Liz Tomforde’s Mile High kicks off her Windy City series with a bold, slow-burn sports romance that doesn’t shy away from emotional depth, character growth, or sizzling chemistry. Set against the backdrop of Chicago’s professional hockey scene, it follows Evan Zanders—a magnetic, playboy NHL star with a reputation as icy as the rink—and Stevie Shay, a no-nonsense flight attendant with a sharp tongue, a strong sense of self, and a long-standing rule about avoiding athletes.
This is not your typical opposites-attract narrative—it’s messy, layered, and refreshingly human. From private jets and locker rooms to lonely hotel rooms and hometown reckonings, Mile High by Liz Tomforde builds a relationship that’s as complicated as it is compelling.
The Plot: Cocky Forward Meets Grounded Flight Attendant
Zanders is the league’s bad boy—fast on the ice, faster with women, and fully committed to his image. But his carefully curated persona begins to crack when he meets Stevie, the curvy, fiercely independent new flight attendant who is unimpressed by his ego and uninterested in his fame.
What starts as a petty war of passive-aggressive jabs and excessive call-button pressing soon evolves into something deeper. Stevie, who’s spent her adult life trying to silence insecurities about her body and distance herself from the toxic relationships of her past, is wholly unprepared for the way Zanders actually sees her. Not just for her curves, but for her humor, her loyalty, and the walls she keeps tightly in place.
Zanders, meanwhile, is hiding more than just a soft spot for Stevie—his childhood trauma, abandonment issues, and media façade are all defense mechanisms for a man who fears he’s unlovable. Through snappy banter, emotional confessions, and a slow-burn tension that spans cities, hotels, and flights, their push-pull dynamic gradually turns into something raw and real.
Characters: Deep Cuts Beneath the Gloss
Evan Zanders
Zanders is the archetypal cocky athlete, but Tomforde peels back the layers to reveal a man wrestling with his past and a desperate need to feel valued. While his bad-boy persona is carefully crafted for media and management, what emerges over the course of the book is a character riddled with emotional vulnerability. His panic attacks and therapy sessions are written with honesty, avoiding over-sentimentality while still being deeply affecting.
Stevie Shay
Stevie is the heart of this novel—confident but not cocky, guarded yet deeply compassionate. She doesn’t fall for Zanders easily, and her insecurities—especially surrounding body image and past relationship trauma—are handled with empathy. Her backstory with her toxic ex and her complicated relationship with her mother add layers of relatability and realism to her emotional journey.
Writing Style: Natural, Sharp, and Emotionally Tactile
Tomforde’s prose is conversational yet tight, often laced with humor but never short on emotional resonance. Dialogue feels authentic and snappy, and the pacing—while slow-burn—never drags. The dual POV is expertly balanced, allowing readers to slip seamlessly into both Zanders’ and Stevie’s minds. This narrative structure adds depth to their dynamic and helps justify their chemistry, which never feels forced or rushed.
Heat Factor: Slow-Burn, High Reward
Make no mistake—this book takes its sweet time getting to the bedroom. But when it does, the payoff is worth it. What makes the intimacy compelling isn’t just the steamy scenes themselves but how they are rooted in character development. Each moment of physical closeness echoes emotional growth, particularly for Zanders, who learns that connection can be more than physical.
Themes: More Than Just Romance
While Mile High by Liz Tomforde is first and foremost a romance, it doesn’t shy away from weightier themes:
- Mental health and masculinity – Zanders’ therapy arc is one of the more well-handled portrayals of male vulnerability in recent romance.
- Body image and self-worth – Stevie’s internalized shame about her weight and desirability is explored with nuance.
- Media and identity – The conflict between Zanders’ public image and private self fuels much of the book’s tension.
- Chosen family vs. biological family – Both leads grapple with dysfunctional family dynamics and find strength in the families they build for themselves.
Critique: Where It Flies High and Where It Dips
What Works:
- Excellent emotional payoff for a slow-burn romance
- Well-developed leads with real vulnerabilities and chemistry
- Dialogue and banter that feel sharp and natural
- Nuanced exploration of therapy and mental health
What Could Be Better:
- A bit long – At nearly 500+ pages, some scenes could be trimmed without losing emotional impact.
- The initial enemies-to-lovers setup feels drawn out, especially in the first quarter.
- Side characters (like Tara and even some teammates) could have been more fleshed out, though this improves in later books.
Connections to the Series
As the first book in the Windy City series by Liz Tomforde, Mile High lays a strong foundation for the interconnected romances that follow. Readers will be delighted to know that The Right Move, Caught Up, Play Along, and Rewind It Back continue the tradition of pairing professional athletes with women who don’t fall easily into their arms—and the slow-burn payoff only gets better.
While Zanders and Stevie are the heart of Mile High, they remain present as side characters throughout the series, and their growth continues subtly in the background of later novels. If you’re a fan of rich character arcs that extend beyond one book, this series does that exceptionally well.
Similar Reads
If you enjoyed:
- Icebreaker by Hannah Grace
- The Deal by Elle Kennedy
- The Wall of Winnipeg and Me by Mariana Zapata
- Before I Let Go by Kennedy Ryan
Then Mile High will absolutely hit the mark for you.
Final Verdict: A Romance That Soars
Mile High by Liz Tomforde is a romance that doesn’t just flirt with tropes—it deepens them. With emotionally resonant characters, authentic dialogue, and a relationship that evolves slowly but purposefully, Liz Tomforde proves she’s more than capable of elevating sports romance beyond the clichés.
This is a confident, sexy, and emotionally satisfying debut to a series that only gets better with every installment. Whether you’re in it for the angst, the steam, or the deeply wounded bad boys, Mile High delivers with altitude.
