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The Puckers #1

Pucker Up, Cowboy

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She may be the team owner’s daughter, but she’s stolen my favorite cowboy hat and is wearing my jersey—now that makes her mine.

When I’m enticed away from my Montana ranch to return to hockey with an offer I can’t refuse, I’m a fish out of water in the beach-town hockey team. I try to fit in with my teammates, until a woman falls into my lap. After she steals my hat, I have to find her and get it back.

Despite my sweet-and-dirty-talking ways, she’s more of a test than lasting eight seconds on a wild bronc. There’s more to our first kiss though, like an instant spark of attraction between us I just can’t shake, but she runs off before I can get her name or phone number.

It isn’t long until our paths cross again in a totally unexpected way. But will our instant attraction turn into more or will her father stand in the way of our happily ever after?

Join the team, the Puckers in L.A. Besides going for a winning season, they're going for it all with the women they claim.

99 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 5, 2024

191 people are currently reading
357 people want to read

About the author

Zee Irwin

83 books504 followers
Zee Irwin is a USA Today Bestselling Author who gets powered up by steamy small town romance. She's a bit of sunshine living countryside in Pennsylvania with her own grumpy alpha guy, two teenagers, and twin kitties. Her favorite character to write is a small town billionaire, especially if he falls first, is former military, and is possessive of the woman he loves.
Visit her at zeeirwinauthor.com to keep up to date on her latest work in progress.

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5 stars
123 (31%)
4 stars
116 (30%)
3 stars
74 (19%)
2 stars
49 (12%)
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23 (5%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews
Profile Image for Curvy Girl Book Nerd   (Jen S).
4,673 reviews63 followers
September 2, 2024
Pucker Up Cowboy is a short and steamy, instalove, OTT, curvy girl gets her hockey playing cowboy romance. Phoebe is a curvy spitfire who feels like the black sheep of her family. Duke is a hunky hockey player and cowboy from Montana. When Duke gets the offer to play on the Puckers hockey team in LA, he takes it. When Phoebe literally falls into his lap at a bar, he is determined to win her over. The problem is that she has sworn off sports men, and he plays for her father's team. Can Duke convince her that he's all in? This couple had great chemistry, and we got a happy ending. I'm looking forward to the rest of the series and hope we see more of this couple.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Rachel.
208 reviews4 followers
March 24, 2025
A book from a ‘stuff your kindle’ day
He’s out of the game - helping his sister and her kids cope with the loss of her husband. Offer to get back on the ice but he doesn’t know if he wants to leave ranch life behind and head back to the hockey world.

She’s got trust issues, especially when it comes to sportsmen - courtesy of her cheating ex husband. So she won’t settle for less than total obsession from her next man. And she’s the coach’s daughter.

A chance meeting in a bar and instant attraction - can it lead to something more?

This was a short read - around 70 pages, but it was a fun little read. I’ll read any hockey romance, so have read quite a few (!) and this one was kinda meh. It was a little bit heavy on the instalove but it was clear they were obsessed with each other from the start and I did like their relationship - it just needed to slow down and have way more development.

Rated a 2* because of the writing style - it didn’t flow very well for me. Possibly some editing would make it more polished and so read a bit better! I also didn’t like the way they spoke and acted - I just didn’t see adults actually behaving that way. Also talk about a whirlwind romance!

Maybe I should start a bingo board of how many hockey romances I can read that have Puck related titles.
Profile Image for Camila Gomes.
125 reviews2 followers
January 11, 2026
2/5 ⭐️ conheceram-se e passado 24h viveram felizes para sempre
Profile Image for Dede.
25 reviews
July 23, 2024
I don’t know what I just read the last hour and a half. They fell in love within 24 hours??? And then a “several months later” time jump and they’re getting married? I don’t even remember the main characters names as they keep calling each other “my cowboy” “wild thing” like????? I and only giving it 2 stars because it was a VERY quick read… and all the other reviews have GOT to be friends of the authors or something
Profile Image for Sheila.
761 reviews2 followers
July 15, 2024
Phoebe had felt that she was the black sheep of her family, always failing.

