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Toronto Northmen #5
Crazy Pucker
Payton
I did something stupid—like spectacularly stupid; something I swore I would never, ever do again. I accidentally got married. In Vegas. To a very hot, very sexy NHL Superstar. How do you accidentally get married, you might ask? Let’s just say it involved an irresponsible amount of alcohol and an aggressively competitive game of Never Have I Ever.
Three years ago, after my ex-husband shattered every promise he'd ever made, I vowed never to remarry. Never to fall in love again, and never to hand someone the power to break my heart.
Then Ollie Decker waltzed into my life. He's six and a half feet of golden retriever energy, crooked smiles, endless optimism, and infuriating charm.
Our marriage is supposed to be temporary. Except the more time I spend with him, the more the ice around my heart begins to melt. There’s a terrifying possibility that I might give the forever kind of love I’ve convinced myself doesn’t exist one last shot.
Ollie
Winning the Stanley Cup was the highlight of my life, until I woke up married to the woman I've been secretly crushing on.
Best. Night. Ever.
Unfortunately, my new wife doesn't agree. Payton Kane calls our marriage a mistake. A problem to solve. Something we'll erase as soon as possible. I'm calling it the luckiest break of my life.
She's fiercely independent, stubborn as hell, and convinced love only ends in heartbreak. But when circumstances force us to live in wedded bliss for one year before we can call it quits, I decide to prove that what happened in Vegas wasn't a mistake that should stay in Vegas—it was fate bringing us together.
And there's nothing I won't do to convince my accidental wife that her idea of “never” could actually be our forever.
I did something stupid—like spectacularly stupid; something I swore I would never, ever do again. I accidentally got married. In Vegas. To a very hot, very sexy NHL Superstar. How do you accidentally get married, you might ask? Let’s just say it involved an irresponsible amount of alcohol and an aggressively competitive game of Never Have I Ever.
Three years ago, after my ex-husband shattered every promise he'd ever made, I vowed never to remarry. Never to fall in love again, and never to hand someone the power to break my heart.
Then Ollie Decker waltzed into my life. He's six and a half feet of golden retriever energy, crooked smiles, endless optimism, and infuriating charm.
Our marriage is supposed to be temporary. Except the more time I spend with him, the more the ice around my heart begins to melt. There’s a terrifying possibility that I might give the forever kind of love I’ve convinced myself doesn’t exist one last shot.
Ollie
Winning the Stanley Cup was the highlight of my life, until I woke up married to the woman I've been secretly crushing on.
Best. Night. Ever.
Unfortunately, my new wife doesn't agree. Payton Kane calls our marriage a mistake. A problem to solve. Something we'll erase as soon as possible. I'm calling it the luckiest break of my life.
She's fiercely independent, stubborn as hell, and convinced love only ends in heartbreak. But when circumstances force us to live in wedded bliss for one year before we can call it quits, I decide to prove that what happened in Vegas wasn't a mistake that should stay in Vegas—it was fate bringing us together.
And there's nothing I won't do to convince my accidental wife that her idea of “never” could actually be our forever.
- GenresHockey RomanceHockey
360 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 22, 2026
About the author
Hilary Rose
5 books58 followersHilary Rose is a teacher who lives near Toronto, Canada. She has her master’s degree in sports journalism but decided she enjoyed writing about fictional hockey players more than real ones. She is a passionate hockey fan who sometimes gets a little too emotionally invested in her team’s wins and losses. She’s a huge Swiftie who spends far too much time sweating on her Peloton because she can’t sit still for more than a few minutes—unless it’s to write her next book.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
September 24, 2026
4.25🌟 | 3🌶️
The accidental Vegas wedding, nonstop banter, and a hockey hero who was completely gone for her made this such a fun romance.
Ollie and Payton had great chemistry, especially with him determined to win her over while she tried so hard not to fall for him. Their relationship was hilarious and chaotic, but it also ended up having more emotional depth than I expected.
Payton was such a strong FMC, and I really liked that her journey was about finding herself again rather than being “saved” by Ollie. He simply supported her, encouraged her, and reminded her how capable she already was. And Ollie was so ridiculously whipped and sweet that it was impossible not to root for him.
The humor, hockey, romance, and emotional moments all worked so well together, and the side characters added even more fun. Gigi and Hunter especially had me smiling. This was such an easy, entertaining romance to fly through, with plenty of swoon and just enough emotion to make the ending feel extra satisfying.
Sweet, funny, romantic, and full of the hockey-world chaos I love.
~~~~
A sincere thank you to Hilary Rose and Hayling Bookstorm Ltd. for the ARC! 🥰📚
I’m so grateful for the early read. As always, all thoughts and opinions are completely my own. ✨
The accidental Vegas wedding, nonstop banter, and a hockey hero who was completely gone for her made this such a fun romance.
Ollie and Payton had great chemistry, especially with him determined to win her over while she tried so hard not to fall for him. Their relationship was hilarious and chaotic, but it also ended up having more emotional depth than I expected.
Payton was such a strong FMC, and I really liked that her journey was about finding herself again rather than being “saved” by Ollie. He simply supported her, encouraged her, and reminded her how capable she already was. And Ollie was so ridiculously whipped and sweet that it was impossible not to root for him.
The humor, hockey, romance, and emotional moments all worked so well together, and the side characters added even more fun. Gigi and Hunter especially had me smiling. This was such an easy, entertaining romance to fly through, with plenty of swoon and just enough emotion to make the ending feel extra satisfying.
Sweet, funny, romantic, and full of the hockey-world chaos I love.
