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Corrigan Falls Raiders #1
Center Ice
The hometown hockey hero won’t know what hit him…
Karen Webber is in small-town hell. After her mother’s death, she moved to Corrigan Falls to live with strangers—her dad and his perfect, shiny new family—and there doesn’t seem to be room for a city girl with a chip on her shoulder. The only person who makes her feel like a real human being is Tyler MacDonald.
But Karen isn’t interested in starting something with a player. And that’s all she keeps hearing about Tyler.
Corrigan Falls is a hockey town, and Tyler’s the star player. But the viselike pressure from his father and his agent are sending him dangerously close to the edge. All people see is hockey—except Karen. Now they’ve managed to find something in each other that they both desperately need. And for the first time, Tyler is playing for keeps…
This Entangled Teen Crush book contains adult language, underage drinking, sexual situations, and crazy squirrels. It may cause you to become a fan of hockey - or at least hot hockey players.
Karen Webber is in small-town hell. After her mother’s death, she moved to Corrigan Falls to live with strangers—her dad and his perfect, shiny new family—and there doesn’t seem to be room for a city girl with a chip on her shoulder. The only person who makes her feel like a real human being is Tyler MacDonald.
But Karen isn’t interested in starting something with a player. And that’s all she keeps hearing about Tyler.
Corrigan Falls is a hockey town, and Tyler’s the star player. But the viselike pressure from his father and his agent are sending him dangerously close to the edge. All people see is hockey—except Karen. Now they’ve managed to find something in each other that they both desperately need. And for the first time, Tyler is playing for keeps…
This Entangled Teen Crush book contains adult language, underage drinking, sexual situations, and crazy squirrels. It may cause you to become a fan of hockey - or at least hot hockey players.
196 pages, ebook
First published May 12, 2015
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2464 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 158 reviews
May 26, 2015
(Source: I received a digital copy of this book for free on a read-to-review basis. Thanks to Entangled Publishing, LLC and NetGalley.)
“It felt like he was kissing my whole body, even though his lips barely left mine.”
This was an okay story, but I found the pace a bit slow.
Karen was in a bad situation with having to live with her father and his legitimate family after her mother died, and Tyler was also in a bad situation with him father basically wanting to use him for cash!
“He’s not an asshole,” my dad said angrily. “He’s your agent! He looks out for your interests!”
The storyline in this was about Karen fighting with her step-sister, and Tyler trying to do what was best for his career, even if it wasn’t what he wanted to do.
The romance in this was okay, but it was a little predictable in places.
“So you need to make a choice. If you can be the right kind of girlfriend for Tyler? If you can be supportive, someone he comes to for fun and relaxation, someone who knows her place and her role?”
The ending to this was okay, but overall I didn’t really enjoy this one much.
6 out of 10
“It felt like he was kissing my whole body, even though his lips barely left mine.”
This was an okay story, but I found the pace a bit slow.
Karen was in a bad situation with having to live with her father and his legitimate family after her mother died, and Tyler was also in a bad situation with him father basically wanting to use him for cash!
“He’s not an asshole,” my dad said angrily. “He’s your agent! He looks out for your interests!”
The storyline in this was about Karen fighting with her step-sister, and Tyler trying to do what was best for his career, even if it wasn’t what he wanted to do.
The romance in this was okay, but it was a little predictable in places.
“So you need to make a choice. If you can be the right kind of girlfriend for Tyler? If you can be supportive, someone he comes to for fun and relaxation, someone who knows her place and her role?”
The ending to this was okay, but overall I didn’t really enjoy this one much.
6 out of 10
May 8, 2015
I just want to pick up this book and rain kisses all over it and then hug it to death! Hug it till Tyler comes out, maybe? Getting tired of the YA cliches? This isn't your usual bad boy liked good girl love story. NOPE. Ready your hearts, ready your feels, because Tyler and Karen is about to blow your hearts into swoonfest!
Let's get over to the characters, which is one of the brilliance in this story. From the first chapter, it already got me emotional. I don't know if maybe because I can relate so much with what Karen is going through but I swear, the way Cate Cameron wrote Karens POV gutted me. And I'm not the emotional type, so that's really saying something. Cameron's writing is vivid, she will not simply tell you what her characters are feeling, she wants you to feel it... inside of you.. probably for a long time. Karen isn't the shy type or the perky type, she isn't suicidal either. She's angry. She's not acting out by sleeping with different boys or drinking herself to oblivion.. nope. She turns her anger and sadness to silence. And that my friends, is the most painful thing you can do. Shut down yourself... I can't even imagine. That's why Karen is such an admirable character for me because, sure, she was bitter and angry at first, but the character development was superb. Well done and just plain brilliant.
Now, Tyler a.k.a the guy who stole my heart from the first chapter. He is so REFRESHING to read.
So tired of the dark and broody guys? Well, here is Tyler. I DO NOT SHARE, but if we're friends, I MIGHT CONSIDER. Cate wrote his love interest in the best adorable way. He is so clueless about some things (*cough* relationship) I just want to pinch his cheeks! This is the first time a hot love interest makes me want to pinch his cheeks. I'm telling you guys, Tyler has a different power over the readers. BEWARE. This guy is so far from perfect, okay? Cut him some slack. He's perfectly flawed and for that, I LURVE HIM. He underwent to a major character development as well.
The way Cameron constructed this love story was incredible! There's no insta love! Not even insta lust. Yes, you better believe it. They went to a fun and simple friendship to a to-die-for connection. So yes, I can assure you that the romance of Center Ice is something to swoon over or be jealous about, BUT this story, IS SO MUCH MORE THAN THAT. Center Ice also deals with relationship within the family. Do you really have to be related in blood to be a part of a family?
If from my review you didn't get that YES I LOVE THIS BOOK SO MUCH reaction, then I'm a failure. Because that's what this review is all about. Just me gushing and convincing you guys to gush with me. I WANT MORE and I think I'm gonna get it because there will be a second book!!! Now, if somebody's looking for me, I'll wait right here and calm my heart.
July 18, 2016
I can't even write a review about this book, I didn't absorb anything and there was nothing of substance to write about. I basically don't remember a single thing despite just finishing, except I think giving it one star is too high for it. I'm a bit sad this was my 100th book for this year, but not every book you read is a hit. Tyler and Karen were both annoying characters as well who just believed they were never wrong a lot of the time and acted in an immature way 9 times out of 10. It should also be recognised I skimmed the last 50% super hard after Karen started talking about being Tyler's girlfriend after knowing him for a day.
January 13, 2016
“The hometown hockey hero won’t know what hit him…"
What an emotionally heavy novel. After her mom’s death,Karen has to live with her father’s family and boy,does that not make everything complicated for her. Why? Well, her father cheated on his wife with her mother. You can imagine the heart-warming welcomes she gets from his family…Yeah,that doesn’t happen. However, I must say that I really liked the progression of her bond with his family – his wife and their kids. Their problems are normal, their fights are real, their struggle is so well-written that you can easily visualize it in your head. Wait,who’s this Tyler guy,you ask? Tyler is the star hockey player with issues of his own. Pressure is everywhere around him and he somehow finds his happiness with Karen, his complex but lovable Karen. The chemistry they have is amazing,I really loved reading about them and their swimming session hehe. *winkwink* You know why they’re good for each other? Karen inspires him to be a better person and to be who he really is and Tyler is one of those rare people who understands Karen’s difficult situation and gives her space when she needs it. There was just enough of drama,romance,heart-breaking and sweet moments.Oh,and I love Natalie so much.
Oh,and Cate,I need Chris Winslow’s story asap. ASAP.
You can read this review on BookishFever.
May 3, 2018
I really like the Corrigan falls Raiders series (I've read them out of order but they are standalone stories anyway). Center Ice is Tyler and Karen's story.
Tyler dreams of being a professional hockey player but the goal isn't just his. He has so much pressure on him it's hard to breathe. Everyone wants the best for him but their views can be overbearing. Karen is new in town and he sees an opportunity to escape from hockey.
Karen has her own problems to deal with. Her mum has just passed away and she's moved in with her dad. He already has a family and Karen is "the other child". Her father had an affair and she was the result. Not all of her new family are glad she's moved in. Karen is looking for an escape just like Tyler. What starts as a silly joke turns into a friendship they both need. It's complicated but true love finds a way. Even if it's not what you are looking for.
