Zero Pucks Given

Michigan Ice Wolves #2

by Sara Ney

He might be tall, brooding and handsome - and he might be my best friend’s brother. But Declan Kennedy has been my nemesis ever since he stood me up for the homecoming dance in high school. And I’ve been waiting eight years for revenge…

His hockey team’s charity auction is the perfect opportunity. He’s the hottest item up for bid, and I’m going to win. It’s payback time: I’m taking him on a Hate Date weekend away. If it makes him furious? Perfect.

What’s the worst that could happen? I’ve got zero pucks left to give.

But when I wave the winning paddle in the air and Declan catches my eye, heat creeps up my neck. I have a feeling I’m about to find out just how thin the line between hate and lust really is…

Genres: Enemies To Lovers, Romance, Sports Romance, Hockey, Second Chance, Hockey Romance

319 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication November 23, 2026

About the author

Sara Ney is an Amazon and USA Today bestselling author of new adult college and adult romance. Sexy and laugh-out-loud funny, her work includes the How to Date a Douchebag and Campus Legends series. Ney’s books have been translated into several languages for markets such as Germany, Italy, Brazil, French, and Portuguese.

Sara lives with her partner, Jeff, in a blended household overrun by four independent teenagers. At their weekly “Cute Date Night,” they discuss TV shows they’re bingeing and plot novels together, something Jeff is freakishly good at. Sara loves traveling, because it’s the only time she has the bathroom to herself.

Reviews

[bookishWife · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is definitely an improvement from the previous one, but it’s still not the best. The MCs are still pretty unlikeable, but the banter and humor worked much better for me this time. The funny moments were enough to keep me entertained and, more importantly, made me want to keep reading.

Declan is definitely not my favorite. The betrayal he committed is unforgivable to me, but at least he owned up to his mistake. That said, his reasoning was honestly so lame—basically one step above “it just happened.” I can see that there’s more to him than what he shows on the surface. He clearly has layers and isn’t just the horny guy who thinks about women’s pussies 24/7. But the problem is, I couldn’t quite reconcile those deeper layers with the persona he constantly puts out there.

He’s arrogant, full of himself, hot-headed, and just generally not someone I liked very much. At least, by the end, he does a decent job groveling, which helped a little.

As for Blaire, can you really fault her for lashing out? Yes, what she did was wrong and immature, but given the circumstances, I can understand where she was coming from. It’s very much a “fool me once, fool me twice” situation. I also didn’t fully understand their separation. They both made mistakes, so the whole thing felt a little weird and disproportionate to me.

Overall, this was an improvement from the previous book, especially when it comes to the banter and humor. The MCs still aren’t my favorites, but the story was entertaining enough to keep me reading.

I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Declan is a professional hockey player who auctions himself off at a charity gala. He’s made some mistakes in the past, and one of them was standing up Blaire at her own house on the night of their homecoming dance, so she’s hated him ever since. When she wins the auction and gets to spend a weekend with him, she has one goal in mind: revenge. But as she puts her plan into action, Blaire starts realizing that maybe she doesn’t know Declan as well as she thought she did.

At first, Declan comes across as a walking red flag with an ego the size of a hockey rink, but I actually really liked him. He’s genuinely funny, and Blaire is just as hilarious, so their banter was right up my alley. And once Blaire starts seeing who Declan really is, I liked them even more.
Also, that trip and the way Blaire’s revenge plan goes massively off the rails? So funny! I was having way too much fun seeing her fail at her own plan.

Whenever these two are together, there’s this fun, almost chaotic comedy vibe, but the tension underneath it all because of their chemistry? Loved it! Their dynamic was definitely one of my favorite things about the book. And once the trouble starts, you just want to keep turning the pages to see what’s going to happen with them. The ending was also ridiculously cute!

Overall, this was such a fun, cute, and spicy romcom with plenty of funny and sweet moments, great chemistry, and characters that completely pulled me in. I had such a good time with this one. Loved it!

[Simone | simonesbookshelf · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐ Rating: 3 Stars.

✨ The Vibe
A light and playful hockey romance with best friend's brother, enemies-to-lovers tension, a revenge-fueled “Hate Date,” plenty of attraction, and modern rom-com humor. Expect banter, charity-auction chaos, complicated history, and a thin line between hate and lust.

🫶 Who Will Love This?
If you enjoy hockey romance, best friend's brother, enemies-to-lovers, revenge dating, banter, and quick, entertaining reads, this could be a fun one!

🔥 Tropes & Elements
- Hockey romance
- Best friend's brother
- Enemies to lovers
- Revenge dating
- Second chances

💭 My Thoughts
This was a cute, easy-to-read hockey romance! Sara's writing is modern and fun, and the humor kept me entertained enough that I always wanted to keep reading.

Declan, however... is not my favorite. 🫪 His betrayal of Aaron was pretty unforgivable to me, although I will give him credit for owning up to it. What I struggled with was his reasoning because... there wasn't really much of one? I kept expecting some deeper explanation, but it felt a little weak.

He's arrogant, hot-headed, and very much a playboy, so I also didn't fully buy his sudden transition into "I'm ready for a serious relationship!" guy. I wanted more development there. And his obsession with Blaire's boobs? 😂 I love a man who adores his woman, but it honestly just reinforced my feeling that Declan could be pretty superficial.

I understood Blaire a lot more. Yes, she handled some things immaturely, but given the circumstances, I could understand why she lashed out. I didn't really think Declan's reaction was proportionate, and their separation didn't hit me emotionally.

Especially because they literally talked about how he didn't want someone who would walk away when things got difficult... ...and then that's exactly what he did. 😂 I did appreciate that he eventually realized he was wrong, though.

I think Blaire and Declan are cute together, and I enjoyed their chemistry, but I wanted more emotional depth and personal development from both of them. Still, I had fun! It was funny, quick, entertaining, and easy to read. Just not particularly memorable for me.

📢 Disclosure: Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for providing me with an ARC. As always, all thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.

[Megan]

Thank you to Bookouture for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for a honest review.

