Broken Ice, Mended Hearts

Bethesda Barracudas Hockey, Book 6

By: Ryan Taylor, Joshua Harwood

Narrated by: Nick J. Russo

Length: 10 hrs and 10 mins

Publisher's summary

PIERRE (“GAGS”)

My life is complicated.

Hell, I’m complicated.

I don’t know a life beyond how I’m perceived. After a devastating divorce, it looked like I never would.

Can a hockey fight change your life?

I may not understand my attraction to Sven Holmer, but I can tell you my obsession with kissing him started in the middle of a fight. When we met again, the conversation was easy, the banter effortless. Once stolen glances gave way to secret touches, I was more confused than ever. How the hell am I supposed to handle it when everything I’ve always believed about myself no longer fits?

Things are great… until they aren’t.

Our connection deepens with every minute we spend together, but like me, Sven is no stranger to betrayal and heartache. Between my stubbornness, his reservations, and the start of a new season, how can we survive months apart?

When tragedy strikes, all bets are off. I just hope it’s not too late.

Broken Ice, Mended Hearts features two thirty-something hockey players hardened by heartbreak. This compelling, angsty book includes a bisexual awakening, hurt/comfort, found family, first times, high heat, and a hard-earned HEA. Though it is part of the Bethesda Barracudas Hockey series, it can be listened to as a standalone.

©2024 Ryan Taylor and Joshua Harwood (P)2024 Ryan Taylor and Joshua Harwood

5 Stars is Not Enough.

I read the e-book, so I knew what I was getting into. I experienced Gags's and Sven's journey to finding the one who was meant to love them–from the moments that made me laugh, swoon, grin like a loon, and cry. My heart was in my throat during the heartwrenching part. I knew the journey. Or so I thought.

This may be Nick J. Russo's best performance I've ever heard. And I'm a huge fan of his. I didn't think there was anything left to pull out of me with the story. It will forever be on my "read again and again" list. It's everything I want in a book I read (well-written, well-developed characters and plot, personal growth of characters, a mix of serious times and natural flowing humor, a storyline that stayed true to the characters, and held my attention from the get-go, which is hard to do with ADHD). I had no idea I was wrong until I heard this audiobook. It ripped my heart in two, then put it back together. It had me laughing and talking back to the characters. It gave me an experience I didn't know I needed, and I can't wait to listen to it again.

This story is well-written and features captivating characters–from the MCs to all the side characters. I will never grow tired of visiting the world of the Bethesda Barracudas. I love how this series can be read in whatever order you want. I can pick one up based on mood, read it in order, or even read it backward.

Ryan and Josh are known for their character development and attention to detail, as well as their descriptive writing. They always transport me into every story with little work on my part. You can almost smell, taste, or feel what they write about. This is the first book they've written with this much angst, and they hit it out of the park on the first go. I think I will always be a fan of the lower angst books, but if Ryan and Josh write it, I will always, ALWAYS read it. I highly recommend this book, this series, this audiobook, these authors, and this narrator.

If you are a fan of Nick J. Russo and are always looking for his books but have never read anything by these authors, give this a listen. He's so incredibly talented, and the emotions and accents are... chef's kiss. It will keep you entertained time and time again. It's destined to be a classic.

Gags and Sven

𝙄 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙄 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙄 𝙗𝙚𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙙. 𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚, 𝙞𝙣 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙚𝙮𝙚𝙨; 𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚, 𝙗𝙮 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙨𝙞𝙙𝙚.

Bʀᴏᴋᴇɴ Iᴄᴇ, Mᴇɴᴅᴇᴅ Hᴇᴀʀᴛs → Ryan Taylor & Joshua Hardwood | Bethesda Barracudas → Book 6
Gags ~ Sven

I have been waiting for Gags' book since the very first Barracuda book I read and let me tell you, he was so much more than I anticipated.

Gags agrees to spend time with Sven during the off-season to help him become more comfortable with the area they live in. A summer fling turns into more until the regular season threatens to ruin everything they built.

I knew Gags' story would be a wild ride. Both Gags and Sven have baggage from their pasts but since it's so similar, it helps bring them together. Sven is a saint and so understanding. He is the perfect match for Gags helping him grow so much as a person. There is also lots of banter and chemistry between the two.

