Bad Pucking Influence

Colorado Bulldogs #2

by Michele Lenard

Thor meets Tony Hawk in this comedic, low-angst/high spice MM romance about a serious hockey goalie who is drawn out of his shell by a bratty skateboarder, a dare involving cake, and a lesson in how to use joysticks-for video games of course.

On the surface, I’ve got it all. I’m the starting goalie and Captain of the Colorado Bulldogs hockey team. I’ve got more money than I know what to do with. I can count an entire team of elite athletes as my friends. And according to the pundits, I’m an eligible bachelor.

That's the image everyone sees, but it’s just a role I play. A part dictated by my career. I have to be just as perfect off the ice as I am on it since everything I do reflects on my team in some way or another. So, those questions I have about why I don’t crave sexual contact the way my teammates do–questions I’m afraid to ask with the world watching… I decided a long time ago it didn’t make sense to look for answers until after I retire.

Then I ran into him.

Tripp is loud, obnoxious, and full of confidence. Some people find his sass off-putting, but not me. I find it intriguing, and I admire his ability to be himself, consequences be damned. Apparently, I also admire the way he looks, since my eyes seem to linger on him longer than they should, and when he sets his sights on me…

Waiting for retirement to explore who I am seems like too big a sacrifice, so when Tripp offers to help me answer some of those questions about myself, I jump.

I'm tired of pretending to be Mr. Perfect… Tripp and his playboy antics might be just the thing I need to figure out who I am outside of hockey. The only problem is, everyone–including our mutual friends–see him as a bad pucking influence.

Updated to correct a corrupt file issue that impacted formatting. Bad Pucking Influence is a low-angst, high-spice MM romance featuring a hockey player and a brat, not a hockey book featuring a romance. Fans of bratty playboys and gentle giants will enjoy this light-hearted, steamy yet touching love story.

Genres: M M Romance, Hockey, Sports, Sports Romance, Romance, Contemporary, Hockey Romance

281 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 7, 2023

About the author

Michele writes contemporary romance that is both sweet and steamy. Her goal is to make you fan your face as you wipe a tear from your eye. Several of her books have been named as finalists in the MARA Fiction From the Homeland contest. Her books are part of a series but there are no cliffhangers so each can be read as a standalone. When she isn't reading or writing she enjoys the outdoors, something that pops up in her books from time to time.

Reviews

[Brooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️ 4.5 stars ⭐️

Hockey player vs flirty skaterboi.

I’m so glad we got Noah and Tripp’s story, ‘cause this was hot & sexy, emotional, heart-warming and absolutely fun.

I liked the author’s approach to Noah’s sexuality.
Recently, authors have been throwing around demisexuality and asexuality without really knowing what they’re talking about, so seeing it discussed with a little more attention was refreshing. I also appreciated the fact Noah decided not to label himself, saying that having Tripp was all that mattered. I think Tripp expressed it perfectly in this quote:

“The point is, sex isn’t black and white, it’s a gradient. Maybe you won’t like cock as much tonight as you did last night. Maybe you’ll like it more. Either way, it’s not like you have to label yourself afterward, and even if you did, there’s no rule that says you have to stay with that label forever.”

The smut was so fire. Michele Lenard managed to make a simple handjob a hundred times hotter than most kinky things I’ve read.
The way she described the scene where Noah was slowly and curiously touching Tripp, ooomygoddd it was mind-melting.
It just goes to show what a difference good writing makes, and I gotta say I extremely enjoy this author’s style.

Tropes and NSFW info (spoilers):
- MC with tattoos
- Queer awakening
- Caretaking after minor injury
- Hurt/comfort
- Mentions of homophobia and parental neglect
- Vers MCs
- Frotting
- jerk-off instructions (one MC masturbates while the other tells him what to do) 🔥

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I can't put my finger on exactly which part of this reads like MF with the F pronouns swapped to M but maybe the lack of prep and the overall vibe? There's a lot of mentions of "channels" and "cores" during sex, there's no ass eating or anything that feels like it's a scene with 2 cis men... idk it just seems off and it doesn't feel like it's an MM book. I amused myself by catching as many typos as I could (10). The best one was "boyfriendvile" instead of "boyfriendville". Kind of summed up this dismal book for me. I will continue reading because book 3 is why I'm here in the first place. I'm hoping it gets a bit better. This book had the increased depth I was looking for from book 1, now if only we can make book 3 feel MM and interesting I will be very happy.

[Ro {semi-hiatus} · Rating 3 out of 5]

idk i technically dnf this by 60%... i just started skimming to get to the end. firstly i think something is wrong with the KU formatting cos there were like three copies of the book in one. it's not my app because i checked other books so idk what happened but it was confusing to have my chapters jump around. i got to what i thought was the epilogue just to see it went back to chapter 10. maybe just a glitch when i borrowed it but that's neither here nor there.

i found Tripp and Noah to be entirely unconvincing. they had way more chemistry in book one than what was being served in here... maybe it's because the fooling around happens so early on? like three scenes before my kindle showed i'd reached 10%. it made it really unbelievable and i imagine that's even more so the case if you skip reading the first book for some reason.

