Salt and Ice by JD Lear | Motivated Savages

Salt and Ice

by JD Lear

Rival Australian figure skaters must work together to keep their small coastal town rink from closing.

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ABOUT THE BOOK

Two skaters on the edge. One impossible routine. Everything to lose.

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Two rivals. One failing ice rink. And a performance that could rewrite everything they thought they knew about skating, each other, and themselves.

Mikael Fitzgibbons used to be the bright star of Australian figure skating. Now he hides the fractures in his confidence behind jokes and showmanship. The more he pretends he’s fine, the more the ice threatens to swallow him whole.

Daniil Ivanov is his opposite in every way — precise, controlled, and relentlessly focused. Skating is all he has left after losing his parents, and he clings to it with a ferocity that leaves no room for mistakes… or anyone else.

But when Oceancrest Ice Arena announces its closure, everything changes.
For Mik, the rink is his last link to a future he hasn’t fully given up on.
For Daniil, it’s the only home he has left.

The solution? A duet routine neither of them wants.

As they train together, rivalry gives way to reluctant trust. Secrets surface. Old wounds crack open. And the line between enemies and allies begins to blur.

With the clock ticking and the community rallying behind them, Mik and Daniil must pull off a routine powerful enough to save their rink…before it’s too late.

A story about pressure, passion, and the unexpected bonds of friendship that form when everything is on the line.

Perfect for readers who love:
• character-driven sports stories
• rivals-to-friends arcs
• small-town community stakes
• found family and mentorship
• authentic figure skating
• emotional growth without romance

Book Details:

• Genre: Literary Fiction, Contemporary Drama
• Format: Paperback, eBook