Non Pucking Stop

On Ice #2

by B. Celeste

A bad boy hockey player, the PR professional hired to help clean up his reputation, and a romance that can melt the coldest rink, perfect for fans of Chelsea Curto, Lauren Blakely, and Heated Rivalry!

Thomas Moskins is a notorious playboy with a bad reputation. And considering his current marital status, that means he's riddled with scandal.

Except, maybe the MVP award-winning hockey player isn't at all what he seems behind closed doors.

When he's forced to hire a PR firm to help clean up his reputation following his latest transgression, he meets his match in Winter Bronte - a girl ten years younger than him with a sad past and guarded demeanor of her own.

And when she learns his biggest secret regarding his marriage, it can ruin both of them if they succumb to the growing feelings they have for one another.

Genres: Hockey, Hockey Romance, Romance, Sports Romance, Audiobook, Contemporary

Audible Audio

Expected publication May 19, 2026

About the author

B. Celeste is a new adult and contemporary romance author that gives voices to raw, realistic characters with emotional storylines that tug on the heartstrings.

She was born and raised in upstate New York where she still resides with her four-legged feline sidekick Oliver “Ollie” Queen. Her love for reading and writing began at an early age and only grew stronger after getting a BA in English and an MFA in English & creative writing. When she’s not writing, she’s working out, binge-watching reality game shows, and spending time with her friends and family.

Email: bcdwrites@gmail.com

Reviews

[Colleen]

Saw some of the authors promo on TikTok it said-

When the pro hockey player enters an open marriage of convenience to give his best friend health insurance, but then meets the PR rep hired to clean up his reputation and regrets getting married.

Also

The pro hockey player married his best friend to give her health insurance knowing she’ll never love him. He chose to let the public believe he was the cheating bad guy to protect (her) truth.

In comments apparently he was in love with the best friend before he met the fmc. This is 100% not for me, and I know my safety friends will appreciate knowing this stuff too.

[Emmy Wong · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book was a wild ride so you better hold on tight. It was intense from beginning to end and I just adored the chemistry between the characters and the somewhat angsty plot. I just love the playboy hockey player trope, when hes in some sort of probation and needs a kickass PR agent to whip him back into shape and fix his image. There is nothing I love more, than a woman telling a man what to do. I’ve read similar plots many many times but this one stood out because the mmc actually has a wife? But technically you don’t have to worry about the “cheating trope because their relationship has some boundaries. But it made the forbidden part of their workplace romance dynamic even more taboo. There’s also so much banter at the start, as they go from enemies to lovers which was soo fun. However things get a darker turn as they grow closer and have to navigate the obstacles in their way. They soon realise that although they’re broken, they may be able to fill the whole in each other’s hearts. Both of them are packed with trauma, and it broke my heart that such bad things kept on happening to them. Winter and Thomas (Moskins) have the most beautiful bond but also connected to me emotionally. Throughout the book I kept crying because I was captivated by them and was so adsorbed into the book it felt like time stopped. I saw a part of myself in both of them and it made the experience even more angsty and emotional for me. One of the concepts that got me the worst, was how Winter hid herself so that people would like her, but he’s the only one who says “but I like you as you are”. The way I bawled like a baby at that one nail scene, I literally need compensation for the amount of tissues I used. This book was filled with plot twists, emotional pain and the most beautiful characters. I give it a 5/5

[Ashly · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5 [Rounded Up]
🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
📚 Standalone in an interconnected Series "On Ice"
📕 Three Pucking Words
🗣️ Dual POV
🏒 Hockey[ish]
🖤 M/F

If you go into Non-Pucking Stop expecting a deep, emotional hockey romance… adjust your expectations.

This is very much a chaotic, high-spice, don’t-think-too-hard kind of read.

The hockey element is there, but let’s be real...it’s mostly background noise. The focus is the relationships, the tension, and the very “we probably shouldn’t be doing this but absolutely are” energy that carries the whole book. It leans into that fast, addictive pacing where you’re not reading for plot logic, you’re reading to see what happens next for better or worse.

The dynamic is messy in a way that’s either fun or frustrating depending on your tolerance. Characters make questionable decisions, emotions run high, and things escalate quickly. If you like clean, well-structured romance arcs, this might feel all over the place. If you like a little chaos and drama? It works.

The biggest strength is the binge factor. It’s easy to fly through because something is always happening...conflict, tension, spice, repeat. It doesn’t slow down much to dig deep, which is both a pro and a con.

