Overview

The weather might be icy, but the tension is red-hot in this fake-dating hockey rom-com from the author of Let the Games Begin ""Profoundly delightful."" --The New York Times ""Skate it Till You Make It offers the romcom hat trick of humor, heart and heat. Incredible character chemistry and witty banter make this fake dating romance a genuine joy."" --Sophie Sullivan, author of You Make It Feel Like Christmas Ari Shumba never expected to make it to the Winter Games, let alone be the one to lead Great Britain's women's ice hockey team through the most important competition of their lives. When her teammate's unexpected injury catapults her to the role of captain, Ari reluctantly shoulders the responsibility while trying to navigate family drama and dodge her toxic ex. Drew Dlamini has always feared taking risks. After breaking up with his girlfriend and dropping out of college to handle a family crisis, he's desperate for a fresh start. When he finds himself in London for the holidays, he rekindles his dream of becoming a professional photographer. When Ari and Drew meet at a New Year's Eve party, neither of them is looking for love. Though their chemistry is instant, they live on opposite sides of the Atlantic, so they spend the night revealing their glaring red flags, thinking they'll never see each other again. But when they unexpectedly cross paths in the snowy Swiss Alps two months later, their feelings for each other rise to the surface. As the competition heats up, the combination of complicated exes, overinvolved families, and stress- inducing teammates convinces them that the perfect solution to their problems is to fake-date their way through the Games. After all, there's no risk of falling in love if it is doomed from the start . . . right?

Full Product Details

9781250425256

Table of Contents

Reviews

Praise for Skate It Till You Make It ""A delightful, warm romance with an exciting, sports-filled, wintry setting."" --Kirkus ""Skate it Till You Make It offers the romcom hat trick of humor, heart and heat. Incredible character chemistry and witty banter make this fake dating romance a genuine joy."" --Sophie Sullivan, author of You Make It Feel Like Christmas ""The romance is entertaining and well balanced by Ari's and Drew's professional struggles, and Mazarura has some twists up her sleeve, including a secret connection the leads share. This is sure to charm."" --Publisher's Weekly ""Ari and Drew heat up the Winter Olympics in this gorgeous fake dating hockey romance. Rufaro deftly (stick)handles the couple's emotional journey with each other, friends, and family to a beautiful, heartwarming, and absolutely satisfying conclusion."" --Lily Chu, author of The Stand-In and Drop Dead ""I've never read a hockey romance like this before - it's vulnerable, gritty, and emotional. Rufaro Faith Mazarura has skillfully weaved together a cast of authentic and lovable characters that kept me turning the pages. When you're not rooting for the heartwarming romance, you'll be cheering for Ari as she unexpectedly steps into the role of captain of her hockey team at the Olympics. Skate It Till You Make It is a must read for fans of the Olympics, sports romance, fake dating, and love stories that are impossible to put down."" --Aurora Palit, author of Sunshine and Spice and Honey and Heat ""Skate It Till You Make It hit me straight in the heart. Reading about a woman fighting to carve her place in a male-dominated sport--especially in the high-stakes backdrop of the Winter Olympics--was as inspiring as it was exhilarating. Mazarura has crafted a captivating story that's fierce, romantic, and full of hope. It's the perfect read to kick off the Winter Games."" --Kanitha P., author of All You Need is Gloves and the Full Throttle series ""Skate It Till You Make It is a brilliant, heartwarming story about love, friendship and believing in your dreams. Fake dating has never felt so atmospheric and riveting. Mazarura expertly weaves feminist social commentary into her writing and it will have you rooting hard for every sportswoman in the story. This is the deep, layered, dreamy sports romance I've been waiting for my entire life!"" --Anam Iqbal, author of The Exes ""I savored every delicious page of Skate It Till You Make It. Rufaro Faith Mazarura pulls off a hat-trick in her expert balancing of Ari and Drew's bewitching love story, the lush tension-filled backdrop of the Winter Games, and the question of what it really means to follow your dreams. This is a second gold medal-worthy book from Mazarura."" --Pyae Moe Thet War, author of Here For A Good Time ""Rufaro Faith Mazarura expertly weaves humour, conflict and charm to write the gold standard of sports romance. Prepare to fall in love with Ari and Drew; their palpable tension had me swooning through this addictive page-turner. It was impossible to put down! Heartwarming, relatable, and compelling; loving this book is the ultimate green flag!"" --Annabelle Slator, author of The Launch Date and Risky Business ""Skate It Till You Make It balances fake dating, family drama, and above all, the sizzling tension between Ari and Drew, with effortless charm. A fun, fantastic read."" --Grace Reilly, USA Today bestselling author of Wicked Serve ""Skate It Till You Make It is a tender, grounded story that will warm your heart, even with its wintery setting. Ari and Drew's chemistry jumps off the page, as does the world that Mazarura has built. Prepare to follow the leads through their own journeys of self-discovery, packed with plenty of hijinks and an equally enticing supporting cast. Mazarura has expertly crafted a world full of beautifully complex characters that you can't help but root for, all the way through the Winter Games."" --Jasmine Burke, author of Quarter-Love Crisis