So when she runs into Duke, he sends her world upside down. He's a hot and sexy Cowboy. But when she finds out he's a hockey player, all bets are off until he stands up to her family. When he shows her how a women is supposed to be treated, she gives in and let's him love her.

Can't wait to read the other books in the series.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Eileen.
2,698 reviews
May 23, 2024
Pucker Up Cowboy by Zee Irwin is an instant attraction, alpha protector short story that is fast, quick and can be read in less than a day. Duke Daniels, a Montana cowboy, left hockey to come home and help his sister and her kids after the death of her husband, who was his best friend. It's now three years later, and his agent has an offer he never expected; a chance to return to playing hockey. Hockey had always been his dream, but how will a rancher fit in with the members of a minor league hockey team that plays in a beach town. The team has potential and since he's their most experienced player, he is elected to be their captain. While the team is out celebrating, Phoebe walks by, falls into his lap, takes his cowboy hat, and his heart. After all “claim a cowboy's hat, claim the cowboy, too.”

Phoebe Tate wants a man who will notice her and give her unconditional love, forgiving any silly or wild things she might do. In return, she will give him unconditional love, too. She's not sure she'll ever meet such a man; as she has bigger problems now. Once again she disappointed her father: she divorced her cheating husband, is about to be homeless, and has no job. Now she is still searching for the right way of her life. This Montana cowboy says he wants to claim her, but she doesn’t believe he is serious.

Just as she decided to explore the potential of a relationship with him, she discovered he was not only a hockey player, but also would be playing on her father’s team. Unfortunately, disaster struck and Phoebe found herself on the receiving end of her father’s tirade, but Duke stepped up to defend her; the only person who has ever stood up for her and protected her. This incident was the catalyst she needed to realize they were meant to be together; getting the forever love they both deserved.
I’m excited to see more of these two and where Ms. Irwin takes the other men on the team who are destined to fall hard and fast for the women who will make them work for it.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book prior to purchase.
1,284 reviews12 followers
January 24, 2024
Claim a cowboy's hat, claim the cowboy, too!

Duke Daniels is a Montana cowboy who's been offered an impossible offer to refuse to return to play hockey. But how will the rancher fit in with the members of the beach town team?

He'd left hockey to come home and help his sister and her kids after the death of her husband, who was his best friend. It's now three years later, and his agent has an offer. Duke had never planned on being a rancher. Hockey had always been his dream.

He's surprised when the team votes for him to be their captain. The team does have potential and he's their most experienced player. While the team is out celebrating, Phoebe comes into the bar, falls into his lap, steals his cowboy hat and his heart.

Phoebe Tate wants a man who will take notice of her and give her unconditional love, forgiving any silly or wild things she might do. In return, she'll also give him unconditional love. She's not sure she'll ever meet such a man. She has bigger problems now. She's disappointed her father again. She's divorced, about to be homeless and has no job. This Montana cowboy says he wants to claim her, but he's kidding, isn't he? But he is the only person who has ever stood up for her and protected her.

I received a free copy of this book from the author via Booksprout. I am voluntarily leaving this review.
Profile Image for kymagirl.
6,400 reviews89 followers
May 23, 2024
Duke (H), a former hockey star, retreats to his cousin's Montana ranch to help his sister cope with a family tragedy. When an opportunity for Duke to join a new minor league team, the Puckers, comes up, he sees this as chance to revive his career, even if it means leaving the open skies of Montana for the LA cityscape. Phoebe (h) has always been the black sheep of her family, overshadowed by her successful sister and stifled by her father’s expectations. Eager to get away from a family event in the lead-up to her sister's wedding, Phoebe meets Duke in a bar and the two share an immediate connection, leading to a hat theft and a fiery kiss that leaves them both wanting more. The next day, neither Phoebe nor Duke can stop thinking about the other, and when he shows up defending her from her family and putting his potential career with the Puckers on the line, Phoebe realizes that Duke is different from the other men she's encountered before. Phoebe opens up about her struggles and fears, while Duke reassures her of the genuineness of his feelings, and things quickly heat up as they build their relationship together. Hot and steamy instalove romance with a little bit of sports, cowboy, and family drama.
Profile Image for Korkoi.
7,184 reviews31 followers
January 22, 2024
Stumbling Into Their Forever -
Phoebe had sworn off relationships with sports men when she bumped into Duke and she felt a pull towards him. Unfortunately, just as she decided to explore the potential of a relationship with him, she found out he was not only a hockey player, but also would be playing on her father’s team. Unfortunately, disaster struck and Phoebe found herself on the receiving end of her father’s tirade, but Duke stepped up to defend her.

As luck would have it, the incident helped them realise they were meant to be together and get the happily ever after they both deserved. This is a story that will hit you squarely in the chest and make you want to read it again. Grab a copy of this book now and you won’t regret it.

I received an advanced copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for A. King.
360 reviews2 followers
November 16, 2024
Zee Irwin has done it again!

I just can't help myself. When a Zee Irwin book comes out to play, I'm there! Always a fun, short story to dive into with the romance and boyish charms that make a girl's heart go racing.

From that first meet at a dive bar and not even really knowing a person's name to the point where they stand up for you after someone has literally begun to talk down to you and make you feel like utter crap. Who can deny the kindness that one small gesture brings? The happiness, the tenderness that making you just feel *human* can do.

This is book one in a series and I can't wait to get my hands on book 2, with that little tease at the end that made my eyes go round and say "Oh not fair!" because now I have to run off to find it too. ;)
363 reviews2 followers
December 1, 2024
Mountain Skies.
Awesome. Duke left hockey behind without a care after his brother’s sudden death. He needed to take care of his sister-in-law and their children. Now, they’re good and he gets the chance to play, again. The money is too good to pass up. Phoebe has been nothing but a disappointment to her father and he doesn’t let her forget it, either. He married her off and she divorced the man. Her sister and perfect daughter is no better. Phoebe has sworn off anyone in sports. Duke and Phoebe’s chemistry is explosive but, how far will they really go? Phoebe is the owner’s daughter and she has no idea that he plays ANY sport. And dear old dad? Oh, he’s in for an eye opening experience.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Ally Doby (Schleicher).
1,126 reviews13 followers
January 12, 2024
This is a great short story that is fast, quick and can be read in less than a day.

I love the insta-love, alpha protector. I loved Duke and his cowboy ways and how hard and fast he fell.

I loved how Phoebe was so forward with their first meeting and found her strength in Duke when she needed it. She wasn’t as quick to fall for Duke and definitely made him work for it.

I’m excited to see more of these two and where Zee Irwin takes not only this couple, but the other men on the team who are destined to fall hard and fast for the women who will make them work for it.

I received an advanced readers copy via Booksprout. These thoughts and opinions are my own.
1,605 reviews12 followers
September 1, 2024
Pucker Up, Cowboy is the first installment of The Puckers series. Pucker Up, Cowboy is the wonderful story of Duke and Phoebe. I absolutely fell in love with both Duke and Phoebe, I found them both to be intriguing and interesting. The storyline is absolutely phenomenal which is backed up with amazing characters and the outcome is fantastic. Author Zee Irwin did an outstanding job with the way they created life into this amazing book. Pucker Up, Cowboy is a captivating and creative book. I would encourage anyone to pick this book up. I’m looking forward to seeing what will be next for this amazing author.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Claudia, Cmarie927.
2,086 reviews42 followers
January 5, 2024
This is the first in this series of novellas, and it does exactly what it is supposed to do!! Tease!!

Duke and Phoebe have a quick meet cute, and he quickly becomes her man. This is light on details and backstories but entertaining and engaging all the same.
Hockey, Cowboy, Protective - oh my!! Lots to enjoy.

I like that each of these have books that carry on the stories. The companion to this is Cowboy of my Heart, that you know I will be reading next!! 😀 I did receive a free ARC of this one, and voluntarily leave my review.
Profile Image for Didi.
1,994 reviews
January 12, 2024
Zee Irwin is a tease…in the best way. This is a delightful well written Instalove novella introducing a team of Puckers. A meet cute, a stolen cowboy hat, a kiss and Duke knows he will make Phoebe his. Fast paced plot with teammates, past hurt, insecurities,
a “wild thing”, humor, emotion, condescension, protectiveness, a steamy hat trick, banter, sweetness and love. Can’t wait to meet more of the L.A. Puckers and their forevers.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
5,093 reviews28 followers
May 23, 2024
Duke is drawn away from Montana with an offer to play hockey he cannot turn down. He is out with his teammates when a gorgeous woman drops in his lap. Phoebe is recently divorced from her husband, that her father introduced her to, has made her swear off athletes.

This cowboy is not going down without a fight, she is the one he has been waiting for, to share his life.

This a sweet and steamy, with some family drama and her hero to the rescue.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for L KQ.
5,761 reviews22 followers
May 25, 2024
Cowboy Hockey Love

One night at the bar Phoebe falls right into the lap of a cowboy, intrigued she takes his hat before she leaves. Duke did not expect to find someone who could entice him to such a degree, but there was no exchange of numbers. When Phoebe and Duke discover they have a connection as well as subsequent reunion through her father, the situation gets complicated. This was a short and fun instalove story.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
1,353 reviews11 followers
August 25, 2024
I gave this 5 stars because it had me laughing a lot. Duke is a hockey player who has spent three seasons with his best friend's widow helping her on the ranch. He goes to LA to play with the Puckers who are the second team to the Vipers owned by the same person. When he gets there he meets Phoebe who is the daughter of the owner but she is the problem daughter. The timeline for this story is fairly quick and months pass without explanation. Nevertheless it is an entertaining story even if they call their kids Hunter and Duchess.
Profile Image for Karen Worrells.
197 reviews
August 26, 2024
It should probably be a 2.5 just because it's a novella, and there's not enough time to put more into it. But it was so blah. There was no character development, and they fell in love so fast. Is that something either would do and then have a baby right away? Who knows? I know barely anything about either one other than where they live. There's nothing about this that makes me want to continue the series. Isn't that the point? I want to be roped in. I want to be excited to get to know the other characters.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Courtney Reads Smut.
709 reviews29 followers
August 27, 2024
Duke has become my new book boyfriend! The instalove from Duke is so sweet. He’s a cowboy who plays hockey. He stand up for her when no one else will.
Phoebe is struggling to find herself. Not knowing what she wants to do for a career. Her family is very unsupportive.

Can Duke be the support she needs?

✔️hockey
✔️cowboy
✔️he falls first
✔️🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
✔️ HEA

This is a cute short story. Absolutely love this series so far!.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Laura Caswell.
379 reviews4 followers
September 1, 2024
I loved this short but steamy read from Zee Irwin! This is the perfect read for a short trip or by the pool. Pucker Up Cowboy is the first book the Puckers series.

Phoebe and Duke meet when Phoebe steals his cowboy hat in a bar, then run into each other again the next morning. Duke knows he needs more of Phoebe, and Phoebe is worried about doing yet another thing (or relationship) wrong!

You will love how quickly this story develops and matures! And the best thing is...more Puckers!! Lots more coming, and I can't wait!
Profile Image for Mary Mutisya-Astin.
503 reviews1 follower
November 7, 2024
Pucker Up Indeed

This is the first novella in the Puckers series!

