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Michigan Ice Wolves #2
Zero Pucks Given
Not yet published
Expected 23 Nov 26He 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…
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…
Kindle Edition
Expected publication November 23, 2026
About the author
Sara Ney
71 books6,753 followersSara 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.
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.
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Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
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!
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!
September 13, 2026
📖 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.
⭐️⭐️💫✨ 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.
Read
September 4, 2026Blaire 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.
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.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
🏒 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.
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.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
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!
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!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
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.
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.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
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.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
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! 💗
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! 💗
Review of advance copy
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.
🏒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.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
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.
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.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
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!
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!
September 11, 2026
🏒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!
🤍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!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
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.
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.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
2.75 ⭐️
I want to thank NetGalley, Bookotoure and Sara Ney for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Some things I liked, but others didn't quite work for me.
Firstly, I love the combination of best friend’s brother + enemies to lovers tropes, and the revenge Hate Date weekend premise sounded so fun. This was also an easy, entertaining read and a good palate cleanser. I enjoyed the cozy, small-town atmosphere of Harbor Hollow and the dates in the beginning. I had a rough week when I just wanted something I could read without thinking too much and this book delivered.
However, it left me wanting more. The writing was rather simple, with short, quick sentences, and the scenes and characters felt underdeveloped. I struggled to fully connect with Blaire or Declan, as their traits, personalities, motivations... felt a little immature and undercooked to me. I would have liked more depth and complexity.
I did enjoy how the third-act conflict was resolved, though. It was a nice full-circle moment. There’s very little hockey for a hockey romance, which I didn't mind personally but I would keep that in mind.
Overall, a nice easy read that could have done with a litte more depth.
I want to thank NetGalley, Bookotoure and Sara Ney for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Some things I liked, but others didn't quite work for me.
Firstly, I love the combination of best friend’s brother + enemies to lovers tropes, and the revenge Hate Date weekend premise sounded so fun. This was also an easy, entertaining read and a good palate cleanser. I enjoyed the cozy, small-town atmosphere of Harbor Hollow and the dates in the beginning. I had a rough week when I just wanted something I could read without thinking too much and this book delivered.
However, it left me wanting more. The writing was rather simple, with short, quick sentences, and the scenes and characters felt underdeveloped. I struggled to fully connect with Blaire or Declan, as their traits, personalities, motivations... felt a little immature and undercooked to me. I would have liked more depth and complexity.
I did enjoy how the third-act conflict was resolved, though. It was a nice full-circle moment. There’s very little hockey for a hockey romance, which I didn't mind personally but I would keep that in mind.
Overall, a nice easy read that could have done with a litte more depth.
September 12, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 stars for me
I was invested from the jump - a charity gala with auctioning off hockey players? Fun! Blaire has a different agenda though - she and Declan have mega history, and she is out for revenge after she wins Declan with a huge bid funded by her bestie's hockey boyfriend, who happens to have his own history with Declan. Naturally, the revenge date goes every which way but planned and hilarity and banter ensues.
I did really enjoy this book - but it took me a while to warm up to Declan and actually want to root for him. His backstory ultimately explained a lot of his early douchery, And I sometimes struggled to like Blaire as well, as she often came off immature and short-sighted, though I did really like the monologues from her dating podcast. Those felt more authentic and part of me wished I had an audio version of the book to hear those bits rather than read them.
I did read the first book in this series as well and was pleased to see folks return in this book, especially Garrett Storm. He needs his own book for sure.!
Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC! All opinions are my honest, unfiltered ones.
I was invested from the jump - a charity gala with auctioning off hockey players? Fun! Blaire has a different agenda though - she and Declan have mega history, and she is out for revenge after she wins Declan with a huge bid funded by her bestie's hockey boyfriend, who happens to have his own history with Declan. Naturally, the revenge date goes every which way but planned and hilarity and banter ensues.
