Pucking Around: A Why Choose Hockey Romance (Jacksonville Rays Hockey)

I'm a sucker for a RH book, but this was so much better than I was expecting. I'm usually a dark romance/fantasy reader not interested in sports at all. However- this story made me not only want to start watching hockey (mainly for the stretches-, lol we can't all perfect) but it also made me fall in love with this love story. While unconventional the story felt realistic with how the 3 MMC reacted to each other in a way that didn't make it seem so far fetched. I can't recommend this book enough. If I could give it a higher rating than 5 stars I would. I laughed, i cried, i loved the spice (and oh man is there spice) Chefs kisses.

I had seen this book recommended in numerous book groups on Facebook. I decided to see what it was all about.

Well, let me tell you, it was awesome! I loved the characters, Rachel is such a B.A. and the guys, Jake, Caleb and Ilmari are perfect for this story. You hop on and take an emotional roller coaster of a ride, and it's worth every second!

I enjoyed this so much, that after I read it, I turned around and reread it, just to be sure I soaked up everything. I think Rachel is so relatable in so many ways. I just couldn't get enough! Just go get it and read it now, this is one of the best RH books I have read!

This is a story about love about all the ways we can live one another if we allow it. Love is scary and each character has a reason to be afraid of the unconventional relationship they all end up in. Rachel has a one night stand in Seattle. She sneaks off no names . But then she is given her dream job as a sports team doc in Florida. There the man, Jake, she couldn't get off her mind is. His best friend Caleb is the teams something and he is Rachel's neighbor. She finds herself attracted to both and they are ok with it. Caleb is bi and loves Jake but Jake is straight until maybe he's not. Then the brooding Finn and Rachel are battling Ilmaris injury and become so close. This is a long book which I loved because in this RH I feel like I get to know each character well and some very interesting side characters as well. Great read.

I’m gonna have to come back and add to this because I know this will not cover everything and I literally can’t keep my thoughts together because this was SO GOOD.

Okay, from the little prequel novella, I knew I was gonna love Jake and Rachel. I already felt for them. The whole “knowing someone on a soul level” right away is commonly used in romances, but this was done on a whole other level. It deserves its own gold medal. These two were red hot from the start and I was just destroyed by their adoration for each other. The puppy dog boy and the wild girl (now that I think about it, I kind of wish we got more of Rachel with the tats and the septum piercing. That was like a big deal at first and then went away). But seriously, Jake was a softy and I loved him from the start. It’s not often you see men in fiction that are the fuzzy, cuddly type unless you’re dealing with dog-shifters and to see him in this role while also being a boss on the ice was pretty awesome.

Caleb was our precious, temperamental cat who was just perfection. Don’t get me started on all his bedroom prowess because holy hell I was melted on the floor literally any time he came to play. But outside the sexy times, he was beautiful and so cute in his antics that I was giggling and smiling and just so in love with his interactions. Also, we need more Sy because DUHHHHH

Then my new book boyfriend/husband Ilmari. Hockey Viking god might not be my type (unpopular opinion?), but dayummmmm if the private, quiet, superstitious, protective athlete isn’t gonna make me hop on that train. I think he was the one I was rooting for the most from the moment we met him, and maybe it was my shared bond over hip labral tears (it wasn’t), but I felt an immediate bond with his personality. His life challenges were so real, and his emotional journey and conflict with the polyam exploration was perfect and done very very well.

That actually was one of my favorite things about this romance. It’s an exploration of polyam that I personally haven’t seen yet (hey, I read a lot, but not as much as others). I think what always hits me harder is the late discoveries and journey to learning the self. A lot of books gloss over the “I’m already out” or “I’ve known I was gay/bi/explored before”, but this one really focused on that feeling of growth. Of that fear of learning something and not knowing what it means. Of being afraid of what comes after or how it might change things. But we get to see so many angles of this relationship. It’s more than just Rachel and the three boys. It gets deeper and doesn’t shy away from tough angles.

Also, 5/5🌶️. I’m sure that’s what everyone is reaaaaally curious about. And, like, I very rarely give out the 5🌶️. It just didn’t stop, and at the same time, never felt too gratuitous or overdone. It was steamy, it was tasteful, it was kinky, and it was exciting. I was never bored, because it felt like something new every time rather than the same scene over and over again.

Then you get the story plot, which is definitely secondary to the romance main plot, that didn’t quiiiiite live up to my full appreciation, but it still felt incredibly satisfying. I think I would have loved to see more of how Rachel’s work evolved, even in just a throwaway capacity. We got to see how Ilmari’s plot line finished, but not as much about Caleb, Jake, and Rachel. Maybe Rachel got some PT going for Caleb and his pain level dropped. Maybe Jake got to be captain, or flattened that buzzard who hurt Caleb (or maybe the guy got kicked out of the league for fighting or doing something bad so they didn’t have to worry about him anymore). Yeah, I guess that’s all getting into fanfiction territory… whatever, I want some more stories to add to this HEA.

Overall, my first read of May and it’s on my list for best book of the year.

I had the honor of being on the ARC team for Pucking Around! Emily Rath put her heart and soul into this book! This book is so well written!

Baby, where do I even begin! I fell in love with this book the moment I read the first sentence. Who doesn't love a why choose romance with a hot doctor and their hot hockey players! This book has the perfect plot to spice ratio. I could not put this book down.

Dr. Rachel Price! My god I love this woman! She is smart, funny, sassy and knows exactly what she wants in life. She is the perfect FMC! I want to be Rachel when I grow up! She fights hard for what she believes in and she also fights hard for the people that she loves! She loves her boys so much! At times, she felt like she didn't deserve love but those boys proved her wrong every single time!

Jake Compton is a golden retriever to the max! He definitely has a way with words! His dirty talk is on point! He loves hard and falls even harder, He starts to learn for more things about himself as the book progresses. Jake fall in love with Rachel the moment he laid on eyes on her in Seattle!

I love my Seattle Girl-Jake

Caleb Sanford! Caleb is DADDY! He is broody, grumpy at times. Caleb definitely had his walls up throughout the book. I loved that Rachel and Jake were able to help realize just how loveable he is. Caleb has always been in love with Jake and it was amazing to see them come to that realization together and become more than just friends. Rachel tests Caleb's limits and pushes him out of this comfort zone! I loved seeing his dominate side come out when all four of them were playing together!

"Hey Hurriance"-Caleb

Ilmari, where do I even start? I wanted Ilmari the moment he came onto the scene. He is the perfect book boyfriend. He is quiet and keeps to him the first half of the book. He is broody and doesn't let people into his bubble. He doesn't hang out with the team or participate in group activities. Rachel and Ilmari have such an amazing connection. She taught him how to expect peoples love! He found his chosen family with Rachel, Jake and Caleb. This man had me melting when he spoke to Rachel in Finnish!

RAKAS!-Ilmari

HOLY SPICE BATMAN!!!! KITCHEN SCENE CHAPTERS 55-56 ENOUGH SAID! The spice is in book was TOP TIER!!! Definitely 100/10

I have never highlighted a book as much as had with Pucking Around! Every scene just keep getting better and better! I loved all of the side characters! I can't wait for Pucking Wild! Tess and Ryan!