Lucky Mother Pucker

Hollis U #4

by Sarah Smith

I didn’t mean to get the pretty barista at the coffee shop fired.

But after a fight with my hypercritical, hockey-obsessed dad, I was in the worst mood and took it out on her.

Now she’s out of a job because of me. And when I finally learn her name, I learn some other things about her too.

Lucy Bailey is down to her last dollar and living in her car.

I’m desperate to make things right, so I move her into my house for free until she gets back on her feet.

It’s not long before we go from roommates to friends…then something more…

After a night of nonstop flirting, she asks to share my bed…which leads to the hottest hookup.

We agree to keep things fun and filthy, nothing serious…but I’m falling for her.

But she’s guarded and doesn’t trust anyone.

When it comes to hockey, I know all the rules. But when it comes to love, I’m clueless.

I need to show Lucy that I’ll always play my heart out when it comes to her.

Hollis U book 4! Leo's book!

Tropes:

Roommates to lovers
Opposites attract
Only one bed
Slowburn
He talks her through it
He's bossy in bed
Dirty talk
"Good girl"
"Touch her and d!e"
No 3rd act breakup!

Genres: Hockey, Sports Romance, Sports, College, Romance, Hockey Romance, Friends To Lovers

462 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 14, 2026

About the author

Sarah Smith is a copywriter-turned-author who wants to make the world a lovelier place, one kissing story at a time. Her love of romance began when she was eight and she discovered her auntie's stash of romance novels. She's been hooked ever since. When she's not writing, you can find her hiking, eating chocolate, and perfecting her lumpia recipe. She is also one half of the romance writing duo Sarah Skye. Sarah also writes tearjerker fiction under the name Sarah Echavarre

Reviews

[Sim-fully Ever After · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25🌟 | 3🌶️

Two people who are clearly gone for each other but insist on protecting their friendship first? Yeah, I was invested.

Leo and Lucy had such an easy connection once they let their walls down, and I loved watching their friendship slowly turn into something more. Leo is an absolute green flag with a protective streak, endless patience, and a serious talent for taking care of the people he loves. And when they finally gave in, the spice was absolutely worth the wait.

Lucy’s strength really stood out to me. She’s been forced to handle so much on her own, so seeing her gradually accept Leo’s help without losing that independent, fiery side made her easy to root for. I also appreciated how supportive they became of each other and how naturally they communicated. Leo standing up for himself and finally confronting his relationship with his father was another highlight, especially because he never lost the kindness that makes him who he is.

The found-family dynamic continues to be one of my favorite things about this series, and watching Lucy become part of that chaos was so much fun. There’s something incredibly comforting about a group that will show up for each other without hesitation.

