Pucking Daddy: An Enemies to Lovers Single Dad Sports Romance

by Ellen Young

Genres: Hockey

327 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 1, 2026

About the author

Ellen Young writes steamy, feel-everything billionaire romances—fast, emotional, and deliciously spicy. Her books deliver razor-sharp banter, explosive chemistry, and powerful men who fall hard for the last woman they expect. Think: fake dating gone very real, secret identities, forced proximity, surprise feelings (and sometimes surprise babies), and swoon-worthy HEAs with penthouse views. If you love big emotions, bigger wallets, and bedside-table-worthy spice, Ellen’s got you covered. (from Amazon.com)

Reviews

[Brandi Jackola · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zara has an unplanned hookup at a bar the night before her new job starts. She’s a professional nanny, and won’t know her client’s name until after she arrives at her new posting. The guy she hooks up with is hot, and she can’t stop thinking about him.

And she will continue to think about him, because — you guessed it — he’s her new client.

Jaxon, the new head coach of the Metro Raptors hockey team, has also been thinking about that woman he hooked up with, but not in the same way that Zara was thinking about him. After all, he’s a single father, and he hasn’t been with anyone for a long time, so it was really just scratching an itch, so to speak. And when he finds out Zara is his new nanny, he’s not very nice about it.

The one thing they can agree on is that Lily, Jaxon’s daughter, is the top priority. But things aren’t going to stay calm, because his ex-wife is now trying to get custody of Lily.

I know that courts often award custody to mothers more than fathers, and I think that’s biased. Not every dad is a deadbeat, and not every mom is a paragon of motherhood. And I bet you can guess what happens when Jaxon realizes that his chances of retaining full custody aren’t great.

I love hockey romance, and there’s enough hockey in the book to warrant calling it a hockey romance. This one really pulled on my heartstrings, because although Jax and Zara started as a one-night stand, once they got over their shock, they did what was best for Lily. And how could you not root for that?

This is not a closed-door romance, but it’s also not full to the brim of steam. There is some coarse language, but not a lot of it, and I think the book kind of straddles the line between sweet and steamy. So, come for the hockey coach and the extremely competent nanny/fake girlfriend/fake wife/real wife, and stay for the adorable Lily. Just get the book!

[Ashlee Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Must-Read Sports Romance!

This book was soooo good! If you are a fan of enemies-to-lovers and sports romances, you will completely fall for Pucking Daddy by Ellen Young.

The story centers around the captivating romance between Jaxon, a millionaire hockey coach, and Zara, the nanny to his daughter, Lily. Speaking of Lily, I absolutely adored her! She is such a strong, smart little girl, and the fact that Zara genuinely loved her made Zara and Jaxon's relationship even more beautiful to watch unfold. These two felt truly destined to be together, especially in the way Zara stood by his side and supported him through his intense custody battle.

One of the highlights for me was Jaxon's character growth. He learns to put his family before hockey, realizing that shifting his priorities is okay. It was also awesome to see his team actually understand and support his decision to put his daughter first.

From the very first page, this book had me hooked. It delivers the perfect mix of emotional depth, heartfelt moments, and swoony romance. I couldn't put it down!

[Joanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars for me.

Zara had a one last hook up before she's in new town and working new job.The last thing she expected is to see Jax,the guy she hook up with.Being a nanny and the a wife just to help Jax get custody of his daughter gets complicated,she wants more then being a contract wife.Jax didn't expect his new nanny to be a woman he can't forget about.When his ex-wife wants to fight him for full custody,he needs a stable relationship,and there's no one else,he wants but Zara.
Will those two find something they didn't expect,a full family?


It was a quick and enjoyable sport romance.I loved Zara and her patience and sweetnes toward Lily,she was a nanny you can hope for.I liked the way Jax cares about his daughter,it was cute and he was perfect for Zara.Both need some thinking to do,and the plot was tense in moments,I could not put the book down until the end.

If you looking for single dad and nanny sport romance,I would recommend this one.

Thank you booksprout and author for arc,my review is honest and my own.

[Dianna F · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pucking Daddy is grumpy/sunshine perfection. The hero is a broody, closed‑off hockey player who thinks he’s immune to feelings… until his daughter and the one‑ night stand he never expected to see again crash back into his life. Watching that hard exterior crack; first for his little girl, then for the woman who becomes his surprise nanny, is exactly the kind of emotional payoff that makes single dad romances irresistible.

