Cold Day in the Sun by Sara Biren is a teen hockey romance about a girl who plays on the boys varsity team. Holland grew up around hockey and played with her brothers from the age of three so it is natural for her to play with the boys and she is good too. She also has dreams of becoming a journalist one day and writes a secret blog. A new guy came to their small town from a state champion team. Wes is a tough team captain, cute, and supportive of Holland and her place on the team. She has a rule that she will not date teammates because of the problems it could cause. Is Wes worth breaking her rule?

I liked this. There were some problems that I expected to be a part of this story. Number one being how others looked upon a girl playing on a boys team and how she handles that pressure. The romance was kind of cute even though I could have done without him feeling her up when they have just decided to try out a relationship. I did love the how they both liked old rock music and their text banter. The supporting characters were good and I really appreciated the relationship she shared with her brothers. ( )

"Let's be honest. At the moment, I've got bigger things to worry about than a straw stuck up a sea turtle's nose."

I received an ARC from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. My thoughts and opinions are my own. Any quotes I use are from an unpublished copy and may not reflect the finished product.

Cold Day in the Sun takes place during the winter, but it really warmed my heart! It was impossible not to smile while reading this book, and I really loved Holland's story. She was a fierce female character who wasn't afraid to speak her mind. When someone told her she had balls, she was quick to tell them that a person doesn't need balls to do something brave. I loved her personality, and that she was willing to fight for what she wanted.

Yes! Yes! Yes! Holland had an awesome family, I enjoyed all of their interactions. Hunter wasn't around as much, but his comments on her blog, and his brief appearance, really spoke volumes about their relationship. Carter was a typical big brother, and didn't want anyone to mess with his sister, but he also knew she could fight her own battles. Jesse was hilarious. I'm pretty sure he's referred to as a "diva" at one point. Her mom and dad, even her grandparents, are around and supportive. It was amazing and lovely!

Then there's Wes. Sweet, beautiful, infuriating Wes. He doesn't treat Holland any differently on the ice, and he pushes and challenges her like he would any of the other players. I was a little annoyed when Holland didn't see this (she thought he was picking on her for being a girl), so her reactions were a little extreme. She wanted to be treated like everyone else, but got upset when she was. Off the ice, Wes was attentive and intuitive. He's understanding and thoughtful, a wonderful big brother, and he wasn't afraid to tell people how he felt. I really loved his relationship with Holland and how it progressed over time.

There was so much to love about this book, and I think it's the little things that I enjoyed the most. Wes encourages Holland to try eating spicy foods, and tells her it's just like training for a new sport. You have to practice, which she does, and those were some of my favorite moments. The way Wes reacts when Holland bites her lip, and the way he talks about her to other people -- always kind and proud of her accomplishments. Holland's blog and her obsession with music (that Wes happily shares), and their shared text messages that are more music videos than words. Also, Holland loves to eat, and I love that she loves food.

All of the secondary characters were fun and meaningful, and I wouldn't mind another book with this setting! I want to know more about everyone. As I got to the last page, I read it and immediately wanted more. It was a perfect ending for this story, and I'm still smiling as I write this, but I definitely could have enjoyed a few more chapters! Thank you, Sara Biren. You've kept a smile on my face for days. It was ducking adorable. 😉

Originally posted at Do You Dog-ear? on March 12, 2019. ( )

Literary Merit: Great
Characterization: Great
Recommended: yes
Level: High School (there is a lot of foul language)
I loved Sara Biren’s book! I would recommend this book to anyone who likes realistic sport fiction, romances, or likes a strong female protagonist.
The main character is Holland Deliviss, who is a very talented hockey player and journalist. She plays on the high school boys team. As a result, she feels like she has to work harder than everyone to prove that she has earned her place on the team. Some of the older townspeople think that she should be forced to join the girls league.

Holland has three brothers who also play hockey. Two of her brothers are on the team with her currently. In fact, one brother is co-captain of the team this year. The other co-captain is Wes or “Hot Sauce.” Holland and Hot Sauce are attracted to each other and start dating. Their relationship breaks Holland’s main hockey rule of not dating teammates. As the plot develops their relationship becomes an issue for Holland, but the conflict causes Holland to find her voice and become a better journalist. ( )