Bound (Fire on Ice Book 1)

Kate Camden and her mom, Lynn are in the waiting room at her OBGYN’s because she’s pregnant. Because when, Quinn Barlow, the guy, Kate had been dating, for a couple of weeks knocks you up, and ghosts you. When you tell him you’re pregnant, and you have, to move back home in order, to afford all the upcoming expenses. Her mom is a nurse wants, to support her all the way.Only at this appointment, the worst possible outcome happens when the wand is applied, to her belly. Hoping to find out the sex of the baby, and hear its heartbeat, turn into sheer panic. As Kate volleyed between her doctor’s and her mother’s faces, they stare blankly at the screen. All of us waiting, to catch the heartbeat of the baby and there isn’t one.Terror sets in and she begins to ask questions. Kate is finally told. That they are so sorry, to tell her that the baby has passed away. Therefore, they have, to admit her at once, to deliver the baby or it can cause bacteria and a lot of damage. She was grieving and had no real idea as to how that looked or felt. Kate is job searching by day and crying by night. Until her mom suggested a grief meeting at the hospital. At first, she thought her mom was crazy. Then, after Kate’s first meeting, she realized, the first meeting she went, to did help more than she had thought it would.Turns out one of the members of that group is, Jason Ryker, a pro hockey player. Which means nothing, to her. Kate is not, a sports fan, in general. Now, she would never say, she doesn't have functioning eyes. Boy, does she catch, Ryker’s. Which shocks him. He had lost his wife, Maggie in a drunk-driving accident, while he was away playing hockey. He didn’t want, to overstep and make her feel uncomfortable, at her first meeting. Plus Carlos is talking endlessly.By the third meeting, they start talking, partly because she feels bad for him. Over a new female that joined the group, who is drooling over him, and making him feel uncomfortable. So, she goes, to dinner with him. She tells him she is looking for work. He tells her, she's in luck because he is looking for an assistant, to keep his schedule, be his date, to events, and pick out ties for suits. She says, no at first, but then after talking with her mom more she calls him, to talk more about it.See how these two, help each other through the most difficult times, in their lives. Sometimes it’s not the actual event itself. It is the aftermath after and the choice, to live life, to the fullest because they are the ones still alive. And it's their way, to honor them by doing it, to the fullest, too. It takes a while for them both, to be on the same page, but, Ryker is such a good guy he gave Kate a wide birth. Most of all, a short tether, so as not, to lose her.

Bound by Brenda Rothert can be summed up with these words: Loss, Grief, Sadness, Heartache, Depression, Coping, Moving On, Second Chances, Romance, Laughter, Friendship, Happiness, Closure, and Life. Bound is a story that united two individuals who were bound together with the same pain: LOSS of a loved one. When is it okay to finally move on? Is it right to move on? Why is our sadness and loss sometimes associated with guilt? Do second chances really exists? This is a story that reminds us that there is no right or wrong way to grieve, there are healthy ways to cope with the pain that, in time, can renew you and permit you to move on.Kate Camden is a 22 year college senior when she becomes unexpectedly pregnant by her boyfriend, Quinn. The boyfriend is overwhelmed by the sudden responsibility and breaks it off with Kate leaving her to accept the fact that she will have to be a single mother. Just 17 weeks into her pregnancy, Kate finally accepts the fact that she’s going to be a mom and is looking forward to her baby. At her sonogram check up, Kate is informed devastating news: her baby doesn't have a heartbeat. She is completely destroyed and left broken by this. She is left numb, depressed, and closed off. The once upbeat and lively Kate is shut off from the world.Jason “Ryke” Ryker is a 27 year old professional NHL star hockey player. He is one of the rising stars in the NHL and a hotshot model endorser of an underwear ad. His career is on the fast track but behind the success is a man who is left a widow at such a young age. His wife was tragically taken away from him by a drunk driver. The perfect life of Ryke is shattered and his world is turned upside down.When Kate finally decides that she needs to get help for her depression, she meets Ryke at a bereavement support group. Ryke is drawn to Kate. He sees something in her and so he decides to reach out to her. Seeking a way to spend more time with Kate, Ryke hires her as his personal assistant. From then on, friendship blooms. They begin to lean on each other for support. The attraction and chemistry between Ryke and Kate are palpable. As much as they are attracted to each other, Kate is hesitant to move on. She doesn't feel worthy to be loved and cared for. She feels Ryke is too good for her.As much as you want to shake Kate and tell her that she has a good thing in front of her, I totally understand where she is coming from. Loss of a loved one is something that can never be forgotten. It takes times and closure. The budding romance of Ryke and Kate felt real and not rushed. As much as you want them together as couple, I enjoyed the pace they went. Ryke didn't pushed Kate to move on. He understood that Kate needed to get to that place where she can be at peace with herself. I admired Ryke for his sweetness, gentleness, patience and loved for Kate.Bound is one of those stories that I personally can relate to having experienced a sudden loss of my mother last year. Loss and grief can take a toll on a person. Losing a loved one is never easy and sometimes it might take days, months, and years to fully cope and move on. Reading this book brought back lots of memories for me since I experienced what Ryke and Kate went through losing a loved one. Personally for me, I felt both Ryke and Kate’s pain, fears, heartaches and loss. My heart ached for them whenever memories and flashbacks would remind them of the past and the what if’s of the future. Bound was more than a romance book, it was a story of coping, moving on and second chances. Second chances not only in love but at LIFE. Ryke and Kate’s story was about survival and two individuals who were able to claw out of the darkness and find the light and peace they both deserved.Ms. Brenda Rothert did a fabulous job in this stand-alone book. She was able to incorporate sadness, loss, grief, humor, sexiness, and romance all in this book. This is a third book that I have read from Ms. Rothert and her books have never failed me. She makes her readers FEEL and those are the books I tend to gravitate towards to. I really enjoyed this book so I recommend everyone to go read this book.