~~~~
A sincere thank you to Hilary Rose and Hayling Bookstorm Ltd. for the ARC! 🥰📚
I’m so grateful for the early read. As always, all thoughts and opinions are completely my own. ✨
September 13, 2026
This book is for all the girls who have been let down by the men in their life. Remember that this fictional man has a three for one ratio for orgasm, and he’s only getting one by the way. On a more serious note this was a ridiculous hockey romcom but also incredibly inspiring. I love a good Vegas Wedding and Ollie being obsessed from the start was just the cherry on top. He is determined to win over Payton and she is a literal saint for resisting him for so long. But there’s many twists in the plot, some incredibly sad and surprising, that lead to their romance being more real than fake. I loved both the characters and how well they fit together. Ollie is such a whipped puppy that follows Payton around, and he’s literally perfect. He wrote a super long list of the reasons he loves her to confess to her and I was crying my eyes out. All I can say is, if there’s a man in your life that’s not treating you right…FTG! FCK THAT GUY! Because you deserve better. And Payton is an icon, there are so many strong and iconic women in this series and I love that! She’s in private security and even starts her own business. And although she wasn’t too confident in her with at the start, by the end she confidently said FTG to her ex. I love how instead of Ollie being the solution to Paytons problems or being the one who “heals her”. He just builds her up so she can flourish by herself and that’s my favourite character arc in a book. And I also loved all the side characters too especially the meddling grandmother and Hunter who baited them into the Vegas wedding that started it all. This book was hilarious, so romantic and very emotional. I give it a 4.5/5
Review of advance copy received from Author
Rcvd an ARC from the author.
Ah man I loved this book! It covers what some feel like in a relationship that they thought was the one and end up becoming an independent kickass woman.
We meet divorcee Payton, who was dumbfounded when her husband decided he wanted more excitement...aka not her. She doesn't know where to go or what tp do but her grandma Gigi always had her back. Fast forward a year, she quits being a cop surrounded by narcissistic perks and decides to open her own PI firm. Payton also has a new group of girlfriends who most of them happen to be sig others of hockey players. We meet NHLer Ollie and his twin brother who are back home in TO to play hockey. He has been smitten with Payton since he met her and she always turns him down bc he is almost 5 years younger...like 34 is old. His teams wins the cup in Vegas and plays a drinking game with his goalie Hunter and Payton. After many many many drinks Hunter dares them to get married. Waking up married isnt what they planned as Payton never wanted to get remarried. Ollie thinks its a great idea and has to decide how to get Payton on board. Life isn't all cupcakes and rainbows esp when Payton loses Gigi. But like all meddling grandmothers Gigi gets the last word...they must stay married for a year and go to counseling or Payton doesnt get her inheritance. Easy peasy...right?! Now Payton just needs to not fall for her husband and Ollie needs to convince her to give them a chance. Drama, oh the witty banter, the LOL scenes and sexy hockey players makes this a fabu read.
Ah man I loved this book! It covers what some feel like in a relationship that they thought was the one and end up becoming an independent kickass woman.
We meet divorcee Payton, who was dumbfounded when her husband decided he wanted more excitement...aka not her. She doesn't know where to go or what tp do but her grandma Gigi always had her back. Fast forward a year, she quits being a cop surrounded by narcissistic perks and decides to open her own PI firm. Payton also has a new group of girlfriends who most of them happen to be sig others of hockey players. We meet NHLer Ollie and his twin brother who are back home in TO to play hockey. He has been smitten with Payton since he met her and she always turns him down bc he is almost 5 years younger...like 34 is old. His teams wins the cup in Vegas and plays a drinking game with his goalie Hunter and Payton. After many many many drinks Hunter dares them to get married. Waking up married isnt what they planned as Payton never wanted to get remarried. Ollie thinks its a great idea and has to decide how to get Payton on board. Life isn't all cupcakes and rainbows esp when Payton loses Gigi. But like all meddling grandmothers Gigi gets the last word...they must stay married for a year and go to counseling or Payton doesnt get her inheritance. Easy peasy...right?! Now Payton just needs to not fall for her husband and Ollie needs to convince her to give them a chance. Drama, oh the witty banter, the LOL scenes and sexy hockey players makes this a fabu read.
September 15, 2026
Hilary Rose did it again! The characters she creates are so authentic and relatable, you can’t help but love them! Her hockey knowledge is also legit, so you’ll always learn something.
I loved Ollie and Payton’s story though, and GiGi was *chefs kiss.* I cannot wait for the next installment!
As always, FTG! ❤️
I loved Ollie and Payton’s story though, and GiGi was *chefs kiss.* I cannot wait for the next installment!
As always, FTG! ❤️
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Spoilers:
Crazy Pucker was such a fun, feel-good hockey romance! I went into this one expecting a cute sports romance, but I ended up really enjoying the characters and the chemistry between Ollie and Payton.
Ollie was such a great male lead. I loved getting to see the softer side of him as the story developed, especially when it came to Payton. He had that confident hockey-player energy, but there was so much more to him than what was on the surface. Watching his relationship with Payton grow was definitely one of my favorite parts of the book.
And Payton was a fantastic female lead. She was strong, independent, and easy to root for, but she also had her own vulnerabilities and struggles that made her feel real. I really enjoyed watching her navigate her feelings for Ollie and seeing how their relationship evolved throughout the story.
The chemistry between these two was SO good. Their banter, the tension, the moments where they were clearly fighting their feelings… I was here for all of it! I especially loved how their relationship wasn't just about the romance. They challenged each other, supported each other, and slowly learned to let their guards down.
Of course, the hockey element made this even more fun for me. I love when a sports romance actually feels like the characters have a life outside of their relationship, and Crazy Pucker did a great job balancing the hockey, the personal storylines, and the romance.
There were plenty of sweet moments, some frustrating moments, lots of chemistry, and enough emotional depth to keep me invested. Ollie and Payton definitely had me turning the pages to see where their story would go.
Overall, Crazy Pucker was a fun, entertaining hockey romance with characters I really enjoyed getting to know. If you like hockey romance, great chemistry, banter, and a couple you can root for, definitely add this one to your TBR!
Crazy Pucker was such a fun, feel-good hockey romance! I went into this one expecting a cute sports romance, but I ended up really enjoying the characters and the chemistry between Ollie and Payton.
Ollie was such a great male lead. I loved getting to see the softer side of him as the story developed, especially when it came to Payton. He had that confident hockey-player energy, but there was so much more to him than what was on the surface. Watching his relationship with Payton grow was definitely one of my favorite parts of the book.
And Payton was a fantastic female lead. She was strong, independent, and easy to root for, but she also had her own vulnerabilities and struggles that made her feel real. I really enjoyed watching her navigate her feelings for Ollie and seeing how their relationship evolved throughout the story.
