Perfect Pucking Match

Puckered Hearts #1

by Ivy Fox

Never fall in love with a client.
One of the cardinal rules of matchmaking that I was positive I'd never break.
That is until Nathan Wilder walked into Love Moore Matchmaking Agency, needing my help to find him the one.
A tall order to ask since he was the most hated man in the NHL.
Broody. Crude. Abrasive.
The man was a six-foot-three walking red flag.
Right off the bat, every fiber of my being told me he'd be trouble.
He wasn't looking for love.
It was all a PR stunt to clean up his image so he could keep playing for The Boston Guardians.
But there was something in his sad, soulful eyes that just pulled me in, forcing me to agree to this whole charade.
Little did I know that in my quest to find him love, I'd be the one falling head over heels for him.
Not exactly very professional.
Argh.
I’m so screwed.
How am I supposed to find Nate his perfect match when I want him to be mine?


What can you expect from Perfect Pucking Match:
- Slow Burn
- Forbidden Romance
- Hockey Romance
- Hero Falls First
- Strong heroine
- And a whole lot of ANGST!

Author note: Please be aware that Perfect Pucking Match is a slow burn. It takes Nate and Lottie a hot second to realize they were always meant for each other. But I promise you that the wait will be worth it because once these two finally get together, it’s…everything you wanted and more!
I’m talking sizzling HOT fireworks here! Wink, wink.
Happy Reading!
xoxo
Ivy

*Perfect Pucking Match is a hockey standalone romance with a guaranteed HEA.
*Recommended 18+ due to mature language and situations.

Genres: Hockey, Sports, Romance, Sports Romance, Hockey Romance, Contemporary, Slow Burn

455 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 29, 2023

About the author

Ivy Fox is a USA Today bestselling author who thrives on angst, yearning, and the kind of soul-crushing tension that keeps readers up way past their bedtime.
A shameless connoisseur of emotional chaos, Ivy crafts stories where feelings hit hard, desire simmers low, and falling in love feels completely inevitable. She believes love is beautiful and should be celebrated in all its forms, so readers can expect everything from MF, MM, and MMF romances to one lucky heroine collecting an entire harem of devoted soulmates.
When she’s not unleashing emotional devastation on the page, Ivy lives a pretty chill life with her two favorite men—her husband and her son.
The only thing that truly keeps her up at night are the fictional characters in her head who refuse to shut up until she tells their story. She’s long learned to let them run the show… and honestly, she wouldn’t have it any other way.
A firm believer in happy endings, Ivy writes romance fueled by passion, heart, and the promise that no matter how messy things get, love will always prevail.

For more news on current and upcoming projects, get the inside scoop and sneak peeks by stalking Ivy on Social media!

@ivyfoxauthor

But for all the brave and sassy, join her FB reader's group - Ivy Sassy Foxes.

Reviews

[Jennie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Combine some of my favorite troupes of sports romance 🏑and fake dating 👩‍❤️‍👨 and you get this awesome story. The book goes at the perfect pace and in due time, everything just falls together. I fell in love with Nate Wilder just as easily as Lottie did. There is so much more to people than what meets the eye, Nate and Lottie were examples of this. The story had the right amount of hockey and romance without overkill of either. Such a sweet 🍭story with the right amount of suspense 😳,spice 🌶️and romance! I definitely recommend this read to my romance girls. I was hooked from start to finish 🪝, there was never a boring moment for me. I hope to see more of these characters in future works by Ivy Fox.
I was blessed with an advanced reader copy of this book. The review is fully mine and I’m about to read this book again ☺️

[kreadsoften · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perfect Pucking Match is the first book in the Puckered Hearts series, but it can be read as a standalone.

This was such a cute and angsty story! Nathan fell HARD, and Lottie tried to deny her feelings because she had a boyfriend. First, Lottie’s boyfriend. He gave me the ick, and I didn’t trust him one bit. He was so controlling and just…well, he was disrespectful of Lottie. But she was nice enough to give him the benefit of the doubt.

Anyway, she was great at her job of being a matchmaker, and she really wanted to help Nathan out, so she went on fake dates with him to really get to know him. But it was obvious (to anyone but Lottie) that Nathan was in love with her.

Ah, Nathan was really such a big cinnamon roll. I mean, yes. He had a reputation for being an a**hole, and yes, he backed it up. But that was only when he got angry and rightfully so. People just didn’t see his side of the story because they wanted to paint him in a bad light. But seriously, he was so protective and had such a huge heart.