He might be tall, brooding and handsome - and he might be my best friend’s brother. But Declan Kennedy has been my nemesis ever since he stood me up for the homecoming dance in high school. And I’ve been waiting eight years for revenge… His hockey team’s charity auction is the perfect opportunity. He’s the hottest item up for bid, and I’m going to win. It’s payback time: I’m taking him on a Hate Date weekend away. If it makes him furious? Perfect. What’s the worst that could happen? I’ve got zero pucks left to give. But when I wave the winning paddle in the air and Declan catches my eye, heat creeps up my neck. I have a feeling I’m about to find out just how thin the line between hate and lust really is…

Nope, I can’t do it. I’ve had to stop at 20% and DNF this book. I cannot get past the inflated ego of this man and he is making me want to hit him - and I am not a violent person. The supposed banter between the two leads just comes off as childish, as if they’re in primary school arguing about something. I just found myself so turned off and cringing that I physically could not continue. The plot also felt too unrealistic as well - Blaire wins a date and yet it’s suddenly a whole weekend? That just doesn’t seem feasible to me.

Overall, Zero Pucks Given is a book I cannot vibe with in the slightest and would not recommend.

Thank you again to Bookouture for an advanced copy of this book.

[daria · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review of advance copy received from NetGalley.


3⭐️
I love sports romances, so I was really excited to read this book when I received it, even knowing I was going to read it as a standalone. I haven’t read the first book in the series, but that didn’t make it hard to follow, which I really appreciated.

My biggest issue was with Declan. I would’ve loved a good redemption arc for him but I feel like his was a bit too rushed. Honestly, I would’ve loved it if this book had been a bit longer because I think that most of the problems could’ve been resolved with slower, more developed pacing.

All in all, this book was really fun! It was cozy and entertaining enough to read in one sitting. The banter between Declan and Blaire was hilarious, and I really enjoyed it!!!

[Kim MH · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was such a struggle. These characters really pissed me off. If I hadn't gotten this as an ARC, I would have DNF'd it at 50%.

Blaire started strong. The podcast about red flags and not accepting guys treating you badly made her seem like a strong woman who doesn't let any guy mess with her. I also liked the idea of getting revenge on the guy who stood her up years ago. Even though it's a little childish, it seemed like a fun idea for this story.

The auction was confusing. She wins a date with him, but that somehow turns into a whole weekend getaway. Did the other guys also have to spend a weekend with the women who bought them?

During the weekend, Declan shows that he is charming and puts on the full-on show pony act. And Blaire falls hook, line, and sinker. Of course he is charming, but where is the depth to his character? I really missed a deeper conversation in which he apologizes for how he treated her, or just the development of their relationship. I did not like this MMC. He is very full of himself, and his character doesn't improve throughout the book.

I expected more from Blaire, but she just falls for his looks and popular-guy act.

There is a lot of objectification of the FMC's body, and he is creepy about it. He watches her shower even though he knows she still dislikes him, and that is somehow just okay?

By the end of the book, he somehow ends up the victim, and Blaire groveling to make it up to him really pissed me off. Yes, she reacted too quickly, but I get where she was coming from, and he should not have given her that much shit about it. I skimmed the last few chapters after he forgives her. The last big gesture he makes for her doesn't redeem him in my eyes.

Maybe I am too bitter for this story, but I don't recommend reading this.

[Caroll-Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

📖 Zero Pucks Given by Sara Ney

⭐️⭐️💫✨ 2,75 stars

I’ve been really into hockey romances lately, so when I saw this ARC available on NetGalley, I immediately had to request it. The premise sounded right up my alley: best friend’s brother, second chance, enemies-to-lovers, and a hockey player? Sign me up.

In Zero Pucks Given, Blaire has considered Declan her nemesis for the past eight years after he stood her up for homecoming back in high school. When his hockey team hosts a charity auction, Blaire sees the perfect opportunity for revenge and wins Declan as her “prize” for a Hate Date weekend. Of course, things quickly get a lot more complicated when the line between hate and attraction starts to blur.

Unfortunately, this one fell a little flat for me. I really struggled with Blaire’s hatred toward Declan because, honestly, the reason behind it felt pretty petty. Sure, what he did as a teenager wasn’t exactly nice, but considering she was still best friends with his sister, I kept wondering why she never simply talked to him about it. Especially since they presumably had plenty of opportunities over the years. Because of that, the enemies-to-lovers aspect didn’t really work for me.

The story itself was cute and I did enjoy reading it, but I constantly felt like something was missing. I also wanted more depth from the characters and, honestly, more hockey. I picked this up specifically because I’ve been craving hockey romances, but there just wasn’t quite enough of the hockey element for me.

It definitely wasn’t a bad book, I had a good time reading it, but I simply wanted more from the story and the characters.

[☆Laura☆]

Blaire nunca ha perdonado a Declan Kennedy, el hermano de su mejor amiga, por dejarla plantada la noche de su graduación. Han pasado los años, pero ella todavía recuerda perfectamente cómo se quedó esperándolo mientras él simplemente decidió irse a una cena con su equipo. Ahora él es un famoso jugador de hockey, exitoso, arrogante y ella sigue sin soportarlo.

Así que cuando tiene la oportunidad de vengarse, no piensa desperdiciarla. Durante una subasta benéfica, Blaire hace una oferta para ganar una cita con Declan, pero no porque de repente le interese salir con él. Su único objetivo es convertir esa cita en una pequeña dosis de venganza y hacer que él pague por haberla humillado años atrás.

Lo que ella no esperaba era que pasar tiempo con él pudiera resultar mucho más complicado de lo que imaginaba. Porque quizá odiarlo ya no sea tan sencillo cuando la persona que juró no soportar comienza a mostrarle un lado que nunca había conocido.

[Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for gifting me an eARC in exchange for a honest review.

If you love your romance heroes completely flustered and your heroines unapologetically petty, this is a must-read. It’s snappy, fast-paced, and has that signature Sara Ney humor where the characters spend half their time bickering and the other half trying not to rip each other's clothes off. The sexual tension builds up fast because of how much they get under each other's skin. Once the "hate" starts blurring into lust during their forced weekend getaway, the chemistry absolutely detonates.

Tropes
🏒 Sports Romance
🤬 Enemies-to-Lovers
🤫 Best Friend’s Brother
🚗 Forced Proximity

[Alyssa Lynn Brock · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for this E-ARC

This is book 2 in the Michigan Ice Wolves series.

