Puck, Marry, Kill

Dirty Puckers #2

by Lauren Landish

A hockey star’s fix his new team. The problem? He’s falling for the coach’s off-limits daughter in this spicy, heartfelt romance from Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestselling author Lauren Landish.

NHL defenseman Dominic Lee is traded mid-season with one save a struggling team from itself. The complication? Briar Johns—a guarded single mom, zookeeper, and his new coach’s daughter. She’s strictly off-limits, but one look at her and Dominic knows some rules are meant to be broken. Too bad hockey players—and relationships—are a firm never again for Briar.

Between surviving a toxic marriage, managing an emotionally absent father, and raising her son Harley, Briar only has room for things that bring joy. A cocky defenseman should never make that list. Dominic isn’t like the men from her past, though. He shows up for Harley’s practices. He listens. He does the dishes. And he’s patient enough to wait for her walls to come down.

When her father forbids their relationship and threatens Dominic’s career, the choice should be simple. Except Briar’s tired of letting fear win. And walking away from her and Harley? That’s the one play Dominic refuses to make.

Genres: Romance

Kindle Edition

Expected publication August 11, 2026

About the author

Lauren 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

Reviews

[Ayushi Gupta · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advanced reader copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

☀️ Grumpy x Sunshine
👩‍👦 Single Mom
🛡️ Protective MMC
🐒 Zoo Setting
✨ Emotional Healing
💌 Slow Burn Romance
🏠 Small Town Feel
🤍 Soft & Comforting Romance

This book ended up being so much more emotional than I expected from a hockey romance. Beneath the sports backdrop, it’s really a story about trust, second chances, and finding people who make life feel safe again.

What I loved most was how grounded the characters felt. Briar isn’t written as someone waiting to be saved — she’s already carrying the weight of motherhood, responsibility, and past disappointments on her own. Her love for Harley shaped every decision she made, and that made her character feel incredibly genuine. Watching her slowly open herself up instead of instantly falling was one of the strongest parts of the story for me.

Dom completely surprised me too. He’s not the loud, cocky hockey player you usually expect in sports romances. He’s quieter, protective, and much softer underneath his grumpy exterior. I really liked how his feelings showed through actions rather than just words. The way he naturally fit into Briar and Harley’s life made the romance feel comforting and believable.

And Harley absolutely stole scenes without trying to. He had so much personality and emotional awareness that every interaction involving him felt meaningful. The bond that developed between him and Dom added so much warmth to the story and made the found-family aspect even more special.

I also appreciated that the story focused just as much on healing and stability as it did romance. Between Briar’s work at the zoo, Dom adjusting to changes in his career, and the complicated family dynamics throughout the book, the story felt layered without becoming overly heavy.

Overall, this was heartfelt, comforting, and emotionally satisfying. It’s the kind of romance that feels soft and steady instead of dramatic, and I really enjoyed that about it. Definitely a 5-star read for me, and now I’m excited to continue with the series 🤍Lauren Landish

[Maru · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advanced reader copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was such a heartfelt hockey romance. At its core, it’s not just a love story, but also a story about rebuilding trust, family, and learning how to let people in after life has taught you to be guarded.

Briar’s journey really stood out to me. Her devotion to her son and the sacrifices she makes for him felt incredibly real and grounding. She’s a character who has clearly had to carry a lot on her own, and I liked how the story didn’t rush her healing or her ability to trust Dom. That slow emotional shift made her arc feel authentic rather than forced.

Dom was a really interesting MMC for me because he wasn’t the typical flashy hockey player archetype. I liked that he came across a bit grumpy and reserved on the surface, but underneath that he was steady, loyal, and very intentional about the people he cared about. His relationship with Briar felt built on patience and consistency rather than instant chemistry alone, which I appreciated.

One of my favourite parts of this book was actually Harley. He felt written with so much personality. He's observant, clever, and emotionally aware in a way that made him feel very real rather than just a “cute kid added for impact.” The dynamic between him and Dom added a really sweet layer to the story that made the found-family aspect even stronger.

I also really enjoyed how different this felt compared to a lot of hockey romances I’ve read. Instead of the usual “player vs. good girl” setup, this leaned more into healing, responsibility, and building something stable. Briar working at the zoo added a really unique touch too as it gave her character an extra layer and made her life outside of romance feel fully developed.

Overall, this was emotional, grounded, and genuinely comforting to read. It’s a story about choosing family in different forms and learning that love can look steady instead of chaotic. A strong 4-star read for me, and I’d definitely continue the series.