I really liked how Nathan and Lottie just understood each other, and they were so good for each other, despite being opposites. Also, Lottie’s family just seems like the best kind of family. They were so open and welcoming when Nathan came over as her “friend” (but they could all see how he felt about her).

This was my first book by Ivy Fox, but it will not be the last.

[marlie · Rating 2 out of 5]

SPOILERS:
Hate hate hate the fmc. Why would u stay with a guy for 10 years, when you both clearly want different things and never communicate with each other??? She is a matchmaker, shouldn't she know this??? Every time her boyfriend is mentioned she never wants to acknowledge this. It pissed me off so bad. Nate deserves so much better than her tbh

[Twins Reading Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished reading 'Perfect Pucking Match' by Ivy Fox, and I'm still swooning over the intense chemistry between the matchmaking protagonist Lottie and the broody, yet irresistible, Nathan Wilder! This was an utterly adorable, completely delicious and sexy as hell!
Ivy Fox truly knows how to craft a compelling sports romance with heart, humor, and a perfect dash of puckish charm. I couldn't put it down, and now I'm anxiously waiting for the next Ivy Fox masterpiece!
.
"Perfect Pucking Match by Ivy Fox is an incredible amalgamation of my favorite sports romance and fake dating tropes. The story unfolds at the perfect pace, seamlessly weaving together the worlds of hockey and romance. The characters, Nate and Lottie, exemplify that there's more to people than meets the eye!
.
It's a stunning plot with the perfect amount of suspense, spice, and romance!
.
The dynamic between Nathan and Lottie is both cute and angsty. Nathan falls hard, and Lottie tries to deny her feelings due to a questionable boyfriend! Speaking of Lottie's boyfriend, he gave me the ick – controlling and disrespectful! Lottie's dedication to her job as a matchmaker shines as she goes on fake dates with Nathan to truly understand him, unaware of his love for her.
.
"Perfect Pucking Match" was my introduction to Ivy Fox's writing, and it certainly won't be my last. I look forward to exploring more of her works, captivated by the charm, emotion, and fascinating storytelling displayed in this delicious romance!

[NiCoLeTa E. {Addicted To Books} · Rating 5 out of 5]

***5 "Everlasting!!!" stars***



Never fall in love with a client.

I trust Ivy Fox blindly!!! Everything that she gives me is always so good for me!!!
Her new hockey romance wasn't an exception in that rule!!!
I swoon with Nate and Lottie and I was invested in their story from the first page...
The slow burn between them was one of epic proportions but it was worthying the ride!!!
Ivy took her sweet time to deliver a real story and she succeeded in this aspect!!!
Lottie and Nate were endgame, but they needed to jumb through many holes to get where they were supposed to end up... in each other's hands!!!

"Everyone deserves love."

Nathan Wilder is a trouble and everyone knows it, but he was condemned without anyone ask the real reasons behind his actions...
Yes, Nate is an angry man, but noone is giving him the benefit of the doubt. Not the fans, not his team, not his agent... He needs to change his ways if he wants to keep his spot in the team and to keep playing under its colors...
Now, Nate is about to pass the gates of Moore Love in chase of a date that can change the opinions that everyone is having for him...
What he isn't expecting is to be enamored with his matchmaker from the very first moment he met her!!!

"Nathan Wilder is going to be trouble."

Lottie is a successful businesswoman... Her matchmaking agency is thriving, but her personal life had stuck in a limbo... She is dating Cooper for ten years now and they are pulling the long distance for many years... But lately, Lottie is not very happy with the situation, but she ought to keep trying after all these years together...
Her only rule in work is to not fraternize with the clients, but since the very first moment that she met Nate Wilder, his sad eyes were allyring to her... and when things got ugly, she stepped up and became his date for a while...
But that wasn't a good move cause from her eagerness to help, she fell down the rabbit hole and she started to wish that she would be Nate's real date instead!!!

"How am I supposed to find Nate his perfect match when I want him to be mine?"

I loved Lottie and Nate.... There was chemistry and intensity between them...
I liked that they took their sweet time to become an item and that they became friends before....
There was always this thorn standing between them, but that didn't stop them from enjoying each other's company!!!
Lottie was such a beautiful creature with a heart full of gold... and honestly, she wasn't deserving the way her boyfriend was treating her...
As for Nate??? Yep, everyone loved to hate him for certain reasons, but this boy was so loyal and protective... He was so misunderstood by the mass and I hated that for him... He wasn't deserving all this false judgement that the others were putting upon him...

