Zero Pucks Given

San Antonio Surge #1

by K.T. Quinn

I hate hockey.
I hate hockey players even more.
That’s why my bestie signed me up to win a date with one. As a funny prank.

But it stops being funny when I win.

Now I have a date with Grayson Steele, the famed Steel Wall, captain of the San Antonio Surge.
Don’t get excited. I just want to get this over with and move on with my life.
He’s cocky, arrogant, and thinks I should be lucky to go out with him.
But he’s also tall, broad-shouldered, and shredded with muscle.

The more time we spend together, the less we hate each other.
And soon our feelings ramp up to something a lot more intense.
Can I find a way to thaw Grayson’s frozen heart?
Or will our relationship end with the hockey season?

ZERO PUCKS GIVEN is a scorching sports romance filled with humor, suspense, and hockey-related excitement. Each book in the series can be read standalone (but they're a lot more fun read in order!) HEA guaranteed!

Genres: Hockey, Sports, Enemies To Lovers, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Romance, Sports Romance

308 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 28, 2025

Reviews

[Becca Whaley · Rating 1 out of 5]

So this is a new to me author and I probably won’t be reading anymore if this is how her characters normally are. I loved Josey until she became a doormat, she had spunk and gave as good as she got. I literally wanted to rub a cheese grater over Grayson’s face a time or a hundred… he was a huge D and not the good kind. I almost stopped reading more than once and when it got to like 73% I skimmed from then on especially on his chapters. He pretty much spit in her face told her she was NOTHING on live television and then realized he messed up makes ONE TikTok video and all is well and Josey is all over him again… nope nope nope it’s a big huge fat NOPE for me…. I don’t do doormat heroines and I definitely don’t go gah gah over a ginormous D head ….

[Jetscarbie · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars ⭐️ (possible spoilers ahead)
The first 30% of this book was fantastic! Definitely a 4+ star read. The true enemies and banter had me laughing so hard. Seriously, outstanding job

Meh! Not sure what happened with the last 70%. 🤷‍♀️ that’s what makes this a 2.5

The 3rd act breakup would have never happened with me. It would have been GAME OVER no matter what H done to fix the situation. Nope! What he said about her and to her could never be forgiven.

😬 No grovel except some dumb TikTok video 🙄

[V. (¿book hangover or book slump?) · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 ish stars ⭐️

Zero Pucks Given had the potential of a higher rating but if *my* love interest pulled the shit that Grayson did ???

😶💢

The hate / banter / romance transition between Josie and Grayson was fun to read but considering how the third act breakup played out...

I think Zero Pucks Given had a good base for a second chance romance because I swearrrr lol if I was in Josie's position...

That mf would either be dead or wishing he was 🤣

Other than that—I'm excited to read the next book because Mason was such an adorable character 😋

[1000_books_1000_lives · Rating 4 out of 5]

A funny easy read. Really enjoyed the banter and the fun of this one.

[Melis · Rating 2 out of 5]

Two stars is generous.
Once the smut started the story went downhill. The text conversations????? major cringe. Also, I didn't like how she went to see him at the airport after he posted one lousy video apologizing. He should have been to go and find her and apologize again in person!!! It made Josie look super desperate.

[Krystin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well the first half was good with some top tier enemies to lovers banter then the rest happened. Got me my letter Z for the ABC book challenge though so 🤷‍♀️🙌

[Melyssa Barnes · Rating 2 out of 5]

FYI this review is solely for myself when I look back on recs. Contains spoilers.

⭐️⭐️.5
🌶️

Meh. I didn't hate it, don't particularly like it. It was the FMC. She was a bit annoying. FMC was an aspiring tik tok influencer who worked at the Frost Bank Center in SA as a concession girl. She wins a competition to win a date with the captain of the hockey team, but they don't get along at all because she's righteous and a bit of a bitch. He's arrogant and a bit taken aback by her attitude-- rightfully so. The marketing team makes them fake date for a bit because it's putting up numbers and then after a brutal loss they make captain read a PR memo about how she was a distraction and meant nothing to him. Blah blah. She actually does and they make up and she becomes an influencer. Limited spice. FMC was what ruined this book for me.

[Shelby Platt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Needed a “Z” for the alphabet challenge and I seem to be on a hockey romance kick right now. 🤷🏼‍♀️😅

[Auntee · Rating 3 out of 5]

It wasn’t that bad and I managed to finish it but…there were a few things that annoyed me:

—you don’t ‘dribble’ the puck. You ‘stick handle’ it. I believe you dribble the basketball..

—-for most of the book the hero was a rude douche. He was described as ‘grumpy’ but he went way beyond that. Some backstory was desperately needed to explain his ‘grumpiness’. I kept waiting for an explanation: did he suffer a horrible breakup? Did someone steal his puppy? Was he not loved by his parents? None of that. Just tired of his fame and the ‘pressure’ of being the team captain. Give me a break…

—the heroine started out no better. She was rude and mouthy and even she admitted to being a ‘bitch’. So you have both the hero and heroine as unlikable. But at least she became somewhat likable towards the end of the book.