[Beatrice · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fairly light weight bubble gum romance set in the world of hockey players because clearly, we are in the hockey era.

Dom Lee is the quintessential romance novel 'perfect' man. He is not only good looking, and in fabulous physical condition, but possessed of a level of empathy, kindness and generosity of spirit only found in books. He comes off a championship season with his team the Hawks to learn that he has been traded to the 2nd place Blizzards in order to 'save' star player Kipson who is nursing a broken heart and broken spirit. Of course, Dom is so perceptive and evolved, that he immediately sees what's wrong with his new team and how to go about fixing it. In barely a few weeks' time he has started making positive changes. He also befriends Briar, a single mother, who happens to be his new Coach's daughter.

Briar has a crappy ex and thanks to her mostly absentee father, a poor view of men in general and hockey players in particular, but that new guy Dom has something... Before long, Dom is giving her young son Harley, extra coaching in hockey and being a good friend, even willing to muck out the flamingo pond at the zoo where she works. Dom loves kids, and doesn't mind zoo poop smells, and doesn't take the bait when Briar's ex jealously flexes. Briar eventually succumbs to Dom's charms because when she mentions stretch marks and saggy boobs, he volunteers to hold them up for her. Of course, Briar is actually gorgeous, just suffering from a poor self-image thanks to her ex and her dad, but magical hockey star Dom, heals her of that as well, convincing her that he is genuinely attracted to her and won't ever hurt her.

It's not so much that there was anything wrong with this book, it's just that I wasn't wowed. Dom was so magically perfect in every way - like a hockey playing Mary Poppins - that there was very little dramatic tension.

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 ⭐

Thank you NetGalley for ARC!

Dominic Lee is not like the other guys.

After winning the Stanley Cup with his best friend and team, Dom Lee gets traded to a team that lacks brotherhood and interconnectedness. With that, he is tasked with saving a player from ruin and then takes it upon himself to rehabilitate the rest of the team. He goes from leaving everything and everyone he knows to overhauling a team. In doing so, Dom presents himself as an infallible savior. He did not make a single mistake in the entire book. Not when he is falling for his coach's daughter, not when dealing with Briar's shitty ex—never. While I do like an MMC to have emotional maturity, I want him to feel real. And nobody is as unrealistically perfect as Dominic.

Briar Johns has had an overall bad experience with men, starting with her father and also her ex-husband, Tyler. But when she meets Dominic at a bar for a team event, they begin to get to know one another. He is instantly different from the other players on her father's team. Before Dom, all Briar focuses on is her job as a zookeeper and her nine-year-old, Harley. Those two aspects of the book were favorites for me. It was interesting to hear her speak passionately about animals. And Harley was very cute, especially his growing relationship with Dom.

In the end, there was nothing really pulling me from page to page. Some added drama and tension would have gone a long way to elevate this book from what it was: a simple, light read. So if that is your cup of tea? Enjoy.

[Minnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC review

4⭐|3🌶️|8%🌶️frequency

I think leaving the team you love to play for is hard. I felt the pain Dominic felt.
Oh, Dom is no new character. He's Penny's big brother from book 1 "The Diamond Puck-Up". I love that he got his own HEA 😍
I didn't expect him to be like that. I mean, sure, he definitely isn't a bad guy, except if you "you know" with his sister, then he's "not nice" anymore 🙈 But that's the story of the other book 😉 Just one more thing, you will see them in this book again, even though Dom is now playing for another team 😁

I had fun reading this one. Even with all the problematic things in the story. Dads aren't always good dads. You know the saying that everyone can father a child, but not everyone can become a dad. Yeah... That's huge in this book.
Briar is a wonderful mom. And Harley is such a perfect kid 🩷

As I said, I didn't expect Dom to be like that. To fall head over heels for a girl this fast. But he did. Fast and hard 😍 For a girl who hates hockey players, at least as a potential partner 😎

There are not just people in this book. Because Briar is a zookeeper, there are a few animals too. Especially her favorite 🐒 So cute 🩷


Thanks to the author, Montlake, and NetGalley for trusting me with an ARC 🩷


Follow me on IG for more
https://www.instagram.com/minnie.love...

[Andrea Britton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always know when I pick up a Lauren Landish book that I’m going to fall in absolute love with the characters. Landish brings so much heart, swoon and emotions in her books and Puck, Marry, Kill is an unputdownable story. I couldn’t wait for this book and WHAT AN AMAZING BOOK WE GOT! Five stars!