"No more dates, Lottie. I found what I was looking for."

Yes, I loved and this story by Ivy Fox...
I adored Nate and Lottie and their story!!!
And I loved many secondary characters in here...
Jack and Erin were amazing people....
Piper was such a strongwilled woman and I am impatiently waiting for her turn...
And Callum!!! OMG!!! I definitely need to learn more about this crazy boy!!!!

"Now, I don't know about you, but I'd rather be a villain in someone else's story than live as a martyr in mine." {Piper}

**I received an ARC for the exchange of an honest review**

[all.the.smut.things · Rating 4 out of 5]

RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐          
SPICE: 🔥🔥          

I’m always excited when I find new hockey authors, so when I saw this was grumpy/sunshine, fake dating, hockey player/matchmaker… I had immediate hearts is my eyes.          
          
Nathan Wilder is an angry man, at least thats what the press want everyone to believe about the star hockey player. So, with his image in tatters after a fight and his place on the team in jeopardy, Nathan lets his PR agent sign him up for her best friend’s matchmaking agency.           
          
Charlotte has seen a lot of hard to match clients, but the rough-around-the-edges hockey player with the sad eyes may be her most difficult client yet! So, in an attempt to make him more approachable, she decides to help by letting him fake date her so he is ready for true love. Problem is the two are a better match for each other than anyone else!           
          
Oh Nathan Wilder. This man had my heart from the beginning and he kept it the whole time! I really like the premise of this one and I’m absolutely a sucker for the shy/sad hero, especially the grumpy ones. Charlotte was feisty and fun, and even though she had a personal mess to sort through, I loved how she opened Nate up and connected with him.           
          
This book was emotional in parts, steamy in others, and a good slow burn as the characters worked through their issues. I loved Nathan’s team being his family, and adored how Charlotte could read him and loosen him up.           
  
I also need to shout out the side characters who made this book a delight! Piper is my favorite!           
          
Read this if you enjoy a slow burn, fake dating, friends to lovers, hockey romance with a gruff but sweet hockey offenseman and the matchmaker he falls for.

[˚₊‧꒰ა vruxreads ໒꒱ ‧₊˚ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to love this. Loved the concept and the character development seemed true and realistic. I loved Nate and Charlotte, both were unique and different. The story did start promising but after 60% it fizzled out. It did drag a bit for me, and the end felt rushed. But Nate was unlike someone i have ever read, grumpy & broody on the outside but vulnerable and sweet on inside.

Loved all the side characters they were amazing.

‼️No cheating, no annoying OW drama ‼️

[Vanessa Gayle ⚔️ Fangirl Faction · Rating 5 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I received this book at no cost from the publisher/author. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. I am leaving a voluntary review and all opinions are my own.

This is my first time reading a book by Ivy Fox but she has been on my radar for a while. I am so glad that I decided to take the plunge into her books because I was impressed.
It's like this author knows me to my core and has written a book that speaks to my soul.

Right off the bat, the storytelling spoke to me. The author's writing style did all the things for me. It was so polished and smooth that I blazed through the pages. I enjoyed the plot and how the author executed the events in the story.

The characters were so relatable and I enjoyed slipping into their shoes. Nate had a bad reputation but there was so much more under the surface when it came to him. Deep down he is a sweetheart and he totally captured mine. I adored Lottie. She was kind and genuine and had the biggest heart. Lottie had a terrible boyfriend and their relationship was on the rocks. Some side characters captured my attention and made the story stand out even more.

This is the kind of slow burn that I love in a book. It scorches you slowly from the inside out in a delightfully agonizing way. If you know, you just know. I enjoyed the close-proximity trope in this story and how the two of them become friends and the feelings grow from there. They have such great chemistry that explodes off the page.

Overall, this book was a big win for me. This story packs a lot of emotion and is full of well-executed tropes that put a smile on my face. I fell so hard for Nate and Lottie and I can't wait for the next book in this series! I think that I've found my next auto-buy author!

BLOG FACEBOOK INSTAGRAM GOODREADS TIKTOK TWITTER BOOKBUB AMAZON PINTEREST KO-FI

⛔My bookshelves can sometimes be spoilers.

