Liam Williamson was a legend in the NHL. Or rather . . . his family was legend. He was the least talented of his family of hockey players—with his father and two older brothers seriously outplaying, outscoring, and out-succeeding Liam’s limited achievements. He’d been traded to four teams in as many years and it was widely accepted that his career was nearly at an end. Now he was with the San … Francisco Gold, barely on the lineup and just waiting for notice that he’d been scratched from every game. His trade to another—and probably final—team was imminent. That was that. He was embracing the fact that his playing days were over— Then he met Mia. She was funny and sweet and the most beautiful woman he’d ever laid eyes on. Unsurprisingly, Liam had fallen and fallen fast. But he was about to be traded and Mia lived in San Francisco. Her life was there . . . And how in the hell was he going to leave the woman he loved?
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I haven’t read many books by this author yet but I can tell that she’s very quickly becoming a must read for me. Since this is the only book from the series that I’ve read, I can confirm that it’s very easily understood and enjoyed. There are characters from the other books but we’re given a very helpful Cast of Characters at the start, not that I needed to refer to it much.
I started off by not liking Mia very much but as I read more I really enjoyed the way that things in Liam and Mia’s lives are revealed to the reader, organically and at the same time as the other characters. I also loved that both Liam and Mia started to incorporate traits from the other, just like any other relationship. Well worth a read.
I loved this book from beginning to end! I couldn’t put it down!
The Gold Hockey series continues to be a huge winner for me! Centered had a good balance between the sexy and the not (lol) and the plot unfolded nicely without any major holes.
Liam and Mia completed each other really well. In the story, both had hurdles to jump/get past in order to move forward in their own lives, let alone as a couple, and they brought out the best of each other. They enhanced each other equally. They were the exact thing each needed to become better. It put a smile on my face and in my heart! I was rooting for them from the beginning.
Elise Faber is an author I just can’t seem to get enough of. She writes all kinds of tropes and are always good reads. She’s an author I know I can turn to and have an enjoyable, engaging read every time!
Centered is the 9th book in the Gold Hockey series by Elise Faber. This is Liam and Mia’s story. This is a story about two people who have their own issues, misgivings yet together they help heal one another and build each other up when nothing/no one else could. This is a story that deals with so many emotions, feelings…get ready for the emotional rollercoaster ride. I will say that at times the story did hit some bumps and didn’t flow as well as it should have. I like Liam and I liked Mia. I felt like they seemed pushed together at times. Overall, the chemistry was good. Was it my favorite in the series? No. Was it my least favorite? No. It was good. Still a good book in the series. I look forward to the next book in the series.
My Rating: 4.1 stars ********
Centered kept me reading from start to finish. At first, Mia didn’t seem like a good fit for Liam. I guess I didn’t “see” what he was seeing, but eventually I realized they’re very much the same. Both have internal struggles brought on by overbearing parents, and while their situations are completely different, the results are very much the same. I enjoyed their journey of self discovery, traveled together with love and support from their friends. Overall, a nice, fast paced read.
You’re valuable,you’re important, you mean something
These are the main sentences of this book, and they mean the world to Mia and Liam. Both characters have the same problem. Worthiness. Liam in his job as a hockey player, been always competited to his family, and Mia in private, always feeling unworthy because of something terrible that happened to her family. This book starts slow, both main characters have to find their worthiness in themselves and in each other.
They learn what friends are for and let go of the desperate need for perfection. Everybody needs a person in your life that support and love you.
This is a wonderful story about healing, finding yourself and the love of your life. I loved both characters and Elises style of writing shows so much emotion that I couldn’t let the book out of my hands.
4.5 Stars
Centered is another fantastic addition to Elise Faber’s Gold Hockey series and was an unputdownable read for me. Each book features a super sexy, alpha hockey player who will melt your heart with their honest reaction to love. Her heroines are spicy and sassy and oftentimes carry heavy personal baggage that will have you rooting for them.
Book 9 of this series features Liam and Mia. Both broken and in pieces on the inside, searching for answers in all the wrong places. When they meet, they fit. Even though they are so very different, together they work. They fill each other’s gaps and bring light and love to their worlds.
