I really really really wanted to like this one but something about it just didn’t sit right with me. Maybe it was the pacing and how rushed everything was, or how quickly all 4 of the characters seemed to fall in love with each other (even though they are insanely different people and completely different stages of their life?)

I also don’t really know how the hockey thing played into it that much, because it didn’t seem like they were ever talking about or actually playing hockey. There was no pretence to anything going on, and no real character development. In all honesty it seemed like the author just wanted to create a book with multiple love interests who accidentally end up having a baby, and had to kind of fit everything else in around it to make it into something of a book.

There were just a lot of things that didn’t sit well and seemed cheesy and cringy or downright unbelievable (like the whole bi awakening that one of the characters went through, after being extremely weird with his “best friend” who he had been having threesomes with “for luck”

Like I said I really wanted to enjoy this one, especially since it had a lot of promising tropes that make for a really fun and entertaining romance, but this just came across as a budget version of Pucking Around by Emily Wrath. A version that was lead more by the threesome and accidental pregnancy than the characters and any real plot.

Overall, it was just ok. I’m sure if you’re in the middle of hockey or poly romances then this will give off the same kind of vibe and you’ll probably enjoy it.

Three Pucks and a Baby by Katie Ashley felt like a softer, less character-driven version of Emily Rath’s Pucking Around — with a baby added to the storyline. For a book that's nearly 380 pages, the plot was definitely there, but I wish we had seen more depth and growth from each character. It felt like we were dropped into their personalities from page one, with not much development after that.

The bi-awakening storyline came off a bit forced for one of the characters, and while age gaps aren’t usually my thing, I personally would have preferred the male leads to be a bit older. There were also several editing issues that occasionally made the reading experience hazy.

That said, it was still an easy, fun, spicy, and read overall! Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC — all thoughts are my own.

This book had potential to be a fun, chaotic, unconventional romance, and I appreciate the author’s willingness to explore a non-traditional relationship dynamic. I also liked that it aimed to balance humor, heart, and spice.

Unfortunately, the execution just didn’t work for me. The characters felt underdeveloped, major emotional beats were either time-skipped or told instead of shown, and the story moved too quickly for anything to feel believable. Important moments lacked buildup, and the pacing and character reactions often felt inconsistent or forced. There were also quite a few editing issues that made the reading experience confusing at times. Overall, this one wasn’t for me.

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

A HEA polyamorous, college, sports, age gap, surprise pregnancy after a one night orgy romance between 3 hockey players and a university librarian. It was similar to Pucking Around by Emily Rath but not as good. While it kept me entertained for an evening, it was surface level. If it was ripped out of my hands half way through, I wouldn’t have cared. The spice could have been spicier. The emotional connection to the characters and their connection to each other could have had more depth. Their relationships all seemed too instant and I wish the build up was longer.
Not terrible but not the best I’ve ever read

3 Pucks and a Baby was definitely an entertaining read. What a way to start out your 30th year on the Earth. If you want something lighthearted and fast-paced, this is definitely a good read. While I didn't LOVE it, I did enjoy it.

What I liked:

I absolutely love anything hockey romance and reverse harem. This is a MMFM romance, surprise baby, and found family read.

What I didn't like:

The fact that at 30, there was a bunch of offhanded comments about her being "old." 30 is NOT old; and the comments about "young men" just kept cringing for me.
The way the pregnancy was revealed, Theo made a comment about "being a whore and fucking 3 men you should have been on birth control." Didn't love that. Towards the end I did find myself skipping sentences to get done with the story because I just wasn't vibing with it anymore.

Overall, if you want something lighthearted, in between longer books, it is a good palette cleansers.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC.

This was a fun, quick palette cleanser with lots of spice. College hockey romance, reverse age gap, poly relationship, accidental pregnancy.

There were plot points that I wish were more flushed out, and I needed more growth from the guys- especially Theo.

The college age threw me a little- most college seniors aren’t 23- but still too young. NHL rookies would’ve worked better.

More editing was needed. Viv loses her job and two pages later is talking about using her PTO for a baby moon.