This is one of those books that’s more about energy than execution.

It’s messy, dramatic, and very trope-forward but also kind of addictive if you’re in the mood for it.

If you like:

chaotic hockey romance
high spice, fast pacing
morally questionable decisions

…it’ll probably hit.

[Mrs. Hayes · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5)

Okay… I need a moment because this book was MESSY in the best way.

Non Pucking Stop by B. Celeste is one of those stories where you go in thinking it’s just going to be a fun hockey romance… and then suddenly you’re deep in drama, bad decisions, emotional damage, and questioning your morals a little.

The whole PR relationship/marriage situation? Yeah… complicated. And I won’t lie, at times I was like “girl, stand UP,” but at the same time I could not stop reading. The tension between them was insane. Like you know it’s a bad idea, but you’re rooting for it anyway.

The MMC is… whew. A walking red flag at first, but the kind that slowly (and painfully) grows on you. And the FMC? Strong, but also human. She makes choices that aren’t perfect, which honestly made everything feel more real.

This is definitely not a light, fluffy romance. It’s angsty, a little chaotic, and full of emotional push and pull. And yes… there’s spice 👀 but it’s more about the tension and feelings than just that.

If you like:
• messy relationships
• morally gray situations
• lots of angst and tension
• hockey romance with drama

you’ll probably eat this up like I did.

Not a perfect book,but it had me hooked the entire time and I’m still thinking about it,which says a lot.

[Wendy Livingstone · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book in this impressive series, and this is Thomas and Winter’s story.
Thomas is a pro hockey player, and has a bad reputation as a notorious playboy, and needing to clean up his image, he is forced to hire a PR firm, which is where he meets Winter, who is more than a match for him.
This is a well written action packed, emotional roller coaster, with family, friendships, tension, secrets, lies, close proximity, tragic pasts, challenges, marriage of convenience, strangers / lovers, workplace romance, humour, witty banter, redemption, undeniable chemistry, and love, which leads to an entertaining, twisted, and unpredictable, addictive page turner.
I look forward to reading more from this talented author whose work I highly recommend.

[Fernanda Dzib · Rating 5 out of 5]

5⭐️

I was a little nervous about reading this book because one of the tropes in the early posts about this story was, open marriage, so yup, I was a little hesitant about that but then, the author slapped me with one of the most beautiful, heartwarming and breaking, complex and perfect stories I’ve ever read 😩💖

The things I loved most about this book were the very different types of love it has 💖 we had of course romantic love, sisterly love, parental love, and friends love, it all has to do with love but in all it different faces, and I truly enjoyed reading about all of them ✨

Winter, my heart broke for her so many times, she had to endure so much since she was thirteen, and from that moment she convinced herself that she wasn’t worth being loved, that she had to endure loneliness as a punishment and I just wanted to hug her so bad!! The moment she started to let Thomas in, sharing her secrets with him, was the moment she let herself trust again even when she fought so hard not to, she’s so smart, resilient and strong and also very kindhearted and sassy and independent, but also she’s very sweet and she can let herself be vulnerable with the right people, she has so much love to give and when she let herself give that love away was so beautiful to read 🥹💖

And Thomas… oh my god, don’t make me start with Thomas Moskins 😩🛐 my heart also broke for him and the life he had to endure until he met Emaly, he’s also so resilient and strong and so loyal and kind and protective of those he loves, he’s willing to sacrifice his own happiness for his best friend, to be seen as the villain of the story, the playboy, a cheater, all the bad things you can think of, all that to protect his best friend and the only person he loved until Winter, the kind of love he and Emaly shared is so rare and precious and I wish we all have that kind of connection and love in our lives because we all deserve a friendship like theirs 🥹🤍

I have to admit that I figured out the secret the moment Thomas and Emaly talked about something 👀 (I’m not going to spoil anything) but I was still so excited when they confirm it 🙂‍↔️✨ because I love Emaly too!! I love how much she cared and loved Thomas, and how strong and brave she is with all the things related with her health 🥹❤️‍🩹 I was just so happy that she was happy too!