Praise for Skate It Till You Make It ""Skate it Till You Make It offers the romcom hat trick of humor, heart and heat. Incredible character chemistry and witty banter make this fake dating romance a genuine joy."" --Sophie Sullivan, author of You Make It Feel Like Christmas ""Ari and Drew heat up the Winter Olympics in this gorgeous fake dating hockey romance. Rufaro deftly (stick)handles the couple's emotional journey with each other, friends, and family to a beautiful, heartwarming, and absolutely satisfying conclusion."" --Lily Chu, author of The Stand-In and Drop Dead ""I've never read a hockey romance like this before - it's vulnerable, gritty, and emotional. Rufaro Faith Mazarura has skillfully weaved together a cast of authentic and lovable characters that kept me turning the pages. When you're not rooting for the heartwarming romance, you'll be cheering for Ari as she unexpectedly steps into the role of captain of her hockey team at the Olympics. Skate It Till You Make It is a must read for fans of the Olympics, sports romance, fake dating, and love stories that are impossible to put down."" --Aurora Palit, author of Sunshine and Spice and Honey and Heat ""Skate It Till You Make It hit me straight in the heart. Reading about a woman fighting to carve her place in a male-dominated sport--especially in the high-stakes backdrop of the Winter Olympics--was as inspiring as it was exhilarating. Mazarura has crafted a captivating story that's fierce, romantic, and full of hope. It's the perfect read to kick off the Winter Games."" --Kanitha P., author of All You Need is Gloves and the Full Throttle series ""Skate It Till You Make It is a brilliant, heartwarming story about love, friendship and believing in your dreams. Fake dating has never felt so atmospheric and riveting. Mazarura expertly weaves feminist social commentary into her writing and it will have you rooting hard for every sportswoman in the story. This is the deep, layered, dreamy sports romance I've been waiting for my entire life!"" --Anam Iqbal, author of The Exes ""I savored every delicious page of Skate It Till You Make It. Rufaro Faith Mazarura pulls off a hat-trick in her expert balancing of Ari and Drew's bewitching love story, the lush tension-filled backdrop of the Winter Games, and the question of what it really means to follow your dreams. This is a second gold medal-worthy book from Mazarura."" --Pyae Moe Thet War, author of Here For A Good Time ""Rufaro Faith Mazarura expertly weaves humour, conflict and charm to write the gold standard of sports romance. Prepare to fall in love with Ari and Drew; their palpable tension had me swooning through this addictive page-turner. It was impossible to put down! Heartwarming, relatable, and compelling; loving this book is the ultimate green flag!"" --Annabelle Slator, author of The Launch Date and Risky Business ""Skate It Till You Make It balances fake dating, family drama, and above all, the sizzling tension between Ari and Drew, with effortless charm. A fun, fantastic read."" --Grace Reilly, USA Today bestselling author of Wicked Serve ""Skate It Till You Make It is a tender, grounded story that will warm your heart, even with its wintery setting. Ari and Drew's chemistry jumps off the page, as does the world that Mazarura has built. Prepare to follow the leads through their own journeys of self-discovery, packed with plenty of hijinks and an equally enticing supporting cast. Mazarura has expertly crafted a world full of beautifully complex characters that you can't help but root for, all the way through the Winter Games."" --Jasmine Burke, author of Quarter-Love Crisis