The chemistry between these two was SO good. Their banter, the tension, the moments where they were clearly fighting their feelings… I was here for all of it! I especially loved how their relationship wasn't just about the romance. They challenged each other, supported each other, and slowly learned to let their guards down.
Of course, the hockey element made this even more fun for me. I love when a sports romance actually feels like the characters have a life outside of their relationship, and Crazy Pucker did a great job balancing the hockey, the personal storylines, and the romance.
There were plenty of sweet moments, some frustrating moments, lots of chemistry, and enough emotional depth to keep me invested. Ollie and Payton definitely had me turning the pages to see where their story would go.
Overall, Crazy Pucker was a fun, entertaining hockey romance with characters I really enjoyed getting to know. If you like hockey romance, great chemistry, banter, and a couple you can root for, definitely add this one to your TBR!
Review of advance copy received from Indie Reviewers
My first Hilary Rose book and I was hooked from the first chapter! This is the 5th book in the series but can be read as a stand-alone.
What stuck with me:
Our fierce FMC, Payton - she was such a incredibly strong character, I loved her characteristics! Also loved our golden retriever MMC, Ollie - he was down bad for her and I was here for all of it!!
What surprised me:
How quickly I finished this book! I love it when the writing style makes it so easy to fall in love with the story and keeps you hooked throughout.
What frustrated me:
Payton's back and forth - luckily she made the right decision in the end...
What I couldn't stop thinking about:
How even after everything that happened to Payton in her previous marriage, she was able to see how not all men are the same and that her person is Ollie...
What I would actually tell another reader:
This book had so much to sink your teeth into - hurt, love, trust, forgiveness and chemistry between our MC's. The side characters added even more depth to this story and I absolutely loved Gigi - if you want to read a hockey romance that gives you way more than you expected, then add this to your tbr.
Thank you Hayling Bookstorm Ltd and Hilary Rose for gifting me an e-ARC in exchange for a honest review.
What stuck with me:
Our fierce FMC, Payton - she was such a incredibly strong character, I loved her characteristics! Also loved our golden retriever MMC, Ollie - he was down bad for her and I was here for all of it!!
What surprised me:
How quickly I finished this book! I love it when the writing style makes it so easy to fall in love with the story and keeps you hooked throughout.
What frustrated me:
Payton's back and forth - luckily she made the right decision in the end...
What I couldn't stop thinking about:
How even after everything that happened to Payton in her previous marriage, she was able to see how not all men are the same and that her person is Ollie...
What I would actually tell another reader:
This book had so much to sink your teeth into - hurt, love, trust, forgiveness and chemistry between our MC's. The side characters added even more depth to this story and I absolutely loved Gigi - if you want to read a hockey romance that gives you way more than you expected, then add this to your tbr.
Thank you Hayling Bookstorm Ltd and Hilary Rose for gifting me an e-ARC in exchange for a honest review.
Review of advance copy
Okay this book was HOT AF and I absolutely DEVOURED it!!! Hilary Rose really said accidental Vegas marriage + NHL superstar + forced proximity + he’s already secretly obsessed with her and expected me to behave normally??? ABSOLUTELY NOT.
Ollie Decker!!! THIS MAN. 😮💨🔥 The fact that he wakes up married to the woman he’s been secretly crushing on and basically thinks he’s won the damn lottery while Payton is ready to undo the whole thing had me DYING. 😂 He was so freaking determined to prove to her that their marriage wasn’t a mistake and I ate up every second of it.
And Payton!! I loved her so much. She’s been hurt before, she’s stubborn, independent and has built some serious walls around her heart, but watching Ollie slowly bulldoze his gorgeous hockey-playing ass straight through every single one of them was EVERYTHING.
The chemistry between these two was INSANE. 🔥🥵 The tension, the banter, the forced one-year marriage, the possessiveness, the spice… GOOD LORD. Ollie was giving golden retriever energy with a filthy edge and I was absolutely here for it.
I laughed, swooned, kicked my feet and probably needed to be hosed down at several points. 😂🔥
Payton + Ollie = freaking perfection.
Ollie Decker!!! THIS MAN. 😮💨🔥 The fact that he wakes up married to the woman he’s been secretly crushing on and basically thinks he’s won the damn lottery while Payton is ready to undo the whole thing had me DYING. 😂 He was so freaking determined to prove to her that their marriage wasn’t a mistake and I ate up every second of it.
And Payton!! I loved her so much. She’s been hurt before, she’s stubborn, independent and has built some serious walls around her heart, but watching Ollie slowly bulldoze his gorgeous hockey-playing ass straight through every single one of them was EVERYTHING.
The chemistry between these two was INSANE. 🔥🥵 The tension, the banter, the forced one-year marriage, the possessiveness, the spice… GOOD LORD. Ollie was giving golden retriever energy with a filthy edge and I was absolutely here for it.
I laughed, swooned, kicked my feet and probably needed to be hosed down at several points. 😂🔥
Payton + Ollie = freaking perfection.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I received this book as an ARC - thank you Hilary and team :)
I absolutely love and adore Toronto Northmen Series by Hilary Rose! Every time I finish a book, I don’t wanna leave their world and their characters. They are just awesome, lovable, relatable (well as much as you can relate to a life of fabulous and ridiculously hot hockey players and their other halves😜😂).
I love Hilary’s writing. She is a sports journalist so her descriptions of hockey are actually accurate!
Ollie and Payton are just “chef’s kiss” 🤌Ollie is such a sweetheart and so cute. And hot. Did I mention hot? Can he be my hall pass? But I digress.
The humor and banter in this and all other books is top notch. I love it. I laughed out loud more than I can count. Riley, I love you!
Love the little Easter eggs for other books. Love that there is always an element of mystery or some quite nefarious things happening right under our noses.
And the spice is spicing! It’s short but sprinkled in regularly. 🌶️🌶️🌶️/5.
So go read this one and all the others by Hilary Rose!
I absolutely love and adore Toronto Northmen Series by Hilary Rose! Every time I finish a book, I don’t wanna leave their world and their characters. They are just awesome, lovable, relatable (well as much as you can relate to a life of fabulous and ridiculously hot hockey players and their other halves😜😂).
I love Hilary’s writing. She is a sports journalist so her descriptions of hockey are actually accurate!