[Jesse Adler-Wheeler · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This book was the most adorable hockey book. Nate is your typical athlete, he’s a little rough around the edges, awkward around females, but has no problem with one night stands. Lottie believes in love and wants to help people find it. That’s why she has her company Love Moore. This was by far the SLOWWWWWWEST burn book I’ve read in quite some time so he warned. Nate, the big shot, gets in trouble for defending someone at a bar. He’s on thin ice (pun intended) due to his recent behavior. He needs to clean up his act. The only way his agent, piper, can think of, is getting him a woman. This is where her best friend Lottie, who owns Love Moore comes in. With lots of unsuccessful dates, Nate can not find anything except himself love lost and dateless. Lottie wants to fake date him to see where he is messing it up in the process of finding love. This book will have you hooked (get it another hockey pun). Oh, I forgot to mention, there is one problem with Lottie fake dating Nate, she has a boyfriend and he’s jealous. This book has a happily ever after and is just so cute and such an easy read. Ivy did a phenomenal job writing this. I loved every part of this book BUT Lottie and Nate were my favorite. This is a stand alone so if you want a feel good happy book, this is it.

[Ryann Henning · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC REVIEW (ARC supplied by Wordsmith Publicity)

This is a first of Ivy Fox for me and it will not be my last! This book had me hooked for the first page! It was a slow burn but totally worth the wait! Nate and Lottie are my absolute favorite! ❤️ Their love and commitment just warmed my heart so much! Definitely a good read! I would recommend this book to anyone!

[Karen Mc · Rating 4 out of 5]

“I am your home. And you’re mine. Always.”

Oh. My. Stars. I’m still melting from Perfect Pucking Match, a slow burn of smolder, sweetness and swoon. Readers won’t be able to resist this fake-dating meets hockey romance. It’s such a flirty and fun read.

This romance chronicles the strong and stunning matchmaker Lottie, and the heart-stopping hockey star, Nate, who’s so much more than his bad boy persona. I adored how sweet Nate was with Lottie. Lottie helped Nate see his worth beyond the ice, revealing a big heart that beat for her. Drawn together like a moth to a flame, this hero and heroine are so meant to be and so magical together.

Perfect Pucking Match is a journey of rising after falling … of overcoming the bad hand you’re dealt with and persevering. It’s the balm for the soul for anyone who has battled stereotypes and self-worth. I couldn’t help but feel Perfect Pucking Match’s spell while reading. I fell head-over-heels in love with the hero and heroine, and their heartwarming hockey romance.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 4.5 pucking good stars

➡️ https://amzn.to/3Uennbo

Reviewed on behalf of Bookalicious Babes Blog

[Sassy Southern Book Blog · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ivy Fox is a new author to me and WOW did she make an impression on me! I was hooked on this story and loved Nate and Lottie, their romance is a slow burn but I promise you it is worth the wait...Because when they are together it is explosive. Nate is a Hockey Hottie with a very bad reputation, so bad that he is hated by fans in the NHL and his coach has had enough. He needs to clean up his act and go to therapy, but the PR team thinks he needs a date so it appears he is in a relationship and softening. Because his outer persona is grumpy, aggressive, moody, broody and standoffish. This is where Lottie and her matchmaking agency come in, she is hired to find Nate the ideal woman, but man does it backfire. Spending so much time together they unexpectedly become friends and that friendship blossoms into something that looks a lot like love. You really can't judge a book by its cover is the message here, because Lottie discovers there is so much more to Nate than his reputation, and what the press makes him out to be. They have never seen the thoughtful, caring man he is, just the beast he is on the ice. Lottie loves what she sees and so did I. Nate is a swoonfest, he says so many romantic things. He is sweet, adorable, and super sexy, I loved him.
There is a pitfall to this story as Lottie is already in a relationship which is falling apart at the seams. Lottie is so sweet and deserves so much better than what her horrible boyfriend gives her, she is such a ray of sunshine, I really liked her. I adored Nate and Lottie's relationship and their chemistry, their attraction is potent and they are a perfect match, it was a delight reading their romance. I am glad it was a slow burn because you got to know them more and watch them fall in love chapter by chapter. Ivy Fox had me enthralled by her words and I absolutely enjoyed reading this book. Fabulous read. 5 Stars.- Cat W.