Add in the hockey, slow burn, protective hero, great chemistry, and one adorable Wally, and this was another really satisfying Hollis U romance.

~~~~

A sincere thank you to Sarah Smith and The Smuthood for the ARC! 🥰📚

I’m so grateful for the early read. As always, all thoughts and opinions are completely my own. ✨

[The Book Ssirren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Leo caused Lucy to lose her job. And he felt horrible. Especially when he found out she was living in her car. This is what grabbed me at this moment. He didn’t snub his nose up at her because he was successful and she had nothing. He was a kind human being and saw that age was down on her luck. So he asked her to move in to his place until she found another job and was able to get on her feet again. This man 🥰 the way he gave her a hand up and not a hand out. And the friends they became! They turned into such good friends. Watching their friendship blossom, it suddenly became more. And the intimacy that followed was so well written. These two were just the greatest couple ever. I giggled when he said he knew about hockey but wasn’t sure how to navigate anything outside of that. Their banter and their moments were great. I completely fell in love with these two. Such a great book.

[rosesreadsromance · Rating 4 out of 5]

🏒 I hate that I can’t walk into this bar, slide my arm around her waist, and pull her against me. I hate that I can’t kiss her in front of all these people.
Because she’s just a friend. 🏒

“Love is not something you find. Love is something that finds you.” — Loretta Young 🤍


I absolutely adore Leo! He’s so protective, helpful, supportive, and genuine, and I just couldn’t get enough of him 🥹 I loved seeing the way he looked after Lucy and Wally, his relationship with his mom and sister, and especially his friendship with the guys. They’re practically brothers, and I absolutely love their bond 💙

What I loved most about Leo is that, despite having such a difficult relationship with his father, he never let it change the kind-hearted person he is. He remained caring, loyal, and genuinely good, and that made me love him even more 🥰

And Lucy! 🥹 My heart hurt for this girl 💔 She’s been through so many difficult experiences and tragedies, yet she never gave up. I love that she held onto her dreams and kept fighting to make them come true ✨ She’s strong without losing her softness, and I absolutely loved how supportive she was of Leo 🫶🏻

Her friendship with the girls was another one of my favorite parts of the book 💕 I loved watching them welcome her into their circle and make her feel like she belonged. The way they supported and cared for each other was so beautiful 😍

Honestly, I think friendship is one of the greatest strengths of this series 💜 The friendships feel so genuine and meaningful, and I love how much love, support, and loyalty there is between these characters. They truly feel like family 🥹

And Leo and Lucy...❤️‍🔥 I loved their journey so much! They experienced practically every possible emotion with each other, and I loved every single step of their relationship 💖

I recommend this one to fans of roommates to lovers, forced proximity, slow burn, opposites attract, dirty talk, he loves spoiling her, "touch her and d!e" 🩶

📖 Lucky Mother Pucker by Sarah Smith (ARC) 🏒🐕🩷

[Sonja Charters · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who even am I at the moment if I'm not reading a spicy hockey romance?

Well, I'm back with one of my favourite authors and the fourth book in this Hollis U series - and having absolutely loved the first three reads, there was never any way I'd miss this next installment.

 

This book focuses on Leo and Lucy and I have to admit that I wasn't sure how this one was going to work out at first.

 

Lucy's situation went from bad to worse when the jumped up, rude hockey guy gets her fires from the coffee shop job, but we soon see that Leo's issue is most certainly with his Dad only and she just caught him on a bad day.

 

When he offers to help her get back on her feet, given it was his fault she's now jobless, they end up as roommates.

We all know how this is going to end, don't we!? But honestly, this didn't even matter as I absolutely loved every second of the apologising, flirting and all that came beyond that point.

 

Although the pair were such a contrast in terms of their worries, this really shows that it's always subjective and that what might look like an easy life on the outside, we never really know what someone is going through inside.

 

I loved all of Leo's acts of service, he really did work hard to show Lucy what a good guy he really is and Lucy, in her own way, gave back just as much as she supported Leo too.

Of course, this also gets pretty spicy too, which we all love!

 

It was great to catch up with Leo's teammates in this one and to see how everyone from the previous books were getting along.

I fear that the next book might be the last, but as sad as I'll be to say goodbye, I cannot wait to dive right on in again.

 

 

[Amanda Milne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sarah does it again - breaks my heart when I am reading this really emotional storyline!

This book is about Leo who is an ice hockey player who will do anything for anyone except for his father (who just hates on him).

One day in a cafe, Leo and his father have a fight and then Leo get angry at the cafe staff which results in Lucy getting fired.

Lucy has never had anyone around her since her mum and dad died and then her step father kicked her and her dog Wally out of the house. By the way, isn't Wally a great name for a dog!

Wally is living at a shelter as Lucy is homeless and living her her car. Once she loses her job, she starts to work at a diner and a strip club. Leo walks into the diner and realizes it is the girl that was fired because of his complaint and tries to apologise.

But Lucy doesn't trust anyone including Leo. However Leo wants Lucy to trust her and tries everything to make Lucy trust him.

Does Lucy let her guard down? Does Wally get to live with Lucy? Will Leo get the girl of his dreams?
I know what happens but you should read the book to find out!

[Jenna Lundberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

🏒💚 He Played Hockey by the Rules, but Love Was a Different Game 💚🏒
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5 Stars | 🌶️🌶️🌶️ 3 Chili Peppers

Who even am I if I'm not reading a spicy hockey romance? 😂🏒

I am officially back at Hollis U for book four, and this time we get Leo's story! After loving the first three books in this series, there was absolutely no way I was going to miss Lucky Mother Pucker by Sarah Smith.

And somehow, Sarah managed to give me another hockey romance I didn't want to put down.

Leo and Lucy are both clearly gone for each other, but neither one is willing to risk the friendship they've built.

So naturally, I spent a good portion of this book screaming at them to just figure it out already. 😂

But honestly?

I loved the slow burn.

Leo and Lucy don't have the easiest introduction. In fact, Leo accidentally gets Lucy fired from her coffee shop job after taking out his frustration from a terrible interaction with his father on the wrong person.

Not exactly the meet-cute of the year.

But Leo knows he messed up, and once he realizes just how badly Lucy is struggling, he is determined to make things right.

And THIS is where Leo really won me over.

Lucy is living in her car and doing whatever she can to keep herself afloat. She has been through more than anyone should have to deal with, and because she has spent so long relying only on herself, trusting someone else's help doesn't come easily.

Leo doesn't just apologize and move on.

He shows up.

He helps her get her car situation sorted out.

He gives her somewhere safe to live.

He helps her get her dog back.

He helps her find work.

He remembers the little things.

And when Lucy needs someone in her corner, Leo is there.

His acts of service were one of my favorite parts of this book because helping people is simply who Leo is. He doesn't do it because he expects something in return. He takes care of the people he loves.

And watching Lucy slowly realize that his kindness isn't some temporary favor was so good.

Because Lucy is STRONG.

She has had to be.

She's been forced to survive on her own for so long that accepting help can feel like giving up some of that independence. I really loved that the story didn't turn her into a helpless heroine just because Leo had the ability to help her.

Instead, she slowly learns that letting someone stand beside you doesn't mean you aren't capable of standing on your own.

That was such an important part of her journey.

And then there is Leo.

This man is a walking green flag. 💚

He's protective without becoming controlling, patient, thoughtful, supportive, and completely devoted to the people he loves.

But what I especially appreciated was that Leo has his own struggles too.

His relationship with his father has put an enormous amount of pressure on him, particularly when it comes to hockey. His dad's constant criticism has affected Leo in ways that go much deeper than his performance on the ice, and I loved seeing him finally start to stand up for himself.

