The Verdict: A Top-Tier Sports Romance That Sets a High Bar
If you are looking for a sports romance that breaks the typical "player falls for coach" mold and offers genuine emotional depth, Mile High is a must-read. As the first book in the wildly popular Windy City series, Liz Tomforde introduces us to a world of professional athletes that feels grounded, steamy, and incredibly heartfelt.
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The audiobook for Mile High is narrated by June DeBorahae and Sean Masters. They do a phenomenal job. If you search for a free trial of Audible Premium Plus, you get one credit for a free audiobook. Use that credit on Mile High. Mile High By Liz Tomforde Vk
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1. The "Secret Identity" Trope: One of the most delightful aspects of this book is Zee’s secret. Without spoiling too much, he isn't just a hockey player; he has a passion that is the complete opposite of his tough-guy on-ice persona. Watching Stevie slowly discover this softer, artistic side of him provides some of the best moments in the book. It adds a layer of uniqueness that separates Mile High from standard romance novels.
2. Stevie is a Standout Heroine: Often in romance, the female lead can feel like a prop for the male lead’s redemption. That is not the case here. Stevie is navigating financial struggles, career changes, and self-worth issues that feel very real. She is independent and sassy, but also vulnerable. Her reluctance to date an athlete feels justified by her backstory, making the "will they/won't they" tension believable rather than forced. Review: Mile High (Windy City Series #1) by
3. The Grumpy/Sunshine Dynamic: The chemistry between Zee and Stevie is electric. Zee is the quintessential grump with a heart of gold, while Stevie matches his energy with wit and resilience. Their banter is funny, and the transition from enemies-to-lovers is paced perfectly.
4. Realistic Sports Elements: Liz Tomforde writes hockey with authenticity. The locker room scenes, the flight dynamics, and the pressure of the game feel real, which is a huge plus for readers who actually enjoy the sports aspect of the genre.
Beyond the physical setting, height functions as a psychological motif. Maya’s internal monologue is peppered with recurring images of “looking down” versus “looking up.” When she reflects on her childhood in the low‑lying districts of Aerialis, she describes the ground as “the place where roots were tangled, where the world felt dense and familiar.” In contrast, the upper districts are rendered as “thin air, where thoughts echo louder but are easier to lose.” What Works Well 1
The tension between these poles of experience reflects a classic existential dilemma: does one find authenticity by staying grounded, or by soaring above the constraints of origin? Tomforde never offers a definitive answer; instead, she allows Maya’s oscillation between the two poles to embody the novel’s central conflict.
The novel also explores the ecological ramifications of relentless vertical growth. Maya’s project proposal includes an “integrated bio‑filtration system” that would convert building exhaust into clean air for lower districts, yet the city council’s response is dismissive: “The cost outweighs the benefit.” Tomforde uses this tension to illustrate how the pursuit of vertical dominance often sidelines sustainability.
Later, a severe storm—described as “the city’s first true tempest in a century”—exposes the fragility of the high‑rise infrastructure. The storm’s impact on the upper districts, coupled with the resilient response of the ground‑level communities (who mobilize shared resources and communal shelters), underscores a paradox: the very structures meant to symbolize resilience become liabilities, while the “grounded” populace demonstrates adaptability and solidarity.