[Geri Stoikova · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ivy Fox is killing it with Perfect Pucking Match, the first book in Puckered Hearts series. And with that big plot twist in the prologue you don't know what to expect .The story goes back to the beginning and you get to know all the characters involved in that sizzling hot and angstsy story . Nathan Wilder is the sweetest swoon worthy grump ever with the kindest of hearts. Oh , and he's a hockey player in need of fixing his public image. Hence the need of a girlfriend. And here comes Charlotte Moore, matchmaker par excellence. And Lottie Moore is in her own league . She's smart and kind with a big heart full of love. And when these two meet all bets are off . Because they challenge each other in every possible way . All the angst and that slow burn were killing me . Big time. And the fake dating, oh my. But they have the opportunity to become friends while falling for each others . Even though Lottie denied it the whole time and stayed loyal to her distant boyfriend. Lottie came to terms with the fact that her relationship has run it's course and she grow out of it but she's held hostage in that relationship by her boyfriend. Let me tell you I wasn't a big fan of Cooper. But karma worked her magic on him and he get what he deserved . And I loved Piper, she was the kind of friend every girl needs . At the end all was sorted out. Nate and Lottie found their happily ever after. And let me tell you that slow burn turned sizzling hot. They are just explosive together. And dirty talking Nate is something else. And if the prologue left me speechless after that cliffhanger and I couldn't read fast enough to see what's happening next, then the epilogue was so sweet and swoony . Because with Lottie , Nate never had a problem finding the right words.
Now I can't wait for Piper and Trent's story because these two will be extremely intense. We're talking about a power couple here.

I received an ARC copy of this book by WordSmith Publicity and this is my honest review.

[Elizabeth Satala (ElizaJayneReads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
🌶️🌶️

🩷ARC Review🩷

This book was really pucking good…😏 Nate and Lottie were the definition of opposites, but they complimented each other really well. She is a successful matchmaker and believes that there is love for everyone. It is her mission to find people their perfect match, and when Nate comes into her office, she is immediately drawn to him. She isn’t supposed to fall for her clients, but something is drawing her into Nate’s orbit. She has a boyfriend but has never felt for him the way she feels about Nate. When Nate is having trouble on his dates and needs to look good for the media to get off his back, Lottie offers to fake date him to help him get more comfortable. They grow closer over these dates as friends and realize how much they like each other. Nate has never known what real love was. The people who were supposed to love him growing up, didn’t and that made him super apprehensive about letting people get too close, except for Lottie. Lottie knows that things are over between her and her boyfriend but is having a hard time letting go because she wasted 10 years on the guy. Nate makes it known that once she is free of her boyfriend, all bets are off. These two have great chemistry and banter. They lift each other up and are there for one another, first as friends, then as more. Lottie makes Nate feel like he matters, and Nate makes Lottie feel like she can conquer the world. Loved these two, and I can’t wait for the next couple!

Thank you to Ivy and Wordsmith Publicity for the advanced copy of this book and a chance to share my honest thoughts! 🩷

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Picture this. You have impeccable style- Pin Up meets rocker chic, but make it elegant. You own a prestigious match making company. Your best friend is a sports agent who just happens to need a favor regarding her most troublesome hockey client. His PR image needs a reboot, & everyone thinks a woman on his arm will do the trick. You decide to help him find love, because you can see past his armored shell exterior into his loyal, honorable & lonely eyes. Are you making a mistake, or was it the best decision you have ever made… because suddenly it starts to feel like you might be his perfect match.

This story was absolute sweetness. It was romantic and frustrating (ya know, in the right person/wrong time kinda way!). The MMC, Nate, gives golden retriever vibes & is given a bad wrap, even though he is such a good guy.
The author does a phenomenal job getting you to fall in love with both the fmc and mmc in this story. You can’t help but route for them to get together!
Ivy peppered in the hockey terms flawlessly, so for someone like me who doesn’t know squat about hockey, I was still able to understand & enjoy the story.

Add to your TBR if you like:
-Hockey Romance
-Dual POV
-Slow slow slow Burn
-Golden Retriever/ Cinnamon Roll
-Mental Health Rep
-HEA

This was a slow burn, but once the spice hit, it was hot !!!!

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Prefect pucking match

Gahhhh, Nathan Wilder 😍

Idk why i waited so long to read this one. It's a huge mistake on my part. Book 1 in this hockey series, and it really did give all the feels. Ups and downs, and a slow burn, but oh, so good.

Nate has a bad boy rep and comes off as an abusive ahole, but he is such a cinnamon roll when you get to know him. His life before Lottie was pretty tragic, and that's saying something. His agent Piper suggests he show his softer side and try to settle down.. and date!

