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A review by rjordan19
Dances with Pucks by Debbie Charles
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Readability: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥
Humor: Yes, a bit
Perspective: first person from both hero and heroine with alternating chapters
More character focused or plot focused? character
How did the speed of the story feel? medium
When mains are first on page together: Not too far in – 4% (chapter 1)
Cliffhanger: No, this ends with a happy for now for the mains
Epilogue: Yes, a few months in the future
Format: voluntarily read an advanced reader copy from the author in e-book format
Why I chose this book: I have loved Maggie Sims (her historical name) and was eager to try more in her contemporary books!
Mains: This is a M/F relationship between a cishet hero and heroine
Should I read in order?
You can start here! But there is a prequel novella that you can get as a newsletter freebie.
Basic plot:
Cam finds a dance course to keep him limber during his off days from hockey – and he’s head over heels for his instructor. Who also happens to be co-owner of his team...
Give this a try if you want:
- contemporary romance
- Texas setting
- hockey romance – Goalie hero
- he’s tall – 6’ 3” – there is a small size difference (heroine is around 5’ 9”/10”) but she is also tall for a woman
- found family
- heroine is a financial investor, hockey team owner, and dance instructor
- endometriosis rep
- he takes dance to stay limber
- he’s younger than her
- celibate heroine
- hero has a dimple
- medium steam – 3ish full scenes (I could be a bit off, so I’d take this as a minimum)
Ages:
- hero is 24, heroine is 30
First line:
The sliding glass doors of the terminal open to a wall of heat, and I stagger back a step.
My thoughts:
Yay for playlists! I love when books include them and this one has one – it was especially fun to check out with the dancing scenes in the book.
I adored this novel so, so much. It was so fun. I loved both our mains right away. Their backgrounds have complex issues, but the way they come together and are so vulnerable and open with each other was so heart melting. There were a handful of forbidden love aspects to their relationship and I adored how they fell for each other so hard anyway.
This book had a great mix to me of character focused interactions. I loved the hockey scenes – especially from a goalie perspective. But I especially adored the dancing scenes – I sometimes have a hard time picturing scenes in books and their practices together were so well done. I could feel their tension building and it’s just such a perfect set up for a romance.
They had real issues on a few fronts, and I loved how they resolved them. This was such a steamy yet sweet read that I utterly loved.
Few random reading stats for this author
# of books read: This is my 2nd for Debbie Charles. If including her HR name, Maggie Sims, then this is 11.
Average rating: 5 stars. If including her HR name Maggie Sims, 4.9 stars
Favorite book: For Debbie Charles pen name, this one! For all books from Maggie Sims/Debbie Charles….maybe Charlotte’s Control?
Endearments
The hockey team calls the hero ‘Prancer’ and he calls the heroine ‘Dancer’
Quotes any typos are my own! I am bad with typos, I apologize
As he’s getting unwanted attention...
“No.” I fold my arms and of course her gaze goes to the bulge of my biceps against my ribs. That’s the only bulge she’ll be seeing.
---
In the next moment, my mouth goes dry. I swallow.
In the front of the house, a woman in a leotard and dancer’s wrap skirt is demonstrating a pivot to a pair of dancers. She’s my perfect...everything. I’d guess she is five-nine or -ten, wearing dance shoes with straps across the inset and a two-inch heel that would bring her to nose height on me.
---
He’s wearing dance shoes. Yes, please. Dance with me.
But social hour is almost over. Clearing my throat, I step toward him. “Can I help you?”
“I hope so. Christina?” He holds out a bear-paw-sized hand. At my nod, he adds, “I’m Cam.”
I shake his hand, my breath stuttering at the warm dry calloused skin engulfing mine.
---
He pulls my arm, stepping into a close hold and circling us in a tight position.
I lose my breath at the sensation of his length against me. And I do mean his length.
---
YES. Nod to HR
I’m starting to understand those bodice rippers’ references to heaving bosoms.
---
I grin. I can hold a squat for two hours – most of my game time is spent in that pose. I widen my feet and drop low.
Standing, she rotates one leg from the hip in a circle, toe pointed and knee straight. Her foot is on par with her head at the top.
I mirror it, my foot also even with my considerably higher head at the top.
Her mouth drops open.
I arch a cocky brow.
---
I’ve never been full-length against him like this. I close my eyes and enjoy his post-practice soap and deodorant scent. Under my hands, his back muscles shift and flex. His pecs are like steel against my cheek and I want to bite them, but they’re so hard I probably couldn’t get purchase.
He sucks in a huge breath, and his shirt and muscles rasp against my leotard-covered breasts.
---
I can’t remember a single one of the many reasons I thought this was a bad idea. All I can process is this magnificent mountain of muscle under me.
