Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for sending me an ARC of this book! While this could read as a standalone, this is the third book in a series focusing on one of the main characters. Because all of the characters/storylines are interconnected, it's a more satisfying read if you read the entire series. And what I will say is clever about this series: each FMC's story is written by a different author. As such, each book/FMC has a unique voice even though the books themselves tend to follow a storyline formula.

This book followed Astrid's story, which you get glimpses of in the other books, but really delve into here. I thought this book read the clunkiest of the three so far. While the main character is British, the story and other characters are all set in NY. Knowing that, I was constantly thrown while reading because all the characters spoke as if they were from the UK. The NY characters were using phrases and words that New Yorkers would never use and it made for awkward reading. This book also used multiple POVs, which I don't mind, but they would switch mid chapter and sometimes I found myself having to go back and reread to understand whose POV I was reading. Overall it was a sweet, predictable, feel good read, and as the other books do, it set up the final book #4 very well.

I had such a great time reading this book. It was a mix of some serious topics but also a really fun time. The relationships in this book were written so well. I love Astrid's relationship with her karma club girls, even though their friendship started as revenge against their exes it blossoms into something more and deeper. Blake and Aiden have such a great sibling relationship. I also enjoyed Blake and Aiden's relationship with their mom as well as Astrid's relationship with her mom. Astrid's relationship with Aiden started off as one thing but evolved when he saw the good she could do for his brother and that was really sweet. I really loved Blake in this book, he is not a perfect character and really had growth throughout the book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for providing this book, with my honest review below:
After reading an extremely complicated historical (war based) fiction book, I desperately needed an easy to digest and fun read. The Puck Stops Here fit that bill in spades. I never can resist a hockey romance book - and Astrid and Blake's story did not disappoint. The plot was easy enough to follow - love scorned women looking to dish back a little karma to the men that did them wrong...but will the plan succeed or backfire in the most delicious way imaginable? Delicious in the sense that I devoured the entire book in less than 24 hours - and as a sleep deprived mom of 5, staying up till all hours of the night to keep reading 'just one more chapter' is saying something. It had just the right amount of spice and slow burn to keep pulling me along to see how the story would unfold, The author does a great job developing characters that are relatable, flaws and all, that make you want to root for everyone to have a good ending. I love a book that makes me feel lighter and not like I had to really focus in order to understand and the Puck Stops Here was just that. My few minor complaints were the following: The story follows characters born and raised in the United States, but the words they use are frequently not how, at least in my experience, Americans speak. A few examples are referring to boarding an airplane as 'the coach this morn', or sleeping in as 'lie-in', or to walk up to something is to 'rock up', or going to someone's home as 'calling' on them, or a French press is called a 'cafetiere', saying 'aye' for yes, calling a young boy a 'lad' etc... While none of these things kept me from enjoying the book, it did distract me a bit and made the story feel a little less authentic due to the fact it was happening during the times Americans were supposed to be speaking or at least from their point of view. Also, much of the writing is put together in a way that I had to reread sentences here and there to see if there might have been a typo or if it was simply said in a way that is more palatable for the British and not as understood by an American. "Blake looked back to the exit. To where she'd been stood...feeling her presence even though she was gone" To where she'd been stood made me pause to realize this wasn't a typo, it just simply meant 'to where she had last been standing.' Also, many colloquialisms I was not aware of that had me stopping to google- journalists are referred to as journos, foo foo was slang for vagina, calling air-condiditoning 'aircon'. There were many times throughout the book that I was just slightly distracted by these little things. In the overall scheme of things, very unimportant, but for some reason it stuck out for me. Just the same, I very much enjoyed this easy and fun read, and am intrigued by the dangling carrot the author leaves at the end.

This book was really sweet.

Gruff hockey player Blake meets his match with journalist Astrid.

Astrid and her friends make a pact to get revenge on their ex’s for making their lives miserable. Astrid ends up agreeing to fool Sienna’s ex Aiden and making a mockery of him to the world.

Things don’t quite go to plan when Astrid falls for Aiden’s twin brother Blake.
Astrid goes behind the scenes to write an article about the brothers and how they became such superstars in the NHL.
She gets very close to the brothers but there is a big spark with twin number 2.

It then gets complicated when feelings change and Astrid struggles with her deceit.

Third act breakup but doesn’t last long and we get the HEA we all love and need!

Great story by this author and will definitely read more.

5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I was approved for this book on NetGalley while in the middle of reading something else but decided to read the first couple of chapters to see what it was like… 4 hours later I’d read the whole thing, this book was so addictive.

The story line is a throw back to 2000s rom- com hits like John Tucker Must die and How to lose a guy in ten days. With a really likeable cast of characters and a really cute central couple, this was an incredibly fun nostalgic read.

There are some really funny moments too, I laughed out loud when Astrid learned the hard way not to use a hand dryer to deal with wet jeans and when Blake comes up with an inventive use for an oversized Christmas jumper 😂

This is a book to cancel plans for!

