Revenge Puck By L.A. Hart
Publication Date February 1, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Who would like this book:
If you enjoy Elle Kennedy’s book then this book is your perfect next Read. Any hockey romance reader should give L.A. Hart’s newest book Revenge Puck a Read, the perfect revenge fake dating to love story.

Summary:
Revenge Puck follows Elle Townsend (FMC) as she navigates her most recent breakup with hockey star Christian Riley. Whats a girl to do when her ex-boyfriend gives her one guy that's off limits and just so happens to be his biggest enemy on the ice…you plan the perfect fake dating with him. Enter wooly mammouth himself Preston Lawrence. They do say “The enemy of my enemy is my friend”. Elle and Preston use their shared hatred of Christian to make him jealous and give Preston the edge on the ice, but along the way the lines get blurry of whats fake and whats real. Read Revenge Puck to see how things play out for Elle and Preston.

Review:
I really enjoyed this book it was the perfect fake dating to love story romance novel. The characters all grow and develop as the story goes even some you might not think can not redeem themselves. The plot lines is smooth and the story line flows well and wraps up perfectly in my mind and sets up for the next book in the series. I'm excited and already anticipating to read L.A. Hart’s next book in the Shot at Love Series

Thank you L.A. Hart, Editor’s Choice Publishing, and Netgalley for the advance copy of Revenge Puck

This book is a light-hearted romance. The FMC was truly relatable and made me feel seen. As a woman who isn't a size 0 and the intrusive thoughts that maybe as a chunkier woman that a man who is a hockey god wouldn't want us. Some of the things I loved most about this book was the Banter between Elle and Preston. It naturally built their romance and made me love the pairing even more. I loved that the aspect of the book starts out as a fake-dating relationship and moves into something more. I can't wait to read more!

While, this book certainly ticks off all the boxes of a sports romance it did feel a bit shallow in places that I was expecting it to feel deeper. I would recommend this book if you are looking for a fun, loving, feel good sports romance.

Thank you to Netgalley for allowing me the opportunity to read this book!

Revenge Puck by L.A. Hart is a fun and fiery sports romance that combines betrayal, fake relationships, and intense rivalries. After her boyfriend dumps her before a major hockey playoff, Elle plots revenge by teaming up with Christian’s rival, Preston. What starts as a simple plan to make Christian jealous quickly escalates as the chemistry between Elle and Preston becomes undeniable. With stakes high on and off the ice, Elle is torn between two rival hockey players, each with their own motives. The story is full of twists, passion, and plenty of heated moments, making it an enjoyable read for fans of love triangles and sports drama.

Revenge Puck by L. A. Hart
She has just been dumped in a terrible way, and wants to make him suffer. So she tries to get a selfie with his nemesis, and former friend, that turns into fake dating, lots of OM Drama too.
This was such a great read! Hockey/sports romance is one of my favs of course but this had some excellent elements, with a little sprinkling spice but not a lot. Overall well written and enjoyable.

Revenge Puck by L.A. Hart is a fast-paced sports romance that blends intense emotion, revenge, and an undeniable attraction between its main characters. Set in the high-energy world of professional hockey, the book explores themes of betrayal, forgiveness, and personal growth, all wrapped in the familiar tension of a second-chance romance.

Story & Setting
The novel centers around Brielle, a woman who has distanced herself from the professional hockey scene after a painful breakup with Zane, a star player with a grudge. Zane’s initial motivation in reconnecting with Brielle is revenge, but as the story progresses, the emotional layers of their past and present begin to unfold. The story is set against the backdrop of the world of professional hockey, a setting that Hart captures well through the lens of both the sport and the off-ice drama.

The book combines moments of high-octane hockey action with more intimate, personal exchanges, offering readers a balanced mix of both. The pacing is quick, with a plot that doesn’t linger too long on one note—whether it’s the tension between Brielle and Zane or the ongoing drama of their separate lives. It moves efficiently, making it easy to stay engaged throughout the book.

Plot & Pacing
While the plot follows some familiar romance tropes—particularly the "revenge romance" angle—the author adds enough emotional complexity to make the story feel fresh. Brielle’s struggle with trust, Zane’s journey of redemption, and the push and pull between them creates a plot that is predictable in places but still enjoyable due to its emotional stakes.

