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Shot at Love #1

Revenge Puck

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After Elle Townsend is dumped by her hockey star boyfriend Christian Riley on the eve of the championship playoffs, she devises a plan for sweet revenge—a fake romance with Christian's arch-rival.

Preston Lawrence takes his hockey career very seriously because brawling on the ice is the only thing he’s good at. With the championship trophy and his contract extension on the line, he needs to figure out a way to control his temper that always flares and gets him ejected whenever he faces his rival.

So, when a heartbroken blonde asks Preston for a photo with him to try to make Christian jealous, he raises the stakes. Known for avoiding the spotlight, Preston kisses Elle in front of a crowd of sports reporters, certain the video will go viral.

368 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 1, 2025

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6584 people want to read

About the author

L.A. Hart

7 books49 followers

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 456 reviews
Profile Image for mai ༉‧⋆˚..
282 reviews135 followers
Read
January 31, 2025
Dnf 37%

I am very sad to come on here and say that this sadly enough was not what I expected.

The writing was very dull from the beginning. It didn’t have any ‘flavor’ to it, but I didn’t mind it since I was genuinely interested in the story. Not so good writing is not something that scares me away as long as I’m enjoying the story, but after the 35% the story also became boring to me & mixing that with the flavorless writing just turned this fun read to a not so fun read. I got no connection with the characters & their relationship just turned weird.

I wish the writing had a little bit more to it so we had the opportunity to get to know the characters. I also wished we got more interesting scenes, banter and tension.
Profile Image for Shann ☾☆.
181 reviews17 followers
March 19, 2025
2.5 ⭐️ thank you to Netgalley for the Arc! 🦋

Ever wondered what happens when you mix a scorned woman, a hot hockey rivalry, and a fake dating scheme? Enter Revenge Puck, where Elle Townsend decides that the best way to get back at her ex, Christian Riley, is to cozy up to his arch-nemesis, Preston Lawrence. Because nothing says "I've moved on" and “I’m totally over it” like dating your ex's worst enemy, right? Iconic revenge strategy, honestly.
──────୨ৎ──────
tropes:
🏒 fake dating
🏒 grumpy x sunshine
🏒 jealous/possessive MMC
🏒 love triangle
──────୨ৎ──────
✧° Elle: The protagonist with a self-esteem and maturity level somewhere below sea level. Her constant self-doubt and need for validation was exhausting. Every compliment she receives is met with a firm “No, I’m a potato” response. It gets old. Fast. And growth? She left that concept on the bench.

✧° Preston: The brooding hockey player with a heart of gold…buried under layers and layers of emotional baggage. Mysterious? Absolutely. But he’s also red flag central.

✧° Christian: The walking, talking “I’m not the bad guy” ex. His subplot with Maya sometimes steals the spotlight, making you wonder who the real main character are.
──────୨ৎ──────
Elle’s constant comparisons between Preston and Christian drove me absolutely up the wall. Every interaction seemed to circle back to her ex, making Preston feel more like a rebound than a genuine romantic interest. It’s like she couldn’t decide whether she wanted revenge, romance, or just to drag everyone into her unresolved trauma.

The conversations between the characters often felt forced and unnatural. The plot also requires an almost Olympic-level suspension of disbelief. Like, Elle somehow gaining backstage access to a major hockey arena during the Stanley Cup Finals like it’s no big deal.
──────୨ৎ──────
what was missing:
✳
timeline was rushed; it was one hockey series (like 2-weeks)
✳ instalove
✳ no real character growth or development
✳ immature characters; I thought this was a college romance at first
✳ plot was insanely unrealistic
──────୨ৎ──────
Revenge Puck is like that guilty pleasure reality show you claim to “hate-watch” but end up binging in one sitting. If you’re in the mood for a fast-paced, drama-packed romance with some truly questionable decisions, this one’s for you. Just don’t expect logic to make the roster.

Will I read the next one? Probably, because who doesn’t love a good redemption arc & admittedly the next trope has me in a chokehold.
Profile Image for scl.ashx.
464 reviews329 followers
January 30, 2025
3/5 stars

Ah, the age-old art of revenge: petty, dramatic, and, when executed correctly, deeply satisfying.