I did really enjoy this book - but it took me a while to warm up to Declan and actually want to root for him. His backstory ultimately explained a lot of his early douchery, And I sometimes struggled to like Blaire as well, as she often came off immature and short-sighted, though I did really like the monologues from her dating podcast. Those felt more authentic and part of me wished I had an audio version of the book to hear those bits rather than read them.
I did read the first book in this series as well and was pleased to see folks return in this book, especially Garrett Storm. He needs his own book for sure.!
Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC! All opinions are my honest, unfiltered ones.
September 14, 2026
Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for the ARC of this book!
I love a hockey romance and this was no exception!
Zero Pucks Given (the punny names always make me laugh) is the second book in the Michigan Ice Wolves series and follows Blaire and Declan, high school rivals who have misunderstood each other for the past 10 years.
After bidding on her professional hockey playing enemy at a charity auction, Blaire is determined to make their date weekend the worst Declan has ever had, but quickly realizes she underestimated him and the repressed feelings she has been pushing down all this time.
I saw a few people post that they didn't like Declan, but I didn't mind him. I liked the playboy turned devoted boyfriend storyline and enjoyed the side characters as well.
Blaire is a take no nonsense type of woman which I really liked to see and only through actions and communication does she realize she can be vulnerable at times too.
I am rounding down (we really need some half stars on here) from a 3.5 for the book itself and the spice was a 3.75.
Will definitely be adding the first book to my TBR.
#netgalley
I love a hockey romance and this was no exception!
Zero Pucks Given (the punny names always make me laugh) is the second book in the Michigan Ice Wolves series and follows Blaire and Declan, high school rivals who have misunderstood each other for the past 10 years.
After bidding on her professional hockey playing enemy at a charity auction, Blaire is determined to make their date weekend the worst Declan has ever had, but quickly realizes she underestimated him and the repressed feelings she has been pushing down all this time.
I saw a few people post that they didn't like Declan, but I didn't mind him. I liked the playboy turned devoted boyfriend storyline and enjoyed the side characters as well.
Blaire is a take no nonsense type of woman which I really liked to see and only through actions and communication does she realize she can be vulnerable at times too.
I am rounding down (we really need some half stars on here) from a 3.5 for the book itself and the spice was a 3.75.
Will definitely be adding the first book to my TBR.
#netgalley
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for an arc of Zero Pucks Given in exchange for an honest review. 4.25 stars!
Blaire and Declan have the perfect combination of sweet, spice, and humor! Blaire's plan was to seek revenge against Declan because he stood her up for a dance in high school. She purchases a date in a fundraiser only to take him on a weekend away full of activities she thought he would hate and embarrass him. However, each items on her list, Declan excels a, isn't at all bothered, and brings the two closer together. The playboy Declan starts imagining a future with Blaire, and Blaire has to admit how childish her initial thoughts and behavior was and what she really wants is another chance with Declan.
Both Blaire and Declan have a lot of personal growth. They expose their vulnerabilities and accept the past and move on to have a bright future together. Throughout all, there is a lot of humor, fantastic supporting characters, and lots of swoony moments.
Blaire and Declan have the perfect combination of sweet, spice, and humor! Blaire's plan was to seek revenge against Declan because he stood her up for a dance in high school. She purchases a date in a fundraiser only to take him on a weekend away full of activities she thought he would hate and embarrass him. However, each items on her list, Declan excels a, isn't at all bothered, and brings the two closer together. The playboy Declan starts imagining a future with Blaire, and Blaire has to admit how childish her initial thoughts and behavior was and what she really wants is another chance with Declan.
Both Blaire and Declan have a lot of personal growth. They expose their vulnerabilities and accept the past and move on to have a bright future together. Throughout all, there is a lot of humor, fantastic supporting characters, and lots of swoony moments.
September 13, 2026
Zero Pucks Given is such a fun hockey romance and I loved how Blaire tried to torture Declan, it was hilarious!