At the end, this book is more greater than just a love story, and don’t get me wrong, I loved Winter and Thomas’s love story, because they were exactly what they need it, they were hurting so bad, they were both experienced more loss and hurt in life than most people do, and the fact that they learned to trust and love again was so powerful and beautiful because they both thought they would never be able to love and being loved until the day they met 💖🥹 but this story is also about friendship, grief, loss, healing, companion, and live again, not merely exist but live and it was so amazing reading all the characters here found their happy ending 🥹💖 I also loved reading Honor, Bodhi, Gemma and Puck again 😩💙💙💙💙 my heart was very happy reading the epilogue and I want to add that I would be very happy if Kourtney gets her own story 🙈

And talking about more stories, I need the next book pretty please 🙂‍↔️💜 if my suspicions are correct, then we met the main characters in this book and I can’t wait to read more about them ✨

[_.Beckyslibrary._ · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC REVIEW

“One thing I learned a long time ago is that you never know how far kindness can go.”
•
Non pucking stop is a romance standalone book, here you’ll find:

🏒Hockey player x Publicist
✨Age gap
🐈‍⬛Marriage of convenience
💞Strangers to lovers

This was my first book by this author, and I honestly really enjoyed it. The writing style was smooth and engaging, and I ended up finishing the book in just a couple of days because it was so easy to get pulled into the story.

I’m a big fan of the marriage-of-convenience trope, and even though this one felt a little different from what I usually read, I appreciated how it focused on the emotional connection between the characters. It beautifully shows that love can take many different forms and doesn’t always look the same for everyone.

Winter is such a sweetheart. She has gone through a lot in her life, yet she never lets her past define her or stop her from becoming the strong woman she is. I really enjoyed watching her growth throughout the story, especially as she learns to go after what she truly wants despite the challenges she faces. Her relationship with her older sister and nephew was also one of my favorite parts of the book — it added warmth and depth to her character.

Thomas initially comes across as the classic cocky, bad-boy hockey player, but it quickly becomes clear that this attitude is just a protective shield. Seeing him slowly drop that facade and reveal his true self was both satisfying and emotional, and it made his character feel very real.

Thomas and Winter’s relationship starts off with plenty of tension, as they clash from their very first meeting. Their dynamic is even more complicated by the fact that she’s his publicist, making their connection somewhat forbidden — which definitely added extra tension and excitement. The banter between them was one of the highlights of the book. I loved watching them gradually open up to each other, although I do wish we had seen more emotional development throughout the story instead of so much being resolved in the final chapters.

Overall, this was an entertaining and heartfelt read, and it definitely made me curious to read more from this author in the future.

[Audi Walbridge · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book did not disappoint. I sat down to read it and stayed up way too late to finish it.

It is messy, chaotic, sad, beautiful, hot, and funny in so many ways. It kicks off on a fast paced trajectory and does not slow down.

Winter Bronte is resilience, courage, and kindness all wrapped into this beautiful tapestry. She's a newer PR girl, getting her first big client, struggling still with the grief of the loss of her parents, and just trying to get through this thing we call life. Her first client, Thomas Moskins, NHL superstar who needs his image revamped after switching teams & being caught leaving different places with women that weren't his wife.

Thomas Moskins at first appears to be that stereo typical douchy athlete doused in scandal with no cares in the world. WRONG WRONG WRONG He's like a ogre okay, gotta dig in there.

He automatically starts in on Winter like she can't do the job and she gives it right back to him. There's just something about her sass he can't get over.

Their chemistry was electric. The magnetic pull they had was consuming. The Furrever Home Scene?!?! Um okayyyy 🔥 The secret that was dropped there 🎤

(Leading up to that though, I loved this line) "Furrever Home is an animal shelter. Fairbanks largest one." " I would hope so," he says. "It'd be an unfortunate name for a nursing home." 🤣💀

It changed everything because suddenly Moskins had something he wanted more than keeping up the charade. I mean yes, he loved Emlay, (and I loved their friendship, and how much he truly loved and cared for her) but Winter, was the calm he needed. She was the one who made life easier for him.

The vulnerability they both give sharing their secrets eith eachother, the trust Emlay has in Moskins, the "scandals" that he goes through for those he loves. The notion that Winter is being punished for the death of her parents and undeserving of love, the need to protect herself.

Messy and unconventional but their story was beautiful.

[Kirsty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Non Pucking Stop by B. Celeste?? Ruined me. In a “I stayed up way too late, ignored responsibilities, and now I’m emotionally attached to fictional people” kind of way.

Thomas Moskins walked in like your typical scandal-soaked hockey golden boy and I was ready to roll my eyes… and then B. Celeste said “actually, let me peel this man open layer by layer” and suddenly I’m sitting there clutching my chest like I’ve been personally betrayed by life. He is messy, guarded, frustrating, but underneath all that?? Soft. Devastatingly human. The kind of character that sneaks up on you until you’re defending him in your head like he’s real.

