Meet Your Match by Kandi Steiner is live, and oh wow, what a story!

The first book in the Kings of the Ice series, this is a fun, playful, chemistry-filled sport romance with the most delicious slow burn and all the feels. This book made me ache, made my heart race, had me laughing, swooning, and actually cheering out loud. It made me feel so much, and I freaking loved it!

 

Amazon  |  Amazon Worldwide  |  Audible

Audiobook narrated by Edward Black & Megan Wicks

 

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Blurb

One Month with Vince Tanev: Tampa’s Hotshot Rookie
Twenty-four-seven access on and off the ice.

The headline says it all, and my bosses are over the moon when the opportunity of a lifetime lands in my lap. Of course, they aren’t aware that I’ve already met Vince Cool at an all-star gala — and that we were at each other’s throats the entire time.

It doesn’t matter that he’s the kind of hot that shows God has favorites — messy brown hair, heated hazel eyes, the smirk of a rockstar, and a scar over his eyebrow that makes every woman particularly feral.

He’s a rich, cocky playboy — a brand I’m all too familiar with, and one I’m determined to never be around again.

But after my coverage of the gala stirs up buzz, the team’s General Manager and my CEO strike a deal. To help fill the arena at home games, I’ll get up close and personal with Tampa’s new shiny toy. Whether he’s at practice, playing in a game, partying, or drinking coffee half-naked in his condo — I’ll be there for all of it.

Vince gets under my skin like no one else. It isn’t long before that paper-thin line between hate and lust blurs, and being around him every waking minute of the day leaves no chance to escape his devilish stare.

The air crackles between us. The tension is hot enough to melt my inhibitions.

But I know the way this story ends. I’ve lived it once before.

As much as I work to guard my heart, my body is a traitor — and if this man puts his hands on me, I know I’ll submit to desire.

I thought one month with Vince Tanev was a game I could win easily.

But I might have just met my match.

 

 

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Review

5 stars!

Oh wow, what a story! The first book in the Kings of the Ice series, and Kandi Steiner has delivered a fun, playful, chemistry-filled sport romance with the most delicious slow burn and all the feels. This book made me ache, made my heart race, had me laughing, swooning, and actually cheering out loud. It made me feel so much, and I freaking loved it!

Maven and Vince meet at a charity gala, in an encounter that may be heavy on banter, but the snarky, bickering kind. It’s not pleasant, but it is entertaining. And it provides Maven with the opportunity of a lifetime when, as a social media content creator for an online lifestyle blog, she is given the opportunity to shadow NHL star rookie, Vince, for a month – on and off the ice, nothing is off limits. It’s not an ideal situation, but both of their bosses are keen to boost visibility, and they both recognise it as a chance to further their careers, and so, Maven is suddenly all up in Vince’s life.

But she doesn’t actually think much of the gorgeous, cocky player. She’s had her heart shattered by a playboy athlete just like him, and she immediately decides that Vince is exactly the same and she needs to keep her emotional distance. Which is kind of impossible when she’s in his apartment, following him to training, games, and social events, and he is being his gorgeous, cocky and flirtatious self, and having a grand time pushing all of her buttons.

“You can call me whatever you want to. Just make sure you like the name you pick.” I leaned in a little closer, lowering my voice. “I have a feeling you’ll be saying it a lot. Maybe in different decibels, too. Might want to try screaming it loud and high-pitched, just to make sure it feels right.”
Maven’s cheeks reddened again, just a light pink flowing over those warm brown cheeks peppered with freckles. I smirked at the sight of that blush, but it wasn’t there long before Maven clamped her mouth shut and shook her head.
“You aren’t going to make this easy, are you?” she asked.
I leaned even closer. “Be honest. You would hate it if I did.”
She didn’t answer, but didn’t have to.

Vince is wildly attracted to Maven from the first moment he laid eyes on her, and the chemistry between these two is sizzling! Maven may try to keep her distance, but her attraction and Vince’s undeniable charisma make it damn near impossible. And when he openly declares his interest and his intentions, every moment between them is oozing with sexual tension!

