What It Was

Off Ice, Book 1

De: Grayce Rian

Narrado por: Alex Knox, Lynn Norris

What happens when the hot-as-sin boy next door returns home for the summer, and he finally sees me as more than just his little sister's best friend?

McKenna

It was my last chance for a hot girl summer before I left to play college volleyball. But when my best friend's older brother decided to come home from college, my plans quickly shifted.

Griffin Turner was a divinely sculpted hockey player who had held my heart for as long as I could remember. It only took one summer for us to fall fast and hard.

When tragedy struck, Griffin shattered what was left of my already broken heart, leaving me to face a future that was far from what I had envisioned. Two years later, I've picked up the pieces and built a life I'm proud of. That is until my brother's first NHL game, where I am forced to watch as my past, present, and future collide.

Griffin

It's been two years since I walked away from the love of my life, and since then, I've worked my ass off to become the best forward in the NHL.

When McKenna Wilder's aquamarine eyes connect with mine once again, the overwhelming emotions hit me like a slapshot to the chest.

I wasn't the man she deserved when I walked away from her—I'd become only a shell of the man she once knew. But I've poured everything I have into overcoming my demons. And now that I've discovered the truth, I'm determined to prove I'll never let them go.

What It Was is the first interconnected standalone novel in the Off Ice series. Listeners will love this spicy romance featuring a hot-shot hockey player and a tempting volleyball player and their journey through love, loss, heartbreak, and second chances.

©2024 Grayce Rian (P)2025 Podium Audio

Griffin & Kenna

I read this after book 2 and it was interesting getting to experience it from the beginning

Narration was beautifully done

Griffin & Kenna

When a book makes me FEEL the feels, it’s getting a HIGH rating from me. This book made me like surprise baby trope y’all. The way it’s written, while the MMC made me mad, I am happy that FMC didn’t try to keep it from him.

This is a lovers to strangers to lovers again second chance.

Griffin is a hockey player & Kenna is a volleyball player.
These two grew up together, next door neighbors. Griffins sister is Kennas best friend, and Kennas twin brother Carson plays hockey with G.

Days before college begins, tragedy strikes and no one knows how to cope with the fall out. It’s heavy and lots of feelings are involved. While not everyone makes the best choices, I do think how it all plays out was the best in the end.

I AM SPEECHLESS....

Wow... JUST WOW....
I saw this book recommended somewhere and saw that that audio was available, so I gave it a try. And let me say, I LOVED IT!
This story is one of heartbreak, grief, and healing. I felt so many emotions while listening to this book. I actually felt my anxiety going up while reading it (in the best way).
You know those stories that will leave you wanting more, well this is that one.

McKenna and Griffin have this bond that is one that was formed at a young age, and when they do get a little older and understand those feelings and give in. It is beautiful.
But with love, it isn't always enough. In this story, McKenna and Griffin have that love that is meant to be, but timing isn't right.

You will swim in your emotions while reading this book. That is what happened to me. And I am not a big cryer during reading, but this brought some tears to my eyes.

I loved the audio of this one. I listened to this in one sitting and couldn't stop until the end. I had to know how it ended. The narrators on this are both new to me, and I really liked them.
Alex Knox and Lynn Norris bring this story to life with the emotions it deserves. I felt it all through the words they read.

Rip my heart out, but heal it even harder.

OH. MY. HEART.
Grayce, what did you do to me?

McKenna and Griffin will forever be etched into my brain and my heart. There was something about this book that had me absolutely hooked from the beginning.

From childhood friends, to falling madly and deeply in love, to extreme grief, to pain and heartbreak, to healing, to growth, to navigating parenthood. What a dang ride we were on, but it was also one I wasn’t prepared to get off of.

Watching Griff love Kenna was easily one of the most genuine, wholesome, perfectly crafted loves. From the small mundane moments, to the grand gestures. He knew her inside and out, and watching him care for her in the ways he did - will most definitely set your standards for men higher than imaginable. But when tragedy strikes, and they find themselves in the hardest years of their lives… Griff becomes someone we never imagined he would become - but unfortunately grief is a powerful thing. But I will say - Griff’s comeback is stronger than ever and seeing him be a Dad to Cadence is truly one of the greatest moments I’ve read to date.

I felt all of the emotions in this one - from laughing, to sobbing hysterically, to screaming at Griff, to rooting on Kenna when she needed it most. This book will build you up, break up down, but heal you even better than before.

I LOVED getting to see the sibling/twin relationship between Kenna and Carson! The way he walks through life with her, especially throughout her pregnancy and the first 18 months of Cadeygirl’s life - it was such a special bond to read. I truly loved it.

Please, do yourself a favor and READ this gem, right now.