Their chemistry is instant, but it’s the slow softening that hooks you. Every gruff comment, every protective moment, every slip of vulnerability turns him from “grumpy dad” into a total goner, and it’s so satisfying to watch him fall even when he swears he won’t.

It’s heartfelt, and full of that gruff to gooey transformation you love, this one delivers all the tension, tenderness, and swoony dad energy in one addictive read.

[Laced In Lit · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to the author for the ARC 👏
4.5 ⭐️ rounded up
I love this series, I have read 4 of them now and rated each one the same! MUST READ 📚
🌶 Spicy
😜 Enemies to lovers
🫶 Hockey star x Nanny
🙌 Marriage of convenience
It all starts with a one night stand to blow off some steam...
Except the next day Zara walks into her new job as a nanny to find Jax her one night stand is her new employer!
Hes a grumpy nightmare of a hockey star, except with his adorable daughter 💗
A messy custody battle is pending so Jax suggests a marriage pact in order to secure his daughter's future. Do either of them know what they are letting themselves in for?
With a spiteful ex things wont be easy thats for sure!

[Kaylynn Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omg! This book had me hooked from the very first chapter. I kept saying just one more chapter and then I will go bed. After I finished the book I glanced at the clock and seen it was after 1 am 😱 I love how the bond between each chapter was forming stronger and stronger! I love how Zara always did what was best for lily. The relationship between Zara and Jax is so pure and strong from the very beginning! I can’t wait to read the next book in the series.

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

[Debbie Benson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. I liked how Jaxon and Zara knew each other before from a hookup and circumstances has them together again to win a custody battle. I liked how they became a real family with Jaxon putting his family first. The daughter Lily is great. I really enjoyed this story.

[Carolyn Meredith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this addition to the series. I am loving the Raptors. Well written with wonderful characters and great steam. This one is mostly low angst and an easy, interesting read. Things between Zara and Jaxon just flow naturally even though it’s a short timeline. Lily is a delight and is front and center as a not quite main character. I hope there are many more books in this series.

[Lindsay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute and cozy fake marriage turned real love story. Jaxon and Zara meet at bar and hook up. The next day they are both surprised to find out that she's his new nanny. They fake a relationship and quickly get married to try to help the parental custody case for his daughter Lily (who is absolutely adorable) and fall in love for real. A feel good story.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jax and Zara were destined! They had such great chemistry together. Things may have been a bit backwards for them, but all the feels and tingles were present! Lily is adorable! Loved this read. I ate this book up!

[Marilyn Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book!

Jason meets Zara in a bar and they have a one night stand.She's moving to another city to start a new job as nanny to a little girl. When she gets there who is her employer and daddy of Lily none other than Jaxon. Loved this story.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zara and Jax

Jax has a lot on his plate. Fighting for custody of his daughter. And Rachel is a piece of work, putting herself front and center against her own daughter. Rachel needs to take some lesson from Zara.

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jax and Zara... Wow! What chemistry! This is my favorite book of the series so far. I can't wait for the next book. It's going to be hard to beat this one.

[Deborah Kinate · Rating 4 out of 5]

When nanny Zara meets the single father of her new charge, she is shocked to see Jaxon who is the one-night stand she had the night before she reported for this new assignment.

[Linda M · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVED THIS!

Jaxon and Zara’s story was filled with feelings, conflict, anger, love, angst for each other, and focus on doing what’s best for Lily.

[MaryBeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m new to Ellen Young, and she hooked me fast. This book is emotional, swoony, and so easy to fall into.

If you love a successful NHL coach with walls around his heart and a nanny trying to rebuild her life, this one delivers.

Zara is heading to New York for a fresh start as a nanny, but before she leaves, she stops for one last drink. She ends up meeting a guy who is very hot, very charming, and exactly the distraction she didn’t know she needed. One night together — intense, unexpected, unforgettable.

Jaxon is stepping into his new role as head coach of the Metro Raptors while juggling a custody battle. His daughter, Lilly (aka Bug), is everything to him. What he doesn’t expect is to walk into his home and find the new nanny… and realize she’s the woman from that night.

Cue the tension, the soft angst, the stolen glances, and the slow-burn pull they can’t ignore.

It’s heartfelt, swoony, and completely addictive. Highly recommend.

[Robin Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the story in this book.