I definitely read this book as a standalone and it was actually really good and spicy🌶️🌶️

There was definitely some tension in the beginning between Blaire and Declan but the ending you never see it coming.

Blaire and Declan definitely deserves each other!
They are definitely my favorite characters in the story.
If you love hockey romance this is a book for you!

[Josephine Larkspur · Rating 3.75 out of 5]

Declan's redemption arc was everything here. Blaire wins a date with him at a charity auction purely for revenge after being stood up years ago, and watching that plan unravel as she sees the man underneath the arrogant hockey star act was so satisfying.

The banter was brilliant, dry and sharp, exactly my kind of humour. My only gripe is the pacing, their actual relationship phase felt rushed compared to all the build up, and the epilogue had to work overtime to make up for it. Still a fun, easy read, and I'm keen to keep going with the series.

[Kirstie Pepper · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

This was a fun, entertaining, and ridiculously easy read! Sara Ney's writing is light and full of humour, making this the perfect book to fly through when you're in the mood for something uncomplicated and easy to take in. There were definitely moments that had me laughing out loud, and the banter between Blaire and Declan was easily one of my favourite parts.
The whole premise of Blaire winning Declan at a charity auction just so she could get revenge on him for standing her up at homecoming years ago? Petty and a little immature, yes but also hilarious. And watching her carefully planned revenge go spectacularly off the rails was even better. I loved how their weekend together slowly challenged everything Blaire thought she knew about him, and their chemistry made it so easy to keep turning the pages.
But now, let's talk about Declan. Because I have THOUGHTS. 🫠
Having read the previous book, I went into this one hoping for a redemption arc. Declan was essentially the villain of that story, Aaron wasn’t great either to be fair, but Declan definitely did worse, and considering he's now our MMC, I expected some genuine growth, accountability, and maybe a little grovelling towards his friend and his sister. You know, something to make me root for his happily ever after.
Unfortunately, I don't think we ever really got that.
Sleeping with your best friend's girlfriend is a pretty unforgivable betrayal in my eyes, and while Declan acknowledges that what he did was wrong, I never felt like he truly took responsibility for it. His reasoning was painfully weak, basically one step above "it just happened," and it felt like he was more interested in shifting some of the blame onto the ex than actually confronting his own choices. I just feel we needed a more in-depth look into why he did what he did. I feel like everyone let it slide to easily and while forgiveness is important so it rebuilding trust and accepting some accountability for your actions.
And that's what frustrated me the most. I wasn't expecting some elaborate justification because, frankly, there isn't one. But I was expecting remorse, reflection, and an actual conversation with the person he'd hurt. The fact that he later turns to that same person for relationship advice too without us seeing any sort of meaningful conversation or apology to him was a little wild to me.
It honestly felt like the perfect opportunity to give Declan some much-needed redemption, and instead, the whole thing was brushed aside. No real consequences, no satisfying accountability, nothing. Even one genuine conversation where he acknowledged the damage he'd caused would have made such a difference to how I viewed him.
And the frustrating thing is, I could see that there was more to Declan than his mistakes. He's funny, surprisingly sweet at times, and clearly has more depth than his arrogant, hot-headed, playboy exterior suggests. I didn't think he was a terrible person overall, and I genuinely enjoyed his dynamic with Blaire. But I struggled to reconcile that side of him with his past behaviour, especially when the emotional growth I was hoping for never quite materialised.
I also wasn't entirely convinced by his sudden transformation from commitment-phobic playboy to "I'm ready for a serious relationship" guy. I wanted to see more of that development rather than just being expected to accept it.
As for Blaire, I actually found her reactions a lot easier to understand. Was her behaviour immature? Absolutely. Did she handle everything perfectly? Not even close. But given the circumstances, I could understand why she lashed out. There's only so much someone can take before their insecurities and past experiences start influencing their decisions.
What I didn't really understand was their separation. They both made mistakes, but Declan's reaction felt a little disproportionate, especially considering his own history. The whole conflict seemed somewhat forced, almost as though we needed a third-act breakup just to set up his grand gesture. And because I wasn't entirely sold on the reasoning behind it, the separation didn't have the emotional impact I think it was supposed to.
Ultimately, I liked Blaire and Declan together more than I liked Declan on his own or even Blaire on her own. Their chemistry was great, their banter was hilarious, and there were some genuinely sweet moments between them. I just wish we'd gotten more emotional depth and character development, particularly when it came to Declan.
That said, I still had a really good time reading this! It's funny, flirty, fast-paced, and exactly the kind of light-hearted hockey romance you can devour in one sitting. Sara Ney's humour definitely worked for me, even if her MMC had me questioning my ability to forgive and forget. 😂
Did I enjoy it? Yes. Did Declan redeem himself in my eyes? Not quite but I did warm up to him a little. Would I still recommend it for a fun (and messy) but easy romance? Yes, despite my issues I still had fun with these books.

[LunafloritaReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Zero Pucks Given by Sara Key — ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5

SOOOOOOO GOOOOOD! This is the second book in the Michigan Ice Wolves series by Sara Key, and it absolutely did not disappoint!

While I really enjoyed the first book, this one completely knocked it out of the park for me. Give me a best friend’s brother + enemies-to-lovers + forced proximity romance any day of the week!

Blaire is best friends with Declan’s sister, Juliette. Declan, meanwhile, slept with Aaron’s ex-girlfriend, which is the drama that sets up the first book in the series. Since that story follows Aaron and Juliette, we get some of that background woven into this book as well.

Blaire has hated Declan ever since he stood her up for a school dance in high school. They’ve spent years basically annoying each other whenever they’re in the same room, so naturally, when Blaire gets the opportunity to get some payback for everything Declan has done, she takes it.

And how exactly does she get her revenge? By spending $15,000 at an auction to win a date with him. 😂

Her goal is simple: make Declan’s life miserable and torture him as much as possible. She plans an entire weekend of activities designed to annoy him, and, of course, they’re forced to spend all that time together. Cue the forced proximity!

SPOILERS BELOW 🚨

I am SO happy Declan got his redemption arc because swooooon. He turned into such a great book boyfriend!

