Center Ice

Boston Rebels, Book 1

De: Julia Connors

Narrado por: Teddy Hamilton, Andi Arndt

Duración: 10 h y 40 m

Resumen del Editor

I’ve always been a wild card–the first to start a fight on the ice, and the life of the party off it–but appearances can be deceiving.

Being traded to the Boston Rebels could not have come at a better time. With serious family obligations to fulfill and a contract renewal with a new hockey team on the line, I have no time for anything else. I return to Boston knowing I need to buckle down and focus on what really matters.

But the first night I’m back in town, I come face to face with Audrey, my college calculus tutor. We had a brief fling right before I was drafted into the NHL. Now, her five year old son is standing by her side, and I don’t need a tutor to do that kind of math.

Audrey insists she doesn’t want me involved in Graham’s life unless I can commit to being a dad. With everything else going on, this is the worst possible timing.

But every minute I spend with Graham and Audrey feels exactly right, and I’m left questioning everything I thought I wanted.

Because now my goals are shifting, and getting what I really want might come at the expense of the game I’ve given my entire life to.

©2024 Julia Connors (P)2024 Julia Connors

One to listen to again and again

Do you know the feeling when you find a book that makes you cheer and wail at the same time? Cheer because you’ve found a book you love so much. And wail because you know you can’t stop until you’ve read all the previous books by this author/in this series to catch up with every single character and will have the author on your auto-buy list from now on. Just when your TBR stack is falling over as it is. Center Ice is one of those books that give you that feeling.

It's a wonderful story. Full of warm, sweet moments but with a lot of serious stuff going on. Author Julia Connors does an amazing job of weaving all the threads together, making all the connections between the characters work while addressing all the issues and highlighting the seriousness of all the decisions that need to be made.

Drew was a senior in college and Audrey a junior when she tutored him in calculus. They each definitely felt a spark, but neither of them spoke of it. Drew was already on his way to a career in the NHL and Audrey felt dull and drab and unable to compete with all the women who followed this big, handsome hockey player around. Drew was sure that Audrey was too serious and too smart and too capable to be interested in a jock like him. They did connect for one night, one pretty glorious night, but then Drew’s life got complicated, he was selected for a pro hockey team in Canada, and felt breaking ties in Boston was the best bet. He was just too overwhelmed and overloaded to add any more to his plate. No idea how much he would regret that decision.

When Drew is traded to the Boston Rebels he feels he’s been given a second chance. Nothing can jeopardize his staying in Boston: his mother and family need him, and to save his career he needs to erase the mostly undeserved bad press from his time with his last team. As for Audrey, she’s doing just fine. Just ask her. Yes, her life is pretty full, but she has a career she loves running a business with her sister Jules and has always had the unwavering support of her sister and her brother Jameson. So nobody is prepared for what happens at the team picnic Jameson hosts at his house. Drew learns a couple of things for the first time: his agent Jameson is Audrey’s big brother, and Audrey has a 5-year-old son who looks a lot like 5-year-old Drew looked. For some reason Audrey thought she would never run into Drew even though he’s on the Rebels, she goes to all the games, and her brother is his agent. Her brother who has no idea about Drew and Audrey; Jules is the only one Audrey has ever confided in. Audrey didn’t want to ruin Drew’s career even if she would never see him again.

From this point on it’s one situation after another to deal with. Audrey doesn’t want Graham to know who his father is until it looks like he won’t leave; Drew insists he’s not leaving but needs to prove it. And of course he doesn’t control what the team management does. People are going to notice the resemblance between Big Drew and Little Graham soon and who knows what when needs to be carefully planned so Graham is not hurt. Audrey’s last (and only serious) relationship since college resulted in her and Graham’s hearts being broken, so she is dead set against starting anything up with Drew. Drew’s mother has Parkinson’s and he’s working out how best to care for her and be there when he needs her while saving his career and playing good hockey. And while all this is going on and needs to be considered, Audrey and Drew are falling, falling, falling. This wasn’t a college crush; this could be something real and serious and long-lasting – and beautiful – but there are a lot of risks.