And even after everything he's dealing with, he doesn't lose the kindness that makes him Leo.

That's what really got me.

He could have let his father's behavior turn him bitter, but instead, he continues to be the person who shows up for everyone else.

Until he finally realizes that he deserves someone to show up for him too.

Enter Lucy. ❤️

These two became friends first, and I loved watching that friendship develop. There was so much mutual attraction underneath everything, but neither wanted to risk losing what they already had.

The banter was fun.

The flirting was fun.

The yearning was fun.

The little moments where they were clearly thinking about each other while pretending everything was completely normal?

SO FUN. 😂

And once they finally stopped fighting it...

Well.

The spice was absolutely spicing. 🫦🔥

Leo has a filthy mouth, and apparently I was not prepared. The dirty talk, bossy energy, and the way he knows exactly how to make Lucy feel wanted definitely earned those three chili peppers.

I did have a moment of, "You two waited THIS long and we're not getting more?!" 😂 But the buildup made finally getting there satisfying.

And we HAVE to talk about Wally.

WALLY. 🐶❤️

That dog was the actual star of the show.

Lucy loves that dog with her whole heart, and I loved how important he was to her story. Leo immediately embracing Wally and making room for him was just another checkmark on the ever-growing list of reasons this man is such a good book boyfriend.

The fact that Leo doesn't just take care of Lucy, but also loves and protects the things that matter to her, says so much about him.

And the found family!

This continues to be one of my favorite things about the Hollis U series. The hockey team and their girlfriends have become such a wonderful little community, and watching Lucy slowly become part of that chaos was so much fun.

Everyone shows up.

Everyone has each other's backs.

Nobody hesitates when one of their own needs help.

There is something incredibly comforting about that kind of friendship, and I loved seeing Lucy finally have people she could lean on.

I also really appreciated that this book doesn't rely on a giant third-act breakup to create unnecessary angst. There is still conflict and plenty of emotional stuff happening, but I much prefer watching characters work through problems rather than blowing up a relationship that has taken an entire book to build.

And Sarah Smith did a great job balancing the heavier parts of Lucy and Leo's lives with the fun, flirty romance.

This book had me giggling.

It had me in my feels.

It had me wanting to hug Wally.

It had me wanting to yell at Leo to stand up to his father.

And it definitely had me enjoying the spice. 🌶️🌶️🌶️

Most importantly, I loved watching two people who were both used to handling everything alone learn that they didn't have to anymore.

Leo gives Lucy a safe place to land, but Lucy gives Leo something he needs just as much: someone who sees him beyond the hockey player, the expectations, and his father's criticism.

They become a support system for each other.

And I loved that.

Lucky Mother Pucker was another stellar addition to the Hollis U series, and I am absolutely not ready for this group to be done with me yet.

Thankfully, there is another book coming.

And apparently now I have to sit here wondering what kind of chaos Harper is going to bring next. 👀

Thank you to Sarah Smith and The Smuthood for the gifted advanced reader copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Jessica Tittermary Culp · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my second book from Sarah Smith, and I’m not sure what I was expecting going into Lucky Mother Pucker, but it certainly wasn’t THIS story. This was such a different take on a college hockey romance, and I really enjoyed it.

We have Leo and Lucy.

Leo is a top-tier college defenseman who has already been drafted by Vegas and is basically waiting to finish school before starting his professional career. He’s also a hockey legacy - his dad was a top pro player until an injury forced him into retirement, and now he’s living vicariously through his son.

But instead of hockey being something that brings Leo and his dad together, it’s basically the opposite.

Nothing Leo does is ever good enough. His dad nitpicks everything, constantly points out what he could be doing better, and rarely, if ever gives him a compliment. Leo has spent his life trying to live up to expectations that always seem to move just a little further out of reach.

And then there’s Lucy.

Lucy is living in her car.

She’s orphaned after her alcoholic stepfather killed her mother in a drunk - driving accident. He then inherited everything, kicked Lucy out of her own home, and left her homeless for the last year. As if THAT wasn’t horrific enough, he also took her dog, Wally, to the pound to be put down 😭

Thankfully, Lucy was able to save him and work out an arrangement with a no-kill shelter to keep Wally until she could find housing. In the meantime, she’s working as much as humanly possible and saving every penny she can.

Leo and Lucy’s paths collide at the coffee shop where she works - and it does NOT go well. 😂

Leo is already in a terrible mood after meeting with his father, grabs a coffee, realizes the milk is sour, and complains. Lucy, completely exhausted, was the one who stocked it without checking the dates…and it’s enough to get her fired.

Later, while Lucy is desperately searching the college town for another job, she runs into Leo again at a diner and lets him HAVE IT for getting her fired.

Leo is immediately horrified when he realizes what happened and basically makes it his mission to fix things.

And this man.

Leo is the golden-est of golden retrievers.

Lucy has spent so long relying only on herself that she’s immediately suspicious of him and his desire to help. But she’s also incredibly attracted to him - and, maybe even more importantly, she feels safe with him.

That’s not a feeling Lucy is used to.

After one particularly horrible night, Lucy’s car gets towed…which is especially devastating considering her car is also HER HOME. Leo shows up, takes her to get it, pays the bill, and finally learns the truth about her situation.

He’s absolutely devastated.

His immediate response is basically, you’re staying with me.

Lucy is wary and initially agrees to just one night…but one night turns into moving in. And then they go get Wally from the shelter because obviously Wally is moving in too. 🥹🐶

But Leo isn’t finished.

When he finds out Lucy has taken a job at a strip club and realizes how unsafe the situation is for her, he helps her get a job with the hockey team assisting the trainers.

Meanwhile, these two are VERY attracted to each other, but they’ve also become best friends. Neither wants to risk crossing that line and destroying this safe little world they’ve created together.

Until…well…they do. 😂

And I loved what happened to their relationship once they finally stopped fighting it.

Lucy soothes the broken pieces inside Leo - the ones constantly telling him he isn’t good enough because of his father. She calms his anxiety and becomes the person who actually sees what Leo needs.

Because taking care of people is Leo’s MO.

His mom. His sister. His friends. Lucy.

Leo is constantly making sure everyone around him is okay…but no one is really taking care of him.

Until Lucy.

And in return, Leo becomes Lucy’s biggest protector and her safe space. He wants to solve every problem she has, but he also learns when he needs to step back because Lucy’s autonomy is incredibly important to her. She doesn’t want to feel like she’s taking advantage of him, and she doesn’t want someone swooping in and controlling her life after she’s fought so hard to survive on her own.

That balance between them was probably one of my favorite parts of the book.

The way Lucy and Leo built their relationship around mutual respect, protection, safety, and trust was beautiful to watch. The lengths Leo went to protect Lucy made my heart happy, but so did watching Lucy repeatedly stand up for him - especially when it came to his father.

Because our golden retriever needed someone in his corner too. 🥹

I really enjoyed this not-so-typical hockey romance. There were so many little moments that made my heart smile - the Cheesecake Factory trips, their Christmas gift exchange, the way they slowly became each other’s person…

…and, obviously, Wally. 🐶❤️

Protect Wally at all costs.

Lucky Mother Pucker gave me friendship, found safety, healing, mutual caretaking, a hockey- playing golden retriever who just wants to take care of everybody, and two people finally finding someone who makes them feel safe enough to let their guard down.

Definitely a great read. ❤️🏒

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Leo and Lucy are extremely different but they are both fiercely loyal to the people that are important to them. Their first meeting was less than stellar and Lucy had every right to hate him. Leo was not at his best and he worked hard to show Lucy who he really was. Their friendship grew slowly and they showed up for each other.