In Revenge Puck, L.A. Hart serves up a whirlwind of fake dating, jealous exes, and a hockey rivalry so intense it might just melt the ice.

Elle Townsend, our freshly dumped heroine, takes a page out of the *How to Ruin Your Ex’s Life* handbook and enlists her ex's biggest rival, Preston Lawrence, for some good old-fashioned emotional chaos.

But, as these things go, the line between faking it and catching real feelings blurs faster than a slapshot. While the book is brimming with drama, tension, and just enough chemistry to keep the pages turning, the breakneck pace and occasionally disjointed development leave it teetering between an all-star read and a penalty-worthy infraction.

The book dabbles in themes of revenge, emotional growth, and second chances, but the overarching theme? Chaos. Delicious, messy, emotionally turbulent chaos. The enemies-to-lovers and fake dating tropes are strong, but the pacing sometimes undercuts the emotional depth these themes could have had.

- Elle Townsend: She starts off strong—angry, impulsive, and hell-bent on making Christian suffer (relatable). But her rapid switch from heartbroken to head-over-heels for Preston in less than two weeks? A bit too speedy for believability.

- Preston Lawrence: Our angry, emotionally volatile hockey hunk has trauma (because, of course, he does). He’s got serious possessiveness issues, but hey, that’s a romance novel staple at this point. His arc would’ve hit harder with more gradual development.

- Christian Riley : The ex-boyfriend turned side plot MVP.

- Side Characters : The subplot with Maya and Christian sometimes overshadowed the main romance—probably not the intention, but definitely where my attention drifted.

Hart leans heavily into dialogue, which keeps things moving but often at the expense of real emotional build-up. We get some inner monologue, but not nearly enough to really invest in these characters. The whole story plays out over less than two weeks—which is just not enough time for the emotional rollercoaster this book tries to sell.

While fake dating and rivals-to-lovers aren’t groundbreaking, the hockey-fueled revenge plot was a fun twist. It just needed a little more room to breathe. Also, the fact that all of this takes place in a single series instead of an entire season? A missed opportunity for some long-term, slow-burn tension.

What Worked
- Entertaining, fast-paced drama that keeps you hooked.
- Preston and Christian’s rivalry adds a layer of intensity beyond the romance.
- The revenge angle was good, well because who doesn’t love a little well-executed pettiness?

What Didn’t Work
- The relationship speed-run—we went from “fake dating” to “soulmates” in the blink of an eye.
- Preston’s emotional volatility? 🚩🚩🚩
- The epilogue didn’t solidify the romance—it just *amplified* how rushed everything was.
- Side plot takeover: Maya and Christian low-key stole the spotlight.

If you’re here for realism, Revenge Puck might not be your cup of tea. But if you’re looking for a quick read—the kind that’s messy, dramatic, and best enjoyed with a side of popcorn—this one delivers. The chemistry could have been stronger, the emotional arcs deeper, and the timeline much longer, but at the end of the day, it’s an entertaining one.

Final Rating: ⭐⭐⭐/5 – Fun, chaotic, but ultimately too fast for its own good. Will I read the next book? Absolutely—because if Christian and Maya’s story is anything like this, it’s going to be one hell of a ride.
Profile Image for Heather Swanson.
244 reviews4 followers
January 19, 2025
I received an ARC for an honest review. I really enjoyed Revenge Puck. I think my favorite character was Preston aka the Wooly Mammoth lol. He’s a grumpy on the outside but totally softie on the inside type of character. Elle was a perfect fit for him. She brought out the best in everyone around her. I think he ‘fake’ relationship in the beginning was perfect for them because they both had some real feelings but were to gun shy to be honest with themselves and each other. All in all this was a really good read and I can’t wait to see what happens next.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Paige Edwards.
Author 10 books693 followers
March 2, 2025
I expected clean content due to the cover- so I didn't finish.
Profile Image for anzhelika ୨ৎ.
204 reviews146 followers
April 21, 2025
⋆ ˚。⋆୨୧˚ 3.5 stars ˚୨୧⋆。˚ ⋆

“Elle, I want you to be the exception to all my rules. I want it to be real too.”