Thank you to Boldwood books for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Honestly, this book was a bit tough to get into at first, but I ate it up once the dynamic was dynamic-ing. My only complaint, which is generally common for me with less than 400-page contemporary romance, is that the MMCs feel a little Insta love. And unfortunately, this book had a lot of that.

I realized later that this is part of an interconnected series, and I probably will read the other books. Overall, no major complaints with this book, just not revolutionary. I thought the steaks were just high enough to be fun and enticing, but at the end of the day, this is very similar to other books I've read.

📖 / 3⭐️

Thank you to Boldwood Books via NetGalley for this eARC in exchange for my honest opinions! #ThePuckStopsHere #NetGalley

The puck stops here is an adrenaline rush of a tale with swoony, seductive and sage moments interwoven in a tale of devastating attraction and the chords of self realization and adoration of the soulmate who truly sees you for who you are...

The tale sees Astrid Sinclair play the investigative journalist whose aim is to rain sexy retribution on Aiden Carter for abandoning his childhood sweetheart, if she can tune her focus away from his broody twin Blake...

Rachael Stewart weaves a stunner of a tale for spicy, sporty romcom lovers, with oodles of texting, flirtation and hot heavy moments. The meshing of childhood traumas and how they influence our perception of events and color our personalities is explored in a nuanced way.. I breezes through the tale in a couple of hours and am bathing in the afterglow!

Many thank yous to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for furnishing me with the ArC! And my karmic congratulations to Rachael Stewart on a spicy reckoning of a romance...

I loved the concept and the storyline of this book. Hockey romances are one of my favorite genres! Plus add in 4 women meeting and coming up with a "strangers on a train" scenario to give their ex's some payback. Love it. I just had a hard time connecting with the main characters for some reason.

I could not connect with the story, I found the premise juvenile and not very relatable. The characters were not easy to like. .

The Puck Stops Here is the 3rd book in Rachael Stewart's Karma Club series. I haven't read any of the others (yet!) and had no problem following along with the story or with the characters.

Astrid is seeking revenge on behalf of a friend and the target is NHL star Aiden, and to get close to him to carry out her revenge she has to also meet his brother, Blake, also an NHL star.

Things start to go off plan when she starts finding Blake attractive and the revenge plot doesn't seem as necessary.

Ms. Steward delves into the other side of it - everything isn't as the public thinks they are and we find that Blake is so much more than a hockey star and that revenge isn't as neatly carried out as Astrid thought it would be.

Everyone grows in this book and I really enjoyed watching it play out.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

I loved everything about this book! The immediate chemistry between Astrid and Blake, gah! Delicious. The characters all had well written backstories and the plot, although predictable, was still enjoyable.

Thank you Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this book.

The Puck Stops Here was an enjoyable read for me. It took until about the halfway mark for the story to fully grab me, but once it did—I was locked in.

I think the author handled the complexity of the situation—Astrid’s revenge plot versus the actual truth—beautifully. I was a little worried that this angle might lead me to dislike her, but Astrid came across as both genuine and tactful. Despite her initial motivation and underlying guilt, there was surprisingly little actual deception on her part. She remained professional throughout, with just a few playful hijinks (Lion King moment, anyone?).

What really surprised me, though, was how emotional this story made me. The prevalent theme of family—both found and from—hit hard in the best way. Blake and Aiden’s relationship with each other and with their mother, in particular, added a level of tenderness and heart that I wasn’t expecting in a sports romance. It grounded the story and gave it lasting impact.

⚠️ Content warning: brief allusion to miscarriage and descriptions of physical abuse.

Thank you to NetGalley, Boldwood Books, and Rachael Stewart for the privilege of receiving this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Puck Stops Here is a sharp, sexy, and emotionally layered addition to The Karma Club series, proving Rachael Stewart knows exactly how to score with readers. Packed with banter, chemistry, and a perfectly chaotic revenge plan gone sideways, this book is a home run—or rather, a slapshot straight into the heart.

At the center is Astrid Sinclair, a whip-smart journalist who stumbles into sisterhood during a snowed-in layover. Along with her newfound crew of scorned women, she forms a pact to exact karma—not on their own exes, but each other’s. Her target? NHL superstar Aiden Carter, the guy who crushed her friend Sienna. Her weapon? Her charm, a press pass, and a plan to expose him in an exclusive piece.

But the mission gets messy when Astrid finds herself face to face with Aiden’s twin brother, Blake—a hockey player with a chip on his shoulder and a reputation that’s been dragged through the ice. The more she digs, the more she finds herself drawn to Blake’s gruff exterior, wounded pride, and unexpected warmth. What starts as a calculated plan for vengeance quickly turns into a game neither of them saw coming.

Where this book shines is in its emotional beats. Stewart doesn’t just stick to the spicy, enemies-to-lovers tropes (although they’re deliciously executed); she digs into grief, identity, and the public vs. private self. Blake is a standout romantic lead—moody, misunderstood, but fiercely protective. And Astrid? She’s a force. Sarcastic, principled, and emotionally complex, she adds a dose of realness to every scene she’s in.

