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Xio Axelrod
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The Warm Up Kindle Edition

by Xio Axelrod (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 33 ratings
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Originally published in the USA Today Bestselling HOT ON ICE: A Hockey Romance Anthology, this edition contains a bonus chapter!

Subzero. That’s what folks around the league call Constantine Zimin, hockey’s best defenseman. He’s unflappable. Stoic, even. No cracks in all that ice, not until he meets Suji Meriwether. The pediatric nurse has no time for bad-boy jocks who want to use her patients as props. But as soon as they meet, temperatures rise and their defenses fall.

Editorial Reviews:
4.5 Stars
Finally, a book...about a love that that is new and exciting. No long, lost love in The Warm Up but a love at first site for two people who deserve it in their lives. The Warm Up was explosive. I got to enjoy a little bit of my home state where hockey is as big as football and baseball. And, Xio Axelrod made it very easy to enjoy the relationship between these two, beautiful people. - Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews

This was fun love story between Zim and Suji. I laughed out loud during the first few minutes of their meeting but that was soon replaced with some hot chemistry and then some more laughing. Definitely some romantic comedy going on here. I loved it. - Bea's Book Nook

The Warm Up by Xio Axelrod is fresh and exciting in the city of love, Philadelphia.
I love it when the heroine is strong, determined and a force to be reckoned with. This spicy story is sexy, witty and hot. I look forward to reading more from this must read author. Everyone should have a sister like Suji and a man like Zim in their lives. - Books I Love a Latte

Previous page
  1. Print length
    152 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publication date
    April 28, 2017
  5. File size
    2476 KB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  9. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

4 stars!"The Warm Up features two really great characters who are, despite their dedication to helping people, different as night and day. At first I thought Suji seemed a bit too bitter and cynical for this kind of story. I get where she was coming from, but early on she was so abrasive that I wondered what Zim saw in her beyond her beauty. But I slowly warmed up to her while I pretty much loved Zim from the start. Hockey star, hot as sin and potty mouth...what's not to love? Theirs was a quick romance, but Xio Axelrod penned a fun and engaging story that will make you into a hockey fan!"~Readers Favorite

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B06ZZPY59F
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Xio Axelrod LLC; 2nd edition (April 28, 2017)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ April 28, 2017
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2476 KB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 152 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 33 ratings

About the author

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Xio Axelrod

Xio Axelrod

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Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Xio Axelrod is a USA Today bestselling author. She writes different flavors of contemporary romance and what she likes to call, “strange, twisted tales.”

Xio grew up in the recording industry and began performing at a very young age. A completely unapologetic, badge-wearing, fic-writing fangirl, Xio finds inspiration in everything around her. From her quirky neighbors to the lyrics of whatever song she currently has on repeat, to the latest clips from her favorite TV series.

When she isn’t working on the next story, Xio can be found behind a microphone in a studio, writing songs in her bedroom-turned-recording-booth, or performing on international stages under a different, not-so-secret name.

She lives in complete denial of the last five minutes of Buffy with one very patient, full-time, indoor husband, and several part-time, supremely pampered, outdoor cats.

Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
4.2 out of 5
33 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

KimGM
5.0 out of 5 stars A short, sexy hockey romance you'll love!
Reviewed in the United States on June 25, 2017
Verified Purchase
After being featured in the bestselling, limited-run hockey romance anthology, Hot on Ice, Xio's short romance, The Warm Up, is now available as a standalone and it's definitely a must-read for her fans and a great intro to her writing for new readers.

Hockey hunk Zim and Sujarta have a meet-cute when she's on a girls night out with some friends. Things get hot and heavy, but their night is cut short. Of course they meet again unexpectedly and, despite Suja being standoffish, it's obvious there is chemistry between the two.

Xio does a great job of depicting how quickly they fall in love. This is a sweet but sexy sports romance that leaves you hoping there will be more of this couple in the future! Highly recommended!
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Madison W Fairbanks
4.0 out of 5 stars The Warm Up by Xio Axelrod
Reviewed in the United States on October 4, 2019
Verified Purchase
The Warm Up by Xio Axelrod

Hockey romance novella. Sexy and heartwarming.
Zim is a professional hockey player setting up a donation at a hospital. Suji doesn’t want her patients disturbed or exploited. The sparks between them can’t be ignored.

I really liked this couple. Zim is generous, humble, empathetic and kind. He likes Suji for her strength and commitment to her charges. Suji is not afraid to express her opinion and can’t resist the hot athlete.

I listened to the audio version, narrated by Megan Tusing and Greg Tremblay in alternating chapters. They made the story fun and entertaining.
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Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars The Battle Is On!
Reviewed in the United States on May 25, 2017
Verified Purchase
Not a hockey fan, don’t worry, you will still enjoy Zimi and Suji’s story. He is a champion hockey player with 24 hours with the trophy and she’s a nurse, who doesn’t what her hospital ward to become a media circus. After a casual meeting, they find themselves on opposite sides of the grant the hospital so badly needs. Emotions and feelings run high in this quick and enjoyable read.
One person found this helpful
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Steve Mitchell
4.0 out of 5 stars A fun quick read
Reviewed in the United States on May 8, 2017
Verified Purchase
While I'm not a hockey fan, I have read and enjoyed other works by Ms. Axelrod so I picked this one up. I was not disappointed. Fun, sexy, great characters, and a wonderful romantic story. Well worth the read.
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Jennifer
4.0 out of 5 stars Sexy from the start!
Reviewed in the United States on August 16, 2018
Verified Purchase
Enjoyed this quick read. The story was fun and I wanted more.The ending had satisfying moments.
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Jo R.
5.0 out of 5 stars #LOVE
Reviewed in the United States on May 8, 2017
Verified Purchase
Zim. #LOVE
Honestly didn't think Ms. Axelrod could top Duff from The Callum but . . . okay it's a tie. I seriously enjoyed this short from one of my very favorite authors. Can't wait to dive into her next work.
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Al Rice
5.0 out of 5 stars A pleasure to read for the romantic at heart!
Reviewed in the United States on June 3, 2017
Verified Purchase
This was a sweet romance, and the characters' chemistry was off the charts. A great read. Hats off to the author!
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Mitsy
1.0 out of 5 stars Blah
Reviewed in the United States on January 31, 2018
Verified Purchase
Didn't realize this was part of an anthology until the end. Wish I had, at least I would have understood why it was so fast and superficial. This story was basically a first date that skips the actual relationship (it takes place off page) and comes back (in the epilogue) to them being in love and moving in. Cliffnotes would have been more worth it.

Waste of money.
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