“I love you, Elle. And no matter what answer you give me today, I’m not giving up on you or us. Ever. You’re end game for me. I’ll be here waiting for you, however long it takes.”

i saw that this was a hockey romance with fake dating to get revenge on an ex boyfriend and was immediately sold. this was an overall cute hockey romance, and i liked the characters, especially maya and finley. i'm so excited for maya's book next, i need to know more about her! it looks like christian will be in his little redemption era with everything that happened. while it's good that this is a quick and fast-paced read, the pacing felt a bit too fast at the beginning, but then it improved throughout the rest of the book. something i didn't like was that there was a lot of miscommunication and lack of communication between so many of the characters. also, the main characters, elle and preston, felt underdeveloped for me. i saw some other people saying that they fell flat and had no chemistry between them, and i agree. overall though, cute and simple hockey romance!

˗ˋˏ ୨୧ thank you to NetGalley, BooksGoSocial, and L.A. Hart for the digital arc in exchange for an honest review! ୨୧ ˎˊ˗

pre-read:
this gets published today but i think i'll be able to finish it!
Profile Image for Alexandra.
117 reviews
January 31, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an book copy in exchange for my honest review.

Overview:
Elle Townsend is blindsided when her hockey-star boyfriend, Christian Riley, dumps her right before the championship playoffs. Determined to get back at him, she comes up with a plan—fake date his biggest rival, Preston Lawrence. Preston, known for his tough, no-nonsense attitude, agrees to play along.
What starts as a strategic move quickly turns into something neither of them expected. As Elle and Preston spend more time together, their fake relationship starts feeling very real—but with emotions involved, can either of them afford to take the risk?

First Impressions:
The book immediately hooked me with its fun, engaging setup. Fake dating and hockey rivalry? Sign me up. While I found Elle and Preston’s first interaction a little over the top, it also added to the drama in a way that made the story even more entertaining.
For the most part, the story felt surprisingly realistic—the emotional reactions, relationship development, and character struggles all unfolded naturally. I loved how the book balanced drama, humor, and heartfelt moments without feeling too forced.

Character Development & Relationships:
Elle is a strong yet relatable protagonist, trying to navigate heartbreak while figuring out what she really wants. Her growth from someone acting on impulse to someone understanding her own feelings was well-paced and satisfying.
Preston isn’t your typical “bad boy athlete.” He’s not a player, not reckless, and definitely not looking for casual romance… or romance in general. Instead, he’s blunt, emotionally guarded, and deeply protective of his younger sister, Maya. His tough exterior is a defense mechanism—he doesn’t let people in easily.
But aside from that softer, protective side, he’s also physically intense. Fighting is second nature to him, and he doesn’t hesitate to throw a punch if the situation calls for it. He’s not violent without reason, but he’s brutal in the way he handles conflict—whether it’s protecting his family, asserting dominance on the ice, or dealing with frustration in general. His aggressive nature makes him an even more interesting contrast to Elle, who is far more controlled and cautious in how she navigates emotions and situations.
And of course, I have to say it—I’m a total sucker for fake dating and grumpy-sunshine dynamics. The chemistry between Elle and Preston was fantastic, with their interactions shifting from playful tension to deep emotional connection. Their slow shift from pretending to something real was so well done, and I felt every moment of it.
One of the biggest surprises for me was how much I fell in love with Maya’s character. Preston’s relationship with his sister was such an important part of the story, and it added another emotional layer beyond just the romance. And when I found out the next book is a second-chance romance featuring Maya, I got genuinely excited. I already feel connected to her as a character, and I need to see how her story unfolds.

