Breaking the Ice

Portland Evergreens, Book 4

De: Beth Bolden

Narrado por: Darcy Stark

Coach Gavin Blackburn has been through hell.

Three years ago, he was on top of the world, courted by the best teams in the NHL to coach their players.

His wife’s unexpected death destroyed him, and sent him running from hockey. He thought he’d left the sport behind forever, but when his ex-player shows up at his remote cabin, begging him to return to Portland University to coach the Evergreens again, he agrees.

The last thing Gavin expected was their mentor-student relationship to turn into something entirely different now that Zach is grown up. He certainly never expected to feel attraction again, or to feel it for a man. For Zach.

Or for Zach to want him back, with a passion Gavin couldn’t deny even if he wanted to.

He’s too old, too washed up, too destroyed by grief, and has no intention of dating ever again, but maybe it’s own assumptions that need to be broken and re-made.

Maybe it’s Zach who needs to be the one who break him down and make him into something new. Give him something new: a wild, unexpected and unprecedented love affair.

©2025 Earl Gray Publishing LLC (P)2025 Earl Gray Publishing LLC

Zachy & Coach B!

**Firstly I would like to state what an awesome job Darcy Stark has done to bring this book (and the entire series) to life. A narrator can really make or break a listen for me and I loved his take on all of my favourite Evergreens.**

🌲🌲🌲

It was so cool seeing the players issues - from the first 3 books - from the coaches perspective and to see their relationships develop.

I really liked Zach’s patient pining for Gavin and his commiserating with his friend Hayes (the book I’m now REALLY looking forward to!) when it looked like Gavin would not be into anything with Zach. Gavin’s groveling was pretty great too when he figured out how much he messed up.

This was a fantastic conclusion to a favourite series! Not surprising as I love all of Beth’s sports romances.

Highly recommend.

Love after grief

This was so beautiful. I loved getting to see Gavin heal from his grief and realize his second love was there for him. The narrator was perfect. I had seen reviews that there were issues with the audio but it seems like they were corrected because I didn't experience any issues. This was such a fun listen. I loved these guys so much.

Loved it all

Another great book in this series, as they all have been. I'm a little sad its over. I love how each book tells the story all in the same time period.

It’s time to hear Coach and Zac’s story. Their moments in earlier books have made me eager to learn more. This book has a great storyline, steamy chemistry and low angst. Its definitely a love story.

I can’t wait for the spin off Breakaway Goals - Hayes and Morgan’s Story.

slow burn into the HOTTEST fire

Another Beth and Darcy knockout! There's always a risk in a series long build up that the finale won't live up to the hype, but Beth makes that idea laughable. From the first page, I knew this book was going to surpass my wildest expectations of it. It's a heck of an opening scene is all I'm saying XD

The slow burn is, as advertised, slooooow. But then it's pages on fire, August in GA HOT. Let's just say their dynamic was an unexpected delight. I adore when the younger MC gets to run the show and run it Zach does. *Fans self*

Despite the premise, this one didn't feel overly angsty or too heavy. Gavin certainly struggles with accepting that he can, and should, move on, but it's well balanced with light hearted moments, humor and some fantastic supporting characters. It's a bumpy road that occasionally had me wanting to smack Gavin upside the head, but it is so worth it to get to the moment he lets go.

There are mature, healthy conversations & beautiful, supportive friendships to support our guys as they choose each other. To put the icing on the perfection cake that is this finale, we get to know Hayes (Morgan's great heartbreak)a lot. He's the perfect quiet, sweet balance to Morgan's dramatic OTT nature. I can't wait to watch Morgan spoil him in their HEA!

Darcy's acting never disappoints and he brings all the emotions, highs and lows and spice to life flawlessly. I received an ARL of this audiobook and this is my honest review. Early ARL noted an issue with chapter order, but by the time I received my link that has already been fixed!

Finding love after longtime grief

Gavin & Zach
I cannot believe the Portland Evergreens are done, but I loved Gavin & Zach's story! Their hard-earned HEA was a sweet, slow burn, but still very spicy. I loved the way the men interacted as friends, even though the tension between them existed since the beginning.

I was hesitant at first when beginning the story, but I really enjoyed getting the before, during and after of their entire relationship and how it correlated with the other 3 books in the series. It was easy enough to pinpoint the moments in the previous books that overlapped.

I think at this point, many of us just want to know when Ramsey will get his book. 🙃 I know there's one in the works for Morgan & Hayes, but we're all invested in Ramsey's love life like he was for all his teammates.

Breaking the Ice is a beautiful ending to the series, saying goodbye to the seniors on the Evergreens and enjoying the lasting relationship between their coaches. This book is best enjoyed as the last of an incredible series.

I received an authorized copy of this book and am volunteering my honest review (June 2025).

Audiobook Update (July 2025):
Narrated by Darcy Stark
It's a bittersweet ending for the Portland Evergreens series, but I loved listening to Gavin & Zach's story. Their dynamic is so different from the rest of the couples in the series, and I loved Darcy's take on their love story. He does such a fantastic job with the personalities and characterizations that Beth writes, it's easy to step right into their story/ies. It's a tough call because all four books and audiobooks have their merits and fantastic moments, but I think I have to give my favorite to Gavin & Zach in Breaking the Ice, with Malcolm & Elliot in Cold as Ice, in a decently-close second.

I received an authorized copy of this audiobook and am volunteering my honest review.