Ollie and Payton are just “chef’s kiss” 🤌Ollie is such a sweetheart and so cute. And hot. Did I mention hot? Can he be my hall pass? But I digress.
The humor and banter in this and all other books is top notch. I love it. I laughed out loud more than I can count. Riley, I love you!
Love the little Easter eggs for other books. Love that there is always an element of mystery or some quite nefarious things happening right under our noses.
And the spice is spicing! It’s short but sprinkled in regularly. 🌶️🌶️🌶️/5.
So go read this one and all the others by Hilary Rose!
Review of advance copy
This hockey romance is a fantastic, emotional, and spicy read that completely delivered on every trope I love.
I absolutely adore Ollie Decker, the golden retriever MMC who falls first and hard. Watching him adore, support and fight for Payton, was so sweet and fun. Payton is working through some trauma from her ex, who caused her a lot of self doubt, which leads to some self sabotaging. Her healing journey felt earned and deserved! I loved the found family elements and strong female friend group as well!
This book is plenty spicy, but it never sacrifices the actual plot or storyline, which I definitely appreciate.
Overall, there were moments I laughed out loud, giggled, and felt genuinely excited to watch the female main character reclaim her happiness. It was an absolute joy to read. I cannot wait to read more books by this author!
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.✨ rounded up to 5 ⭐️
Advanced ARC copy from Hayling Bookstorm Ltd and Hilary Rose in exchange for a honest review.
Releases September 22
Tropes:
🏒Accidental Vegas Marriage
🏒Forced Proximity
🏒He Falls First
🏒Golden Retriever MMC
🏒Small-Age-Gap
#CrazyPucker #HilaryRose
#haylingbookstormltd #bookstagrammer
#HockeyRomance
I absolutely adore Ollie Decker, the golden retriever MMC who falls first and hard. Watching him adore, support and fight for Payton, was so sweet and fun. Payton is working through some trauma from her ex, who caused her a lot of self doubt, which leads to some self sabotaging. Her healing journey felt earned and deserved! I loved the found family elements and strong female friend group as well!
This book is plenty spicy, but it never sacrifices the actual plot or storyline, which I definitely appreciate.
Overall, there were moments I laughed out loud, giggled, and felt genuinely excited to watch the female main character reclaim her happiness. It was an absolute joy to read. I cannot wait to read more books by this author!
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.✨ rounded up to 5 ⭐️
Advanced ARC copy from Hayling Bookstorm Ltd and Hilary Rose in exchange for a honest review.
Releases September 22
Tropes:
🏒Accidental Vegas Marriage
🏒Forced Proximity
🏒He Falls First
🏒Golden Retriever MMC
🏒Small-Age-Gap
#CrazyPucker #HilaryRose
#haylingbookstormltd #bookstagrammer
#HockeyRomance
September 11, 2026
Thank you Hayling Bookstorm Ltd and Hilary Rose for gifting me an eARC in exchange for a honest review.
Crazy Pucker by Hilary Rose
5/5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I absolutely loved this book. I have been on a hockey romance binge lately! I love a good hockey romance.
This story follows Payton and Ollie. What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, right? Not so much in their case. They get drunk, wake up married, and have no recollection of any of the events. Payton is convinced that she’s not marriage material since her childhood sweetheart leaves her after 20 yrs of marriage. She’s trying to protect herself and convinces Ollie it won’t work and they need to get divorced. As time passes Payton finds she might have a soft place in her heart for Ollie. Will they stay together? Not telling you. Read the book and find out. Definitely recommended!!
This book had me laughing so hard! Everyone wants a cool hip granny like Gigi.
Releases September 22
Tropes:
🏒Accidental Vegas Marriage
🏒Forced Proximity
🏒He Falls First
🏒Golden Retriever MMC
🏒Small-Age-Gap
#CrazyPucker #HilaryRose
#haylingbookstormltd #bookstagrammer
#HockeyRomance
Crazy Pucker by Hilary Rose
5/5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I absolutely loved this book. I have been on a hockey romance binge lately! I love a good hockey romance.
This story follows Payton and Ollie. What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, right? Not so much in their case. They get drunk, wake up married, and have no recollection of any of the events. Payton is convinced that she’s not marriage material since her childhood sweetheart leaves her after 20 yrs of marriage. She’s trying to protect herself and convinces Ollie it won’t work and they need to get divorced. As time passes Payton finds she might have a soft place in her heart for Ollie. Will they stay together? Not telling you. Read the book and find out. Definitely recommended!!
This book had me laughing so hard! Everyone wants a cool hip granny like Gigi.
Releases September 22
Tropes:
🏒Accidental Vegas Marriage
🏒Forced Proximity
🏒He Falls First
🏒Golden Retriever MMC
🏒Small-Age-Gap
#CrazyPucker #HilaryRose
#haylingbookstormltd #bookstagrammer
#HockeyRomance
Review of advance copy received from Author
Crazy Pucker is book five of The Toronto Northmen Series.
Ollie is totally infatuated with Payton, but she has been burned before and swears off relationships and marriage. However, one drunken night in Vegas changes things for both of them. Ollie was all in and I like his patient persistence. He knew they would be great together and was already half in love with her. He just needed to woe Payton and get her to learn to trust again.
Ollie is totally infatuated with Payton, but she has been burned before and swears off relationships and marriage. However, one drunken night in Vegas changes things for both of them. Ollie was all in and I like his patient persistence. He knew they would be great together and was already half in love with her. He just needed to woe Payton and get her to learn to trust again.
September 23, 2026
Payton and Ollie, you guys! OMG, that was some hardcore Never Have I Ever lol. This book was so great. I love a good Vegas story and man did this deliver. I had a blast with these two. Payton is fierce and I loved her for it. And Ollie is determined. These two were fire together. Their back and forth really kept driving this story. This is one of the best “ooops, I got drunk and married in Vegas” stories ever.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I absolutely loved this book so much! I’ve been waiting so long to read Ollie and Payton’s story and it definitely did not disappoint. Hilary’s knowledge of the sport of hockey is apparent in how she writes her scenes as they are believable. Love the foreshadowing for future novels and can’t wait to see what comes next for Holly (IYKYK) 😍
Review of advance copy received from Indie Reviewers
I loved the found family vibes here. I liked that Payton had her “family” with her through her ups and downs in the book.