So why did I keep reading? I kept hoping that things would turn around. Please give me a reason to like these two. All I can say is the plot was fairly interesting, and the sex scenes were pretty steamy. But even that can’t overcome my general dislike for the hero and how he treated the heroine for most of the book.

But hey, the epilogue showed that after 10 years together, he learned to appreciate his life.

3 stars

[Liz Burnett · Rating 2 out of 5]

No idea how this got any more than two stars. I almost didn’t finish. Predictable plot. Jokes weren’t all that funny. Monolog was boring.

[Emma Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

this fuelled my live of hockey romances. hooked. eek!

[Nathalie DeSousa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story really starts with the best enegy I have read in a while. Josie unwillingly wins a date with Grayson ( a hockey player). Let the sparks fly! She is not into him, and their banter is off the charts, but they make it through the commitment. Their conversations, their interactions will have you hooked on their story. She is a strong FMC and he is the perfect cinnamon roll boyfiriend with Mason (his puppy) sidekick. The story just reads so nicely as you see them interact, grow, fail, and rebuild all within the plot. You will love to see how they go from enemies to lovers to....! a must!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This enjoyable enemies-to-lovers storyline has drama, chemistry, attraction, an arrangement, changing emotions, and great secondary characters. The MCs are defined, likable, and good for one another. I liked this entertaining book.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Christina Cahill · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good until the ending for me

I liked the book until the ending. I love a story with a good 3rd act break up but I felt like he was a total a$$ and didn’t deserve to be forgiven and so was kinda sad to just give in. I don’t think I have ever read a character that didn’t deserve to be forgiven but after his phone call to her I was like…”nope, cut your losses girl.”

[Teresa Saeed · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was this a good book? Yes...especially the witty banter back and forth between to main two characters. But, I will say, if you have read the hockey series by Emily Rath or CR Jane, then you might find this book lacking in that special magic that makes a book stick with you long after you have finished it.

[Cathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Both of them should have told Bob to fuck off on numerous occasions. I also don't really understand the whole TikTok influencer thing and people actually aspiring to do that as their jobs, but maybe I'm just too old.

[Caroline Storc · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yes. Yes. Yes. This one has all the banter, tension, yearning and just enough 🌶️🌶️🌶️. I loved the enemies to lovers in it — it was so well written that I felt the hatred, which lead to hate 🌶️, which lead to lovers. Oof. Just. Yes.

[Kim Gauger · Rating 4 out of 5]

cute story

What a cute story. I loved their chemistry and their heat. This is a good story and I really enjoyed it and couldn’t put it down. Had plenty of hockey in it as well.

[Michelle Heath · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a cute storyline! From enemies to lovers! Enjoyed it!

[Samantha Zee · Rating 3 out of 5]

hockey romance, dual pov, enemies to lovers. third act break up

We have Josie, who works at the arena's concession stand, hates hockey players and is trying to be a social media influencer. Oh and she happens to win a "Win a Date with Grayson Steele" contest even tho her BFF entered her as a joke. She decides to stick with it cause otherwise they will sue her and she's hella broke, but turns out Grayson is a total douchebag and she leaves the date early.

Because she left early they want another date, and while Grayson hates Josie, he's also trapped by the constraints of his contract and so both parties suck it up and go on more dates. And obviously Josie turns out to be super hot, Grayson is super hot and collectively all the fans ship them cause they are both super hot. Eventually her relationship with Grayson and the team allow her social media following to grow and so when more dates are offered, they both pretend to be upset but !! actually they realize that maybe their shit personalities can be ignored cause they are physically attracted to each other.

Look, I love hockey romances, I love fake dating, I love enemies to lovers so I was expecting this to be a 5 but man this book started to drag at the end. I felt like when they decided they actually liked each other the banter was boring? And they kinda just fucked and it was decent but while Josie kinda grew on me, Grayson didn't really redeem himself for me. There's a third act break up and honestly the resolution was really flat for me. I finished it, but I don't really care to read on about the other characters.

[Dewey · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5, would have been 3 except the last 75% fell apart for me. I actually skimmed the end! It became too much talk about the hockey games. Plus I hated how Josie immediately took him back after the epic 3rd act breakup. He said awful things about her to the world. He apologized on TikTok. She races to meet him; he doesn't apologize or even give 1 grovel. But oh well, it got millions of views.

Then, the epilogue and they are living together, with Mason!? WTF. He makes $50 million a year and can't find their own place?

Good beginning. Now THIS is how you write an enemies to lovers story. These two people really don't like one another. His sports management arranges fake dates to boost publicity. Good dialogue and character development. It's a slow burn but the payoff is great.

This story is almost 50/50 hockey action and relationship. I skipped most of the hockey scenes.

I really disliked how the rookie, Mason, pesters him to 'tell all' about Josie. Is he 17? Does he need some pointers on how to get laid? Grow up. Then there's her friend who also demands details. This gets tiresome. His teammates act like teenagers.

