Any Way You Slice It by Kristine Carlson Asselin

Book Summery (Via Goodreads): Penelope Spaulding just can't catch a break. Between long hours at the family restaurant, homework, and her parents' plans for her future, it's hard to find a spare moment to breathe. But when she laces up her skates and steps on the ice, everything slips away...
Racing around the rink allows her to blow off steam after yet another fight with her dad about going to culinary school. So when Jake Gomes, the bad boy who lives down the street, dares her to join the Rink Rats, the local misfit hockey team, she surprises herself and joins in silent defiance of her father and his expectations.
The more she plays, the easier it is to keep lying, and soon Pen finds it impossible to come clean. She’s sneaking out to practice—and loving every minute of it. It doesn’t take long for her to fall in love with hockey…and Jake’s not half bad either. But she knows it can’t last. As soon as her dad finds out, she’ll be benched. For good.
She’s absolutely not going to tell her parents until she’s sure it will be worth the inevitable fight. Not only is she skipping shifts at Slice Pizza while a foodie reality show is on the horizon, but her lies are starting to take their toll on her game. It’s only a matter of time before everything falls apart.
With the team counting on her and with her relationship with Jake on the line, will she have to sacrifice the thing she wants most for the people she loves? Or can she step up and take her best shot?

Book Review:
Ok, so the description of Any Way You Slice It is super long, but I still wasn't sure what to expect. I guess I thought the story line would be more along the lines of Penelope finding her independence from culinary school...and it kind of was. What I discovered was an adorable coming of age tale. The characters are easy to relate to. I love the references to a certain culinary TV station and a certain TV personality from said TV station. :) Hockey played a heavier influence than I had expected, but Asselin ties it in nicely. Overall, this was a fun, light read. I'd pick up something by this author again.

Thanks to Bloomsbury for this copy.
Published April 21st 2015
This is my honest review.

Cover Art Commentary:
I like the picture of Penelope, but I'm not sure why the background is a brick wall. Perhaps it's supposed to be the back of the pizza restaurant? I think it would make since if the background was the inside/front of the restaurant or an ice rink.

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