Center Ice

Boston Rebels, Book 1

By: Julia Connors

Narrated by: Teddy Hamilton, Andi Arndt

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

A must-listen hockey romance!

If you like swoony men that only have eyes for you, laugh-out-loud side characters, and spicy hockey books - this NEEDS to be your next audiobook!

Tropes:
- Hockey romance
- Second chance
- Single mom
- Secret baby
- Dirty talking MMC
- He falls first and HARD

Audrey is a strong woman, with a kind nature and a fiery passionate side. She’s been on her own for so long that she doesn’t remember what it’s like to have someone truly there for her but of course Drew shows up, promising things he has no business promising. Drew is book daddy material for SURE. He’s eager to be everything Audrey and their son need but he has priorities and family commitments and there is only so much time in a day. He’s a hard worker, with a good heart, and a dirty mouth.

I absolutely DEVOURED this audio! Julia Connors always creates this small town romance feel even in books that take place in the city because you get to know the characters and family dynamic so well. I always finish her books feeling like I know them personally and friends, she was not kidding when she said this was her spiciest book yet!

And these narrators, my goodness, they really outdid themselves with this one! I will never be able to picture anyone other than Teddy Hamilton and Andi Arndt as Drew and Audrey. They had great range doing all the different voices and hit the emotions perfectly. This will be an audiobook I relisten to and recommend wholeheartedly!

Secret baby daddy

Audrey is amazing. I love her grit, drive, determination and motherly love. She had done everything for her son not only in a nurturing way but she completed her own personal goals as well. She was an admirable woman. Drew was young and dumb but as soon as he figured out graham was his. He was there for it. I love this world so much. The narration was done so well, I loved seeing these characters come to life!

I loved Audrey and Drew

New audiobook release: listened to August 2024

Book narrated by Andi Arndt and Teddy Hamilton. I just loved this book on audio. They embodied Audrey and Drew. The characterizations, and emotions brought to this story was a chefs kiss. I couldn’t stop listening. Highly recommend.
Book read: Jan 2024

Center Ice is the 1st book in the new Boston Rebels Series. The series will be interconnected standalones.

I love a good hockey romance, and Julia does an amazing job with this one. Nothing like a secret pregnancy, second chance, he halls first, to get me flipping the pages. I loved the cross over with the Frozen Heart Series. Jameson is Audrey’s older brother. A casual run in 6 years after their college fling and the secrets are out. From the beginning the chemistry and tension bled off the pages. It was sexy, sassy and once Audrey let her guard down it was full steam ahead. But, it took a short while for them to find their footing. Audrey is strong, but because of her past she is full of insecurities when it comes to life and love. Drew recently traded to Boston was labeled as someone he’s not. Little did he know that he would have to prove himself in more ways than one. Drew had his flaws but he stepped up to the plate. He was swoonworthy, hot, sexy, so supportive. He had a lot on his plate professionally and personally, but he managed to prove to Audrey and his teammates that he wasn’t his past. He fell so hard for her and Graham. He showed her that she could have the family she always wanted for herself and Graham. I loved the bonus content at the end of the book. I can’t wait to read book 2 in the series with Colt and Jules. Great read.

Amazing narration that brings this heartwarming hockey romance to life!!!

I just adoredddd this book!! I love a secret baby and sports romance so this was right up my alley! It was such a sweet romance with a swoony golden retriever MMC, a strong independent single mom who is an architect, he takes care of her moments that had me in a puddle, and some FaceTime spicy scenes that were off the charts HOT. This was my first book by Julia and I already cannot wait to read more from her!

🏒Pro Hockey
🏒Single Mom
🏒Second Chance
🏒He Falls First

📖Drew and Audrey met in college where she was his math tutor. Their attraction to each other grew and they hooked up one night. He was drafted into the NHL and she never heard back from him. Fast forward to six years later and Drew just got traded back home to Boston. While at a party at his agent’s house he sees Audrey again but now she has a little boy who looks awfully familiar to him.

🎧AUDIO REVIEW:
This is an audiobook that truly brings the story to life with an incredible casting of narrators who make you feel the chemistry, connection and romance between Drew and Audrey. It’s a dual narration by Teddy Hamilton & Andi Arndt and their performance had me unable to hit pause on this heartwarming and sweet story.

Teddy is becoming my new favorite narrator for a “he halls first romance.” He has the perfect swoony and caring tone to his voice that brings out all the vibes of these characters! It fit Drew so well as this man is doing everything from taking care of his mom, to trying for his second chance with Audrey while also trying to be there for her and their son. Teddy made me just absolutely adore this man as he showcased just how gone Drew was for her.

Andi has such an enjoyable tone to her voice that just captures you into her performances every time. She completely brought out Audrey’s personality but then also has so much depth to her voice to showcase what Audrey is going through from her strength as a single mom to her vulnerable moments and allowing someone to be there for her now too.

