Cold as Ice

Portland Evergreens, Book 2

De: Beth Bolden

Narrado por: Darcy Stark

Malcom has got a plan, and slowly but surely, year after year of college, he’s executing it.

He’s made it to the first line on his hockey team, the Portland Evergreens. He’s made the Dean’s List the last four semesters. He’s right in line to graduate on time, and head to the pros. All steps on the ultimate goal of becoming the best front office guy in the NHL.

Elliott is the only fly in his ointment.

The younger, wilder forward parties every night, sleeping with everything with a pulse and barely attending classes or practices.

It’s annoying, but Mal’s dealing with it, until their new coach insists Mal tutor him to help him pass a class.

Until Elliott discovers that Mal’s a virgin. That he’s been too busy checking off points on his life plan to get laid.

They’re fire and ice. Bad boy and virgin. They shouldn’t work at all. But the more time they spend together, on and off the ice, the more irresistible their chemistry becomes.

The more desperate Mal becomes to beg Elliott to tutor him in bed.

To melt some—or all—of the ice he’s wrapped himself in.

©2024 Earl Gray Publishing LLC (P)2025 Earl Gray Publishing LLC

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Elliott & Malcolm
A wonderfully crazy and fun 'enemies-to-lovers' story! I loved the energy of this book. I've loved everything I've ever read from Beth Bolden and this book is absolutely no exception. I think it was interesting how much of the timeline overlapped with book 1, Melting the Ice, but this book was really readable as its own standalone as well.

Elliott was hilarious and unrelenting in his attacks and advances with Malcolm, even though they were definitely never really attacks. I really enjoyed the slow reveal of the growing love between Elliott & Malcolm, and it was like holding their hands as they discovered and uncovered their feelings.

Malcolm has a very straight-laced serious attitude, but it seemed to work well for him. Ultimately, his personality never changed from that, but loving Elliott gave him the opportunity to soften the intensity and show some more of his personal, fun-loving side on top of the seriousness. He was able to grow into more of his own person than always following in his father's shadows.

I was on edge with some of the drama that Elliott has to go through, but I loved how quickly and easily Malcolm stepped up to help/support, and never wavered. The outcome of the drama was great, but I was NOT expecting how it all originated.

Cold as Ice is an incredible addition to the Portland Evergreens series. It can definitely be read as a standalone, although you will enjoy some of the subtle overlap from book 1 if you read it first. I really look forward to how Beth moves this series next with Finn and then the coaches (so far).

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

Audiobook Update (March 2025):
Narrated by Darcy Stark
I loved having the opportunity to experience Malcolm & Elliott's story via such a talented narrator. He brings the characters to life in such a sweet, yet hilarious way. I remember so many of the written passages from the story, and hearing them performed made me laugh out loud so much more! I still don't like that there wasn't as much real retribution against the teacher targeting Elliott, but I did appreciate that the important parts of the scene(s) were given a serious emotional edge through their narration.
I absolutely love listening to the audiobooks in this series so far. They're so much fun, and so incredibly easy to listen to. Darcy Stark is a fantastic narrator and definitely does these stories from Beth Bolden justice.

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

Beth Bolden always writes an excellent sports rom

This book was super enjoyable! Elliott and Malcolm are exactly the perfect complementing opposites. Malcolm is super focused, maybe a little too tightly wound and Elliott is wonderful at loosening him up and showing him he can still achieve his goals, even if he takes time to relax and enjoy life. Elliott can be a little too relaxed and not taking things as seriously as he should sometimes, and Malcolm shows him there’s nothing wrong with being more focused when time calls for it.

The prologue shows us their very first meeting a few years earlier which wasn’t exactly favourable for Elliott, so there was definitely an uphill battle for him to get Malcolm to see his other side but when he does it’s lovely. The way they are forced together by their coach off the ice was the perfect plot point to get them to see each other in a new way than just teammates. The way Malcolm learns a healthy respect for him and the next organic step was the attraction.

Darcy Stark, as always, gives a strong performance. Highly recommend!

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this audiobook.

Loved this book!

I love Beth Bolden and I love a hockey romance so I knew these two things together was going to be magical. I loved the back and forth between Mal and Elliott are fire together and seeing them find their HEA was just so good. I can’t wait for the rest of the series! The narration was fantastic and I will definitely look out for this narrator in the future.

sizzling hot rivals to heartfelt lovers

This series just keeps getting better! I love a good rivals to romance and this one has it all.

The narration is fantastic, Darcy is a favorite of mine for how he acts the entire time, not just when the characters speak. He does tend to over emphasize a few words, especially in spicy scenes, but that's my only (and very small) criticism.

Malcolm and Elliot are true opposites attract, one serious, driven and a virgin & the other fun loving, flirty and experienced. Elliot wants Malcolm in the worst way but his first attempt to get Mal's attention is a disaster. His rejection stings and from then on these two can't help but snipe at each other all the time.

A failing class forces them to meet off the ice. They start to chip away at Elliot's front and Malcolm's walls until they find out that maybe their differences make them the exact right fit for each other's sharp edges.

The slow burn in this one is so good because you know when they finally get there, it's going to burn your pants right off. Beth does proximity pining so well and her characters always have layers that make you want to keep reading, to find out who they are at their core.

I took a while to warm up to Malcolm, because his frigid personality put me off a little, at first. I'm so glad I waited him out, because, like Elliot, I ended up falling in love with his steadfast loyalty. When he finally lets his desire take the wheel it's 🥵🥵

Watching Elliot turn his considerable energy into loving and championing Mal and then Mal fighting for Elliot's future was everything.