I think one of the things that worked so well for them was their history. Throughout the book, we get glimpses of who Declan and Blaire were in high school and learn more about what happened the night he left her hanging. We also find out that they both had crushes on each other back then, which I LOVED. Honestly, I almost wish we had gotten even more of their high-school history because I think that would have added even more depth to their relationship.

The first 50% of the book is basically them both away for the weekend, and I actually really enjoyed that part. All of the activities they did together slowly brought them closer and allowed Blaire to see a completely different side of Declan — one we really didn’t get to see in the first book. I mean, the MAN can sing!!

And THAT is what made Declan such a great MMC for me. His playboy persona from the first book made me expect something completely different, but seeing how caring, thoughtful, and mature he was with Blaire was such a pleasant surprise. Also, the whole ghost situation was SOOOOO funny. 😂

I do think the romance moved pretty quickly, though. Their history definitely helps explain why they fall for each other so fast, but Declan’s change of heart felt a little rushed to me. At one point, he’s adamant that he doesn’t do relationships, doesn’t want to be tied down, and doesn’t see Blaire that way… and then suddenly he’s completely changed his mind. I understood why it happened, but I wish we had gotten a little more time seeing him work through those feelings.

The biggest thing they had to overcome was trust, which made so much sense given their history. When Blaire believed Declan was doing the same thing to her again, I honestly couldn’t blame her. He had stood her up before, so of course that wound was still there. That said, Blaire DEFINITELY should have communicated instead of jumping to conclusions.

I really loved the grand gestures Declan made toward the end of the book, though. It felt like they needed that moment to completely reset their relationship and start over with a clean slate. And when Declan said it needed to happen, I completely agreed. It gave them the opportunity to finally move past all of their history and build something based on trust.

Declan was honestly so caring and mature throughout their relationship, and I really loved seeing that side of him. Blaire was also independent and knew exactly what she wanted in a relationship, which I appreciated.

Overall, I really enjoyed this one! The banter, forced proximity, their history, the weekend together, and Declan’s redemption arc all worked so well for me. It was fun, sweet, and had me completely invested in these two.

I’m officially hooked on the Michigan Ice Wolves series! 🏒❤️

Thank you Sara Ney, NetGalley, and Bookouture for the e-ARC copy!

[Jaci Beccar · Rating 3 out of 5]

🏒 Zero Pucks Given by Sara Ney

Zero Pucks Given is book 2 in the Michigan Ice Wolves series, following Declan, a professional hockey player, and Blaire, who hosts a podcast about dating.

Declan is Blaire’s best friend’s older brother, and they’ve known each other since they were in school. Years ago, they were supposed to go to a school dance together… except Declan stood her up. Blaire has held onto that grudge ever since.

Fast-forward to the present: Blaire wins a date with Declan at a charity auction, with one goal in mind: to take him on a revenge date and make him as miserable as possible.

Of course, things don’t exactly go according to plan.

When the two of them end up thrown together and alone for a weekend, they’re forced to confront the feelings they’ve buried for years.

You’ll enjoy this if you like:
✨ Best friend’s older brother
✨ Forced proximity
✨ Only one bed
✨ Second chance
✨ Annoyance to lovers

💕 Things I liked

The book hooks you from the start. The premise is so much fun, and I immediately wanted to see how Blaire’s revenge date was going to play out.

Their dynamic. Their banter and constant annoyance with each other made them really entertaining to read.

The whole weekend trip was hilarious. Being stuck together and watching their relationship slowly shift was definitely one of my favorite parts.

I also really enjoyed Blaire’s podcast monologues. They gave us a fun glimpse into her thoughts and feelings, especially when she was trying to make sense of everything happening between them.

And I LOVE LOVE LOVE the ending. The way they get their own little do-over of their high school dance was absolutely perfect and probably my favorite part of the book.

🤍 The characters

Declan: At first… this man is a DOUCHE. 😂 He’s arrogant, and honestly, not in a particularly charming way. But somehow he really grew on me, and by the end I was completely sold on him. He ends up being the perfect golden retriever boyfriend, and I loved seeing that softer side of him.

Blaire: I had a harder time figuring her out. She sometimes felt really sassy and outspoken, while at other times she seemed much more introverted, and I struggled to reconcile those different sides of her.

There were also a few moments where I found her characterization a little inconsistent. For example, she describes herself as an overthinker but also says she isn’t a planner, which didn’t quite make sense to me because those traits often seem to go hand in hand. Later, she says she wouldn’t enjoy going on a trip without knowing what was going to happen… while she has literally planned an entire trip for Declan.

It didn’t ruin the story for me, but I did find myself noticing it.

💔 The third-act breakup

I actually think the breakup was necessary for the story, but the way it happened felt a little forced. Blaire massively overreacts, although I appreciated that she eventually recognizes this herself.

And I really loved how she processes everything through her podcast afterward. That was probably my favorite part of the conflict because it felt like we finally got to see her being completely honest about her feelings.

One other small thing that bothered me was the whole “like vs. love” situation. Their friends tease them early on about Blaire still carrying a torch for Declan, but throughout the book they throw around the words like and love so much without ever seeming to settle on which one actually describes their feelings. And I think that’s an important distinction, they are not interchangeable.

Despite the hockey-player mmc, I wouldn’t really call this a sports romance.

From the title and cover, I assumed hockey would play a much bigger role, but apart from Declan being a professional hockey player and them going to a game towards the end, it’s barely part of the story.

That’s not necessarily a bad thing if you’re looking for a romance that happens to feature a hockey player, just something to keep in mind if you’re specifically picking this up for the sports-romance aspect.

And finally… LET’S THANK STORM.

Garret Storm is the best.

I really hope the ending is setting us up for his story because I would LOVE to see where that goes.

I’m also really enjoying watching all these characters and relationships develop throughout the series. The found-family aspect is something I’m always drawn to, and I’m definitely interested in seeing more of this group in future books.

Overall: A fun, entertaining romance with a great premise, hilarious forced proximity, fun characters, and an ending that made my romance-loving heart happy. 💕

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC! 🫶🏻 This is my honest review and all opinions are my own.