I requested this to see if the gorgeous cover made up for the wacky plot. My issue is that the writing is amateur and written in the male gaze.

Three Pucks and a Baby was a quick and spicy read, I just wish there had been a better balance between the romance and hockey (meaning I wanted more hockey lol).

Disclaimer: I don't read blurbs or reviews before I read a book.

I really enjoyed this book, but as with most hockey romances, I wish there was a bit more hockey in them. Though there was enough other stuff going on to keep me hooked.

Vivian was fine for a FMC but I feel like more effort was given to the MMCs. Bennett was by far my favourite. Very grounded and in my opinion was the best to Vivian. Grayson in second for backing Vivian when she said that she was pregnant. Finally Theo in third because of the crap that he put everyone through. I felt he was the authors favourite because most of the character development and story revolved around him. He certainly improved throughout the book but it did make the story seem a little unbalanced.

Still loved the story. I loved how the story rounded out at the end but maybe the pacing was off slightly throughout?

#ThreePucksandaBaby #NetGalley

Review posted to Threads, Goodreads and Amazon AU

MMFM.
Sort of forbidden, hockey player, librarian fetish, found family, unconventional situationship, unconditional love, why choose, reverse age gap, pregnancy, forced proximity.
Loved each of these characters. Well-developed.
The structure of the plot is great. The pace of the book is perfect.
Grayson - hockey defenseman; he's our cinnamon roll/golden retriever.
Theo - librarian fetish, likes being in control, "bad boy".
Bennett - good old southern guy, bi.
Vivian - 30, nerd, librarian, cat mom.
Funny, witty dialogue. I found myself laughing. I also found myself getting emotional and almost tearing up.
As always, I wanted just a smidge more plot to spice ratio, but I knew it was going to be spicy going in, so that is just me.
My only complaint is that a few places in the book, the dialogue seems a little bit juvenile, but the author quickly recovers.
I recommend for a spicy summer read!
Thank you, NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the opportunity to read and review this ARC!
Happy Reading!

Vivian starts with a vision board to begin living her life more vividly and ends up in a foursome with hockey players. And oops - she’s pregnant - but who is the father.?

I mean, I knew what I was getting into when I downloaded this title, but the fact that it was in the romance section rather than straight up erotica? Where do we draw the line? Does it matter?

I think as. Far as super spicy novels go, this was hot, and it had a storyline. It was a storyline we all saw coming, but it was a storyline nonetheless. I don’t know that this story was supposed to blow me away - it was hockey adjacent since they were all players - and it was a why choose trope with pregnancy. It did its job in fulfilling those tropes and that was about it. No notes.

Thank you to Katie Ashley and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I really enjoyed this why choose sports romance. This is a sports superstition I can get behind! Much better than reusing dirty socks. (haha!) There were lots of funny moments and banter that made me giggle.

One thing I really enjoyed and appreciated was Theo’s journey and character development throughout the story. I found it particularly well-written.

If you enjoy the following, then you'll like this book:
-Why Choose
-Multiple POVs
-Hockey Player MMCs/Librarian FMC
-Small Age Gap
-Accidental Pregnancy
-Sword Crossing

Three Pucks and a Baby is a standalone title written by Katie Ashley.

What to expect:
*Hockey romance
*Poly relationship
*Accidental pregnancy

Vivian is a college librarian and meets Grayson and Theo when they are scouting for their next threesome partner to keep up their hockey superstition. Bennett is their other roommate and meets Vivian when she is out on a date with the guys.

There were a few things that I didn’t like about this book, the first being how they acted with the FMC when the first hooked up. One of the guys mentioned other women they had been with in front of the FMC while they were having sex with her. Compared her body hair to the other women!! When she called them rude, they just said she was being jealous. Other things popped up throughout the book, but nothing major.

No OW/OM drama, no third act breakup. Ends with a HFN.