Noah was okay, but he bored me. he's not a virgin but might as well be one. i usually foam at the mouth for the Gay For You trope but this one just made me roll my eyes. there was a lot of telling and not enough showing the vibe between the two. they went from Noah watching Tripp skate to Tripp falling and then inviting Noah to stay with him. and then Noah hurts himself so Tripp becomes his nurse. it was reeeally putting the "force" in forced proximity. and Tripp's constant, "i wanna fuck a hockey player. Noah better not get clingy. i never want a boyfriend. i have so many walls up. my blonde hair hides the fact that NO ONE CAN GET CLOSE TO ME EVER!!!! my secrets are so hidden within my very high walls. did i mention i keep everyone at arm's length?" was grating to my nerves. after skimming, i got the gist of why but it didn't make it any less insufferable.

i'm bummed w this one but you win some, you lose some. i gave this 2.5 stars overall bcs i would def read something similar and this wasn't written poorly or anything. it just didn't hit for me and that's fine. so even tho this was a dud, i am looking forward to seeing Justus and Luca at some point. x

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thin plot, lots of steam. Predictable. I preferred book 1. I found the internal monologue and repetitive discussions about labels while Noah is discovering his sexuality to be tiring. Once again there was a lot of page time spent on repeated scenes and analysing thoughts whereas other things that I thought would have been good to see on page were glossed over

My ebook seemed to be faulty and had the book repeated twice so the percentage indicator at the bottom was very confusing. At the end of the book it still said I had 6hrs to go so as I was nearing the end I was thinking how can I possibly still have so much more to read, I need to DnF this! And then it ended at “30%” so just something to keep in mind if this happens to others.

[Jane aka Coughy019 (Safety info included) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tropes: forced proximity, opposites attract, bi and demi awakening
Feels: 3/5
Steam*: 3/5
Kinks: n/a
Angst: low
HEA: yes
Pairing: MM
Triggers/potential icks/content warnings: homophobia, abusive parents, homelessness in past, panic attacks

3.5 stars

Noah is 33. He is the captain and goalie of an NHL hockey team. He has never had a high sex drive but it's put off analyzing things because he's busy with his hockey career. Over the last year, Tripp has been in his periphery. Tripp is the best friend of his teammate Niko's boyfriend Xander. Noah keeps finding that his attention is drawn to Tripp, Tripp is making him feel things and he doesn't understand what it is. Noah is about to have a bi and Demi awakening. He's not afraid of his sexuality. He doesn't have anyone to disappoint in his mind. His parents passed away in a car accident 8 years ago. His hockey career is almost over because his age is getting up there.

Tripp is 26 and a very unashamed out there personality. He has had a crush on Noah since they met. He's constantly flirted with Noah and the other hockey players because he's a big flirt. He's afraid of relationships, he only does one night stands. His parents kicked him out at 16 for being gay. After almost a year of being in Noah's periphery, he starts noticing that Noah is looking at him with attraction and he decides to proposition him and offer him a chance to experiment and figure out his sexuality with him. As long as they can keep it as f*** buddies with no feelings. But then Noah gets hurt and needs some help around the house and with them living together, things get intense. But Tripp is in denial.

This was an okay book. However I didn't like how Tripp was constantly running from Noah. His internal monologue was very negative and anti-feelings up until like 75% through the book. So it was really unromantic to hear Tripp thinking about Noah being clingy and panicking at the idea of a relationship with him and wanting to run for so darn long. I couldn't really fully enjoy the dynamic between them. I wish Tripp had started being honest with himself and be more in touch with his feelings earlier. One of the things that I really loved about book one in this series was how open, honest, vulnerable Niko was and how early it was clear that they had feelings and that the other person was a priority to Niko. I was really missing that in this book.

And also I think that Tripp needed to share his motivations for not having a relationship earlier so that the reader could sympathize with him a bit more. Because I just couldn't even feel that bad for him. I also thought it was too much of a coincidence how Tripp ran into his parents at the end. And it was unrealistic that the NHL would not help out Noah in his recovery from his injury just because he got injured outside of work - you would think that they would have a vested interest in him getting well quickly and returning to work, recovering the right way. I also thought it was unrealistic how few references there were two Tripp working. It wasn't really until the 69% that you got to see that he has been working at his day job all along.

What I did like about it though was that it was an interesting plot, low angst, Noah was sweet, their friend group was funny. Xander and Niko really stole the show when they appeared.