And Winter. SWEET, STRONG, GUARDED WINTER. She’s not just the “younger PR girl” trope, not even close. She carries so much quiet hurt and resilience, and the way she holds her ground with Thomas?? Obsessed. Their dynamic is all sharp edges and unspoken tension at first, like two people circling each other with secrets tucked behind their backs.

And THE SECRET. When that dropped?? I swear my soul left my body for a minute. The stakes felt real. The push and pull between them had me internally screaming because you KNOW it’s risky, you KNOW it could blow everything up, and yet you’re begging for them to just fall anyway.

The chemistry?? Electric. Not just physical, but emotional. Every glance, every conversation felt loaded, like something fragile was about to crack open. And when it finally does… yeah, good luck recovering.

This book is messy in the best way. It’s scandal, vulnerability, longing, and two people trying (and failing, and trying again) to protect themselves while falling way too hard. I felt everything. Anger, heartbreak, hope… all of it tangled together like a chaotic little knot in my chest.

5 stars, no hesitation. I would read this again just to feel that ache all over again.

[Alexia Gauthier · Rating 4 out of 5]

Scandal, secrets & a sinfully slow burn that hits like a body check

4.5 ⭐️ | 3.5 🌶️

If you thought Non Pucking Stop by B. Celeste would just be another spicy hockey romance… think again. This one doesn’t just skate across the surface; it slams straight into your chest and lingers there long after the final page.

Thomas Moskins is the kind of MMC everyone loves to hate: scandal-ridden, cocky, and branded a serial cheater by the public. But behind the headlines? There’s a depth to him that slowly, painfully unravels and trust me, it’s worth every second of the tension.

Then there’s Winter Bronte. Guarded, sharp, and carrying a past that shaped her into someone who survives rather than lives. She doesn’t trust easily, doesn’t feel easily and watching her walls crack, piece by piece, is where this story truly shines.

Their dynamic? Electric. Messy. Forbidden in a way that keeps you flipping pages at 2am.

This book leans hard into:
• marriage of convenience (but make it complicated 👀)
• age gap tension that works
• a morally grey, dirty-mouthed hockey god
• fake relationship chaos
• and a slow-burn emotional unraveling that hurts so good

What makes this story stand out isn’t just the chemistry, but the emotional weight behind every interaction. These two don’t fall; they fight their way toward each other. And when they finally start opening up? It’s raw, vulnerable, and deeply satisfying.

If I had one critique, it’s that the story lingers a bit longer than necessary in places. Some scenes could’ve been tightened without losing impact. But honestly? When a book makes you feel this much, it’s hard to stay mad about a few extra pages.

Overall, this was a powerful, emotional, and undeniably addictive read.

Huge thanks to Grey’s Promotions for the e-ARC, and all the hype to B. Celeste for this April 14th release; this one’s going to leave a mark.

[Midnights Bookclub · Rating 5 out of 5]

No Pucking Stop Review 🏒💕

I received an ARC for this book, so I want to thank B. Celeste and Grey Promotions for sending it to me.

This book was a journey that hurt so good that I had to take a few days to put my thoughts into words.

We are introduced to Thomas, the bad boy hockey player involved in multiple cheating scandals. His career is on the line, the press and the public hate him, and he needs help.

Winter is the one responsible for that. She works for the PR company hired to make Thomas more likable, and she is determined to succeed. She needs this job, she needs the money, and she needs to make this work.

On the surface, Thomas really does come across as an a**hole who doesn’t care about anything or anyone. But as soon as he lets someone in, we see that he has a heart of gold. He loves his wife, and he would do anything to protect her, even marrying her so she could have health insurance for her treatment, or staying silent while everyone says horrible things about him, all while she is in another relationship.

Winter lost her parents when she was still a teenager, and she and her sister had to grow up fast with very little support. She doesn’t think she deserves love or to have someone by her side, she is just surviving. And when Thomas comes crashing into her life, she doesn’t know what to do.

It’s safe to say that these two broke my heart and put it back together again. They are both so special, so kind, and so full of love. They were amazing, so this is easily a 5 ⭐️ read for me. 🏒💕

[lowkeyreader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Non Pucking Stop by B. Celeste is a wild, steamy hockey romance packed with unfiltered banter, relentless chemistry, and nonstop rink-to-bedroom tension that delivers pure escapism. The story follows a feisty heroine crashing into a cocky pro hockey player whose "puck" obsession—on and off the ice—sparks chaotic fun, fake proximity antics, and scorching passion amid team drama and personal hurdles. Celeste's snappy, irreverent style amps up the humor with swoony heat and emotional zingers that kept me grinning.