I really enjoyed this book. The characters were interesting and the story was unique (other than one clique event). Tyler's a player who is trying to reform and Karen is adjusting to a small town. They both need someone and find an unlikely bond. Karen isn't an Ice Hockey follower giving Tyler a chance to be more.
4.5 stars out of 5. I'm glad I went back to the beginning of this series to read this story.
Tyler dreams of being a professional hockey player but the goal isn't just his. He has so much pressure on him it's hard to breathe. Everyone wants the best for him but their views can be overbearing. Karen is new in town and he sees an opportunity to escape from hockey.
Karen has her own problems to deal with. Her mum has just passed away and she's moved in with her dad. He already has a family and Karen is "the other child". Her father had an affair and she was the result. Not all of her new family are glad she's moved in. Karen is looking for an escape just like Tyler. What starts as a silly joke turns into a friendship they both need. It's complicated but true love finds a way. Even if it's not what you are looking for.
I really enjoyed this book. The characters were interesting and the story was unique (other than one clique event). Tyler's a player who is trying to reform and Karen is adjusting to a small town. They both need someone and find an unlikely bond. Karen isn't an Ice Hockey follower giving Tyler a chance to be more.
4.5 stars out of 5. I'm glad I went back to the beginning of this series to read this story.
June 11, 2016
2.5 Meh stars.
Interesting family dynamics here but not enough connection between the two MC's.
Interesting family dynamics here but not enough connection between the two MC's.
May 11, 2015
3.5 stars
Entangled Teen has a new imprint, Entangled Crush, and just in time for summer, too. The books published under this imprint are exactly what the name suggests – short, deeply romantic reads perfect for upcoming summer days spent on the beach.
Center Ice fits that description perfectly. With little less than 200 pages, it falls somewhere between a novella and a full-length novel, which makes it a pretty easy read. Thematically, however, it pushes the boundaries and attempts to do more. Following behind Katie McGarry, Jennifer Armentrout (as J. Lynn) and other similar authors, Cate Cameron bravely tries to write something more serious and far more memorable than your average summer read.
Sixteen-year-old Karen’s mother recently died, which forced her to go live with the father she’s never even met, the wife he cheats on constantly and their three children. Practically overnight, Karen went from being the only child of a single mom to being the middle kid in a large, dysfunctional family. Needless to say, her life is in shambles.
In her new life, Tyler MacDonald seems to be the only thing that makes any sense. He is much more experienced and a hockey star, but Karen couldn’t care less about his fame or his status. He makes her feel like a normal person and that’s pretty much all that counts.
There are things Cameron did exceptionally well. Her teens were among the most realistic I've ever stumbled upon and their behavior seemed completely true to life. She didn't hesitate to portray them exactly as they are, without unrealistic hesitations and modesty. Karen in particular was a fabulously developed character, but Tyler wasn't far behind at all.The story of these two was very warm and honest.
Center Ice would have been a much better book if Cameron left it at that. But she attempted to do too much, to give too many character too much depth in a fairly short story, and what we got in the end is sometimes successful, but sometimes a complete failure.
Karen’s father and his marriage were by far the most disturbing part of this book. A serial cheater before and after Karen was made, he claimed to love his family and yet he kept disrespecting them in front of the whole town. For me, this person can’t possibly have any redeeming qualities and I’m not convinced that someone like him could ever change. But Cameron decides not only to give him a second chance, but to make him a different man overnight. Tyler’s father is another big issue of mine. Obsessed with Tyler’s carrier, too focused on his son to do anything else, even hold a job, he seemed more cartoonish than anything else and his interactions with Tyler struck me as exaggerated. Both fathers were antagonists of sorts, and neither character was very successful.
But Center Ice still deserves two or three hours of your time. Cameron has a lot to offer and I have a good feeling about this series. I just hope she’ll give more thought to her secondary characters’ motivations in the future.
Entangled Teen has a new imprint, Entangled Crush, and just in time for summer, too. The books published under this imprint are exactly what the name suggests – short, deeply romantic reads perfect for upcoming summer days spent on the beach.
Center Ice fits that description perfectly. With little less than 200 pages, it falls somewhere between a novella and a full-length novel, which makes it a pretty easy read. Thematically, however, it pushes the boundaries and attempts to do more. Following behind Katie McGarry, Jennifer Armentrout (as J. Lynn) and other similar authors, Cate Cameron bravely tries to write something more serious and far more memorable than your average summer read.
Sixteen-year-old Karen’s mother recently died, which forced her to go live with the father she’s never even met, the wife he cheats on constantly and their three children. Practically overnight, Karen went from being the only child of a single mom to being the middle kid in a large, dysfunctional family. Needless to say, her life is in shambles.
In her new life, Tyler MacDonald seems to be the only thing that makes any sense. He is much more experienced and a hockey star, but Karen couldn’t care less about his fame or his status. He makes her feel like a normal person and that’s pretty much all that counts.
There are things Cameron did exceptionally well. Her teens were among the most realistic I've ever stumbled upon and their behavior seemed completely true to life. She didn't hesitate to portray them exactly as they are, without unrealistic hesitations and modesty. Karen in particular was a fabulously developed character, but Tyler wasn't far behind at all.The story of these two was very warm and honest.
Center Ice would have been a much better book if Cameron left it at that. But she attempted to do too much, to give too many character too much depth in a fairly short story, and what we got in the end is sometimes successful, but sometimes a complete failure.
Karen’s father and his marriage were by far the most disturbing part of this book. A serial cheater before and after Karen was made, he claimed to love his family and yet he kept disrespecting them in front of the whole town. For me, this person can’t possibly have any redeeming qualities and I’m not convinced that someone like him could ever change. But Cameron decides not only to give him a second chance, but to make him a different man overnight. Tyler’s father is another big issue of mine. Obsessed with Tyler’s carrier, too focused on his son to do anything else, even hold a job, he seemed more cartoonish than anything else and his interactions with Tyler struck me as exaggerated. Both fathers were antagonists of sorts, and neither character was very successful.
But Center Ice still deserves two or three hours of your time. Cameron has a lot to offer and I have a good feeling about this series. I just hope she’ll give more thought to her secondary characters’ motivations in the future.
September 13, 2017
"Karen had no problem standing up to people. She'd say 'no' before the question was even asked."
When I saw Center Ice I was actually pretty excited to read it. But then... I actually read it. Now I'm actually wondering why I even wanted to read it in the beginning?!?
So Center Ice is about Karen Webber and Tyler MacDonald. Karen's mom just died so she has to move in with her dad and his new family. Tyler is the star player on his hockey team but he's on the receiving end of getting an unnecessary amount of pressure from his dad and his agent.
Now at the beginning, I definitely felt bad for Karen (and for anyone else that has been in this type of situation) because moving in with your supposed dad that you know nothing about and his new family is pretty scary. But then you realize the whole situation, and even Karen, is a bit annoying actually. Like, I honestly stopped caring once I was done with that page. I moved on. Karen should've too.
Then there's Tyler, who is equally if not more annoying than Karen. I haven't made up my mind just yet on who wins the award for being the most annoying. I get that teenagers think they are always right, which 10/10 times they aren't, but UGHHH reading about them made me cringe in ways I didn't think were possible.
I just really did not like them at alllllllllllll. I didn't care about their family situations anymore. I didn't care that hockey was basically life in this town, except for when Karen deemed it unworthy. I didn't even care if Tyler and Karen got together or stayed together. I just wanted to finish this book as quickly as I could. I will definitely walk away from this book with the regret of ever opening it.
When I saw Center Ice I was actually pretty excited to read it. But then... I actually read it. Now I'm actually wondering why I even wanted to read it in the beginning?!?
So Center Ice is about Karen Webber and Tyler MacDonald. Karen's mom just died so she has to move in with her dad and his new family. Tyler is the star player on his hockey team but he's on the receiving end of getting an unnecessary amount of pressure from his dad and his agent.
Now at the beginning, I definitely felt bad for Karen (and for anyone else that has been in this type of situation) because moving in with your supposed dad that you know nothing about and his new family is pretty scary. But then you realize the whole situation, and even Karen, is a bit annoying actually. Like, I honestly stopped caring once I was done with that page. I moved on. Karen should've too.