Some notable moments:

I love how desperate Niko is "“Guys, we have to play for the cup.” Niko clears his throat and turns a near desperate gaze on all of us. “Uh, don’t we do that every year?” Justus asks. “Yeah, but the only way Xander will wear my jersey is if we make it to the final round.” “Xander, what would your father say?” Luca scolds, which makes sense since Xander’s dad is our coach. “He’d pat me on the back for finding a way to motivate Niko.”"

This was unhinged and funny "He dismisses me with a wave of his hand. “You need a bodysuit made out of bubble wrap. That way if you fall over there’s no damage, just a cool sound. Ooh…” He looks at me with wide eyes that are a little too green with mischief. “If you wear it while we’re fucking, we could make some pretty cool music. Can’t you hear it? Pop, pop, pop, moan. Pop, pop, grunt. I’d listen to that all day long. I’d probably get fired for having a perpetual boner, or at the very least I’d make an excellent case for why I should be allowed to work from home. Do you have any recording equipment? I have editing software but not recording equipment. Why are you crying?”"


*FYI about steam: I rate steam based on a combination of quality & quantity. I note kink separate from steam because I don't want to underrate steamy reads that don't have much kink.

**Note about spoilers: I like to comment on the plot of a book in reviews, so I almost always mark my reviews as containing spoilers. But I try to avoid spoiling the big dramatic moments! As a reader, I personally like to know what I'm getting into before I read a book so I know more about the content and if it's to my taste/mood, so I try to give that information in my reviews for myself when I'm considering rereading and also for other readers.

[S.K. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story was an absolute hoot! I don’t think there was a single sexual thought that crossed Tripp’s mind that he didn’t let out of his mouth and I am SO here for it. As was Noah.

I really enjoyed reading this journey of discovery – for both men – as Noah realises that he isn’t broken just because he’s not wired the same way as other people, and Tripp realises that letting somebody in might just be worth it. I enjoyed the background characters and will be looking out for books featuring them. The sex scenes were numerous, entertaining and inventive (just as Tripp likes them!), and the small side plot near the end didn’t derail things which I was pleased about.

I very much enjoyed reading this and will definitely be looking for more by this author.

I received an ARC from GRR.

[HarriReadsRoMMance · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun loving outrageous Tripp, at first glance, comes across as quite laid back and happy go lucky but it quickly becomes clear that he has secrets and he is not willing to discuss them. Not even with Xander who is his closest friend. Noah is such a sweetheart who has a lot of questions he has been avoiding getting the answers to regarding his sexuality. Tripp is attracted to Noah from the moment they meet but believes him to be straight so while constantly prodding him he doesn’t really believe he has a shot with him. Once the physical line is crossed they are full steam ahead in that department leading to some very spicy reading. However, due to his mysterious history Tripp is only interested in the physical and Noah isn’t too sure what to do about that.

I really enjoyed the book and found the characters are likable. I also liked the journey Noah goes on to discover his sexuality/identity. I found Tripp’s inner monolouge on not wanting a relationship, not letting anyone close ever (even platonically), repetitive which is a shame as it kept pulling me out of the story. Looking forward to the next one.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

[Alex (HEABookNerd) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted to like BAD PUCKING INFLUENCE more but it never quite got there for me. I liked both Tripp and Noah as individual characters and I definitely believed they were in lust but I don't think the story ever accurately showed the transition to love. This was made even more glaring because Noah realizes he's demisexual and is only interested in sex with people he has an emotional connection to but I never felt the emotional connection. They have sex but barely share anything personal until the very end when they've already decided to date. Tripp had so many walls up to protect himself from heartbreak that it never felt like he actually fell for Noah, rather he just enjoyed having sex with him and fell into a routine.

Additionally, I'm not sure on the demisexual/asexual rep in this one; it seemed to hinge a lot on Noah feeling like he was "broken" and that once he was able to have sex with Tripp he was "fixed". On a positive note, I loved the camaraderie between the teammates and I am looking forward to reading the next book, which I'm hoping will be about our exhibitionist hockey player Luca.

Content Warning: homophobic parents

[Carra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Noah and Tripp are one of my favorite couples that I’ve come across in all the books I’ve read this year. Tripp’s out-and-proud, raunchy, flirty attitude is a great match to Noah’s more laid-back, serious, thoughtful self. Neither of them are really expecting anything to come from Tripp’s teasing, especially Noah.

Tripp’s exuberant personality and no-relationships lifestyle mean that no one, even his closest friends, gets to see more than what is on the surface. He doesn’t let people in behind the scenes to find out where he comes from and what he’s gone through in his past.

Noah has dated a bit here and there, but for the most part he has been concentrating on his hockey career. He doesn’t really connect with anyone intimately in any meaningful way, but he’s never given much thought about it, figuring he’d have plenty of time after his hockey career was over to find someone.