Leo looked like he had it all. He came from a wealthy family and his father was a well known defenseman with the NHL. He was a great guy who was generous with his time and money. He treated everyone with kindness and consideration. Though he did get into a mood after every interaction with his father, he wasn’t at his best then. He had a wonderful mother, and sister, but his father was toxic, toxic masculinity and downright mean. He was critical, and overbearing, with nothing but critism. When he should have been praised for being amazing, he was torn down after every game. Leo just accepted it abd tried to move on, not letting his father dictate his life or his style of play.

Lucy had an idealic childhood until losing both her oarents within a few years. Then her life fell apart, her stepfather stole her home, kicked her and her dog out with nothing but the clothes on her back. She was forced to live in her car, trying desperately to earn enough money to give herself a home. She lost everything including her dream of going to college. A series of misfortunes led her to losing another job due to harsh words. Though it did push her into Leo's orbit. That was the beginning of her reversal of fortune.

Leo offered Lucy a hand up after being the reason she was knocked down again. He needed to make things right. After learning about her struggles, he was determined to help her. He brought her home and gave her a safe place to stay. He introduced her to his friends and they enveloped her into their group. After she started to feel less alone she started being there for Leo as well. She was there when he needed to breathe, when things got too intense, or when he needed a distraction and a way out. As they grew closer as friends, they liked each other more. They were both scared of losing the friendship between them but it was getting hard to deny that they wanted more. When they finally stopped fighting the attraction, their chemistry was life changing. They both knew that they were moving fast but when you know that its right, then living each day together is better than apart. They faced some hurdles but they stood beside each other and defended each other. They had each other's back without expecting anything in return.

I will admit that I hated Leo's dad but seeing him broken due to his actions and his own selfish decisions was nice. Sometimes you don't get a second chance to make things right. Leo's sister deserves some happiness after what she went through. She's lucky to have Leo in her corner. I loved seeing the previous Hollis U couples and how their relationships have progressed.

I loved Lucy and Leo! I was laughing and crying throughout the book. These two have experienced so much more than anyone should have in their early twenties but they are stronger because of those challenges. Hopefully they can use what faced to help those who need it in the future. Sometimes just being there for someone can make their life so much better.

Thank you Sarah Smith and the Smuthood for the ARC and the opportunity to review this wonderful book!

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

*I received this book as an E-ARC from The Smuthood to provide an honest review.*

Lucky Mother Pucker is the fourth book in the Hollis U series which is an interconnected standalone series. I was very worried before I started this book because I am the type of person who likes to read books in order they were released so I can fully understand the development of the characters. Though after reading, I do not feel that you need to read this series in order, though I do feel like you would get to know the other couples in this book a bit better, if you did. In this book, you meet Lucy and Leo, two people who could not be more different, but also could not be more perfect together.

Lucy is a girl who has had a rough couple of years. She has lost both of her parents, become solely dependent on herself and has had her dog taken away from her. Lucy has a really hard time trusting anyone after what she has gone through. Though throughout the book you see Lucy get more trusting and start to slowly rely on people other than herself. Her growth throughout this whole book was tremendous, I feel like the more you went through her life and relationship with Leo in the picture she becomes more protective and open with others. Lucy loves deeply, for instance her Bloodhound mix, Wally she loves so deeply that she rescues him from the pound not once but twice, and she will do anything for him to be happy and healthy. Reading about him being in the shelter made me tear up a little bit because all I could think about was my dog and what I would do if this was her in that instance. Wally is such a pivotal character in this book because he becomes a major step in why Leo and Lucy are together.

Leo is a guy that is trying to do his best to take care of everyone while also trying to take care of himself. There is a lot of pressure that is on Leo from his father and the fact that his father thinks that criticism is the way to make his son better and prepare him for the NFL. When Leo meets Lucy he is not having a good day, which in the end makes Lucy’s day worse than it was already going. Throughout the book you see Leo do everything he can to help Lucy and make up for the fact that he got her in trouble and fired the first time he met her. Once Leo met Wally, he was sold on needing to bring the dog home with him and make him apart of his family. Leo has a great support system around him that really comes through when he needs it most, but this support system also became a major help to Lucy and gave her people to lean on. When Lucy and Leo finally decide to cross from friends into a relationship it’s a beautiful thing to see how they grow together and just become an amazing protection and support system for each other.

I highly recommend that you read this book. This book has so much yearning, growth, and a man that loves to do anything to please his women. This book has a good amount of spice for the slow burn of this book. If you like hockey, slow burn romances and yearning, while also being on an emotional rollercoaster this book is definitely for you!

[Jessie The Great · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cue the vuvuzelas - we have a #brokenboy, well sort of, he definitely has daddy issues. One of my biggest complaints from this series has always been that the dialog felt a little off and unnatural whereas the Denver Bashers series seemed so clean. This book takes that complaint away. The conversations felt so much more natural in this one. The characters seemed comfortable in themselves, regardless of their life situations. We meet our main characters at a coffee shop where Leo is finishing another round of verbal abuse from his father about his performance on the ice - while Lucy is barely making ends meet as a barista - causing the unfortunate result of her employment or lack thereof. It was more of a meet oops than a meet cute.

Leo finds out quick that his words have consequences, and unfortunately Lucy feels those consequences and is immediately back out in the world looking for a job - to find herself at the Mile High Diner where the boys like to hang out. Slowly but surely Leo earns her trust (with money, he has lots of it) and gets in her good graces. He moves her into her house, gets her an address so she can get her dog back, and chips away at her walls built to protect herself after a rough go that she's had since her parents passed. They become friends and fight the "ruin the friendship" issue for the first few weeks. Look, I get it, but they didn't have history - just have fun girl. Use that boy, you know you both want it. Finally they make their minds up and proceed. It took longer than I'd like, because yearning gets on my nerves - and there was mutual yearning.

Finally, there is no third act break up, there is conflict in the end that - as a past collegiate athlete - had me wanting to throw my kindle. There is no way ANY of these guys would have been allowed to play after all their scandals. Well at least Leo and Blake. I had to remind myself it's fiction and she mentioned she had to make things work for the story, but it threw me out of it. But that's just me, most people would be able to look past it. All that being said, I wouldn't want it to end any other way and at the same time would hate to be the coach of this hockey team - even though it seems like he's gonna bring his own scandal to the table 👀👀👀.

Definitely read this, I enjoy these stories even with breaks from reality. They're fun and have the right amount of spice and dirty talk. I loved Lucy in this, she was so strong to be where she was and survive and in the end, Leo ends up getting the relationship that he needs from his father. Enjoy!

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

I received an ARC from the TheSmuthood. The opinions I have about it are my own.

[Melanie Gates · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another story from Sarah, another stellar read.