Declan made me angry at first, he was so cocky and thinking Blaire loved him and was obsessed but I LOVED how the trip showed him how NOT obsessed Blaire is and really put him in his place. When he could put his cockiness aside and was his true self he was actually quite sweet and lovable. I appreciated that Blair could bring him back down to earth and have him be himself. He really won me over when he was honest about what happened when they were teenagers and he stood Blaire up for prom. I also appreciated how Blaire could listen to Declan and be open to letting her anger go. The way Declan thrived during activities Blaire had created to torture his was pretty hilarious!
I loved seeing Blaire and Declan's relationship shift and how they supported each other. While i did not love the 3rd act breakup, I understood where they were both coming from but I also appreciated how they realized their wrongs, owned up to it so they could build something stronger and more beautiful.
Overall, the story was fun, spicy, and heartwarming with a fun Hockey setting!
Declan made me angry at first, he was so cocky and thinking Blaire loved him and was obsessed but I LOVED how the trip showed him how NOT obsessed Blaire is and really put him in his place. When he could put his cockiness aside and was his true self he was actually quite sweet and lovable. I appreciated that Blair could bring him back down to earth and have him be himself. He really won me over when he was honest about what happened when they were teenagers and he stood Blaire up for prom. I also appreciated how Blaire could listen to Declan and be open to letting her anger go. The way Declan thrived during activities Blaire had created to torture his was pretty hilarious!
I loved seeing Blaire and Declan's relationship shift and how they supported each other. While i did not love the 3rd act breakup, I understood where they were both coming from but I also appreciated how they realized their wrongs, owned up to it so they could build something stronger and more beautiful.
Overall, the story was fun, spicy, and heartwarming with a fun Hockey setting!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Zero Pucks Given was such a fun return to the Michigan Ice Wolves series! Sara Ney delivers another entertaining hockey romance packed with chemistry, banter, and plenty of tension. The enemies-to-lovers dynamic gave the story that delicious push-and-pull I love, and watching the relationship evolve beyond the initial sparks made this an easy, addictive read.
I especially enjoyed the humor woven throughout the story. The characters have great chemistry, but there’s also enough heart underneath the flirting and snark to make you genuinely invested in where their relationship is headed. It’s fun, spicy, and exactly the kind of sports romance that makes you want to curl up and devour it in a sitting.
A solid four-star read and a great pick for anyone who loves hockey romance, enemies-to-lovers, witty banter, and characters who get under each other’s skin in all the best ways.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Zero Pucks Given is expected to be published November 23, 2026.
I especially enjoyed the humor woven throughout the story. The characters have great chemistry, but there’s also enough heart underneath the flirting and snark to make you genuinely invested in where their relationship is headed. It’s fun, spicy, and exactly the kind of sports romance that makes you want to curl up and devour it in a sitting.
A solid four-star read and a great pick for anyone who loves hockey romance, enemies-to-lovers, witty banter, and characters who get under each other’s skin in all the best ways.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Zero Pucks Given is expected to be published November 23, 2026.
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September 16, 2026✨️ ARC Book Review ✨️
Zero Pucks Given – Sara Ney ⭐️⭐️⭐️
I feel very fortunate and grateful to be given the opportunity to read this as an ARC🤩 A best friends brother and a hate date? Sign me up straight away😍
It did however, fall short and wasn't for my reading tastes🫣 I found all the characters immature and some character choices and dialogue I thought were questionable, and more expected from college aged characters. This made it hard for me to connect with them and I didn't find myself particularly invested in any of their stories.
I noticed a few inconsistencies and continuity errors which I struggled to get past and feel this did affect my reading experience.
However, the chemistry between the MMC and FMC felt natural and not at all forced, helped by years of tension, bickering and history. The spice was brief and basic but the story didn't necessarily need more as their growing connection spoke for itself.
If you enjoy a quick, easy and light read then this series may be one to pick up!
Zero Pucks Given – Sara Ney ⭐️⭐️⭐️
I feel very fortunate and grateful to be given the opportunity to read this as an ARC🤩 A best friends brother and a hate date? Sign me up straight away😍
It did however, fall short and wasn't for my reading tastes🫣 I found all the characters immature and some character choices and dialogue I thought were questionable, and more expected from college aged characters. This made it hard for me to connect with them and I didn't find myself particularly invested in any of their stories.
