I swore off men the second I trusted the wrong guy and ended up pregnant by a wealthy playboy. I was ready to prove I didn’t need him–or anyone else. At least, until Malaki Young, Chicago’s hottest pro hockey star, slid into the backseat of my car and proved me wrong.
He’s relentless on and off the ice. Especially when it comes to pursing me. Not to mention his charming smirk and annoyingly smooth one-liners have me testing the ice and thawing every boundary I swore I’d never cross again.
But my ex is out for revenge… and Malaki makes an offer I never saw coming: a fake engagement. One oversized diamond. One perfectly fabricated love story. One mission: convince the world–and my revenge driven ex–that this single mom just landed one of Chicago’s most sought-after bachelors.
Malaki swears it’s just pretend. But the deeper we get, the harder it is to tell where the lies end and we begin. And I can’t help wondering how long before the ice beneath us gives way.
Some stories hit that perfect mix of swoon, steam, and soul, and Test the Ice by S.J. Sylvis absolutely delivers all three. It’s flirty, heartfelt, and full of the kind of emotional healing that makes you fall in love right alongside the characters.
Reese’s life has been anything but easy. She’s a single mom doing her best to provide for her daughter, Charleigh, while also taking care of her younger sister. She’s convinced she comes from nothing, that she is nothing, and she carries the kind of emotional bruises that don’t fade easily. Her past relationship left her broken, wary, and fiercely protective of her little family. Trust doesn’t come easy for Reese, especially when it comes to men.
So when her obsessive ex, and father of her daughter, starts circling back, Reese finds herself trapped between fear and survival. Enter Malaki Young, a professional hockey player with swagger, charm, and a heart big enough to hold all her broken pieces. Their worlds collide in the most unexpected way, with a fake engagement meant to protect her from her ex’s threats. One oversized diamond, one fabricated love story, and one very real connection she didn’t see coming.
“She’s needy, and I’m willing to give her whatever she asks for. Money? It’s hers. My bed? As long as she doesn’t mind sharing. My last name? Let’s make it official.”
From the moment Malaki steps into Reese’s life, he changes everything. He’s not just the sexy, confident athlete the tabloids adore; he’s a man who shows up. He’s thoughtful, kind, protective, and so achingly good with both Reese and Charleigh that my heart practically melted. The way he treats her daughter? Absolute perfection. He makes her laugh, plays with her, tucks her in, and eventually earns the sweetest reward—when Charleigh calls him “Dada,” I full-on teared up.
“You could stop a war with that smile, Charleigh-girl.”
And he can apparently stop my entire world by existing.
Reese tries so hard to keep her walls intact, but Malaki makes it impossible. He flirts, teases, and charms his way right past her defenses, one smile at a time. And the chemistry between them? Off the charts. Every glance, every moment, every piece of banter just crackles. You feel the slow build of trust, the hesitation, the surrender, and it’s all so beautifully paced.
“It’s unfathomable that you think you’re anything less than perfect.”
What really stood out to me, though, is how much heart this story has. Reese isn’t just falling for Malaki; she’s learning how to breathe again. For the first time in a long time, she and her family can live instead of just survive. And Malaki never once asks for anything in return. He simply gives his love, safety, and stability, because that’s who he is.
“The thought of Malaki loving me is terrifying and wonderful all the same. I want to argue that he doesn’t, but I’m desperate to believe he does.”
By the end, it’s clear that Malaki didn’t just save Reese; he gave her and her daughter a sense of belonging they never had before. He’s the perfect mix of golden retriever energy and total book boyfriend material; hilarious, protective, patient, and a little bit filthy in the best way possible.