Tripp and Noah fall into a casual friendship, which eventually leads to Tripp helping Noah figure out his sexuality. It was almost mesmerizing following along as Noah comes into so many realizations about himself on his quintessential journey of self discovery. He learns a lot about himself and what he likes, which was really satisfying as a reader.

Tripp, being someone who shuns relationships, still forms a strong connection with Noah, something he tries hard to avoid but still winds up being constantly drawn back into. We do get to finally peek behind the curtain into his past, which also provides a very satisfying resolution.

I really enjoyed this story, and am giving this 4.5 stars. It is focused heavily on Noah’s journey, but there’s enough hockey time to satisfy those who want it. If you’re here for the intimate scenes, you will not be disappointed—there are quite a few, and they are hot and spicy, but they do contribute to Noah’s self discovery so are really not gratuitous. Given these scenes and the adult language, this book is recommended for readers 18+.

[Vicky.lovesreading · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bad Pucking Influence by Michele Lenard

5⭐️
3.5🌶️

Tropes

Sports romance
Opposites attract
S*xual awakening
M/M romance
Forced proximity
Friends to lovers
Secret romance

Tripp is unapologetically himself, he doesn’t try to make himself fit in. Instead he actively is obnoxious at times to filter people out. Noah is the team captain and the “perfect role model”. He always strives to do his best and has a strict work ethic. He isn’t bothered by Tripp’s flirting or excuses to get his hands on him. I’m fact, Noah is curious of Tripp. He can’t stop watching him, he thinks he has an ethereal beauty especially as he watched him on his skateboard.

Noah isn’t sure if he is attracted to Tripp or not. He hasn’t been in a relationship or hooked up with anyone for a long time and previously he has only been with women. I loved how sensitive the story was and how Tripp helped Noah explore his s*xuality. I also liked that Noah didn’t feel ashamed of his feelings, that he was unbothered by what others thought of him. I felt that was very refreshing. He also had good support around him when he told his close teammates.

Noah and Tripp bring out the best in each other. Tripp’s character development was perfect. He learned how to let others in, what a supportive relationship looked like, that it’s okay to rely on others and that love might be scary but it’s also amazing.

The story is told from a dual pov which I believe adds depth to the overall story. It was great to read about Xander and Niko and I recommend reading their story before reading this one for better reader enjoyment.

I highly recommend reading this book and am excited for the next book to be released.

[Tammy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Massive thanks to the author & Candi Kane PR for the gifted copy, which I voluntarily read & reviewed.

Bad Pucking Influence by Michele Lenard is a wickedly sexy & highly entertaining romance between a NHL goalie & the coach’s son’s best friend. This is book #2 in the Colorado Bulldogs series, but could easily be read as a standalone. If you read the first one though, you will definitely remember & be ecstatic for Tripp’s story.

Bad Pucking Influence is perfect for fans of…
🥅 Hockey Romance
🥅 MM Romance
🥅 Opposites Attract
🥅 Forced Proximity

This is such a beautiful & unique story in which the captain of the Colorado Bulldogs is finally taking the time outside of hockey to discover who he is, what he wants & who he is attracted to for the first time. Insert Tripp. He is outrageously bold & just fantastically himself in the best way while also always avoiding relationships. They are such an intriguing pairing & it was so lovely watching what they brought out in each other. This is a gorgeous story of discovering one’s sexuality, the fluidity of it & the importance of learning & loving oneself. It also showed coming to terms with past trauma & the power of opening oneself to love whether that is through found family or true love.

I cannot say enough good things about this series. It’s funny. It’s sweet. It’s several hot peppers spicy. It’s beautiful. & it’s heartwarming.

I love this series. I cannot wait to read the next one & I am beyond curious & excited to see what happens next!

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

*ARC COPY Book Review**

"Being less than perfect but still trying to set a good example gives them something achievable to work toward.”

Bad Pucking Influence by Michele Lenard is for those of us still trying to find our true selves and the ones who didn't discover it until we were older...wanting to connect with that side that has been hidden most of our lives...and learning that we don't have rely on a label..that sexuality is fluid..that we all don't have to be on the same page with everyone else...that it is an ever changing thing...we grow and learn each and every day..that there is that one person out there that calls to our heart and soul...and that brings out the best in us..who helps us be comfortable in our own skin..and accepts the whole person..that person may be your complete and total opposite but they are your true other half...the one who makes you truly happy..and you discover a love that you never experienced and didn't think you would ever have..no matter how hard you tried to stay away from it..

Noah and Tripp's story is a fun opposites attract...sexual awakening...with an obnoxious and unfiltered MC that hides his truth, Tripp...confused hockey goalie wanting to find his place on the sexual spectrum, Noah...a fuck buddy arrangement where feelings quickly develop despite protests..and fun, steamy spicy times...

