Revolve (Off the Ice #3) by Bal Khabra – emotional and entertaining sports romance

Revolve is an addictive, emotional and highly entertaining sports romance filled with chemistry, character growth, banter, spice and plenty of heart.

Previous Books in Series I Read –

Collide

Spiral

Synopsis

The road to redemption is far from smooth as ice in this sweeping romance between a figure skater and hockey player from the USA Today bestselling author of Collide.

Sierra Romanova was an Olympian figure skater before a life-altering accident on the ice left her with panic attacks every time she enters the rink. Now, back for her final year at Dalton University, she’s ready to reclaim the spotlight, with all eyes on her…including those of hockey player Dylan Donovan, whose audacious words goad her back into her skates to prove him wrong.

After getting kicked off his hockey team for his reckless behavior, Dylan is left with slim chances of making it to the NHL draft. But Dylan’s whole world revolves around the ice, and if hockey is forbidden, well at least there’s figure skating. Even better, it means more time at the rink with Sierra. Sure, he’s helping her rebuild her confidence, but pushing her buttons along the way? That’s just a bonus.

As the figure skating world awaits Sierra’s comeback, she finds herself in need for a new pairs partner. The only person she knows who can match her skill on the ice is none other than the cocky hockey player who refuses to cut her any slack. Dylan’s a wildcard, Sierra’s a seasoned pro, but together, they might just be the perfect match on the ice.

Review

Revolve follows the story of Dylan Dovan, a party-animal hockey star known for reckless choices and a tendency to get physical on the ice. When his drug test comes back positive, the one thing he loves most is taken from him. His only chance at proving he deserves to return to the ice is to partner with Sierra Romanov, an Olympian figure skater who has her own ghosts to outrun.

Sierra lost her Grand Prix dream when she fell in the final round so hard that it left a year-long trail of trauma and anxiety. As if that was not enough, her ex-partner dumped her while she was still in the hospital. Now she is stuck with no partner willing to take on the intense, demanding training she needs this late in the season. When she learns her only option is Dylan, she is understandably skeptical and terrified of risking what might be her final shot.

Once training begins, both of them quickly discover that this partnership is about more than proving themselves. It becomes a journey of healing, trusting again, and falling for someone who sees right through the mask.

The writing is as engaging and addictive as the earlier books in the series. Revolve is filled with passion, emotion, determination, and a steady thread of vulnerability. It explores sports injuries and the trauma tied to them, complicated family dynamics, found family bonds, and the larger theme of persistence and believing in yourself when it feels impossible.

I love a playboy with a heart of gold and Dylan delivers that energy perfectly. I have been curious about him since book one and wanted to know what was fueling his reckless spiral. When his story finally unfolded, all I wanted to do was wrap him in a blanket and force-feed him emotional support cookies. Watching him battle the weight of his parents’ broken marriage and his mother’s decision to stay with a man who hurt her was painful.

But the book adds a thoughtful layer here. His mother needed to leave for herself rather than because her children begged her to. Dylan slowly understanding that and reconnecting with her was one of my favorite arcs. It takes him a long time to open up to Sierra and to his friends, but when he finally does, it is satisfying to see his support system help him correct the messy beliefs he carried for years.

Dylan becomes even more lovable for the way he sees Sierra. He never lets her drown in anxiety or self-doubt. He shows her she deserves love, patience, joy and the space to grow. His declarations of love are absolutely heart melting. The lengths he goes to help her rise again, both in performance and in confidence, are beautiful. The moment he steps up for her when he technically should not is exactly the reassurance Sierra needs to believe she is worthy.

Sierra is incredible in her own right. Her body may have healed after the fall but her mind was still stuck in that moment. She has panic attacks, freezes on the ice and constantly questions her worth. Her ex-partner made everything worse by brainwashing her into thinking she was not enough and should not show emotion. I would happily volunteer Dylan’s fists to his face.

It takes a lot of patience from Dylan and a whole lot of courage from Sierra to break free from all the lies she has been fed. Slowly, she learns she is not the girl she used to be before the fall. She becomes stronger, more self-aware and determined to own her new identity. Watching her climb out of the pit of fear and step on the ice again with fire in her gaze is incredibly satisfying.

One of the best parts of this series is that every book highlights a different hockey player from the Dalton team. We meet them early and then watch them turn into main characters and supporting characters depending on whose story is being told. I loved seeing Summer, Aiden, Eli and Sage again.

Now that Dylan has found his happily ever after, my heart aches for poor Kian who still has no love story. He is a cinnamon roll, chaotic, goofy and the annoying emotional support friend everyone secretly loves. Even with limited page time, he steals attention effortlessly. This entire team is the definition of a found family.

The romance is not exactly slow burn since they feel the pull right from the first meeting. It is filled with banter, light bickering, mutual intimidation and two stubborn people taking their own sweet time to let each other in. Their chemistry could melt ice and the heart-melting moments are sprinkled throughout the story.

The climax brings predictable elements along with small surprises. Dylan making a life-changing decision, confronting his father and Sierra reclaiming her identity are some of the most memorable scenes. That final performance is breathtaking and the ending wraps up their journey beautifully. Now I am impatient to see who gets the spotlight next.

Overall, Revolve is an addictive, emotional and highly entertaining sports romance filled with chemistry, character growth, banter, spice and plenty of heart. It balances trauma, healing and passion with a steady sense of hope.

It celebrates second chances, the courage to reinvent yourself and the joy of finding people who lift you higher just by standing beside you. It is easily one of the strongest entries in the series and leaves you craving the next chapter of this tightly knit world.

Book Links

Goodreads | Amazon.in | Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk

What’s your favorite sports romance?
What’s your favorite trope in Sports Romance??

Just in case you missed,,,

• Romantasy vs Fantasy Book with Romance – A Reader Perspective
• Storybook Ending by Moira Macdonald – cozy and slow burn contemporary
• Revolve (Off the Ice #3) by Bal Khabra – emotional and entertaining sports romance

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