I loved the hero's shameless playboy vibe turning into ride-or-die devotion, the heroine's sharp wit keeping him on his toes, and their high-octane dynamic exploding into laugh-out-loud, toe-curling moments.

While hockey bad-boy tropes feel familiar, Celeste's bold voice and addictive payoff make it a winner. Overall, I’m giving Non Pucking Stop four stars. It’s a hilarious, spicy read perfect for fans of sports romances with edge.

[Marsha Graniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Non Pucking Stop is a sports romance with hidden secrets, work places romance and unexpected surprises. This is Winter and Thomas’ story filled with friendship, love and respect. Their story is not your ordinary romance, it will take you on a crazy ride of scandal, and protection for those they love. Their story is a lot more complicated and would have you wondering where this story is going. I love the way they are both similar in how they are both lovely in some way. Also how they would put others first to protect them. I love their connection and how they open up to each other and become more once all the secrets came out. I really enjoy their story and love the secondary characters too. I can’t wait to read more.

I voluntarily leave my honest thoughts of this gifted advance reader copy.

[Sarah LaFata · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so much more than just your average hockey romance book. There was so much trauma and pain behind the stories of the FMC and MMC. The emotion felt in this book was visceral and my heart broke over and over again. I love how B keeps you guessing what the background story is. She gives little glimpse at a time until there is a beautifully painted picture. Sure, this was a hockey romance book, but I felt that was more in the background of the story. The pain, hurt and trauma was all there as well. I’m not ashamed to admit that this book had me ugly crying multiple times! B Celeste hit another one out of the park! Make sure to add Non Pucking Stop to your TBR today. It releases on April 14.

[Betty Wong · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book really tested my comfort zone. It starts with an MMC that on the surface doesn’t feel too likable but unraveling him and his story with Winter is definitely a journey worth taking. I think I loved this book because it wasn’t straight forward bad boy or sweet guy. It really focused on how you can be lonely among a sea of people and how we as humans can punish ourselves for what we think we deserve.
It’s an interesting story and unique perspective for a romance book. I loved that it focused on so much more than the chemistry of the two main characters. And they definitely had that going for them. But it’s the love of friends, the love for ourselves and forgiveness. Strong story, worth the emotional roller coaster it takes you on!!

[Dee Mac · Rating 4 out of 5]

Couldn’t put it down
Wow! This gripped me from the start and I couldn’t put it down.
A total roller coaster ride of emotion that I wasn’t expecting but was absolutely here for. Winter and Thomas were so much more than what they seemed. Each character is complex and has depth and history. Their struggles and secrets really tugged on my heart strings.
With scandal, PR cleanups, secrets, chemistry, action, realism, close proximity, twists, sweetness and steam.
I can’t wait for the next story from this talented author.

[Abbeys Book Era · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars

Thank you to B. Celeste for sending me an advanced copy of this book!

This book had such a fun and unique take on the marriage of convenience trope, where the MMC was in a marriage of convenience NOT with the FMC! Winter and Thomas were so cute together and B did such a great job setting up stories for other side characters in this book! I have been waiting for Belle and Clarkson’s book since Need you to Choose me from the Lindon U series, so fingers crossed they are the next book!

[Dumpsterdogbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again, B. Celeste absolutely knocks it out of the park. The angst, the drama, the secrets! I was completely hooked from the very beginning and couldn’t put it down.

Thomas and Winter are two beautifully broken characters who find something real in each other, even when they know it’s not simple to love openly. There’s this instant connection between them, but what I loved most is that their story never felt easy. Every emotion felt earned, every moment layered with tension and longing.

B. Celeste has such a powerful way of making you question what you would do for love, and how far you’d go to protect the people who matter most.

Despite all the turmoil, they found their way to one another. That ending was everything I needed.

Thank you so much for the opportunity to read and review this ARC 💛

[Emily Croker · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book!! it has amazing tropes including marriage of convenience, age gap, workplace romance and hockey romance which are some of my favs. this is my first read by this author and she did not disappoint.

I think the fmc is so strong willed and fierce. She is such a queen, and I loved Thomas and Emalys bond.

