I had high hopes for this book since I usually enjoy hockey romances, especially with a fake dating trope thrown into the mix, but sadly, this one didn’t work for me. While it started off on a decent note, with some cute chemistry between Elle and Preston, it quickly lost its spark as the story progressed.

The biggest issue for me was the constant rivalry between Preston and Christian. It was overplayed to the point where it felt like it overshadowed everything else, including the romance. Instead of adding tension or excitement, it became repetitive and frustrating, making the plot feel stagnant and uninspired. Every time I thought the story was moving forward, it circled back to the same rivalry, which felt more like filler than anything meaningful.

As for Elle and Preston, while their moments together were sweet at times, they didn’t leave much of an impression. Both characters felt underdeveloped, lacking the personality and complexity needed to make them truly compelling. I wanted to root for them, but they just didn’t feel dynamic enough to carry the story. Their connection, while cute in certain scenes, lacked depth and didn’t have the emotional weight I was hoping for.

Overall, the book felt like it had potential but didn’t deliver. The romance wasn’t strong enough to keep me engaged, and the repetitive drama overshadowed what could have been an enjoyable story. If you love hockey romances and don’t mind a lot of rivalry drama, it might work for you, but it ultimately fell flat for me. I'm giving it 1 ⭐.

This was a cute story and a great relaxing read. Sobe of the dialog could use a bit of work, but overall enjoyed.

approx 5 pages in and there was already a thing that happened lol This was amusing and an easy smutty read.

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 🤞🏻

Started out really flat and fast paced, got better and was a good hockey pallet cleanser after reading Onyx Storm. I enjoyed it enough to keep reading however I do think it was lacking in depth as this was a really fast timeline for the main characters.

I feel like the physical intimacy is all this book had going in terms of chemistry between the characters. Some scenes we got a lot of information and others were shut down abruptly (missing the “fade” and skipping straight to blackout) when that happened, it felt like we were missing out on their whole connection. Would have loved more of them actually getting to know each other.

Saw someone else ask why it didn’t take place throughout a season instead of a week or two playing against the same team 6 times and I couldn’t agree more.

I felt that the subplot of Maya and Christian was more captivating than the main character’s. Christian showed the most emotional depth out of all the characters which I found to be interesting and will definitely be looking forward to their book (mentioned at the end)

Thank you NetGalley & L.A. Hart for this ARC! All opinions are my own.

I really wanted to like this book but I just couldn't get past the how much I dislike the main female character. I understood why Elle was angry but I also felt like there was no context to her previous relationship and then need to get revenge. I did like the MMC and his desire to push off how people saw him, but my problems with the start of the book made it hard to enjoy it later on.

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!

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."

Revenge Puck is a story following Elle who's trying to get revenge at her ex-boyfriend with Preston, his archnemesis; A big, rough hockey player from the other team. It starts off really fast and I really enjoyed the story. I was a liiiiittle bit annoyed by Elle's lack of confidence and the miscommunication throughout the book. Although, I REALLY enjoyed Preston & Christian's backstory. Overall, great book; I would've loved the book to be a bit longer to have more story & details. I can't wait for the next one!

Revenge Puck is a light hearted, low stakes Hockey Romance. The overall plot was interesting but unfortunately the characters lacked depth and the pacing inconsistent.

Thank you to L.A Hart for the opportunity to read an eARC of this book on NetGalley.

DNF at 18%

I was 9% in and she was asking to see AND feel his “stick”

At 18%, after meeting once for 5 minutes, he was talking about how much he “liked spending time with her” etc etc.

Over it

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!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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 🫶🏻

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.

Thanks Netgalley for this ARC!

Surface level, this was enjoyable and quick. I read it in one sitting (fine that's not abnormal for me). I enjoyed Elle and Preston together. On the whole, I was annoyed by Elle in general - I get that your self esteem takes a hit when you get broken up with by a jerk, but it just went on and on about how unworthy she was and OMG 20lbs overweight FFS. I also found nothing redeeming about Christian, especially as a boyfriend, and couldn't see why anyone wanted to give him another chance. I'm probably rounding up for the lack of partial stars, but it was fun-ish and easy to read (I assume the typos will be fixed by press time).

2.75 ⭐️

If this story was spread out through the entire season or even the beginning of playoffs and not a two week final play off stretch the rating would have gone up. The insta-love was just a bit too much for me.

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

I dnf'd this book at 24%. The characters in this book seemed very two dimensional and didn't have much depth to them. I found the pace to be too quick it seemed like we got to them fake dating too quickly and it jumped from one thing to another without much explanation. The characters were very repetitive and a lot of the dialog felt quite clunky. This book did make me laugh at certain points and i found some scene's entertaining but it sadly wasn't enough to make me want to continue.

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.

This was such a fun read! This is a cute hockey romance with a fake dating trope. I really enjoyed the quick witt and banter between the characters as well as the development with Preston and Christian. I thought some parts were a little rush but I think this is a great starter book when dipping your toe into sports specifically hockey romances. It had good background, world building, characters, an okay plot and was just overall a really quick, easy, fun read.