The pacing is consistent, moving from one moment of conflict to the next without dragging, though some readers may find the early chapters a bit slow as the backstory and dynamics between the characters are established. Once the characters are firmly entrenched in the push-pull of their relationship, the plot accelerates, and the book becomes harder to put down.

Character Development
Brielle and Zane are both flawed but relatable characters. Brielle is a strong, independent woman who has learned to protect herself after her relationship with Zane fell apart. Her internal conflict—dealing with the pain of their past while also trying to open herself up again—forms a central emotional arc in the story. Zane, on the other hand, is driven by a sense of revenge, but as the story progresses, he is forced to confront his own vulnerabilities and feelings for Brielle.

While the central focus is on Brielle and Zane, there are secondary characters that add depth to the narrative. However, they don’t always get as much development as one might hope, and some feel more like supporting plot devices rather than fully fleshed-out individuals.

Themes
The main themes in Revenge Puck are forgiveness, second chances, and the impact of past actions. Brielle and Zane’s journey is about letting go of grudges and learning how to trust again, not just in each other but in themselves. There’s also an underlying exploration of redemption—Zane’s desire for revenge ultimately giving way to a deeper understanding of his feelings for Brielle.

The book does a good job of addressing these emotional themes without becoming overly heavy-handed. The characters’ growth feels organic, even if the plot at times relies on familiar romance formulas.

Writing Style & Tone
L.A. Hart’s writing is accessible and direct, with a tone that matches the intensity of the characters’ emotions. The dialogue feels real, and the chemistry between Brielle and Zane is palpable. The writing is straightforward, allowing the focus to remain on the characters' evolving relationship rather than on overly descriptive passages or complex world-building.

While the romance and tension are the main focus, Hart does provide enough insight into the world of professional hockey to make the setting feel authentic without bogging down the story with unnecessary details. The pacing is fast, but the emotional moments are given time to breathe, ensuring that readers feel the weight of the characters' actions.

Criticism
While Revenge Puck is an enjoyable read, it does follow a fairly standard structure that could be predictable for some readers, especially those familiar with the revenge romance genre. There are few surprising twists, and some secondary characters lack depth. A stronger focus on expanding the supporting cast could have added more dimension to the story.

Additionally, while the romance is compelling, the emotional resolution at the end might feel somewhat rushed, with the characters’ growth and reconciliation happening quickly after the climax.

Conclusion
Revenge Puck is a solid, engaging sports romance that will appeal to fans of second-chance romance, hockey, and revenge-driven plots. L.A. Hart effectively combines a fast-paced narrative with emotional depth, making for an enjoyable read. While the plot may not be groundbreaking, the chemistry between the leads and the emotional payoff will resonate with many readers.

It’s a recommended read for those looking for a quick, steamy romance with a bit of emotional intensity and a sports backdrop.

A quick and delightful romance about a hair stylist of got dumped by her boyfriend of five months who decides to fake date his nemesis.

It was really a fast paced book, by I really enjoyed it. Getting to know Elle and Preston was really nice and they do make a cute couple. Christian - the ex boyfriend - was not a nice guy at the beginning of the book. But he changed a but by the end of it and I'm happy to find out book 2 will be about him.

The romance itslef, even though was fast and dramatic, undeslined the need these two had to find someone who really loved them for who they were. And it made them grow. And Preston's jealousy was off the chart, which makes it a good plus!

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC, all opinons are my own

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book.

First time reading this author and I really liked it. So funny! Especially Preston's POV. A quick, one-sitting read that's the start of a series. I will definitely continue with the next book. Each of the characters show growth throughout the story.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Revenge Puck (ARC) by L.A Hart

"I love you, Elle. And no matter what answer you give me today, I'm not giving up on you or us. Ever. You're end game for me.
I'll be here waiting for you, however long it takes."

I’m such a sucker for a hockey romance! I loved reading Elle & Preston’s story 💕 and excited to read Christian & Maya’s story next ✨

Thank You Net Galley for the ARC 🫶🏻

Revenge Puck goes down so easily! If you love hockey romance and grumpy/sunshine this is the book for you. I LOVED Elle and her best friend Audrey who talked her off many an insecure ledge. I also loved that Christian had a redemption arc as I felt it would have been too tropey without it.
I will be pre-ordering Maya's book as soon as we can!