Leo and Lucy are polar opposites and their friendship blossoms after a rude encounter at a coffee shop ends up with Leo being the reason Lucy was fired.

Lucy is a strong young woman who's been handed a rough time in life after her dad passed away and her mom's deep depression. After her mom rebounded, she fell in love with a guy who was legitimately the worst... and then her mom died. Leaving her alone. You'd think she'd have her stepdad, but no, he kicked her out, got rid of her dog and went on living his life. Even though she was dealt a rough life, she kept positivity with her as best she could. She stayed in touch with her dog at the pound and was determined to get a place so she could get him again. But she got fired. After another chance encounter at the local diner where Lucy was applying for a job, Leo learns what he did (got her fired) and is determined to fix it.

Leo is a hockey star at Hollis U, looking to cement his legacy on his own and not at the hands of leaning on his dad's stardom. After he learns what has happened to Lucy... he sets out to make things better. He gets her car out of the tow lot, gets her moved into his place whlie she gets back on her feet, takes care of her... does his best to be her friend. That's what she needs. She has no one else. He introduces her to his friend group and she's immediately welcomed by the girlfriends in the group. She's slowly finding herself while he's doing his best to make sure she's taken care of.

In the end... the forced proximity finds them in limbo of do we ruin the friendship or stick with what we know works? But let me tell you, Leo's filthy mouth would have just about any woman melting right in front of him. The spicy moments are spicy (chef's kiss) without being over-the-top.

And you know, I always have a soft spot for a pet involved in a story and I'm so glad Wally was able to go back to living with his momma (Lucy) and that he was welcomed as a part of the family just as Lucy was. It was so special. Not only did Leo take care of Lucy... he loved Wally too and we all want to swoon over a pet-loving book boyfriend!

A special thank you to Sarah Smith and The Smuthood for this ARC opportunity. I adored coming back to Hollis U and finding this cute family dynamic in this great group of friends again.

TL:DR
⭐️ 4.5/5
🏒 Hockey romance
🎓 College setting
😏 Opposites attract
🫂 Found family
🛏️ One bed
🏠 Roommates to lovers
🩷 Struggling but determined FMC
🫶 Acts of service MMC
🐶 One adorable puppy
🐻 He's protective of his sister
🥵 He talks her through it, and watches
❤️‍🔥 Slow burn and worth it
😮‍💨 Toys are teammates
🌶️ 3/5

[Magalie Bonneau · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of all, thank you the Smuthood and Sarah Smith for the ARC.

Main tropes
College Hockey player
Struggling FMC
Forced proximity
adorable puppy
No third act breakup

Lucy is our FMC and she’s dealing with really heavy stuff. Then comes in our MMC Leo. Leo was having a bad day and due to a comment, he gets Lucy in trouble and our story starts there.

This story was very sweet and while not perfect, was perfectly entertaining.

************Opinions and spoilers**************
My highs
1. Wally. He’s the goodest boi and deserves everything.
2. Love me an attentive king and Leo is that. From helping her out, to being mindful and apologizing when he was wrong, to all the little things he did for her. Special mention for the finding Lucy’s family thing.
3. Loved the found family and strong support system they have with their friends.

My lows I can’t give 5 stars for the little consistencies that don’t add up or make sense to me.
1. The first time they get together is the night after being so drunk on Halloween that Lucy was about to fall asleep standing and you tell me you just woke up, no teeth brushing, no hungover, just straight to sex? Yeahhhh right. This may be fiction, but even that’s a stretch. (I do love that Leo checked in with Lucy regularly. We love a consent king!)
2. There are a lot of repetitive things. From repeating how one is generous and amazing and blablabla but more than that, the “I can’t chose between cheesecake” so Leo buys both, it happened a few times in the book so it make the other times lackluster. And the birthday celebrations, we get it, you love cheesecake factory.
3. I’m not sure how to feel about the « we’re friends who pushes each other’s buttons and flirt because we’re insanely attracted to one another but we’re not going to act on it because we don’t want to ruin our friendship » kind situation. To me it was reading immature which, I guess for college kids, adds up.
4. I know It’s small but at thanksgiving Leo said they’re not bringing anything because his mom hired catering yet when they arrive, Lucy almost gets recruited to go help make pies with Leo’s mom and later after lunch, she compliments the stuffing and her cooking which apparently she did.
5. My biggest thing was the way it unraveled with Leo’s dad. You can’t expect Leo’s dad who’s been nothing but a dick for years to have a change of heart and life after one conversation. Grovel you piece of shit.
6. Not the biggest fan of Zoey (Leo’s sister) either. I really didn’t care about her monologue at the beginning warning Leo about not jumping into a relationship with Lucy and being unsupportive.

[Alyssa's Bookshelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

⚠️ WARNING: CONTAINS SPOILERS

5 ⭐️ Read

Quick Summary I was so excited to dive into this ARC because I love a forced-proximity sports romance, and Leo and Lucy’s emotional journey completely delivered. I literally could not put this book down because I was so desperate to find out what happened next!

What I Liked

➖ Leo's Amazing Mom & Sister: I truly loved Leo’s mother and sister! They were incredibly supportive of Leo, and I loved how deeply they loved Lucy and welcomed her into their lives. Their warmth added such a beautiful layer to the story.

➖ The Heartwarming Found Family: My heart ached so much for Lucy over the loss of her parents. It made it incredibly moving to watch her find some of her biological family, while also completely becoming a part of Leo’s family and his amazing friend group.

➖ The Incredible Support System: I absolutely loved Leo’s roommates, teammates, and their girlfriends! The way they immediately welcomed Lucy, became fantastic friends to her, and fiercely supported both Leo and Lucy throughout the entire book was so heartwarming.

➖ The Beautiful Progression: I loved how Leo didn’t even know Lucy at first, but he made the effort to truly get to know her and step up to help her out when she needed it most.

➖ The Friends-to-Lovers Romance: Their chemistry was incredible. It was so compelling how they initially hesitated because they didn't want to mess up their building friendship, and I was so incredibly happy when they finally took that leap to be together.

➖ The Emotional Depth & Family Drama: My heart broke for everything they went through. I detested Lucy’s stepfather and Leo’s father for how they treated them, which made it so satisfying and healing when Leo’s dad wanted to make amends with Leo, his mother, his sister, and Lucy at the end.

➖ The Characters & Chemistry: Leo is the ultimate green-flag book boyfriend—I absolutely loved how deeply he loved and wanted to protect the people he cared for. Lucy’s fierce independence and sarcasm made them the perfect match. Plus, I absolutely loved her dog, Wally, throughout the entire book!

What Didn’t Work for Me (If Anything)

➖ The Sister's Boyfriend: I really disliked Leo’s sister’s boyfriend and absolutely hated how he treated her throughout the story.

Who I’d Recommend It To

I’d recommend this to fans of Elsie Silver or Liz Tomforde, especially readers who love unputdownable strangers-to-friends-to-lovers hockey romance, top-tier found family healing arcs, and heavily emotional stories with family redemption.

Thank you to Sarah Smith and The Smuthood for providing an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Principesa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lucky Mother Pucker is the 4th book in the Hollis U Hockey Series, and happily, the author has one more book coming because I’m just not ready for this series to be over. This one is a slow burn, enemies-to-roommates-to-lovers, found family story that focuses on the 4th hockey-playing roommate, Leo Peretti.

Leo is basically a living, breathing green flag. Seriously. In my head, I kept picturing that guy from the internet running around waving a giant green flag every time Leo did something sweet. He’s kind, protective, puts everyone else first, and has been raised under the constant pressure of a hypercritical father to always be his best. And yet somehow—somehow? Nah, thanks to the influence of his mom, Cora and sister, Zoey!—he comes out of all of that as an actual GOOD HUMAN. Imagine that.

Lucy has had a seriously rough life. She’s lost both of her parents and gets kicked out of her parents’ house by her alcoholic stepfather. At 21, she has already survived more than anyone should have to, and she’s tough as nails because she’s had no other choice. She’s built enough walls around herself to keep out pretty much everyone.