Then there's Tyler, who is equally if not more annoying than Karen. I haven't made up my mind just yet on who wins the award for being the most annoying. I get that teenagers think they are always right, which 10/10 times they aren't, but UGHHH reading about them made me cringe in ways I didn't think were possible.
I just really did not like them at alllllllllllll. I didn't care about their family situations anymore. I didn't care that hockey was basically life in this town, except for when Karen deemed it unworthy. I didn't even care if Tyler and Karen got together or stayed together. I just wanted to finish this book as quickly as I could. I will definitely walk away from this book with the regret of ever opening it.
May 25, 2015
(I received a copy from Netgalley, In exchange for an honest review.)
I felt sorry for Karen at the start of this. Having to move into your fathers house when you've never known him would be hard. I did find her annoying after a bit though.
This started out okay, but it quickly went downhill. The arguing between Karen and Miranda got annoying very quickly, and it seemed to be the main focus for a huge chunk of the book.
Overall, Not an awful read, but it dragged.
I felt sorry for Karen at the start of this. Having to move into your fathers house when you've never known him would be hard. I did find her annoying after a bit though.
This started out okay, but it quickly went downhill. The arguing between Karen and Miranda got annoying very quickly, and it seemed to be the main focus for a huge chunk of the book.
Overall, Not an awful read, but it dragged.
May 1, 2018
This was an alright read. I really like sports book, especially when it is about hockey players as Hockey is the official sport of Canada. I thought the blurb was intriguing, but I thought that the story was okay. The slow pace kind of made me bored, so I wish it was a bit faster paced. I felt like the characters were okay. There was nothing really appealing about their romance in my opinion. I wish I could have enjoyed their romance more. There were some parts that were interesting, while other parts were boring. I thought the ending was a bit disappointing. I will continue the series to see how the series unfolds. Overall, an okay read.
May 26, 2015
**BETH'S 4.5 STAR REVIEW**
Center Ice is a really great and very sweet YA romance that I really enjoyed. I will say I am usually not a huge YA fan and like to have a little heat in my romances I read but when I saw hockey , I was a sucker and had to check it out. I am so glad I did, it was such a great story that I didn’t even miss that there was no sex in this one. And I will say being Canadian and familiar with the Major Jr Hockey leagues here I really enjoyed the fact that this story took place in Ontario with Tyler playing in the OHL.
Karen has found herself now living with her father and his family after her mother has tragically died. But leaving her home in the big city to be now living with her step mother, half siblings and a father she doesn’t know, adjusting to this new life is not easy. Tyler MacDonald is the captain of the Corrigan Falls Raiders hockey team and is hopeful to make the NHL in this year’s draft. The amount of stress he is under, no thanks to his father and agent, is getting harder and harder to deal with but upon meeting Karen, he seems to once again enjoy life and is actually happy. Tyler is known as a man-whore but is tired of all that now and finds himself wanting more with Karen, but Karen is not sure she is wanting to make the same mistake her step-mother made with her father.
Karen and Tyler have a chance meeting when running and Karen is attacked by a squirrel and Tyler has come to her rescue. The slowly get to know each other, slowly opening up about their life and their families. I really enjoyed how these two met and how their relationship slowly grew into more. It was such a great and really different YA story that was such a fresh change for the same old clichés you tend to find in most YA’s. I really enjoyed seeing how both these characters were living very different lives but both dealing with families that were causing much stress to them and finding each other helped them to find place where they could forget it all, feel like they were living a happy normal life, even if it was just for a little while.
I really loved Karen, she was such a great strong female lead. All she ever had was her mom and her. Her dad had cheated on his wife but he had his own family. Her mother has tragically died in a car crash and she is now forced to live with a family she doesn’t know, she is the outsider, her whole life has changed with going from big city life to very small town life. She had her moments of weakness but I must say, most faced with what she was living would have not survived it like she did.
Tyler was such a totally swoon-worthy hot hockey hunk that I absolutely loved. I was so glad this book was done in dual POV as I really enjoyed getting in his head and hearing all his thoughts and struggles. He was till a young kid, about to turn 18, living with a billet family with a ton of pressure put upon him to perform. He never really had a childhood and thrown into stardom at a young age, how could he not make some bad decisions and let it all go to his head. It was really great getting to see how life was really for him. I am a true lover of hockey and getting to see it from his angel of things really made me see it in a totally different perspective.
This was my first book by Cate Cameron and I must say it was very well written. I loved the storyline and I love how the author played it out. Their relationship wasn’t over a long period of time but the way things played out I really enjoyed it. I felt their connection but it also didn’t feel insta-love. There was this instant connection between them but I love how neither gave into it right away. I did feel the last bit of the book felt a little bit rushed compared to the flow of the rest of the book. I also would have liked to have seen more in the epilogue and a little further down the road to see what end verdict was for Tyler but after seeing that we will be getting Winslow’s book soon, I am hoping that is the reason why we didn’t get it and that we will see more of Tyler and Karen in Playing Defense.
Center Ice is a really great and very sweet YA romance that I really enjoyed. I will say I am usually not a huge YA fan and like to have a little heat in my romances I read but when I saw hockey , I was a sucker and had to check it out. I am so glad I did, it was such a great story that I didn’t even miss that there was no sex in this one. And I will say being Canadian and familiar with the Major Jr Hockey leagues here I really enjoyed the fact that this story took place in Ontario with Tyler playing in the OHL.
Karen has found herself now living with her father and his family after her mother has tragically died. But leaving her home in the big city to be now living with her step mother, half siblings and a father she doesn’t know, adjusting to this new life is not easy. Tyler MacDonald is the captain of the Corrigan Falls Raiders hockey team and is hopeful to make the NHL in this year’s draft. The amount of stress he is under, no thanks to his father and agent, is getting harder and harder to deal with but upon meeting Karen, he seems to once again enjoy life and is actually happy. Tyler is known as a man-whore but is tired of all that now and finds himself wanting more with Karen, but Karen is not sure she is wanting to make the same mistake her step-mother made with her father.
Karen and Tyler have a chance meeting when running and Karen is attacked by a squirrel and Tyler has come to her rescue. The slowly get to know each other, slowly opening up about their life and their families. I really enjoyed how these two met and how their relationship slowly grew into more. It was such a great and really different YA story that was such a fresh change for the same old clichés you tend to find in most YA’s. I really enjoyed seeing how both these characters were living very different lives but both dealing with families that were causing much stress to them and finding each other helped them to find place where they could forget it all, feel like they were living a happy normal life, even if it was just for a little while.
I really loved Karen, she was such a great strong female lead. All she ever had was her mom and her. Her dad had cheated on his wife but he had his own family. Her mother has tragically died in a car crash and she is now forced to live with a family she doesn’t know, she is the outsider, her whole life has changed with going from big city life to very small town life. She had her moments of weakness but I must say, most faced with what she was living would have not survived it like she did.
Tyler was such a totally swoon-worthy hot hockey hunk that I absolutely loved. I was so glad this book was done in dual POV as I really enjoyed getting in his head and hearing all his thoughts and struggles. He was till a young kid, about to turn 18, living with a billet family with a ton of pressure put upon him to perform. He never really had a childhood and thrown into stardom at a young age, how could he not make some bad decisions and let it all go to his head. It was really great getting to see how life was really for him. I am a true lover of hockey and getting to see it from his angel of things really made me see it in a totally different perspective.
This was my first book by Cate Cameron and I must say it was very well written. I loved the storyline and I love how the author played it out. Their relationship wasn’t over a long period of time but the way things played out I really enjoyed it. I felt their connection but it also didn’t feel insta-love. There was this instant connection between them but I love how neither gave into it right away. I did feel the last bit of the book felt a little bit rushed compared to the flow of the rest of the book. I also would have liked to have seen more in the epilogue and a little further down the road to see what end verdict was for Tyler but after seeing that we will be getting Winslow’s book soon, I am hoping that is the reason why we didn’t get it and that we will see more of Tyler and Karen in Playing Defense.
December 6, 2019
https://celebrityreaders.com/2016/03/...
4 stars -- After having the privilege to read the 2nd book in this series through NetGalley, and thoroughly enjoying it, I just knew I had to read Tyler and Karen's story too... And I was not disappointed, it gave me all the great things that Chris and Claudia's story did, but in a totally different set of circumstances...so it wasn't just a cookie cutter copy romance.