Thank you so much Michele Lenard for the honor of reading an ARC COPY..and I have to say I feel called out on zooming sweatpants pictures BTW..🤣😂😉...but like Tripp said anyone who loves dick does it..🤣

[Chiara · Rating 2 out of 5]

idk, I liked these two much more as side characters in the first book and I found myself skim-reading after the 50% mark. There just wasn’t a lot that captivated me and Tripp was SOOO annoying with his constant boo I don’t do relationships-spiel

[Nina · Rating 3 out of 5]

There were actually several things about this one I didn’t particularly like or agree with, but despite those things, I kinda couldn’t stop reading it and blew through it in a day. Clearly it was still enough to grab and keep my attention despite the issues I had with it… hence the 3⭐️.

[Welshbookaholic · Rating 4 out of 5]

cute

This book was sweet. I loved Noah (Thor) he was such a baby girl. I do wish we’d had more time with Tripps parent situation but it was a super cute story and these two were hottttt

[Jess.bookrecs · Rating 4 out of 5]

I expected way more angst than this but honestly I had so much fun laughing and smiling coupled with the fact that I ran through this fast. I’m not mad about it

[Annabel · Rating 2 out of 5]

You can be on the asexual spectrum while also having and enjoying sex, they are not mutually exclusive. Just like arousal does not equal sexual attraction - they often occur together but they are not the same thing.

I say that because the rep in this book might lead you to believe otherwise. Which is why, after about page 50 it’s very bad.

Tripp knows the word Asexual and talks about big game about sexuality being a spectrum but he clearly knows nothing about the asexual spectrum beyond its name and his assumptions: that you automatically aren’t ace if you’ve ever had sex, that he would know better than Noah if he was demi - very gross. Tripp thinking he wanted to fix Noah (by fucking him) so he can go “enjoy sex the way nature intended” with other men made me want to vomit.

Noah isn’t necessarily experiencing sexual attraction towards Tripp because he’s aroused by him and engaging in sexual acts.

[Miss S. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I knew I'd love Tripp's story 🥰

Tripp and Noah are so cute together, but I was there for Tripp. I loved his energy and free spirit, and felt bad for the struggles he had to overcome.

This book has some of my favorite things, like Tripp being a total playboy before Noah, the bi-awakening (or demi, or something), the first times, the swoons and the spice, oh and the slight possesiness. Loved it!

[Valeen Robertson (Live Thru Books Blog) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazon



Noah's finding out he's not as straight as he had always assumed. Tripp is Noah's opposite, he's out, proud, and unapologetic about being himself. He's the last person Noah had ever thought he'd be interested in, but he's finding himself increasingly drawn to him, and it puzzles him. He hasn't felt an interest in anyone in so long, and Tripp, a guy, isn't normally someone he'd picture himself with. But Tripp's open to exploring a no strings, no feelings thing with him, who is Noah to say no to figuring out himself and what he wants? He just has to make sure he doesn't let his heart get involved, because Tripp is adamant about there being no feelings, no relationship, nothing but fun.



Tripp made a promise to himself after his parents kicked him out at 16, that he'd never be ashamed of liking men. And he's definitely not ashamed of the way he lives his life. But he doesn't do relationships with them, he just has fun, then moves on. It's better that way, with no feelings, so no way of getting his heart broken. But when a hot hockey player he's nicknamed Thor, comes along, he's suddenly wondering if it's possible to break his own rules. Playing nurse for Noah, being in such close proximity, is messing with Tripp's mind, and heart. Will he let Noah in, or push him away like he always does?



Tripp and Noah end up being a cute couple, even if they aren't actually one for very long. I have to admit I was mostly annoyed with Tripp's insistence on no feelings, it felt disingenuous, as if he was just deliberately making things difficult for both Noah and himself. But once he had that awful encounter with his parents, and his backstory came out, I found myself understanding him much better, and forgiving him for his ridiculous behavior for much of the story. I wanted them to get together a lot sooner, though, and it made me have to put this behind Niko and Xander in terms of how much I enjoyed the story and the couple. I did end up liking the story, though, their hot chemistry, and am glad the two of them finally got on the same page and got together officially. I'm not sure whose story is next, perhaps Luca's? I'm definitely looking forward to him falling in love.



ARC provided by Candi Kane PR for an honest review.

Review / Blog Tour: Live Through Books Blog.

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[Lady Macbeth]

DNF at 37%
I tried, I really tried, but I have to admit defeat.
This story was making me uncomfortable: Tripp kept puhing and pushing Noah, asking questions he clearly doesn't have the answers to yet and demanding him to label himself. The author describes Noah being nervous, wringing his fingers and yet Trip keeps asking question: he's being mean and not at all supportive of a man who already admitted to be confused about his sexuality. I don't see any connections between them.
I try to finish all the Arcs I got, but this story wasn't for me, I expected something totally different, especially bacuse I really really loved the first book of this series and I was waiting for Noah and Tripp to be finally together.