Exerpt from my review posted to CannonBall Read 17: "There’s a lot I liked about Revenge Puck. While this is a romance, Elle feels very real and grounded outside of the relationships with the men in her life. She is confident in herself and her sexuality. She struggles with not being the expected model-thin beautiful WAG, but it doesn’t define her identity. Her conversations with Audrey show the strength of their friendship and I appreciated how Elle took Audrey’s advice to reframe her thinking about various situations. Preston is the character who experiences the more notable growth. The author slowly reveals Preston’s complicated family dynamics and why he is so enraged by Christian. Preston is challenged to let go of his anger and to find a life outside of hockey. All the emotional growth is balanced out by what is essentially a fun and lightly sexy read. I look forward to reading Christian’s redemption story in the upcoming sequel."

I absolutely love a hockey series, and this book is no different! I was hooked from the start as we followed Elle and Preston’s fast and furious romance come to life. I loved the different point of views and enjoyed the depth of these characters. Hey when you know you know and I was rooting for them all along. I can not wait for book 2 to come out and I will be preordering the minute it does! Thank you netgalley and publisher for the advanced copy! I can’t wait to purchase this and add it to my collection. I give the book 5 out of 5 stars!

Like many girls these days, I’m a sucker for a good hockey romance. In fact, I went through a phase where I devoured them at an unhealthy rate. So how could I turn down an arc of one in exchange for a review?

At first I was worried I wasn’t going to enjoy it because the beginning felt rushed, when her ex was dumping her. But I was wrong, I really enjoyed this book. Was it a little predictable? Sure. But the banter was good, and the chemistry was there. Preston was a hot “wooly mammoth” and would do anything for his family but also beat the crap out of somebody on the ice for just looking at him wrong. Elle and her best friend were entertaining, the spice was good, and the book held my attention. I will definitely be reading the next one in the series when it comes out! Looking forward to her ex showing us some redeeming qualities 🤞🏻

Preston, known for his tendency to avoid the limelight, kissed Ellie in front of a crowd of sports reporters, confident that the video would go viral. Their "fake" kiss seemed more real to both Ellie and Preston than they had intended.
They continued pretending, and the game continued, but eventually, it no longer felt like pretending.
The feelings became real.
The chemistry between these characters was palpable.
The book was a thrilling and exciting read, full of unexpected events.

This started with the two of them using each other to get back at her ex/his rival but soon enough she’s visiting his home and meeting his family.

His contract’s in jeopardy and he’s going to have to move away from DC and his family to keep supporting them.

A wonderful multi-POV Hockey Romance with a twist of fake dating and a whole heaping of catching feelings this is definitely not one to miss if you’re a fan of sports romances or fake dating novels.

It definitely has some spice too so if that’s your style, give it a go.

This was my first ARC and I struck absolute gold, I only picked it up this evening.

Thank you to LA Hart and the publishers for letting me read this before it comes out Feb 1st!

Revenge Puck wastes absolutely no time in getting going, as poor Elle gets dumped on page 1! It moves really quickly and soon had me laughing out loud at Elle's first meeting with Preston. A revenge romance is just so satisfying and it was really well done!

I know absolutely nothing about the sport either, but it was totally accessible (no sports knowledge required!) and was so easy to read. The fact that I sat and binged it in one evening probably shows that!

I'm already invested in the next book in the series which focuses on another couple (I'm trying to avoid spoilers!). At first I thought there might be a plot hole relating to them, but when I saw the final page confirming whose book was next, I was sure that it wasn't a plot hole at all, and that all would be revealed in time in book two!

Disclaimer: I received an Advance Reader Copy from NetGalley, but this is my voluntary and honest review.

Fun hockey romance with solid characters, multiple sub plots, a rollercoaster of emotions and of course a HEA, with lead in to follow on. Fun for all romance fans.

