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!

✨”I see you, mun leijona. They see you too,”…..“You would brave any danger for those you love. Climb any mountain, leap from any clifftop. A love like yours is wild and dangerous. You need men who will not seek to harness you or break your spirit.”

“You need men who will protect you. Who will provide a safe space for you to love as freely as your heart will allow. We are those men.”

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ Hockey Romance 🎧📖

✨Y’all!!! I recently read Pucking Around & the prequel novella, That One Night by Emily Rath and oh my sweet, spicy, swoony gods were they amazing! I listened 🎧to both of these stories on audio as I read along on kindle and let me tell you, the narration was top tier perfection!

I went into this story expecting a fun, sweet, and spicy why choose hockey romance, and I certainly got that! What I did not necessarily anticipate was falling so completely in love with these characters, their individual stories and experiences, their care for one another, and the family they form.

✨The level of emotional vulnerability, self exploration, love, and swoon was SO incredibly beautiful as each relationship felt fully explored for these well developed characters. I still can not fully put into words how much this story squeezed my heart in all the best ways 🥹 and the spice?! Whew!!!!🥵

🏒Why Choose/Poly Love 💜 🏒The BEST Found Family 🏡 🏒All the Chili Peppers Spice! 🌶️ 🏒Second Chance Romance 💝

✨It goes without saying that I definitely recommend this story to those who enjoy spicy and swoony why choose hockey romances! Pucking Around is available on KU and audio💃🏽

*On The Prequel -That One Night: This prequel was amazing and although it’s not a required read before Pucking Around, I feel like it added so much more swoon to the story for me. I would highly recommend the read before Pucking Around.

I appreciate the tropes, tags, and content warning at the beginning of this book. It is very well done and makes me even more interested to read it, but it may only be for some. The author really included some superb info at the beginning of this book. It is well thought out, and I appreciate it.

Rachel is a hot mess, but she met her dream guy and then left him to get her dream fellowship placement. I can't wait to see how this new life pans out for her. I like the funny moments and the relatable content with the main character. The mature content starts early and will leave you gasping in shock, but it is fabulous.

Caleb, the hot hockey player, is delighted to pick up Rachel from the airport and deal with her hot mess. Caleb is the Assistant Equipment Manager for the team and a surfer boy at heart. I love his nickname for Rachel. He is a true knight in shining armor.

I love it when the author uses double entendres. It makes it so fun to read. Her new life and new job just collided with her dreams. I love the interconnected relationships and characters. It makes it so much more fun to read when they get surprised. I thought the chemistry with Caleb was hot; Jake is even more desirable, and the history between them is smoking. What will she do?

I love that the author incorporates fun, relaxed, steamy scenes and some angsty tension. I suspected, but now it is confirmed, and I can't wait to see where the story goes with that info. Rachel is a bombshell in this book, going from timid to on fire. This storyline definitely takes a turn for the sauna, and I have no clue how it all works out, but I'll enjoy the sizzling scenes. Jake and Caleb are not quite what I expected, but they also work. This story is all kinds of kinky, naughty, and erotic. I am still determining what will happen. But this is definitely gonna burn up your Kindle.

Omg, the small-world connections continue and amaze you at the same time. As if two weren't enough, let's add in a third, and wow, the author doesn't spare the kinky details. The polyamorous relationship is very steamy in this book, but I love the story anyway. From heartbreaking fears to heart-wrenching moments on the ice, the author brings you back to reality and leaves you gasping. I love all the characters, from the firm but scared doctor to the stoic goalie and, of course, Caleb and Jake as well.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ An equal amount of a good story with steamy spice. I had my doubts going into this because it’s quite infamous in both the Booktok community and the NHL fan community. Nevertheless, it was fun, interesting, and all 3 male leads stole my heart just as easily as they did with the fmc Rachel. The only issue I had was probably Rachel’s character, for someone who constantly mentioned that she was a doctor, she sure didn’t seem like it? I work in healthcare too, and this girl just gave me physical therapist vibes. It truly didn’t feel like her career matched with her, she had way too much free time on her hands to be a budding new doctor, but I guess her excuse in the book was that she didn’t really need the money anyways (rockstar’s daughter) and she just wanted to help people (I don’t buy it). There were quite a few cringey moments too, like I can’t imagine telling my boss my astrological sign and using it as an excuse for the way I behaved (please don’t do this). Also, me and the reverse harem trope are old friends, but why was this so focused on being emotionally charged with indecision and angst, I wasn’t prepared at all for the angst about being accepted, being judged, and if they were all going to stay together drama. It has never felt that uncomfortable in other reverse harem works before, why did it feel this way now? The one thing I did really love were the boys. I could gobble up all their content, all day long for how amazing they were, and their character developments were all so peak. Caleb, from the start he was the more reserved and closed off in the group, but he became such a sweetheart, a level-headed man keeping them altogether. Jake, I loved him since I first read his pov and I realized that I’m hooked now, and I have to go read their Seattle night together soon. Mars, he was amazing and more close to my ideal type of guy, I loved how shy and solitary he was in the beginning, but he ended up becoming such a loving and affectionate partner in the end. I loved these guys so much and I honestly wished I was Rachel, she just doesn’t know how much of a lucky fmc she is. I am planning to find out more though because there are two happy ever after volumes after this!

I liked this book but wouldn’t say I loved this book. It did feel like certain aspects went on and on while others were rushed. I gave it 3 ⭐️ because the storyline was overloaded with unnecessary repeats of Rachel’s worries. I also thought that while I liked Ilmari (Mars), his character was unnecessary. I felt like the storyline of Jake and Caleb could have been explored further and would have been just as interesting. I’m actually pretty disappointed that there was such little focus on their families and storylines. I wanted more backstory and more of their families involved. The trope was fun and all but it was rushed. At 700 pages, there could have been way more drama and storyline but this author focused more on using filler words and drawing out spicy scenes. Don’t get me wrong, the spice 🌶️ was great, but so many fillers of “does he love me” or “the press and my past will ruin us”.

I’m more excited for book 2 because I at such large books, I want the drama and suspense and hope that comes from book 2.

I would say this is a 3.5 star read for me! I think Emily Rath did a great job and crafting three men that I fell in love with! I seriously loved each of the guys so much and loved as more of their relationship unfolded. This was definitely a spice driven plot and it was spicy! I personally prefer a plot driven spice and I did feel like it became too much at one point. Some of the dialogue during these scenes also had me cringing haha. I think the book did a great job at really showcasing a polyamorous relationship and really tackling that topic as a whole! It was so intriguing to see how they all worked together as a family! I do think it could have been shorter for sure! Overall it was a good read. Nothing crazy amazing but definitely entertaining and easy!