There’s a lot to love here:
• Twin drama that actually adds depth, not just confusion
• Forced proximity that never feels forced
• Redemption arcs that hit hard
• Steamy tension that doesn’t sacrifice emotional payoff

Fans of The Hating Game, Icebreaker, or even John Tucker Must Die will eat this up. It’s fun and flirty with a pulse of something deeper—making it more than just another sports romance. And even though it’s the third in the series, it can stand on its own—though you’ll want to go back and read the others just to stay in the loop with the Karma crew.

Plus, let’s talk about that setup for the next book. If Harvey’s about to get what’s coming to him, readers better buckle up.

Final verdict: A clever, sexy, and surprisingly heartfelt romance that hits every note right. If you like your love stories with sass, sweat, and soul, The Puck Stops Here is one to add to your TBR.

What a fun and flavoursome five-star read. This is the third instalment of the Karma club series, and I have loved getting to know all of the ladies and loved their stories, this one just had a lovely little extra to it, and I am so excited to see what this group will do next. I haven’t read this author previously, but I enjoyed this one so much I plan to check out their other work, I don’t know why but this one made me really care about Astid and it took me a while to get there with the ladies in the first two stories by the other authors. I will just say that this one I really enjoyed, and I was excited to see how Astrid went with her heart, I am sure Karma would be proud.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for providing this book, with my honest review below.

The Puck Stops Here is a continuation of The Karma Club series, which will appeal as a must read romance with a twist for fans of lighter revenges gone right (at the end). In this book we follow Astrid, a journalist who is using her occupation to get close to hockey twins Blake and Aiden. The real target here is Aiden, who truly broke another member of the club, Sienna’s, heart years ago when he left town and broke all contact.

Unlike the previous books this had several more serious topics at its heart and I believe that works well for book 3 of this series and if this is read as a standalone. Blake is the real subject of Astrid’s article even though Aiden is the target for Astrid’s revenge, and they have an instalust that heats up quickly. Well done, just like the other books, I’m constantly surprised that all the books are written by different authors, since they do a great job of calling back to one another and keeping the characters true to readers’ precious peeks at them.

A more emotional story, and absolutely worth picking up whether you like the series or want a diversion in a single book. Now to voice what other fans of the series must surely be thinking… we are going to see Harvey (who is actually foul, unlike most of the other targets) get his epic takedown in the next book, right?

This book was soooo good!! I couldn't put it down!!
I caught myself giggling and kicking my feet several times whilst reading this 🙃
I loveeee Blake and Astrid sooo much, their connection and tension was divine!
The Puck Stops Here is about our FMC called Astrid who works in journalism but goes home for Christmas where her flight gets delayed. However, she meets a group of girls who become instant besties! They decide to take part in a revenge pact against all their ex's who have hurt them! She has to go after the NHL star Aiden Carter but he has a wild twin brother and she'll be working with the both of them, in order to repair Blakes image. However, it won't be that easy!!
We have forced proximity, he falls first, bad boy x good girl 🔥
The story between Astird and Blake is amazing, he's so thoughtful and caring towards her and she's always there to cheer him up and support him through his difficult moments!
This book made me so excited for Sienna and Aiden's story!! That will be another phenomenal read! 🥰

Thank you to Rachael Stewart & Boldwood Books for the ARC of this book! 💗

This was a really fun hockey romance. Blake and Astrid were great and I thought they had good chemistry. Looking forward to more of this series!

I enjoyed this book although it took me a min to get into it! I’m glad I stuck with it because I loved Blake and Astrid’s story!

the premise of this was interesting, although I had a bit of a tough time getting into it. I'm glad that I stuck with it. Blake and Astrid were similar and instantly attracted to each other. The twin dynamic was intriguing and helped the story. I enjoyed this and I really want Sienna and Aiden's story now.

En esta tercera entrega de The Karma Club, la narrativa gira en torno a Astrid Sinclair y Blake Carter, dos personajes con cicatrices emocionales.


Astrid es una periodista feroz, con una pluma afilada y una determinación aún más cortante. Su misión: limpiar la imagen pública de Blake Carter, uno de los temibles Gemelos Titanes del hockey profesional, mientras cumple su promesa con Sienna de vengarla ed su ex Aiden, el gemelo de Blake. Inteligente, sarcástica y vulnerable en su interior, Astrid es una protagonista con fuerza y humanidad a partes iguales. A lo largo del libro, debe equilibrar su ética profesional con una atracción que desafía toda lógica y sus propias reglas del juego.

Blake Carter, por su parte, es un hombre con una armadura emocional. Mientras que su gemelo Aiden encarna la perfección y el carisma, Blake es todo lo contrario: oscuro, impetuoso, temperamental… pero con un corazón enorme que pocos conocen. La tensión entre su reputación pública y su verdadero yo es el eje que mueve toda la historia. Y Astrid será la primera en rascar esa superficie… y descubrir lo que realmente late debajo.


Fue el que menos me ha gustado.

No puedo esperar por el siguiente libro que es el que más me intriga.

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest