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Maple Creek #2
The Pucking Proposal
A sports reporter and a hockey player get up close and personal in an outrageously sexy romantic comedy by Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestselling author Lauren Landish.
When it comes to hockey, unflappable Maple Creek sports reporter Joy Barlowe is privy to a lot of behind-the-scenes locker room activity. Like stumbling upon Dalton Days in all his unabashed glory. When the muscled goalie goes on to score better than he ever has, he offers Joy a unique proposal. A provocative pregame ritual is born.
Dalton has the best stats in the league, but he’s also superstitious. Now he’s found his good luck charm. Joy is not only game, she’s playing along. She’s also his best buddy’s younger sister and totally off-limits. What happens between them has to be their late-night FaceTime secret. That’s the naked truth. So is the fact that Joy and Dalton are discovering there’s more to each other than meets the eye.
Falling in lust? Easy to hide. Falling in love? Much harder. Now Dalton has one more proposition for Joy. And the fallout could rock Maple Creek.
When it comes to hockey, unflappable Maple Creek sports reporter Joy Barlowe is privy to a lot of behind-the-scenes locker room activity. Like stumbling upon Dalton Days in all his unabashed glory. When the muscled goalie goes on to score better than he ever has, he offers Joy a unique proposal. A provocative pregame ritual is born.
Dalton has the best stats in the league, but he’s also superstitious. Now he’s found his good luck charm. Joy is not only game, she’s playing along. She’s also his best buddy’s younger sister and totally off-limits. What happens between them has to be their late-night FaceTime secret. That’s the naked truth. So is the fact that Joy and Dalton are discovering there’s more to each other than meets the eye.
Falling in lust? Easy to hide. Falling in love? Much harder. Now Dalton has one more proposition for Joy. And the fallout could rock Maple Creek.
260 pages, Paperback
Published February 18, 2025
2134 people are currently reading
10444 people want to read
About the author
Lauren Landish
174 books6,811 followersLauren Landish is a WALL STREET JOURNAL & USA TODAY bestselling author and her books have garnered a legion of praise from her readers.
When she’s not plotting about how she will introduce you to your next sexy as hell book boyfriend, you can find her deep, deep in her writing cave, furiously tapping away on her keyboard, writing scenes that would make even a hardened sailor blush.
Lauren, who lives in NC with her boyfriend and fur baby, warmly invites you to her worlds of rock hard abs, chiseled smiles, and men with deep, fat pockets…but beware! These stories are guaranteed to have you addicted and needing your next fix!
Visit Lauren's Website at: http://www.laurenlandish.com/
Join the Mailing list at: http://www.subscribepage.com/w1h8x6
Connect with me on Facebook: www.facebook.com/lauren.landish
Follow me on twitter: https://twitter.com/laurenlandish
When she’s not plotting about how she will introduce you to your next sexy as hell book boyfriend, you can find her deep, deep in her writing cave, furiously tapping away on her keyboard, writing scenes that would make even a hardened sailor blush.
Lauren, who lives in NC with her boyfriend and fur baby, warmly invites you to her worlds of rock hard abs, chiseled smiles, and men with deep, fat pockets…but beware! These stories are guaranteed to have you addicted and needing your next fix!
Visit Lauren's Website at: http://www.laurenlandish.com/
Join the Mailing list at: http://www.subscribepage.com/w1h8x6
Connect with me on Facebook: www.facebook.com/lauren.landish
Follow me on twitter: https://twitter.com/laurenlandish
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 435 reviews
February 18, 2025
Dalton Day has been the goalie for the Maple Creek Moose for the last five years
Generally, goalies peak between the ages of twenty-five and twenty-eight, and Dalton just celebrated his thirtieth birthday not too long ago. He’s ready to do whatever it takes to reach the big leagues, even if it means crossing some lines with his teammates.
The team has a couple of guidelines when it comes to Joy Barlowe. The first one, laid down by Coach Wilson, is all about showing respect to the press. This means they can't discriminate against the only female sports reporter in the tristate area. If they wouldn’t coverup for Steve Milligan, the big-time newscaster, then they shouldn’t do it for Joy either. Basically, they stroll around almost completely undressed in the locker room……… I’ll leave that part to your imagination
Even though Joy works as a sports reporter and her brother is a star player on the local hockey team, but she’s firmly against dating anyone in the sports world….. everything was fine until Dalton came along and turned her life upside down.
This hockey romance will grab your attention right from the get-go! The hilarious back-and-forth between nearly every character in this book will keep you laughing from start to finish. Fair notice, this is seriously super spicy!
Facetime will never be the same after reading this one……
February 22, 2025
The Pucking Proposal is a small-town hockey romance full of humor, chemistry, and steam! This story was so much fun and completely out there; the bright and silly romance would be perfect for fans of Meghan Quinn and raunchy rom-coms. The connection and love between Joy and Dalton was so sweet. While the instalust was prominent to the plot, I loved that their romance and relationship was a slow burn. Not to mention all the banter and tension drew the story out perfectly and left me engaged from beginning to end. This was my first Lauren Landish story but it will absolutely not be my last!
Read If You Like:
🏒Grumpy x Sunshine🏒
🏒Brother's Best Friend🏒
🏒He Falls First🏒
🏒Forced Proximity🏒
🏒Suggestive Superstitions🏒
🏒Secret Relationships🏒
🏒Small Town Festivities🏒
🏒Forbidden Romance🏒
~Many thanks to Montlake for an ARC of this book in return for an honest review.
Read If You Like:
🏒Grumpy x Sunshine🏒
🏒Brother's Best Friend🏒
🏒He Falls First🏒
🏒Forced Proximity🏒
🏒Suggestive Superstitions🏒
🏒Secret Relationships🏒
🏒Small Town Festivities🏒
🏒Forbidden Romance🏒
~Many thanks to Montlake for an ARC of this book in return for an honest review.
March 4, 2025
The Pucking Proposal by Lauren Landish
Maple Creek series #2. Contemporary sports romance with erotica elements. Best friend’s sister troupe. Can be read as a stand-alone.
Joy Barlowe is a sports reporter in Maple Creek with behind-the-scenes locker room access.
Hockey players are not shy and have been told to treat all reporters the same. Joy has questions for goalie Dalton Days and finds him in all his unabashed glory. Joy makes a couple of uninterested remarks, asks her question and escapes the locker room. Dalton has a fantastic game after their encounter, and superstition being a huge part of sport preparation, he asks Joy to take a peek for all of his upcoming games. They start a private and provocative pregame tradition that starts as hands-off but escalates as the season continues.
Whew. Hot and steamy! Lots of funny banter and then more steam.
Delightful and seductive.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley.
Maple Creek series #2. Contemporary sports romance with erotica elements. Best friend’s sister troupe. Can be read as a stand-alone.
Joy Barlowe is a sports reporter in Maple Creek with behind-the-scenes locker room access.
Hockey players are not shy and have been told to treat all reporters the same. Joy has questions for goalie Dalton Days and finds him in all his unabashed glory. Joy makes a couple of uninterested remarks, asks her question and escapes the locker room. Dalton has a fantastic game after their encounter, and superstition being a huge part of sport preparation, he asks Joy to take a peek for all of his upcoming games. They start a private and provocative pregame tradition that starts as hands-off but escalates as the season continues.
Whew. Hot and steamy! Lots of funny banter and then more steam.
Delightful and seductive.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley.
March 17, 2025
I was actually a bit surprised to have enjoyed this. Sure, I'm all for funsies, but there are some books that still manage to not give me anything.
I don't want this review to be long, specially because the book in itself wasn't that long. I also want to preface this by saying that as enjoyable as something is to me, I'll 90% of the time have at least one criticism. And in this book I have two. Surprisingly, it is not the language or the disgusting descriptions (and devotion) to male appendages.
First of all, I think this book deserved to be a bit longer. It had some sprinkles of “there's more to them than you are seeing” that weren't really explored because of the number of pages and the focus on the book's central idea. There was the telling of how grumpy Dalton is, but I don't think I actually saw that, and there were the moments where you only had a brief scene before a time skip of a month.
So, maybe a few more pages where the characters spent more time with other people and more time of them just talking and being themselves despite what brought them together would make this better.
Second. The 80% CONFLICT. Look, it wasn't that bad. It was reasonable that she jumped into some conclusions, and that she was mad, and everything. BUT there's one thing that I don't like and it's manipulation. I don't like the concept of me being mad at you and you turning the tables and throwing at me that you're the one mad, and that you should be even more mad and disappointed with me.
He did have his reasons, and he could be mad. But I feel like the way they went about the conflict didn't work out for me. It would have deducted at least half a star, but I ended the book pretty happy as to where they got, so I wasn't able to give it anything less than a 4.
You might have read this book or my updates and be thinking: “wait, you liked this?” and my answer would be yes. It's a fun book, with fun characters and fun dialogue. It's not a book about personal hardships (a bit, but not the focus), or sentimentality. It's spicy, and it's stupid. I'm never expecting more than that 🙇🏽🙇🏽
wait this was supposed to be a small review wasn't it 🤡🤡 oops
I don't want this review to be long, specially because the book in itself wasn't that long. I also want to preface this by saying that as enjoyable as something is to me, I'll 90% of the time have at least one criticism. And in this book I have two. Surprisingly, it is not the language or the disgusting descriptions (and devotion) to male appendages.
First of all, I think this book deserved to be a bit longer. It had some sprinkles of “there's more to them than you are seeing” that weren't really explored because of the number of pages and the focus on the book's central idea. There was the telling of how grumpy Dalton is, but I don't think I actually saw that, and there were the moments where you only had a brief scene before a time skip of a month.
So, maybe a few more pages where the characters spent more time with other people and more time of them just talking and being themselves despite what brought them together would make this better.
Second. The 80% CONFLICT. Look, it wasn't that bad. It was reasonable that she jumped into some conclusions, and that she was mad, and everything. BUT there's one thing that I don't like and it's manipulation. I don't like the concept of me being mad at you and you turning the tables and throwing at me that you're the one mad, and that you should be even more mad and disappointed with me.
He did have his reasons, and he could be mad. But I feel like the way they went about the conflict didn't work out for me. It would have deducted at least half a star, but I ended the book pretty happy as to where they got, so I wasn't able to give it anything less than a 4.
You might have read this book or my updates and be thinking: “wait, you liked this?” and my answer would be yes. It's a fun book, with fun characters and fun dialogue. It's not a book about personal hardships (a bit, but not the focus), or sentimentality. It's spicy, and it's stupid. I'm never expecting more than that 🙇🏽🙇🏽
wait this was supposed to be a small review wasn't it 🤡🤡 oops
September 20, 2024
This was one of those times where I wish I had read the blurb better before reading - I saw ice hockey and instantly signed up.
In reality - Joy sees Daltons pierced, monster penis and drools away over it before he went on to have a good game. The next game was not so great. So the obvious answer? Get Joy to look at his inhuman, droolworthy penis before every game.
It's a ridiculous premise for a book and I genuinely couldn't get into it. I am all for spice but this felt almost like porn without plot and I forced myself to finish this.
In reality - Joy sees Daltons pierced, monster penis and drools away over it before he went on to have a good game. The next game was not so great. So the obvious answer? Get Joy to look at his inhuman, droolworthy penis before every game.
It's a ridiculous premise for a book and I genuinely couldn't get into it. I am all for spice but this felt almost like porn without plot and I forced myself to finish this.
February 1, 2025
The audio was incredible. The chemistry between the voices was undeniable, and the banter flowed effortlessly. It didn’t feel forced or scripted; it was natural, like I was overhearing something playful and genuine. The teasing and provocations added such a fun, flirty edge that kept me engaged from start to finish.
The way they interacted made the experience feel spontaneous and real. It wasn’t about the words alone; it was the energy and connection that made it so captivating. I couldn’t stop listening, and it left me with a smile on my face. It’s one of those experiences you don’t want to end. Absolutely loved it!
The way they interacted made the experience feel spontaneous and real. It wasn’t about the words alone; it was the energy and connection that made it so captivating. I couldn’t stop listening, and it left me with a smile on my face. It’s one of those experiences you don’t want to end. Absolutely loved it!
April 6, 2025
Oh I loved the audiobook for this one! This may be my new favorite Lauren Landish book. 🥹🩷
January 25, 2025
This is the first book of Ms Landish's that I have read in a while and I was not disappointed in the story.
In this second book of the series that can be read as a standalone book we get Dalton and Joy's story. Dalton, a professional hockey player and friend of Joy's brother is not looking for anything but when an accidental flashing of this goods sends him on a winning streak he feels that he must approach Joy and proposition her keep getting flashed to keep the streak alive - that is until it becomes more than just the initial flashing.
Joy, sports anchor for the local news has worked hard to get where she is so when she accidentally gets flashed by Dalton she didn't think it would affect her too much since it wasn't the first time that something like that has happened to her but it turns out that it was the first time where it lead to more.
In what starts as an innocent accident quickly turns into more for this pair but can they get an HEA when feelings get involved?? Read this story and find out.
As I said before this is a standalone read and the second book of this series. With that being the case, I had no problem following along with this book and didn't feel lost at all. I felt that Joy and Dalton were well written characters and had off the charts chemistry. Their story moved along well and had me interested in seeing where their story went throughout the entire telling. Overall, this was a great read that I would recommend to others.
In this second book of the series that can be read as a standalone book we get Dalton and Joy's story. Dalton, a professional hockey player and friend of Joy's brother is not looking for anything but when an accidental flashing of this goods sends him on a winning streak he feels that he must approach Joy and proposition her keep getting flashed to keep the streak alive - that is until it becomes more than just the initial flashing.
Joy, sports anchor for the local news has worked hard to get where she is so when she accidentally gets flashed by Dalton she didn't think it would affect her too much since it wasn't the first time that something like that has happened to her but it turns out that it was the first time where it lead to more.
In what starts as an innocent accident quickly turns into more for this pair but can they get an HEA when feelings get involved?? Read this story and find out.
As I said before this is a standalone read and the second book of this series. With that being the case, I had no problem following along with this book and didn't feel lost at all. I felt that Joy and Dalton were well written characters and had off the charts chemistry. Their story moved along well and had me interested in seeing where their story went throughout the entire telling. Overall, this was a great read that I would recommend to others.
January 30, 2025
Sheeeesh the tension between these two extremely hot!!
And that opening !!👀
This hockey romance will have you hooked from the very start! The banter these two have will have you laughing throughout the whole book and did I mention the amount of gasps I made by the way these two were so bold with each other ?! lol
Fair warning,This is extremely spicy as well!!
I highly recommend reading this book and highly highly recommend the audio 😮💨
And that opening !!👀
This hockey romance will have you hooked from the very start! The banter these two have will have you laughing throughout the whole book and did I mention the amount of gasps I made by the way these two were so bold with each other ?! lol
Fair warning,This is extremely spicy as well!!
I highly recommend reading this book and highly highly recommend the audio 😮💨
January 26, 2025
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC!
Joy is a sports reporter that refuses to date an athlete. Dalton Days is a hockey player and her brother’s teammate. After an accidental run in, Dalton plays his best. When he figures out she’s his good luck charm, he proposes they have a pregame ritual where he shows her his *ahem member before playing. Joy begrudgingly agrees.
After things heat up before every game, the two can’t fight their sexual tension. It boils over and they begin a physical relationship, not just the voyeurism. Dalton wants Joy’s trust and a true relationship, but Joy s afraid of history repeating itself.
These two have to weather the storm for their HEA!
I received the audio and of course Teddy Hamilton killed it
Joy is a sports reporter that refuses to date an athlete. Dalton Days is a hockey player and her brother’s teammate. After an accidental run in, Dalton plays his best. When he figures out she’s his good luck charm, he proposes they have a pregame ritual where he shows her his *ahem member before playing. Joy begrudgingly agrees.
After things heat up before every game, the two can’t fight their sexual tension. It boils over and they begin a physical relationship, not just the voyeurism. Dalton wants Joy’s trust and a true relationship, but Joy s afraid of history repeating itself.
These two have to weather the storm for their HEA!
I received the audio and of course Teddy Hamilton killed it
January 29, 2025
Joy is a sports reporter and Dalton, a star hockey player. Of course their paths are going to cross at times but not in the way most would first expect. In fact, their first meeting sees Joy walking in on Dalton in the changing room and what begins then will have you in stitches. This book was an absolute hoot. I laughed a lot throughout and I lowered the volume on my headphones when the spicy scenes came on for fear the kids could hear! This one was a joy to listen to.
September 17, 2024
When I first saw the book cover, it gave me fake engagement/marriage vibe. But this is not the case.
The proposal from the title refers to an indecent pre-game ritual.
This is a cute but also spicy hockey rom-com with a badass FMC. I liked the interactions between Joy and Dalton and the way they became friends first.
What you can expect:
- hockey goalie and sports reporter
- bestfriend’s sister
- secret relationship
- he falls first
- trust issues
- lust to love
Dalton became really sweet and treated Joy good.
“The best part is the secret side you hide from everyone else, but let me see because you trust me enough to let me in.”
This is the first book I read from this author, but I want to read Hope’s story (Joy’s twin sister).
Thank you to Netgalley and Montlake for the advance reader copy of the book. This is my honest review.
The proposal from the title refers to an indecent pre-game ritual.
This is a cute but also spicy hockey rom-com with a badass FMC. I liked the interactions between Joy and Dalton and the way they became friends first.
What you can expect:
- hockey goalie and sports reporter
- bestfriend’s sister
- secret relationship
- he falls first
- trust issues
- lust to love
Dalton became really sweet and treated Joy good.
“The best part is the secret side you hide from everyone else, but let me see because you trust me enough to let me in.”
This is the first book I read from this author, but I want to read Hope’s story (Joy’s twin sister).
Thank you to Netgalley and Montlake for the advance reader copy of the book. This is my honest review.
February 5, 2025
Thank you NetGalley, Montlake and Lauren Landish Bellefleur for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This is the 2nd book in the Maple Creek series but can be read standalone.
Joy is a tough, ambitious sports reporter who takes her job and sports seriously. After being cheated on years ago by an athlete she has sworn off dating athletes.
Dalton is a semi professional hockey player and Shep’s (Joys older brother) best friend and teammate. He has a reputation for one night stands and has never wanted to commit to a relationship.
An unlikely encounter and some serious pregame superstition leads Joy and Dalton to get close and much to their surprise they enjoy spending time together.
Lauren Landish writes bold, sometimes vulgar (in a fun way) characters who have flaws but are relatable and have big hearts. I enjoyed this book, it was fast paced. The title and cover are slightly misleading in my opinion but not enough to take away from the book. Sure, the title has to do with the superstition - proposing a solution of sorts but the cover seems like it was created solely based on the title - not the actual book.
I’m crossing my fingers Shepherd and Rayleigh are the next book.
Tropes:
Professional athlete - hockey
Former player
Forbidden love
Brothers best friend
Miscommunication
He falls first/hard
Dual POV
This is the 2nd book in the Maple Creek series but can be read standalone.
Joy is a tough, ambitious sports reporter who takes her job and sports seriously. After being cheated on years ago by an athlete she has sworn off dating athletes.
Dalton is a semi professional hockey player and Shep’s (Joys older brother) best friend and teammate. He has a reputation for one night stands and has never wanted to commit to a relationship.
An unlikely encounter and some serious pregame superstition leads Joy and Dalton to get close and much to their surprise they enjoy spending time together.
Lauren Landish writes bold, sometimes vulgar (in a fun way) characters who have flaws but are relatable and have big hearts. I enjoyed this book, it was fast paced. The title and cover are slightly misleading in my opinion but not enough to take away from the book. Sure, the title has to do with the superstition - proposing a solution of sorts but the cover seems like it was created solely based on the title - not the actual book.
I’m crossing my fingers Shepherd and Rayleigh are the next book.
Tropes:
Professional athlete - hockey
Former player
Forbidden love
Brothers best friend
Miscommunication
He falls first/hard
Dual POV
February 14, 2025
Superstitious hockey player, Dalton convinces sports reporter Joy to help him with his pre-game rituals, entering a spicy, situationship that leads to more in this latest Maple Creek sports romance. It can definitely be read as a standalone and is sure to appeal to fans of authors like Meghan Quinn or Tessa Bailey. I laughed my butt off several times and really enjoyed it on audio narrated by Teddy Hamilton and Carly Robins. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review!
January 19, 2025
ARC from Netgalley
I must say, it was an exhilarating experience from start to finish! The story revolves around the world of hockey, blending romance and humor in a way that keeps you engaged throughout. The characters are well-developed, each with their own unique quirks and backstories that add depth to the narrative.
Landish's writing style is both witty and relatable, making it easy to connect with the characters and their journeys. The chemistry between the leads is electric, and their banter is filled with laugh-out-loud moments that had me grinning from ear to ear. The plot twists and turns kept me on my toes, and I found myself eagerly turning the pages to see what would happen next. This is a delightful read that combines sports, romance, and humor in a way that fans of the genre will love. I highly recommend it.
Mark your calendars for its release on February 18, 2025! Book 2 of the Maple Creeks You won't want to miss this one!
I must say, it was an exhilarating experience from start to finish! The story revolves around the world of hockey, blending romance and humor in a way that keeps you engaged throughout. The characters are well-developed, each with their own unique quirks and backstories that add depth to the narrative.
Landish's writing style is both witty and relatable, making it easy to connect with the characters and their journeys. The chemistry between the leads is electric, and their banter is filled with laugh-out-loud moments that had me grinning from ear to ear. The plot twists and turns kept me on my toes, and I found myself eagerly turning the pages to see what would happen next. This is a delightful read that combines sports, romance, and humor in a way that fans of the genre will love. I highly recommend it.
Mark your calendars for its release on February 18, 2025! Book 2 of the Maple Creeks You won't want to miss this one!
January 22, 2025
What a fun rom com!
I have never read Lauren Landish before but I am happy I gave this listen a chance when I saw it on netgalley. Teddy Hamilton - need I say more?
A little forbidden and a touch of miscommunication but I overall really enjoyed it.
I have never read Lauren Landish before but I am happy I gave this listen a chance when I saw it on netgalley. Teddy Hamilton - need I say more?
A little forbidden and a touch of miscommunication but I overall really enjoyed it.
January 22, 2025
This is the kind of proposal I would like lol . This was a fun, sexy, amusing, read. I was really happy that the book contained actual hockey games and talk too.
January 10, 2025
Classic spicy romance. Loved every minute of it. Will definitely read again
September 22, 2024
This is the second book in the Maple Creek series but can be read as a standalone. I have read many of Lauren Landish's books and have enjoyed them. This book was a quick paced read. It had humor and heart. I loved both Joy and Dalton. The supporting characters were entertaining and I would love to read spin offs with them in them,
Joy is a sports reporter for the local minor league hockey team. She is ballsy and doesn't take crap from anyone. Her brother plays for the Maple Creek Moose and has declared her "off limits". Dalton Days is the goalie for the team and is preparing to take the team to the championship. They collide in the locker room preseason and so starts the pre-game ritual that caused Joy and Dalton to begin to know each other and have feelings. Joy has a no dating athletes rule after being cheated on. Can Dalton break through her walls and get her to give him a chance?
I loved the relationships of the supporting characters with the main characters in this story. Shephard (Joy's brother) was Dalton's best friend. Seeing how he has to navigate that relationship while trying to get Joy to date him was interesting. Joy was tough as nails but honestly was just truly frightened to have a serious relationship. Joy's parents were also very entertaining and I loved how they seemed to know what their kids thought were secrets.
Thank you to Montlake and NetGalley for the ARC of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
Joy is a sports reporter for the local minor league hockey team. She is ballsy and doesn't take crap from anyone. Her brother plays for the Maple Creek Moose and has declared her "off limits". Dalton Days is the goalie for the team and is preparing to take the team to the championship. They collide in the locker room preseason and so starts the pre-game ritual that caused Joy and Dalton to begin to know each other and have feelings. Joy has a no dating athletes rule after being cheated on. Can Dalton break through her walls and get her to give him a chance?
I loved the relationships of the supporting characters with the main characters in this story. Shephard (Joy's brother) was Dalton's best friend. Seeing how he has to navigate that relationship while trying to get Joy to date him was interesting. Joy was tough as nails but honestly was just truly frightened to have a serious relationship. Joy's parents were also very entertaining and I loved how they seemed to know what their kids thought were secrets.
Thank you to Montlake and NetGalley for the ARC of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
September 14, 2024
Just finished this book as an ARC & holy hotness!! 1 on 1 voyeurism, enemies to lovers, hockey trope, brothers best friend, secret relationship..
Lots and lots and lots of master bating! Pierced 🍆..
Loved both the FMC & the MMC. The story flowed super easy for me & I absolutely loved it.
I feel like Mollie’s character could have absolutely been made so much worse & I’m glad she wasn’t, the story wasn’t about her. I love that the author used mollie at this point to highlight Joy’s past & current trust issues though without putting all the emphasis on Mollie!
Would love to read some of the side characters stories now too. Shep, Max, Rayleigh etc.
All in all, I’ve given 5 stars because the characters were loveable, the story flowed effortlessly, the FMC is a badass! There were some real LOL moments and the quick witty comments had me cackling!
Lauren’s writing is superb 5******
Lots and lots and lots of master bating! Pierced 🍆..
Loved both the FMC & the MMC. The story flowed super easy for me & I absolutely loved it.
I feel like Mollie’s character could have absolutely been made so much worse & I’m glad she wasn’t, the story wasn’t about her. I love that the author used mollie at this point to highlight Joy’s past & current trust issues though without putting all the emphasis on Mollie!
Would love to read some of the side characters stories now too. Shep, Max, Rayleigh etc.
All in all, I’ve given 5 stars because the characters were loveable, the story flowed effortlessly, the FMC is a badass! There were some real LOL moments and the quick witty comments had me cackling!
Lauren’s writing is superb 5******
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 13, 2024
This book is perfect for your hockey romance era. It has the best friend’s sister, sports reporter/hockey star, sports superstitions that all make a seriously fun story. After a chance-flashing, the pair find a new routine they have to complete before each game. Their pregame ritual gets more involved, and more complicated as time goes on. Joy was a fun character who was making a name for herself in a male-dominated field. She loved toeing the line and seeing just how far she could get, without going too far. Obviously it goes too far, and turns into a super steamy situation. These two were on fire. Now when both of their pasts keep popping up, they both have some things to figure out. Dalton was sure about his feelings, and gives our girl a harsh wake up call. Their happily ever after was so worth the read.
November 10, 2024
Rating: 3/5
Spice: 2/5
Joy works for a local news stations as a sports reporter. She's tough, smart and doesn't trust easily.
Dalton is the goalie for the minor hockey league. Known to be a player, with a nickname of "One Night," no one thinks he will ever settle down. Oh, and his teammate and best friend just happens to be Joy's brother.
One accidental new pre-game ritual turns Daltons season into a winning one, and starts an unlikely relationship between the two. Can they overcome the obstacles they set in their own ways?
Overall, this is a easy to read sports rom-com. I found there to be too many hyperboles and puns to where it got a little overwhelming.
Thanks to NetGalley and Montlake for the eARC! All opinions and reviews are my own.
Spice: 2/5
Joy works for a local news stations as a sports reporter. She's tough, smart and doesn't trust easily.
Dalton is the goalie for the minor hockey league. Known to be a player, with a nickname of "One Night," no one thinks he will ever settle down. Oh, and his teammate and best friend just happens to be Joy's brother.
One accidental new pre-game ritual turns Daltons season into a winning one, and starts an unlikely relationship between the two. Can they overcome the obstacles they set in their own ways?
Overall, this is a easy to read sports rom-com. I found there to be too many hyperboles and puns to where it got a little overwhelming.
Thanks to NetGalley and Montlake for the eARC! All opinions and reviews are my own.
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October 13, 2024Me costó mucho terminar el libro; varias veces estuve a punto de abandonarlo.
No me gustó el estilo de escritura ni que todo se centrara en el sexo. Si son de los que califican el 'spice', probablemente disfrutarán de esta historia.
Lo mejor fue la última parte, ya que se centra en la relación de Joy y Dalton. Se dejan de lado las escenas sexuales (que las hay, pero son más cortas, en menor cantidad o simplemente se da a entender que sucedieron, pero no se muestran), y además disminuye el lenguaje vulgar.
Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
No me gustó el estilo de escritura ni que todo se centrara en el sexo. Si son de los que califican el 'spice', probablemente disfrutarán de esta historia.
Lo mejor fue la última parte, ya que se centra en la relación de Joy y Dalton. Se dejan de lado las escenas sexuales (que las hay, pero son más cortas, en menor cantidad o simplemente se da a entender que sucedieron, pero no se muestran), y además disminuye el lenguaje vulgar.
Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
October 23, 2024
I loved reading this book. Dalton and Joy’s forbidden love is beautiful to read.
Tropes:
Best friends sister, secret relationship, forbidden love, hockey romance, he falls first.
Joy Barlowe, a sports reporter, and Dalton Days, a hockey player from their meet cute in locker room to the end loved every bit of their relationship. I love hockey romances and this one was not any different. Don’t get me started on the spice it was panty melting.
Totally love the strong story line, hilarious & spicy moments.
Now i am eagerly waiting to read Sheperd’s book..
Thank You Montlake and Netgalley for the ARC
Tropes:
Best friends sister, secret relationship, forbidden love, hockey romance, he falls first.
Joy Barlowe, a sports reporter, and Dalton Days, a hockey player from their meet cute in locker room to the end loved every bit of their relationship. I love hockey romances and this one was not any different. Don’t get me started on the spice it was panty melting.
Totally love the strong story line, hilarious & spicy moments.
Now i am eagerly waiting to read Sheperd’s book..
Thank You Montlake and Netgalley for the ARC
February 19, 2025
Another amazing hilarious, couldn’t put down book by Lauren. I absolutely couldn’t get enough of Dalton & Joy. Every character will have you lol. The spice, damn definitely need to got outside in the freezing cold and cool down lol.
Definitely a book that will hold your interest from start to finish.
Definitely a book that will hold your interest from start to finish.
December 2, 2024
Pre-game rituals must be taken seriously, even when they seem completely outrageous - and indecent! Hilariously believable. Hockey trope. Brother's best friend. Playing to win.
March 1, 2025
Sneaking around is never a good idea, but it sure makes for an amusing and compelling read.
This was most certainly an unusual arrangement to satisfy a hockey player's new superstition. And it kept evolving as Joy and Dalton spent more time together and their intimacy grew. They were both confident, driven characters, and they brought out the best in each other. These two jumped into this secret pact with both feet and it was clear that they enjoyed each other and this experience. Despite all the intensity right off the bat, this was still a fairly slow burn. And that made it extra satisfying when Joy and Dalton finally gave in to the insane attraction between them.
The overprotective brother is not my favourite, but Shep was a very likable character and even I (as the reader) cared about his opinion. Apart from this obvious roadblock, Joy and Dalton had plenty of other personal demons to slay. Dalton handled Joy's issues like a pro, even if his delivery could've used some improvement.
I enjoyed the straightforward writing style and the witty dialogue. The author quickly established a tone and personality for Joy and Dalton that stayed consistent throughout. Their edges softened up a bit as they became more comfortable with each other.
This is book two in a series, but it stands well on its own. I can highly recommend this if you like a steamy hockey romance, with a decent amount of actual hockey playing.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This review is also on Hooked By That Book.
This was most certainly an unusual arrangement to satisfy a hockey player's new superstition. And it kept evolving as Joy and Dalton spent more time together and their intimacy grew. They were both confident, driven characters, and they brought out the best in each other. These two jumped into this secret pact with both feet and it was clear that they enjoyed each other and this experience. Despite all the intensity right off the bat, this was still a fairly slow burn. And that made it extra satisfying when Joy and Dalton finally gave in to the insane attraction between them.
The overprotective brother is not my favourite, but Shep was a very likable character and even I (as the reader) cared about his opinion. Apart from this obvious roadblock, Joy and Dalton had plenty of other personal demons to slay. Dalton handled Joy's issues like a pro, even if his delivery could've used some improvement.
I enjoyed the straightforward writing style and the witty dialogue. The author quickly established a tone and personality for Joy and Dalton that stayed consistent throughout. Their edges softened up a bit as they became more comfortable with each other.
This is book two in a series, but it stands well on its own. I can highly recommend this if you like a steamy hockey romance, with a decent amount of actual hockey playing.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This review is also on Hooked By That Book.
February 18, 2025
What a fast paced, spicy, forbidden love story with amazing banter, wit, and healing.
Dalton and Joy's relationship started on accident when she walks in on him in the locker room. I loved how their unique and tension filled ritual turned into so much more. Dalton has a player reputation and is told to stay away from the sisters of his best friend. Getting to know the real him he keeps hidden was my favorite! He shows Joy his amazing heart by being sweet, attentive, and supportive. Joy has been hurt badly in the past by an unfaithful athlete ex-boyfriend. She is so feisty and witty. Watching her open up to Dalton was beautiful.
I have to say, I love the wake up call Dalton gives Joy. Yes, it was painful, but it ended up helping Joy step back and truly love. Her grand gesture was so sweet! I am loving this series a lot. Can't wait for Shep!
ARC review.
Dalton and Joy's relationship started on accident when she walks in on him in the locker room. I loved how their unique and tension filled ritual turned into so much more. Dalton has a player reputation and is told to stay away from the sisters of his best friend. Getting to know the real him he keeps hidden was my favorite! He shows Joy his amazing heart by being sweet, attentive, and supportive. Joy has been hurt badly in the past by an unfaithful athlete ex-boyfriend. She is so feisty and witty. Watching her open up to Dalton was beautiful.
I have to say, I love the wake up call Dalton gives Joy. Yes, it was painful, but it ended up helping Joy step back and truly love. Her grand gesture was so sweet! I am loving this series a lot. Can't wait for Shep!
ARC review.
February 17, 2025
The Pucking Proposal
4⭐️ 3🌶️
Maple Creek sports reporter Joy Barlowe gets an unexpected glimpse of goalie Dalton Days and, after he plays his best game yet, he asks her to keep up a new pregame tradition. What starts as a superstition soon turns into something more as their late-night FaceTime chats reveal a deeper connection. Though Dalton is superstitious and Joy is his best friend's younger sister, their growing feelings are hard to hide. Now, Dalton’s latest proposition could change everything in Maple Creek.
The plot and storyline of this book? Yeah, I was hooked right from the beginning. I love how out there and different it was. I mean Joy see’s Dalton’s junk and then bam it becomes the biggest superstition that has to be completed before each game.
The best part? Joy is Dalton’s best friend’s little sister so talk about how taboo the whole relationship is. I mean Shepherd gave everyone on the team a “touch my sister and die” rule. His sisters are completely off limits - but clearly that doesn’t stop Joy and Dalton.
I loved watching these two struggle with a private relationship - and see Joy’s walls break down slowly over time. She never wanted to date another athlete after she found her ex cheating on her. Hence where her trust issues came in.
4⭐️ 3🌶️
Maple Creek sports reporter Joy Barlowe gets an unexpected glimpse of goalie Dalton Days and, after he plays his best game yet, he asks her to keep up a new pregame tradition. What starts as a superstition soon turns into something more as their late-night FaceTime chats reveal a deeper connection. Though Dalton is superstitious and Joy is his best friend's younger sister, their growing feelings are hard to hide. Now, Dalton’s latest proposition could change everything in Maple Creek.
The plot and storyline of this book? Yeah, I was hooked right from the beginning. I love how out there and different it was. I mean Joy see’s Dalton’s junk and then bam it becomes the biggest superstition that has to be completed before each game.
The best part? Joy is Dalton’s best friend’s little sister so talk about how taboo the whole relationship is. I mean Shepherd gave everyone on the team a “touch my sister and die” rule. His sisters are completely off limits - but clearly that doesn’t stop Joy and Dalton.
I loved watching these two struggle with a private relationship - and see Joy’s walls break down slowly over time. She never wanted to date another athlete after she found her ex cheating on her. Hence where her trust issues came in.
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