Enter Leo.

Their relationship starts out…well…pretty badly. Leo gets Lucy fired from her job, so that’s one way to make an impression on a woman. Smooth, Leo. But after a few more rocky interactions, the ice starts to melt. Lucy begins to see the good guy underneath all hockey-boy persona, and those walls slowly start coming down.

Then Leo finds out she’s living in her car while working at the diner he and his friends frequent AND at a strip club, and apparently his solution is, “Cool. You’ll live with us now.”

And with a little convincing, Lucy moves in with Leo, Nick, Travis, and Blake until she can save up enough money to get her own place. Oh, and because apparently Leo hasn’t done enough green-flagging yet, he gets her good boi, Wally (the true star of the book, fight me!!) out of the shelter AND gets her a job with the hockey team, too. I mean…Could there BE a better book boyfriend?

This book seemed to closely (maybe a little too closely?) mimic Blake and Briar’s story (without the since-childhood history), but it doesn’t matter. Sarah Smith develops her characters so well, I would read 300 pages of them working on a jigsaw puzzle together and still eat it up!

I’m going to be seriously sad when this series ends. Thankfully, there’s one more book coming, so for now, I’ll be over here enjoying my Hollis U Hockey boys and pretending the series finale isn’t coming.

[Shreya Shrestha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hello my delulu bookworms 🖤

ARC Review:

Leo
He plays defenseman as a hockey player. He lives with his teammates in the house he got from his grandfather. He has a huge build but he is actually a sweetheart a walking green forest🌳💚 He can't turn a blind eye when something unjust is happening to others. No matter if it's a friend or a stranger, he is always ready to help. That's how he met Lucy and offered to help her by letting her stay at his house as a roommate.

Lucy
She is an orphan despite having a stepdad. She is hardworking, fiery, and an overthinker. She lives in her car because of her stepdad and works as many jobs as she can because she wants to get an apartment so she can quickly get her dog Wally out of the shelter and take him home with her. But she gets fired from her job because of Leo and while searching for another job she meets Leo by coincidence and he offers to help her in whichever way possible.

At first there was a lot of banter between them because Lucy thought Leo was just trying to show off his money or make himself feel superior to her. But slowly she realizes that he is actually a sweetheart. She starts to break down the walls she had built to protect herself from people while living with Leo.Whenever there was a problem they were going through or something about their feelings they actually communicated with each other properly. Of course it took time for them to confront their feelings but there was never any massive misunderstanding between them.Leo did everything he could to help Lucy literally everything she needed help with. And Lucy became a support system for him too. She was there for him whenever he needed a break from his asshole father.

It was so smooth sailing that I kept waiting for something to go horribly wrong between them😂 But these two sweethearts communicated so well with each other and actually understood what the other person was feeling in different situations. They were perfect together🥹❤️

If you're looking for a story that isn't fast-paced, feels smooth sailing while reading, has no unnecessary misunderstandings between the main leads and for a change actually has two people who communicate well with each other then this book is for you. You'll love them🖤

[Lindsey Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️️⭐️/ ️🌶️🌶️🌶️

The Hollis U series has been jammed packed with romance, tension, and laughter. Each story proves the talent that Sarah Smith holds to write characters that feel real and resonate with her readers. Lucky Mother Pucker is book 4 in this series and brings together two MCs that are complete opposites. Both determined, each is dealing with their own struggles, so their first meeting isn’t cute, but stressed. While maybe not a theme Sarah was going for, I did appreciate the nod towards your actions that can cause consequences for other people.

We meet Leo in the midst of a heated conversation with his father. Their relationship has been fragile for some time, with constant pressure on Leo and his hockey performance, his anger gets the best of him today. Rather than letting his father know how he really feels, his frustration is taken out on the barista, Lucy. Getting her fired wasn’t his plan and now he feels terrible. Offering her a place to stay, these two fall into an easy friendship, which begins to grow into something more. As the yearning grows, the feelings deepen, and the heat becomes irresistible.

These two are pure perfection together. Leo and Lucy compliment each other, while still challenging each other. Lucy has felt alone for so long, so it’s understandable her hesitancy in being slow to trust Leo. Thankfully Leo doesn’t shy away from hard work, especially when he knows the goal is worth it. Sarah does a fantastic job in balancing the romance with the perfect amount of drama. Leo’s dad is just not a good guy and when Leo finally expresses this, it is a beautiful moment.

Sarah has created a wonderful universe with Hollis U. The team is definitely made of some pretty special characters and with new additions to the series is just propelled forward. We have been promised at least one more, yet I could read a full roster of this series. I will always love the found family vibes that sport teams bring. The loyalty, love, and friendships that flow between this team is something I look forward to with every new book.

As always, review any author notes before reading.

What to Expect:
🏒Hockey Romance
☕Opposites Attract
🏒Roommates to Lovers
☕Guarded FMC
🏒Obsessed MMC
☕Only One Bed
🏒Touch Her and 💀

[Charlie Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lucky Mother Pucker by Sarah Smith
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Tropes Included: Roommates to Lovers, Opposites Attract, Slowburn, He’s Bossy in Bed, Dirty Talk, Touch Her & Die

This book was soooo well written. Giving both MC’s detailed and somewhat complex backstories, is sometimes a tricky task to get right, but I loved it. Leo’s kind nature and the people that lead him to be that way. His relationships with his family that meant the world to him - even when some may be rocky. And Lucy, the gorgeous woman who is used to relying on only herself.
This book was a slow burn, but believe me when I say, IT WAS WORTH THE WAIT! The spice levels of this book were incredible. The details and bossy nature of it, was incredibly well written in comparison to a lot of books I read these days that are all quite ‘vanilla’.
I also feel the need to point out that I had not heard of a hurricane shot, and I was very happy to experience that for the first time here.
From a hating to start, to a gentle nudge into friendship and then the boom that happened once things escalated was perfectly portioned within the book.
I loved the multiple issues they fought and overcome by leaning on each other and accepting the help the other was able to give.
One last thing that I think really stood out in this book is the group of characters - the friendship group. These people aren’t friends, they are found family. I think this was especially clear when looking into Lucy’s character. I love the interconnections and how every character still stands out in book 4 for their own merit.

The excerpt for Sweet Mother Pucker has me absolutely hooked already! I cannot wait to read it!

[Jaycee Chournos · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨ARC REVIEW✨

Leo & Lucy

🤍Friends to Lovers
🤍Hurt/ Comfort
🤍Touch Her & D*e
🤍Opposites Attract
🤍Slow Burn
🤍Only One Bed
🤍Hockey Romance

This book had me all up in the feels. I got teary eyed pretty much throughout this whole book. I loved it so much and I’m obsessed with Leo, Lucy & Wally. 🤍

Leo is the star Hockey Player for Hollis U who is NHL bound after graduation. Some would say that he’s never worked a day in his life thanks to the family he grew up with. When he gets the beautiful redhead fired because she made his drink wrong at cafe, she makes sure to tell Leo what a spoiled prick he is. Undeterred by wrath, when he finds out a little bit more about this little spitfire Lucy, he’s more determined than ever to help her out.

Lucy was dealt a shitty hand for the past few years. She’s doing everything she can to make her life better and losing that job sets her back. She’s down to her last dollar and living in her car. When Leo keeps showing up at the Diner she now works at, he’s determined to show her the way he acted at the Cafe isn’t him. He’d do anything to help her and fell safe. He offers for her to move in with him and make things right. The more time they spend together the more they feel their friendship expanding into the “More” territory. 🤍