I noticed a few inconsistencies and continuity errors which I struggled to get past and feel this did affect my reading experience.
However, the chemistry between the MMC and FMC felt natural and not at all forced, helped by years of tension, bickering and history. The spice was brief and basic but the story didn't necessarily need more as their growing connection spoke for itself.
If you enjoy a quick, easy and light read then this series may be one to pick up!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Note: This review is for an ARC and is my unbiased opinion.
I was and wasn't expecting to love Zero Pucks Given as much as I did. I was because Sara Ney's writing always makes me laugh. I wasn't because of Declan's actions in the first book in this series. I had no idea how Ney was going to make that guy redeemable, but she did it and in a big way. I loved how Declan fell for Blaire and how Blaire tried to exact her revenge on him for what he did in high school. Her ideas for torturing him were fun and highly entertaining. The way things built from there brought out a side in Declan I really didn't think he had. Being in his mind helped a lot, and I'm very happy to report that I was rooting for Declan and Blaire to fall in love pretty early on. This book was the romantic comedy I have come to expect from Ney.
I was and wasn't expecting to love Zero Pucks Given as much as I did. I was because Sara Ney's writing always makes me laugh. I wasn't because of Declan's actions in the first book in this series. I had no idea how Ney was going to make that guy redeemable, but she did it and in a big way. I loved how Declan fell for Blaire and how Blaire tried to exact her revenge on him for what he did in high school. Her ideas for torturing him were fun and highly entertaining. The way things built from there brought out a side in Declan I really didn't think he had. Being in his mind helped a lot, and I'm very happy to report that I was rooting for Declan and Blaire to fall in love pretty early on. This book was the romantic comedy I have come to expect from Ney.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was such a fun read! I finished it in one sitting because I couldn’t put it down.
Declan definitely wasn’t my favourite at first. He was way too full of himself, but he grew on me. I loved the chemistry, the funny moments, and especially the scene when he finally got into bed with Blaire
I usually struggle with third-act breakups, but I understood both sides here.
The main reason I gave this 4 stars instead of 5 is Declan. I was really annoyed with him in the beginning because it felt like he wasn’t sorry for anything he had done. I just wanted to see a little more humility or guilt from him.
Overall, a funny, entertaining second-chance romance that kept me hooked!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Declan definitely wasn’t my favourite at first. He was way too full of himself, but he grew on me. I loved the chemistry, the funny moments, and especially the scene when he finally got into bed with Blaire
I usually struggle with third-act breakups, but I understood both sides here.
The main reason I gave this 4 stars instead of 5 is Declan. I was really annoyed with him in the beginning because it felt like he wasn’t sorry for anything he had done. I just wanted to see a little more humility or guilt from him.
Overall, a funny, entertaining second-chance romance that kept me hooked!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
✨️Spoiler Free Review✨️
Thanks to @netgalley @saraneyauthor and @bookouture for the ARC in return for my honest review.
This is the 2nd book in the Michigan Ice Wolves series and follows Declan and Blaire. This book is definitely better than the first and I was pleasantly surprised that it does follow these 2 as after reading the 1st book, I would've said it should be Blaire & Garrett who were the next coupling!
The characters had good chemistry and there was a fair bit of spice. It was very easy reading! The break up part felt a bit forced and to be honest didnt really work but I guess you always need a break up in a romance book! Makes the "make- up" better!
Overall it was a good,cosy, enemies-lovers, second-chance romance read!
Thanks to @netgalley @saraneyauthor and @bookouture for the ARC in return for my honest review.
This is the 2nd book in the Michigan Ice Wolves series and follows Declan and Blaire. This book is definitely better than the first and I was pleasantly surprised that it does follow these 2 as after reading the 1st book, I would've said it should be Blaire & Garrett who were the next coupling!
The characters had good chemistry and there was a fair bit of spice. It was very easy reading! The break up part felt a bit forced and to be honest didnt really work but I guess you always need a break up in a romance book! Makes the "make- up" better!