Piper is Lottie's best friend who happens to be a matchmaker. After agreeing to help Nate, she discovers he needs some dating help. Fake dating is a favorite trope of mine, and this was written so well. I loved it!!

Lottie also has a boyfriend of 10 years, but before she met Nate, she was second-guessing her relationship. They had been drifting apart, and Cooper is a manipulative jerk. Just saying!! The more time she spent helping Nate, the more her feelings grew.

It's such a super sweet and cute read that i can't wait to read Trent and Pipers' story next ❤️

[Stacey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fake dating and hockey done to perfection. This was angsty, emotional and yet so sweet. Nate is so broken and in need an image correction. His anger issues seem to get the best of him. Even though he means well.

His agent (Piper, who I wish was my best friend), gets him to meet with her best friend (Lottie) who just so happens to own a matchmaking business. After many (hilarious) failed dates, Nate and Lottie start “fake dating” to help him learn how to date. One problem though. Of course he falls for her and HARD.

Lottie seems to fall just as hard. But of course she has a douchebag long distance boyfriend in the way.

Nate was such a cinnamon roll once you saw past his bad rep. He has a huge heart and wanted nothing more than to make Lottie his.

This was the slowest burn of slow burns (I’m talking like 80%) but man was it worth it! I really loved how these two came together in the end.

I’m already ordering book two because I *need* to know more about the GM, Trent 🔥

I buddy read this one with @what_jess_reads_ ! Her review should be up soon!

[Ashton Choate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect Pucking Match by @ivyfoxauthor
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶🌶
- hockey romance
- multiple pov
- pinup fmc
- hockey mmc
- grumpy/sunshine
- he falls first

My sister asked me today why I liked Hockey Romance so much.

My response was, "Have you read one yet?"

I dont know what it is - I don't even like hockey - well I didn't.

It's like having a man who is not only swoony and strong but also competitive and a real like tough guy is just 🫠

All that BEFORE you add the chemistry of these two 🤌🏻

Literally pucking perfect 👌🏻

Thanks Ivy for another great one!!

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m just a sucker for a good hockey romance and Ivy Fox didn’t disappoint. Nate and Lottie’s relationship was *chef’s kiss*! Nate definitely falls first and it’s the perfect SLOOOOOW-burn, forbidden romance trope that we all know and love… with the added SPICE, of course. It’s WORTH THE WAIT! This novel can be read as a stand alone or as part of the Puckered Hearts Series. Love this one, Ivy Fox! Add this one to your TBR!

[Beatriz B · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t read a lot of romances, especially hockey romance or the ones that are trending now, but this book surprised me! I read more than 200 pages last night and I never do that 😂
In short, since English is not my first language: I found this to be a really good read, I liked Ivy’s writing and it kept me interested from start to finish.
I loved Nate and seeing the switch from grunts to just melting down whenever Charlotte is around 😄
I will be checking out the other books!

[Brittney Thigpen · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you haven’t checked out Ivy’s latest hockey romance, you need to because I am completely obsessed! I’m very new to this authors work but I am loving everything and I was hooked from the very first page with this one! The slow burn between Nate and Lottie was on another level of spice and I liked how Ivy really took her time to make the story incredible and they are meant for each other. The fact that it’s a friends to lovers made the chemistry between them off the charts and worth the drama that was circling around them. I look forward to exploring more of Ivy’s work!

[Nadine · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Entertaining read. And even though I finished it in one day, something was missing. I can't pinpoint exactly what it is, but sometimes you are just not feeling it.
I'm fighting with myself, if I should rate it with 4 or 3 stars. I really enjoyed reading it but in the end it simply wasn't enough for 4 stars.

[FS Meurinne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I adored this book; it's a delightful blend of sports romance and forbidden love, which hooked me from the start. Nathan Wilder, the infamous NHL player, came off as broody and abrasive, but as I delved deeper, his layers unfolded, revealing a much softer side. Lottie, the matchmaking expert, is fierce and independent, making her the perfect counterpart. Their journey from a contrived relationship to genuine love was filled with tension, angst, and, eventually, explosive chemistry. The slow burn of their romance was perfectly paced, keeping me turning pages eagerly. This standalone hockey romance is a fantastic read for anyone who loves a good mix of emotion, growth, and love.