Overall, Andi and Teddy put on a performance that just elevated this story!! It was so easy to listen to that I ended up binging it all in one day! I cannot wait to listen to more audios from Julia!

Really good!

I was pleasantly surprised with this book. It was well written and at no point did I think the characters lacked development, or didn’t make sense. Drew is pretty consistent (for someone with impulse control issues). This is my first book by this author and I will be reading the second one! The narrators were superb!

Sweet second chance story!

Once again I am reading a hockey romance and once again I am not mad about it! This story follows Audrey and Drew who have a bit of past and have come back into each others lives. There’s some drama, but it’s pretty light. Drew is really sweet and I love how he stepped up!! I also loved the family characters and how they all create such a wonderful village for Drew and Audrey. Andi and Teddy are fabulous as always! I really love the duet narration and these two are such great voice actors! Highly recommend this enjoyable and spicy story!

Devoured this audiobook

AUDIOBOOK REVIEW:

Narrated by: Teddy Hamilton and Andi Arndt

This is the type of hockey romance novels I love. A confident single mom FMC and a MMC who will do anything to keep the one who got away close to him, but what I love even more, is how the cinnamon roll MMC is also a sexy daddy. YES PLEASE! When Drew comes back into Audrey’s life 6 years after college, he finds out, he has an adorable little boy, Graham. Now, his focus is not only on hockey but on being the best dad he can. Drew is trying to navigate holding his spot on the new NHL team he is apart of, finding out he has a SON, take care of his mom, AND winning back the girl he once let go. Andi Arndt and Teddy Hamilton narrate Center Ice in dual. Did I start this audiobook absolutely swooning over having Teddy back in my ear? YES, yes I did. I could hear every sarcastic flirt, every laugh, every bit of surprise and every serious moment of longing through his voice and it just made me connect to drew and ultimately fall in the with the man he was to Audrey and love he had for Graham. Andi Arndt is just as incredible, I love when she can voice the confidence in a character where you know they are brave yet you can also hear the natural hesitation in her tone. Andi also brought the heat with Audrey’s spicy side and I am a sucker for a confident FMC with a little dirty talk. There were many moments where the side characters were positive and encouraging and the way Teddy & Andi are able voice so many different emotions and characters shows their range of talent. The relationship with Audrey’s brothers, her group of girl friends, Drew’s bond and openness with his teammates as well as moments with his mom is so special and all those little moments on top of the beautiful second chance Drew and Audrey had was perfection.

Thank you home cooked books for the opportunity to listen and review.

Ah-mazing!

This was so good! In college Audrey got pregnant after having a brief fling, now her little boy is in Kindergarten and the father is back in town playing professional hockey for the local team. He quickly does the math, and knows that this is his child.

While we learn why Drew didn’t step up in the first place, he is ready to be there now. He is there for Graham, and he wants to be there for Andrey too. The two have amazing chemistry, and it’s much more than just in the bedroom (although that is absolutely fire!).

I loved the way this story unfolded, as it was not the same sports romance/surprise baby approach. I loved the authors style, and I cannot wait to read more!

AMAZING NARRATION!

💭I was on high after I loved the last book I read with a secret baby trope (I usually loathe that trope). Though this caught me off guard (due to my own negligence), I had hoped I would like this book. To be fair, not many authors can pull off this trope for me, there’s a reason why I don’t like it.

This book fell in the middle for me, I don’t hate it, love some parts but there are a few issues that icks me, but luckily, I did enjoy it mostly thanks to the incredible narration.
✅The romance - the chemistry was incredible and they were hot together
✅I love Drew’s golden retriever and boy-obsessed energy, once he met them, he’s all in and I live for that
✅No further miscommunication and third-act breakup, Thank GOD
🔥YASSS to the hawt Facetime session
❎Of course, the miscommunication that leads to the secret baby, if it’s not 6 years, I might like it a bit more🤷‍♀️
❎Lack of family time. I hardly saw Graham and his interaction with his parents. He feels like a baby side character despite being almost 6 years old. He kept being shoved away to his aunt and uncle, so I don’t get much of his bonding with Drew and Audrey, which is pivotal for this story.

🎧𝗔𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗼𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄🎧
Teddy is one of my all-time favorite narrators, and his portrayal of Drew made the character even more likable. His voice perfectly captured Drew’s charm and depth, making the listening experience truly enjoyable. Andi, whom I've grown to appreciate more with each performance, was absolutely amazing as Audrey. She brought Audrey’s character to life with such warmth and authenticity. Their chemistry as narrators was perfect, I enjoyed my time listening to this!

✨ 𝚃𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚔 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚝𝚘 HOMECOOK BOOKS 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚐𝚒𝚏𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝙰𝚞𝚍𝚒𝚋𝚕𝚎 𝚌𝚘𝚍𝚎, 𝙸'𝚖 𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚟𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚛𝚎𝚟𝚒𝚎𝚠 𝚟𝚘𝚕𝚞𝚗𝚝𝚊𝚛𝚒𝚕𝚢 ✨

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.