Most of all, I loved how Ollie was so patient. He woos her, he cares for her and he waits for her walls to finally crumble to dust.
Most of all, I loved how Ollie was so patient. He woos her, he cares for her and he waits for her walls to finally crumble to dust.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I got this book as an ARC. I had not read any of the others. This book left me wanting for more. So much I went and read all the others and wanting the next one. I felt I was part of the WAGS and fit right in. I wanted them to work out and now want Foxy to have the same. I could see it happening in real time. I started feeling like I Knee how thos would go and yet I didn't. I loved every minute of it and felt almost jealous it wasn't real life and wanted to be there.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
This hilarious hockey romance was great! GiGi is my favorite but I can picture all these characters so well and I loved this story!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Super sweet!
Waking up married in Vegas is always a fan favorite! Lots of humor, some heartache, drama, emotion and a dash of intrigue.
I voluntarily read an advanced copy.
Waking up married in Vegas is always a fan favorite! Lots of humor, some heartache, drama, emotion and a dash of intrigue.
I voluntarily read an advanced copy.
September 23, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️️⭐️/ ️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Hilary Rose, you are a girl's girl through and through! While Crazy Pucker is book 5 in the Toronto Northmen series, this is the first book I have read by Hilary. This story is clearly for the girls who have been mistreated, under appreciated, or possibly feel unseen in their past or present relationships. This is Hilary’s reminder to readers that one bad apple may ruin your taste for a while, but don’t let it ruin apples for you all together. When you are least expecting it someone is going to come into your life to show you that love is worth finding and will spend every moment reminding you of that.
Payton made a vow to never love again. After her ex-husband shattered her heart into too many pieces to put back together, she never wants to feel that way again. Imagine her shock when she wakes up in Vegas; hung over and married. Her “husband” is someone she knows and pretty easy on the eyes, but younger. Her attraction to him isn’t hard to find, but it was all fun flirting, not let’s get married flirting. With an end date in sight for their marriage, she just has to keep her mind and heart on the same page. Yeah….easier said than done.
Ollie has been infatuated with Payton since the first time he saw her. He knows she’s been hurt and has closed herself off, but that won’t stop him from letting her know not all men will hurt her, especially him. Waking up married to her is a wish come true for him, but he knows he has work ahead of him. Especially if he wants her to truly see he isn’t like her ex and will never hurt her. Allowing her space to heal, vent, and unleash, he shows her time and time again that he is everything she never knew she was looking for.
I will definitely be reading the first 4 books as I love the characters Hailey has created. The side characters provide a brief look at a few others who have been MCs of their own books. The men on the hockey team were so fun to get to know and they truly have each other’s backs. I am excited to get to know Hilary more as an author. She wrote a story that I was able to lose myself in and enjoy. If you love books that focus on healing and romance, this book is for you!
As always, review any author notes before reading.
What to Expect:
🏒Hockey Romance
💙Age Gap Romance
🏒Accidental Marriage
💙Vegas Wedding
🏒Golden Retriever MMC
💙Divorced FMC
🏒Fresh Start
Hilary Rose, you are a girl's girl through and through! While Crazy Pucker is book 5 in the Toronto Northmen series, this is the first book I have read by Hilary. This story is clearly for the girls who have been mistreated, under appreciated, or possibly feel unseen in their past or present relationships. This is Hilary’s reminder to readers that one bad apple may ruin your taste for a while, but don’t let it ruin apples for you all together. When you are least expecting it someone is going to come into your life to show you that love is worth finding and will spend every moment reminding you of that.
Payton made a vow to never love again. After her ex-husband shattered her heart into too many pieces to put back together, she never wants to feel that way again. Imagine her shock when she wakes up in Vegas; hung over and married. Her “husband” is someone she knows and pretty easy on the eyes, but younger. Her attraction to him isn’t hard to find, but it was all fun flirting, not let’s get married flirting. With an end date in sight for their marriage, she just has to keep her mind and heart on the same page. Yeah….easier said than done.
Ollie has been infatuated with Payton since the first time he saw her. He knows she’s been hurt and has closed herself off, but that won’t stop him from letting her know not all men will hurt her, especially him. Waking up married to her is a wish come true for him, but he knows he has work ahead of him. Especially if he wants her to truly see he isn’t like her ex and will never hurt her. Allowing her space to heal, vent, and unleash, he shows her time and time again that he is everything she never knew she was looking for.
I will definitely be reading the first 4 books as I love the characters Hailey has created. The side characters provide a brief look at a few others who have been MCs of their own books. The men on the hockey team were so fun to get to know and they truly have each other’s backs. I am excited to get to know Hilary more as an author. She wrote a story that I was able to lose myself in and enjoy. If you love books that focus on healing and romance, this book is for you!
As always, review any author notes before reading.
What to Expect:
🏒Hockey Romance
💙Age Gap Romance
🏒Accidental Marriage
💙Vegas Wedding
🏒Golden Retriever MMC
💙Divorced FMC
🏒Fresh Start
Review of advance copy received from Author
My first book by Hilary Rose, and I was entertained from start to finish. I can confirm that this is truly a standalone, although reading the earlier books in this series will likely help you understand the dynamics better.
Ollie is a sweetheart. He falls for Payton the very first time he sees her and must be the most patient man on earth, given how long it takes for Payton to start to trust him and let him in for real. He's loyal, confident, caring and has just one goal in mind: staying together with Payton. It's like his birthday and Christmas rolled into when when he discovers that he and Payton got drunk married in Vegas.
Payton is cautious and careful. She's been burned badly before by her ex-husband and wants to avoid falling into the same trap again. She has plans to start her own business and doesn't need any distractions. She and Ollie are part of the same group of friends and so they keep running into each other... She's attracted to Ollie but just doesn't want to risk it. When the book loses an entertaining character - but gets a hilarious one back soon after (you'll have to read this book to figure this out!).
Was I a little frustrated that it took Payton so long to finally trust Ollie? Yes. Did I start feeling bad for Ollie at some point? Also yes. The slight mysterious element also seemed really obvious from the start, but I liked that this was a little sub-plot.