[Lana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3 stars

I went into Zero Pucks Given fully prepared to swoon over a broody hockey player. Three chapters in, and I was ready to chop his head off. 😭

The setup was such a good time. Your best friend’s brother stands you up at homecoming, and eight years later, you bid on him at his hockey team’s charity auction so you can drag him away for a weekend he’ll hate? The commitment to the grudge alone had me sold. Add a supposedly haunted inn and two people who have no choice but to spend time together, and I was so ready to see how badly this plan would backfire. 😂

And then I got to Declan’s POV. My lord, that man was insufferable at first. He seemed convinced that everyone was in love with him, and I swear he mentioned at least three times in the first three chapters that he’d slept with his teammate’s then-girlfriend while they were still together. Sir, I heard you the first time. The repetition was doing you absolutely no favours. 😭 I usually enjoy getting inside both characters’ heads in a romance, but those early chapters made me very happy whenever it was her turn to tell the story.

Then they arrived at the inn, and the man who’d spent all that time telling us how great he was nearly refused to go through the front door because it might be haunted. I can see why that’s supposed to be funny, and with a different character I probably would’ve laughed. With Declan, I was already so annoyed by the macho act that all I could think was 'Oh, NOW you’re shy?'. 😂 Thankfully, he got a lot easier to like as the story went on. Once I could see how he actually treated her when they let their guards down, I started warming to him.

I liked the heroine much more from the start. I mean, I can’t defend an eight-year revenge plan as a sensible use of anyone’s time, but I can absolutely enjoy reading about it. I did like her a little less after the third-act conflict, though. By then, I’d finally started rooting for them as a couple, so it was frustrating to get that far and find myself annoyed all over again, this time with her. 🥲

What surprised me most was how natural their romance felt once it got going. I went in expecting the bickering to be my favourite part, but I ended up looking forward to the moments when things felt easy between them. I liked seeing them relax around each other, and I especially loved the softer moments when you could tell how much they cared. The revenge date gave them a reason to be in the same room; those quieter scenes made me believe they’d actually want to stay there together. 🤍

I wish I’d liked Declan sooner and that the third act had landed better for me, but I’m glad I stuck around long enough to see them be sweet to each other. And considering where Declan and I started, the fact that I ended up rooting for him at all feels like an achievement for both of us. 😂🏒

[Saramendesita · Rating 1 out of 5]

ARC REVIEW

1/5⭐️

This book had the potential to be such a fun enemies-to-lovers romance, and while I enjoyed the banter and some of the comedic moments in the first half, everything started going downhill after they had sex for the first time.

My biggest issue was the lack of emotional connection between Blair and Declan. I never really felt like he was genuinely interested in her beyond the physical attraction, and the way he spoke about her to other people only reinforced that feeling. I kept waiting for him to fall first and fall HARD, but instead, I got a very inconsistent relationship that never quite convinced me.

The pacing was also all over the place. One minute they’re hooking up, the next they’re discussing what they want in a relationship, and somehow we’re supposed to believe these two people who supposedly hate each other are having these conversations without any real emotional development in between. There were also moments that felt repetitive, with conversations happening more than once as if they hadn’t already covered the exact same ground.

And the conflict? I needed SO much more. Blair’s initial motivation for going after Declan felt a little childish, especially considering how much time had passed since the original incident. The breakup was even worse. Given their history, I could understand why Blair reacted the way she did, but Declan getting angry at her for it? The audacity. And then he goes on to say some genuinely awful things about her to his teammate, which made it even harder for me to root for him. I wanted messy, angsty, emotionally charged drama, but what I got felt flat. No satisfying confessions, no angry declarations of love, just a lot of unnecessary frustration.

I also wasn’t a fan of Blair giving up an opportunity because Declan wouldn’t be there. Girls, PLEASE stop putting your lives on hold for men. And don’t even get me started on his sister, who is sometimes a great friend to Blair and gives her genuinely good advice, but then proceeds to drag her heartbroken best friend to a hockey game and practically shove her into the players’ tunnel. Girl, read the room.

That being said, I did find the prom-posal moment kind of sweet. The fact that Declan recreated the dance after having stood her up the first time was a cute touch, and I wish we’d gotten more moments like that throughout the book.

Ultimately, this just wasn’t for me. I had fun with the banter at first, but the moment their relationship became physical, the story lost me. I needed more emotional intimacy, more believable character development, and a lot more grovelling from Declan. The ingredients were there, but the execution fell flat.

[Holli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Zero Pucks Given is the second book in the Michigan Ice Wolves series. The series overall is light on hockey, so if you’re really into the sports part of a sports romance, this might not be the series for you. But if you’re into authors who really take risks by having their characters do really awful things and yet you somehow end up rooting for them, you should definitely pick up this series!

Although it can be read as a standalone, I think it’s much better to have read the first book for the context and backstory. Declan is 100% the villain in the first book, but he was written as such a blank slate in that book that I couldn’t get a handle on WHY he would betray his best friend and set into motion the events of book 1. Well, I’m sorry/not sorry to report that we don’t get any answers on that score. Declan is well aware of the things he has done wrong, but he just … doesn’t seem to feel the need to really atone for them. And weirdly, not even in a bad way. He owns who he is, but for most of the book he doesn’t LIKE who he is. I think it’s really interesting to watch that evolution.

Meanwhile, Blaire (who is a podcaster, but honestly, her job is featured only slightly more than Declan’s) is an absolute champion grudge holder, but only when it comes to Declan. He stood her up for a dance when they were in high school, and years later, she’s willing to take thousands of dollars of her best friend’s boyfriend’s money to buy Declan at a charity auction specifically for purposes of torturing him with a weekend at a folksy village festival.

I’m not sure either of these characters is really likable on their own, but together, they’re fantastic. The banter is top notch, and the situational comedy had me laughing out loud several times. The chemistry between them fairly wafts right off the page.

Not apologizing to anyone is a pretty weird way to do a redemption arc, but somehow Declan manages it, and by the end of the book he was an absolute delight, not to mention a really strong communicator and willing to go just about any distance for his partner. What sorcery is this? I’m not sure, but I’ll take more, please!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.

[Loveylibros · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC and to Sara Ney for the opportunity to read and review Zero Pucks Given💙🏒

⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Zero Pucks Given was a fun, entertaining, and super easy read. It’s the kind of book you can fly through when you’re looking for something light, uncomplicated, and easy to follow. There were definitely moments that had me laughing out loud, and Sara Ney’s humor worked for me more often than not.