Again, this was a fantastic YA. While it had a fabulous romance going for it, in some ways the struggles that both characters were dealing with were the more important focus of the book...it just happened that they found each other while dealing with some heavy things, and came together and found solace with each other.
Karen's struggles were more obvious -- dealing with the death of the only parent you've ever known, having to fit into a different family... The one that I found the most intriguing, and was kind of a background story, was dealing with a parent who's not faithful, and the impact it can have on the rest of the family...especially when you're living in a small town. I like that the author didn't shy away from that -- that her father, Will, wasn't a horrible ogre villain either, just a guy who continually makes bad choices that hurt his family. It was more realistic maybe. Because in the end things aren't completely black and white, and it's not always as easy as people want it to be. It's just not a topic that I've personally ever read about before.
Strangely enough, one of my favourite secondary characters ended up being Karen's stepmother Natalie. She was in the WORST position imaginable, and she just tried so hard to do the right thing and help everyone adjust and cope. I was really happy with how her relationship with Karen developed. The half siblings were interesting too, and I appreciated all their different approaches to the changes. I could even see how Karen and Miranda's interactions could get so heated -- it reminded you that they were just teenagers dealing with this stuff, and so would not handle it all in a mature way.
Tyler's struggles were not as common and black and white. I grew up with kids in the WHL (Western Hockey League, the OHL equivalent on my side of the country), and so I've seen the strange hero worship that can happen in smaller towns...I've even seen the "puck bunnies", and I can't imagine what life would be like living with a billet, away from your family. Sometimes I wanted to feel like Tyler's Dad and his agent were too over the top, but at the same time I could see parents who behave in that manner. I guess I just didn't want to believe anyone could be that selfish and horrible to their child.
I really appreciated how Tyler's more promiscuous past was dealt with too -- it wasn't all black and white either. I mean, it's a really strange life that they live. And I appreciated all the different conversations (between Tyler and Karen, and between Karen and Natalie) that happened about "sluts" and "puck bunnies" and what's acceptable, and if there are double standards and all that. There weren't clear resolutions necessarily, but more like just a topic that deserves more thought and not to be taken lightly. Part of me was a little bit disappointed in the fast advancement in Tyler and Karen's sexual relationship, but part of me felt like that was kind of realistic too...it wasn't all clean cut and perfect.
So yeah. Definitely going to watch for more books in this series. I really appreciated how many different topics Ms. Cameron chose to address, or at least mention. It definitely worked for me, and gave me something different to think about than the usual YA struggles.
4 stars -- After having the privilege to read the 2nd book in this series through NetGalley, and thoroughly enjoying it, I just knew I had to read Tyler and Karen's story too... And I was not disappointed, it gave me all the great things that Chris and Claudia's story did, but in a totally different set of circumstances...so it wasn't just a cookie cutter copy romance.
Again, this was a fantastic YA. While it had a fabulous romance going for it, in some ways the struggles that both characters were dealing with were the more important focus of the book...it just happened that they found each other while dealing with some heavy things, and came together and found solace with each other.
Karen's struggles were more obvious -- dealing with the death of the only parent you've ever known, having to fit into a different family... The one that I found the most intriguing, and was kind of a background story, was dealing with a parent who's not faithful, and the impact it can have on the rest of the family...especially when you're living in a small town. I like that the author didn't shy away from that -- that her father, Will, wasn't a horrible ogre villain either, just a guy who continually makes bad choices that hurt his family. It was more realistic maybe. Because in the end things aren't completely black and white, and it's not always as easy as people want it to be. It's just not a topic that I've personally ever read about before.
Strangely enough, one of my favourite secondary characters ended up being Karen's stepmother Natalie. She was in the WORST position imaginable, and she just tried so hard to do the right thing and help everyone adjust and cope. I was really happy with how her relationship with Karen developed. The half siblings were interesting too, and I appreciated all their different approaches to the changes. I could even see how Karen and Miranda's interactions could get so heated -- it reminded you that they were just teenagers dealing with this stuff, and so would not handle it all in a mature way.
Tyler's struggles were not as common and black and white. I grew up with kids in the WHL (Western Hockey League, the OHL equivalent on my side of the country), and so I've seen the strange hero worship that can happen in smaller towns...I've even seen the "puck bunnies", and I can't imagine what life would be like living with a billet, away from your family. Sometimes I wanted to feel like Tyler's Dad and his agent were too over the top, but at the same time I could see parents who behave in that manner. I guess I just didn't want to believe anyone could be that selfish and horrible to their child.
I really appreciated how Tyler's more promiscuous past was dealt with too -- it wasn't all black and white either. I mean, it's a really strange life that they live. And I appreciated all the different conversations (between Tyler and Karen, and between Karen and Natalie) that happened about "sluts" and "puck bunnies" and what's acceptable, and if there are double standards and all that. There weren't clear resolutions necessarily, but more like just a topic that deserves more thought and not to be taken lightly. Part of me was a little bit disappointed in the fast advancement in Tyler and Karen's sexual relationship, but part of me felt like that was kind of realistic too...it wasn't all clean cut and perfect.
So yeah. Definitely going to watch for more books in this series. I really appreciated how many different topics Ms. Cameron chose to address, or at least mention. It definitely worked for me, and gave me something different to think about than the usual YA struggles.
May 11, 2015
Well, wasn't this just adorable? Also, hockey - bonus points.
Who knew getting attacked by a squirrel would lead to this? Karen Webber's life has been seriously altered. After the death of her mother, she's forced to live with the father she never knew and his other family. What makes it even more awkward is that her father cheated on his wife with Karen's mother. Talk about fun family bonding time. Besides being heartbroken over losing her mother, she's angry at her father, confused about where she fits in, and lonely. During one of her morning runs, she falls victim to a squirrel attack only to be saved by a very attractive boy.
Tyler MacDonald is known throughout Corrigan Falls. It's a small town, but a hockey town. And Tyler is their star player. Ask anyone and they'll tell you he's bound for the NHL. Anyone except Tyler. While the NHL is his goal, the pressure to excel is burying him. Between his father and his agent Tyler has no release, no time for himself- except for his morning runs. When he sees Karen, he's instantly drawn to her. Turns out she may be the one escape he needs, but not all see it that way.
I am a huge hockey fan and I loved all of the ins and outs of this business that Cameron incorporated into the plot. It seemed to make it much more of a story about growing up than just a teen romance. It also provided more depth to a character like Tyler who is pretty much only known for two things: hockey and sleeping around. Reading about his nerves of the future and planning out his career made him more realistic and I enjoyed him more because of it.
With Karen, she was harder to like. I felt really bad for her. Her situation was horrible. But at the same time, she did nothing to lessen the stress. While I get the animosity between her and her older halfsister, the way Karen treated her dad's wife was downright horrible. Between constantly throwing out how her father was a cheater and then stomping around like the world owed her something, I was honestly waiting for them to send her off somewhere else. But I tried to give her some slack. She was young and didn't really understand that other people were also hurting in this situation.
There were a lot of cute little moments between Tyler and Karen, and it was fun to watch their characters fall in love. There were also some very interesting family dynamics playing out. You have Karen's new family who, for the most part, were trying to make her welcome, but she didn't want to be there. Then you had Tyler's parents who were basically living the worst people ever and only cared if their son made it to the NHL, not if he was happy (oh my god, I hated his father!).
Cameron definitely has my interest in this series and I will continue to read it. I'm looking forward to learning more about the other guys on the team.
I received an e-copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Who knew getting attacked by a squirrel would lead to this? Karen Webber's life has been seriously altered. After the death of her mother, she's forced to live with the father she never knew and his other family. What makes it even more awkward is that her father cheated on his wife with Karen's mother. Talk about fun family bonding time. Besides being heartbroken over losing her mother, she's angry at her father, confused about where she fits in, and lonely. During one of her morning runs, she falls victim to a squirrel attack only to be saved by a very attractive boy.
Tyler MacDonald is known throughout Corrigan Falls. It's a small town, but a hockey town. And Tyler is their star player. Ask anyone and they'll tell you he's bound for the NHL. Anyone except Tyler. While the NHL is his goal, the pressure to excel is burying him. Between his father and his agent Tyler has no release, no time for himself- except for his morning runs. When he sees Karen, he's instantly drawn to her. Turns out she may be the one escape he needs, but not all see it that way.