Cenetered is an incredibly sweet and sexy romance and a perfect evening read. TBR and Enjoy.
Another fantastic Gold Hockey romance!
Centered is a story of fear, love, redemption and forgiveness. It drew me in and kept me reading until the end! I love getting to know Liam and Mia! They were great for each other! They were just what the other needed. Liam was doubting himself because he thought he wasn’t as good of a hockey player as his father and his brothers. Mia helped him recognize his own strengths. Centered is a beautifully written story of heartbreak, healing and love. I loved it! Once again Elise has written another fantastic book in Primal Gold Hockey series! I look forward to her next book!
Mia literally saves Liam’s life. Walking home in a cloud of grief about where his life is going he walks right in front of traffic. She quickly grabs him and pulls him back to the sidewalk. He follows her to where she works to thank her and feels a kindred spirit. She pushes him a way yet he soldiers on. Very sweet romance about trust, love and perseverance
Centered is such a fantastically fun read. If you loved the Gold Hockey series then you really are going to like the newbie Liam in this one. Liam is so lost and trying to figure out how to fit in with his teammates. He is a sweetheart and trying to find the love of the game again. Then bam Mia and there is no looking back. You will love Mia and how she is not afraid to put Liam in his place. There is such a pull between Mia and Liam that you wont be able to step away form this one. I love how they bring out the best in each other. I couldn’t get enough of Mia and Liam.
Liam’s preoccupation actually gives him the best gift of his life when a gorgeous woman rescues him from being hit by a car. He follows her to her martial arts studio and promptly falls headlong to his knees, on his ass, in love. But, he could be traded yet again, so should he start something knowing he might have to leave her?
Mia has so many walls to keep her from being hurt that it’s going to take all Liam’s skills, hockey and otherwise, to scale them. He was more than up for the task, though. But honestly, he was by far, the best part of Centered. I love how, though he was flawed and imperfect, he grew yet stayed true to his very sweet inner self. Mia, on the other hand, was harder for me to connect to. She had so many walls around herself that she came across as far too cold and uptight. Really, I think Liam could have done much better, but she was his choice so she got a pass from me.
Another great addition to the Gold Hockey series. Liam Williamson comes from hockey royalty, he knows he’s not as good as them, and has been recently traded to the San Francisco Gold. Then he meets martial arts instructor Mia Caldwell when she saves him. As Mia and Liam draw closer it gives him the courage and confidence to start playing a better game. A great slow burn romance and one I highly enjoyed.
Elise Faber’s hockey novels are really so good. They’re always enjoyable, and she’s a go-to author when I want a quick, entertaining read with a good plot, believable characters and stellar writing.
Liam has always felt like the “also ran” in his famous hockey family. He’s made a career of keeping himself detached from his teammates because he’s constantly being traded because he doesn’t feel he lives up to his family’s reputation. Mia has her own emotional scars that keep her from forming lasting attachments as well. When Mia saves Liam from getting hit by a car, they both awaken something in the other that had long been dormant. They start spending time together, opening up and really getting to know each other in a way that neither of them had been willing to do before.
As with other Gold Hockey books, you get to revisit prior characters, which in my mind always gives me a feeling of coming home or seeing friends I haven’t seen in a while. But this is a complete standalone, so if you haven’t read them before, don’t worry and just dive right in to Liam and Mia’s story.
Elise Faber has a game-winner with CENTERED (Gold Hockey #9). In this story, NHL player Liam Williamson comes from hockey royalty. He is the least talented in his family and was recently traded to the San Francisco Gold. He meets martial arts instructor Mia Caldwell. She inspires him and he falls hard, hoping he will not have to give her up due to yet another trade. This contemporary sports romance is suitable for adult readers.
My heart went out to Liam. He had a lot of high expectations placed on him being the youngest in the long line of successful hockey players. He also had too many people weighing in on his game play, especially his overbearing father. Mia is a strong heroine. A tragedy in her past makes it hard for her to let people in. I appreciated how these two began to trust one another. They helped each other heal and become better off for it. I adored that Liam found teammates that were like a family, and he began to love hockey again.
