Revenge Puck is a steamy, fast-paced hockey romance with fake dating, chemistry, and tension. I picked up the book as a last minute, quick read and it certainly delivered. The characters were interesting and I was invested right from the start.

Elle is the kind of heroine you can’t help but root for—she gets dumped by her hockey player boyfriend right before the playoffs and decides to get even in the best way possible: by fake-dating his biggest rival. Enter Preston Lawrence, the league’s bad boy enforcer, who usually avoids the spotlight but jumps at the chance to mess with his nemesis. What starts as a little payback quickly turns into something way more real than either of them expected.

I loved Preston. He’s all rough and tough on the outside but secretly a big softie when it comes to Elle. Their chemistry is off the charts, and watching them go from fake to oh wow, this is actually happening was so much fun. Elle is sweet but strong, and she doesn’t put up with anyone’s nonsense—especially her ex’s. And let’s be real, seeing her get under Christian’s skin was so satisfying.

The banter is great, the tension is chef’s kiss, and the romance is the perfect mix of sweet and spicy. Elle’s best friend, Audrey, adds some hilarious moments, and the rivalry between Preston and Christian keeps the drama going. The story moves fast, and I couldn’t put it down—I just had to know how it all played out.

If you’re into hockey romance with fake dating, protective bad boys, and a little bit of chaos, this one’s for you. Highly recommend!

Unfortunately, I DNF’s this at 43%. I really wanted to push through but I just didn’t enjoy a single thing about this. It took instalove to a wholeeee new level and not in a good way. Both MC’s felt so high school—I probably would have enjoyed this if it were YA, but they were just too immature for me. I was really hoping to enjoy this, so maybe someone else still will!

Rating: 4 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Revenge Puck by L.A. Hart is the first book in the Shot at Love series and delivers a sizzling hockey romance packed with fake dating, revenge, and emotional healing in a high-stakes sports setting.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with this ARC!
I absolutely love ice hockey romances, so of course, I had to read this one!

First of all, I had so much fun with this book; there were multiple scenes and situations that made me laugh out loud.

Elle Townsend thought she was in a somewhat relationship—until hockey star Christian Riley blindsided her with a breakup right before the playoffs, revealing she was nothing more than a casual fling. Let’s just say… he’s a total ass about it.

“Why did I merit this talk instead of you just ghosting me?” I ask curiously while staring up at the ceiling rather than his too pretty face.
“Because you’re the only one who can do my fade the way I like,” he responds, as if it’s obvious. “Just because we’re not fucking doesn’t mean I want you to stop cutting my hair and shit.”
“You could sleep with every player in the league, and I wouldn’t care,” he says confidently. “Well, except for Preston Lawrence.”

Determined to get back at him, Elle and her bestie Audrey come up with a revenge plan: fake dating Christian’s biggest rival, Preston Lawrence—the grumpy enforcer known for his hot temper and zero interest in dating. What starts as a simple “let’s take a picture to make him jealous” soon escalates into holding up a sign (I won’t spoil what it says, but trust me—it’s hilarious!) and wearing Preston’s jersey.

“All I want is a photo with you to put on Insta to try and piss Christian off."
“Why do you need to see my silly little sign?”
“A big silly sign. And let’s just say I have a bit of a rage problem whenever I see Christian Riley’s fucking face.”
“No kidding?”
“Your sign, the meaning behind it, would give me a chance to hold some shit over his head for once.”
“He usually holds shit over your head?”
“Something like that.”
“So, we would be helping each other out? You gave me an ussie and I give you a big, glitter sign in the stands?”
“Yes. Only fair, right?”

What begins as a revenge scheme spirals into something real. Preston, who has spent years prioritizing his career and shutting people out, finds himself unexpectedly drawn to Elle. But both of them have baggage.

Preston still holds deep resentment toward Christian for past betrayals, while Elle struggles with self-worth after being treated as disposable. Their chemistry is undeniable, but their fears threaten to tear them apart. Preston constantly worries that Elle isn’t over Christian, and Elle isn’t sure if Preston will ever put her first and cares more about her than getting revenge on Christian.

What I Loved
✔️ Fast-paced, fun, and full of banter!
✔️ Fake dating trope done right—with lots of laugh-out-loud moments.
✔️ Elle’s sass + Preston’s grumpiness = perfection.
✔️ A steamy, emotional romance with a good balance of tension and tenderness.

What Didn’t Quite Work for Me
⚠️ The romance moved a bit too fast. I would have loved to see more gradual development before they went from fake dating to deeply in love.
⚠️ Preston’s temper issues could have been explored more. While his protectiveness was endearing, I felt like his character arc needed more depth and growth.
⚠️ Some grammar mistakes/missing words (hopefully fixed in the final version).

Final Thoughts
Despite a few hiccups, I devoured this book in one sitting. The mix of romance, revenge, and hilarious moments made it such an entertaining read!

If you’re looking for a quick, fun romance filled with banter, fake dating chaos, and swoon-worthy moments, this one’s for you!