I sigh against his lips. They’re lush and plush and I really, really need to stop with the rhyming.
---
My mouth goes dry as her luscious peach of an ass passes my head. I want to bite it. Then I want to lay her on the desk and worship her with my lips and tongue. Or play teacher and naughty student who she takes to his knees. Or -
She’s back around the desk and tilting her head. “You seem flushed. Are you warm?”
---
I am shameless and over this lesson almost before it’s begun.
I don’t spin around and instead shimmy my ass against him.
His hand tightens around my waist as he pulls me even closer. We breathe in unison. My back brushes his chest with every inhale.
“Christina?” he asks into my hair. I’m sweaty and horny and I don’t care about resisting anymore.
I whisper, “Cam. Please.”
Spinning me around, he responds with a husky, “Thank fuck,” as his hands go to my head and his lips meet mine.
Content warnings: These should be taken as a minimum of what to expect. It’s very possible I have missed some.
- infertility / child free as a possible choice due to pain discussed
Author content warnings? Didn’t see any
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes, safe sex aspects, consent, pregnancy/child in the story:
Safe sex: Condoms used, and then discussion on BC
How’s the consent? It’s good
Pregnancy/children in story? There is the talk of the possibility of adoption in their future, but the heroine has had painful endometriosis and cannot have children due to it – she has tried accepting being child free.
31% - kiss in the dance studio
40% - 🔥 fingering/oral for her, her on top
He twists his finger inside me a fraction, then bends it and shortens his pistons as his tongue speeds up.
“Cam!” My shout echoes off the glass and wood.
“Yes, baby. Let go for me,” he hisses against me.
47% - 🔥 sex on a couch
“You don’t need to be slow tonight. Seeing you play made me so hot I could barely wait the hour for you. Changing into this didn’t help. The cool fabric sliding against me when I waned the roughness and heat of your hands? Please, Cam.”
57% - 🔥 kisses, mirror sex while squatting at the barre
He squats with his legs behind mine to align our hips. Those delicious hockey quads allow him to hold me rather than the barre, pressing his naked chest to my back above the low scoop of the bodysuit. I stare at us in the mirror.
His eyes are hooded as his gaze roams over me, and his hand is massive over my lower ribcage and stomach. “You’re gorgeous.”
I’m sucking wind like I just tried to race him on skates. “Cam. Please. Your skin feels so good against mine. I need more.”
“You’ll get it,” he promises.
68% - the start of a scene that is short and kind of fades
Readability: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥
Humor: Yes, a bit
Perspective: first person from both hero and heroine with alternating chapters
More character focused or plot focused? character
How did the speed of the story feel? medium
When mains are first on page together: Not too far in – 4% (chapter 1)
Cliffhanger: No, this ends with a happy for now for the mains
Epilogue: Yes, a few months in the future
Format: voluntarily read an advanced reader copy from the author in e-book format
Why I chose this book: I have loved Maggie Sims (her historical name) and was eager to try more in her contemporary books!
Mains: This is a M/F relationship between a cishet hero and heroine
Should I read in order?
You can start here! But there is a prequel novella that you can get as a newsletter freebie.
Basic plot:
Cam finds a dance course to keep him limber during his off days from hockey – and he’s head over heels for his instructor. Who also happens to be co-owner of his team...
Give this a try if you want:
- contemporary romance
- Texas setting
- hockey romance – Goalie hero
- he’s tall – 6’ 3” – there is a small size difference (heroine is around 5’ 9”/10”) but she is also tall for a woman
- found family
- heroine is a financial investor, hockey team owner, and dance instructor
- endometriosis rep
- he takes dance to stay limber
- he’s younger than her
- celibate heroine
- hero has a dimple
- medium steam – 3ish full scenes (I could be a bit off, so I’d take this as a minimum)
Ages:
- hero is 24, heroine is 30
First line:
The sliding glass doors of the terminal open to a wall of heat, and I stagger back a step.
My thoughts:
Yay for playlists! I love when books include them and this one has one – it was especially fun to check out with the dancing scenes in the book.
I adored this novel so, so much. It was so fun. I loved both our mains right away. Their backgrounds have complex issues, but the way they come together and are so vulnerable and open with each other was so heart melting. There were a handful of forbidden love aspects to their relationship and I adored how they fell for each other so hard anyway.
This book had a great mix to me of character focused interactions. I loved the hockey scenes – especially from a goalie perspective. But I especially adored the dancing scenes – I sometimes have a hard time picturing scenes in books and their practices together were so well done. I could feel their tension building and it’s just such a perfect set up for a romance.
