Simona's Corner of Dreams: The Inspiration for On Thin Ice by Aven Ellis

I have known I’ve wanted to write the story for hard-partying Matt Rhinelander for years. So much so that this very same character was put into books one and two of a hockey series I wrote before I was published (this series is part of my “Under the Bed” collection, so to speak.) Matt was supposed to be the third book in the series, but I never wrote that book.

There was a reason for that. Matt was meant to be part of my Dallas Demons series. And I’m so glad fate worked out the way it did, or he’d be doomed never to be published, LOL. Instead he is the hero of Dallas Demons #4, On Thin Ice, and his true love is Holly Johansson, sister of Dallas Demons superstar Nate. (Yes, if you think that might cause problems, you’re right, LOL.)

What I wanted to explore with Matt was what it would be like to go straight to a professional sport, bypassing minor leagues and college, and be in the spotlight starting at eighteen. Playing at the highest level comes with a lot of expectations—and some I think would be very hard to handle if you were that young. With Matt, he’s alone a lot.

Teammates are older, and even by a few years can mean a lot in maturity. What would that be like? And the urge to “get stuff out of your system”—something so many of us do in private when we are growing up—is not an option for someone in the spotlight. I think it added many layers to the story and showed Matt in a vulnerable light. In the story, Matt makes mistakes, but we understand why he’s making them. I loved writing his character for this reason. He’s young. He’s human, he has his flaws. But one place his judgment never waivers is his love for Holly, the heroine of On Thin Ice.

Holly came to me when I was writing The Definition of Icing, which is the story of her brother, Nate. In that book, we witness Holly—a student who is finishing up her final semester of college—makes mistakes but learns from them by the end of that book. Holly has her own demons to face, ones she keeps close to the vest—along with her secret love for Matt.

With Holly, I explored a character that is quiet, who is better with words than people, and lives a life very different from partying Matt. These two characters are opposites in so many ways, but I knew if I put them together they would balance each other out. Grow up together. And find love, because you know, it’s an Aven Ellis book. If they don’t fall in love, I’m not writing it. Ha!

And with this book, I always knew the opening would be set on New Year’s Eve. There’s something magical about champagne and dresses and the anticipation of another year beginning. The question is, will Matt and Holly start it together? Will there be a kiss at midnight?

Hmmm. You’ll have to read On Thin Ice to find out. :)

Blurb

Holly Johansson knows some things in her life are certain after college graduation:

1.) It’s a long road to become a full-time author.

2.) She’ll need to work to pay her bills.

3.) And Dallas Demons superstar Matt Rhinelander will never return her feelings.

Holly knows her unrequited crush on the partying hockey player is ridiculous. There’s no way Matt would be attracted to a woman who prefers nights in watching TV or reading books when he’s known for his frequent bar hops and fast lifestyle. Obviously he would never see her as anything other than his teammate’s little sister.

Yet Holly is drawn to the other side of Matt—the man she knows has always been thoughtful and easy to talk to whenever she’s been alone with him. It is this Matt that fueled the crush Holly has on him. And she knows it will always be just that—a secret crush.

Or will it?

Because when Matt helps Holly through a crisis, her heart begins to believe that there might be feelings on his part, too. After a night of hard partying puts Matt in jeopardy with the Dallas Demons, can Holly be the one to save him? And when Matt admits he sees her as more than Nate Johansson’s sister, will it put both of them on thin ice?

Links

Goodreads - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/32505490-on-thin-ice

Amazon - mybook.to/thinice

About Author

I live in the Dallas area with my family. I enjoy clipping out recipes I will never get around to trying, working out, and chatting with friends on social media. I’m a hockey nut (Go Stars!) and watch as much as humanly possible. I also love shopping and fashion and admit to being obsessed with whatever the Duchess of Cambridge is wearing. In addition to be obsessed with the Duchess, I’m equally obsessed with any show or cookbook featuring Gordon Ramsay.