I am a huge hockey fan and I loved all of the ins and outs of this business that Cameron incorporated into the plot. It seemed to make it much more of a story about growing up than just a teen romance. It also provided more depth to a character like Tyler who is pretty much only known for two things: hockey and sleeping around. Reading about his nerves of the future and planning out his career made him more realistic and I enjoyed him more because of it.
With Karen, she was harder to like. I felt really bad for her. Her situation was horrible. But at the same time, she did nothing to lessen the stress. While I get the animosity between her and her older halfsister, the way Karen treated her dad's wife was downright horrible. Between constantly throwing out how her father was a cheater and then stomping around like the world owed her something, I was honestly waiting for them to send her off somewhere else. But I tried to give her some slack. She was young and didn't really understand that other people were also hurting in this situation.
There were a lot of cute little moments between Tyler and Karen, and it was fun to watch their characters fall in love. There were also some very interesting family dynamics playing out. You have Karen's new family who, for the most part, were trying to make her welcome, but she didn't want to be there. Then you had Tyler's parents who were basically living the worst people ever and only cared if their son made it to the NHL, not if he was happy (oh my god, I hated his father!).
Cameron definitely has my interest in this series and I will continue to read it. I'm looking forward to learning more about the other guys on the team.
I received an e-copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
May 21, 2015
***Review can also be found at Jackies's Book World.*** :)
Rating: 4.5/5
I am totally loving Entangled Teen newest releases, including Center Ice by Cate Cameron. The book revolves aroung Karen Webber, a high school student whose mother recently passed away and now she has to live with her father. Karen feels like an outsider as soon as she gets to her new home, and quickly learns that things are not what they seen to be. Everyone in her town knows that er father cheated on his wife with her mom and now she doesn't get along with her new step siblings.
Her now stepmother wanted Karen to live with them and be part of the family, but everyone feels bad for her after getting cheated on and still wanting to have Karen in their lives. As Karen starts to get situated, she moves in to the basement, and soon develops a routine to go on for runs in the morning, where she soon meets non other than Tyler MacDonald. When Tyler finds out that she doesn't know who he is, it feels refreshing to him. As the two start to get to know each other, Karen soon finds out the connection that Tyler has with her stepsister, and she has to figure out whether she wants to keep seeing him or stay away from the comfort that he offers when they are together.
Tyler MacDonald is the towns' hero and popular player among teenage girls, but on a daily basis he gets told what to do, and now he feels the pressure to excel no matter what if he wants to keep providing for his family. But when he stumbles upon a girl at the park, he knows that his playboy status is over after meeting Katen Webber, all he has to do now is convince he that he is the right person for her.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading Center Ice, the characters are well developed as they go through obstacles to be together in the end. Both of the main characters have experience pain in their lives, and now the pressure to do good and fit in is greater than anything they've both experienced before. Karen learns how to get along with the rest of the family, and form a special relationship with one of them. Whereas Tyler learns how to stand up for himself and not let everyone else pressure him into doing what he doesn't feel like doing specially when it comes to his career. Overall, I enjoyed the book and I highly recommend it. :)
*ARC provided by Entangled Teen in exchange for an honest review.*
Rating: 4.5/5
I am totally loving Entangled Teen newest releases, including Center Ice by Cate Cameron. The book revolves aroung Karen Webber, a high school student whose mother recently passed away and now she has to live with her father. Karen feels like an outsider as soon as she gets to her new home, and quickly learns that things are not what they seen to be. Everyone in her town knows that er father cheated on his wife with her mom and now she doesn't get along with her new step siblings.
Her now stepmother wanted Karen to live with them and be part of the family, but everyone feels bad for her after getting cheated on and still wanting to have Karen in their lives. As Karen starts to get situated, she moves in to the basement, and soon develops a routine to go on for runs in the morning, where she soon meets non other than Tyler MacDonald. When Tyler finds out that she doesn't know who he is, it feels refreshing to him. As the two start to get to know each other, Karen soon finds out the connection that Tyler has with her stepsister, and she has to figure out whether she wants to keep seeing him or stay away from the comfort that he offers when they are together.
Tyler MacDonald is the towns' hero and popular player among teenage girls, but on a daily basis he gets told what to do, and now he feels the pressure to excel no matter what if he wants to keep providing for his family. But when he stumbles upon a girl at the park, he knows that his playboy status is over after meeting Katen Webber, all he has to do now is convince he that he is the right person for her.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading Center Ice, the characters are well developed as they go through obstacles to be together in the end. Both of the main characters have experience pain in their lives, and now the pressure to do good and fit in is greater than anything they've both experienced before. Karen learns how to get along with the rest of the family, and form a special relationship with one of them. Whereas Tyler learns how to stand up for himself and not let everyone else pressure him into doing what he doesn't feel like doing specially when it comes to his career. Overall, I enjoyed the book and I highly recommend it. :)
*ARC provided by Entangled Teen in exchange for an honest review.*
May 29, 2015
This book has so many things that I love, all rolled into one little book. Contemporary romance? Check. Young adult? Check. Hockey? Triple check. I knew I had to read this one the moment I saw the cover (I know, I know). I'm glad that the story inside is just as cute as the cover represents it to be.
Center Ice is a really sweet book. We meet Karen and Tyler, who tell their story from both sides, as the book flips between each of their points of view. They're absolutely adorable together, and I enjoyed every minute of watching them fall deeper in love. Tyler is a hockey player with NHL goals in mind, and I loved him. Karen, well, I didn't like her much as her own character. She did a lot of things that made me sigh, and I found it hard to connect with her. That said, I liked her with Tyler as a couple, so I wasn't horridly put off by it while reading. I appreciated the overall depth of the characters- this book is more than just a sweet romance. There's a lot of other issues working here such as reputations, family struggles, and pressures for perfection. This made the book a lot more realistic for me, and I appreciated it.
I absolutely adore hockey (Go Blackhawks!) so I really liked that it was a focal point of this book. I don't just mean that in regards to Tyler being a stellar, NHL bound player in the plot of the book. The author seems really well researched on the sport, it sounded like it was written by someone familiar with hockey, not someone just using it as a plot device. There was slang and details that I really enjoyed.
I think that this is a really good romance for fans of hockey or sports themed romances, as well as contemporary romance. I'd place it somewhere between YA and NA for age range. I'm told that this is the first book in a series, and though I had some issues with Center Ice I would definitely continue on with the next book in the series.
I received my copy in exchange for my honest review. This review can also be found on my blog, Bitches n Prose.
Center Ice is a really sweet book. We meet Karen and Tyler, who tell their story from both sides, as the book flips between each of their points of view. They're absolutely adorable together, and I enjoyed every minute of watching them fall deeper in love. Tyler is a hockey player with NHL goals in mind, and I loved him. Karen, well, I didn't like her much as her own character. She did a lot of things that made me sigh, and I found it hard to connect with her. That said, I liked her with Tyler as a couple, so I wasn't horridly put off by it while reading. I appreciated the overall depth of the characters- this book is more than just a sweet romance. There's a lot of other issues working here such as reputations, family struggles, and pressures for perfection. This made the book a lot more realistic for me, and I appreciated it.
I absolutely adore hockey (Go Blackhawks!) so I really liked that it was a focal point of this book. I don't just mean that in regards to Tyler being a stellar, NHL bound player in the plot of the book. The author seems really well researched on the sport, it sounded like it was written by someone familiar with hockey, not someone just using it as a plot device. There was slang and details that I really enjoyed.
I think that this is a really good romance for fans of hockey or sports themed romances, as well as contemporary romance. I'd place it somewhere between YA and NA for age range. I'm told that this is the first book in a series, and though I had some issues with Center Ice I would definitely continue on with the next book in the series.
I received my copy in exchange for my honest review. This review can also be found on my blog, Bitches n Prose.
May 20, 2015
This was a really sweet romance. I know I say that about a lot of romances but this one really was. It took me a few chapters to connect with the characters but after that I was charmed by the way Tyler and Karen interacted.