What happens when you're starting hockey player breaks things off with you before the first championship game, tells you he's been sleeping with other women, and he didn't care if you slept with any other player except his arch rival? Well you come up with a plan to mess with his head by pretending go do just that. Nothing could go wrong right? Until they actually catch feelings for each other.

Revenge Puck was a quick fun read filled with some ups and downs and relatable characters.

This book had everything I enjoy in a hockey romance! It had grumpy sunshine, fake dating and a love triangle. I was giggling at the banter between Preston and Elle. The way they met was unconventional with her wanting to get a picture to make her ex jealous.

There were lots of ups and downs with them trying to navigate turning a fake relationship into a real one alongside Preston trying to win the series.

I enjoyed reading about these characters and liked the side characters they brought and interesting twists to the story.

Would definitely recommend reading if you enjoy a ice hockey romance!

I finished this one fairly quickly. Every time when I felt I should take a break I kept telling myself maybe one more page. By the end of the night I was already 3/4ths of the way finished. What started out as a way to get back at Elle’s ex turned into something real between her and rival team player Preston Lawrence. There were definitely up and down moments of emotion. I would highly recommend for anyone who enjoys grumpy hockey players, love triangles, and fake dating.

Ｅｂｏｏｋ Ｒｅｖｉｅｗ
4 ☆
Elle Townsend is dumped by her hockey boyfriend, Christian Riley, on the eve of the championship playoffs. She devises a plan for revenge—a fake romance with Christian's arch-rival, Preston Lawrence.

I actually really enjoyed this story and the plot. This was my first book by this author, and I wasn't disappointed at all. The beginning and middle were good, but once we hit the semi-middle, it was emotional and explained a lot of things. If you want a fake romance with hockey, I highly suggest this book.

Thann you, Netgellay, and BooksGoSocial for the ebook in exchange for my honest review.

A great cosy read - I think this is one of my favourite ice hockey romances so far. I love the character of Elle and her positive energy, she's so down to earth too. Nothing however beats the ending which is -chefs kiss- perfect! Excited for Maya and Christian's book.

I love a sports romance and hockey is my favourite. Fake dating is one of my favourite tropes and this one was so good. I honestly didn’t expect that story line at all.

I’m not a fan of the third act breakup but it felt more like a pause than a break up. The plot twist that included the MMC’s sister really threw me for a loop and I loved it! Had my gasping and laughing. It was just an overall good read and can’t wait for the second one!

Hockey, revenge, & grumpy/sunshine! I really enjoyed the characters of this book and can’t wait to see more of them in maya’s book. Thank you so much for the ARC!

The one thing I would’ve liked to see more of from the story line was interactions with the other hockey players. I get that preston wasn’t exactly a team player but I dont like how the rest of the team just hated him from the get go. But otherwise great read!

This book is perfect for anyone who loves Elle Kennedy's Off Campus series! I love reading romance books, especially the kind that leaves me laughing and swooning, and Revenge Puck is a lighthearted, fun, and fast-paced.

The story kicks off with a revenge plot involving, Elle who after being dumped by her hockey-playing boyfriend teams up with his rival, Preston, to make him jealous. The chemistry between Elle and Preston is magnetic, and as they fake date to mess with her ex, sparks fly between them. But what starts as a scheme to hurt her ex's ego quickly turns into real feelings.

Revenge Puck has all the drama of a sports rivalry and the tension of fake dating. It also has some seriously swoon-worthy moments. It has the grumpy sunshine trope with Preston being a tough hockey player with a soft side, and Elle's positive energy really brings out the best in everyone around her. Watching them go from enemies to lovers makes you wanna keep reading.

The pacing is really well done, and the plot is very bingeable. It had me hooked from the first chapter, and I ended up reading it all in one sitting. Revenge Puck has that perfect balance of swoon and spicy, keeping things exciting without it being too much.

Overall, I would recommend this to fans of sports romance, fake dating, or anyone who loves a feel-good romance with lots of drama, humor, and heart. Looking forward to the next one in the series!

When her "boyfriend" Christian dumps her before a game, Elle comes up with the perfect revenge plan: pretending to date his archival, Preston Lawrence. Except that it quickly becomes clear that the two are not pretending.