This was a really lovely read. I enjoyed the writing style and the slow burn romance between Ryke and Kate. There is very little sex in this book but it wasn't needed. I found it refreshing that neither were thinking they were in love so early on. It felt realistic how their relationship progressed.Ryke and Kate meet at grief counselling. Kate lost her baby 18 weeks into her pregnancy after being abandoned by the father. Two years ago, Ryke had lost his wife in a car accident. Ryke is at a different stag of grief to Kate. He has come to terms with his loss and of course we learn that his marriage was not that happy. Kate has struggled with her loss. Losing the baby has made her scared to have sex or a relationship again. Ryke offers her a job being his PA and they are attracted to each other but both holding back.I liked both Ryke and Kate and I liked the pacing of this romance. If I had one criticism, it would be that sometimes the timeline jumped forward and would leave me a bit confused at the start of a chapter. This book was written a few years ago so after looking up the author, I'm pleased to see there is another book about this couple which I'm going to read and other books in this series about other Hockey players. Not that there was much Hockey in this book but I recommend it.

I love finding new authors through recommendations because I definitely believe I would have missed this gem of a book. I've yet to read a book with the main storyline based around grief counselling and it really pulled me into the story because it was a new refreshing way for me to become emotionally connected to the characters. I really liked how Brenda made their friendship form from healing and blossom into love. I cannot wait for the next book.

Wow loved this book. Kate is dealing with tragic loss and it's suffocating her, she just graduated but with no job options currently and no money moves back home with her mum. With her mounting depression her mother suggest a grief counselling group so she can talk about her sadness. Kate finally gives in and attends, she finds it easy to talk about her pain with others dealing with loss, this is where she meets Ryke, a hockey player dealing with his own loss. The two form a friendship which leads them down a path to more but not without issues along the way. This book is full of dark issues and tragic situations which did have me blurry eyed but it also had me giggling out load, and frustrated at the characters. It's well written, and a lovely story about loss and finding love, the other characters are realistic and gave the book a very empathetic feel. The sexual situations are intimate, but don't expect hot erotic scenes throughout it's not like that, it's an emotional story and a beautiful romance. I would recommend.

I guess I am not Brenda Rothert's target audience being a British bloke. I felt like a change from my normal reading so downloaded this because it was free and already had positive reviews. I'm very glad I did.Without wanting to give anything away, this was a tender love story of two people, Kate and Ryke, who have experienced deep loss and meet at a grief counselling meeting. Then, despite their conflicted feelings about betraying the past, they fall for each other and realise they love each other. However, neither wishes to rush into anything.This was tenderly and sensitively written and, although it can get a bit steamy, it was in no way a bonk-fest. The characters, especially Kate, were well drawn and had depth. You really felt for them and wanted them to acknowledge their feelings and accept love.I really liked this book - it was well written and Brenda gives real insight into the grieving process. I am glad I read this and will certainly buy and read the sequel and keep my open for others by her. Go on men - this book is worth reading.The only slight negative is I'm not sure about the title - as there was no bondage or anything like that!

*This book was reviewed for Summer's Eve Reads*Title: Bound Fire On Ice #1Author: Brenda RothertGenre: Contemporary Sports RomanceRating: 3/5I read this as part of the box set, it was emotional & heartbreaking, Brenda's style of writing has you feeling like you are right there with the characters feeling every emotion they are going through it was like reading one of those real life women's magazines where you follow the persons journey from start to finish experiencing the highs & lows with them. This wasn't my favourite book in the series but I did enjoy it none the less, 3 stars out of 5 from me.