Realism, Pacing & Timeline:
For a fake dating sports romance, this book felt remarkably grounded. The emotions were believable, and the progression of Elle and Preston’s relationship felt natural rather than rushed.
That being said, one aspect that could be seen as unrealistic is the short timeline—everything happens within just a few days, and their feelings develop very quickly. I completely understand why some readers might find it hard to believe that such strong emotions could form in such a short time. And to an extent, I agree—it’s fast.
But at the same time? Sometimes people really do fall for each other that quickly. Love at first sight (or at least very fast attraction) happens. Whether it lasts is a different question, but that’s not something this book tries to explore. It’s about the rush of emotions, the tension, and the chemistry in the moment—and in that sense, it worked for me.

Strengths:
Engaging storyline with a perfect mix of drama, romance, and humor.
Good chemistry between Elle and Preston, making their slow-burn romance feel authentic.
Preston’s character arc—his emotionally closed-off, physically intense nature makes him stand out.
Maya’s storyline was compelling—she wasn’t just a background character, and I’m excited for her book.
Fake dating + grumpy-sunshine trope—if you love these, this book delivers!

Weaknesses:
Their first interaction felt a little too exaggerated—not a huge issue, but it stood out compared to the rest of the book.
Some predictable moments—it follows classic romance beats, which isn’t a bad thing, but if you’re looking for plot twists, this isn’t the book for that.
The timeline is very short—everything happens within a few days, making the intensity of their emotions feel a bit fast. However, I didn’t mind it as much because the book is about the feeling of falling in love, not necessarily the long-term reality of it.

Final Thoughts:
Revenge Puck was an absolute joy to read—fun, emotional, and filled with characters I genuinely cared about. It delivered everything I love about fake dating romances while adding enough depth to make the story feel fresh.
And for the first time in a while, I’m actually excited about a sequel of a romance book. Maya’s second-chance romance has so much potential, and I can’t wait to return to this world.
But one of the most unexpectedly entertaining things for me was the nickname “Ellie” being associated with a cow—while at the same time, my own dog Ellie was lying next to me on the couch, peacefully snoring in her sleep. The comedic timing of that could not have been better. 😂

✔ Would I recommend it? Absolutely.
✔ Would I continue the series? No question.
✔ Will I be first in line for Maya’s story? You better believe it.
Profile Image for Laur.
69 reviews1 follower
January 27, 2025
Had the chance to get an ARC for this book from Netgalley (thank you!!) and I wasn’t disappointed! The story follows Elle and Preston who team up to get revenge on Elle’s ex…but Preston also had a connection to the guy which we find out later. The book was perfectly paced and got me out of a reading slump!

Tropes: grumpy/sunshine, fake dating
Spice: 🌶️/5 (not closed door, but more “peek through the blinds” than super spicy scenes

Thanks again to Netgalley for the ARC!!
Profile Image for Charlie-anne Pope.
159 reviews7 followers
January 25, 2025
DNF at 18%

I was 9% in and she was asking to see AND feel his “stick”

At 18%, after meeting once for 5 minutes, he was talking about how much he “liked spending time with her” etc etc.

Over it
Profile Image for Alexisdw.
7 reviews
January 24, 2025
Revenge Puck By L.A. Hart
Publication Date February 1, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Who would like this book:
If you enjoy Elle Kennedy’s book then this book is your perfect next Read. Any hockey romance reader should give L.A. Hart’s newest book Revenge Puck a Read, the perfect revenge fake dating to love story.

Summary:
Revenge Puck follows Elle Townsend (FMC) as she navigates her most recent breakup with hockey star Christian Riley. Whats a girl to do when her ex-boyfriend gives her one guy that's off limits and just so happens to be his biggest enemy on the ice…you plan the perfect fake dating with him. Enter wooly mammouth himself Preston Lawrence. They do say “The enemy of my enemy is my friend”. Elle and Preston use their shared hatred of Christian to make him jealous and give Preston the edge on the ice, but along the way the lines get blurry of whats fake and whats real. Read Revenge Puck to see how things play out for Elle and Preston.