[Reading is escaping reality · Rating 5 out of 5]

Secrets and lies, passion and banter all wrapped into one glorious book! I love how protective he was when it matters the most even of it cost him everything. She was there to reconstruct his image, and a long the way fell for the last guy she thought she would. I was hooked from the start and obsessed with the ending!

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved Bodhi and Honor, but Thomas and Winter? They completely stole the spotlight for me. They take the cake in the best possible way. There was just something about their dynamic that hit differently—it felt sharper, more intense, and so incredibly addictive to read.

Winter? Obsessed. The sass, the confidence, the way she stands her ground and gives as good as she gets? Chef’s kiss. She brought so much personality to every scene she was in, and I loved how she never backed down, especially when it came to Thomas. She challenged him, pushed him, and kept him on his toes in a way that made their interactions so fun and engaging.

And Thomas? The way he handles Winter, the way he responds to her energy, and the way you slowly see layers of him unfold throughout the story made me fall for him hard. Together, they just work. That push-and-pull between them, the tension, the banter—it was everything.

Their journey was one of my favorite parts. It wasn’t just about the romance—it was about growth, trust, and the connections they built along the way. I loved the friendships that developed throughout the story, because they added so much depth and warmth to everything. It made their world feel fuller and more real.

And the chemistry between Thomas and Winter? So spicy. The kind of chemistry that makes you sit up a little straighter while reading. Every interaction had that spark, that tension, that undeniable pull that kept me hooked from start to finish.

Honestly, their story had it all—sass, tension, emotion, growth, and heat—and I couldn’t get enough of them.

[Mandy Puckett · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you want guys that do anything for the ones they love, girls that want to forge their own paths, and the trials that get them to the end this is the book for you. Thomas & Emaly must make a decision that not everyone will agree with but they have to do what’s right for them. The very end :)! Cannot wait to see what happens in book 3.

[Indras Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐️||


I went into Non Pucking Stop expecting a fun hockey romance, and it definitely delivered.but with a bit more depth than I expected.

Thomas is way more than your typical cocky athlete, and I loved getting to see the layers behind his reputation. Which I’ll be honest first few chapters I thought I wouldn’t like him. But that quickly changed the more we got to know him and his story. Winter was just as compelling strong, guarded, and not someone who falls easily, which made their dynamic feel real and earned.

The marriage of convenience trope was one of my favorite parts. It added just the right amount of tension and kept things interesting, especially as their relationship slowly shifted into something genuine.

Overall, a really enjoyable, emotional read with great character development.

[Tami · Rating 5 out of 5]

ALL THE FEELS!!
I was not prepared for the emotional roller-coaster this book would take me on, but I loved every minute of it!

[Malinda Cochran · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this book! Moskins and Winter were so cute! it ended abruptly for me and left me hanging! But hoping that means there will be a book 2?

[Robyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

✨ Romance Comfort-Read Alert ✨

This review comes from a reader who loves:
🛑 No cheating / no OW-OM drama
💞 Low angst (together > apart)
🚫💔 No third-act breakup — If there is one, I will tell you.
👑 Strong FMC
💪 Take-charge MMC
🔥 Reformed Playboy> current manwhore, but never manwhore is preferred
💬 Miscommunication allowed if resolved like adults
🏡 HEA ALWAYS
Format: 📖 on KU
Triggers: cheating, seizures, death of a parent (off-page), childhood abuse/neglect, addict parents, one character is "in the closet" because their family would not accept their sexuality.

Okay, I have to dive in on this one. I LOVED Three Pucking Words. Like, Bodhi is a comfort item for me. That is the first, and until now, the only book I have read by the author. I knew the synopsis, but I went into it thinking that Moskins would be the same as Bodhi. Boy was I WRONG.

I found it hard to connect with Moskins and Winter, which was a little bit heartbreaking for me. I found it hard to root for them, and I felt like their relationship could have been built a little bit better.

Moskins is married to Emaly, which is the marriage of convenience part of the story. Emaly has a medical condition, and Moskins married her ten years before giving her insurance. They were childhood BFFs. She is from a wealthy family. Her Russian parents expected her and her brother to be figure skaters. Her brother lived up to it, but Emaly did not. She has a chronic illness and was never strong enough for it. Moskins had a crap childhood. His parents were abusive addicts. He eventually ends up in foster care next door to Emaly, and they become bffs.

