Icebreaker

Traditionally, romance novels feature dominant, successful men as the romantic interest for the protagonist. Sometimes the protagonist is herself a confident and successful career woman, and sometimes she is less fortunate and timid. Nathan and Anastasia fit into this mold, with Anastasia oscillating between the two kinds of romance heroine at different points of the novel. In other words, Nathan and Anastasia fulfill the gender roles typically displayed in romance novels of this type. He is a provider; he has the house and lets his friends live there, paying for their parties and driving them around. He is wealthy, and Anastasia ensures her own financial security by marrying him. He is also a protector; he takes care of his teammates, punches Aaron when he kisses Anastasia against her will, and saves Anastasia from drowning in the frozen lake. Despite her obvious exceptionalism, Anastasia is neurotic and is often a victim of her feelings, needing therapy and lacking self-esteem. Throughout the novel, she needs a fair bit of rescuing; for example, she needs to be saved repeatedly from falls on the ice, from drowning, and especially from Aaron.

Because Icebreaker is a romance novel, this gendered power dynamic is essential to how the romance between the protagonists unfolds.