Review:
I really enjoyed this book it was the perfect fake dating to love story romance novel. The characters all grow and develop as the story goes even some you might not think can not redeem themselves. The plot lines is smooth and the story line flows well and wraps up perfectly in my mind and sets up for the next book in the series. I'm excited and already anticipating to read L.A. Hart’s next book in the Shot at Love Series

Thank you L.A. Hart, Editor’s Choice Publishing, and Netgalley for the advance copy of Revenge Puck
#NetGalley #RevengePuck
Profile Image for Kay.
73 reviews
February 17, 2025
It was an interesting book but it didn't stand out to me because there are so many other books just like this one. Now I will say that even though the book was nothing special it did the basic story line well. The tension was well written and the characters had chemistry. But I will also say that the love triangle that the author tried to incorporate wasn't done very well and the other love interest fell flat. Him and the FMC had almost no chemistry so It wasn't realistic for her to want to forgive him and get back together with him. The other thing that dragged my rating down is the overuse of the word "prick". It was in every other line and often wasn't needed, making the FMC seem almost childish in her language even though she was an adult. Overall though this book wasn't bad but there are some things that make the book somewhat unenjoyable. I would recommend this if you're just getting into hockey/sports romance and need a little introduction.
Profile Image for bay.
220 reviews1 follower
January 26, 2025
Started out really flat and fast paced, got better and was a good hockey pallet cleanser after reading Onyx Storm. I enjoyed it enough to keep reading however I do think it was lacking in depth as this was a really fast timeline for the main characters.

I feel like the physical intimacy is all this book had going in terms of chemistry between the characters. Some scenes we got a lot of information and others were shut down abruptly (missing the “fade” and skipping straight to blackout) when that happened, it felt like we were missing out on their whole connection. Would have loved more of them actually getting to know each other.

Saw someone else ask why it didn’t take place throughout a season instead of a week or two playing against the same team 6 times and I couldn’t agree more.

I felt that the subplot of Maya and Christian was more captivating than the main character’s. Christian showed the most emotional depth out of all the characters which I found to be interesting and will definitely be looking forward to their book (mentioned at the end)

Thank you NetGalley & L.A. Hart for this ARC! All opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Megan.
266 reviews
February 19, 2025
Favourite Quote: "Hey, Jim? Do you have any extra jerseys? Jerseys? Yeah, With my name and number on them"

Thanks to Netgalley and L.A. Hart for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest thoughts. Look I'm an eternal sucker for a good hockey romance, and Revenge Puck manages to line-up so many of the top hockey tropes. Who wouldn't want revenge on an ex by fake-dating their biggest hockey rival? I loved how Preston and Elle started off with immediate banter and flirting and plots to annoy Christian. However, I spent a good chunk of it wanting to shake the pair of them, reading each POV and seeing how much they liked each other then suffering through the miscommunication was paaaaaainful at times. But they did eventually overcome this and their grumpy x sunshine vibes shone through in such a cute relationship. I loved how obsessed Preston was and I'm always pro give my girl my jersey. It also somehow managed to redeem Christian (the ex) for me, which was unusual as I spent like the first 60% of the book eye rolling at him. By the end however, I'm looking forward to reading his book. If you fancy a quick, easy, happy ever after hockey read, I'd recommend.

3.75 ⭐
Profile Image for Kimberley.
443 reviews8 followers
February 1, 2025
More 4 1/2 🌟 Revenge Puck is a light hearted hockey romance featuring Elle and Preston. It is book one at the Shot At Love series and is a fake dating, grumpy/sunshine sports romance. Elle and Preston attraction is instant even though it’s a revenge relationship, Preston’s biggest rival is Elle’s ex boyfriend it was fast paced and kept me invested especially with the side cast of characters. It was an easy read and I look forward to next book in the series. I received a complementary from Netgalley and the author.
Profile Image for Kris-Posey.
129 reviews17 followers
February 18, 2025
I wanted to like it…

I had such high hopes for this! The blurb sucked me right in… Hockey, spice, REVENGE, and all offered in between, though unfortunately Revenge Puck wasn’t as intriguing to me as I’d originally hoped.

I did like the idea of it all, but just fell short for me. Preston and Elle were just a bit too ‘meh’.