I love a hockey romance, and was so excited to jump in to this one. It started a bit embarrassingly close to home (like, Elle, I was one dumped after being intimate), but I really enjoyed that Elle was a salon owner who discussed the stresses of owning her own business. I really do wish we had gotten to see more of her as a businesswoman, as I thought that was a really interesting aspect of her life. I also appreciated the setting of Greensboro, North Carolina, although I wish we had gotten more of a discussion of how jarring it can be to play hockey in more football obsessed town. Finally, I admit to guessing how a subplot with Preston's sister, Maya would unfold about halfway through the book, but it did make me excited to read the next book in the series.

This is a fun, spicy hockey romance that I would recommend to fans of Helena Hunting or Elle Kennedy.

Hockey romance and fake dating! I love most hockey romance books and I loved this one. The characters were great together and I always love a good fake dating trope. This is perfect for anyone that loves a spicy hockey romance and wants a quick read. I couldn’t put it down and I didn’t am looking forward to the next book in the series. Thanks to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for the ARC!

L.A. Hart's Revenge Puck is a book that hooks you from the very first chapter and doesn’t let go. This fast-paced, captivating romance perfectly blends sports drama, fake dating, and sizzling chemistry. Elle thought things were going great with her pro hockey player boyfriend—until he dumps her right before the playoff game. Determined to make him jealous, she sets her sights on his archenemy, Preston, in a plan that begins as a relationship of convenience. But, as with any good romance, what starts as a strategy soon turns into something far more complicated—and real.

As a huge fan of sports romance, and especially hockey romances, I can't get enough of how the players are always ready to protect their leading ladies. There's something so swoon-worthy about their fierce loyalty and the way they’ll go to any lengths for the woman they care about. It’s like you can practically feel the testosterone leaping off the pages, with each player making you fall for them in their own unique way. And in Revenge Puck, the grumpy/sunshine dynamic and the fake-dating trope are the perfect bonus to make this story even more irresistible.

That was an amazingly hot and pucking good.

I adored this novel this weekend, the right kind of romance I was looking for.

Hot, Spicy, the plot and story was also AMAZING

I went thought this in less than 24 hours! It was definitely my first 5 star read for 2025 and I just finished my reread of Fourth Wing. I loved their entire relationship from beginning to end. I immediately started searching for Christian and Maya's store and will not be able to wait till May!
This is 100% on my reread list and I need a physical copy ASAP.

This was a cute, quick read. I loved the tension between Preston and Christian because of their past. Busy most of all, Elle’s relationship with Preston is what made the book so good. While I usually don’t love third act breakups, this one felt easy enough to get past since it could be felt coming from a mile away given all the past tension stated above from Christian and Preston.

4.5 ⭐️

I may be a little biased since I’m from Greensboro 🤣…

but Preston and Elle are cute together. I love a good protective and grumpy hockey player.

…but wait there’s more. You’ll just have to read it 😉

Absolutely fabulous hockey romance!
The way it starts out with the FMC getting dumped is crazy. But she decided to get back at him by fake dating his biggest rival.
Hockey romance is my favorite and this one did not disappoint.
The love triangle is a bit messy but it keeps you interested and wanting to know what comes next.

Loved the book, the character development and the underlying theme of knowing your worth. I was hooked on this book from page 1 and read it in one day!

I absolutely love a sports romance, and hockey is my favorite!
The fake dating trope is one I can never resist, and Revenge Puck does it so well. There are a few plot twists and surprises along the way that have me excited for hopefully more books in this universe. I didn’t expect to be so invested in the characters, but they all have many layers and depth to them and grow throughout the story.

Revenge Puck is a really refreshing and light read all the way through! Main character, Elle, is dumped by her pro hockey boyfriend right before a big game, and admits to being a big player the whole time she thought they were together. But Elle isn't about to let him get away with it. Enter Preston Lawrence—her ex’s biggest rival. Elle convinces Preston to fake date her to make her ex jealous, and things quickly spiral out of control in the best way possible. Their banter is hilarious, and the tension between them is rewarding in the end! This book also has a bit of the grumpy sunshine vibes!

I would say the only thing that made it not a 5 star read for me is that both characters let their insecurities get in the way ever step throughout the story and gets old after awhile, just not my favorite part of a story!