I love that we get to see all of our other favourite Barracudas and Congressmen. This group is the definition of a found family and I hope we get more from all of them in the future, even if it's just cameos.

Gags and Sven's journey took me on a wild ride of emotions. I experienced laughter, excitement, shock, anger, heartache, tears, and eventually so much happiness my heart was overflowing.

🎧 Nick J. Russo completely outdid himself on this narration. His French accent was perfect, he has you feeling every single emotion the characters are feeling, and he makes a single narration feel like a full-cast narration.

Get ready for...

🏳️‍🌈 MM
🏒 Sports (Hockey)
🏳️‍🌈 Bi-Awakening
🥅 Found Family
🩵 Close Proximity
🎙️ First-Person, Dual

Maple Leafs → 🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁
Spice → 🥵🥵🥵🥵
Emotional Damage → 😭😭😭😭😭
LOLs → 🤣🤣🤣

⚠️ Some content may be uncomfortable for some readers.

Gags and Sven always

I absolutely loved this audiobook so much. This is the perfect addition to the Bethesda Barracudas Hockey series. The narrator, Nick J. Russo.

great listen

Gags and Sven are hockey plays that play for different teams. They begin as friends that quickly moves into a friends with benefits situation. But then it quickly becomes more for Sven. They start out with a solid friendship and think that helped make the story better for me. I adored Sven! He was charming and so darn likeable. Gags, I struggled with in the beginning but he grew on me. Nick J. Russo did a great job with the narration, clear and concise. Overall, a great listen.

Symphony of Love

Buckle up for an emotional rollercoaster that's as exhilarating as a hockey game and as comforting as a cozy fireplace! Ryan and Josh skillfully navigate through a range of emotions, from gut-wrenching moments of despair to heartwarming scenes that will leave you smiling from ear to ear, and steamy moments that will leave you breathless. Nick J. Russo's performance is a true masterpiece. His narration captures every nuance with precision. Listening to 'BIMH' is like experiencing a symphony that will resonate long after the final chapter. It's a literary journey you won't soon forget, leaving your heart full and your soul enriched.

😍❤️💞🥰

I loved absolutely everything about this book from the very start to the very end. The love they felt for each other, just jumped off the page. I also loved the support they had from their friends. This is a must read and definitely my favorite I’ve listened to so far this year.

Prepare to fall in love!

Having read and listened to all the books in the Bethesda Barracudas Hockey series I have been anxiously awaiting Gags’s story. This audiobook did not disappoint! I can’t even begin to tell you how much I love this story! The characters; Gags and Sven are complex and well-developed. They’ve both been through heartache and betrayal and you can feel their emotions and heartache. You don’t want to miss this powerfully angsty, story, with its irresistible characters, captivating plot, scorching chemistry, and beautiful HEA. Nick J. Russo does such a fabulous job with Gags and Sven! I loved Gags’s accent! This audiobook deserves more than five stars!

Character’s voices are amazing!!

𝑩𝒓𝒐𝒌𝒆𝒏 𝑰𝒄𝒆, 𝑴𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒅 𝑯𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒔 is an incredible book and audiobook. Nick J. Russo truly excels at portraying the characters in a unique light. His talent shines through in capturing the essence of each character's voice. I particularly enjoy Gags's accent.

Sven for the win 🏆

As always, Russo delivers a phenomenal performance of yet another masterpiece to add to Barracuda’s legacy! Pip (Gags) and Sven’s HEA was fiercely earned and filled with so much spice!! Their connections was instantaneous and continued to build even stronger as their days continued on. The personalities Russo brought to each of these characters was nothing short of amazing, not to mention those cameo’s!! Loved to catch up with the guys and find out how they’re handling their busy lives.

Great Narration

I have loved this series, and I was excited to get a copy of the audio book, Nick Russo does such a wonderful job at bringing these characters to life and what a life it is. Ryan and Joshua are such a wonderful duo of writers and I love all of their hockey series, and this does not disappoint in any way. I absolutely adore Sven and Gags and was so happy to finally get to their story.