Overall it was a good,cosy, enemies-lovers, second-chance romance read!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for my ARC of Zero Pucks Given.
No Pucks Given is an interconnected standalone that follows Revenge Puck. The main characters are Blaire and Declan and they are the typical best friend's brother with a second chance side trope. The book starts with revenge and misplaced hatred and quickly develops to other (much more fun) things.
I liked the characters and overall storyline for this one much better than the last! I really loved Blaire's sassyness and Declan's internal dialogue was top tier. The two of them together was great and the side characters are a lot of fun.
Overall a solid 4.25 for a good time and fun characters. I would recommend this one for a bingeable fun read!
No Pucks Given is an interconnected standalone that follows Revenge Puck. The main characters are Blaire and Declan and they are the typical best friend's brother with a second chance side trope. The book starts with revenge and misplaced hatred and quickly develops to other (much more fun) things.
I liked the characters and overall storyline for this one much better than the last! I really loved Blaire's sassyness and Declan's internal dialogue was top tier. The two of them together was great and the side characters are a lot of fun.
Overall a solid 4.25 for a good time and fun characters. I would recommend this one for a bingeable fun read!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This is a second chance, enemies to lovers romance. Declan broke Blaire's heart when he stood her up for her prom. She still sees him all the time because his sister is her best friend. Now, eight years later, she gets a chance for romance when he is to be auctioned off for a charity date. She plans on getting her revenge with this date. This story grabs your interest as you want to see where things are going to go. It has a few twists and turns that make this more than the typical romance. It will amuse and entertain you with the banter and the unusual situations that they get themselves into.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
ARC
I really liked Blaire and Declan, as individuals and together. Their redemption arc is really satisfying in regards to a happily ever after. Their beginning was fraught with misunderstandings and their ending was pretty damn perfect. My only issue is the middle, it was great but from a reading perspective it felt rushed. I only count the week after the trip to the award ceremony as their relationship phase, and given it was only a week, it felt rushed. As a romance reader I love reading relationships and theirs was sho short that even the amazing epilogue can’t quite make up for it all.
I really liked Blaire and Declan, as individuals and together. Their redemption arc is really satisfying in regards to a happily ever after. Their beginning was fraught with misunderstandings and their ending was pretty damn perfect. My only issue is the middle, it was great but from a reading perspective it felt rushed. I only count the week after the trip to the award ceremony as their relationship phase, and given it was only a week, it felt rushed. As a romance reader I love reading relationships and theirs was sho short that even the amazing epilogue can’t quite make up for it all.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
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.
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.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
What a book!! She hates him. He stood her and to thos day she wanted revenge. She thougjt she got it. She thought she knew everything about him. Turns out thier weekend away was for the better sp tp day. Both secretly pining over eachother.. can they get over the past and make it work as adults? The lat third of this book had me sad, happy, and squealing all at once.
Best friends brother
Mortal enemies
Black cat x golden retriever
3rd act drama
One bed/weeeknd away
Best friends brother
Mortal enemies
Black cat x golden retriever
3rd act drama
One bed/weeeknd away
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I really liked this best friend’s brother, enemies to lovers story. Declan was super loveable even though he had made some mistakes in the past. Blaire was less likable for me. I know she’s this strong, outspoken person but sometimes she was too much. I did warm up to her and Declan did soften her up. I really enjoyed the growth these two experienced and how it led to their HEA. Their banter and texts were very cute. I’m going to read the 1st book in the series as well.
September 4, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of Zero Pucks Given!
Wow, I flew through this book! It really really surprised me! I, like Blaire, do NOT like second chances and was skeptical but this was SO. GOOD.
The banter and chemistry between Declan and Blaire was top tier and had me reading as fast as I could! I could not put this down.
Wow, I flew through this book! It really really surprised me! I, like Blaire, do NOT like second chances and was skeptical but this was SO. GOOD.
The banter and chemistry between Declan and Blaire was top tier and had me reading as fast as I could! I could not put this down.
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