Pucking Stepbrother

by Melinda Terranova

A Dark ice Hockey Romance.
I was the troublemaker kid they were embarrassed by, who wore ripped jeans, combat boots, and vintage rock band t-shirts. I was covered in ink that snaked around my arms, neck and legs and made people stare. I didn't fit into this preppy school let alone the Ice Hockey team.

Genres: M M Romance, LGBT, Sports, Dark Romance

122 pages, Paperback

Published September 12, 2025

Reviews

[angie_bookrecs]

I was hoping for more to be honest. It was just too abrupt of an ending.

I need more Nate & Asher

[Tees_BookCave]

I need more of Asher and Nate, this novella was not enough.

[The Lushy Reader]

Sooo FN Good!

Omgggg why is it over!?! Ahhhh that’s was an awesome novella that now needs to be a full length novel!

Stepbrothers, hockey, angry guys…so much yes!!! Easy 5 stars!

[Cheril Olmsted]

Book was great. Would have been a 5 star read but didnt know it ended on a cliffhanger with no release date available for next book, so I knock stars off.

[Paige Seach Sorrenson]

4.5 ⭐️
2 🌶️
Excuse me, where’s the rest 🥵

Step brothers - hockey - secret society - hopefully leading to found family - hazing - dual POV

I’m kinda bummed this was so short as I was immediately sucked 😉 into the story. We’ve got Nate, growing up with his dad, step mum and younger sister in a house he feels he doesn’t fit in. He’s got a temper, tho in this incident it’s him protecting his sister, this causes him to be kicked out (his step mum is a piece of work) Nate finds himself with no where to go but his bios mum who abandoned him. With no other options he chooses to follow her rule of attending college in exchange for being financially supported (his mums kinda ick too) but it’s not all dark and gloomy because Nate’s got a new hot step brother who’s definitely just itching to bring Nate to his knees 🥵 secretly ofcourse, Asher clearly hates this so we get a bit hate spice and some fist throwing (fighting not fisting 👀)

[Kristen Briggs]

I was lucky enough to Beta read this and 🥵🥵🥵 I quickly fell in love with Nate and Asher and my only “complaint” is that this was a novella and I was left hanging!
Meanwhile, it is BRILLIANT and I need the rest!!! Honestly, all I can say is “give me more” - I love the dynamic, the pace, the Universe (St Ivy is firmly in my Top 5 Series of all time). Everything flows beautifully.

If you haven’t already, go and read The Savage Kings of St Ivy as well - you can thank me later.

[Natalie nataliescraftedcreations]

What to expect

MM Ice Hockey
Enemies to less enemies
Step brothers
Forced proximity
Collage
Bully romance
2x Alphaholes
No lube
Extra protein


Chapter one grabbed me, I enjoyed this novella. I’m Loving Nate and his protectiveness! What a champion he is!
Also the way things are unfolding between him and Asher , yes please give me more and then, when you really are in the mist of it all you get…. to be continued…. arghhh!

I need more!!!!
This is not enough !!’

[Terri All Spice Archive]

4.5/5

What a novella. I need more of these two now! This was definitely a well done tease. Character details and introductions, there's definitely plot and the added spicy tension is off the chart. The taste of apice is done so well as alwasy is with Melinda's writing. That line at the end by Nate was hobestly perfect.

[Evilangel1281]

Left needing more!

I need more. Nate and Asher are new found step siblings. Hate knows what he wants but Asher is still hiding who he is. 44 pages that leaves you yearning for more. I need to know how Nate gets back at Asher. Does Asher claim his true feelings for Nate. Melinda you are pure evil leaving us hanging! The only reason I rate 4 stars was because its too short.

[Reading With April]

Stepbrothers + Hockey with an "enemies" type of vibe? I'm all here for it, but just from this brief glimpse into Nate and Asher's story they are definitely toxic to each other (more so Asher to Nate), but a lot of the times it makes it a great love story (in the book world). Now when do I get their full book?

[Amanda Carpenter]

Fast paced quick read and and on a cliffhanger.

We meet Nate and Asher who end up being on the same hockey team even though Nate is reluctant and Asher just wants his new found Step Brother to leave so he doesn’t feel the way he does.

Nate has a hard storyline, nothing is as it seems and things get messy.

[Amanda Winterstein]

Melinda does it again! Ropes you in from the very first line of the book and keeps you so invested with each word delivered. Her execution is flawless in the way she portrays her characters and the way you feel what Nate is feeling. Definitely wish we had more of these two!

[Laineypops 1990]

Holy hotness! Nate and asher are going to be fun! If that was their introduction I can’t wait for their full story! I need more of these two!

[Nicole]

I really wish this was longer. Melinda’s writing is so addicting and fast paced that it’s impossible to put it down! This was only in Nate’s POV with a mild spice scene and I needed more!!!

[Holly Ebb]

I just wish this was longer 😍

[audiobook_chaos]

Too short

I was expecting so much more after being told how good it was ijust hope the full book will be better.

[Meagan Lambrecht]

Omg, I want more! 😭 I loved this one so much and I'm so sad it's already over! Please Mel, tell me we're going to read more about them in the future? 😍

[Gabby Brooks]

YES YES YES

MM stepbrothers, Grumpy x grumpy.

This was short and spicy with hint of hockey.

Can wait for more from sable lakes

[Tiffany_queen_of_books]

I need more now!!!!

[Krystal Trevena]

Absolutely devoured it on one go, loved the build of tension, they angst and the spice between Nate and Archer

[sinners reads]

One star because wtf was that? Leaving us hanging no real end goal for what happens? No. That’s just ridiculous.

[alicia]

Need the next book

[Hannah Boyd]

Very chaotic and messy. I wasn’t aware going in that it was going to be a cliffy but I will read book 2 when it comes out!

[Dannii Logan]

No words, I need more. Chefs kiss.

[Evilangel1281]

Holy hockey sticks!! I have never wanted two characters to just bang and get it over with as much as I did reading this. The bullying, anger and angst just drive you to the brink of madness. Nate and Asher are stepbrothers that just met. Now they are forced to be on the same hockey team and live in the same frat house. Asher struggles with his desires and Nate entices him every chance he gets. This is an amazing little book that will have you begging for more!

[Sari Book Lover]

Wow Mel, you did it again 🥳 You got me hooked on this amazing story and I can't wait for the sequel!!!
Your writing is so spot on, I totally flew through the pages of this book, it was delicious & captivating story!
Even in short story you managed to pack a bunch of great plot twists, this book kept me excited the whole way through ❤️‍🔥

[Amanda Winterstein]

Fast paced. Next level hockey m/m dark romance. You don't have time to take a breath in this short novella or you will miss out on all the good stuff. A spin off from Sable Lakes, there is hints for other series if you look close but don't be fooled there will be answers to all the questions you are left with.

[Danielle stories_and_coffee_]

This novella is a good introduction to characters, written in a way that makes you DEMAND for more, and I can't wait to see where this story line is going as well as what else is going to happen with these boys!

[Kat Swan]

Where do I start, this novella introduces you to Nate and Asher and more of the world of Sable Lakes. The tension of the 2 MMCs is so deliciously thick.
I am screaming for more of this story. absolutely loved it, and I cannot wait for more.

[Bianca Jordan]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Omg this was so hot!! The chemistry between Nate and Asher is next level and I was on the edge of my seat the entire time.
When I finally got to the end I was like where is the next bit!!!! Melinda please!! We need more!