I absolutely loved how protective Leo was of Lucy pretty much from the very beginning. He was so sweet, attentive and patient with her and it made me love him as a character. Ugh I love everything about this book, it was a great mix of heartbreak, comfort and spice.

Thank you Sarah Smith for letting me be apart of the ARC team! 🥰 I loved every minute of it!

[Carol Gaines · Rating 4 out of 5]

*4.5 stars*
Way to make me cry within the first few chapters.
Lucy and Leo’s first time meeting is not the best. It takes Lucy a while to warm up to Leo. She’s not used to people being nice and wanting to help without something in return. When you have people in your life who don’t treat you right and are always putting you down you start to doubt yourself and everyone around you.
This was a slow burn book. I like my spice but I also like a good story to go along with it and I think this book does just that. We get to see a friendship form between these two strangers who are complete opposites. We see how they open up to each other and share their past and doubts with one another. They become best friends before anything.
Leo is a sweet and caring man. When he loves and cares about you, he does anything to protect you.
Despite Lucy having a rough go at life, she doesn’t let that stop her. She works her ass off to support herself, she’s kind, sweet but also feisty, and is there for her friends.
I love when books have their characters have each others backs. Leo’s teammates will always be there for him and now Lucy too. And Leo and Lucy are so supportive of each other and would do anything in the world for the other.
I loved the ending with Leo and his dad. Glad Leo was able to hear some things he’s been wanting to hear from his father for so long. Was happy to see his dad start to make amends to his children, however I didn’t like that it took such a drastic event for him to realize just how much he’s screwed up.
Looking forward to reading Zoey’s(Leo’s big sister) book.

[Alayna Humphrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC review courtesy of The Smuthood!*
Book 4
This is my 3rd read of this series (Book #4 of the series) and again I love this storyline even more than the 2nd book!

There were so many small details woven throughout the overall plot, as well as characteristics of FMC Lucy & MMC Leo´s that I related to. Those aspects ranged from being lighthearted to much more emotional and deep situations.

From the jump, Leo gets a quick reminder that you never know what someone else is going through. By letting a frustrating conversation with his hypercritical dad get to him, he let a slight spoilt milk issue at the coffee shop be the reason to rage, and in turn was the final strike for Lucy to be fired from a job she desperately needed. unbeknowst to Leo, Lucy has been dealt such a devastating hand in life. Her inner strength & resilience has no bounds, and she had me in tears many chapters learning what she's lost, as well as endured.

Key parts of the book that now hold a special placei in my heart! Lucy's favorite restaurant being The Cheesecake Factory, and the nostalgic reason why. HER DOG WALLY, oh my goshhhhh I tear up just thinking about him. DO NOT WORRY, WALLY IS HAPPY & HEALTHY. And the one part that really resonated with me, was the conversation between Leo & his father towards the end about his grandfather and the differing of relationship dynamics.

There are so many raw, real moments in this book, but there are just as many wonderful and hopeful moments that happen intertwined beautifully. The love & adoration from Leo is one of such ¨I want to give this woman everything in the world and more¨.

[Ems · Rating 4 out of 5]

After a shitty discussion and a shitty coffee with his dad, Leo accidentally gets a barista fired, and now he feels guilty and wants to make up for it. He needs to make up for it.

Lucy's luck has really been down the last couple of years, on her own, no money, no home, and now she is out of a job too. The customer who got her fired now wants her to move in with him until she can afford something on her own. What does she has to loose?

I give this book 4 out of 5 stars because well, the father actually, i would have liked to keep him a little tougher/harder towards the end though. Otherwise this is such a heart-warming book🩷 i really like that the book starts out as two different stories, from two different perspective and that they mend to one. The "must hide my feelings" the both MCs have, i so enjoyed reading and their naughty thoughts about the other person and then reprimand themselves for the thoughts since they are just friends. Its cute, fun and adorable. And oh my god, Leo! Such a kind, gentle, giving and supportive human being! And the more fun it was to see he could be bossy and dominant😉

My heart bled for Lucy, she's been through so much at such a young age and she was still so filled with joy, i loved seeing her grow more into herself, being able to dare open up after all the crap she had been handed, it was heartening🥹

If you are into romcom with a strangers turning roomies turning lovers with a bit of chaotic teammates, a cute dog, a asshole boyfriend and asshole step dad, this is the book for you!

But i can recommend this book to anyone who enjoys romantic comedies, and two people moving in trying to hold back their attraction.

[Nicoletta Tompros · Rating 5 out of 5]

LUCKY MOTHER PUCKER… LEO?! The ACTS OF SERVICE from this man?! I WAS DONE. 😭🏒❤️‍🔥 My heart absolutely BROKE for Lucy. 🥹 After everything she’s been through and the way people have treated her, I just wanted this girl to finally have someone show her what she actually deserves. And then along comes LEO. 😭

Lucy is blunt, independent, works at a strip club, and has absolutely NO problem saying exactly what’s on her mind which made her dynamic with Leo SO freaking good. 😂 He comes into her life like an absolute force of nature, accidentally gets her FIRED from her job, and then basically decides, “Okay, I’m taking care of you now.”

And THE ACTS OF SERVICE?! This man...
Gets her dog from the shelter. 🥹
Gets her car out of the tow yard.
Gets her a new job.
Breaks a guy’s hand for touching her. 👀
Stands up to his own dad for her.
Remembers her favorite flavors.
Celebrates every single one of her wins. Leo didn't just tell Lucy he cared about her he showed her over and over and OVER again. And you guys KNOW an acts-of-service MMC will get me every damn time. 😭

🏒 Roommates to Lovers
❤️‍🔥 Opposites Attract
🏒 Slow Burn
❤️‍🔥 Found Family
🏒 Acts of Service
❤️‍🔥 Protective MMC
🏒 He Loves to Spoil Her
❤️‍🔥 “Touch Her & Die”
🏒 Dirty Talk + “Good Girl”
❤️‍🔥 NO Third-Act Breakup!

Leo and Lucy completely stole my heart, and September 14 cannot come fast enough because you NEED this one on your TBR. 🏒❤️‍🔥

[Emmy Wong · Rating 5 out of 5]

The cutest book I’ve read in a while! I love all the books in this series and this one was no exception. Sarah Smith really knows how to put literally EVERYTHING in a book and balance it all perfectly. There’s an emotional romantic plot and situational plot that is engaged throughout the whole book without one being overshadowed. And there’s this balanced of humour, angst, and romance that had me begging for more. From the start this book was hilarious but also incredibly heartbreaking. I love seeing a woman yell at a man but it was sad that it’s because all her life she’s learned to just not trust anyone. While Leo may have greatly screwed up int he start by getting her fired he genuinely is the sweetest guy and will move heaven and earth for Lucy. Despite growing up in totally opposing environments they fit together so well, and their chemistry had me swooning so hard. Leo is also a major gentleman, he is a consent king, never pressures her, and will plan the most extravagant dates ever. But he is not so gentlemanly when it’s spicy time and he becomes a bossy sorta dom… I really loved everything about this book but I would say it didn’t stand out as much as some of the other books in this series. Don’t get me wrong I am obsessed with this like i was crying when it ended and just wanted more. But on a happier note, Zoey and the new coach are getting the next book and I am hella excited! I can’t wait for the final book in this series and give its penultimate book a 5/5

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sarah Smith is one of my hockey romance queens, if she writes it, I read it, that's it.
This book tells the story of Leo and Lucy and I think is my favourite. Leo is like royalty in the hockey world, his father was a pro hockey player and is one of the best defends in the country and has been selected to play pro after college. But not everything is gold, because his hypercritical father is going off after on him after every game, never with gentle words and proud.
Lucy, I think is one of the best written characters Sarah’s made. Saying she has been through a rough couple of years is an understatement. She’s been living in her car. So the “meet cute” of them both is, complicated.
But despite those beggings, a friendship flourishes between them, full of respect and kindness. Because Leo has a heart made of gold and Lucy a beautiful soul despite everything she’s suffered.