They had real issues on a few fronts, and I loved how they resolved them. This was such a steamy yet sweet read that I utterly loved.
Few random reading stats for this author
# of books read: This is my 2nd for Debbie Charles. If including her HR name, Maggie Sims, then this is 11.
Average rating: 5 stars. If including her HR name Maggie Sims, 4.9 stars
Favorite book: For Debbie Charles pen name, this one! For all books from Maggie Sims/Debbie Charles….maybe Charlotte’s Control?
Endearments
Quotes any typos are my own! I am bad with typos, I apologize
As he’s getting unwanted attention...
“No.” I fold my arms and of course her gaze goes to the bulge of my biceps against my ribs. That’s the only bulge she’ll be seeing.
---
In the next moment, my mouth goes dry. I swallow.
In the front of the house, a woman in a leotard and dancer’s wrap skirt is demonstrating a pivot to a pair of dancers. She’s my perfect...everything. I’d guess she is five-nine or -ten, wearing dance shoes with straps across the inset and a two-inch heel that would bring her to nose height on me.
---
He’s wearing dance shoes. Yes, please. Dance with me.
But social hour is almost over. Clearing my throat, I step toward him. “Can I help you?”
“I hope so. Christina?” He holds out a bear-paw-sized hand. At my nod, he adds, “I’m Cam.”
I shake his hand, my breath stuttering at the warm dry calloused skin engulfing mine.
---
He pulls my arm, stepping into a close hold and circling us in a tight position.
I lose my breath at the sensation of his length against me. And I do mean his length.
---
YES. Nod to HR
I’m starting to understand those bodice rippers’ references to heaving bosoms.
---
I grin. I can hold a squat for two hours – most of my game time is spent in that pose. I widen my feet and drop low.
Standing, she rotates one leg from the hip in a circle, toe pointed and knee straight. Her foot is on par with her head at the top.
I mirror it, my foot also even with my considerably higher head at the top.
Her mouth drops open.
I arch a cocky brow.
---
I’ve never been full-length against him like this. I close my eyes and enjoy his post-practice soap and deodorant scent. Under my hands, his back muscles shift and flex. His pecs are like steel against my cheek and I want to bite them, but they’re so hard I probably couldn’t get purchase.
He sucks in a huge breath, and his shirt and muscles rasp against my leotard-covered breasts.
---
I can’t remember a single one of the many reasons I thought this was a bad idea. All I can process is this magnificent mountain of muscle under me.
I sigh against his lips. They’re lush and plush and I really, really need to stop with the rhyming.
---
My mouth goes dry as her luscious peach of an ass passes my head. I want to bite it. Then I want to lay her on the desk and worship her with my lips and tongue. Or play teacher and naughty student who she takes to his knees. Or -
She’s back around the desk and tilting her head. “You seem flushed. Are you warm?”
---
I am shameless and over this lesson almost before it’s begun.
I don’t spin around and instead shimmy my ass against him.
His hand tightens around my waist as he pulls me even closer. We breathe in unison. My back brushes his chest with every inhale.
“Christina?” he asks into my hair. I’m sweaty and horny and I don’t care about resisting anymore.
I whisper, “Cam. Please.”
Spinning me around, he responds with a husky, “Thank fuck,” as his hands go to my head and his lips meet mine.
Content warnings: These should be taken as a minimum of what to expect. It’s very possible I have missed some.
- infertility / child free as a possible choice due to pain discussed
Author content warnings? Didn’t see any
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes, safe sex aspects, consent, pregnancy/child in the story:
Safe sex:
How’s the consent?
Pregnancy/children in story?
31% - kiss in the dance studio
40% - 🔥 fingering/oral for her, her on top
He twists his finger inside me a fraction, then bends it and shortens his pistons as his tongue speeds up.
“Cam!” My shout echoes off the glass and wood.
“Yes, baby. Let go for me,” he hisses against me.
47% - 🔥 sex on a couch
“You don’t need to be slow tonight. Seeing you play made me so hot I could barely wait the hour for you. Changing into this didn’t help. The cool fabric sliding against me when I waned the roughness and heat of your hands? Please, Cam.”
57% - 🔥 kisses, mirror sex while squatting at the barre
He squats with his legs behind mine to align our hips. Those delicious hockey quads allow him to hold me rather than the barre, pressing his naked chest to my back above the low scoop of the bodysuit. I stare at us in the mirror.
His eyes are hooded as his gaze roams over me, and his hand is massive over my lower ribcage and stomach. “You’re gorgeous.”
I’m sucking wind like I just tried to race him on skates. “Cam. Please. Your skin feels so good against mine. I need more.”
“You’ll get it,” he promises.
68% - the start of a scene that is short and kind of fades