When the Ice Breaks
(2026)(The first book in the Cloudrest Recovery Romances series)
A novel by Briar Hope
Sometimes the bravest comeback is choosing to stay.
Nova Clark was once America’s ice princess—until a devastating fall and a public betrayal sent her into hiding. Now she’s at Cloudrest Recovery Center in the Colorado mountains, determined to heal in private and never trust a partner—on or off the ice—again.
Reid Mallory didn’t come to Cloudrest for complications. The steady, guarded physical therapist has rebuilt his life on discipline and emotional distance—and falling for a world-famous skater who plans to disappear the moment she'''s strong enough isn’t part of the plan.
But quiet training sessions turn into late-night conversations. Professional boundaries blur into lingering touches. And in the safety of being truly seen, something deeper begins to thaw.
For the first time, Nova isn’t performing. And Reid isn’t bracing for goodbye.
When Nova''s past resurfaces—and the outside world comes looking for her—she must decide whether hiding is safer than risking her heart.
At Cloudrest, healing comes first. But staying might be the bravest step of all.
When the Ice Breaksis a closed-door, forced-proximity romance about public failure, private healing, and choosing to stay.
Genre: Romance
Nova Clark was once America’s ice princess—until a devastating fall and a public betrayal sent her into hiding. Now she’s at Cloudrest Recovery Center in the Colorado mountains, determined to heal in private and never trust a partner—on or off the ice—again.
Reid Mallory didn’t come to Cloudrest for complications. The steady, guarded physical therapist has rebuilt his life on discipline and emotional distance—and falling for a world-famous skater who plans to disappear the moment she'''s strong enough isn’t part of the plan.
But quiet training sessions turn into late-night conversations. Professional boundaries blur into lingering touches. And in the safety of being truly seen, something deeper begins to thaw.
For the first time, Nova isn’t performing. And Reid isn’t bracing for goodbye.
When Nova''s past resurfaces—and the outside world comes looking for her—she must decide whether hiding is safer than risking her heart.
At Cloudrest, healing comes first. But staying might be the bravest step of all.
When the Ice Breaksis a closed-door, forced-proximity romance about public failure, private healing, and choosing to stay.
Genre: Romance