Wow what can I say I devoured this book in about 5 hours!!
Meet the feisty Elle and get ready to go on an adventure! The book kicks off with poor Elle getting dumped by Christian the Hockey Star and soon Elle plots her revenge with the help of her friend Audrey.

I’ve only read a handful of Sports Romances and this one is right up there being my favourite!

L.A.Hart writes the characters in this book so well that you love all of them and just want to join the crew.

Christian and Preston battle on and off the Ice but who will win Elle’s heart?

Fake dating, hockey, grumpy/sunshine romance.

When Elle is dumped by her star hockey boyfriend, she decides to use his archrival to get him back. What happens when things start to feel real?

This was a cute quick read. I liked the banter between the two main characters and the chemistry. I think the fake dating trope maybe getting over done, there was nothing exceptional in this book that I have not read in others. I did like the twist at the end, and I look forward to reading the next book in this series.

Thank you NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for this title. This is my very honest review.

Short, cute, fake dating for revenge romance.
Loved the characters
This was romance/plot heavy, hockey light.
There were a lot of funny moments too.

I don’t normally choose hockey romances, but hear me out …

Preston. Fucking. Lawrence.

Hello, sir. Where can I find me one of you?

Elle gets dumped right before the championship series starts, and she plots revenge by doing anything she can to get back at her ex… by jumping into a fake relationship with his arch nemesis, Preston. At least, it only starts off as fake?

By the end of the book, through all the trials and errors of finding their way, Elle and Preston end up together. Christian finds out he’s a father to Preston’s nephew, and the two become amicable (we think).

I can’t wait for the next book. I hope Christian steps up and is the best dad. I hope Maya still loves him and they end up together. And I hope P and C become friends again.

I loved how this book immediately jumped into the plot by starting with the breakup. I also really enjoyed Preston’s character and how he supported Elle right away, even helping her get revenge on her ex, Christian. This story was both cute and funny, and Preston has so much more depth to him than just a grumpy hockey player. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys sports or hockey romance, as well as fans of the fake dating trope. If you liked Rival Darling, you’ll love this book if you are looking for a non-YA version.

I loved this book. The guy was an asshole in the beginning, but Elle wasn't afraid to set him straight. I loved the character development, and the romance was so sweet

This was a fast paced hockey romance and this was a book that was really enjoyable. Both Elle and Preston worked together for faking dating and they pulled off a great fake dating trope.

This was my first book by this author, I would read read future releases by this author.

From the beginning, I loved that this book had the guy be the one that wasn't looking for a hookup like most books do. I also really liked having both point of views for this book.

This book is about Preston who is a professional hockey player, and he is so dedicated to hockey, that he hasn't had any type of relationship or hookup in years. He had something burn him in the past that has caused him to have a temper that really comes out during games, especially when playing his arch nemesis Christian. He will do anything to make Christian's life miserable.

It turns out that there is someone else that doesn't like Christian and wants to make him jealous. In comes Elle, who was just dumped by Christian. She comes up with a plan to meet Preston and take a selfie to make Christian mad. The book follows from their first fake kiss to the complications they have trying to fake a relationship when they live in two different cities.

I have never read L.A. Hart before but am already waiting for the next book in this series.

Read if you like:
-Hockey
-Spice
-Grumpy/sunshine relationships
-Friend and family drama
-Double POV

3.5 stars
This was a really cute take on fake dating in order to annoy someone who wronged both characters. It was a fun and easy read, however it still had important character development. Any miscommunication was dealt with in sensible time without letting it drag on. Even though Im not the biggest fan of insta-love this didnt bother me too much in this case, however I would have enjoyed to learn a bit more about the characters in order to connect with them better. Irregardless, I'll definitely check out the second book once it's out!

This book has similar vibes as Hannah Grace and Gabriella Gomez's books, so if you enjoyed them or enjoy hockey romances it would be ideal!

