Center Ice cover art

Center Ice

Boston Rebels, Book 1

 Preview

Get 30 days of Standard free

£5.99/mo after trial. Cancel monthly.
Try for £0.00
More purchase options

Center Ice

By: Julia Connors
Narrated by: Teddy Hamilton, Andi Arndt
Try for £0.00

£5.99 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for £15.16

Buy Now for £15.16

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 Sports Boston Heartfelt Feel-Good Hockey Mathematics
adbl_web_anon_alc_button_suppression_c
All stars
Most relevant

Listener received this title free

This one is sweet, with these two characters navigating a while new experience for them. Drew becomes a dad, and Audrey finally lets someone into her life and be there for her that she's been afraid to before. The two of them are cute together, but then you add in their son, and it makes for a heartwarming book.

The narrator's did a great job bringing this story and these characters to life. But their vice for the characters well and they well bringing emotion into the story. Definitely recommend!

Sweet

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

Listener received this title free

Beautifully written!

Center Ice is the first book in the Boston Rebels series. This is a second chance, surprise baby, hockey romance starring our MCs, Audrey and Drew. They originally met at university (college) when Drew needed a math tutor. Although they both had an attraction to each other, they never were sure about the other’s attraction for them so they kept their feelings locked away until one night when they had a quick fling that changed their lives forever. Following that, Drew got drafted to the NHL and Audrey found out she was pregnant. Six years have since past, and Drew has now been traded back to his hometown. He bumps into Audrey and finds out he is father to 5-year-old Graham. He now has to grapple with this new reality and make room for Audrey and his son, as well as some other things that need his attention like his family and mother’s health issues.

My overall thoughts of this book = Chef’s kiss! 🤌💋 I truly loved it! I’m not normally into the secret/surprise baby trope but this trope was executed so well in this book. I loved the explanation of why Drew did not find out about his son all those years. As for Audrey and Drew’s connection, it was just top-tier! They were just so sweet. They had such great chemistry and you could see how much they both liked each other in the past and how neither forgot about that past relationship with each other. But we still got to see them develop their relationship in the present as they have obviously grown since their college years.

Their story was beautifully written. I loved how strong, caring, and independent Audrey was. And, we cannot forget how sweet and supportive Drew was throughout. I also really liked seeing how well the characters grew from page one, all the way through to the end. Specifically, Audrey carried so much weight as a single parent at the beginning; I really enjoyed seeing her let Drew in and allow his support and comfort. Drew was such a delight as well; seeing him adjust to parenthood and have that relationship with Graham, as well as adjust to his career in a new team, also, with him helping out his mom, whilst allowing that space for her own independence. His character was just such a joy to read (listen) about. This was my first Julia Connors book, and it certainly won't be my last!

Narrated by Andi Arndt and Teddy Hamilton. Teddy was amazing at capturing the supportive, caring, and sporty moments that Drew provided. Meanwhile, Andi’s performance as Audrey was perfect. I could feel Audrey’s strength, her independence, and her sass in Andi’s performance. They were both fantastic and brought these characters, and this story to life.

5 Stars!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

Listener received this title free

Audiobook review: Narrated by Teddy Hamilton and Andi Arndt 3.5 stars for story / 5 stars for performance

* Hockey Romance * Secret Child * Second Chance * Agent's Sister

This was a sweet romantic story in which our main characters had a very short-lived relationship (mainly with her as his tutor) back in college. When they run into each other again, she is a single mother to Graham who, of course, is the spitting image of his dad. I appreciate how there is no "is he or isn't he" moment. The fact that Graham's parentage was a secret for so long seemed unrealistic but otherwise it was a good set up for a second change romance. Graham was super cute, and I would've loved more of him in the story. I love Drew's dedication to his insta-family and Audrey's character was probably my favorite because she is fiercely independent and not so easily won over.

The audio performances were top tier. Teddy Hamilton can do no wrong as far as I'm concerned, and he nailed every emotion perfectly. Andi Arndt was also amazing, as always. This audiobook was easy to listen to straight through due mainly to the entertainment value brought by the narrators.

Hockey romance

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

Listener received this title free

I do love a good hockey romance, and this story combined some of my favorite tropes. Yes, I was in heaven. Drew is a professional hockey player, who in college needed some help in math. Aubrey, his friend's little sister was his tutor, and to say the least, one night their chemistry ignited. Flash forward six years later, now his best friend is his agent, and he has run into that little sister. And while the chemistry is still there, she harbors a secret. Until it isn't and now all bets are off. Learning he's a dad to Graham, he feels he has lost a lot of time due to his own issues at the time. But now he is ready. Ready for the role of dad, ready for the role of husband and ready to take on the world. But is Aubrey on board with this? Can she trust the man who ignored her all those years ago? Can Drew trust that what they are building is real? This is a fantastic story of growing up, and a second chances. It shows how life can throw things at you, but you can overcome and together, find the right pass to the goal. I loved every minute of this one, from the hockey with kids, to hanging with his mom. It's true to life, romantic, just the right amount of angst and fun!

Andi Arndt and Teddy Hamilton are the story tellers and what a team for this one. I love these two and cannot praise enough on their ability to dive into the story and find the essence of each character. I feel pulled in and enjoying each moment they create. It's a fabulous listen and one everyone will enjoy.

Hockey & Romance, the perfect match!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

Listener received this title free

🎧🎧AUDIOBOOK REVIEW🎧🎧

I really enjoyed not only the plot itself, but also its execution. The story unfolded nicely and wasn’t overly dramatized. This is my first book by Julia Connors and I’m already looking forward to seeing where she takes this series. Her storytelling skills, or at least with this story, came across as easy and heartfelt. I like that, especially when it comes to second chance romances. This particular second chance was more of a friends to more and you’ll figure out why once you get buys reading the book LOL but it was kinda both as well. I’ve said too much ;) let’s move on lololol!

The character’s growth in the story is outstanding and was really the focal point for me. Audrey’s growth as an individual who has carried too much weight on her shoulders for far too long was a bright star for me. Drew’s adjustment to parenthood, a relationship with Graham, and a new team was also a bright star. Drew and Audrey finding a future was perfectly unfolded as a slow-burn and also a bright star. Honestly, all the different plot-points in this story made me feel good and full of joy. The friendships and the love and the hope and the dreams were all aspects of a bigger package full of heart! I can’t wait to experience more Julia Connor stories because I have a feeling she’s gonna be good for my soul!

🎧 I have loved listening to both Andi Arndt and Teddy Hamilton for years and I can add this story to the growing pile of stories they so excellently narrated! Both Teddy & Andi are versatile in their narration and just bring the swoon to any story ten-fold! I JUST LOVE THEM!

Center Ice (Boston Rebels, #1)

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
See more reviews