⭐ 3.5
🌶️ 1.5
🥵 Spicy chapters: 21, 23, 24, 27
📚 Tropes/Themes: hockey, slow burn, love triangle-ish? Revenge, pmdd rep
👀 Dual POV 1st person
💔 Triggers: mentions of: parental abandonment, alcoholism, DV and CA

💬 I feel pretty neutral about this book. It was okay but the story didn't really grab me. I did get a little bit more interested in the end when the drama kicked up, but for the most part I didn't really feel very strongly either way about it.

I think my biggest issue is I couldn't decide initially if the karma/revenge thing was cute or childish. It might be a weird double standard or something, but I think it wouldn't have bothered me as much, if I were watching this as a movie. In a movie you don't really have as much time to sit and chew over what's happening so I would have found the revenge plot enjoyable. But since I'm reading it and I can sit there and process things, I can't get past the idea that it's just childish.

Along with that, I guess it makes me a bad woman but I kind of feel like the PMDD thing is weird. I know it's a real thing- I even know people who struggle with it but I guess I just didn't expect that of all things to be included as part of the tension. I stand by the need for normalizing and the destigmatization of menstrual cycles but I guess for so long it's been used to excuse away and devalue a woman's valid feelings/concerns, that it was kind of jarring to see it mentioned.

I love the idea of the Karma Club and had to rush out to read the other books. I enjoyed how strong Astrid is as a protagonist - there's something empowering about a woman seeking to right wrongs. Blake is definitely a detour but you could tell from the beginning that they were going to get together.

Wow, what an exciting read! 'The Puck Stops Here' by Rachel Stewart is a thrilling page-turner that kept me on the edge of my seat. The writing is engaging, and the characters are well-developed and relatable. I loved the hockey theme and the way the author wove it into the story. The plot twists and turns, keeping you guessing until the very end. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves sports romance or mystery. Can't wait to read more from this author!

When I picked up this book through an arc, I didn't realize it was the third instalment in a series. The author gives the perfect amount of background in the prologue that I didn't notice it was the third book until I went to see when the next one came out ( I just started the first book, but it seems like they are all taking place concurrently).

This is a John Tucker Must Die-esque story, that starts when four strangers meet in an airport and vow to get revenge on their respective exes who scorned them. Astrid is paired up with Sienna's ex, Aiden, a professional hockey player and is committed to getting revenge for her new-found best friend, that is, until she falls fast for his twin brother. Astrid is a reporter, and reaches out to do a PR piece on the "Twin Titans" to help rehab Blake's (MMC) aggressive bad boy image.

The author conveyed the emotions behind Astrid's choice of commitment to her new friends vs falling in love with the other brother so well. It was a funny, easy read and I immediately jumped into the rest of the series.

A hilarious and spicy hockey romance full of revenge, red-hot tension, and unexpected sparks. Journalist Astrid Sinclair and her fierce crew of ex-targeting besties are on a mission to get back at the men who broke their hearts, but when Astrid sets her sights on NHL star Aiden Carter, things get complicated fast. With killer heels, a sharp wit, and an all-access pass, she’s ready to expose the truth, until Aiden’s brooding twin Blake shows up and throws her carefully planned game off balance. It’s a messy, addictive play where breaking hearts might mean saving her own.

2.5 Stars ~ The premise of this book sounded really interesting--secret revenge, hockey, and hot twins? Say no more! However, the execution fell flat for me; the pacing felt very rushed which saddened me. Perhaps my downfall was not realizing this is the third book in an interconnected series. A huge part of this book is the set up of Astrid meeting random girls on a plane and making a pact to get revenge on their exes, but their actual meeting didn't feel impactful and felt like it was skimmed over. Blake and Aiden were spilling their secrets to a reporter they've only met a few times? Inviting her over to meet their mom after meeting a few times as well? Hard to believe and I almost DNF-ed this book. However, the tension between Blake and Astrid kept me intrigued enough to finish the book, and it did get a bit better in the last third of the book. I am very intrigued about how Aiden and Sienna's story will progress though!

This is such a fun read. I am loving the Karma Club as these four friend get revenge on the men who hurt them. This time is Astrid turn and her story did not disappoint. I loved her chemistry with Blake. This is a slow burn romance with the perfect amount of spice. There's humor, emotions and a few twists here and there. This is a great addition to a really fun series and I can't wait for the next one.

This latest installment in The Karma Club series follows Astrid, a sharp and determined journalist who meets three other women during a snowed-in airport delay. After venting about their exes, the women form a pact: each will help get revenge on someone else’s ex. This time, it’s Astrid’s turn to take down Sienna’s heartbreaker.

Armed with her media credentials, Astrid infiltrates the world of professional hockey under the guise of writing a PR article—only to find herself caught between twin brothers Aiden and Blake. While Aiden is the original target, it’s Blake who catches her eye (and heart), throwing a wrench into her carefully laid revenge plans.

What should have been a mission of retribution quickly turns into a tangled mess of emotions, secrets, and undeniable chemistry. Astrid is torn between loyalty to her new friend and the growing pull she feels toward Blake. Can she have justice and love, or will one cost her the other?

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood books for this free advanced copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily

What a snooze fest. The pacing was painfully slow, and the story never really found its footing. The main character was supposed to be a prize-winning journalist, but her dialogue and inner monologue came across more like a 16-year-old girl—immature, awkward, and not at all convincing. It was hard to stay engaged when the tone felt so off. Unfortunately, this one just didn’t work for me. Would not recommend.