I’ll admit, I enjoyed the first half of the book much more than the second half. Declan and Blaire were entertaining, but I struggled with how immature they felt at times. Some of their text conversations were… whew. 😅 A little too cringey and cheesy for me, especially with the constant “babe this” and “babe that.” It often read more like two teenagers navigating their first relationship than two adults in their mid-twenties.

And once Declan and Blaire actually got together, I felt like the relationship development pretty much came to a screeching halt. I wanted more of them building their relationship, getting to know each other on a deeper level, and putting in some actual effort as a couple. Instead, it felt like the romance lost some of its momentum once they became official.

Then we got the breakup toward the end, and honestly… what was the point? 😂 It felt a little forced and like it was added primarily to create some last-minute drama. By that point, I wasn’t emotionally invested enough in the conflict for it to have the impact I think it was supposed to.

That said, this wasn’t a bad read at all. It was funny, lighthearted, quick, and entertaining enough to keep me turning the pages. If you’re looking for a low-stress romance that you can breeze through without having to overthink things, this could definitely fit the bill.

For me, though, the immaturity of the characters and the lack of relationship development kept it from being a higher rating. It was enjoyable while I was reading it, but ultimately, not one I’d pick up again.

A fun time? Yes.
A memorable romance? Not quite.
Did I laugh? Absolutely. 😂

[Tammy Zadai · Rating 4 out of 5]

If I had read this book as a standalone, it would’ve been 5 stars. The premise of the FMC winning a date with the NHL MMC with the sole purpose of getting revenge for what he did to her in high school is genius. Taking him on a weekend trip simply to force a horrible time on him and it turning out to be a great time was very entertaining. If I had just met the MMC, the entire book would’ve been framed around the dumb kid he was in high school and why he did what he did and how much he regrets it and has changed. The problem is that this wasn’t a standalone for me and the MMCs character was framed on what he did in high school PLUS what he did in the first book in the series. See, he was the villain in that book, so I went into this book expecting some sort of redemption for him. I mean, I’m supposed to root for him to get his HEA if he is the MMC, right? So he must’ve had regrets and redeemed himself for what he did. I guess the title should’ve summed up who Declan is and made me realize that wasn’t going to happen. Although Declan internally knew what he had done was wrong, he was never made to own up to it. He never told anyone why he did it or that he regretted it. As a matter of fact, near the end of the book he actually calls the person that he betrayed and asks for their advice about how to handle a situation with the FMC. It would’ve been the perfect time to say (at the very least) I’m so sorry for betraying you. But he doesn’t. And as a reader of the series that really ruined the book for me. As I finished it I was just left so angry that I never got to see Declan really have to face what he had done. Zero consequences. A simple conversation where he was regretful or apologetic would’ve completely changed my views on this book. I have to give it four stars because the writing was good and if I hadn’t read the first book it would’ve been entertaining. Unfortunately I feel like the title reflects Declan’s attitude about his actions: Zero Pucks Given.

[Margaret Minoff · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️

Thank you Sara Ney and NetGalley for the opportunity to be a part of the ARC team. I received an advanced reader's copy for free and am leaving this review voluntarily.

Zero Pucks Given is the second book in the Michigan Ice Wolves series, and follows the story of Declan and Blaire. While it can be read as a standalone, I encourage readers to pick up the first installment, Revenge Puck, since it provides more background into Declan and Blaire’s history.

Just like Revenge Puck, Zero Pucks Given was a one sitting read and absolutely delightful. Sara does it again — hilarious, steamy, and this time with an FMC who isn't afraid to be a hot mess. Blaire is impulsive, dramatic, and occasionally infuriating... and that's exactly why I loved her. Her reactions felt real, like watching a messy, relatable friend navigate her own chaotic life.
And without spoiling anything: it was so refreshing to watch the FMC be the one who screws up for once! We’re used to the MMC groveling (which don’t get me wrong, I LOVE a man who grovels) — here, our stubborn girl has to eat, take a step back and acknowledge her wrong, and watching her fumble her way to owning it? Something that felt personally relatable.

Zero Pucks Given also ties up some loose ends Revenge Puck left dangling. Declan majorly screwed up in book one, and honestly? There's no big dramatic reveal explaining why. I loved that. Sometimes people just make bad choices with no grand excuse — and that messy, no-explanation humanity made Declan feel so much more real and relatable as a character.

The story itself is sweet, charming, and laugh-out-loud funny — thanks to the chaotic inner monologues from both leads. It's the perfect quick, lighthearted sports romance for anyone craving a fun binge read. Sara also plants the seeds for the next (please, please, please!!!) MMC — a player who's become a scene-stealer across both books, and honestly? I need to see him fall in love next.

[maya jayne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank-you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

I’ve been on such a hockey romance kick lately, so I was really excited to pick this one up! The whole premise sounded so fun, especially the best friend’s brother, second chance, enemies-to-lovers situation. And honestly, it was such an easy and entertaining read.

Blaire and Declan’s dynamic was probably my favourite part of the book. Their banter, constant teasing and the fact that they were always getting on each other’s nerves made them so much fun to read. I loved watching all of that slowly turn into something more, especially when they were forced to spend the weekend together. The whole trip was so funny and I was having way too much fun watching Blaire’s revenge plan completely fall apart 😂

Declan definitely grew on me too. At first, he comes across as arrogant and a bit of a walking red flag, but there was so much more to him than that. I really loved getting to see his softer side and seeing how much he genuinely cared about Blaire. He ended up being such a sweetheart underneath all the cockiness, and I was very much sold by the end.

I also really enjoyed Blaire’s progression throughout the book. Seeing her start to question everything she thought she knew about Declan and their past was really interesting, and I loved watching their relationship shift as they finally started being honest with each other.

And that ending 🥹 I loved getting to see them have their own little do-over of their high school dance. It was such a cute way to bring everything full circle and was definitely one of my favourite parts.