Overall, this is a fun, spicy story written in first person present-tense POV. If you like hockey romances with yearning and a hurt FMC who eventually starts seeing what's been in front of her all along, then this is the book for you!
Thank you to Hilary Rose and Hayling Bookstorm Ltd. for the ARC!
Ollie is a sweetheart. He falls for Payton the very first time he sees her and must be the most patient man on earth, given how long it takes for Payton to start to trust him and let him in for real. He's loyal, confident, caring and has just one goal in mind: staying together with Payton. It's like his birthday and Christmas rolled into when when he discovers that he and Payton got drunk married in Vegas.
Payton is cautious and careful. She's been burned badly before by her ex-husband and wants to avoid falling into the same trap again. She has plans to start her own business and doesn't need any distractions. She and Ollie are part of the same group of friends and so they keep running into each other... She's attracted to Ollie but just doesn't want to risk it. When the book loses an entertaining character - but gets a hilarious one back soon after (you'll have to read this book to figure this out!).
Was I a little frustrated that it took Payton so long to finally trust Ollie? Yes. Did I start feeling bad for Ollie at some point? Also yes. The slight mysterious element also seemed really obvious from the start, but I liked that this was a little sub-plot.
Overall, this is a fun, spicy story written in first person present-tense POV. If you like hockey romances with yearning and a hurt FMC who eventually starts seeing what's been in front of her all along, then this is the book for you!
Thank you to Hilary Rose and Hayling Bookstorm Ltd. for the ARC!
September 30, 2026
Crazy Pucker by Hilary Rose is book 5 in the hockey romance interconnected standalone series Toronto Northmen. This book follows a jaded almost mid-thirties divorcee, Peyton, and slightly younger Hockey player, Ollie. After a drunken night of celebrating a recent big win in Vegas, Peyton and Ollie wake up married. Ollie couldn’t be happier about it. He has been trying to get Peyton to give him a chance for years. Meanwhile, Peyton, who swore to never get married again, is panicked and eager to get an annulment. This book follows them through a year of figuring things out, with Ollie trying to win her over, and Peyton trying to protect herself from being hurt again. I read this as an advanced reader copy, so I didn’t have a chance to read the previous books, which all follow other couples. I would recommend starting at the beginning because there are minor references, which are potential spoilers for the earlier books, but it isn’t necessary to understand the plot.
I really enjoyed this book. It was funny, but also serious at times. The spice was spicy, but the characters also seemed to have a genuine connection. Ollie really is a golden retriever MMC and he was clearly already half in-love with her before the story even began. However, he also acknowledged that as much as he was attracted to her, more than just physically, he didn’t know her enough. I also appreciated the month to month time jumps. It made it feel more realistic, as building a foundation for a relationship and getting to know someone doesn’t happen overnight.
I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys hockey romances. It’s very spicy, without delving into the dark romance genre. I would say it’s contemporary sports romance with extra spice.
#CrazyPucker #HilaryRose
#haylingbookstormitd #arc
#bookstagram #sportsromance
I really enjoyed this book. It was funny, but also serious at times. The spice was spicy, but the characters also seemed to have a genuine connection. Ollie really is a golden retriever MMC and he was clearly already half in-love with her before the story even began. However, he also acknowledged that as much as he was attracted to her, more than just physically, he didn’t know her enough. I also appreciated the month to month time jumps. It made it feel more realistic, as building a foundation for a relationship and getting to know someone doesn’t happen overnight.
I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys hockey romances. It’s very spicy, without delving into the dark romance genre. I would say it’s contemporary sports romance with extra spice.
#CrazyPucker #HilaryRose
#haylingbookstormitd #arc
#bookstagram #sportsromance
September 25, 2026
Who doesn't love a Vegas wedding??? Definitely not me.
Crazy Pucker by Hilary Rose opens with Payton separating from her husband before she heads to Vegas with her friends for a much-needed getaway. What really caught my attention was the chapter told from a third-person POV, where we get to see just how chaotic Payton and Ollie's Vegas wedding actually was. It was such a fun way to tell that part of the story, and I really enjoyed it.
I also loved that the story wasn't just about the wedding. We got to see Payton grow throughout the book and slowly learn that not all men are the same. I really enjoyed watching her gradually let her guard down and open her heart to Ollie.
Overall, I really enjoyed this story, and I honestly didn't even feel like I was already reading the fifth book in the series. It was easy to get into, and I really loved how it was written. The only reason this didn't get a full five stars from me was the pacing. Everything moved very quickly, which is understandable considering the whole premise revolves around a Vegas wedding and an unexpected marriage. Still, I wished we could have had a little more time with Payton and Ollie getting to know each other before diving headfirst into marriage.
Many thanks to Hilary Rose and Hayling Bookstorm Ltd. for the opportunity to read this book.
Crazy Pucker by Hilary Rose opens with Payton separating from her husband before she heads to Vegas with her friends for a much-needed getaway. What really caught my attention was the chapter told from a third-person POV, where we get to see just how chaotic Payton and Ollie's Vegas wedding actually was. It was such a fun way to tell that part of the story, and I really enjoyed it.
I also loved that the story wasn't just about the wedding. We got to see Payton grow throughout the book and slowly learn that not all men are the same. I really enjoyed watching her gradually let her guard down and open her heart to Ollie.
Overall, I really enjoyed this story, and I honestly didn't even feel like I was already reading the fifth book in the series. It was easy to get into, and I really loved how it was written. The only reason this didn't get a full five stars from me was the pacing. Everything moved very quickly, which is understandable considering the whole premise revolves around a Vegas wedding and an unexpected marriage. Still, I wished we could have had a little more time with Payton and Ollie getting to know each other before diving headfirst into marriage.
Many thanks to Hilary Rose and Hayling Bookstorm Ltd. for the opportunity to read this book.
September 25, 2026
Can you ban joy onto a piece of paper?
I feel like you can, cause you can't even imagine the high I'm coming down from right now.
Crazy Pucker was a DELIGHT to read. I laughed, giggled and just got to froget real life and all it's chaos for a minute. I'm officially obsessed.
