all. Until it doesn’t.
pro-hockey’s golden couples, Andrew and Caryn Chadwick live in the limelight
reserved for elite professional athletes. On their second anniversary, Andrew
receives an unexpected contract offer to join the Tampa Suns. As they look
forward to a new adventure, neither foresees an event that challenges their
love and threatens their marriage.
and senseless accident threatens Andrew’s life and inexplicably drives a wedge
between the couple. Shattered by the incident, paralyzed by fear that it could
happen again, Caryn finds herself at odds with her husband and unable to
provide the support he needs—at the time he is most vulnerable.
perfect world crumbles, each makes choices that take Andrew and Caryn further
apart.
follows the joint and separate paths the couple navigate as each hopes to rediscover
the love that can conquer all.
the second book in the Clearing the Ice Series, it can be read as a standalone
novel.
Excerpt
Caryn gasped when she saw the gruesome bruise on Andrew’s leg. “Even with your pads?”
Andrew shrugged. “Pads don’t make much difference. Luckily, no bones fractured.”
Caryn could tell by his expression that he didn’t think it was a big deal. “Andrew, tell me again why you are suddenly blocking shots like this.” She gingerly felt the area around the bruise before Andrew pressed an ice pack against it.
“Coach’s system. Everyone helps out on defense. I gave up the puck in our own end. I wasn’t going to hang Eckstrom out to dry. It’s nothing, Cary.”
She sat beside him on the side of the bed. “It doesn’t make sense. Your line is the team’s top scoring and you’re all blocking shots. What if you, John or Jason break an arm or your leg? Is it worth it?”
Andrew glanced at her as he adjusted the ice pack. “Everyone’s valuable to the team. We’re expected to play the same system of defense.” He met her eyes. “I try to block correctly. I just gave up the puck to the wrong person and paid for it. I’ll be fine. I’ve seen worse in the locker room.”
“Well, I don’t want to see worse, Drew.” Cary stood and walked into the bathroom, returning with a hand towel. “Here, put this under the ice pack. I’ll get you a fresh one in a few minutes.”
Andrew shifted until he was leaning against the headboard, stretching out his legs on the bed. He patted the mattress beside him. “Come give me a proper welcome home.”
“I don’t want you to make your leg any worse.” Caryn bit back a smile as she walked around the bed, dropping pieces of clothing as she moved. She saw his gaze following each movement, and his eyes darkened when she scooted on the bed beside him.
“Oh, I think we can manage,” Andrew said as he pulled her toward him and kissed her, closing his arms around her. “Yep, I’ve definitely missed this.” He shifted until Caryn faced him.
Her leg brushed against the ice pack and she jerked away. “This is not going to work.”
Andrew reached for the pack and towel and tossed them away from the bed. “Problem solved.” Caryn opened her mouth to protest, but he cut her off with a kiss. He held her tightly against him, running his fingers lightly against her skin. She tugged at his shirt as she slipped her hands against his chest. He released her as he quickly shed the shirt, and then he rolled her onto her back. “Now, where were we?” he said as he kissed the side of her neck.
“Hmm, maybe thinking twice before blocking the next shot.” Caryn bit back a smile as Andrew pulled back, his expression reflecting his impatience.
“That’s not what I was thinking. But if that’s what you want…”
Caryn cut him off before he could complete the thought. She grasped his neck with both hands and pulled him toward her, her mouth seeking his. Capturing his kiss, she brushed her hands across his shoulders and back. Her fingers teased the waistband of his gym shorts. Andrew broke off the kiss to move his lips to her neck, gently nibbling at the skin on her lobe.
“You sure you don’t want to discuss blocking shots?”
A soft moan escaped Caryn’s mouth. “What?” she asked, her breath catching in her throat. “Just… keep… kissing me.”
She heard his low chuckle as he pulled her against him and reclaimed her lips. “Just making sure.”
time she was an eight-year-old tomboy growing up in the suburbs of Chicago, Robyn
M. Ryan definitely knew what she wanted to do when she grew up—play major
league baseball or write. She wrote throughout elementary and high school,
first composing novels featuring favorite TV and music personalities, and then
venturing into sports writing.
UGA’s journalism school launched her career in public relations, which included
an internship with the Atlanta Flames NHL hockey team. With the encouragement
of a writers group on twitter—WritersThatChat—This Piece of My Heart, a hockey
romance, and the first book in Robyn’s series Clearing the Ice was published
May 2016. The second book in the series, This Piece of My Soul, introduces the
Tampa Suns professional hockey team.
writing, Robyn’s passions include following the New York Rangers, NASCAR, and
the Atlanta Braves; splitting time between homes in Atlanta and Palm Coast, and
visiting Paris as often as possible. Two brilliant Westies rule both homes.
many writers, Robyn chooses to write using a pseudonym—hers is a combination of
her sons’ names, a contribution from her youngest nephew.