Overall, this was such a fun, cute and spicy romcom with great chemistry, plenty of banter and characters I really enjoyed spending time with. It wasn’t perfect, but I had such a good time reading it and I’m definitely glad I picked it up! 💗

[Only.ever.books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review:
🏒Zero Pucks Given🏒
Michigan Ice Wolves #2

By Sara Ney

🏒 Hockey Romance
🏒 Enemies to Lovers
🏒 Best Friend’s brother

⭐ 5/5

Blaire, she is still mad about the highschool dance
Declan, he has a lot of trouble going on

Blaire and Declan and their journey filled with banter and more

This is the second book in the amazing hockey series. And here we follow Blaire and Declan. Both we know from the first book as Blaire is the former FMC’s best friend and he is the former FMC’s brother and the MMC’s former best friend. And let’s not forget both knew each other since they were kids. Hince their problem.
And so we know what the issue between all of them were when we get into this story.
Blaire has a contempt for Declan as long as she has a still but secret crush on him. But her hurt pride is still going strong. So when the possibility to get revenge is there, Blaire takes it. Only nothing works out the way it was supposed to be, nevertheless these two who didn’t get along when in one room, suddenly get along in one certain way.
Something that confuses both and brings new problems to their doors. Untangling the new situation they're in, their feelings and how it will go on are to discover.
And building trust isn’t easy even if they want to, and so one little miscommunicated situation has Blaire overreacting and Declan answering in hurt.
Their journey is full of banters, steam and entertaining dialogues, but also shows how deep and long events can stay with a person and the impact it has on people and their lives.
But it was so beautifully solved and gave the characters the most incredible and deserved happy end. And the former family affair slowly relaxed too and brought all four of them into a good standing. Hopefully not the last book in this series.

[The Lit · Rating 5 out of 5]

🚨 SPOILER ALERT: READ AT YOUR OWN RISK!
​I am giving Zero Pucks Given by Sara Ney an absolute 5-star review! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
​An addictive, spicy hockey romance packed with top-tier hero redemption, childhood crushes, forced proximity, and unbeatable banter that will completely steal your heart! 🏒❄️🛷✨
​ARC Disclosure: A big thank you to NetGalley, author Sara Ney, and publisher Bookouture for providing an advance digital review copy (eARC) of this book! All thoughts, fanatical reactions, and honest reflections shared in this review are entirely my own.
​The Review
​So this is Book 2 in the Michigan Ice Wolves series, and I'm seriously hoping more come soon!
​In Book 1, I sort of hated Declan because... you know (and if you don't, go and read it!). But now that this is his book... I feel totally different! He's a top-tier MMC for sure! I absolutely love how he fell first so many years ago and never got over her. The tropes here are sublime and extremely well played: forced proximity, a bit of grumpy x sunshine, best friend's brother, childhood crush, and second chance. I mean... I was so sold! But then you add hockey romance, banter, and probably the sweetest guy ever... I mean, how could I not give it 5 stars?
​Blaire is a perfect FMC too. She's strong, independent, and she doesn't beat around the bush—I loved her!
​I also loved that we continued to see Aaron and Juliette from Book 1 and how their relationship continues... and I'm honestly hoping Book 3 is about our team Cupid. I mean, he deserves love too!
​The Good
​Declan's incredible character redemption and "fell first and never got over her" energy, Blaire being a strong and straightforward FMC, sublime trope execution, top-tier hockey banter, and seeing Aaron and Juliette again!
​The Not So Good
​Having to wait for the next book in the series because I need Team Cupid's story immediately!

[Sadie Glover · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐️

I actually think I would’ve rated this higher if I hadn’t read the first book 😂

Because I LOVED Aaron, which unfortunately meant I went into this book with a pretty strong hatred for Declan. And honestly… that hatred stayed with me for a good chunk of the book 😭😂

Did Declan grow on me? Absolutely. Did I eventually like him? Yes. Did I ever get to the point where I was like “OMG I LOVE DECLAN”? …not really 👀😂

I did, however, really enjoy Declan and Blaire together. Their chemistry was SO good and I loved their banter. They genuinely worked as a couple and had so many cute, swoony moments that had me grinning. BUT deep down, I still spent a large portion of the book thinking Blaire could probably do better 😭

One of my favourite parts was the whole “date from hell” concept that Blaire tries to create for Declan. Watching her attempt to make the date as awful as possible only for Declan to somehow LOVE every second of it was hilarious. The banter throughout was honestly so good and it gave me some of my favourite moments between them.

I’m also not usually the biggest fan of third-act breakups, but I actually really appreciated how this one was handled. No spoilers, but I especially liked that the reason Declan was late wasn’t the usual “he was involved in some horrific accident and nearly died” trope. It kept the conflict feeling more genuine rather than using a near-death experience as an easy way to resolve everything.

Overall, I really enjoyed this one! Declan may not have stolen my heart in the same way Aaron did, but Blaire and Declan had undeniable chemistry, the banter was elite, and there were plenty of cute and swoony moments to keep me invested. 💕🏒

Did I still think Blaire could do better? Yes.
Did I enjoy the book anyway? Also yes. 😂

[Em · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

I genuinely did not expect Zero Pucks Given to be this good.

Maybe it was the title, the cover, or the amount of hockey romance around lately, but I went in expecting something much lighter than what I got. Blaire has been holding a grudge against Declan for years after he stood her up when they were younger, and when she gets the opportunity to buy a weekend with him at a charity auction, that old resentment finally has somewhere to go.

The writing surprised me first. The dialogue felt natural, the characters had actual depth, and even when I could more or less see where the romance was heading, I still wanted to know how they were going to get there. I had a fairly good idea that something would eventually pull them apart before bringing them back together, but the journey there worked far better than I expected.

What I liked most was that the relationship wasn’t treated as the final achievement. Blaire and Declan both had things they needed to sort out separately, and being together actually pushed them towards becoming better-functioning adults rather than simply rewarding them with a romance. By the end, their development mattered to me almost as much as whether they stayed together.

There were some odd continuity mistakes throughout, though. Small details occasionally changed within only a few pages, enough that I genuinely wondered at one point whether I had misread something. They never damaged the story itself, but were noticeable enough to pull me out of it.

Still, this went down far more smoothly than I ever expected it to. I picked it up prepared for another fairly forgettable hockey romance and ended up genuinely impressed by both the writing and the relationship at its centre.