I don't have to tell you that I love a good found family, and if you know anything about hockey romances, they deliver the majority of the time. This one did as well. The WAG's, the team, Gigi - can I just meet them ALL please?
I loved how natural the progression of Ollie and Paytons story felt. She doesn't wanna love again after a bad heartbreak (Screw you, Tom!) but he's been pining for her for ages and he's in it to get the girl. A drunken Vegas Wedding and meddling friends (and grandmas) push them along their way and my eyes were glued to the page the entire journey.
The only reason this isn't a five star read is the occasional eye roll, when a deep or motivational quote was just that little bit too forced. I personally don't think like that, so it always throws me off. Plus some side character drama that was explained multiple times without any change and got slightly repetitive.
However, those were only quotes or short paragraphs, so I still loved the books and will start with book one right now.
I feel like you can, cause you can't even imagine the high I'm coming down from right now.
Crazy Pucker was a DELIGHT to read. I laughed, giggled and just got to froget real life and all it's chaos for a minute. I'm officially obsessed.
I don't have to tell you that I love a good found family, and if you know anything about hockey romances, they deliver the majority of the time. This one did as well. The WAG's, the team, Gigi - can I just meet them ALL please?
I loved how natural the progression of Ollie and Paytons story felt. She doesn't wanna love again after a bad heartbreak (Screw you, Tom!) but he's been pining for her for ages and he's in it to get the girl. A drunken Vegas Wedding and meddling friends (and grandmas) push them along their way and my eyes were glued to the page the entire journey.
The only reason this isn't a five star read is the occasional eye roll, when a deep or motivational quote was just that little bit too forced. I personally don't think like that, so it always throws me off. Plus some side character drama that was explained multiple times without any change and got slightly repetitive.
However, those were only quotes or short paragraphs, so I still loved the books and will start with book one right now.
September 22, 2026
Overall Rating: 4.46⭐
Overall Spice: 3.6🌶️
I've read all of published books in this series and each new one becomes my new favourite.
The story between Payton and Ollie is memorable, inspiring and relatable.
Payton isn't blind to Ollie's good looks, fun and loving nature, but the fact that she's been married already and it didn't end so well has left her jaded. She doesn't want to put that on him. She also feels like he's too young for him even though there is only 5 years difference (they are both in their late twenties and early thirties)
Ollie had a love at first sight moment with Payton and can't seem to let her go. He pulls all the stops to get her over her trauma and her past so she can just live in the moment with him.
After getting married in Vegas, even Payton's GG thinks they should be together so she uses her dying wish for them to stay together for at least one year. They're up to the challenge despite Payton's reservations.
There is so much hockey fun in this series and it didn't change in this novel. I can't wait to see what the rest of this group gets up to, and I'm excited to read about the Valkyries PWHL hockey series!
Overall Spice: 3.6🌶️
I've read all of published books in this series and each new one becomes my new favourite.
The story between Payton and Ollie is memorable, inspiring and relatable.
Payton isn't blind to Ollie's good looks, fun and loving nature, but the fact that she's been married already and it didn't end so well has left her jaded. She doesn't want to put that on him. She also feels like he's too young for him even though there is only 5 years difference (they are both in their late twenties and early thirties)
Ollie had a love at first sight moment with Payton and can't seem to let her go. He pulls all the stops to get her over her trauma and her past so she can just live in the moment with him.
After getting married in Vegas, even Payton's GG thinks they should be together so she uses her dying wish for them to stay together for at least one year. They're up to the challenge despite Payton's reservations.
There is so much hockey fun in this series and it didn't change in this novel. I can't wait to see what the rest of this group gets up to, and I'm excited to read about the Valkyries PWHL hockey series!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 22, 2026
I enjoyed this book and thought it was a fun accidental-marriage sports romance. The story picks up right after a wild Vegas night where Payton Kane gets drunk and accidentally marries an NHL superstar, Ollie Decker, during a competitive game of Never Have I Ever. Payton has sworn off marriage after her ex broke her heart, but because of circumstances, she and Ollie have to stay married and live together for a year before they can call it quits.
I liked the dynamic between Payton and Ollie, especially with the black cat and golden retriever energy. Payton is stubborn and guards her heart to avoid getting hurt again, while Ollie is a sweet, optimistic hero who has been secretly crushing on her and uses the forced proximity to prove they belong together. The bickering between them is entertaining, and watching Ollie slowly melt her defenses makes for a good slow burn. It balances the hockey environment with plenty of open-door spice and small-town adjacent family vibes. The pacing stays consistent from start to finish, making it a very quick read. If you like a sweet contemporary sports romance with a possessive hero who falls first, I'd suggest checking this one out.
I liked the dynamic between Payton and Ollie, especially with the black cat and golden retriever energy. Payton is stubborn and guards her heart to avoid getting hurt again, while Ollie is a sweet, optimistic hero who has been secretly crushing on her and uses the forced proximity to prove they belong together. The bickering between them is entertaining, and watching Ollie slowly melt her defenses makes for a good slow burn. It balances the hockey environment with plenty of open-door spice and small-town adjacent family vibes. The pacing stays consistent from start to finish, making it a very quick read. If you like a sweet contemporary sports romance with a possessive hero who falls first, I'd suggest checking this one out.
Review of advance copy received from Author
There's absolutely nothing better than a drunken Las Vegas wedding between a hockey player and a divorcee. I absolutely loved Payton and Ollie. Payton is such a strong FMC who has already been through one marriage with a terrible husband and has zero desire to repeat that and Olie is this sweet puppy dog hockey player who is absolutely obsessed with her and happens to marry her by chance in Vegas. Cue the rom com!
While Ollie fell hard and fell fast it took Payton some time to truly recognize what was really in front of her and I absolutely loved how long that the tension built up between these two characters, absolute perfection. I will say ,damn you for making me cry, I'm not gonna say why, you'll just have to read and figure out what did it! While the stars of this book were Payton and Ollie, I have to give a shout-out to Gigi! She is the most amazing, diabolical old woman and I was here for all of her shenanigans that happened throughout this book. Definitely must read and if you haven't checked out the first four books in this series, DO IT, because they are just as good.