[Stacey · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s so sweet yet so powerful, I feel like I’m melting and flying at the same time. Invincible and vulnerable, but not scared like I was earlier. Not with Noah. He makes me feel…whole.

Bad Pucking Influence is such a fun, spicy read, with two characters who are complete opposites but who work perfectly together.

Michele Lenard's upcoming release is a wonderful sexual awakening tale that shows that you don't always have to have everything figured out early on in life.

Sexuality is fluid, desires change, or they ebb and flow, and that's okay. As Tripp says: "Sex isn’t black and white, it’s a gradient... it's not like you have to label yourself afterward, and even if you did, there’s no rule that says you have to stay with that label forever.”

Hockey star Noah Tremblay is a thirty-something who is trying to figure himself out. He hasn't felt sexual attraction to anyone for years. So why can't he take his eyes off Tripp Cooper?

Tripp is a skater boy who works in video production and who keeps everything and everyone, including his best friend, Xander, at a surface level. No one truly knows the real Tripp. They see what he wants them to see; a sex-crazy, crude, playful rogue. But this man has many layers and scars under the surface. It's much easier to protect himself if he doesn't let anyone get too close.

When Noah goes to stay with Tripp after a skating fall, the pair grows closer, and Tripp gallantly offers Noah the chance to see if he can become sexually aroused. He's so altruistic!

What this leads to is some delicious exploration between the two of them. Noah seems to be demisexual, and I loved how patient, understanding, and non-judgemental Tripp was with him through everything.

"I’ve always found it easy to talk to you. To be myself. I think because you’re so unapologetically…you.” Noah waves his hand over me from head to toe. “You made me comfortable enough to be me.”

As the pair grow closer after an injury leaves Tripp looking after his man, Tripp is still convincing himself they are just friends with benefits. But I loved seeing his little possessive streaks appear, especially around Luca, Noah's teammate.

“We’ll figure something out.” Figure something out? Does that mean… Whoa, did I just flare my nostrils?

I loved his obliviousness! 🤣

Thankfully, these two, particularly Tripp, realised how perfect they were for each other and how Noah would always have his back.

'While I still have my moments of panic, deep down I know he’ll be there to help me get through it. That my man will do anything for me, because he loves me. He loves me. And I totally, completely, unequivocally, love him.'

The pacing, the humour, the heat, the sweetness, and love all combined to make Bad Pucking Influence a really fun, heartfelt book. It's low-angst, it's sweet, it's spicy, and you really should read it when it releases on November 7th.

Many thanks to Michele Lenard for allowing me to ARC read this fabulous book.

[WycEd Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Check out our full post for BAD PUCKING INFLUENCE on Wicked Reads.

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Veronica – ☆☆☆☆☆
BAD PUCKING INFLUENCE pulled me in right from the start. I was captivated by Noah's lack of interest in sex and also by his fascination with Tripp. On the surface, it doesn’t seem like Tripp, a skateboarder and artist, would be matched with hockey star Noah but Tripp’s easy-going attitude to sex and his open mindedness make him the perfect match for Noah. I loved how Tripp gave Noah permission to explore and see what worked from him and to learn what he wanted.

This is a romance that gets a five-star rating just for the hotness alone. This story, particularly early on, has lots of incredibly tantalizing scenes. I loved the romance and experiencing the personal growth of both Noah and Tripp. About halfway through the story, there is an unexpected event that provided a change of direction and also an opportunity for our couple. I loved that the story was able to surprise me. I really enjoyed the way the story evolved and while there is some drama, there is not much angst.

I’m a huge lover of m/m ice hockey romances and BAD PUCKING INFLUENCE was top notch. I adored Tripp and Noah, and I didn’t want their story to end. I had not read the first book in this series but as soon as I finished BAD PUCKING INFLUENCE, I immediately purchased book one and I’ve pre-ordered book three. The author, Michele Lenard, has a new fan in me.

Reviewers received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads.

[Lily · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun, low angst sports romance, where we return to the Colorado Bulldogs for Noah and Tripp’s story. I really enjoyed the first book with Niko and Xander, so I was looking forward to reading the second instalment. I will say that the first is still my favourite, but I really liked this one too.

Tripp and Noah are the definition of opposites attract. Noah is the quieter, more stoic of the two, completely unsure of who he really is outside of his hockey career. Cue Tripp. He is outgoing, loudmouthed, and overly comfortable in his sexuality - and he’s not afraid to let anyone know about it, either. So when Noah wants to explore his sexuality further, or if he even has one at all, who better to show him than the cocky skater boy?