[Tunrayo Lumpkin · Rating 1 out of 5]

I received an eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I’ve really come to love sports romance books, especially hockey ones, so I was very excited to give this book a try. Unfortunately, it fell flat for me.

I love a good enemies to lovers and best friend’s brother trope, but this felt entirely too forced. The reason for Blaire’s hatred of Declan was so childish and not nearly a good enough reason to hold a grudge for 8 years. The whole “hate date” idea was so dreadful😭I’m not sure if it was poor execution or what, but it was very uncomfortable to read. Then Blaire giving up a major opportunity in favor of Declan being physically present…girl, STAND UP!!! Like it’s 2026, we not putting our careers on hold for men😭hated that part SO much.

I truly didn’t understand the insta-love attraction between Declan and Blaire. There was an overemphasis on their “history” and how close Blaire is to his sister and family, but their chemistry was nonexistent to me. Them also being “enemies” was very difficult to believe, especially since Declan clocked that Blaire has been in love with him all this time by like page 30…

There were also lots of typos and name switches that detracted from the story and confused me. I didn’t even realize this was a series where each book tells the love story of a different character that’s still involved in other books. Those are usually my favorite kind of series, but I have no desire to read the first book or any other in the series. Truthfully, I almost DNFed multiple times and had to skim through the last 50 or so pages just to finish😭

[Jennifer English · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC! I've been wondering what Declan's real story is and we kinda get a bit of it. Not sold on him being a good guy quite yet though.

So, yeah, if you read book 1, Declan is the bad guy. The one who slept with his friends girlfriend and had no regrets about it. Well, until he did. But I still kinda get the vibes that it wasnt for the right reasons. He's also Blaires mortal enemy, stemming from the fact that he stood her up at a high school dance, never apologized for doing so and never attempted to explain why that night went the way it did.

Blaire has a Podcast that talks about all the dating red flags. Did I mention Declan is a walking red flag? And not necessarily in a good way? Cause, yeah, he is. 😒As a way to finally pay him back, she uses her besties boyfriends money to bid on him at a charity auction, with the end game a weekend away doing all the things he hates. Except, he doesnt hate any of it. Oh, and there's only one bed. And you know what they say about love and hate. 😏

Theres really not a lot of character development, Declan just goes from a guy we dislike to a guy who is all in with the girl that he says he's always had a thing for, kinda like a switch was thrown. And Blaire doesn't immediately forgive him, thankfully, but she does jump feet first into a relationship. Theres a bit of 3rd act break up but instead of her doing the groveling, he does. And he kinda makes up for the high school dance but I still think he's a bit on the shallow side.

[Reanna Abare · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was so excited to get an ARC of Zero Pucks Given after also getting to read the first book as an ARC, and this was such a fun read! I finished the entire thing in one day, which probably tells you everything you need to know. 😂

The banter between Blaire and Declan was chefs kiss. Seriously, top tier. Their back and forth was easily one of my favorite parts of the book, and I loved the enemies to lovers ish dynamic between them especially with the history of them both liking each other back in high school.

Declan’s redemption arc was another highlight for me. I really enjoyed watching his character develop throughout the book, but I also appreciated that it wasn’t only Declan who needed to figure some things out. Blaire had to get her shit together too. 😂 There were definitely moments where I felt like she was being a little dramatic and taking everything out on him, so I was glad to see growth from both of them.

The conflict was maybe a liiiiittle stupid, but honestly? I was having enough fun that I didn’t really care. The banter was great, the spice was good, and I absolutely loved getting more Aaron and Juliette from the first book!

And now I need Storm’s story. Please. Immediately. Thank you.

Overall, this was such a fun hockey romance and a really easy book to fly through. Four stars from me!

Thank you so much to Bookouture and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

[RawBookieDough · Rating 5 out of 5]

🏒Fall/cozy
🤍One room/one bed
🏒Enemies to lovers
🤍Second chance romance
🏒Explicit and plentiful 🌶️
🤍Cinnamon roll MMC
🏒Black cat FMC
🤍1st person dual POV
🏒 standalone in interconnected series

This was such a quick and engaging read! I loved how it started off with a cozy “hate date” adventure (that supremely backfires!) before throwing us back into the more typical hockey backdrop setting. I liked the progression of the relationship and the solid communication on our MMCs part. For getting such a drag in the first book (deserved) this redemption arc did Declan justice for sure and the cameos from our original couple were fun and appreciated.

I feel the steam was well done and sprinkled in nicely without being overbearing. ********(Small but predictable spoiler ahead in stars!!! )And while there is a 3rd act break up, I was happy the FMC was at fault. I feel it’s always the guy who is responsible for causing the breakup so this was a nice shift from the normal. *************

I did find some conversations were repeated which feels like an oversight. And the timing of some events didn’t match. For example, after the break up it is said a lot of events occur “24 hours later” but then also someone says they haven’t been able to “sleep in days” because of it. There were multiple instances of small time discrepancies. This was not a big deal but distracting enough I remember is post read.

Thank you Bookouture for the ARC through NetGalley!

[Monica Beard · Rating 4 out of 5]

We're back with the second instalment of the Michigan Icewolves series. This one is focused on our last instalment villain (and brother of the FMC, Juliette), Declan. One of my frustrations with the first book is that the relationship between Declan and Aaron was pretty quickly mended, despite a major betrayal, and I was glad that Declan starts Zero Pucks Given with an acknowledgment that he still had some growth to complete.

I loved the fun banter between Declan and Blaire, and I really enjoyed that she didn't let him off the hook. The book also provides a fun showcase for some of the German influences in Michigan, which I thought was a fun detail that you don't often see. But where the book lost me a bit was towards the end, when the main couple has a misunderstanding. I thought the book had done a great job of acknowledging that Declan needed to grow a bit, and all of the sudden, the FMC won't admit that Declan's history of doing hurtful things to people who trust and believe in him is something that has impacted their relationship. I enjoyed the book overall, but I turn to romance because it holds men to higher standards than we often have for them in real life. I wanted to see a man force to grow up and improve himself. Overall, a fun read and I suspect teammate Garrett Storm is next. Thanks to Bookotoure for the early copy.