Overall Grade: A-
Tropes: childhood friends to lovers; opposites attract; fake relationship/engagement; forced proximity; pro hockey romance; miscommunication trope; athlete & pop star; slow burn
Two elements elevate romance novels to greatness: a hero who can tenderly braid the heroine’s hair and characters whose painful pasts prevent them from finding happiness until their love interest truly sees them. Kandi Steiner masterfully incorporates both in Save Your Breath, the fourth installment in her Kings of the Ice series, creating an emotional journey that devastated me in the best possible way.
I anticipated that Aleks Suter and Mia Love’s story would pack the most potent emotional punch in this series. While I remain a devoted “Daddy P” fan, Aleks now rivals him as my favorite Steiner book boyfriend. Unlike Daddy P’s brooding grumpiness, Aleks embodies the team’s “bad boy” persona—yet his anger-fueled actions mask the deep wounds of a man abandoned to foster care. Steiner’s character development for Aleks stands as the novel’s greatest achievement. His journey toward self-acceptance through Mia’s unconditional love brought me to tears, and Steiner makes readers work for this payoff through an exquisitely crafted slow-burn romance.
Mia serves as Aleks’s perfect counterbalance. Beyond the “good girl/bad boy” dynamic, Steiner portrays her as someone who complements and challenges Aleks. Through Mia, we witness the struggle to maintain cultural relevance while staying true to artistic integrity. Aleks becomes her biggest supporter, encouraging her to create authentic music even as they navigate their arranged engagement. This mutual admiration adds profound vulnerability to their supposedly fake relationship—they’re each other’s greatest champions, fostering a love that captivates readers.
The Tampa Bay Ospreys’ found family dynamic enhances the emotional resonance. Aleks’s gradual connections with teammates parallel his growing closeness with Mia, creating a powerful emotional compound effect when he finally accepts that he deserves love. While these interactions often inject humor into tense moments, they underscore Aleks’s deep-seated need for acceptance. His relationships with Mia’s parents and his elderly neighbor further highlight his character growth, adding emotional complexity to the story.
My one criticism lies in the miscommunication between the protagonists. While Steiner establishes their ability to see each other fully, their failure to recognize each other’s feelings sometimes lacks credibility. The narrative doesn’t sufficiently explore why these otherwise perceptive characters remain blind to their mutual attraction.
Nevertheless, this flaw doesn’t diminish the overall emotional impact of Save Your Breath. Readers should prepare for a slow burn that demands patience—Steiner doesn’t rush Aleks and Mia’s journey. The beautiful, tear-inducing conclusion justifies the wait. The Kings of the Ice series continues to deliver exceptional hockey romance, and I eagerly anticipate the next two installments.
In love and romance,
Professor A
Professor Romance 