For Puck's Sake

Seattle Vipers #2

by D. Sparks, Dreia Wells

I have two loves: music and the man I gave it all up for.

Ridley Masters, hockey’s once golden boy and forward for The Seattle Vipers.

Loving him was easy, losing myself in him and his world was not. I’d fallen so completely that I didn’t recognize the woman in the mirror. My goals and dreams weren’t mine anymore, they were his. When tragedy struck, it fractured us both, and months later, I walked away from the life we built. I made a choice and chose myself. With my Gibson in hand, dried tears and heartbreak on my lips, I threw myself into my career.

Three years later I signed with a major record label and embarked on my first national tour. First stop, Lark Bay. My hometown. The place where it began. Where I fell in love with music and Ridley. Nothing prepared me to face the demons of my past, but it seems fate decided to bring us back together.

He wants me back, but neither of us are who we once were.
I used to think I could have it all, the man and the music.
Can we fix what we broke? Or is there too much damage to salvage us?
Second chances don’t come often. This time I know it’s all or nothing. This time around can I finally have it all, or am I just kidding myself for puck’s sake?

For Puck’s Sake is a stand-alone second chance hockey romance, book two in The Seattle Vipers Series.

Genres: Hockey, Contemporary

263 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 15, 2024

About the author

You may know me by Dreia Wells! Writer of Paranormal Romance and Urban Fantasy. I am originally from Houston, Texas but I have live in England for over 13 years now. D. Sparks is my alter ego!! Writer of Contemporary and Dark Romance. Join me in the flames!!

Reviews

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was surprised by how much I liked the first book in this series, given that I don’t read sports romances. It was Dreia Wells, and I had to give it a try. Now I'm back at it again because after getting a taste of Ridley's and Brea's story in the first book, I had to have more.


Why I wasn't expecting this, I will never know. I should have known that this story would be a little savage. Brea's and Ridley's story is heart-wrenching. They were the "it" couple, and then their engagement imploded, and not for obvious reasons. The sad thing is that they never stopped loving each other. The more I learned about them and their past, the more my heart went out to both of them. While both of them could have handled things differently, they are way too hard on themselves. They are the love of each other's lives, fated if you will, but they met each other too soon. There were some big emotions, and they had a lot to work through, but now they have a second chance. I loved seeing Brea and Ridley fall in love all over again. Sure, there were still obstacles, but they stuck it out together.


Once again, the mixed media was on point. I was chuckling at both the text messages and podcasts. I also enjoyed catching up with the characters we met in book one. Devon is still my favorite; he makes me smile every time.


For Pucks Sake was a good read with the HEA that I think we all craved. I'm still not a hockey romance fan, but I love the characters. I have a feeling I know which couple it will be, but only time and Dreia will tell.

[LaTosha Webber · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a sweet and almost cozy read. Even with the heaviness of why the couple parted ways in the beginning this was still the type of story that kept me smiling from beginning to end. It was that good, soft kind of cheesy romance goodness. Dev was the best comedic relief and Lark Bay was a picturesque town. But holy smokes didn’t she stoke my fire with the possibility of Derrick of Bash, yes please and thank you! Second chance romance is usually not my jam but this was done in a way that was “realistic” like the reasoning didn’t feel contrite. It’s heavy on the internal monologue and while that got a touch repetitive at times, it was still a well paced book. Lower on the spice meter for sure more hallmark than Cinemax but super enjoyable.

[Margarida · Rating 4 out of 5]

ooohh I was so excited for this story!!! And it did not disappoint. Nice and sweet with Ridley finally deciding that what he wants is Brea and both having to overcome their past and past trauma to be able to actually make their relationship work.


The only small things that I felt a bit let down by was the conclusion of the drama with the "baby mam" and Brea's manager.

[Mona Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

So sweet

When I saw this book, I was of two minds.... after reading about them in the first book I wasn't sure if I was going to like either character like at all. Getting this story was exactly what I needed. It's sweet, hot and a bit sad, but everything about it is perfect. I ended up loving them both

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

For Puck’s Sake by D. Sparks is book two in The Seattle Vipers Series. I read the first book and enjoyed it so I was psyched to dig into the next one in the series. These books are standalones so it can be read on its own. This had so much that I like to read all in one book the main being it’s a second chance romance the next being it has a hockey element as well as a rockstar vibe to it and to top it off it’s a slow burn. I will mention to check your content warnings as there is something that could be very triggering. With that said this book took me about a day to finish, I just didn’t want to put my kindle down. I was invested in these characters and I had to know how it all ended. I really enjoyed Ridley and Brea’s story and I really wanted them to get their HEA. What I enjoyed the most was how all the feelings and emotions all seemed so real. I also liked the fact that mistakes were addressed between them. What I will say is this book hits hard, my emotions were a wreck at times and I felt my heart shatter at times. But on the same note there were moments where I smiled and chuckled… It was a good balance. I thought the book was well written and it really handles sensitive topics gracefully. Overall I had a very pleasant reading experience and would definitely recommend this book to check out.

Final review:
4 out of 5 stars

[Ines · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really love the found family vibe in this series; it’s awesome how big the friendship between the men in this ice hockey team is, and how they give the women they love a place in it. Where the first book in this series had a lot of humor, this second book is more bittersweet and even a bit heartbreaking at times. It fits with the characters to have an atmosphere like this, and with the past they share.

This standalone is about Brea and Ridley’s second chance romance. We already met both in the first book, but this book gives a lot more background about what happened in the past and led to them breaking up. It really helped to understand the choices they made, and I believe it’s quite respectful to how people can react very differently to a life-altering loss.

I feel like the side-romance happening in the background of this book deserves a special mention; I absolutely loved it, and it added something special to the storyline of this book.

[Kristen Lewendon · Rating 5 out of 5]

The angst! The drama! The tension! Sigh. That was such an incredible book. I’m a sucker for a second chance, so I was heavily invested in seeing Brea and Ridley get another shot at making things between them right before I’d even cracked open the covers. Their story was an emotional rollercoaster ride that I kind of never wanted to end. I loved seeing these two work through all the issues they’d been avoiding and running from, and I deeply appreciated that they both took ownership of the things they’d each done that contributed to their situation. I adored watching their ‘found family’ rally around them and talk them off their respective ledges. It felt like their friends were as invested in seeing them get it right as I was. I don’t know what I’m hoping for most for the future of this series, I only know I already can’t wait to read whatever comes next.
I received a complimentary advance copy of this book from the author.

[KT Brock · Rating 5 out of 5]

For Puck’s Sake is book two in the Seattle Vipers series and I was ready for book two in this stand alone series. The first book was fantastic so I was ready to jump right back in. We were introduced to Ridley and Brea in the first book and I was excited to see how their story would play out. Their story is so much different than the first book (ie: I laughed out loud several times with the first book, but this second book was emotional and made my heart sad several times). BUT the emotions written into this book feel so real. The fact that these two were willing to try again and work through all their baggage made the story so deep and heartfelt. This book was fantastic and a great change in a normal romcom. Well done!

[Erika · Rating 4 out of 5]

enjoyable but (contains spoilers)

The characters were interesting. I enjoyed their vulnerability and determination at the same time. The ending was too abrupt as I really wanted to read about how they maintained their love over their long distance relationship.
I also would have wanted more background on Brea and her rich family. A few scenes with real conversations with the friends would have also be nice.
A pet peeve though. There was a real lack of character description. What did everyone look like? Also If a character is going to be of color, then some cultural things need to be added otherwise it feels gimmicky. For instance, Brea has locs but at no point is her loc maintenance mentioned. Not realistic.