Author Connors smoothly takes us through all these life-changing events, with some touching moments as they care about and for one another, some sad, scary moments where they misspeak and misunderstand, some seriously steamy moments, and some laugh out loud funny moments where they are just ridiculous and you want to yell, “Stop it!” It’s a satisfying story about realizing what your priorities are, valuing your family, making sure those you love know how you feel and are cared for.

Thanks to Home Cooked Books for providing an advanced listening copy of Center Ice. In addition to being one of those books that make you cheer and wail, it’s also one that is perfect when read and supremely perfect when listened to. Especially when you have the always fabulous Teddy Hamilton and Andi Arndt as narrators. Teddy Hamilton is like the perfect chameleon of narrators: he becomes the character and you lose yourself completely. Every emotion – regret, sadness, outrage, love, lust, tenderness, a father’s pride – comes through loud and clear. Andi Arndt achieves a perfect balance of strength and vulnerability as Audrey, and just the right amount of peevishness and irritation when needed. I could listen all day and listen over and over. I voluntarily leave this review; all opinions are my own.

Ok!

Drew & Audrey
3.5* story
4* narration

The narrators did a good job.

Cute, sweet and a bit sexy. Drew has some positive traits and some not so. Hot hockey player but when he finds out he has a son from a night with he hooked up with his tutor Audrey from college before he left for the NHL. His not so positive traits complains he didn't know but she tried to tell him but he chose to ignore all her phone calls and expected her to what track him down. Positive takes care of his mom and pays for her health issues. Positive tries to be there for Audrey and Graham his son and break down her walls and makes a bunch of promises but when faced with a dilemma instead of talking it out he shuts down on her. Audrey is a strong independent single mom who is doing what she needs to take care of her kid. I liked some of the story except for the parts where Drew's behavior aggravated me.

Amazing story

The narrators did an amazing job at bringing the main characters Drew and Audrey to life. It made for an enjoyable experience to hear Drew come to life especially when he’s being sweet. Loved when I read this book but I really enjoyed the audiobook.

New hockey series!

Center Ice is book #1 in the new Boston Rebels series. This series is a partial offshoot from the Frozen Hearts series book #4 with Jameson Flynn. Audrey is Jameson's sister, a single mom, and co-owner in her father's architecture business. What no one knows is the father of her child (she has kept that secret, one-night stand oopsy). Drew has been traded to the Boston Rebels (Jameson is his agent) and is determined to get his life and career back on track. When he sees Audrey, his former college math tutor and one-night stand, and her 5yo son, he doesn't need any help with this math. I love sports romance and this one is good, but not great. Drew wants back in, Audrey is reluctant and there is VERY little interaction between Drew and his son other than it being alluded to. I did enjoy the development of the characters and the team, so I'm looking forward to the rest of the stories!

The narration was great. Andi Arndt and Teddy Hamilton know how to bring the humor, the heartbreak, and the heat to a story. 5/5 stars for this duo!

Teddy and andi!

These two blew this out of the park! This was a duet style narration. The way they made this story come to life! Gosh I just love them! This story follows a single mom who meets the father of her child six years after they were together!!! So good!

Cute

This was a cute story. It was entertaining and kept my attention. You really can't go wrong with these two narrating a story.

Second Chance Romance

This was the first book I have listened to by Julia Connors and I really enjoyed this book. Of course the narrators were absolutely amazing. Andi Arndt and Teddy Hamilton made this audiobook so enjoyable and entertaining. They make you feel these characters chemistry through their voices and it's amazing. This was a really good second chance sports romance. I fell in love with Drew's character when he comes home to help his mom who has health issues. Then being traded to his hometown team brought another surprise when he runs into his college fling Audrey, who also has a five year old son Graham. The chemistry between these two is incredible and I loved listening to their story unfold! I felt like this story had the perfect balance of drama, angst, heartfelt emotions, and steamy romance. The writing, plot and world building are fantastic, as are the character growth and development. I hope to read or listen to more of Julia Connors books.

Total Knock-out! LOVED THIS!