I received an ARC for this title in the hopes of my voluntarily leaving an honest review.
Profile Image for sydneysbookshelves2.
69 reviews5 followers
February 2, 2025
ARC REVIEW

Revenge Puck is a fast-paced quick read. It is very dramatic and filled with breakup after breakup. I think the overall plot would have been better if it occurred over the span of a few months and not two weeks. Preston and Elle went from a fake relationship to soulmates in under two weeks.
Profile Image for Maddie.
1,173 reviews
January 27, 2025
I have read so many hockey romance books with a similar plot to this one. I didn't really like the writing of this and I got bored. I don't think I would read the second book in this series.
Profile Image for P.
652 reviews41 followers
July 16, 2025
hadn't read a hockey romance in awhile from a new to me author this was surprisingly enjoyable.
Profile Image for Ashley.
529 reviews198 followers
May 20, 2025
“Your end game for me.”

Revenge Puck by L.A. Hart os a fake dating romance that follows defensemen Preston Lawrence and hair stylist Elle Townsend.

Not going lie I was more focused on Christian and Maya’s story, then I was on Preston and Elle. I just feel like their story was super angsty and more interesting. oops.

Anyways. . .I don’t have much to say besides Preston being a dumbass for ending things with Elle. I mean don’t get me wrong there were some cute moments between Pres and Elle, but it wasn’t enough.

I had high hopes for this one because of the cover and synopsis, but instead I ended up focusing on the side characters rather than the main characters and that says it all.

*Thank you to NetGalley and to the author, L.A. Hart, for providing me with this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.*
Profile Image for Tiffany ✨️ Bergamot Book Reviews.
471 reviews15 followers
January 29, 2025
Elle has been dumped by her pro-hockey player boyfriend Christian, right before playoffs. He's nonchalant about her moving on, but says the only player she can't go near is his rival Preston. Elle takes matters into her own hands and approaches Preston with a fake-dating scheme he can't refuse. The only problem is, it's a whole lot less fake than they set out for it to be.

*****

This one had me hooked at the start. It tosses you right into the book, with an exasperating hockey-god complex ex, an insecure FMC, and a very angry MMC with some past trauma. It had me burning through the first half of this book gleefully. The second half is where it started to crumble a bit.

The book is oddly dialogue-heavy to the point of doing chemistry development a disservice. We get some inner monologue, but it's not enough to really know the characters and invest in them. It also didn't help that the pacing of the actual timeline was very fast. The leads entire relationship progressed over a 7-game playoff series, which was less than two weeks. During which they had some pretty big miscommunications, some terrible behaviour and jealousy by the MMC, and were back and forth constantly with issues. I couldn't believe that the FMC had genuinely moved on from her ex that fast to the MMC. Also, the epilogue appeared to exacerbate the rush of the relationship instead of giving it validity.

Then, we have the side plot setup for book 2, which pulled away from the main story. It let the leads fall off the main storyline and pulled the focus to Maya and Christian too much. However, if you can suspend belief on timelines and development of feelings, it's a fun and entertaining novel that can be burned through in a couple of hours. Also, if you love more dialogue-based novels, this will be a hit!

A note to the publishers: There were some pretty big editing issues missed in this book. Incorrect words were used, words were missed, and some sentences didn't make sense at all. Another go-through with an editor would be helpful.

*****

Thank you, NetGalley, and BooksGoSocial publishing for the digital ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own
Profile Image for Voice of a Tureheart.
159 reviews
February 18, 2025
3.5⭐️ *ARC*

"Revenge Puck" is a fast-paced, engaging read that follows Elle as she embarks on a mission to get revenge on her ex-boyfriend, Christian, with the help of Preston, his hockey rival.

The book is short, making it an easy and quick read. I really enjoyed the backstory between Preston and Christian and the mystery surrounding their rivalry. I would’ve loved to see more depth in their backstory.

Preston’s protectiveness toward his sister and nephew was also a highlight for me. He’s a grumpy, family-first man, and I loved seeing that side of him. While the romance between him and Elle develops quickly and feels a bit like insta-love, I couldn’t help but enjoy their chemistry together

I do wish Elle had been a little less self-conscious, but I understand that it was important to show the trauma from her past.