At the beginning, there were times that Tripp was even a little too much for me as a reader, so I don’t know how Xander and the others coped with him on a regular basis. But as I read on, it was easy to see beyond the facade he uses in front of others - not to mention the reason why. The author gives us great insight into why Tripp is the way he is, and why he holds people at arm’s length without ever letting things get too series. He’s the ultimate commitmentphobe and is terrified of letting anybody in.

Meanwhile, Noah just wants to be cared for and have someone to care for in return. He wants to know he has someone worth coming home to after he retires from the ice, and honestly, the last person I expected that to be was Tripp. But as with any opposites attract story, these two were pretty perfect for one another.

What starts as a FWB situation soon turns into more after a little accident involving a sprained ankle, and a whole lot of forced proximity. I mean, how could Tripp not fall for the big cinnamon roll Thor lookalike? Not to mention, Noah is actually really attentive to Tripps thoughts and feelings, especially as their relationship develops into something more, and once we find out what really happened to make Tripp the way he is.

Ultimately, this was a great story with some great characters. I was really happy to see some tidbits of Niko and Xander again, as well as Luca and Justus. Plus the spice and chemistry between Noah and Tripp? Phew, turn your air conditioning on, because things get hot. I’m looking forward to Bad Pucking Roommate next, which I’m hoping sees exhibitionist Luca corrupting sweet, naive Justus a little bit.

[Marni Ortiz · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading Bad Pucking Timing ,I thought to myself ( there’s no way anything can beat this . Well I’m here to tell you I was wrong so freaking wrong. Bad Pucking Influences is Tripp and Noah’s Journey and it really was an emotional rollercoaster in every single way . There’s so much more to these two then you think , so many layers you are going to love getting to know . There is an undeniable attraction between them , no really sparks fly whenever there in the vicinity of each other . But this is not your typical hearts and flowers romance. The twist is that Noah is Straight and Tripp is not ( or is he ? Things chance when fate steps in and forces them to spend time together, what does their future hold ? l I really was just taken on the ride of my life and completely blown away in all the best ways . Michelle nailed it and delivered one of the best books I’ve read this year . Bad Pucking Influence was and is everything, i mean everything. It’s an emotional rollercoasters that plays on all your emotions in ways you won’t even be expecting. You’ll experience everything from being utterly speechless, to yelling outta pure frustration. Your heart will feel like it’s beating so fast and then bam being crushed with tears streaming down your face , you’ll be glued to the edge of your seat anticipating what will happen from one second to the next . And you’ll find yourself rooting so freaking hard . Angst , humor , witty banter , unexpected surprises, heartbreaking and heartfelt moments, love , passion, obstacles, secrets, obstacles, acceptance, finding yourself, family, friendships, second chances, wonderfully written characters, fantastic world building and so much more

[Dear Reader 0801 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is book 2 in the Colorado Bulldogs series and my first read by this author. It’s a hockey meets skateboarder romance and although I didn’t read book 1, I didn’t feel too lost in the series. It’s a steamy romance with lots of back and forth banter between the two main characters. Noah is the sweet star goalie to the sassy and snarky Tripp who is an artist while also skateboarding.

Noah and Tripp have mutual friends who are currently dating (Xander and Niko from book 1). Tripps’s constant flirting results in Tripp offering to help Noah out in more ways than one. Noah experiences an awakening of his identity and learns more about himself through his connections with Tripp. Tripp is patient and understanding as he helps Noah work out these questions he has about attraction. Tripp is used to casual hookups and he’s conflicted at the thought of pursuing something with Noah. Emotions and relationships are things he doesn’t do but something about Noah seems to change his view on that.

Noah and Tripp definitely have a lot of steam in their connection with one another. It’s not until a little later in the book that I felt Tripp open up to the idea of something more with Noah and I felt their emotional connection a lot more towards the end of the book. Some surprises definitely show up in the book and Tripp’s character really grew on me over the course of the story.

I’m looking forward to more from this series. I have a feeling we will be seeing more of Luca with whatever “arrangement” he has going on. I also plan on going back and reading Xander and Nico’s story., I read a complimentary copy of this book and this is my honest and fair review.

[Veronica · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book.

BAD PUCKING INFLUENCE pulled me in right from the start. I was captivated by Noah's lack of interest in sex and also by his fascination with Tripp. On the surface, it doesn’t seem like Tripp, a skateboarder and artist, would be matched with hockey star Noah but Tripps’ easy going attitude to sex and his open mindedness make him the perfect match for Noah. I loved how Tripp gave Noah permission to explore and see what worked from him and to learn what he wanted.

This is a romance that gets a five star rating just for the hotness alone. This story, particularly early on, has lots of incredibly tantalizing scenes. I loved the romance and experiencing the personal growth of both Noah and Tripp. About half way through the story there is an unexpected event that provided a change of direction and also an opportunity for our couple. I loved that the story was able to surprise me. I really enjoyed the way the story evolved and while there is some drama, there is not much angst.