Thanks @netgalley for the ARC.

I enjoy a sports chick-lit series, and I thought this would fit the bill, but sadly, it was a little lacklustre and fell a bit flat. The writing was OK but it wasn't really exciting. You didn't feel particularly invested in the characters, and the whole story felt rushed and a bit too unrealistic. This is a genre that has been done time and again, and I think it's going to be better than others that are already out there, then it needs to have something a bit more.

Revenge Puck by L.A. Hart is a fun, fast-paced hockey romance with the perfect mix of banter, spice, and emotional depth. The story follows a fiery enemies-to-lovers dynamic, where past betrayals and simmering tension make for an addictive read. The chemistry between the main characters is electric, and the blend of humor and heartfelt moments keeps the story engaging. Fans of sports romance will love the steamy scenes, witty dialogue, and well-developed characters. If you enjoy a mix of revenge, passion, and hockey, this book is definitely worth picking up!

An fun, easy read!
There was humour, insta lust, rivalry, revenge, fake dating, jealousy and so much more. I enjoyed it, but I felt like some plot points should have been developed a little more (in depth). The plot was interesting and I always like a fake dating scheme to get back at an ex. There was plenty of drama and I am definitely a fan of drama, so them dancing around each other and being unsure of the other's feelings, as well as the drama surrounding Preston's career, was definitely something I found entertaining. Preston also had quite a lot of possessiveness issues, but I like that in a fictional man.
That being said, Elle's 180 of feelings felt slightly rushed, since she was quite heartbroken over Christian. Besides that, Christian did not have enough redemption to get back in my good graces at the end (that could just be me though). I also felt like for me the attention sometimes drifted slightly too much to the Christian/Maya (sub)plot.
All in all an entertaining read that had potential.

Huge thanks to the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. If you’re a grumpy/sunshine sports romance lover, this is a great quick read!

Loved:
- The inclusion of a curvy heroine!
- Not glossing over Elle’s insecurities and her struggles with the social media attention
- Preston doing everything he could to protect her from the negative comments
- Preston’s relationship with Maya

Meh:
- The insta-love was a little too rushed for me. I just wish their relationship had more time to develop
- Preston’s temper and distrust of Elle. Like come on dude
- Some plot holes. What happened to the letters Christian sent to Maya? On that note, I often felt more invested in Maya and Christian’s story than Elle and Preston’s
- Minor typos throughout the book. Nothing terrible, but it did interrupt my reading flow

Disliked:
- There was more manufactured conflict than I would like considering there were actual things that could cause real conflict
- Why would Elle tell Christian that the relationship was fake? It just seemed very out of character and caused some of the stupid manufactured conflict
- Sometimes it was hard to root for Preston because he was such an asshole in a lot of moments

Dnf 37%

I am very sad to come on here and say that this sadly enough was not what I expected.

The writing was very dull from the beginning. It didn’t have any ‘flavor’ to it, but I didn’t mind it since I was genuinely interested in the story. Not so good writing is not something that scares me away as long as I’m enjoying the story, but after the 35% the story also became boring to me & mixing that with the flavorless writing just turned this fun read to a not so fun read. I got no connection with the characters & their relationship just turned weird.

I wish the writing had a little bit more to it so we had the opportunity to get to know the characters. I also wished we got more interesting scenes, banter and tension.

Revenge Puck is a fun, easy-to-read hockey romance that blends humor, spice, and character growth, though it does fall into some predictable territory. Right from the start, I knew where the story was headed, and while that’s typical for romance novels, it felt a bit too familiar in this case.

That being said, Elle and Preston’s chemistry is undeniable. Their banter is witty, their attraction is immediate, and the fake-dating trope gives the story a lighthearted edge. Their journey was fun to follow, and I enjoyed the banter and emotional tension that carried the narrative forward. It’s definitely an enjoyable read, especially for fans of grumpy x sunshine dynamics and sports romances.

However, as the story progressed, I found myself longing for more depth in their relationship. The romance between them felt more like insta-lust than a genuine connection, and I couldn’t quite buy into them falling in love so quickly. The constant miscommunication also frustrated me, and while some readers might enjoy this trope, it’s not one I gravitate toward.

Despite these critiques, I’m excited to see what happens in the next book, as I found the couple in book two much more intriguing. Revenge Puck is a light, fast-paced read, but it didn’t quite hit the emotional highs I was hoping for. It’s a fun read, but not one that left a lasting impact for me. Big thanks to NetGalley and the author for the e-ARC!

This was a fun and sweet book. I loved Preston and Elle's characters so much. My favorite was when Preston would get possessive... we love a possessive man!

As someone who has read plenty of hockey romance novels, I found this one to follow a familiar formula without much to make it stand out from the rest. That said, it was still an enjoyable read with its own charm. While it didn’t break new ground in the genre, the story was engaging enough to keep me turning the pages. Overall, it was an entertaining book, and I’m intrigued enough to pick up the next instalment in the series when it’s released.