“Oh, so that’s it. It all makes sense now.”
She frowned, confused.
“You’re tired,” I said. “That’s why you can’t open your eyes and see the truth.”
“What truth?”
“That I want you,” I said, and I pressed right back, my hands finding her hips and pinning her to the bathroom sink. Even then, I pushed in father, my nose centimetres from hers. “I want you so badly, Maven. I like you, goddamnit.”
She swallowed, attempting to wriggle free, but I held her tighter.
“No,” I said, shaking my head as my forehead fell to hers. “Don’t. Don’t make a joke. Don’t deny it. You want me, too.”
She turned her face, my lips falling against her temple as she swallowed again, and looked away from me.
“Admit it,” I pleaded.

There’s something about a cocky yet big-hearted player falling and falling hard. Vince is head over heels for Maven. He has his work cut out for him to even get her to give him a shot, but he is a determined guy, and he holds nothing back from her as he tries his best to win her heart.

“You have me so fucked up, Maven. Every waking hour, every waking minute of my life is wrecked by thoughts of you.”

There is a true attraction between these two. Feelings are growing, they get to know each other on a truly personal level, and I loved watching them slowly and unexpectedly fall for each other, even when Maven is trying so hard not to. The emotion between them is so beautifully written, I could feel her fear of getting hurt again, I could feel his frustration at her not giving him a shot. So. Many. Feels, and God, I loved it all!

“You are so deep-seated in my mind, in my being. I will never be rid of you.”

But along with those feels, of course there’s mad lust and oh, holy God, Vince is a filthy, filthy boy. Confident, controlling and infinitely sexy, with a spectacularly dirty mouth, the physical connection between these two is sizzling! They are on fire together – hot, sexy, completely insatiable, and open to everything, this book is so damn steamy.

“Woman,” he said when he pulled back, his eyes taking in the full sight of me. “You’re wearing my jersey.”
“I am.”
He shook his head, fisting his hands in the fabric as his eyes grew hungrier. “This makes me fucking feral, Mave.”

There’s a strong emotional element – not only as we watch them fall, but Maven has been so badly hurt in the past, and she has some pretty huge demons to overcome. It’s frustrating but realistic, and continues to show how incredible Vince is, and watching them get through it all had my stomach in knots, but it’s resolved well, with epic moments that had my heart racing once again.

I framed her face in my hands, thumbing away a tear when it slid down her cheek. “Give me your heart.”
“It’s already yours,” she said, climbing me, brushing me to her. “Please don’t break it.”
“Never,” I promised.

This is such a great read. I loved Vince and Maven, I loved their chemistry and the love they have for each other, and I loved their journey to find their HEA. Along the way we’re introduced to a number of Vince’s teammates, and there are some fantastic potential stories here. I am so excited to continue on with this series!

5 stars!

An Advanced Review Copy was generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

 

Kings of the Ice

 

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Meet Kandi

Kandi Steiner is an Amazon Top 5 bestselling author and whiskey connoisseur living in Tampa, FL. Best known for writing “emotional rollercoaster” stories, she loves bringing flawed characters to life and writing about real, raw romance — in all its forms. No two Kandi Steiner books are the same, and if you’re a lover of angsty, emotional, and inspirational reads, she’s your gal.

An alumna of the University of Central Florida, Kandi graduated with a double major in Creative Writing and Advertising/PR with a minor in Women’s Studies. She started writing back in the 4th grade after reading the first Harry Potter installment. In 6th grade, she wrote and edited her own newspaper and distributed to her classmates. Eventually, the principal caught on and the newspaper was quickly halted, though Kandi tried fighting for her “freedom of press.”

She took particular interest in writing romance after college, as she has always been a die hard hopeless romantic, and likes to highlight all the challenges of love as well as the triumphs.

When Kandi isn’t writing, you can find her reading books of all kinds, planning her next adventure, or pole dancing (yes, you read that right). She enjoys live music, traveling, playing with her fur babies and soaking up the sweetness of life.

Connect with Kandi:

Website  |  Goodreads  |  Amazon  |  Facebook  |  Facebook Group  

Instagram  |  Twitter  |  Bookbub  |   Verve  |  TikTok  |  Pinterest

 

Kandi Steiner may be coming to a city near you! Check out her “events” tab to see all the signings she’s attending in the near future: www.kandisteiner.com/events