Pucked
by Helena Hunting
What they say: With a famous NHL player for a step-brother, Violet Hall is well acquainted with the playboy reputation many hockey stars come with. She’s smart enough to steer clear of those hot, well-built boys with unparalleled stamina. That is until she meets the legendary team captain—Alex Waters.
Violet isn’t interested in his pretty, beat-up face, or his rock-hard six-pack abs. But when Alex inadvertently obliterates Violet’s previous misapprehension regarding the inferior intellect of hockey players, he becomes more than just a hot body with a face to match.
In what can only be considered a complete lapse in judgment, Violet finds out just how good Alex is with the hockey stick in his pants. But what starts out as a one-night stand, quickly turns into something more. Post-night of orgasmic magic, Alex starts to call, and text, and e-mail and send extravagant—and quirky—gifts, making him difficult to ignore, and even more difficult not to like.
The problem is, the media portrays Alex as a total player, and Violet doesn’t want to be part of the game.
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Buy Links:
Amazon US * Amazon UK
What I say: I held off reading Pucked for a few weeks after release because of the hype. I don't know about you, but I've had a few bad experiences where I've had overly high expectations of a hyped book or author and then been hugely disappointed by the book. I really shouldn't have worried about the hype surrounding Pucked because it really is as funny, witty and as charming as the MANY other readers have suggested!
First up, I'm going to mention that the book isn't for younger readers because it's smutty, like really smutty, but in a hilarious and very modern way. Secondly I'm going to point out that even though it's smutty it's well written. I loved the many cultural reference's and modern colloquialisms Helena Hunting incorporates into the story. If you don't like naughty humour in your contemporary romances then this probably isn't the story for you. BUT if you're like me and you like a side order of dirty humour, then Pucked is probably a good purchase for you.
It probably should be noted that I cackled, snorted and yes 'laughed out loud' reading this one. It's something of a rarity with contemporary romances, but I loved both the main characters. Violet and Alex were a constant joy to read about. As somebody who is also prone to word vomit I loved Violet's lack of brain-to-mouth filter. I also appreciated Alex's nervous babbling, and that however confident he many be in many aspects of his life, Violet still managed to make him nervous.
It's no secret that I'm pretty anti insta-love or even insta-lust (don't worry I won't spoil anything) but I liked the development of their relationship and how Violet was always clear on not rushing certain things. She's pretty level headed (except for when it comes to resisting Alex) but her Beaver and MC commentary was hilarious.
I found Alex extremely endearing. Yes he makes a few mistakes but I do love a guy who apologises in style. I have to admit I didn't think the event was as bad as I had expected but I could understand why Violet was so annoyed.
The secondary characters were a fab and eclectic mix. I loved Buck, Charlene and Skye. Violet's Mum, Skye, was gloriously inappropriate - I'm never going to worry about my Mum's lack of boundaries again after reading some of the things Skye does.
I think it's Buck's story up next but I'd also like to read about Darren and the rest of the hockey team - Go Hawks! I'll never be able to look at a cuddly toy in quite the same way and I do like a gal who is crafty... So.Many.Euphemisms!
4.5 Stars in my Sky!
My fav non-spoilers quotes:
- Buck is mammoth, like a yeti. A huge, perverted, hairy whore of a yeti.
- I want to be his love slave. An image of me in a black corset wearing a collar with a leash attached to it pops into my head. Maybe stupid Lydia was right to cut the smut from the book club for a while.
- "Do you have some kind of... disorder? Like elephantiasis of the penis or something?"
- I'm so pucked. There'd better be a support group for hockey hookers. I'm going to need it after tonight.