CENTERED is a great addition to the Gold Hockey series. I am looking forward to Charlotte Harris’ and Logan Walker’s story next. I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.
Another fantastic love story centered around the Gold hockey team. I loved getting to know Mia and Liam in this story. Mia had become so stuck in her routine never letting anyone into her heart due to per past. Liam felt like he was always living in the shadow of his family and he’s been trying to find his place with the Gold after joining them recently. This was a slow burn romance which was suited to them building their relationship. If you love hockey romance, you will love this book and series!
This is the 9th book in this amazing series and is Liam and Mia’s story. Liam is an NHL player who is the youngest in his hall of fame legacy family, and unfortunately has been traded more times than he would like. Mia runs an MMA studio, and she rescues Liam in the street when he was almost run over. As these two get to know each other she gives him the confidence to play as he was always meant to, but can their relationship survive if he is traded again? This is a beautifully written tale which is powerful, intriguing, and filled with heartbreak, healing, and love. I was hooked throughout and look forward to reading more from this talented author whose work I highly recommend for all.
Prepare to get swept away. Liam and Mia are the type of couple that demands your attention. Faber goes for the soul and scores gold. Broken, powerful, unpredictable, irresistible.
I liked this book and couple a lot. I thought that Liam and Mia’s story was powerful, emotional and uplifting. I particularly enjoyed the complexity to these characters. That desperate drive for perfection that drove them right to the very edge was as compelling as it was heartbreaking. While these two each stole into my heart, I do feel that Liam was the easier one to connect with. For all his issues, he was just more open and receptive. Meanwhile Mia had so many walls and boundaries and rules and “No Trespassing” signs that you almost had to be a superhero ninja to make the smallest of cracks in her defenses. So yeah, she took some work but you know I really felt that made sense and I do think that it was an important thing to show because not everyone deals with all the pressures and pain that life throws them the same way. Some people act out and others shut down. Some people never stop putting their hearts on the line, while others choose to close theirs off and fiercely try to never risk it again. Whatever your choice and however you deal with everything, you deserve people that love you and support you and sometimes that is easy to find and other times it takes time and a lot of hard work. I think this story showed that really well. I am freely posting a frank review.
Liam Williamson’s name is synonymous with hockey – his grandfather, father and two brothers are all legends on the ice and Liam feels that pressure every day. He’s been traded multiple times but doesn’t seem to find a good fit. With the threat of another mediocre season looming and no contract ahead, Liam is despondent and wandering aimlessly. When Mia pulls him out of the way of a car, Liam is immediately drawn to her, but Mia is cold and aloof. Mia has many issues that she has to work through, but little by little Liam manages to break down her defenses and helps her to live a little. After a taste of the fun, Mia realizes that she no longer wants to be scared or tough, but that she wants to be loved and be held and protected by Liam. Great story, well written.
I know when I love both main characters of a story. It just flows for me. Which is why I was sad when this story didn’t flow. It was a great story and I really liked Liam. I just had a harder time with Mia. She was to straight and narrow for me. She was to “perfect” without any “fluff.” I would rather have seen a flawed person than this perfect, doesn’t eat sugar or break rules, female. Please don’t get me wrong, I love a female bad*** but Mia was just boring. She kept saying how she taught her young students to follow the rules at all times. But come on, I know for a fact that children don’t like to follow the rules. So the fact that she was flipping out about breaking park rules just bothered me. We only have one life, live a little and enjoy it. Then there was her tragedy. I’m sorry for what she had to deal with but with how she kept talking I expected something bigger and was a little disappointed.
Now, as I said, I did like Liam. He had his own personal issues. But I like how he easily started finding his way. I know some of it was due to Mia’s influence and that was a great thing. But a lot of it was him. He really started to find himself.
By the end of the story I liked Mia more. She opened up a bit more and was enjoying more “fluff.” She was also finding herself and I loved that. This may not have been my favorite but of the series but I did enjoy it. And I am definitely looking forward to the next! *I voluntarily read an advanced copy of this book for my honest and unbiased review.*