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kim03's review
Something about the way miss Helena hunting describes "puck bunnies" and lingery shopping (not correlated) makes me incredibly uncomfortable.
This book feels like a product of its time in a bad way, which is not an excuse for some of the content.
This book feels like a product of its time in a bad way, which is not an excuse for some of the content.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Misogyny, and Sexual content
megnut's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I generally enjoy spicy romances... but this seemed to be pretty heavy on it. (Like the rest of the plot was just there until they could get back in bed.) There could've been so much more into developing the characters instead of constant sexual escapades.
I also didn't know whythe ex boyfriend wasn't part of the resolution, especially since he was her whole reason for not dating hockey guys & had done the same thing of acting like she was nothing .
I also didn't know why
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
rustbeltcoastie's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
The story itself was cute and funny and interesting. I wish the early chapters didn’t lean so hard on false conflict to drive the plot. The level of misogyny around the “puck bunnies” and the way the characters talk about other women is exhausting and disappointing. Also, a lot of the circumstances are just wildly unrealistic. There’s no scenario where paparazzi are tailing a hockey player through suburban Chicago over a non-famous girl. I will still read the next book in the series though.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Violence
circe813's review
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing and Sexual content
Minor: Injury/Injury detail
anovelglimpse's review against another edition
funny
fast-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
Original review: A Novel Glimpse
I’m not quite sure what to say about Pucked. It wasn’t quite the writing I’m used to from Helena Hunting. I’m guessing that’s because this book was published years before the ones I’ve read. It wasn’t that the writing was bad. I actually really loved the Violet and Alex’s story line. It was mostly Violet. I’m all for quirky characters. They’re usually really fun, but Violet was quirky in more of an irritating way. It was mostly the choice of words used for her. There were WAY too many beaver and MC references. They were funny the first couple of times, but then just got annoying. Overall, I enjoyed this one, but not as much as I could have. I’m still planning on continuing the series.
Re-Read Update: 10/30/23
I enjoyed Pucked even more this time through it. I upped my star rating from 3 to 4 because I had so much fun revisiting Violet and Alex. Violet was still super quirky, but I didn't find her as annoying this time. The whole "beaver" and "MC" thing didn't seem to bother me -- more like it was a hilarious reminder of how over the top Violet is. I didn't realize how much I missed this series. I think I need to reread the entire thing now!
I’m not quite sure what to say about Pucked. It wasn’t quite the writing I’m used to from Helena Hunting. I’m guessing that’s because this book was published years before the ones I’ve read. It wasn’t that the writing was bad. I actually really loved the Violet and Alex’s story line. It was mostly Violet. I’m all for quirky characters. They’re usually really fun, but Violet was quirky in more of an irritating way. It was mostly the choice of words used for her. There were WAY too many beaver and MC references. They were funny the first couple of times, but then just got annoying. Overall, I enjoyed this one, but not as much as I could have. I’m still planning on continuing the series.
Re-Read Update: 10/30/23
I enjoyed Pucked even more this time through it. I upped my star rating from 3 to 4 because I had so much fun revisiting Violet and Alex. Violet was still super quirky, but I didn't find her as annoying this time. The whole "beaver" and "MC" thing didn't seem to bother me -- more like it was a hilarious reminder of how over the top Violet is. I didn't realize how much I missed this series. I think I need to reread the entire thing now!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
kyleethecatlady's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I would’ve liked this book better if there wasn’t some weird transphobia thrown in the middle. Totally unnecessary and will definitely keep me from reading this author in the future.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Alcohol
Minor: Transphobia
ladylothlorien's review
This book is SO HOT that I kept ignoring some of the things that were bothering me, but I finally had to give up. The slut shaming just got worse and worse. It's not just the hockey players (including the hero) and the hockey "groupies" but the heroine also slut shames herself too.
And then there is the hero who is portrayed as "persistent" when he floods the heroine with gifts, calls, and texts AND THEN SHOWS UP AT HER WORK UNANNOUNCED AND LOCKS HER IN A CONFERENCE ROOM WITH HIM MOMENTS BEFORE A WORK MEETING. The heroine has not told him where she works, he has Facebook stalked her and finds a picture of her at her workplace on her brother's FB. Oh and he emails her at her work email because he thinks that is less "stalkery" than sending her a message on FB. O_O The justification for this is that the heroine believes an inaccurate story (that the hero never publicly refuted when given the opportunity) about the hero's promiscuity...so we're back to the slut shaming again.
A lot of the time I can accept behavior from characters that would not be okay in the real world, but I found the hero's "persistence" just too much. There were so many other ways that the hero could have handled the situation and the lengths he went to were just a series of red flags.
And then there is the hero who is portrayed as "persistent" when he floods the heroine with gifts, calls, and texts AND THEN SHOWS UP AT HER WORK UNANNOUNCED AND LOCKS HER IN A CONFERENCE ROOM WITH HIM MOMENTS BEFORE A WORK MEETING. The heroine has not told him where she works, he has Facebook stalked her and finds a picture of her at her workplace on her brother's FB. Oh and he emails her at her work email because he thinks that is less "stalkery" than sending her a message on FB. O_O The justification for this is that the heroine believes an inaccurate story (that the hero never publicly refuted when given the opportunity) about the hero's promiscuity...so we're back to the slut shaming again.
A lot of the time I can accept behavior from characters that would not be okay in the real world, but I found the hero's "persistence" just too much. There were so many other ways that the hero could have handled the situation and the lengths he went to were just a series of red flags.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Misogyny, Stalking, and Toxic relationship
So much slut shamingsami_leigh's review
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
⭐️⭐️⭐️.75/5
🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
“I double majored in English Lit and Kinesiology during my first year…”He double majored. My Spidey jammies are at risk of peeling themselves off.
🏒 First in a series (+ other series in the same world)
🏒 First person dual POV
🏒 Brother’s teammate (off limits)
🏒 He’s a player, she doesn’t date hockey guys…
🏒 Ice Hockey Captain / Sports Accountant
🏒 One night stand who calls…& texts…& emails…& sends flowers…
🏒 Well established secondary characters; Charlene & Darren (Book 6), Buck & Sunny (Book 2).
🏒 Banter 🙌🏻 (Violet is GOLD & we must protect her with our lives 😍)
🏒 MC growth: Past relationship trauma, trust, priorities, communication, self worth.
🏒 Consent Culture (we love Alex 🙌🏻)
🏒 Epilogue
🏒 Alex & Violet also feature in the All In series😍
🚩 ‘Slut shaming’ & stereotyping (‘hockey hookers’) perpetuated by MCs - even to refer to themselves - give negative self-concept.
🚩 No boundaries in the mother-daughter relationship of FMC.
🚩 MMC named his behaviour as ‘stalker-like’ whilst pursuing FMC; it’s only perceived as okay because he’s a pretty & famous hockey player.
🚩 Joke about gender reassignment, didn’t sit well.
🚩 Joke about gender reassignment, didn’t sit well.
This book is available on Kindle Unlimited.
⚠️ Injury/injury detail (mild), violence (mild; hockey related/teammate squabbles), sexism/misogyny (slut shaming by most MCs), transphobic (inappropriate joke).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Sexism and Misogyny
Minor: Transphobia, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
baexlee's review
If I never have to read about her boobs bouncing bouncily or her fucking beaver again it will still be too soon. Seriously “playing stuff the beaver” is a consistently used euphemism for sex.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Stalking and Sexual content
Moderate: Transphobia
hales2806's review
dark
funny
lighthearted
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content