Format: NetGalley ebook
Genre: Contemporary romance
Overall score:⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice level:🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Characters: Vivian (FMC) & Grayson, Bennett, and Theo (MMC’s)

Incredible! I didn’t know what to expect with this, but it blew the expectations out of the water. The spice was extra spicy and the storyline did not falter!
If you like hockey, or multiple partners this will be an ultimate hit for you!
Thank you NetGalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

Review: Three Pucks and a Baby
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This book was everything.

Vivian’s about to turn 30 and decides she wants a threesome (as a birthday treat, obviously), but what she ends up with is so much more than just a hot night. Grayson, Theo, and Bennett completely knocked me off my feet. Not only was it insanely spicy, but it also had way more heart than I expected.

I’m a total sucker for sports romance and why-choose stories, so this hit all the right spots for me. The dynamic between the four of them felt so real. The chemistry was off the charts, but it wasn’t just sex for the sake of it. There was actual connection, emotion, and some really sweet (and sometimes heartbreaking) moments.

Not gonna lie, I really didn’t like Theo at first, especially once the pregnancy came into play. I was annoyed, but then we got his POV and everything started to make sense. He grew on me a lot, and by the end, I loved him just as much as the others.

Also, the LGBTQ+ rep? So well done. I’ve read a lot of why-choose books where it’s kind of brushed aside or treated like a background detail, but here it was front and center and handled with care. It was such an important part of the story, and I loved that the author didn’t shy away from it.

Huge thanks for the ARC. I devoured this in one sitting and already want to reread it. If you’re into hockey boys, found family, and a whole lot of spice with feelings to back it up, you’re gonna love this one.

I really enjoyed this book but I do wish Vivian wasn't so stressed about her age. Turning 30 hardly means that you are at deaths door!!
I also didn't vibe with the slight religious tone the book took at times but that's a personal preference and I understood the message it was trying to send.
Otherwise it was a great read and I loved the characters!
My full review is live on instagram now.

Katie Ashley scores big with Three Pucks and a Baby, a sizzling hockey romance that’s as unexpected as it is wildly entertaining. At the center of the story are three best friends and teammates whose off-ice chemistry is as steamy as their on-ice performance. Known for their adventurous, no-strings-attached encounters, their dynamic takes a compelling turn when one of them falls hard for someone entirely different—a charming, no-nonsense librarian.

What follows is a whirlwind of passion, chaos, and unexpected tenderness. Ashley blends heat and humor with just the right touch of emotional depth, creating a storyline that’s both bold and surprisingly heartfelt. The tension between loyalty, desire, and personal growth adds complexity to a premise that’s already deliciously unorthodox.

With witty dialogue, strong character dynamics, and a plot full of spicy moments and delightful surprises, Three Pucks and a Baby is a fresh, unfiltered take on contemporary romance. It’s fun, provocative, and impossible to put down—a must-read for fans looking for something daringly different in their sports romance.

I've been a recent convert of 'why choose' romance novels, so I was excited to read this one.

Vivian is a university librarian approaching 30 and ready to do something crazy.

In walks three college hockey players who need an adventurous woman for their superstitious threesome before the season starts. Then there's a positive pregnancy test, and the hijinks ensue.

I enjoyed this book. Vivian is easy to root for as soon as you meet her, and the spell she casts over the college athletes is pretty enjoyable to watch. I also loved bouncing between all the POVs to feel in the guys' heads as they navigate this new relationship.

It's funny, romantic, and pretty spicy.

*Thank you to the Author and Netgalley for this early release. All opinions are my own.*

I really enjoyed this book. It is exactly what it says it is, some reverse harem erotica. As long as you are aware that this is very spicy and that is the main point of it, you'll enjoy it as well. I liked the characters, though I wish they could've been a little more developed. Especially, Theo. I also wish that there was more romance with the smut, but that didn't put me off. One of my favorite parts was that there was some push back on the poly relationship. It made it sound and look real. Overall, I will read another book by this author and enjoyed this one.

This was definitely a new take on sports superstitious routines players insist upon but I thoroughly enjoyed it. If you are looking for a woman in her 30s with multiple younger men which includes m/m I recommend this book.
Cozy themes with great character development, a perfect read for a rainy Sunday.

I received this book as an ARC copy but this is a completely honest review.