While Ollie fell hard and fell fast it took Payton some time to truly recognize what was really in front of her and I absolutely loved how long that the tension built up between these two characters, absolute perfection. I will say ,damn you for making me cry, I'm not gonna say why, you'll just have to read and figure out what did it! While the stars of this book were Payton and Ollie, I have to give a shout-out to Gigi! She is the most amazing, diabolical old woman and I was here for all of her shenanigans that happened throughout this book. Definitely must read and if you haven't checked out the first four books in this series, DO IT, because they are just as good.
Read
September 21, 2026As a Canadian who isn't the biggest hockey fan, I can honestly say… I LOVED this! 😂🏒❤️
Crazy Pucker was such a fun, spicy, chaotic romance. Payton and Ollie had fantastic chemistry, and I absolutely loved their banter and the way their relationship developed. The accidental marriage and forced proximity made for so many entertaining moments, and Ollie’s golden-retriever energy completely won me over. 🥹💕
Add in the spice, hilarious group chats, hockey, and all the chaos, and I was completely invested.
Also… finding out AFTER finishing this that it’s book 5?! 😱 Apparently I accidentally jumped into the middle of the series, so now I need to go back and read books 1–4!
Such a fun read with great chemistry, plenty of laughs, and just the right amount of chaos. Definitely a five-star hockey romance for me!
Crazy Pucker was such a fun, spicy, chaotic romance. Payton and Ollie had fantastic chemistry, and I absolutely loved their banter and the way their relationship developed. The accidental marriage and forced proximity made for so many entertaining moments, and Ollie’s golden-retriever energy completely won me over. 🥹💕
Add in the spice, hilarious group chats, hockey, and all the chaos, and I was completely invested.
Also… finding out AFTER finishing this that it’s book 5?! 😱 Apparently I accidentally jumped into the middle of the series, so now I need to go back and read books 1–4!
Such a fun read with great chemistry, plenty of laughs, and just the right amount of chaos. Definitely a five-star hockey romance for me!
September 22, 2026
Crazy Pucker is the story of Payton and Ollie. She is an ex-cop-turned-P.I., and he is a professional hockey player who has had a crush on her for awhile, but since her divorce 3 years earlier wherein her ex told her he needed someone more exciting, she has been anti-relationship and anti-love. When Ollie's hockey team wins the cup in Vegas and they are all celebrating as a group (Payton is friends with several of the hockey players' significant others), drinking is involved and eventually they are dared to get married. When they wake up the next morning, Payton is immediately regretful and wants to end it, but Ollie thinks it's the best thing ever. Then something unexpected happens and they are stuck together for a year, and Ollie is determined to use that time to change Payton's mind and her heart. Love this couple, and this story!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I received and advanced copy to review
I honestly had SO much fun with this one! 😂🏒💍 The whole accidental Vegas marriage had me smiling, and I loved watching Payton try so hard to convince herself that marrying Ollie was a terrible idea.
Ollie was definitely my favourite. 🥹🏒 He’s such a sweetheart with that golden-retriever energy, and knowing he’d already been secretly crushing on Payton made their whole situation even better. I loved how determined he was to show her that their marriage didn’t have to be a mistake.
The banter, forced proximity and watching Payton slowly let her walls down were everything. 🖤 I found myself smiling so much while reading this, and it was just the fun, feel-good hockey romance I needed!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ **5 Stars**
I honestly had SO much fun with this one! 😂🏒💍 The whole accidental Vegas marriage had me smiling, and I loved watching Payton try so hard to convince herself that marrying Ollie was a terrible idea.
Ollie was definitely my favourite. 🥹🏒 He’s such a sweetheart with that golden-retriever energy, and knowing he’d already been secretly crushing on Payton made their whole situation even better. I loved how determined he was to show her that their marriage didn’t have to be a mistake.
The banter, forced proximity and watching Payton slowly let her walls down were everything. 🖤 I found myself smiling so much while reading this, and it was just the fun, feel-good hockey romance I needed!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ **5 Stars**
September 21, 2026
Crazy Pucker was such a fun, swoony read! If you love
🩷 SPORTS ROMANCE 🏒
🩷 FORCED PROXIMITY 🔥
🩷 SMALL AGE GAP 😏
🩷 DIVORCED FMC 💍
🩷 ACCIDENTAL VEGAS MARRIAGE 💒
🩷 GOLDEN RETRIEVER FMC 🤴
this one needs to be on your TBR!
The chemistry and tension kept me turning the pages, while the humor and emotional moments gave the romance plenty of heart. I loved watching the relationship unfold and getting all those swoony little moments along the way.
A fun, trope-filled romance with great chemistry and plenty to love—5 stars from me! 💕
Hilary Rose balances the humor and emotional moments really well, making this an entertaining romance from start to finish. Her books never disappoint and keep you wanting more and more stories from her.
*** I received this book in exchange
for an honest review***
🩷 SPORTS ROMANCE 🏒
🩷 FORCED PROXIMITY 🔥
🩷 SMALL AGE GAP 😏
🩷 DIVORCED FMC 💍
🩷 ACCIDENTAL VEGAS MARRIAGE 💒
🩷 GOLDEN RETRIEVER FMC 🤴
this one needs to be on your TBR!
The chemistry and tension kept me turning the pages, while the humor and emotional moments gave the romance plenty of heart. I loved watching the relationship unfold and getting all those swoony little moments along the way.
A fun, trope-filled romance with great chemistry and plenty to love—5 stars from me! 💕
Hilary Rose balances the humor and emotional moments really well, making this an entertaining romance from start to finish. Her books never disappoint and keep you wanting more and more stories from her.
*** I received this book in exchange
for an honest review***
September 29, 2026
OMG, I've been waiting for Ollie's book, and it did not disappoint. Technically yes this is a stand alone but as with any interconnected (especially with a hockey team or close group) it's always so much better if you've read the other books and things just hit different/harder/better etc when you know all their back stories. Hilary does a great job of recapping the other books for the characters that are heavily featured in this book, and I absolutely loved seeing the other parts of their relationships! Ollie is such a golden retriever, and im so glad he finally got his HEA and that Payton got hers but didn't have to give up being the bad ass b!tch that she is! I love the PWHL rep and can't wait to see more books in this series and, hopefully, a PWHL cross-over series!!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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