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A review by jacqueleenthereadingqueen
Back to Center by Joshua Harwood, Ryan Taylor
4.0
AUDIO REVIEW
Narration: This was pretty on par with book 1. I didn't have to speed it up a ton like I tend to do with a few others. The pacing and voices were enjoyable. They fit the MCs and nothing beats when they get all breathless during the steam. ;)
Review: I honestly didn't know how to feel when I heard that the next book in the Mohegan U Hockey series was going to be about Eckie. I finished listening to [b:Cracks in the Ice|61367885|Cracks in the Ice (Mohegan U Hockey, #1)|Ryan Taylor|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1656474217l/61367885._SY75_.jpg|96796676] really disliking him. This is not surprising since Eckie was an asshole and quite frankly a bully throughout that book. He even went so far as to locking Cole in a room with him, terrifying the guy. It was no wonder Benny pulled Eckie from the hockey team, which in turn furthered his mental health decline. Thankfully, I think that was the push Eckie needed to take some control of his spiraling by checking himself into the hospital for treatment.
While getting treatment at the hospital over the Summer, Jack, the assistant coach of the Mohegan hockey team, pays him a visit. Surprised by the complete 180 in attitude, Jack continues his visits almost daily. The two get to know one another and become incredibly close. Jack is Eckie's first true friend. He sees something in him. He believes in him so much that when Eckie gets discharged and has no place to go, Jack sweetly offers his spare room to help Eckie get on his feet. However, it doesn't stay his room for long because it turns out there's more to their feelings than friendship.
I applaud the authors for their mental health rep. Depression is no joke and it often gets swept under the rug as something less than other mental health issues. I was happy to see it get the respect and spotlight it deserved. This book had a lot of talking about feelings and emotions as that is something Eckie was taught by his doctors to help him mentally. I do have to admit, that there is a fair amount of crying that occurs. Doesn't matter if it's a happy or upsetting occasion, tears are flowing more than what I'm used to in a sports romance. I guess I've just been more exposed to the toxic masculinity environment that can be seen in male dominated sports. Despite the tears, this one ends on a lovely HEA giving both men their dreams and each other. Exactly the way a romance should end if you ask me.
Narration: This was pretty on par with book 1. I didn't have to speed it up a ton like I tend to do with a few others. The pacing and voices were enjoyable. They fit the MCs and nothing beats when they get all breathless during the steam. ;)
Review: I honestly didn't know how to feel when I heard that the next book in the Mohegan U Hockey series was going to be about Eckie. I finished listening to [b:Cracks in the Ice|61367885|Cracks in the Ice (Mohegan U Hockey, #1)|Ryan Taylor|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1656474217l/61367885._SY75_.jpg|96796676] really disliking him. This is not surprising since Eckie was an asshole and quite frankly a bully throughout that book. He even went so far as to locking Cole in a room with him, terrifying the guy. It was no wonder Benny pulled Eckie from the hockey team, which in turn furthered his mental health decline. Thankfully, I think that was the push Eckie needed to take some control of his spiraling by checking himself into the hospital for treatment.
While getting treatment at the hospital over the Summer, Jack, the assistant coach of the Mohegan hockey team, pays him a visit. Surprised by the complete 180 in attitude, Jack continues his visits almost daily. The two get to know one another and become incredibly close. Jack is Eckie's first true friend. He sees something in him. He believes in him so much that when Eckie gets discharged and has no place to go, Jack sweetly offers his spare room to help Eckie get on his feet. However, it doesn't stay his room for long because it turns out there's more to their feelings than friendship.
I applaud the authors for their mental health rep. Depression is no joke and it often gets swept under the rug as something less than other mental health issues. I was happy to see it get the respect and spotlight it deserved. This book had a lot of talking about feelings and emotions as that is something Eckie was taught by his doctors to help him mentally. I do have to admit, that there is a fair amount of crying that occurs. Doesn't matter if it's a happy or upsetting occasion, tears are flowing more than what I'm used to in a sports romance. I guess I've just been more exposed to the toxic masculinity environment that can be seen in male dominated sports. Despite the tears, this one ends on a lovely HEA giving both men their dreams and each other. Exactly the way a romance should end if you ask me.