Stephen Sloan thought he was on top of the world. He's young, he's handsome, he's a star NHL player, and a millionaire to boot. He's got it all- including a girlfriend cheating on him with their entire apartment building.
Olivia Murray thought she was happy. She loves her job as a 911 dispatcher, she loves her boyfriend, Stan, and she loves the new makeover she got done just for their anniversary. But Stan loves sleeping with the new neighbor.
Stephen and Olivia have both been betrayed by the people they loved. When a chance encounter brings them together, will it be something special? Or will they just get pucked over by love once again?
I thought the storyline was a new and fun take on the hockey romance trope.
You meet Olivia and Stephen, who are leaving terrible relationships at the same time. Fate would have it that Olivia would end up saving one of the most important people in Stephen's life.
Is it fate or meddling that helps these two skate towards each other?
I loved the relationship that Olivia built with the other female characters in the story.
I will say the flip between the two in the stories wasn't always clear, but you could quickly catch on.
The title makes it's seem like we're going to be looking at a lot of spice, but it's really quite tame.
While Pucked Over by Beth Anderson has a good storyline and memorable characters, the execution left me frustrated. The dual POV could have been a highlight, but the sudden and confusing mid-chapter shifts between characters’ perspectives made it hard to follow. I often had to re-read sections to understand who was narrating, which disrupted the flow of the story. The premise is compelling: Olivia and Stephen both experience heartbreaking betrayals that set them on a path toward each other. Their meet-cute, involving a dramatic rescue, was sweet and well-done. The side characters, especially Grandma Flora and Kiley, added humor and charm to the narrative, making their matchmaking antics entertaining. However, the writing style, while flowing, stumbled in areas that felt awkward or unnecessary. For instance, the FMC’s (Olivia’s) constant use of "daddy" to refer to her father felt out of place for her age. Similarly, the MMC’s (Stephen’s) descriptions of Olivia as "plump" in his inner monologue felt tone-deaf, particularly during moments meant to show their growing affection. The book has its strengths, like well-detailed hockey scenes that capture the excitement of the sport and a well-written villain who leaves a lasting impression. But despite these positives, the pacing issues and character quirks detracted from my overall enjoyment. If you're a fan of hockey romances and don’t mind some hiccups in narrative structure, Pucked Over might still be worth a read. Unfortunately, for me, the disjointed perspective shifts and questionable characterizations were too distracting to fully enjoy the story.
If you are looking for a high-level overview:
🖤Length: 247 Pages 🖤Genre: Sweet Contemporary Romance 🖤Spice: None 🖤Violence: None 🖤Editing: Hiccups in Narrative Structure 🖤Ending: HEA
Thank you @jaimerockstarbooktours for my complementary copy and for having me on tour. This was also another buddy read with @lexijava .
Pucked Over Author : Beth Anderson
Available Now ( December 16, 2024) Length : 247 pages
This hockey romance is about a handsome rich hockey player, Stephen Sloan . He's got it all an almost perfect world. But one MAJOR PROBLEM .... his current girlfriend, a CHEATER.
Then there's Olivia Murray , She got a job as a 911 dispatcher that she absolutely loves. She unfortunately just wasted a new makeover she just got because she found out her boyfriend stan also been cheating and with their neighbor. And the worst part it's their anniversary.
The story turns around for these two main characters, who were both hurt and betrayed by previous romantic partners. They end up meeting .... Is the story of Olivia and Stephen one the reader will root for? Or will it be another game that they both just get pucked over AGAIN ????
Thoughts :
You guys, I think I am now addicted to hockey romances . This book has spice, but it's not too much spice . This story of Olivia and Stephen was a quick and entertaining one ( minus the cheating they both encountered with their previous romantic partners). i love the fact that the author even threw in great character development with Olivia . The author also gives very detailed game scenes that make you feel like you're not a reader reading a story about the game. It feels like you're in the bleacher as a character watching the game.
if you're a rom com reader and looking for a new rom com to add to your TBR DEFINITELY, add this one . Just a little heads up that the pov switching is semi confusing, but overall, this was a good read . It definitely makes me want to go find another hockey romance.
When both Olivia and Stephen get betrayed unexpectedly by their respective boy- and girlfriend in Pucked Over by Beth Anderson, they have no idea what life has in store for them.
This book was such a joy to read! From the very first I felt for Stephen and Olivia. They walk in on some scene and were totally in shock. Hockey star Stephen takes a run, while 911 operator Olivia is trying to cope with what happened. Both are great characters and their meeting is lovely, despite what happened. And I especially liked Grandma Flora, everyone should have that kind of grandmother. She is feisty and kind hearted.
The writing style is great, flowing and easy and thanks to the dual POV you get to know the two main characters better. It is always my favourite writing style.
As Stephen is a star hockey player, we get to read about hockey games as well and those scenes I liked very much. It is as I was watching those games myself. These scenes are so well described, you really felt the excitement. I think Beth Anderson has done a great job with that!