This is the third book in the multi-author series The Karma Club. While it can be read as a standalone, I highly recommend reading the other books in the series! This book is about Astrid and Blake. The relationship between Blake and Aiden was wonderfully and heartwarmingly portrayed, and I loved their bond. The chemistry between Blake and Astrid was also wonderfully written. As with the other books in the series, this one was an absolute fun read!

The Karma Club invades the Ice Hockey World in the third book of this entertaining series. Journalist Astrid is determined to get karma for Sienna when she meets Aiden, one of the celebrity twins playing for the New York Titans. It's Blake, the other twin, who gives her an angle for her article, and his bad boy behaviour is something Astrid finds hard to resist. It's an emotional story with many humorous moments and simmering sensual spice. I like the twisty plot that keeps you guessing, the comic moments that you can so easily imagine and the passion, both on and off the ice.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

Rachael Stewart's "The Puck Stops Here" offers a sizzling and irresistible sports romance amidst the high-stakes world of professional hockey. The premise is instantly intriguing: author Astrid Sinclair, a member of "The Karma Club," seeks revenge against NHL super-slasher Aiden Carter, who previously broke her friend's heart. Her plan is to infiltrate the New York Titans in disguise as an exposé.

But Astrid's mission is soon hijacked by Aiden's tortured, hellishly hot twin brother, Blake. A perfectly thought out scheme for revenge morphs into forbidden, spontaneous passion as Astrid and the "wrong" twin ignite in a fiery chemistry.

The author skillfully weaves snappy banter, smoldering chemistry, and the inherent tension of a revenge plot turned awry. Readers will cheer for Astrid as she struggles with her conflicted feelings and tries to maintain the original objective. "The Puck Stops Here" is a fun, compelling read that masterfully blends humor and real emotion, a slam dunk for hockey romance and revenge-to-lovers enthusiasts.

A delightfully charming hockey romance that is easy to read & relaxing! Four women come together & form new friendships as each discovers how their ex’s have hurt them. There is only one solution to their misery: insuring that karma comes to the men that ruined their lives.

In the case of Astrid, an award winning journalist, she is ready to deliver karma upon NHL hockey superstar, Aiden Carter. Only Astrid discovers that Aiden also has a NHL hockey superstar twin brother, Blake. Aiden is the image of perfect while Blake is the image of dangerous & mysterious. These brothers could not be more different & their secrets & actions speak volumes. Astrid comes up with some creative ways to get back at Aiden, which brings easy laughter, however she keeps losing track of her purpose as she becomes closer to Blake. There is plenty of emotion & empathy in the book that develops between the three characters. Even with some of the concerning issues of the characters, Stewart keeps the story light & the reader wondering how it will all end. Add to the TBR list? Absolutely!

I am a hockey romance book girlie through and through. i absolutely raved about this book to all of my hockey romance loving friends. this was an absolutely amazing read. chiefs kiss material. the romance was there i needed it. i picked this up thinking i wouldnt love it this much but i absolutely do. high recommendation.

This was good, I love a hockey romance in between big reads and this nailed it. I devoured the book within 24 hours, it was a light easy read

what a fun revenge plot. i love how these girls get together and try to get back at each others exes. this was a very enjoyable read, and of course the romance was amazing.
i am curious to read the other books in the series as well, and see how their plots turn out.

thank you to netgalley and the author for sending me the book in exchange for an honest review

Overall Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟.5/5

This was a new to me author so I went into this story with nothing. No idea of characters. Never read the first two book in the series (didn't know this was book three!)

I really enjoyed this story. The premise (revenge dating a friend's ex) is a new micro-trope and Rachael did a great job is making us readers really feel that conflict. I'm definitely going to go back and read the first two in the series and see what kind of shenanigans those couples got into.

I love how this story is connected to the revenge pact. I am a little hesitant because getting revenge may be heartbreaking to others and that can be hurtful. I like both Astrid and Blake. I love all the friends. I like Aiden and hope that he and Sienna find their way back to each other. The emotions in this story put the reader through the wringer. The writing is good but is filled with wording that may take a second to pick up on. It is fun and sometimes funny.

Thank you so much for this opportunity!!! This was a cute sports romance! I do definitely recommend this book!

Where to start?! First, I am definitely in my romance and fantasy era, and I am here for it!

Who doesn't love a hockey romance?!? ... add in twins, a revenge plan, and reputation redemption, and I knew it would be an entertaining read!

I love Astrids' character and the little Scottish phrases that were sprinkled in from her heritage. The twins were chalk and cheese personality wise, with Aidens charming, level headed flirty personality and then Blakes Grumpyness/ hot-headed reactions, but as we go to know the characters, and the storyline developed, you could see the author thought a lot of how the characters would develop.

I honestly loved the fact the author brought in the PMDD topic and weaved it through the story with care and respect. We don't often see different types of women's health brought to light!

When I read this, I didn't realise it was part of the Karma Club series, which is written by 4 different authors! I have already read The Payback Plan, which I enjoyed, and this one was no different! I look forward to reading the others in this series!

If you are looking for a hockey romance with a slow burn, Grumpy MMC ( with good reason) and a revenge plot that goes sideways, and not forgetting a little bit of spice give The Puck Stops Here a read you won't be disappointed!

Thank you to Netgalley, Boldwood Books, and @rachaelstewart3 for the ARC copy!