Released
Ice and Instinct, Book 1
Unassisted
Elena Marlowe is the best shoulder specialist in North America, and she does not get emotionally involved with patients. But when she takes on Declan Rourke, captain of the Portland Wolves, his injury is the least complicated thing about him. He has spent twelve years performing invincibility, and she can see through every layer. Day by day, session by session, their professional vocabulary becomes something far more dangerous. When her fingers stop assessing and start choosing, the clinical distance she has maintained for twelve years collapses into a language neither of them can take back. The question is not whether the chemistry will ignite. The question is what they are willing to risk when it does.
Forced ProximityForbidden RomanceSlow BurnGuarded HeartsHe Falls FirstEmotional Walls
🔥 Heat Level: Steamy (Slow Burn to Spicy Payoff)
Long slow-burn tension with explicit on-page intimacy. Scenes are literary in style but unmistakably steamy: detailed, sensory, character-driven. The spicy content earns its place through emotional buildup. 3/5 peppers.
Further reading
If this book lives in your taste, these blog posts go deeper.
Genre Guide
The Ultimate Guide to Hockey Romance
Why ice rinks make the best pressure cookers for emotionally grounded romance.
Trope Deep Dive
Why Forbidden Romance Works
The psychology of we shouldn't, and why professional ethics make the love story heavier.
Trope Explainer
What Is Forced Proximity Romance?
The setup behind Declan and Elena's daily rehab sessions, broken down.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Unassisted steamy?
Yes. Unassisted is a slow-burn romance with explicit, emotionally grounded intimate scenes. The heat level is 3/5 peppers. Physical intimacy builds alongside trust and vulnerability, so every scene is earned through the emotional arc, not added for shock value.
What tropes are in Unassisted?
Unassisted features forced proximity, forbidden romance (athletic therapist and patient), slow burn, guarded hearts, he falls first, and emotional walls. Both characters are guarded professionals who must lower their defenses to connect.
Is Unassisted part of a series?
Yes. Unassisted is Book 1 of the Ice and Instinct series, following the Portland Wolves hockey team. Each book is a standalone romance with its own couple and complete happy ending. You can start with any book, but reading in order gives the richest experience.
Do I need to read previous books first?
No. Unassisted works as a standalone. It is the first book in the series, so there are no prior events to catch up on. Characters from Unassisted appear in later books, making it a natural starting point.