Because of their MOC, Moskins is free to sleep with other women. And boy does he do that. He's brought a bunch of scandal to them b/c of his indiscretions. He appears to be (is?) a player who cheats on his wife. Honestly, the book starts with him and a woman he just hooked up with. The way he talks about her kind of turned my stomach and made it hard to respect him, even after learning about his past and his marriage to Emaly. He clearly used women, but when he was seen that way, he was offended....well, if it looks like a duck...

Winter is in PR and is assigned to his case. Her parents were killed when she was 13, and she has had a rough go of it. He is instantly attracted to her, and she finds him hot, but also a jerk, and is obviously privvy to his situation b/c she is there to clean up his image. They end up paired together a lot, and the attraction is hard to ignore. Emaly knows Moskins is lonely, and while he is incredibly loving and loyal to her (he keeps her secret, supports her etc), he just wants to be loved. She sort of pushes Winter and Moskins together. And, OF COURSE, Winter is not like other women, and one meeting with her has changed him. *Sure, Jan*

Okay, so did I like this book? IDK, to be honest. Yes and no. I felt for both Winter and Moskins. Both had tragic backstories. I appreciated what Moskins did for Emaly: marrying her, keeping her secret, and taking the loads of crap thrown at him. HOWEVER he had that pile of crap b/c he was a manwhore who did not care to be discreet. Also, even though he and Emaly didn't have a "real" marriage, they were married, and I have issues with the cheating...plus it was so disrespectful to Emaly. I cannot imagine that she didn't feel like an absolute jackass at times when another picture/story of Moskins out with some skank would surface. It was just gross.

Also, he and Winter have sex, which is her losing her virginity to him. She finds out his agent is the twin brother of the guy who killed her parents. She is obviously upset. Moskins is distraught over it because he had no idea. He rushes to her to comfort her. She basically uses him, says some really harsh things (yet, are understandable to an extent), and this discards him. He is very hurt, which I get.

IDK, they get their HEA, but it's messy and not in a good way. I am okay with some morally grey situations because literature is an escape. If Moskins wasn't such a manwhore, wasn't so gross about obviously using women/only viewing them as a hole to poke, basically, I would have connected with him more. I wouldn't be supportive of the cheating, but it would help to root for him or at the very least make it believable that Winter was different. But I also hate the manwhore instantly changes because he meets a woman storyline. IDK if it is b/c I'd have a hard time believing they would change so I'd never trust them or what. LOL

So, final thoughts: I will not be reading this one again. I have reread Three Pucking Words multiple times. I will hide this from my KU library and hopefully never think of it again.

[Lindsey Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️️⭐️/ ️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Do not let this cute cover fool you! B Celeste takes you for a ride in book 2 of the On Ice series. Non Pucking Stop is definitely a fitting title as the emotional rollercoaster this book took me on felt like it was not going to stop. But I mean that in the best way possible. This story starts out one way, journeys into uncomfortable times, but finally ends with an incredible ending for both MCs. B also explores many different types of love within this story, ranging from romantic to platonic, to family. Each type is written beautifully and fully grasps the importance of each.

As I started reading this story, I was worried I missed something on the tropes or content warning. It seemed to be heading down a path of books that I don’t read. It was at a point that I almost stopped reading, convinced some crucial information had been left out. However, B came through, as she always does. When I finally got to the part that shone light on circumstances, I breathed a huge sigh of relief. Our author knew what she was doing and I should have never feared or doubted.

Winter and Thomas both have pasts that shut something down inside each of them. Winter didn’t believe she deserved love, while Thomas carried so much weight on his shoulders, trying to relieve it from other people. Due to his career, the public eye was on him more than most, therefore leading to the portrayal of something he actually isn’t. Both hurting, both broken, but both finding a connection so deep and real with the other that you won’t want to put this book down.

As pointed out earlier, the kind of love written about in this story goes beyond a great romance. Don’t worry, that is present, but the way B weaves in other types of love and the lengths you will go for someone you love, romantically or platonically, knows no bounds. What wouldn’t you do for someone you truly loved and cared for? This book may be my favorite B Celeste book yet!

As always, review any author notes before reading.

What to Expect:
🏒Hockey Romance
🩷Marriage of Convenience
🏒Workplace Romance
🩷Age Gap Romance
🏒Tragic Pasts
🩷Chronic Illness Rep

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Don’t be misled by the cover or title the way I was, this isn’t the light, easy romcom you might expect and I’ll admit to only skimming the blurb, but Non Pucking Stop turned out to be a far more intense and emotional story, centred on two characters who are both a little lost and vulnerable.