I finished this book in 2-3 days and it was such a cute book! The MFC decides to get revenge against her playboy ex and the best way to do that is to get with his competitor from another team. The MMC goes along with it and it gets better from there. Love this book. It definitely should be #1 in hockey romance ❤️

Thank you Net galley for giving me a copy of this book. I really enjoyed this romance as it was a quick and fun read. This book starts off with Elle getting dumped by her boyfriend, Christian Riley, who is a famous hockey player. When they break up, Riley tells Elle she can date whoever she wants and he won't care unless its Preston Lawrence, his rival. This of course motivates Elle to meet Preston and make Riley jealous. It was a lot of fun watching Elle and Preston's romance go from fake dating to real feelings being involved. The banter and interactions between Elle and Preston had me giggling and wanting to read more. For those who like to know the tropes this book has fake dating, grumpy/sunshine romance and sports/hockey romance. I would definitely recommend this book. :)

Fake dating and an ice hockey romance! This is my go to kind of book and this one did not disappoint!!

Elle gets dumped by her boyfriend who happens to be a pro ice hockey player and masters a plan to fake date his biggest rival on the ice!!

The story was a great read and the characters were ones you get invested with! I can’t wait for the 2nd book in the series following a couple of the side characters from this book.

If you’re a lover of ice hockey, fake dating turning into something more then give this one a go!!

I received an ARC from Netgalley!

Meet Ellie, a hairdresser with a broken heart. The breaker? A hockey super star who tells her it wasn't serious. His parting gift is saying she's now "free to date other players" all except for one.
Meet Preston, broody hockey super star and the one guy Elle is "forbidden" to date. So who is she going to ask for a pretend date? Ding ding ding!

I absolutely loved Elle and Preston. Their chemistry comes fast but reads quite authentic, two flirty people with a common enemy. Their exchanges got me clutching the kindle to my chest in laughter, sighs and sometimes sadness.

Elle is the perfec portrait of someone confident but who still has insecurities. I loved how she thinks o f them but doesn't focus on them 24/7. It's refreshing to read something when there's insecurities but there's also still confidence. Balance is key, because balance is real.

I loved it. It was a great read, fun, refreshing, fast paced but not rushed. The side characters had layers to them, made them feel like real people and not just plot devices. I came to care for them as well as for Elle and Preston.

My only comment is that there were a few moments when I felt things were tiny bit rushed, little bits. But overall I think it was a very cute read.

a grumpy x sunshine hockey romance??? nothing could be more perfect!!! it was such a fast paced, easy read that i never wanted to put it down! i loved seeing Preston’s character growth the more we got to know him and Elle’s banter seriously had me giggling at times, especially with the “ussie”. i really loved this book and can’t wait for the next one!!!

4 ⭐
I really enjoyed the story between Elle and Preston. Although at first I did find it moved incredibly quickly I found I loved the story and the characters in it.

I am so happy this isn part of a series because I cannot wait for the second book and I am personally cheering on for one for our girl Aubrey.

Thank you for NetGalley and the author for the ARC.

Revenge Puck
Author: L.A Hart
Genre: Sports Romance
Publisher: Editor's Choice Publishing
Publication Date: Feb 1, 2025

Rating:
🌟🌟🌟🌟

Review:
Summary:
Elle gets dumped by her pro hockey player boyfriend Christian. She and her best friend, Audrey get the idea get back at Christian by getting with Christian’s arch nemesis also hockey player Preston. I think you can guess what happens after that 😍😍

What I liked
Overall my favorite part of this book was the characters. Even though their was only a few main characters if felt like I had known them my whole life. I loved the different emotional connections between the characters and their backstory’s which get slowly revealed over the course of the book.

What I didn’t like
My main complaint is that I felt that some scenes were more drawn out then others but some of my favorite scenes went by super fast. Now I could complain about the “Insta-Love” but honestly it felt fun to me. Now if this isn’t your favorite thing I wouldn’t recommend it. But I personally liked it!

Writing Style/Pacing
The book was super super fast paced in my opinion. Finished it faster than I’ve finished a book in a long time! The writing was super easy to understand and was an overall great palate cleanser in between fantasy books.

Final Thoughts
In conclusion I really really enjoyed this book! Would strongly recommend for any fans of hockey (keep in mind it’s a small plot point) romance and easy writing!

Thank you to NetGalley, Editor's Choice Publishing and L.A Hart for providing an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!! 😁😁