Tyler is an up and coming hockey star. Previously enchanted by the fame and opportunities hockey could get him, he is now quickly tiring of his father's continual presence, criticism and drive to live his dreams through Tyler. Karen has just moved to town. Her mother has died, leaving her to move in with her father and his wife and kids - some of whom she's the same age as. Awkward. She doesn't want to be there and she's sure they don't want her there either. Saying Karen has a chip on her shoulder is a bit of an understatement. She's snarky and pretty good at pushing the others' buttons, but I came to like her acerbity. She's really quite funny. When she meets Tyler they form a quick friendship. Karen knows zero about hockey, so Tyler finds that refreshing, and Karen likes talking to someone going through their own family issues. But there is one problem - Tyler's history with women is a little too similar to Karen's father's. Something Karen's not too happy about.
Once I got into it, I really liked this book. It was a quick and easy read. I was a little thrown by how quickly some things moved forward between Karen and Tyler, but otherwise their connection felt really genuine. I loved how they talked things through and never left issues too long to expanded into unnecessary drama. Overall, a fun and romantic read.
The publishers provided a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Find this review and more like it on my blog Madison's Library.
Tyler is an up and coming hockey star. Previously enchanted by the fame and opportunities hockey could get him, he is now quickly tiring of his father's continual presence, criticism and drive to live his dreams through Tyler. Karen has just moved to town. Her mother has died, leaving her to move in with her father and his wife and kids - some of whom she's the same age as. Awkward. She doesn't want to be there and she's sure they don't want her there either. Saying Karen has a chip on her shoulder is a bit of an understatement. She's snarky and pretty good at pushing the others' buttons, but I came to like her acerbity. She's really quite funny. When she meets Tyler they form a quick friendship. Karen knows zero about hockey, so Tyler finds that refreshing, and Karen likes talking to someone going through their own family issues. But there is one problem - Tyler's history with women is a little too similar to Karen's father's. Something Karen's not too happy about.
Once I got into it, I really liked this book. It was a quick and easy read. I was a little thrown by how quickly some things moved forward between Karen and Tyler, but otherwise their connection felt really genuine. I loved how they talked things through and never left issues too long to expanded into unnecessary drama. Overall, a fun and romantic read.
The publishers provided a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Find this review and more like it on my blog Madison's Library.
Read
July 20, 2015This is the first book in the Corrigan Falls series, following the lives and loves of an OHL hockey team.
It was really fun to write! The heroine is crusty (she was even crustier before my editor suggested she could do with a little softening) and I liked having a not-totally-sympathetic heroine. Romance heroes get away with a lot of nonsense, while the heroines are supposed to just sit around being sweet. Not my plan for Karen! She's just lost her mother, been uprooted from the only home she's ever known, and sent to live with a bunch of strangers who just happen to be her family. She's got reasons to be a little defensive!
Tyler, on the other hand? A bit teen-boy-clueless, but also living a really unique life where he's essentially been treated as an adult (an adult under a lot of pressure) since he was fifteen years old. It was fun to write the extremes with him - sexually experienced but new to love, used to being a hockey star but still not sure of his place in the game. He just does his best, and I love him for that!
My other favourite character is Natalie, Karen's stepmom. It felt a bit subversive, slipping some adult character development into a YA novel, but I felt like she deserved it. She's a tough lady, but just 'cause she's perfect on the surface doesn't mean she's good underneath.
It was really fun to write! The heroine is crusty (she was even crustier before my editor suggested she could do with a little softening) and I liked having a not-totally-sympathetic heroine. Romance heroes get away with a lot of nonsense, while the heroines are supposed to just sit around being sweet. Not my plan for Karen! She's just lost her mother, been uprooted from the only home she's ever known, and sent to live with a bunch of strangers who just happen to be her family. She's got reasons to be a little defensive!
Tyler, on the other hand? A bit teen-boy-clueless, but also living a really unique life where he's essentially been treated as an adult (an adult under a lot of pressure) since he was fifteen years old. It was fun to write the extremes with him - sexually experienced but new to love, used to being a hockey star but still not sure of his place in the game. He just does his best, and I love him for that!
My other favourite character is Natalie, Karen's stepmom. It felt a bit subversive, slipping some adult character development into a YA novel, but I felt like she deserved it. She's a tough lady, but just 'cause she's perfect on the surface doesn't mean she's good underneath.
May 11, 2015
Amazing! This is a great YA read about two teens facing serious pressure and trouble at home. The characters are fantastic and the twists and turns in the storyline make this one great read! Loved the way the author dealt with a lot of the issues the H/h are faced with. I highly recommend this one.
In a serious hockey town and a family that is counting on him, the pressure to perform well falls squarely on Tyler's shoulders. Karen Webber is new to town and doesn't know a thing about hockey so Tyler's going to have to work a bit harder to get her attention.
In a serious hockey town and a family that is counting on him, the pressure to perform well falls squarely on Tyler's shoulders. Karen Webber is new to town and doesn't know a thing about hockey so Tyler's going to have to work a bit harder to get her attention.
July 8, 2022
"Life is complicated. Relationships are complicated. But there are some things that are simple, and one of those things is your place in this family."
When people say don't judge a book by it's cover they really meant it. When I first read the synopsis of this book I loved it, but as I started reading it well....it wasn't as I expected it. The story surrounds Karen, a young teenage girl who just lost her mother and has moved into her absentee father and his new family's house. Karen is seen as an emotional but also a rebel kinda girl. I looked at her as someone who thinks she can't be influenced by others easily but in reality is. She is seen as absent-minded and self-absorbed in her own life struggles (which I know were major) ignoring changes that are taking place in others lives. I wouldn't say she's a bad character but would say that she could have been better.
Tyler, on the other hand, is a total softie but a week character. He is seen to be subjugated by his father a lot and only stood up at something major but even after that is seen as working with his dad. Other characters were okay as not much emphasis was given on them. Natalie on the other hand, I found was quite an empowering and a big hearted woman. I loved all the scenes she was a part of.
Tropes in this book:
1. Sports Romance
2. Dual POV
3. Small town
Overall, I'd rate it 2.5 stars.
When people say don't judge a book by it's cover they really meant it. When I first read the synopsis of this book I loved it, but as I started reading it well....it wasn't as I expected it. The story surrounds Karen, a young teenage girl who just lost her mother and has moved into her absentee father and his new family's house. Karen is seen as an emotional but also a rebel kinda girl. I looked at her as someone who thinks she can't be influenced by others easily but in reality is. She is seen as absent-minded and self-absorbed in her own life struggles (which I know were major) ignoring changes that are taking place in others lives. I wouldn't say she's a bad character but would say that she could have been better.
Tyler, on the other hand, is a total softie but a week character. He is seen to be subjugated by his father a lot and only stood up at something major but even after that is seen as working with his dad. Other characters were okay as not much emphasis was given on them. Natalie on the other hand, I found was quite an empowering and a big hearted woman. I loved all the scenes she was a part of.
Tropes in this book:
1. Sports Romance
2. Dual POV
3. Small town
Overall, I'd rate it 2.5 stars.
May 11, 2022
This was a pretty sweet sports romance novel and I did enjoy it but I didn’t really find anything special about it. It started out a little boring and I think that the connection between Karen and Tyler wasn’t strong enough. The whole plot of the book just wasn’t capturing my full attention and I believe that some parts sure could’ve been written and elaborated on more to make the story more, well heart touching if you know what I mean. But overall, it was just a short and easy YA read.
November 23, 2017
Just another tacky cheesy romance I devoured in one sitting. Nothing too special, but not bad enough for me to not finish.
Read
April 5, 2023that was very eh. i was disappointed because it was not what i expected. the intro was very off putting and then instalove was boring. the family problems were also not anticipated. bottom tier hockey romance tbh. like it wasn't terrible don't get me wrong but if i dnfed, this would have been.
april 4, 2023
april 4, 2023
February 26, 2021
2.5 stars, rounded up
Tyler wasn’t my favorite love interest. I’m not typically a fan of the reformed player trope in books. I did like that he changed his behavior once he met Karen and I felt bad for all the crap he went through with his father who was a total jerk.
I felt for what Karen went through, but her family drama got to be a bit much...and wasn’t really addressed??? She and her sister got into a major catfight that was basically glossed over and never really resolved again. I liked the stepmother Natalie. She was really good to Karen, even though Karen was the product of an affair her husband had had. I dunno, the drama got to be too much for me. And then the book just suddenly ended??? It wasn’t really satisfying. But Tyler did end up being a good boyfriend to Karen so I liked that part.