This was a very cute hockey romance! A perfect light, fluffy read. Thank you L.A. Hart, BooksGoSocial, and NetGalley for the ARC!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

I love a hockey romance but this one missed the mark for me. The writing style felt somewhat immature and the main characters Elle and Preston lacked that chemistry you look for in a good romance book.

Not for me sadly but best of luck to the author!

If there’s one thing I love, it’s a good hockey romance—strong, broody athletes, witty banter, and just enough drama to keep things interesting. And this book delivered on all fronts! It was a quick, enjoyable read that kept me turning pages, and I found myself really invested in the characters.

That being said, I did get a bit of déjà vu while reading—some elements felt a little too familiar if you’ve dabbled in the hockey romance genre before. Also, can we talk about the whole "I wrote her letters for years" thing? Christian Riley dropped that bombshell, and then... crickets. No follow-up, no deeper explanation I really wanted to know . I kept waiting for a big emotional payoff, but it never really happened. Maybe it’s a series thing? If so, I hope the next book brings some closure to that storyline and I will definitely be reading just to find out if they end up together or not, and what happened to those dang letters!!!!

Overall, a solid, entertaining read! If you love hockey romances, this one is worth checking out

Thank you to BooksGoSocial and L A Hart for approving my request on Netgalley to receive a eARC of Revenge Puck. Faking dating for revenge against a playboy who messed with your heart? Oh yes, please! This was just the book I was looking fill the gap after two of my favourite hockey romance series finished.

Revenge Puck is a fake dating romance that shows never treat a lady badly, she might just get her own back on you by asking your nemesis to star in a fake relationship stir up jealousy and distraction ahead of critical series of playoff games. L A Hart’s writing style is easy to read, face-pace with engaging plot told from a dual POV of the main characters, Elle and Preston. A nice bonus as getting both sides of the romance always bring a rich dynamic to their flawed, complicated characters and backstories.

The romance is kind of insta-love of romance taking place over a short duration of a couple of weeks during playoff games, her writing pulls it off with her energetic and humorous storytelling. While there is a lot of fun, the plot does deal with some deep issues about mental health and family relationships that are with care and sensitivity to enrich the emotional tones of the story.

The chemistry between Elle and Preston comes on quickly, but they do have a great energy together leading to some fun, flirty banter, snarky quips and cute playfulness antic had me giggle away in the second half the book. The tension at the start was a little on the edge with early miscommunication and never knowing when Preston’s quick to judge temper might blow. As their pretend develops to real feelings, you appreciate how nicely they counter balance each other’s weaknesses and ground one another.

A fun and cute hockey romance read featuring a grumpy x sunshine dynamic, fake dating and all the fun ups and downs falling in love on and off the ice. If you love hockey romances, check out Revenge Puck for an easy, fun and sexy read.

Thanks to Net Galley and the author for the ARC in exchange of my honest opinion.

Elle and Preston are a very cute couple. I loved their story. It’s a cute hockey romance. This story is about second chances. About how a person can make mistakes, own them and make their life better. It’s about how giving people the opportunity to explain themselves and make their own decisions is important. Elle and Preston balance each other out. He helped her find what she had been looking for and realize her worth, and she helped him see not everything is black or white, and sometimes even the biggest prick has good in them. I also like that the secondary characters had enough personality to make you interested in knowing more about their story. I’m honestly looking forward to reading Maya and Christian’s book!

Inhaled this book within 24 hours, just what I needed after reading a much slower paced book. A great hockey star romance book with a bit of a twist at the end. Highly recommend for any romance lovers!

Revenge is best served cold...

Or on ice to be more precise. Elle is unceremoniously dumped by her so called boyfriend, Christian, who is the biggest deuce and just plain mean player. He's a cheating hockey player whose one enemy he cares about is Preston. Preston and Christian are rivals, like batty rivals, where they loose their S. Elle and Preston decide to team up and mess with Christian's head big time. They are dating. Her to get back at Christian cuz the only one he cared if she went out with after him was Preston. Preston, to keep his cool, keep his job in DC as the best hockey player. Love these two together. I really liked Preston and the contrast between Preston and Christian was pitch perfect.
Recommend.

The premise of Revenge Puck sounded so promising to me. Elle was in a relationship with a hockey player and he broke up with her essentially because he was “going to win the playoffs and all the girls would want him”. To get back at him, she decides to fake date his enemy/rival Preston. I hate to say it, but it fell short for me.

I immediately didn’t love the writing, but it got better (or I got used to it) as I kept reading. Don’t get me wrong it wasn’t *bad*, it just wasn’t super good to me either. It was a quick, easy read though!

Also, something that kind of bothered me was that neither Elle or Preston ever had a realization of their own during any sort of conflict, someone else always explained how they should feel or what they should do. It was a lot of telling and not showing.

With that being said, the next book does sound really good, so I may read it whenever it comes out.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the author/publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.