[Book Life With Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

For Pucks Sake is a sweet second chance romance, and the second book in the Seattle Vipers Series by D. Sparks that will pull at all your emotions and heartstrings as she takes us on the heartbreaking journey of Ridley and Brea—and man what a read it is! Years ago a heartbreaking devastating tragedy shatters their world and caused Brea and Ridley to shatter causing Brea to walk away and find solace in her other love—music. But fate intervenes and they soon find themselves thrown back together three years later causing them to rehash old wounds and maybe, quite possibly, finally find time to heal their shattered souls.

[Tara Syrnyk · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn't know I needed to read a sweet, cute, cozy read until I dove into this book. Yes it was sad how things were initially, but as the story progressed I found it to be the perfect palette cleanser if you will. I was smiling and laughing more than I was sad for these two! I loved the concept and the character development is awesome, the pace and flow was easy to follow and nothing felt rushed. I thought the whole book was just super fun and relaxing to read. I enjoy this authour under their other pen name as well so I knew going into this series that I would be hooked! I am always happy to dive into their books and this was no different ! I am looking forward to more!

[Suzanne McNeill Taviner · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book gave me all the feels! Brea and Ridley were engaged previously but, after tragedy struck them, Brea needed space. During their time apart she has become a renowned musician while he has become a bit of a f*boy!
When life brings them back together they both realise that they still love the other, but is love enough to undo the damage their past has done?
Ridley tried really hard to win Brea back, knowing that she wasn't interested in grand gestures he showed his care and intentions in small but important ways and I loved them.

[Joy Lynch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ms. D gives us an awesome book that takes us from heartbreak to HEA! Because of a heartbreaking loss, Brea and Ridley go their separate ways, despite still loving each other. Years later, they are both drawn back to Larks Bay and this leads to them having to go through everything that happened to get to a hard won HEA. To find out how they get there, dive into this wonderfully written book with complex characters and plot twists that keep you turning pages throughout. I loved reading this story and highly recommend it. Don't miss out on this book!!

[Kira · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hockey is one of my all time favorite sports, so it makes sense sports romance reads centered all around it would also be my jam, and it definitely is! The Seattle Vipers series continues with For Puck's Sake and it was a doozy! Second chance romances are already super emotional, and my heart went out to both Brea and Ridley for the pain they both had suffered, which inevitably pushed them apart. However, life always finds a way, and when these two enter each other's lives again, the sparks are very much still there. Through an absolute emotional roller coaster, this read was phenomenal!

[Brittany · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was very emotional for Ridley & Brea. She ran from him cause she didn’t know how to juggle her heartbreak & career and ultimately chose herself. I think if she knew she had people she could talk to about what happened she could’ve had the help she needed so she could stay with Ridley since it affected him too. She knows she needed to talk with him sooner about how she felt but with her second chance they make time for both their careers & themselves.

[Charlotte · Rating 5 out of 5]

A bittersweet read about love lost and then rekindled. Heartbreaking loss cause Brea (FMC) and Ridley to go their separate ways. With Brea pursuing her music career and Ridley his hockey one. Each of which eventually brings them both into Larks Bay at the same time. Giving them the time and opportunity to talk, heal and rekindle what was lost between them. I loved this book as well as Brea and Ridley. This was a great addition to the Seattle Vipers series.

[katy andrews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aww this was a great read, a perfect second chance romance with some good twists and turns, overcoming of obstacles. I love a book where love prevails!

Brea is a great character, a little broken but still with a bite of fire, which serves her well.

HomegurlHattie is still at stirring things up as much as she can, spreading the gossip uncaring of who it hurts.

And broken Playboy Ridley has tried to bury himself in puck bunnies to cover his bleeding heart.

Highly recommend this book!

[TheSugaredBookworm · Rating 5 out of 5]

All the feels

This was such a good second chance romance!! There was so much angst! Brea and Ridley have so much to work through in order to find their way back to each other. I cried, cried some more and laughed. It was sweet and packed all the feels. In addition to the love between Brea and Ridley, there's also so much love/support between them and their friends, their found family. Despite the heavy subject, it's such a heartwarming story!