As I love reading hockey romances, this book was great to read. It is one of the best hockey romance novels I have read, thanks to the games that are mentioned and described. The book has two great main characters you root for, some really nice and likable side characters, it has a flowing writing style, and a great plot and storyline. It is filled with humour, friendship, romance and some spicey scenes, and of course there is a very mean ex-girlfriend, who with her antics makes the story interesting. All in all, Pucked Over is a book I enjoyed reading a lot and a book I can recommend.
“Pucked Over” is another book to add to your hockey romance era TBR! It has the perfect amount of hockey, romance, and spice (I’d give it a 🌶️/5 for spice, not too much spice and mainly one scene). It was a quicker read and the story kept me entertained. I wasn’t really lagging at any part in the story which is great! I’ve been in a slump lately and this book was the perfect cure to that.
I loved seeing Olivia come out of her shell and rediscover herself and what it means to be in love and loved. She starts off quieter, unsure what to do after breaking up with her boyfriend…..enter Stephen Sloan, hockey player.
Stephen was a great MMC. He is a huge family guy and it shows throughout. He’s funny, athletic, outgoing, and a romantic. In other words, exactly what Olivia needs. He has this tough guy exterior but is a big softie outside of the limelight.
The one thing I had trouble with was how fast the author changed from one character to another. It’s written as a third person POV but it felt like even then the switch between characters was abrupt and I had to go back to reread. However this was only once or twice and not enough for me to stop reading.
Thank you to the author for an ARC! This is my honest and voluntary review
Pucked Over is a really racy and spicy hockey romance especially that beginning! Whew! However, there is some very sweet parts of this book though. So Pucked Over is a romance between Stephen a hockey star who just got cheated on by his girlfriend with alot of people, let's just say. And Olivia, a 911 dispatcher, who has also just found out her boyfriend has also been cheating on her. I love a good story, and this was a great read spicy or not! The spice of course is about at a 4/5 really hot especially that first little bit of the book with the other people who are cheating on our MMC and FMC. The author wrote a sizzling encounter between Olivia and Stephen and their relationship throughout the book is scorching, sweet, and just the cutest pair of people to find each other. I was unable to put this one down till I finished it, wondering how the ending was going to flesh out between Stephen and Olivia. I am so thrilled that it had a happy ending! I have only great things to say about this one, and if you are looking for a sweet and spicy hockey (my favorite) to read look NO further!
This was a decent story with a semi well thought out plot. Not super original as far as hockey romance goes though. There were definitely a few things that could have been improved. I didn't struggle to get into reading this book and it wasn't hard to keep reading. It was a quick and overall enjoyable read.
The pov switching was confusing. There was no clear way to tell who's pov you were reading until you started reading.
Some parts felt like they could have used some better edits. Though I thought there really weren't that many. (Author hmu if you want me to send you my finds while reading and 6 do my best. Even if it's just that you want to hear my thoughts)
I did skip a lot of the hockey match descriptions as they were kinda lengthy and boring. (Other people may have enjoyed them, I just didn't)
I would definitely read more from this author. The more you write, the better you get! And I do hope this author writes more.
“Beth Anderson” is the joint penname of a veteran author of numerous novels of several different genres and a first-time author who loves romance novels. This is their first work together.
I found this book to be on the sweeter side with plenty of drama and an interesting storyline that kept me hooked. The story starts with a few big events where both Olivia and Stephen find out their partner is cheating and didn’t have an inkling that something was off. It was interesting to read how Olivia and Stephen meet, and how their relationship develops. There were plenty of ups and downs but this author kept my interest throughout the whole book. I recommend checking out this book if you like hockey players, crazy grannies/sisters, and a best friend who’s trying to shove you out of the nest. This was a great read and I hope you enjoy it too.
Definitely more on the sweet side than the spice side. This slow burn, third act breakup, with a hot hockey god, and a curvy FMC will have you reeling for a happy ending. When life suddenly gets in the way of both MC’s current relationships, which happens to be out of their control- the MC’s unknowingly find their way to each other after a scary food incident at a fancy restaurant. We meet Flora and Kiley- “matchmakers” in their own sneaky way- doing whatever they can to help set up their grandson/brother.
When the MMCs ex-gf comes back around, will the 2 MCs last? Or will the dreaded ex ruin more than just his life?
Read on to find out what happens with Stephen and Olivia! 1/5 🌶️ 4/5 🍭
I was thrilled to receive an ARC of Pucked Over and devoured it in one sitting. This sweet and heartfelt story follows two people healing from bad relationships who find each other at just the right time—with a little nudge from a meddling family.
Pucked Over was such a fun, engaging read that I couldn’t put it down. It’s packed with humor, sweetness, and moments that had me rooting for Stephen from the start.
Beth Anderson delivers a fantastic hockey romance with just the right amount of spice. Her seamless transitions between the characters’ POVs add depth to the storyline, keeping you hooked from the very first page.