When Duke finally gets a chance to play hockey again after three seasons away from the game, he finds more than just new teammates and friends.
So when a beautiful stranger stumbles into him one night then promptly steals his cowboy hat, he decides to see where this will lead. As you know what they say, taking a cowboys hat means you have claimed him.

Fun read and a good introduction to those hockey guys!

I read this book voluntarily for an honest review.
Profile Image for Aliama.
2,359 reviews9 followers
February 2, 2025
Phoebe is the black sheep of her family and her father lets her know at every chance how disappointed he is in her. Phoebe meets Duke in a bar on a rare night out when she’s doing something for herself, not everyone else. When Phoebe stumbles into Duke he’s immediately drawn to her and wants to get to know her. With her sister’s wedding and not wanting to mess anything else up, she’s undecided on what to do. Duke is just what Phoebe needed. Someone to stand up for her and take her side against her family. A real hero. I received an ARC copy of this book.
Profile Image for Anngela.
232 reviews
February 19, 2025
Wow loved this story it was so cute. A girl lost in her life unsure what she wanted to be when she grows up. Trying any odd job and creating ventures to be put down by her family even if they gave money for the many ventures only to toss it back at her. In walks tall dark and handsome, a cowboy in a Stetson who becomes her knight during a drunken bar night. Lots of flirting. Arguing with her dad. A broken hand yet a true love story where she learns to be the best person she can be.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
503 reviews1 follower
February 25, 2025
Pucker Up, Cowboy by Zee Irwin is such a good story. This hockey, western, short read romance is full of wonderful characters, a good storyline, romance and steam. Phoebe and Duke are a charming couple that sort through life’s struggles as they find their way to one another. Phoebe is determined and feisty. Duke is protective and charming. Together they make a dynamic couple. I loved it from start to finish. Pucker Up is part of The Puckers series but can be read as a standalone. However, I plan to read the entire series.
249 reviews8 followers
January 14, 2024
This is a fun, packed, entertaining, quick read book.
I loved how Phoebe was so forward with their first meeting and found her strength in Duke when she needed it.
This is light on details and backstories but entertaining and engaging all the same.
Hockey, Cowboy, Protective - oh my!! Lots to enjoy.
You like insta love? You like short novellas? You like hockey romance?
Then you have to read this book!
Can’t wait to meet more of the L.A. Puckers and their forevers.
Profile Image for Jackie Ziegler.
1,844 reviews8 followers
June 2, 2024
Duke is in California to play for the Puckers. He is making a name for himself with the team and has his teammates at his side. When he meets Phoebe, he has no idea who she is. Just that he wants to get to know her more but she disappears before he can even get a name.

Phoebe is alway letting her family down. When she meets Duke, she is just having fun but she is drawn to him. When he shows up at her sister's wedding and defends her against her father, will she let him down too?.
Profile Image for Cynthia Khan.
2,814 reviews10 followers
November 4, 2024
This is Book 1 of The Puckers the story of Duke Daniels and Phoebe Tate. This one will have you giggling at these two, talk about hot and steamy is the only way to describe these two. The drama is small but just the right amount of tension between Phoebe's family and her along with one small encounter with Duke too. I could not stop reading but once this story was over I needed more.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Jenia Tortora.
1,253 reviews3 followers
November 11, 2024
Phoebe is tired of being the family disappointment and escapes her sister’s wedding rehearsal to find some quiet. Duke is getting a second chance at hockey and plans to make the most of this opportunity. Unfortunately everything changes when he meets his wild thing. He knows she’s going to be his forever. Love their journey, his protective nature and their steamy connection. I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Lyn Brownlie.
687 reviews15 followers
August 11, 2025
Falling quickly
This was a fun really quick read.
Duke fell super fast and hard for the gorgeous Phoebe who falls into his lap one night then runs off with his cowboy hat.
Duke has just come to town to start playing hockey for The Puckers in LA when he meets Phoebe.
The following day they meet up again where he witnesses her being treated badly.
Their relationship moves like lightning after that.
An enjoyable quick read and start to this series.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews

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