Review: Any Way You Slice It by Kristine Carlson Asselin

Any Way You Slice It by Kristine Carlson Asselin

Release date: April 21st, 2015

Publisher: Bloomsbury Spark

Format available: eBook

Source: eARC provided by NetGalley

Goodreads link: (click here)

What's it about?

Penelope Spaulding is never more at peace than when she's on the ice. As she speeds past everyone, she can clear her mind and forget about things for a while. These days it seems like she does nothing but fight with her father anymore. He wants her to go to culinary school and eventually run the family restaurant, Slice Pizza, where she already works (more than a teenager should). It's not that she doesn't love her father or the family business, it's just that she's got things she wants to do, even if she's not quite sure yet what they are. That's the problem, she isn't given a chance to figure out what she wants to do. One day, a collision at the rink with Jake Gomes, her former friend and the star of the Rink Rats, leads to an invitation to play for this local misfit hockey team. Jake dares her to play and she accepts in a simple act of defiance that just might change her life.

The Rink Rats aren't a good team, but they play with heart and know the true meaning of teamwork. They've never won a game, but they'll never stop trying. When Pen plays with them, she feels like she's finally found a place where she belongs. She loves playing hockey. Life would be great, if only she didn't have to hide that she's playing from her father. He would never allow it for so many reasons. Not only does he expect her to fulfill her responsibilities at Slice and to apply to culinary school, but he has a personal reason for keeping her away from hockey. Years ago, he used to play, but he was injured badly and quit because of it. His brush with death made him fear the sport, and if he found out his daughter was playing, who knows how he'd react. 

Now, Pen is playing hockey, going to school, working in the restaurant and lying to her father. She's also beginning to fall for Jake. The more time she spends with him, the more she's beginning to see the real him. Jake is known for causing trouble, but Pen is discovering that most of it is just rumors and Jake is actually a great guy. And, as if her life isn't complicated enough, her father has a reality tv show from The Restaurant Network coming to do a feature on Slice, and with all of the cameras around it's getting harder to hide her secret hockey life. Will Pen be able to keep it together, or will she lose an edge and wipe out?

My Thoughts

I absolutely LOVED this! Hockey + reality tv + a bit of romance = AWESOMENESS!! Seriously, isn't it every girl's dream to be asked to play on a hockey team of underdogs who play with enough heart to fill the Stanley Cup? Well, it's mine, so darn it, this book made me all sorts of happy! It's a sweet and fun contemporary with great characters who you'll be rooting for the entire time. Any Way You Slice It deals with all kinds of relationships. Family, friendship and romance all come into play, but it's also about being true to yourself and knowing where your loyalties lie. 

And it's about hockey. Don't forget the hockey. 

If you love sweet, cute and fun contemporary romance, you should read this. If you like girls who are tough yet still have a little something to learn about balancing life, love and sports, you should read this. If you like hockey, you REALLY should read this. 

*note: this takes place in New Hampshire and the characters are Bruins fans. I've got nothing against the Bruins, but if you notice my gif above, I only roll with ONE Black & Gold (LET'S GO PENS! - Even though I know it's a long shot for this season)

I thought this was a good book to review right now since the Stanley Cup Playoffs are starting. 

Who do you want to win? Who do you think WILL win? 

----------------
<3 Michelle