I was pleasantly surprised by this audio in the very BEST way. Absolutely loved it. It's Andi & Teddy, enough said! Second chance is my own HEA so when I get one, it's hard not to fall in love with it & Connors book makes the "shot" with this one. Throw in a secret baby & a little hockey & it's gold! I'm so excited to read more from her.

Audrey & Drew went to college together. She was his tutor & a spark of attraction leads to a one night stand. They graduate & Drew is drafted into the NHL & moves to Vancouver. Six years later, he's traded back to his hometown team back in Boston. Once he's back, he & Audrey run into each other & to his surprise, finds out that he's got a 5 yr old son named Graham.

Audrey is a strong, self sufficient, single mom whose been taking care of Graham just fine on her own with a little help from her brother & sister. Now that Drew knows, he's determined to do everything he possibly can to support her, get to know Graham & be there for the both of them.

Drew's got a reputation for being unpredictable & unreliable, a bit of a playboy whose lived in the fast lane & this doesn't sit well with Audrey. She needs someone who'll be there for everything, not just for the good times but there for "the WHOLE family shebang" if you know what I mean.

Once Drew sees her again he falls fast & hard & realizes quickly that his goals in life are changing. Instead of hockey goals, he wants to focus on life goals & that includes loving Audrey & their son. He wants to be a family. Drew realizes if he doesn't take this shot, he just might miss it!

Drew Jenkins is seriously so freakin swoony. Guys, this guy would literally do anything for Audrey & Graham & it is as sweet as it can be. Audrey definitely makes Drew work for her trust before entrusting him with her heart & their son's. These two are making adult decisions about tough stuff. I loved the way Connors wrote their characters. They are people who know what they want, have to make some compromises & decide to put each other & their child first.

🎧Let's talk narration....Girls, it's Teddy! If there's a guy who can voice a cinnamon roll who'll do anything for his woman & is a goner for his girl & son, it's Teddy & he delivers BIG TIME! Some good ol' classic Teddy & I enjoyed every flippin word this man spoke. Sweet as pie, swoony as all heck & naughty in the best way. Andi can do no wrong, plain & simple. She plays the strong & reluctant Audrey so perfectly. She's vulnerable & hilarious. I always enjoy her narration. These two have such great chemistry with banter that's funny & heart tugging moments that will leave you sighing & clutching your heart. Highly recommend this one🙌 Just do it now. This is a knock-out people!

I am so excited for the next audio in this series. I'll be all over it.

Perfection in Audio

This is my first book by Julia, and I am a lover of all sports, so of course I had to give this hockey romance a try!
Center Ice has some of my favorite tropes, and I really hope you pick this one up.

Drew and Audrey get a second chance at love, and it is so sweet to see it all the love these two have for each other. Being young and not making the best decisions made years separate these two. But when they get together, it is so amazing.

I say it in so many audio reviews, but I loved this one! I was so excited to get to listen to this since it has been on my TBR.
Andi and Teddy are two of the best in the business, and I could listen to them all day, every day! The way they both read this knocked this one to the top of the list of favorites.
Teddy, as always, hits the mark on the emotions. Andi is so wonderful with the way she narrates for Audrey is spot on.

I will listen to this audio again!

you could feel their emotions

Audio Book Review : Wow 🥵!!! I read this book when it first came out and loved it . But these narrators for the audiobook really brought this book a live. Teddy voice was prefect for Drew and I love how he put his all into this book. The way he spoke you could really feel his emotions and he was going through them. Andi did an amazing job with Audrey. Audrey is such a strong women, raising her son and being co-owner of a business and Andi voice shows that confidence.

Book review : What an amazing story. There is a lot of spice, but also an amazing story line .

I love how Drew stepped up and showed Audrey that he was all in from the get go. That he didn’t just want her for a physical relationship but that he was there for the long run. That he wants create a family with her and Graham and make up for what he I missed.

The chemistry between Drew and Audrey was 🥵. I loved her smart mouth and how he called her out on it .

If you like second chance, single mom, secret baby this book is a must listen too .