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just wow, I am completly lost for words. I thought i loved Tor and his supernova's story but damn this took me on when hell of a rollercoaster.

Start off slow and steady before we hit super highs and scary lows and those damn loop the loops leaving you all dizzy.

Such a beautiful story, heart breaking at times but was well worth the read. Highly recommended. I have fallen in love with these characters.

[ChristiLovesBooks_smut · Rating 5 out of 5]

For Puck's Sake, book 2 of The Seattle Vipers Series, by D. Sparks (Dreia Wells) @dreia_wells_author. Please read the mental health the trigger warnings!

This was a fantastic book about Ridley & Brea. Tropes: MF, Second Chance, Hockey, Rockatar, emotional trauma that both Ridley & Brea needed to work through, Slow Burn & so much love for each other.

[Michele · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ridley and Brea were a fast burn love at first sight relationship that broke apart while they each needed to grow. Going back together and starting over helped them to right the wrongs from the past as new people. I enjoyed the lottle connections as well as the second chance romance. I can't wait to get the background on the other couples and maybe some updates in the hockey world.

[Kerri Vogel · Rating 4 out of 5]

What's better than a rockstar and a hockey player romance! Loved the small town setting for most of the book. Though this is a romcom it does deal with some deep emotions over the loss of a pregnancy, so be prepared for that, but overall the story was fantastic. Loved the charisma between the main characters, loved the side characters as well. A great story overall.

[Tanya · Rating 5 out of 5]

She had 2 loves, her music and him but she gave up her music to be with him. She soon realized she no longer knew the person in the mirror. Tragedy will hit and she runs away to be what she wanted to be now but will it make her happy. Going home may not be what she wanted it to be. How will seeing him again go? Will it ruin her plans? See how she gets on

[Delle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved Brea & Ridley’s story. This second chance romance was a great mix of sport and music with great characters. The side characters were also amazing and I will be going back to read the first book in the Seattle Vipers series as I hadn’t read it before this.

Please note the trigger warnings at start as some hard topics for some are included.

[thenerdybookworm_ · Rating 4 out of 5]

For Puck’s Sake is a second chance romance with a lot of deep emotions. This is about Brea and Ridley. Their past is heartbreaking, and their story is bittersweet. These two have a lot of issues and pain to work out, but love finds a way, and holy cow the emotions feel real. I loved this second chance journey and the author did an amazing job with all the angst, drama, and tension.

[Amanda Schumacher · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic story of second chance love, however, please make sure you check your trigger warnings! There are some sensitive topics...

Two years ago Brea Brookes broke off her engagement with her fiancee Ridley Masters after a traumatic experience they both had. She has been focusing on her music and playing shows. She's also just signed her first record contract. She's in her home town Larks Bay for a few weeks as she's gearing up for her very first tour. Little does Brea know that her exfiancee is also in town covering for a teammate and friends hockey camp. This friend has wisked his girlfriend away to marry her in secret. They discovered that their friends have set them up... Brea staying in the guest house and Ridley in the main house. They start to take after he texts her asking to meet for lunch. She accepts. Things get emotional and sweet from there.

Can these two over come the trauma and heartbreak they've caused each other? Can there really be a second chance for love?

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brea and Ridley have quite the past. This second chance romance will take you on an emotional journey. Reading how they over come the standing obstacles and past challenges was heartbreaking at times. Brea and Ridley are determined though and won’t let this second chance get away from them.

[Kalexreads · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Ridley and Brea’s second chance love story! They had so much that happened between them that was never resolved. Tor helped get them in the same place at the same time. It was a bit of a slow burn, but it needed to be. I can’t wait for my books from this series.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I was curious about this couples history and I enjoyed the seamless switch between past and present. A bit of angst, some sweet and some spice along with these fun characters. Good read.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story. I really enjoyed reading about Brea and Ridley. This story had a lot of emotions in it. I loved them both. I also love reading about second chance romances. Overall to me this was a sweet read. Finished it in one night. Wonderful storyline. Definitely recommend.