loved the summer camp setting of this one! I love Russ and Aurora, and their incredibly loyal friends! It was really nostalgic how they were working at the summer camp they went to as kids, and now they’re older and teaching the younger kids about camp life and the fun activities that go along with the camp experience!
I also love how the hockey players from Icebreaker are also in this book and that they have such great friendships that they feel like family. Russ and Aurora both have family issues that they deal with individually and together to get each other through their situations.
Overall, this book is a spicy, heartwarming, college, summer camp romance!
Daydream (3 in series)
Overall Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️
My Thoughts: This was my least favorite of the series. It had some aspects that made me want to keep reading, but for the most part, I was kind of bored. I really hate to say that, because I wanted to love this one too, but it’s just not doing it for me. I like Henry and Halle because they are both good people, but I felt like the plot was flat. Halle struggles with socializing, and Henry struggles with his studies. They both help each other in those areas and Henry gives the inexperienced Halle life experiences to help her write a book, which is great, but I just didn’t love it. I love that Halle found herself a girl group and learned that she is likable, and that Henry, though he struggled as team captain, found a way to finally express that to his coach so they could fix it. The spice was mild and it was just okay.
So many of you are curious about the connections within the Hannah Grace Maple Hills series, and I totally get it! After diving into all three, *Icebreaker*, *Wildfire*, and *Daydream*, I loved seeing how the characters intertwine. For those wondering, **yes, Anastasia and Nate from Icebreaker do make appearances in Wildfire!** It's one of my favorite parts – seeing them support Russ and Aurora, cementing those amazing hockey team friendships that really feel like family. It adds such a fantastic layer of continuity and makes the world feel so much richer. Speaking of connections, the series order is key for the best experience. Icebreaker (with its iconic light blue cover featuring a figure skater) kicks everything off, introducing us to the vibrant college sports world. Then comes Wildfire (the orange cover with Russ, our male lead), which beautifully expands on the universe with a nostalgic summer camp setting. Finally, Daydream (the purple cover with Henry and Halle in a library setting) wraps things up, focusing on a different kind of romance and personal growth. Knowing the sequence helps you appreciate the character development and overarching themes. Let's talk spice, because I know that's a big one for many readers of teen romance series! While I gave Icebreaker a full five peppers for its steamy scenes and undeniable chemistry, Wildfire toned it down just a tad with three peppers, offering a more balanced blend of romance and emotional depth. And for *Daydream*, as I mentioned in my review, the spice level was quite mild at two peppers. It’s definitely more of a slow-burn, character-driven story. So, if you're looking for high heat, Icebreaker is your go-to, but if you prefer a sweeter, more emotional journey with less explicit content, Daydream might be more your speed. Each book offers a unique flavor, catering to different preferences within the romance genre. Beyond the romance, what I truly appreciate about the Maple Hills series by Hannah Grace is its emphasis on strong friendships and personal development. Characters like Henry and Halle in Daydream are incredibly relatable as they navigate their own struggles – Henry with his studies and team leadership, and Halle with her social anxieties. Seeing them help each other grow, and Halle finding her own "girl group," really resonated with me. It’s not just about finding love, but also about finding yourself and building a supportive community. This series, displayed so beautifully with its distinct covers, isn't just fluffy romance; it tackles real-life challenges with heartwarming sincerity. It’s perfect for anyone who loves college sports, forced proximity, and genuinely good people finding their way.
These books are so amazing!!! The third one daybreaker is also very amazing!