I’m a huge lover of m/m ice hockey romances and BAD PUCKING INFLUENCE was top notch. I adored Tripp and Noah and I didn’t want their story to end. I had not read the first book in this series but as soon as I finished BAD PUCKING INFLUENCE I immediately purchased book 1 and I’ve pre-ordered book 3. The author, Michele Lenard, has a new fan in me.

[Natalie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I will be honest, this didn't hit for me at all. You ever just read a character you immediately can't stand? That's what happened here, and it led to an almost immediate DNF. I've since learned there's a sex scene very soon after I stopped reading, and I'm not going back to give the book another go. That means I REALLY don't care for the character.

Here's a summary of what I understand the book to be: Noah is a star hockey player under a lot of pressure to be perfect and perform for his NHL team. Tripp is a carefree, commitment-free skateboarder who's horny for hockey players.

I couldn't handle Tripp at all. His internal dialogue was just straight up annoying. He was skateboarding around a pool and being like, gross? You can be attracted to athletes, but the way he was like, "I just want to fuck a professional hockey player. I don't want commitments, just fucking" was just so not it for me. I have enjoyed very horny characters before, but Tripp just felt so surface-level and objectifying in a way that I didn't care to push through.

Noah was a nothing character, and I have since read that he's on the demi/ace spectrum, which is interesting and underrepresented.

I also read these two had really good chemistry as side characters in the first book of this series (which I haven't read.) It seems like this book was unobjectionable to a good amount of readers, it just was to me. I didn't want to push myself to read it when I frankly have better things to do.

| I received an ARC, and this is my honest, freely given review. |

[Henna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read the first book of the series and liked it, so I really looked forward to this second book as well.

Noah is a clueless as to what he should identify as – and at 32 and the captain of the hockey team, he feels like he should know. Tripp has been hinting for almost a year that he would definitely help Noah figure things out – and after Tripp needing someone to make sure he doesn’t have a concussion, he does just that.

Over the years Tripp has built walls high and doesn’t let anyone in. It feels like his walls are crumbling without him even realising when it comes to Noah. Tripp is so inside his own head that he doesn’t even realise they’ve crossed lines they’ve set up before they’re far in the rearview mirror. This also makes the reader needing to sort of read between the lines a bit more on how Tripp might be feeling along the ride – since his thoughts on page seem to contradict the feeling you get.

I liked that there isn’t any gay panic from Noah’s side and he just seems to genuinely just want to live his truth, no matter what it ends up being. Also loved to see Xander and Niko back – as well as Luca.

This f*ck buddies to lovers story is steamy - and funny, thanks to Tripp’s antics. Nothing groundbreaking but a solid piece of MM hockey romance.

[Romantic Reads and Such · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the characters – Noah is a big, ol’ teddy bear and Tripp is as in-your-face as you can get – but there’s definitely something more lurking beneath the surface of both. We get an understanding of Noah’s pretty early on, and Tripp is definitely all in for helping him explore his sexuality, which means he also brings his own baggage into their situation. There’s a reason he’s not willing to get involved with people and it takes a while to share it with us. I don’t know that everyone is willing to put in the time needed to go from casual sex to Tripp opening up & spilling all his secrets but I found it a satisfying resolution to their relationship.

While it isn’t necessary to have read the first book, Bad Pucking Timing, I do think it will help with how quickly Noah and Tripp fall into a sexual relationship together. It also gives a better look at the fun side of Tripp and how he & Noah have gotten to this point. And while the beginning is oh-so-steamy, I think that foundation may be needed so that Tripp’s bratty side is better understood and to help readers get through the slower transition for their relationship.

(I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)

[VicReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

🏒 𝙱𝚊𝚍 𝙿𝚞𝚌𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝙸𝚗𝚏𝚕𝚞𝚎𝚗𝚌𝚎 𝚋𝚢 @mlenardbooks 🏒

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ℝ𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
𝕊𝕡𝕚𝕔𝕖- 🌶️🌶️


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This story really showcased the struggle that many face when trying to figure out who you are.

Noah really struggled with knowing who he was outside of hockey. He felt that he alway had to be perfect and it was really starting to weigh on him.

In comes the unashamed authentic to himself Tripp. Tripp had a really good mask over who he truly was and what he wanted in life.

Noah and Tripp easily saw what each other was deep down. I felt that really helped with their connection in the end.

I loved how both Noah and Tripp were extremely patient while the other figured their things out.


𝕋𝕣𝕠𝕡𝕖𝕤 / 𝕎𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕥𝕠 𝔼𝕩𝕡𝕖𝕔𝕥
🏒 Bratty Hero
🏒 MM Romance
🏒 Found Family
🏒 Golden Retriever MMC
🏒 Hurt/Comfort

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