One thing I can’t get over, though: why were we robbed of their first time together? The book has some great spice, and when they finally get close, we get lines like:

“God yes. Even if I won’t last five seconds once I get inside of you.”
“That’s fine.” Grinning up at him, I run my fingertips over his broad shoulders and say, “I bet you’ll make up for it in the second period after a short intermission.”
“Damn right,” Preston agrees.

...and then we cut straight to:

"The morning after with Preston isn’t the least bit awkward."

Wait, what? Did I just miss the scene? Did the door just closed in my face?

Overall, I enjoyed the book and wish it were longer, with more focus on the drama around the main characters and maybe on a linger period. But I’ll definitely be adding the second book to my TBR.

Tropes:
🏒 Fake Dating
🥅 Revenge
🏒 Wounded Hero
🥅 Sports Jersey
🏒 Grumpy MMC
🥅 Love Triangle
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Sydney Roberts Kempton.
18 reviews3 followers
March 22, 2025
I received an eARC from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

Preston is the perfect balance of ‘touch her and die’ while still also maintaining that Elle is capable of fighting her own battles. While perhaps the relationship did escalate seemingly quickly, it was still well balanced with the duel POVs showing the internal thoughts of both and the realisation they want it to be more. The change of terms of ‘endearment’ going from (derogatory) to (actual endearment) as the book went along added to wanting to root for the pair. When it’s advertised as ‘secrets unraveling’ it’s no understatement, as at least Preston sure knows how to keep a secret, or several. The best thing about this novel was the almost Austen-esque character development of Preston as he works to make changes based on things pointed out by Elle. While her influence definitely should be noted, it’s a welcome change of ‘I can’t fix him’ to read about a case of her pointing things out but also realizing ‘he can fix himself if he knows what’s good for him.’ All in all, definitely looking forward to Shot at Love Book #2.
Profile Image for Naomi (aplace_inthesun).
1,179 reviews35 followers
February 9, 2025
This book promised a fair bit but I don’t think it delivered.

The premise is ok. Love triangle to some extent. The FMC Elle is wanting to make her ex Christian jealous so meets and kisses his arch rival Preston and then sort of fake dates him.

There were a couple of things that didn’t work -
* Elle didn’t really do much to help herself with her love interest/s. In fact she was a bit of a door mat. I feel bad for judging her as I feel we often do that while MMC’s get away with a lot more. But also worse still she was a shitty friend to Audrey, her business partner.
* Preston - some of his dialogue was cringey AF. Plus near the end of the book he does something significant without consulting the person who is primarily affected. He oversteps the boundaries and I just couldn’t get past it. Nope, he’d be on my shit list forever.
* the storyline didn’t reach any great heights.
* despite lots of detail about things Elle and Christian did, there was a fade to black with Elle and Preston which was so not in keeping with what the rest of the book’s intimate scenes were like. Though the chemistry was a bit iffy between them IMO.

2.5 stars
Profile Image for Emily G.
525 reviews26 followers
January 23, 2025
Revenge Puck is a light hearted, sports romance that leans heavily on its tropes. The story follows Elle, who teams up with her ex-boyfriend’s biggest hockey rival, Preston, to get back at him.

The banter between Elle and Preston is sharp, their chemistry builds naturally, and the hockey backdrop will tick boxes for fans of sports romance. It's an easy, fast-paced read.

While fun and engaging, the story is fairly predictable, and the characters’ emotional depth feels surface-level. Still, if you're in the mood for a playful, feel-good romance with plenty of hockey drama, Revenge Puck delivers exactly that, making it an enjoyable pick for fans of its tropes.

What to expect:

🗡️Enemies to loves
💕Fake Dating
😍He falls first
💞Dual POV
😈Jealous MMC
Profile Image for Chiara.
549 reviews25 followers
January 25, 2025
A quick and delightful romance about a hair stylist of got dumped by her boyfriend of five months who decides to fake date his nemesis.