I enjoyed how Beth used the college drama plot to showcase Elliot and Mal's character growth. Elliot showing compassion to his prof after her betrayal highlighted how kind and selfless he can be, and gave Mal a way to show how fiercely he loves Elliot.

The hockey was a little light in this one, but I appreciated Beth chose to give them the best case scenario HEA. I love a dose of realism in my hockey books, but sometimes you just want them to get to skate off into the sunset together without having to deal with ECHL, AHL, trades, etc.

This series is magic so far and I can't wait for the rest! Especially the assistant and head coach book! Zach is killing me already with his pining 😅 I'm expecting Playing by the Rules level of forbidden love and I am here for it 😂 and Finn! What is he about to go do?? I need to know 🤣

Go read this one and come scream about it with me!

Cold as Ice is hot

In the first Evergreens book, we got glimpses into the dynamic between Mal, one of the wingers on the college hockey team, and Elliot, the other winger on his line. Mal, who is pretty guarded like a porcupine, hardworking and goal-oriented, is a total opposite of Elliot, who seems carefree, outgoing, and confident. They seem to have a lot of conflict on the ice, but of course, that conflict is really the embers of the fire that is ready to ignite between them. Elliot has had a secret crush on Mal for awhile. Mal, on the other hand, does not trust that someone really like him for him and kept himself away from any romantic entanglements as a result. HIs father raised him very strictly and this has a lot of bearing on Mal's attitudes regarding school, love, and himself. Elliot was raised very differently and it shows in his outlook on life. Unfortunately, his outlook isn't going to change the fact that he's going to need help to pass his Stats class and be able to continue to play on the team. This opens up the door for Mal to tutor him in stats....and eventually for Elliot to tutor Mal in something else entirely. I love the slow buildup between Mal and Elliot as the embers are stoked and eventually, things really heat up between them. And as cautious as he was, when Mal lets go, he really lets go and is all in - I melted right along with him. He and Elliot are just wonderful and I am so glad they get their HEA - with a tiny bit of assistance from the same person who motivated Dean (and Brody) - Ramsey himself. Love the friend group and side characters too. The sister chat was a fun element. I also liked that we got a bit more of Zach in this book and I am eager to see Assistant Coach Zach get an HEA too someday. This book is another winner in the Evergreen series and I can't wait for the next one.

AUDIOBOOK: This is a reread but first time to listen.I really listening to books narrated by Darcy Stark! His voice is very pleasant and I could always tell which MC was speaking. His female voices are pretty good as well. I always know I'm in for a treat when he is narrating. He does a good job with the spice as well (though for some reason I felt like in this book there was an unusual emphasis on a certain c word for a male appendage...*snicker*).

Frenemies to Lovers

🎧I absolutely love listening to the audio version of a favourite book I’ve previously read. It gives you an opportunity to really get into the MC’s heads and POV’s.

Let me tell you this did not disappoint!!! I already adored Mal and Ell together and listening to them made it that much better.

Darcy Stark was a fantastic narrator as well!!!

This was a fantastic addition to Beth’s newest series. I love her sports books so much, hockey being my favourite so this is right up my alley.

Mal and Elliot were so sweet and hot together once they got over the animosity/pigtail pulling. 😂 I’m so here for MC’s being super protective of each too. So hot!!! Loved the banter too.

🏒 Grumpy sunshine
🏒 Frenemies to lovers
🏒 Bad boy/goal setter
🏒 Virgin MC
🏒 Ramsey the relationship guru
🏒 You tutor me, I’ll tutor you 😉😉🔥

Highly recommend!

Packs a punch!

This is a great story about second chances - Elliott makes the worst possible first impression on Mal the first time they meet and they become teammates-but-enemies for the next two seasons. Until a situation forces them to work closely together. Sounds like an easy setup, right? But this is a Beth Bolden book, so nothing about it is easy. Elliott wasn't ready when they met first, and he's still got some growing to do. Mal has to let go of some bad experiences too, though, and realign his understanding of Elliott to be a little more, well, understanding. And even after all that - how can they be together and play hockey? It's a great story with a bunch of ups and downs, no easy fixes, but a guaranteed HEA.

Darcy Stark is great. His range is fantastic, and his delivery - he just Gets the Bolden vibe. It's a pleasure to listen to him perform this book as the characters run the gamut from impatient misunderstanding to caring defenders of each other. The side characters are great too, he clearly puts the time in on the entire production. Another win from Beth and Darcy!

I loved it!

I loved everything about this story. It started out with an enemies-to-lovers vibe but that didn’t last too long. I loved how Mal became Ell’s champion after tutoring him in statistics. There were a few surprises connected to that. While Mal tutors Ell with his schoolwork, Ell tutors him in an entirely different very sexy way, teaching him all about the joy of man-on-man loving.

Darcy Stark did a fantastic job performing this story!

Fun and exciting!

What a fun and exciting story! Loved the chemistry between the two! The plot and suspense was exciting. Great performance.

fun, romantic hockey romance

This is book 2 in the Evergreens series but it stands fine on its own. As in the other series each book is about one couple but set in the college hockey world of the Evergreens.
This book is about Elliott where in the beginning he meets Malcom but strikes out with him then it skips a year and half Mal is a Senior and Elliott I believe Sophomore. Any ways he's 19 and Mal 22. They are as opposite as you can get.
I loved both characters but really related more to Mal. There are lots of secondary characters that I cannot wait to get their stories.
As usual we have an intriguing world with interesting stories.
If you like opposites attract, sports romance, a virgin, hockey romance, new adult and just an overall spicy romance you are in for a treat.
Updated for audio.
I really liked the narration. It brought the characters to life.
It's a fun, interesting listen. Makes doing chores more enjoyable