[Shante · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
🌶🌶🌶
ARC Review

"Then I'll wait. I'll wait as long as you need me to. But make no mistake,Lottie. When you finally become mine, I'm never letting you go." –Nathan Wilder

It's been a while since I've read a slow burn that captured my attention from the beginning and kept it. The angst and will they won't they kept me on my toes and I'm not sure why but I'm in love with Nathan's awkwardness it's oddly endearing for such a big guy. Perfect read to end the year.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was my first read by Ivy Fox and my first hockey romance but I just loved this! This story revolves around MMC Nathan (Nate) Wilder and his Matchmaker MFC Charlotte (Lottie). There is an ahole fiance’, a strong personality of a FC sports agent and other family trauma.

The story takes Nate through an embarrassing video of him trying to hold someone accountable for taking liberties with a female at a bar but ends up damaging his career instead. Hence where the strong female sports agent brings in our female main character Lottie a matchmaker to help repair Nate’s reputation! Nate goes through some dating disasters and struggles to realize and overcome his family trauma but in the process falls for Lottie.

Lottie is engaged but her ahole fiancé has Lottie questioning her life choices and starts to fall for Nate as well.

They both have to learn about themselves and make changes before coming together but love wins in the end. A great read with some humor, some angst, some serious spice! Add it to your TBR!

[Chelsea (2_girls_bookin_it) · Rating 4 out of 5]

"𝘕𝘰𝘸, 𝘐 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘐'𝘥 𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘣𝘦 𝘢 𝘷𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘪𝘯 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘦𝘭𝘴𝘦'𝘴 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘺𝘳 𝘪𝘯 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘦."

This was my first Ivy Fox book, but it won't be my last. I absolutely loved Nate, and Lottie is so real. I saw where other people hated her for dragging out her relationship with Cooper, but I felt like what Lottie went through was so realistic. And I think the quote above really hit home, because Piper was so right. Lottie couldn't continue her relationship with Cooper just because she had spent 10 years with him already. She needed to be happy, and Cooper just wasn't what made her happy.

Now, Perfect Pucking Match is the epitome of a slow burn romance. But it worked. Nate and Lottie built a true foundation before falling in love and pursuing a relationship. And I loved how Nate fell first, and boy did he fall hard. I loved it. There's not any spice until toward the end of the book, but the spice is good when you finally get to it. I'd rate it like 2.5 out of 5 🌶

What else did I love about this book? Piper. And I am SO glad that we are going to be getting her story in the next book in this series! I know the man her story is about is going to be perfect for her, and I cannot wait to see if he stays a dark and mysterious man in her book or if we get to see a soft cuddly side to him.

Now, I will say. Lottie cheats in this book. Not physically (kind of), but definitely emotionally. So if you're not into that, or it's triggering, Perfect Pucking Match is not for you. But I will say, while I typically hate cheating in a book, it just made me a little uneasy in this book. I knew Nate and Lottie were endgame and Cooper was scum, so it made it easier for me to overlook it in a book. There is also an attempted rape that can be triggering as it's described in detail.

[Kelly · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF. I'm pretty sure I'm giving up. (Small chance I'll come
back to this one.) Read some of the other reviews and they all seem like ARCs which don't always give the full picture. I actually can't stand Lottie. First Charlotte is a pretty name and I prefer Charlie as a nickname over Lottie, buts that's on me. But she constantly talked about not being judgmental but I found her to be quite frequently. Also the fake dating trope was not one I was expecting give she has an f'n boyfriend of 10 years. They have clearly grown apart but she does nothing to fix it. I really thought they'd get together after she dumped the boyfriend and they connected. The few examples I've read of her matchmaking so far are terrible so not sure she's all that good. He's a professional hockey player. I can guarantee during the season he does not have all this time to go on all these dates. Would have been more realistic if this was off season. Just found myself more annoyed than vested.

[Lauren · Rating 2 out of 5]

Falls apart halfway way through

I wanted to love this. Loved the concept and the character development seemed true and realistic. As the story hit midway and it moved from their problem to their resolution, everything just seemed so contrived. The shift is so swift that it almost doesn’t seem the same story. The descriptions become superfluous, the emotional expression of the characters strayed too far from the characters the author built so far. The end was just too much. Ugh.