Dominic Lee is traded mid-season to help fix another team. As a NHL defenseman who has been playing a long time, the new team is off the rails. No leadership, wild and immature players..the team is a mess. As Dom tries to fix this mess, there is one unexpected problem, falling for Briar, coaches daughter, single mom of Harley, who is her ENTIRE world.

These two fall into such a deep connection because they each understand and see one another. Dom is a quiet and protective character. Silently watching. Briar, needs no one. She’s been through so much and is a bad a $ $ single mom and she has such a good heart. These characters were easy to read, they were so solid. And together, what a strong foundation.

I really enjoyed watching Dom, quietly work to get this team closer, more focused, a true team. I loved every single thing about this book.

Highly recommended.

I loved it. I loved it so much.

Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake for my review copy

[Ameera khan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley, Montlake, and Lauren Landish for the ARC! This is book 2 in the series, but it stands on its own, though you'll appreciate Dominic's backstory more with the first.


Dominick Lee, our MMC, is truly a breath of fresh air. It's a treat to have an MMC with such genuine emotional intelligence; he is attentive, care-taking, and feels *almost* too good to be true at times (some might find him a bit too good). The found family trope was also enjoyable.


On the other hand our FMC Briar Johns is fantastic a very dedicated mother with an independent, stubborn, and animal-obsessed nature. It was so cute to hear her speak about animals.

Her cute relationship with Harley are some of my favorite scenes from the book. The story line about Briar's father and Tyler the shitty ex are definitely problematic, with some interesting if slightly under-developed plot line.

Overall, this was exactly the kind of quick, light read as expected from the cover and title, but it possessed slightly more depth than anticipated.

If you're a hockey romance fan looking for a sweet, simple read with great characters, you'll likely enjoy it.

[Ana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dom was an abslute sweetheart. I assumed he’d be the typical hockey playboy, but he was so much more. He was mature, patient, and emotionally avaliable. Briar was amazing too - she was strong and resilient, and watching her learn to trust her self and her instincis was so satisfying. Harley’s such a well-develop kid, he’s so perspective and loving, truly what Briar needed. I loved the fact that we got to see the team dynamic change, and see how everyone looks up to Dom, just like Harley did.

What I loved even more was the fact that not everything was magically solved. Her ex was just as awful at the end as he was at the start. Her realtionship with her dad didn’t miraculously improve just because he got called out either. Thoso are the type of details that make this story feel real and raw. The emotions are all there, but not everyting gets fixed by love and I realy enjoyed that.

Overall the storyline was well develop and different than you’d normally find in a hockey romance.

Thank you to Lauren Landish, Montlake and NetGalley for the ARC.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

[LibraryNinja_Beritk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lauren Landish continues the Dirty Puckers series with Puck, Marry, Kill — a clever title inspired by the ubiquitous bar game. In this instalment, we discover that the charismatic league favorite, Dominic Lee, has been traded mid-season to help a struggling opponent. The team he joins is single-minded — hockey above all else. The coach is so competitive that he walked out on his only daughter, who, as fate would have it, is also a single mom zookeeper. Lightning strikes and Dominic realizes that Briar has never known a man who stays — a man who keeps his promises. He becomes focused on Briar and her son, Harley, while managing the expectations of rejuvenating a team lost under poor leadership.

The tension between them builds and builds. In fact, I would say that Lauren Landish edged the readers very successfully during this entire book.

A huge thank you to Lauren Landish and Montlake for allowing me the privilege of reading this ARC for free in exchange for an honest review.
#LaurenLandish #PuckMarryKill #libraryninja📚

[Mallory Moureau · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley, Montlake and Lauren Landish for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is book #2 in a series, it’s not necessary to read the first but you’ll understand more about Dom, the MMC, if you do.

This was exactly as you would expect from the cover and title but it also had some interesting challenges and growth for the characters.

There’s a lot of sadness over losing found family (hockey team) and identity for our MMC. Caretaking and emotional intelligence is on point for this guy which isn’t the most common traits for hockey players.

I loved that our FMC is a fantastic mother with such a beautiful relationship with her son. She is independent and stubborn, awkward and animal obsessed.

The book sadly has two dads who leave a lot to be desired, one starts to repair at the end of the book.

Overall a very quick read that was slightly deeper than expected based on the cover and title.

[Karlyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley, Montlake, and Lauren Landish for the the E-ARC!
This is such a unique take on a hockey romance. With the rise of hockey romance in the last couple of years, we often see the tropes of good girl tames bad boy player hockey star, but this book was not that and it was so refreshing to read. Dominic Lee is a little bit of a grump, but he is an even bigger teddy bear when it comes to building a family and a team. He is not without his faults, but he is steadfast in his commitments and his values about love, family, and of course hockey. I loved the elements of Briar working at a zoo and hearing about the animals, the found family this book has, and the themes of not just healing an individual character but a whole team. I really enjoyed reading this title and can’t wait to hear about future books in this series!

[Erica Gabel · Rating 5 out of 5]

To my great surprise, I am absolutely feral for Dominic Lee. He is so not my usually book-friend type. God complex ❌ golden retriever ❌ calm ❌ non-fighty ❌. But serious, he made me feral. He was just so sweet, and I loved that he knew he had a god complex but used it for good. I loved how he brought the team together and the found family aspect of this. I loved how we got the satisfaction of him standing up for briar. And Briar. Such a good fmc. She had the best character growth. And I loved that she was a zoo keeper. That was so fun. I loved their relationship. I read this in one sitting and it needs to be put on your tbr.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Very grateful for the ARC that was provided by the publisher via Netgalley 🙌🏽

[Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher/ NetGalley for the eARC!
Puck, Marry, Kill is the second book in a series of standalones (with references to some characters from the first book, The Diamond Pick Up). As soon as I got the eARC for PMK I ran to read book 1 first (yes I am THAT type of reader). I was not disappointed! I love understanding the references to characters from earlier books. But back to PMK. This book was so fun, Dom was such a lovable teddy bear and is shown in a much different light than you see him in the first book. (But note you do not need to read book 1 to read PMK). I’ve read one of Lauren’s other series but this series is by far my favorite! Would recommend for anyone a fan of professional hockey player romances (but read book 1 too at some point!).

[Day · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a 5/5 for me

the fact that dominic a well known hockey player is trying to help build briar, a single mom up with no ulterior motives makes me absolutely feral. Dominic you self aware kingthe fact that he had a god complex that he at least wanted to use for good and could admit to having was such a beautiful thing honestly. His relationship with briar and her son growing and remaining so positive to the point the son looks up to dominic as a father figure he wishes he had and dominic looks at harvey as though he is also his child. Then the way that everyone develops emotionally and you can tell even with the development they’re still humans with emotions and they make mistakes.

[Elena · Rating 5 out of 5]

I honestly loved everything about this book. The writing was amazing and how well all the characters were written.

I felt the annoyance with the new characters, the same way Dom felt with the new team and I quite liked that because it was more than just reading, it felt like I was experiencing it for myself.

I also loved Briar’s part of the story and I loved how it was more than just the love story between her and Dom. It focuses on her trauma , her relationship with her dad, Harley and her past relationships. i loved that aspect of the story.

I also adored Dom’s development and I loved how he found home in a place he least expected it.

Overall, I enjoyed it and it was such a good read.

Thank you, NetGalley for this opportunity.

[Caitlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun, hockey romance that has a solid side plot of a team in disarray. I’m not normally into books where there’s a kid/single parent in the plot, but I connected with Harley, Briar, and Dom all in different ways. I got to read this as an ARC from Netgallery/Montlake and it’s already made me want to go and read the other book in this series, “The Diamond Puck-Up.” I really appreciated the unique approach about writing about setting this hockey romance with a guy who is on a team that’s not like the top team in the league. It’s a team that needs all the help Dom can give, but he doesn’t have much of himself to give until he meets Briar and Harley.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book girlies are in their hockey era! Ironically this was my first hockey romance but I was not even remotely disappointed. I've read and loved some of Landish's work in the past so getting my hands on this ARC was exciting!!

A slow burn, friends to lovers, single mom, sports romance you're sure to enjoy. I quite enjoyed the FMC's growth, and seeing a supportive MMC is all we can ever ask for.

Book 2 in a series but can be read as a standalone, I am proof of this as it was still very enjoyable but knowing the side characters from Book 1 would have only made it better. Thank you so much to the author, NetGalley, and Montlake! Keep your eyes peeled for this in August!

[Keles Wyntor · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advanced reader copy from NetGalley.

This was a very heart warming single mom hockey romance. I think Briars story was very real even though it was sad. She put her son above all else and sacrificed everything for him. I also think her journey to trusting Dom was also very realistic. When you haven’t been shown love and how to be loved properly, it can be hard to trust someone who does love you properly. I also loved Harley, he was a very smart and observant child. I think their story and his relationship with Dom was so fun to read!