I won’t spoil anything, because every paragraph is worthy.

Tropes you can find in this book.
- unknown to Friends to lovers.
- ⁠Loss of parents
- Collegue romance
- Hockey romances
- ⁠homelessness
- NO 3rd act break Up
- Dual 1st person POV
- Found family

This book is clearly an open-door book, and, as always with a Sara Smith book, those scenes are great, lots a feelings, and lust...Cheff's kiss.
I always have a soft spot for dirty talk!!

My ratings:
5/5⭐
2/5🌶️

I’ve received this book as an ARC and I’d like to thank the author, Sara Smith for letting me read this book in advance and allow me to give my honest opinion.

[Kari Tidwell (karisbookstodevour) · Rating 5 out of 5]

All. The. Feels!! And tears, there were tears. I literally cannot explain to you how much I love this read, how much I wanted to reach into this book and give Lucy a big squeeze because this girl has been through it, and my heart is officially off the market for at least three business days (I’d say forever but I’d be lying, and who knows what delicious MMC Sarah Smith will concoct for us next) because Leo Peretti owns it completely. Like every single beat. This is tasty tropes, a walking green flag MMC, an FMC that will wreck you as she smiles through the pain, complicated and sad families, ride or die friends, and absolutely divine spice, and it is so freaking fantastic!
Hollis U has been an incredible series, I think I’ve said this is my favorite every single time one is released and guess what, I’m doing it again. I love, love, love this story, I am completely gone for the characters, I love the plot, and I am so down for the way Lucy and Leo stand up for each other. I feel like the feels hit harder if you go in blind so I’m not going to say more, I’m just going to say I promise you will fall in love with Leo because the man is everything all wrapped up in even more everything and the stand up completely amazing green flag MMC you need in your life and Lucy will be your favorite feisty redhead with a heart of gold who can lay into a man like nobody’s business and will tug on every one of your heart strings.

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️4

Thank you to Smuthood PR and the author for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I have been a fan of this series ever since the first
book came out, and I have enjoyed every single book in this series. I’ve loved getting each of their stories, but Leo’s book was one that I had been waiting for, and I am so glad I got a chance to read it early.

I loved Leo and Lucy together. It was so cute how Leo was so protective and caring from the very beginning towards Lucy. He went out of his way to help her. I also loved Lucy because she has been through so much, and it was so comforting when she finally had someone to rely on, and she didn’t have to depend on everything by herself.

I also loved being back with the entire Hollis U friend group. I love seeing everyone again, and I generally don’t want to think about this series and being because I just love all of these characters.

I had a feeling that the next book was going to be about Zoey and Coach Tremblay, and the second I found out that their book is next, I was so excited. It has so many of my favorite tropes, so I already know that I’m going to enjoy this book so much it might become my new favorite.

Overall, I had such a great time with this book. I loved Lucy and Leo, and I am so excited for the next book in the series. If you enjoy opposites attract, slow burn, and roommates to lovers, you should definitely read this book.

[Clair Conlon · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5 ⭐️

Lucy is down on her luck and just cannot catch a break. But when she gets fired from her job because of a customer complaint? That’s the last straw. She has to find a new job to make money quick so she can finally get her own place.

Leo hates meeting with his dad to hear his lectures about how he could have played better in his game. His bad mood is amplified when he ends up drinking coffee that has spoiled milk in it. Once he realizes his complaint to the manager gets the employee in trouble, he starts to feel kind of bad but has other things to deal with before he can try to make it right.

Lucy and Leo meet again when Lucy ends up being his waitress at his favorite diner. Lucy’s sharp words make Leo quickly realize that he’s the reason for her new job. Will the two of them stop bickering long enough for Lucy to finally make enough money for her own place?


I loved Lucy and Leo! Leo’s kindness and big heart make him so lovable. Lucy’s firey spirit and determination are admirable. The two of them together was so good! I loved reading about their friendship growing and turning into more the more Lucy realized it was okay to trust Leo 💛

Tropes:
💛 Roommates to lovers
💛 Opposites attract
💛 Slowburn
💛 Only one bed
💛 He talks her through it
💛 He's bossy in bed
💛 Dirty talk
💛 "Good girl"
💛 "Touch her and die"
💛 No 3rd act breakup

[Megs · Rating 5 out of 5]

🌸🏒ARC Review🏒🌸
Lucky Mother Pucker

Thank you Sarah Smith and The Smutthood for this ARC of Lucky Mother Pucker, this was full of bad circumstances, luck, and love 🫶

The way my heart broke for Lucy and the way I’m down bad for Leo are both sides of the same coin. Lucy and her story stole my heart and Leo was the glue that mended it!

It might not have seemed like luck at the time, but the moment that Leo “accidentally“ got Lucy fired would end up being the luckiest moment of her life. That moment set off a chain of events that NEVER would have happened if she never would have been fired.

Leo and Lucy (Wally too) were destined to fall so deeply in love, the fact that they came from different worlds was both everything and nothing at the same time. The way Leo loves Lucy is the catalyst to their story. When something happens and Lucy stands with him showed just how pure their love for each other was 🫶

The burn was slowwwwww but I was craving their attention and attraction to one another, it was just a matter of time…

My brain put the pieces together for the couple for Book 5 at 86% it just clicked and when I saw who the next couple was I definitely was like, yesssssssss‼️

Tropes:
🩷Roommates to lovers
🏒Opposites attract
🩷Slowburn
🏒Only one bed
🩷He talks her through it
🏒He’s bossy in bed
🩷Dirty talk
🏒“Good girl”
🩷“Touch her and die”
🏒No 3rd act breakup

[Destiny Parrish · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨ARC Review ✨

Thank you to Smuthood and Sarah Smith for the opportunity to ARC read book 4 of the Hollis U series, Lucky Mother Pucker.

This has been one of my favorite series to read and I swear the books keep getting better and better. Leo is boyfriend goals, and has the biggest heart. The way he does things for his family, friends and strangers just because with no questions asked is what makes his heart of gold even more lovable.

Lucy has had a rough go at life and gets fired from her job, by a boss who is a complete dick. Trying to find her footing again, she takes on multiple jobs and is doing everything she can to get her puppy back from the shelter. She’s never had anyone show up for her in a genuine way and she doesn’t know how to take Leo and all his kindness without feeling like he is going to take advantage of her.

Leo is my absolute favorite from this series. And whew who knew this golden retriever would have a spicy side to him like that. The way he shows up for Lucy, and makes sure she knows she’s important will make you tear up. Especially when he thinks no one will show up for him with his dad treating him like trash.

The spicy scenes, the yearning and that f*ck it moment, makes this one of the hands down best books. I couldn’t put it down and finished it in less than 24 hours.

[Katey Olson · Rating 5 out of 5]

-Roommates to Lovers
-Only One Bed
-Opposites Attract
-Slow Burn
-No Third Act Breakup

Okay, so I didn’t think Sarah’s books could get better, then she wrote this one. The caregiving in this book, chefs kiss. The chemistry and connection of these two, perfection! I love the found family aspect of this book. Leo’s roommates took Lucy in and treated her like she was one of them. Also the need to protect Lucy, was to die for.

Lucy is going through the biggest rough patch that no one should ever have to endure. She looses her parents and her step dad kicks her out. She is now living in her car with no family. Lucy is the sweetest, bravest, most resilient girl I have ever read. She does not accept help, she is extremely independent, but sometimes someone comes into your life and flips it completely upside down.

Leo is everything I would want in a man. He is loyal, protective, caring, and will do anything for anyone. His father is not very nice to him, he is emotional abusive and Leo does not stick up for himself like he should. Leo feels responsible for Lucy loosing her job and he will stop at nothing to ensure she has a bright future. But will he be able to keep his emotions in check to help his new friend or will he fall for her and have an amazing future with her ?

Thank you to the author and agency for allowing me to read this advanced readers copy! I absolutely loved this book!!