An unexpected spark between a hockey player and the coach’s daughter might cause them to cross the line in the next Dalton University book from international bestselling author Bal Khabra.

Kian Ishida is all about parties, hockey, and living in the moment. But when he realizes he’s headed to the NHL without his degree, his late dad’s one wish for him, he’s determined to make up those last few credits. Desperate for help, he joins a study group led by none other than Scarlett Kilner. She’s as gorgeous as she is smart. Too bad he doesn’t know yet that she’s his coach’s daughter.

After making a reputation for herself, all Scarlett wants for her senior year is to prove she’s more than her mistakes and graduate without tarnishing her well-respected father’s name. But when Kian Ishida, one of her dad’s star hockey players, joins her study group, things get complicated.

As Scarlett helps Kian, their study sessions turn into something more — stolen glances, lingering touches, and a connection neither of them expected. Kian has to decide what’s more important: the dream he’s worked for his whole life or the girl he never saw coming.

Embrace is the fourth book in the Off the Ice series. Collide, Spiral and Revolve are out now.

Spiral ranked No. 6 on the Sunday Times bestseller chart week ending 01/02/2025. Revolve ranked No. 10 on the Sunday Times bestseller chart week ending 18/10/2025.

Praise for the Off the Ice series:
Fake-dating goodness filled with delicious tension and overwhelming tenderness. These two had me kicking my feet -- Lana Ferguson, USA Today bestselling author of The Nanny
Bal Khabra is a master of banter, swoon, and lovable characters. I dare you to try and read one of her novels in more than one sitting - they're simply unputdownable. -- Hannah Bonam-Young, USA Today bestselling author of Out on a Limb
Charming and brilliant! Bal Khabra's Collide, equal parts spicy and sweet, shines above the rest. Khabra seamlessly weaves her whip-smart banter, captivating cast of characters and laugh-out-loud humor into an endearing, timeless love story. Readers will cheer for Aiden and Summer from the first page, and think of them long after the end -- Peyton Corinne, author of Unsteady
Sexy and swoony, Aiden is a perfect book boyfriend -- Avery Keelan, author of Offside
A perfect balance between wholesome and spicy, with two fleshed out and complex characters that you can't help but root for until the very last page * Stylist *

Bal is a Canadian writer, romance enthusiast, and book lover. Before she decided to jump into the romance pool, she spent her time gushing about books on social media. When inspiration strikes, she is found filling her notes app with ideas for romance novels. Like many of her characters, Bal has been woven into the fabric of two cultures and finds herself creating characters that represent the beauty of both. Whether it's through language, a box of her favourite sweets, or a cup of chai, we can find hints of her South Asian roots throughout her writing. She loves reading about love, watching movies about love, and now, writing about it herself. There really isn’t much else that gets her heart fluttering the way HEAs do. She fell in love with writing and hopes to continue living out her romance author dreams.