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

✨️Spoiler Free Review✨️

Thanks to @netgalley @lauren_landish and @montlake_publishers for the ARC in return for my honest review.

This is the 2nd book in the #dirtypuckers series and tells the story of Dominic and Briar. Dominic is an NHL defenseman who gets traded mid season and in the first night in a bar playing "puck, marry, kill" with his new team mates he meets Briar, his new coach's daughter.
Great chemistry with the characters, some spice. Very easy reading especially if you're looking for something light!

[cindysbookshelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC Review

After being traded from his beloved hockey team, Dominic is a little bitter about having to start over in a new city with new teammates. But when he meets his new coach’s daughter, Briar and her son, he begins to think the move wasn’t a bad idea after all.

This was a cute and sweet hockey romance story! Briar’s quirky personality is a perfect match for Dominic. These two are so meant to be and I really enjoyed their book. Puck Marry Kill is a great story of second chances, friends to lovers and found family.


Thank you Montlake and NetGalley for the advanced copy.

[Amanda Mrozek · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book! I liked the first book a lot, but this book is wayyyyyy better than the first one. Besides the awesome dynamic between Dom and Briar, there are a lot of special messages here. Sometimes when books have too many conflicts, it kind of feels all over the place, but it flowed so naturally here. There was a true reason for every one, and they all were solved in a realistic and wholesome way. I’m so sad to be done with this story and I hope that this world will continue to grow.

[Phoenix · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full disclosure, this was my first read written by Lauren Landish as I picked this up as a Read Now on NetGalley and I wondered whether I'd be DNF'ing immediately after reading the first sentence because Dom came off as a disrespectful ass but boy did he turn things around! I didn't expect the vulnerability written into Briar's trauma from growing up with an absent father and then an asshole ex; nor Dom's maturity in letting her stand on her own two feet as she became confident in her power. This was great and I'm looking forward to going back to read Griffin and Penny's HEA now.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was everything I wanted it to be and more. The more I didn’t know I wanted.

A single parent finding her place and her peace. Healing herself with the help of a sexy hockey star.

A hockey star coming off the biggest win of his career only to be traded into a new team but finding his place all the same.

This book is written in such a humorous and beautiful way. Would completely recommend reading if any of this appeals to you it’s a wonderful read!

5 stars
2.5 chili peppers

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh this was the total opposite of the first book. It was still so good and I loved Briar and Dom’s relationship. I really liked how it wasn’t a huge focus that she was the coaches daughter. I loved how Dom wanted to be friends first and got to know Harley too. This was a great book and I loved that there was some problems with the players and they had to learn how to be a team. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

[FireSerene Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unexpectedly beautiful. I loved this. The emotional development of all the characters in the story was done so well. Watching them build connections, create dynamics, and slowly learn to open up to one another felt really heartfelt. I loved the zoo, I loved Harley, and I loved Dominic. Absolutely a must-read.

[Megan Witsche · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tropes: Hockey Spicy Romance, Coaches Daughter, Forbidden Romance, Single Mom, Insta Family, He Falls First

Review No Spoilers: The story centers on NHL defenseman Dominic Lee, who is traded mid season to fix a struggling team. He faces an immediate complication when he falls for Briar Johns, a guarded zookeeper who happens to be his new coach’s daughter.

Review: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

[Lori Zakrzewski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Puck, Marry, Kill gives us Dominic and Briar's story. Briar is a single mom, zookeeper and the Coach's daughter. When Dominic was traded to a new team, he expected it to be temporary, instead he found a new family with Briar, her son, Harley, and his new teammates. Lauren Landish has given us an enjoyable addition to the Dirty Puckers series.

[Jojobean_reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gaaah I loved every single moment of this one.
It isnt often that a hockey romance hits the way this one did. I think it definitely has to do with the fact that the characters arent college age but whole ass adults and I couldnt put it down.

The way imma be using Albatross from this moment on! IYKYK!

[Lizzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I binge sports romance regularly…& what a refreshingly wonderful story! I enjoyed the flip of a man after a family instead of the typical boring ego maniac. The romance was a mega swoon - i’m keeping my eye out on the series because I need to know what happens next with other characters. 🔥

[Chloe Byfield · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you for this. This book was more emotional than i thought. It was a deep read and pulled at my heart strings. I love reading about found family and this was just that. I was expecting a quick hockey read and although this was that, it dug deeper! I would recommend!