Tyler wasn’t my favorite love interest. I’m not typically a fan of the reformed player trope in books. I did like that he changed his behavior once he met Karen and I felt bad for all the crap he went through with his father who was a total jerk.
I felt for what Karen went through, but her family drama got to be a bit much...and wasn’t really addressed??? She and her sister got into a major catfight that was basically glossed over and never really resolved again. I liked the stepmother Natalie. She was really good to Karen, even though Karen was the product of an affair her husband had had. I dunno, the drama got to be too much for me. And then the book just suddenly ended??? It wasn’t really satisfying. But Tyler did end up being a good boyfriend to Karen so I liked that part.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 22, 2015
**You can see this full review and more at Book Briefs: http://bookbriefs.net**
Center Ice is the first book in the Corrigan Falls Raiders series, a new young adult (possibly new adult in future books) contemporary romance series about a Major-minor league hockey team. It is told in dual narrative between Tyler and Karen. I really enjoyed that because I have been reading more paranormal books lately and I have to say I have missed my dual narrative contemporary romances. And I didn't even realize that I missed them until I started reading Center Ice.
One of the great things about Center Ice...other than the Hockey players...is that the characters are so completely read. You are going to see the good, the bad and the ugly from Karen and even Tyler. They are both great, but Karen especially found herself in a less than desirable situation, and she is a 16 year old girl. So she sometimes had a tendency to let her snarky and bratty side show. Not that I really blamed her though. I think having to go live with the father you never knew- after the death of your mother- and to find out that he has a whole family and he was cheating on his pregnant wife, which resulted in knocking Karen's mother up with her. Yes, that is not the typical situation and it is bound to be more than a little awkward. Yes, the kids are going to resent you and the mother has every right to be a total witch. And the oldest daughter was a total witch, but the mom really surprised me. I kind of wish Karen had been a little nicer to her initially because she was surprisingly great about the whole thing. I kind of loved that even though she had every right to be cold and distant towards Karen, she wasn't mean at all. It was refreshing.
Karen is only 16, so she does have some growing up to do, but this is such a tough time for her that you have to cut her some slack. And then there is Tyler. Tyler is so worthy of being a hometown hero. I just loved him. I felt so bad for him. In some ways I felt worse for him than for Karen. I know that sounds strange because Karen lost her mom, but Tyler has parents alive, but not there for him. They don't seem to care about what he wants, only what they want for him. It was tough for me to read some of the scenes with Tyler and his dad, but I lived for the scenes between Tyler and Karen. I just loved the two of them together. And I loved that Karen wasn't that into hockey. The scene were she found out Tyler was a hockey player cracked me up.
Overall, Center Ice is a great book. It is funny, sweet, heartbreaking, and an all around wonderful read. I loved getting to know all of the characters, and I loved that Cate Cameron wasn't afraid to show some ugly sides to them. This is how they were and this is how you were going to see them. No punches barred. If you are a fan of young adult/new adult contemporary that is realistic and not falsely fluffed up, I would strongly reccomend Center Ice. I can't wait for the next book in the Corrigan Falls Raiders series.
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
Center Ice is the first book in the Corrigan Falls Raiders series, a new young adult (possibly new adult in future books) contemporary romance series about a Major-minor league hockey team. It is told in dual narrative between Tyler and Karen. I really enjoyed that because I have been reading more paranormal books lately and I have to say I have missed my dual narrative contemporary romances. And I didn't even realize that I missed them until I started reading Center Ice.
One of the great things about Center Ice...other than the Hockey players...is that the characters are so completely read. You are going to see the good, the bad and the ugly from Karen and even Tyler. They are both great, but Karen especially found herself in a less than desirable situation, and she is a 16 year old girl. So she sometimes had a tendency to let her snarky and bratty side show. Not that I really blamed her though. I think having to go live with the father you never knew- after the death of your mother- and to find out that he has a whole family and he was cheating on his pregnant wife, which resulted in knocking Karen's mother up with her. Yes, that is not the typical situation and it is bound to be more than a little awkward. Yes, the kids are going to resent you and the mother has every right to be a total witch. And the oldest daughter was a total witch, but the mom really surprised me. I kind of wish Karen had been a little nicer to her initially because she was surprisingly great about the whole thing. I kind of loved that even though she had every right to be cold and distant towards Karen, she wasn't mean at all. It was refreshing.
Karen is only 16, so she does have some growing up to do, but this is such a tough time for her that you have to cut her some slack. And then there is Tyler. Tyler is so worthy of being a hometown hero. I just loved him. I felt so bad for him. In some ways I felt worse for him than for Karen. I know that sounds strange because Karen lost her mom, but Tyler has parents alive, but not there for him. They don't seem to care about what he wants, only what they want for him. It was tough for me to read some of the scenes with Tyler and his dad, but I lived for the scenes between Tyler and Karen. I just loved the two of them together. And I loved that Karen wasn't that into hockey. The scene were she found out Tyler was a hockey player cracked me up.
Overall, Center Ice is a great book. It is funny, sweet, heartbreaking, and an all around wonderful read. I loved getting to know all of the characters, and I loved that Cate Cameron wasn't afraid to show some ugly sides to them. This is how they were and this is how you were going to see them. No punches barred. If you are a fan of young adult/new adult contemporary that is realistic and not falsely fluffed up, I would strongly reccomend Center Ice. I can't wait for the next book in the Corrigan Falls Raiders series.
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
June 1, 2015
RATING: 4.5 STARS
Hockey is the only world Tyler MacDonald knows and lived on to. At a young age, he can already feel the pressure and he was not even in the NHL yet, the ultimate dream of every young hockey player. It’s within his grasp, and yet why doesn’t he feel happy about it? Between the constant pressure from his father, and not to mention the presence of scouts during games, how long before the pressure consumes him?
Karen Weber lost someone she held close to her heart and now, she was shipped off to a father she really didn’t know and his perfect little family. She didn’t really belong. Between losing someone and being in a new place surrounded by strangers, this was not definitely the year for her. She looks for the perfect escape, one of the things she found freeing was running. Running is the only thing that kept her together, and that voicemail she kept on replaying on her phone every opportunity she gets. What she didn’t expect was to run into Tyler.
Then she gets warned by everyone. But how can she stay away when the only one who gets her is the person she should avoid?
Amidst the cold weather and the freezing temperature of the rink, the love and chemistry of these two is enough to melt some ice. It’s a great short read about family, friendship, and growing up.
Sometimes we find love in the most unexpected places, from the most unexpected person.
Review originally posted on my blog
Purchase Links:
AMAZON US | B&N | iTunes | Kobo
Follow me on: Twitter | Facebook | tsu | Instagram
•Complimentary Copy was given in exchange for an honest review.•
More of my reviews at http://reviewsofabookmaniac.blogspot.com
Hockey is the only world Tyler MacDonald knows and lived on to. At a young age, he can already feel the pressure and he was not even in the NHL yet, the ultimate dream of every young hockey player. It’s within his grasp, and yet why doesn’t he feel happy about it? Between the constant pressure from his father, and not to mention the presence of scouts during games, how long before the pressure consumes him?
Karen Weber lost someone she held close to her heart and now, she was shipped off to a father she really didn’t know and his perfect little family. She didn’t really belong. Between losing someone and being in a new place surrounded by strangers, this was not definitely the year for her. She looks for the perfect escape, one of the things she found freeing was running. Running is the only thing that kept her together, and that voicemail she kept on replaying on her phone every opportunity she gets. What she didn’t expect was to run into Tyler.
Then she gets warned by everyone. But how can she stay away when the only one who gets her is the person she should avoid?
Amidst the cold weather and the freezing temperature of the rink, the love and chemistry of these two is enough to melt some ice. It’s a great short read about family, friendship, and growing up.
Sometimes we find love in the most unexpected places, from the most unexpected person.
Review originally posted on my blog
Purchase Links:
AMAZON US | B&N | iTunes | Kobo
Follow me on: Twitter | Facebook | tsu | Instagram
•Complimentary Copy was given in exchange for an honest review.•
More of my reviews at http://reviewsofabookmaniac.blogspot.com
May 18, 2015
Center Ice (Corrigan Falls Raiders #1) by Cate Cameron After her mother’s death, Karen Webber, moves in with her father and his family. OHL hockey player, Tyler MacDonald, is being pressured by his father and agent. The only thing keeping Karen and Tyler sane is each other.