[Leslie || original book nerd · Rating 5 out of 5]

💕ρꫀ𝕣ᠻꫀᥴ𝕥 ρꪊᥴ𝕜ⅈꪀᧁ ꪑꪖ𝕥ᥴꫝ - ρꪊᥴ𝕜ꫀ𝕣ꫀᦔ ꫝꫀꪖ𝕣𝕥ડ 𝟙 - 𝕣ꫀꪜⅈꫀ᭙💕

Author: Ivy Fox

Couple: Charolette “Lottie” Moore & Nathan Wilder

Tropes: Slow Burn, Forbidden Romance, Hockey Romance, Hero Falls First, Strong heroine, a whole lot of ANGST, Matchmaker mishaps, friends to lovers, love triangle

Review: Perfect Pucking Match left me in the feels in the best of ways! Ivy Fox did it right with the entrance into her Hockey Era with this book and these two were full of every angsty emotion one wants in a friends to lovers, hockey romance! The friendship and banter between these two was ICONIC and a twist on the normal hate filled, lusty vibes the Ivy is known for but perfect all the same. Lottie and Nate were one of the most heartwarming romances I have read this year!

Lottie was a FABULOUS FMC and I think I fell in love with her rockability style and her take no prisoners attitude. The way she was just so down to earth, sassy and totally herself drew me in right away and I found myself loving and hating how she kept giving her longterm boyfriend excuse after excuse for the LONGEST time in this book. I am not normally one for love triangles in a romance but Ivy Fox did it RIGHT in this one! Lottie’s character was crucial in this book with how she tempered Nate’s wilder, more aggressive side and I adored how she always saw the best in him, even when everyone else did not.

Nate Wilder was a man of few words and fewer actions at first but one thing he always did was show Lottie the respect she deserved. From the minute he meets her I knew this book was going one way and I could not have been more happy with the result! This gruff, broody and silent bad boy of hockey was absolutely gobsmacked with Lottie and her HUGE personality and I adored how he slowly melted for this fiery independent FMC. Ivy showed us a new side of her writing in this book, especially with Nate’s character, and I hope we get more in the future because the swoon level on Nate’s POV and the absolute adoration he had for Lottie is what book boyfriend’s are made for!

Lottie and Nate had the type of romance that leaves a warm feeling in your chest. Nate is the possessive, caring hockey alphahole we want but also has this tender, sweet and ABSOLUTELY DIRTY side that only comes out for Lottie. The wit, charm, banter and tension Ivy was able to infuse into this book was NEXT level and I only wish Lottie had left her old guy sooner so we could have had more! The ups and downs these two face together and on their own left me both angry and excited for their HEA, that was well deserved at the end! Lottie and Nate were one of the most heartwarming romances I have read this year and were a terrific beginning to this series that only got better from here!

Rating: 4.5/5, A laugh out loud, sweet and swoon worthy romance between a broken hockey god and his hired matchmaker!

Thank you Wordsmith Publicity PR & Ivy Fox for the eARC copy!

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perfect Pucking Match

This was my first Ivy Fox book and it certainly won’t be my last!!

Nate Wilder is the NHL’s bad boy who just got himself into hot water after defending a helpless girl at a bar one night. Now the media sees him as this angry man who would rather throw fists at innocent men half his size.

Lottie Moore owns the most sought after matchmaking agency in Boston after developing an algorithm to find someone’s perfect match. If only the algorithm worked for her love life - her ten year long distance relationship is nothing like the relationship she creates for others.

On top of his coaches mandatory therapy, Nate’s agent, Piper, suggests he get himself a girlfriend to show the media he’s more than what they think of him. So she hires the one person she know will get the job done…her best friend and expert matchmaker Lottie.

After realizing that Nate is terrible on dates, Lottie offers herself up to show him how to date a groom him for his perfect match. Except in doing so, the two grow closer together and start to see that maybe true love for both of them isn’t so far out of reach.

I did not know where this book was going to take me when I first started reading it, but the ride I went on was so freakin’ good. This was the slowest of all slow burns, but like Ivy said in the beginning of the book, it’s well worth the wait.

I loved how Lottie was so unapologetically herself in everything she did. It made me so sad for her that she thought that the relationship she was in was what she deserved. I loved her growth throughout the book and how she finally stood up for herself in the end.

And Nate Wilder?? Let’s just say I didn’t know what to think of him when I first started reading this book, but by the end I was fully in love. He was everything you could want in a book boyfriend - and I loved what a simp he was for Lottie.

This was such a great book, and I’m so glad I was given the opportunity to read this ARC. I can’t wait for Pipers book next!