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Reviewed by Demetria Head for Readers' Favorite
Carve My Heart by Mara J. Ova is book one in The Carve Series. It is Olympic season, and PR Manager Katharina is managing the Austrian Men’s Ski Team. She accepts this role in hopes of building her career. But it is also a deliberate scheme to bump into ski champion Thomas again. As the Olympic tours get underway, their interactions turn into a connection that leaves them both unsettled. But they find themselves under pressure. Katharina feels the pressures that come with her sports media career, while Thomas feels the pressure of his coach telling him to “Be ready to push” this Olympic season. Amid the rigorous training, athletic expectations, and media obligations, neither can deny their chemistry. But are they willing to take that risk in a world where nothing matters more than performance and control?
If you are looking for a contemporary sports romance with thrills and emotional tension, Carve My Heart is the one. Mara J. Ova did a wonderful job by using elite ski racing as the backdrop for this story. The plot and pacing matched the narrative's intensity. I could see the passionate connections, the way Katharina had a comeback to match Thomas’ and the team’s energy, and the demanding routines of athletes prepping for competition. The dynamic between Katharina and Thomas was the fuel of the narrative. They both had ambitions, but they also balanced each other. I was rooting for their romance and holding my breath at the same time. I also appreciated how the author mastered the details of the alpine landscapes and the technical world of ski racing. Readers who loved Elle Kennedy’s The Graham Effect would most appreciate Carve My Heart.