I loved this story! Cate Cameron created a realistic and heartwarming story that I adored.
My heart went out to poor Karen. After her mother’s death, she relocates from Toronto to the small town of Corrigan Falls, where everyone knows everything about everyone. She moves in with her step father and his family. Not an easy task since she was a result of her father’s infidelity. She has a lot to cope with. Fortunately, she is rescued from an evil squirrel by cute hockey player, Tyler MacDonald (yes, I said squirrel – it is priceless), and they form a friendship that keeps them balanced. Of course, things are not that simple and there are some struggles along the way.
Tyler is captain of the Corrigan Falls Raiders. He is a consistent and smart hockey player. He is realistic about getting into the pros and is feeling a lot of pressure from his dad and agent, both who are total jerks. A lot of people are interested in Tyler because of his hockey talent and the possibility of him going pro. He values his friendship with Karen because she likes him for him and not his potential career.
I really ended up liking Keren’s step mother, Natalie. She is tough but fair. She is a forgiving and good person.
I truly enjoyed this story. It made me laugh, cry, and smile. It is believable and heartwarming.
There was a sneak peek of chapter one Playing Defense (Corrigan Falls Raiders #2) at the end of the book. It is Tyler’s friend, Chris Winslow's story. After reading the preview, I am anxiously waiting the next novel, if the entire story is like the first chapter, it will be amazing.
Complimentary copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I loved this story! Cate Cameron created a realistic and heartwarming story that I adored.
My heart went out to poor Karen. After her mother’s death, she relocates from Toronto to the small town of Corrigan Falls, where everyone knows everything about everyone. She moves in with her step father and his family. Not an easy task since she was a result of her father’s infidelity. She has a lot to cope with. Fortunately, she is rescued from an evil squirrel by cute hockey player, Tyler MacDonald (yes, I said squirrel – it is priceless), and they form a friendship that keeps them balanced. Of course, things are not that simple and there are some struggles along the way.
Tyler is captain of the Corrigan Falls Raiders. He is a consistent and smart hockey player. He is realistic about getting into the pros and is feeling a lot of pressure from his dad and agent, both who are total jerks. A lot of people are interested in Tyler because of his hockey talent and the possibility of him going pro. He values his friendship with Karen because she likes him for him and not his potential career.
I really ended up liking Keren’s step mother, Natalie. She is tough but fair. She is a forgiving and good person.
I truly enjoyed this story. It made me laugh, cry, and smile. It is believable and heartwarming.
There was a sneak peek of chapter one Playing Defense (Corrigan Falls Raiders #2) at the end of the book. It is Tyler’s friend, Chris Winslow's story. After reading the preview, I am anxiously waiting the next novel, if the entire story is like the first chapter, it will be amazing.
Complimentary copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
May 31, 2015
Despite the fact that this book is about hockey and ice, it was a perfect summer read. This story captured me from the first page. I breezed through it so quickly, I was enjoying it so much! It's just a cute, romantic story with great characters and a simple conflict. Sometimes these are the best books you can find.
I loved Tyler from the beginning. This is a guy who is a huge deal in this little town he's living in. It's a hockey town in Canada where the populace pretty much worships hockey. Tyler, being one of the best, is sought after and idolized by the young and old alike. He's been something of a player, but has grown tired of that. His life is changing at this point, as he's not liking the direction both his dad and agent want for him. I loved this conflict he has within himself on whether or not he can find the voice to stand up and say that what he wants isn't necessarily what everyone else wants from him.
Karen captured me from the first word. She's unconventional in the sense that her circumstances have created more than a little bitterness within her. She's snarky, and standoffish with her family, somewhat understandably. It is so sweet to watch Tyler draw her out and soften her edges. The two of them together were such a great compliment to the other.
The conflicts in the story were deeply emotional, and I loved watching the two of them work through these issues. The author did a wonderful job with characterization, making me love her characters and care about their choices and where they would go from here. The writing had some sweet moments, some romantic ones, some angsty ones.... pretty much everything that fits together to make a great book for me. I loved it! And yes, there is another book to this, even though this one stands alone. So I'm really looking forward to the next book! Great read.
I loved Tyler from the beginning. This is a guy who is a huge deal in this little town he's living in. It's a hockey town in Canada where the populace pretty much worships hockey. Tyler, being one of the best, is sought after and idolized by the young and old alike. He's been something of a player, but has grown tired of that. His life is changing at this point, as he's not liking the direction both his dad and agent want for him. I loved this conflict he has within himself on whether or not he can find the voice to stand up and say that what he wants isn't necessarily what everyone else wants from him.
Karen captured me from the first word. She's unconventional in the sense that her circumstances have created more than a little bitterness within her. She's snarky, and standoffish with her family, somewhat understandably. It is so sweet to watch Tyler draw her out and soften her edges. The two of them together were such a great compliment to the other.
The conflicts in the story were deeply emotional, and I loved watching the two of them work through these issues. The author did a wonderful job with characterization, making me love her characters and care about their choices and where they would go from here. The writing had some sweet moments, some romantic ones, some angsty ones.... pretty much everything that fits together to make a great book for me. I loved it! And yes, there is another book to this, even though this one stands alone. So I'm really looking forward to the next book! Great read.
May 20, 2015
3.5 stars
Center Ice was a good read, I enjoyed the storyline.
After the death of her mother Karen moves in with her father and his family.
Karen is struggling with her feelings, she misses her mother and having to live with these people who she has no connection with is all too much for her.
While I totally understood Karen's pain and felt for her the harsh way she treated her stepmother made it hard for me to connect with her.
My lack of connection with Karen made it hard to enjoy the book, it makes me sad to say as I really did enjoy the relationship between Tyler and Karen.
They were sweet and cute together.
Center Ice was an emotional and heartfelt story, I will be reading the next book in the Corrigan Falls Raiders series by Cate Cameron.
Thank you Entangled Crush for the advance copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Center Ice was a good read, I enjoyed the storyline.
After the death of her mother Karen moves in with her father and his family.
Karen is struggling with her feelings, she misses her mother and having to live with these people who she has no connection with is all too much for her.
While I totally understood Karen's pain and felt for her the harsh way she treated her stepmother made it hard for me to connect with her.
My lack of connection with Karen made it hard to enjoy the book, it makes me sad to say as I really did enjoy the relationship between Tyler and Karen.
They were sweet and cute together.
Center Ice was an emotional and heartfelt story, I will be reading the next book in the Corrigan Falls Raiders series by Cate Cameron.
Thank you Entangled Crush for the advance copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
December 18, 2015
You can see my full review HERE
Simply put, I love this book! I love this publisher and I love this author. Alright with all that said, let's talk about this book, publisher and author. Center Ice is the first book in the Corrigan Falls Raiders series. I honestly think that this is more of a New Adult book, but others think it's more young adult. This fantastic book is told in two point of views, Karen and Tyler both get to tell their part of the story and I really like how the author did this. Here lately I haven't liked multiple pov's in books, but she did this one nicely.
Simply put, I love this book! I love this publisher and I love this author. Alright with all that said, let's talk about this book, publisher and author. Center Ice is the first book in the Corrigan Falls Raiders series. I honestly think that this is more of a New Adult book, but others think it's more young adult. This fantastic book is told in two point of views, Karen and Tyler both get to tell their part of the story and I really like how the author did this. Here lately I haven't liked multiple pov's in books, but she did this one nicely.
May 6, 2015
Center Ice was really good! Karen has lost a lot and has to move in with her Dad and his perfect family. The kids do not like her and everyone in the small town is talking about what happened.
Tyler is the town hero. He's a huge OHL player and has serious potential to become the number one draft pick into the NHL. He has it all. or does he? His family is miles away and he's working hard at something he's not sure he wants anymore. However he's known in town as playboy heart breaker.
When these two meet thanks to a crazy squirrel incident, they become friends. Will they become more? or will their pasts, presents, and futures make it too much for these teens to handle?
Tyler is the town hero. He's a huge OHL player and has serious potential to become the number one draft pick into the NHL. He has it all. or does he? His family is miles away and he's working hard at something he's not sure he wants anymore. However he's known in town as playboy heart breaker.
When these two meet thanks to a crazy squirrel incident, they become friends. Will they become more? or will their pasts, presents, and futures make it too much for these teens to handle?
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