Pucked Over was an amazingly sweet read! I enjoyed it very much and loved all the characters and the dynamics. I feel like there was a character for everyone in this book! I love that it was a sweet, shy romance and not obsessive on the spice aspect as well. And all the hockey scenes in the book were so well described I felt like I was in the book watching the game! The only reason it did not get a 5 star was because the swap between characters was sometimes a bit confusing and not always clear. And I do wish I could have found out what happened to Liza Gardner! That evil Bi***! But aside from that, it was a great book, and I enjoyed every second, minute, and hour reading it!
I was introduced to this book by the authors as a recommendation; in one of the many fb romance book groups I belong to. I've never really been into the sporty romance genre but the authors were very sweet. I'm really glad I gave it a shot!!! It was adorable!!! I was hooked from beginning to end!! I read this book in about 5 hours, while I was at work; in between customers and during my break! I really enjoyed it. The writing style was easy to read, it was a roller coaster of emotions in the beginning but when towards the middle and end, I was cheering the FMC and MMC on!
This was a cute romance novel with the premise of finding love anywhere and when you least expect it.
⭐ Quick read! ⭐ Not too spicy after you get past the scene that causes a breakup ⭐ Well written to help you connect with the characters ⭐ Dual POV (which I always appreciate) ⭐ Some negative self-talk/confidence issues for the female character to overcome ⭐ Appreciated that the hockey element was background filler and not the focus of the story
This would make a great beach or weekend read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I really wanted to absolutely love this book. The first half felt so slow and bounced through different POVs in a choppy manner. After the 50% mark, it picked up and I started to really enjoy the story. Then the wedding hit, and I was pissed. There were other ways Liza could have gone about things and been just as effective. Ruining someone else’s wedding is a big ick for me. It was really hard for me to get back into the story after that, and I found myself unable to enjoy the happily ever after ending.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
📖 Book Review 📖 Imagine the handsome stranger you met in a chance encounter (including a cozy dinner with this wonderful family) turned out to be a star hockey player. Pucked Over is a sweet tale about what it takes to start over after heartbreak. Beth Anderson’s writing is freshly authentic, allowing readers to feel a genuine connection with her characters. If you’re a fan of hockey romances with main characters that feel like old friends, exes to comically hate on, and just a little bit of heat…this one's for you! And it’s always a bonus for me when a book is set is Boston ❤️.
This was a cute hockey romance story and was a nice change of pace from full on smutty hockey romance. The main characters seemed so sweet and genuine. I adored the grandmother and sister and how they pushed the two main characters toward each other. I just wish the main characters would’ve just said they liked each other from the beginning instead of playing super shy. Overall, a nice and refreshingly sweet love story!
This book was an absolute delight! I was captivated by the main character and her unique personality. The writing style was impeccable, and the narrative progressed seamlessly, enhancing with each passing page. I couldn’t help but empathize with both Stephan and Olivia, as they endured immense trials and tribulations. However, the satisfying conclusion made it all worthwhile. I eagerly anticipate reading another book by Beth Anderson in the future.
Olivia and Stephen meet when she helps his Grandma. His family basically falls in love with her first. Both characters have recently been through breakups and are a little shy of jumping into another one. This is a sweet slow burn hockey romance. You fall in love with the side characters and they help push the two main characters together. Highly recommend if you like hockey romances with a curvy fmc and a hockey player who seems to have all.
What started out with dual heart break this book gave all the feels within the first few chapters. I adored the connection between the main characters and the spice was hot. The happy ending was my favourite part of the book. Would love to read a spin off book of the sister she deserves someone really special to keep up with her cheekiness. I would recommend this book.
I really enjoyed this quick read. Once you get past the first scenes that cause the breakups, this is a sweet and fun read that you can enjoy in one sitting. It was a different take on a hockey romance and I really love that about it! My favorite character is definitely Grandma Flora. Love that she is a little spitfire!
It was cute and their meeting was different. I just felt like the relationship was a little rushed? They had dinner the night before the wedding and it was the first time they’d had a real convo just the 2 of them, drama happened the next night, and then they’re saying I love you. Just didn’t get the connection between them really.
Five stars! Not what I was expecting but an awesome book. I was hooked from the beginning and loved the emotions and the twists. I received a free copy and am voluntarily leaving a review. #arcreview #beccasbookbites #hockeyromance
You follow Olivia and Stephen in the book. Olivia's opening scene is one you would think of that happens however Stephen opens with a bang. Your jaw hits the floor. Throughout this book you follow these two only to see that not everyone has a huge family and it's ok to make your own.
This is the first book I read by this author. I loved it! It was a sweet read. I love Olivia and Stephen together. They were made for each other. There is also some OW drama that caused some issues. Great book and definitely recommend.
This one's for you. Steven and Olivia are adorable. If you want a fast paced no-nonsense HEA ... look no further. A little sweet. A little spicy. A little drama 😉
I tried but the weird inaccuracy of dispatch life twisted my panties. Sincerely a dispatcher who does not get black out times after each call and will profusely be complaining about this to my comm center for months.
A cute small town but big celebrity romance that had a few spicy scenes but nothing over the top , so it's perfect for those who want a handful of spice detailed scenes sprinkled into the story.