Praise for Skate It Till You Make It ""Skate it Till You Make It offers the romcom hat trick of humor, heart and heat. Incredible character chemistry and witty banter make this fake dating romance a genuine joy."" --Sophie Sullivan, award winning author of You Make It Feel Like Christmas ""Ari and Drew heat up the Winter Olympics in this gorgeous fake dating hockey romance. Rufaro deftly (stick)handles the couple's emotional journey with each other, friends, and family to a beautiful, heartwarming, and absolutely satisfying conclusion."" --Lily Chu, author of The Stand-In and Drop Dead Praise for Let The Games Begin ""A debut deserving of a gold medal."" --Kirkus (starred review) ""[A] fun and wholesome debut... Mazarura is a writer to watch."" --Publishers Weekly ""A radiant, joyful debut novel with a particularly fun setting."" --ELLE ""Sweet and inspiring."" --NPR ""A perfect Olympic-year read. This debut rom-com sparkles and is sure to delight contemporary-romance fans, particularly those who love reading about athletes, celebrities, and tenacious underdog heroines."" --Library Journal ""Let the Games Begin is THE way to kick off the summer games! They say what happens in Olympic Village stays in Olympic Village... but let's just say the competition wasn't the only thing that was hot!"" --Danielle Allen, author of Curvy Girl Summer ""Let the Games Begin is pure delight! Rufaro Faith Mazarura's threading of Zimbabwean and British culture masterfully displays how the love interests, Zeke and Olivia, can exist in two worlds yet learn to remain true to themselves and to their roots. Filled with friendship, family, and the competitive thrill of the Olympics, Zeke and Olivia's growing romance shows what it means to follow one's heart and take the leap towards love."" --Preslaysa Williams, author of A Lowcountry Bride ""Rufaro Faith Mazarura's Let the Games Begin is a vivid, moving story of finding love--and yourself--in the exhilarating world of the Summer Games. The heart stopping action and propulsive love story makes for a gripping and life-affirming read. I loved it!"" --Katelyn Doyle, author of Just Some Stupid Love Story ""Rufaro is such a fresh and exciting new voice in romantic women's fiction. I've never fallen as fast as I did for Zeke and his family, and Olivia is such a perfect heroine, battling between her head and her heart. Let the Games Begin is funny, romantic, gripping and relatable. I loved every second of it. If you need me, I'll be in Athens."" --Tessa Bickers, author of The Book Swap ""One of the most heart-warming books I've ever read with characters you will immediately root for. A complete delight."" --Mia Sheridan, New York Times bestselling author of Archer's Voice ""Both a beautiful romance and a stirring coming-of-age story... you can't help but root for Zeke and Olivia as they navigate familial expectations and their own ambitions while falling for each other. Rufaro Faith Mazarura is a fascinating and talented new voice in women's fiction."" --Lauren Ho, bestselling author of Last Tang Standing ""As someone with vivid memories of the 2012 Olympic Games, Let The Games Begin brought back the excitement and atmosphere of those heady two weeks, creating the most tremendous setting for the unfolding stories of two talented, determined and fierce individuals who somehow in their fight to achieve, have lost sight of what is most important to them. A gorgeous atmospheric coming of age, love story which had me hooked from page one. Rufaro Faith Mazurura's debut novel packs the most delicious punch and I can't wait to read more of her work."" --Julie Caplin, international bestselling author of the Romantic Escapes series

Praise for Let The Games Begin ""A debut deserving of a gold medal."" --Kirkus (starred review) ""[A] fun and wholesome debut... Mazarura is a writer to watch."" --Publishers Weekly ""A radiant, joyful debut novel with a particularly fun setting."" --ELLE ""Sweet and inspiring."" --NPR ""A perfect Olympic-year read. This debut rom-com sparkles and is sure to delight contemporary-romance fans, particularly those who love reading about athletes, celebrities, and tenacious underdog heroines."" --Library Journal ""Let the Games Begin is THE way to kick off the summer games! They say what happens in Olympic Village stays in Olympic Village... but let's just say the competition wasn't the only thing that was hot!"" --Danielle Allen, author of Curvy Girl Summer ""Let the Games Begin is pure delight! Rufaro Faith Mazarura's threading of Zimbabwean and British culture masterfully displays how the love interests, Zeke and Olivia, can exist in two worlds yet learn to remain true to themselves and to their roots. Filled with friendship, family, and the competitive thrill of the Olympics, Zeke and Olivia's growing romance shows what it means to follow one's heart and take the leap towards love."" --Preslaysa Williams, author of A Lowcountry Bride ""Rufaro Faith Mazarura's Let the Games Begin is a vivid, moving story of finding love--and yourself--in the exhilarating world of the Summer Games. The heart stopping action and propulsive love story makes for a gripping and life-affirming read. I loved it!"" --Katelyn Doyle, author of Just Some Stupid Love Story ""Rufaro is such a fresh and exciting new voice in romantic women's fiction. I've never fallen as fast as I did for Zeke and his family, and Olivia is such a perfect heroine, battling between her head and her heart. Let the Games Begin is funny, romantic, gripping and relatable. I loved every second of it. If you need me, I'll be in Athens."" --Tessa Bickers, author of The Book Swap ""One of the most heart-warming books I've ever read with characters you will immediately root for. A complete delight."" --Mia Sheridan, New York Times bestselling author of Archer's Voice ""Both a beautiful romance and a stirring coming-of-age story... you can't help but root for Zeke and Olivia as they navigate familial expectations and their own ambitions while falling for each other. Rufaro Faith Mazarura is a fascinating and talented new voice in women's fiction."" --Lauren Ho, bestselling author of Last Tang Standing ""As someone with vivid memories of the 2012 Olympic Games, Let The Games Begin brought back the excitement and atmosphere of those heady two weeks, creating the most tremendous setting for the unfolding stories of two talented, determined and fierce individuals who somehow in their fight to achieve, have lost sight of what is most important to them. A gorgeous atmospheric coming of age, love story which had me hooked from page one. Rufaro Faith Mazurura's debut novel packs the most delicious punch and I can't wait to read more of her work."" --Julie Caplin, international bestselling author of the Romantic Escapes series

Author Information

Rufaro Faith Mazarura is a British Zimbabwean writer who grew up in Birmingham and studied English and Creative Writing at the University of Surrey. She works as a podcast producer, bringing stories to life through audio, and has written and produced podcasts for the BBC, iHeartRadio and Seven Stories, the National Centre for Children's Books. Let the Games Begin was her debut novel.

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