[Jen B · Rating 5 out of 5]

A new series is always exciting, new world, new characters, new challenges and my favorite - more HEA's. The San Antonio Surge is a new hockey team and its team captain is front and center with the marketing team hosting a contest to win a date with Grayson Steele. The marketing team is determined to raise team awareness and build a solid fan base. Josie Harper works at the arena as a beer girl but she is building her brand as an influencer. Her friend and coworker, enters her into the contest and of course, she wins! These two characters begin as oil and water but after a kiss and a little time, things begin to change. This story was so much fun to read - the characters have great banter, witt and chemistry. Looking forward to getting to know more of the team and their stories. Enjoy!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Patti · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the minute Josie wins a date with professional hockey player Grayson, I was hooked on their story. Their sharp tongued comments to their whispers in the dark, these two have amazing chemistry.

Their story begins with preconceptions that pique your curiosity about how these two unwilling, misunderstood and plainly manipulated couple find a way to be civil, respectful and kind to each other in order to meet their obligations.

Josie and Grayson's relationship is a gradual buildup full of anticipation and need. It is entertaining, emotional and a perfect enemies to lovers romance that is a must read. It's amazing!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Attraction 4 stars - I think this is the first book I’ve read from this author. The story is simple - kind of enemies to lovers - but I like the details that the author puts together in the background that makes the characters believable. Sharon entered Josie in a win a date drawing and Josie got picked. Josie wasn’t happy about it because she has preconceived notions about hockey players. On the other hand, Grayson doesn’t like the public relations part of his job. Of course, it’s a happy ending but the interactions were entertaining. The romance got steamy eventually. There’s a bit of a conflict that created problems between Josie and Grayson but love and attraction prevailed. I received an advanced copy and voluntarily chose to review it.

[Mary Pulvermacher · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars. Personally, wasn’t a super fan of the FMC trying to be an influencer. It just made me roll my eyes and kind of hate her. I like a good enemies to lovers but this one had what felt like quite a bit of back and forth. First they hate each other, then they start fake dating and grow to like each other. Then MMC messes it up and FMC goes back to hating him. Then just as quickly, forgives him and starts liking him again. I also think how the MMC messed it up made me not like this book, like bro grow a pair and stand up for yourself. Don’t let the marketing team dictate your actions, Bob is an asshole. If you’re going to be a badass hockey player, you can’t also be a coward, I will lose respect for you. Happy ending, but overall, book was kind of meh.

[Ellie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I actually read this book after seeing a Facebook ad for it with a snippet of the story. Sports romance is if-y for me because they always portray the hero as a “playboy” and it’s annoying. Greyson however wasn’t and that was refreshing.
So I really had to power through this book. The snide remarks between Josie and Greyson got old. Fast. So much so that I absolutely did not feel any genuine connection between them.
It takes a lot for me to not forgive a hero by the end of the book. Psychopaths and mafia bosses were much easier to forgive than Greyson was. I still hated him by the end of the book. Hockey was still the most important thing to him by the end of the book not Josie and that’s not why I read romance novels.

[Jenny Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book with the understanding that I could leave a voluntary and honest review.

In this book we meet Josie Harper & Grayson Steele. Josie has no interest in hockey or the players. She is just looking to do her job and go home. That is the plan until she wins a date with the captain of the San Antonio Surge Grayson Steele. Grayson has no interest in going out with a girl he doesn't even know. What he doesn't plan on was to actually find that he enjoys spending time with Josie. Can these two find a HEA or will their positions make that impossible?

Another amazing hit by this author. I would highly recommend it to anyone.

[RomanceBookLover · Rating 1 out of 5]

Some books and their characters are just bad and this is one of them. I can’t believe I sacrificed my precious sleep for this. Grayson, you are such a douchebag and yes, you are an entitled asshole who thinks people will understand for the crap you do, Josie, honey have some spine please. do you know the meaning of groveling? let his do some of that. wait until he posts atleast a few videos of apology before you take a flight a run to him. Ugh! lesson learnt: never go into a book blind. 🤪

The words ‘Fuck You’ is mentioned 13 times and ‘TikTok’ 66 times. All the discussion of the views and what not was so cringe.

[Brigitte · Rating 5 out of 5]

Where do authors come up with their ideas for their stories? This author certainly came up with an excellent idea and the execution of it is just smashing. They storyline is so good and the characters are fabulous and fabulously written. Conversations are among the best I have read in some time.
Overall this story is very worthy of the fabulous five stars I am giving it here and I can't really wait for another story from this author.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[DemetraP · Rating 2 out of 5]

I did not finish it. The heroine was an aspiring influencer on Tik Tok. She did makeup videos. She complained she wasn't making any money at it. Spoilers.
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Spoilers.
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After she goes on a date with the hero, her likes increase dramatically. Then the hero ignores her for a month after the date. Zero contact.

Until his hockey marketing team reaches out to her asking for more dates because the fans like them as a couple.

I felt like the hero didn't care about her. I stopped reading at that point.