It was really a fast paced book, by I really enjoyed it. Getting to know Elle and Preston was really nice and they do make a cute couple. Christian - the ex boyfriend - was not a nice guy at the beginning of the book. But he changed a but by the end of it and I'm happy to find out book 2 will be about him.

The romance itslef, even though was fast and dramatic, undeslined the need these two had to find someone who really loved them for who they were. And it made them grow. And Preston's jealousy was off the chart, which makes it a good plus!

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC, all opinons are my own
Profile Image for Faye Anne.
645 reviews18 followers
January 17, 2025
Revenge Puck wastes absolutely no time in getting going, as poor Elle gets dumped on page 1! It moves really quickly and soon had me laughing out loud at Elle's first meeting with Preston. A revenge romance is just so satisfying and it was really well done!

I know absolutely nothing about the sport either, but it was totally accessible (no sports knowledge required!) and was so easy to read. The fact that I sat and binged it in one evening probably shows that!

I'm already invested in the next book in the series which focuses on another couple (I'm trying to avoid spoilers!). At first I thought there might be a plot hole relating to them, but when I saw the final page confirming whose book was next, I was sure that it wasn't a plot hole at all, and that all would be revealed in time in book two!

Disclaimer: I received an Advance Reader Copy from NetGalley, but this is my voluntary and honest review.
Profile Image for Floundy.
23 reviews
February 23, 2025
I received an ARC from Netgally for this book for an honest review.

I can’t lie this book took me so long to actually get into, I spent 2 days on the first couple of chapters before I actually got into it.

There was minor spelling issues and mistakes through the book and some sentences didn’t make much sense, but other than that it was good.

I gave this book 3* purely because I did enjoy the book itself but I felt like it just had too many issues for me to enjoy. The story line itself was a bit messy and not thought out properly although still having some good elements.

Thank you again to Netgally and the Publisher for letting me read this book and give my honest feedback.
Profile Image for Marie-Elaine.
208 reviews2 followers
January 25, 2025
Revenge Puck is a story following Elle who's trying to get revenge at her ex-boyfriend with Preston, his archnemesis; A big, rough hockey player from the other team. It starts off really fast and I really enjoyed the story. I was a liiiiittle bit annoyed by Elle's lack of confidence and the miscommunication throughout the book. Although, I REALLY enjoyed Preston & Christian's backstory. Overall, great book; I would've loved the book to be a bit longer to have more story & details. I can't wait for the next one!

Thank you Netgalley and the author for the arc 💞
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Rhiannon Solomon .
135 reviews9 followers
January 30, 2025
3.5 Stars

A good quick read hockey romance.

Was it in any way realistic? absolutely not but it was a damn good time.

I loved Elle representing a curvier FMC with real hang-ups about her body and feeling not good enough which so many women face daily. I liked that we didn't see her fall to her knees over her ex and she had a backbone. The MMC could definitely do with some anger management and a bit of therapy but as far as grumpy men go he nailed that part.

The story itself was fast-paced and fun, i'd have preferred the time period to be much longer, insta love is one thing but the whole book taking place over 2-3 weeks is kind of wild.

Maya and Christian were the secondary couple that I never expected to be invested in but i'll definitely be picking up their book upon release.

I did get an ARC and there was an insane amount of typos or missing words and i'm hoping this has been edited before publication.

Overall a good, fun, read that i'd recommend to sports romance fans.

Thanks to L.A. Hart and Netgalley for allowing me to read and review this book.
Profile Image for Vanessa.
Author 5 books110 followers
March 3, 2025
**4 Can’t Resist A Cupcake, Stars**

Despite how long this book took for me to read, I really enjoyed it.

It’s a dual point of view, grumpy sunshine, hockey romance…and there is just something about the threat of violence every time the hero steps on the ice that really works for me!

Elle and Preston have a complicated beginning after a messy (but only for her) breakup with Christian, Preston’s longtime rival…which we learn ALLLLLL about as the story progresses, a great segway into the next book. *wink*

This was an advance copy, so typos were expected…and there were a few, but nothing taking me from the story and the plot was solid. Cute story, great characters, and happy endings. I’m a happy girl.



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