#REVIEWTOUR ➙ House of Payne: Ice by Stacy Gail

Title: House of Payne: Ice

Series: House of Payne #8 (standalone)

Author: Stacy Gail

Genre: Contemporary Romance; Urban Romance

Release Date: February 13, 2019

Amazon Review - “Amazing, hot, and all the feels!” Amazon Review - “Absolutely best!” Goodreads Review - “Stacy Gail has the amazing ability to make her Alpha’s seeming Jackholes and yet fully redeems them and makes you want one for yourself!”

One year ago…

Sunny Fairfax, daughter of a former Chicago mayor, had been tops in the marketing game. She’d taken a tiny tattoo parlor, Skull and Bones Ink, and turned it into the most famous studio in California. Then the owner and unrequited love of her life, Atticus “Ice” Eisen, fired her.

One year ago…

Everyone thought Ice had it all—a privileged Beverly Hills background, a hot ink-slinging studio and a kickass reality TV gig. The truth? He’d hated most of it, especially that frigging show. The only reason he’d stuck with it was because of Sunny. Then shadows from his past closed in, and he’d had a choice—let the one thing he actually gave a damn about get destroyed, or sacrifice everything.

The way he saw it, the choice was easy.

Now…

Sunny’s stunned when Ice walks into her new life in Chicago. He’s the newest tattooist at House Of Payne, and no amount of dodging him works. Wherever she goes, he’s already there, ready to melt her panties with hot glances, hotter words and the hottest kisses she’s ever known. But none of it makes sense. Why had he fired her? And how can she trust him now?

The shadows are back, but Ice is a different man now. He’ll protect Sunny from the darkness that’s been dogging his steps every day of his debauched and useless life, and this time he has to destroy it. He has to, because when it comes to convincing Sunny he’s a man she can believe in, he’s on very thin ice.

90,000 words

***This standalone contemporary romance contains multiple sex scenes, bad cat puns, lame excuses from an Alpha male unused to making them, and a reverse-cowgirl in front of mirrors. No cheating, no love triangles, no cliffhangers. HEA guaranteed. Due to adult language and sexual content, this book is not intended for people under the age of eighteen***

Brings a whole new definition to the concept of

"Fire and Ice"

Ice is primal when it comes to obtaining what he wants. I had a real problem with his attitude and lack of general civility in the beginning, actually most of the story. He was an overbearing self-centered sexy as all hell blonde, tone, tattoo covered, surfer boy and did I mention stubborn and determined? Oh and that Sunny Day is what he wants? The way he goes about "mending" past transgressions leaves a lot to be desired, I don't think he realizes how he once smothered Sunny's flame. Ice's heart has always been in the right place, he just allowed that primal part of his brain to make the decisions.

And just wait for the bomb that is the "why"! (no spoilers)

Sunny I truly felt sorry for. She has spent her whole life equating her value with her accomplishments and it has left her empty. Her inner monologues had me rolling - She really is smart and witty and somewhere in there is a sweet little girl who just wants to be loved. I can't fault Sunny in refusing Atticus advances then suddenly capitulating. They have known each other forever and her love for him has always been unrequited so when he bombards her, literally day in and day out, with the reality that she has always been it for him it is a bit hard not to taste the temptation even if she knows he may shatter her heart

Gail has yet to disappoint me with this series - The House of Payne series is one five stars read after another. Wonderful characters that touch the reader intimately. Story lines that engage and entertain and the perfect concoctions of angst, laughter, and romance.

I recommend this series to anyone who enjoys getting lost in their romance

A competitive figure skater from the age of eight, Stacy Gail wrote stories between events to pass the time. By fourteen, she told her parents she was either going to be a skating coach who was also a romance writer, or a romance writer who was also a skating pro. Now with a day job of playing on the ice with her students, and writing everything from PNR and cyberpunk to contemporary romance at night, both dreams have come true.