Review: Second Shot at Love - Northwest Ice #6

In recent years, I've taken up the habit of reading hockey books during the playoffs. As a result, I'm thankful that the publication date for this book moved up from July to June so that I could enjoy it even earlier.

Second Shot at Love by Carolyn Miller is the sixth book in the Northwest Ice series and was the perfect book to read during the Stanley Cup Final round.

Many thanks to the author for providing a complimentary copy of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Book Synopsis

Will secrets spoil their second shot at love?

Ten years ago Genevieve Rivas made a mistake that changed her entire family. Since that, she’s done all she can to make up for it and make them proud, and is now working as a junior doctor in one of Seattle’s leading hospitals. Everything is finally tracking as it should be, until one day a blast from the past re-enters her life.

Ten years ago Kyle Tinker thought he had it all. Until a night of celebration went too far and he lost the person he held most dear as he chased his NHL dream. Now he might be Seattle’s top player, but his hard shot and skills on the ice aren’t enough to dodge the guilt now he’s returned to his old stomping ground.

When injury reunites these two, regrets soar and secrets become increasingly hard to hide, threatening to fracture two families. And while God is a healer and redeemer of broken pasts, can they learn the power of forgiveness to find a way forward?

Source: Amazon

Book Thoughts

This is another stunning hockey romance from Carolyn Miller that makes me grateful I get to tag along to the Northwest Ice Bible study. I've enjoyed each story as they don't gloss over the difficult realities that the players face, ranging from past sins to current temptations and struggles. In this standalone book, we encounter Genevieve, who has grown up in poverty and is doing everything she can to make ends meet, alongside Kyle, who has a very affluent upbringing yet an empty existence until finding Christ. It's a reminder that no matter our socioeconomic background, Proverbs 30:8 rings true about relying on God for our daily bread and that neither poverty nor riches are the answer.

What stands out most is Kyle's obedience to God, listening for His voice even during moments when it would be easier to follow his own goals and desires. By immersing himself in the Bible and continually praying, we catch a glimpse of just how much Kyle seeks to follow God’s will, laying everything down at His feet. It's a beautiful picture of Christ laying His life down for the church, and it makes the story even more tender and meaningful. Fans of hockey stories will be blessed by reading about the faithfulness of God whether we are unfaithful or faithless, making Second Shot at Love a story of abundant grace and lavish love that desires the best in others.

Book Summary

• Format of book: 📱
• Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
• Recommendation: 👍

Book Quotes

“What you do to help people is amazing. But what if God isn’t that interested in what we do but is more interested in who we are? What if He wants to speak to us, use us for His purposes to encourage others to find hope and healing in Him, so people don’t need to spend their lives feeling broken and lie awake at night wondering if they should end it?” Her skin prickled. She hadn’t felt that desperate, but those two days in bed recently had shown how easy it would be to succumb to that kind of pressure, to feel so completely overwhelmed and hopeless. Like there was no point to life at all. Because if you lived for yourself and you were going to die anyway, then what actually was the point?