Winter Bronte’s life was upended as a teenager when her parents were killed. Although her older sister who was barely an adult herself, stepped in and kept her out of the foster system, it was still a vulnerable age for a girl to lose her mother. That loss has left Winter hesitant to trust others, afraid she might lose them too if she let them get too close. Thomas Moskins meanwhile comes across as the stereotypical bad-boy athlete more likely to make the headlines for his string of different women than for his prowess on the ice, and, to complicate matters further, he’s married. It’s this version of Thomas that Winter first meets when he hires the PR company, she works for to repair his public image. However, his character quickly proves to be much more complex and while it's initially easy to judge him, it soon becomes clear that there are deeper motivations behind his actions. From the outset, it’s obvious there’s more to his marriage than meets the eye. His wife is clearly his closest friend, someone he loves deeply, though not romantically, but their full story is kept under wraps most of the book This initially paints him as the villain of the story, a role he’s willing to accept to protect his wife, even at the cost of his own reputation and potentially his career, given her father owns the team he plays for but when Winter enters his life, though, things begin to change.

At its heart, this is a story about grief and recovery, love and friendship. In a way, I’m glad I didn’t read the blurb too closely beforehand. Cheating in romance novels is usually a dealbreaker for me, and I likely would have passed on this one entirely but that would have meant missing out on a beautiful and moving story.

[kileigh✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

B. Celeste does it again!

This book has such a unique take on the marriage of convenience trope, and it was refreshing to read! Finally, drama that doesn't directly involve the fmc!

Thomas and Emaly's relationship was heartfelt and trustworthy. I actually love them so much as friends. I think both of them are able to count on each other when it matters, and will fight to the ends of the earth to protect each other.
I also love how well Emaly knows Thomas. So much so, that she basically "approved" of his love for Winter. Not that he needed any approval for his feelings, but the situation that they're in could've gotten messy if they weren't on the same page.

Winter is one of a kind! I see her so much. She's fierce, she knows what she wants, and knows how to stand up for what she believes in. I admire her so much for that. I loved the moment when she first met Thomas. She was not letting him get away with anything!! She's funny, smart, and is wholeheartedly herself, despite what she had to put up with in her past.
(I hope we get Kourt's book)

Thomas was written with so much depth! I love when MMCs actually get a backstory that you're interested in, because Thomas is very complex. He's someone you would side eye without really knowing who he is. The people that know him know that he's a great guy at heart. He has a hard exterior with a soft interior, and Winter was able to crack that almost immediately. Soft for her and HER ONLY!

I LOVED SEEING HONOR, PUCK, AND BODHI AGAIN! My OG favorites! Seeing their progress was so heartwarming!
(My 'Three Pucking Words' review.)

At this point, anything that B. Celeste writes, I'll read. She has a way at making characters stand out and feel authentic. The drama, the issues that each character faces, the resolutions... It all feels real, and that's what I appreciate about her books!

[Linds_Loves_Lit · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC Review: Non Pucking Stop by B. Celeste

Book 2 in the On Ice series

I went into this one so excited because I absolutely loved book one, but this installment did not land the same way for me. There is a lot to appreciate, but also a lot happening all at once, and it pulled me out of the romance more than I expected.

The setup:
Thomas Moskins, hockey star, scandal magnet, and currently in a marriage of convenience, is forced to hire a PR firm to clean up his image. Enter Winter Bronte, ten years younger, guarded, and carrying a heartbreaking past of her own. Their chemistry is there, and when they start trading secrets, you really feel the weight of what they have both survived.

But wow, the messy web...
❄️Winter’s parents were killed by a drunk driver
❄️Her sister raised her under impossible circumstances
❄️Winter lands at a PR firm and gets assigned to Thomas's account
❄️ Thomas’s agent Ashton knows Winter because his twin brother is the drunk driver who killed her parents and this brings a layer of messy
❄️ Thomas and Winter get involved
❄️ Ashton wants it to end to protect her
❄️And Thomas is still in an open marriage with his childhood best friend Emily

It is a lot. And for me, all those intersecting storylines overshadowed the romance I wanted more of. I enjoyed Thomas and Winter together, and their connection had real potential, but I found myself wishing for more.

This ended up being a slower read for me, which surprised me after how much I adored book one. That said, I always love seeing familiar faces, and Bodi and Honor popping in was a highlight. Interconnected standalones will always have my heart.

If you love messy, layered drama with a side of hockey heat, this might hit differently for you. For me, it just did not quite match the magic of book one.