My Pucking Around Book Review - No Spoilers

Plot Summary

Pucking Around by Emily Rath is the first book in the Jacksonville Rays series—a spicy, inclusive “why choose” romance centered on pro hockey and found family. Rachel Price is an ambitious physical therapist who just landed her dream job with the Jacksonville Rays, Florida’s newest NHL team. After a magical one-night stand with a mystery man before her move, Rachel gets the shock of her life when she discovers Mr. Perfect is Jake, a playboy on her new team. Things only get more complicated as Jake’s best friend, Caleb (the hockey team’s moody equipment manager), and Ilmari, the intense Finnish goalie, pull Rachel into their orbit. As professional boundaries and personal temptations blur, Rachel finds herself at the center of a developing polyamorous—and emotionally tangled—relationship with all three men. Amid the pressures of high-stakes sports, team drama, and her own career ambitions, Rachel must decide if she’s brave enough to stake it all on love, in every direction.

Why I Love This Book

I love how wild, heartfelt, and unapologetic this book is. Every character stands out—Rachel is sharp, smart, and holds her own in a world of giant hockey egos. Jake is all-in with his affections, and he doesn’t hide from his feelings or from growth. Caleb is grumpy but so loyal, and Ilmari quietly stole my heart with his depth and devotion. What I enjoy most is the way the author builds honest, sometimes messy relationships—there’s humor, jealousy, awkwardness, and pure sweetness, but everyone talks, negotiates, and genuinely cares about consent. I appreciate how the story makes space for queer and bi representation naturally, celebrating every connection. The hockey world feels real, but never overshadows the heart of the romance. I ended up surprised by how emotional I got as Rachel’s found family pulls together. The length of the book lets every dynamic breathe, and the banter and steam never feel repetitive. Above all, I never once doubted that all these people were better together—and braver—because of each other.

Who Will Like This Book

If you want a sports romance that’s much more than a love triangle, this is for you. It’s perfect for fans of “why choose” relationships, polyam rep, and explicit, kink-friendly romance where heroines get to love—and be loved by—more than one guy. If you crave found family, multiple POVs, a strong heroine, hockey (and locker-room drama), and off-the-charts steam, you’ll be hooked. There’s lots of banter, power play, vulnerability, and “consent is everything” energy. The book is long, packed with plenty of plot and relationship development, so it’s for readers who like to get lost for a while.

⚠️ Trigger warning: detailed sexual content, kink (including impact play, voyeurism, toy use, breeding kink, DP/DVP, degradation), polyamory, professional boundary challenges, and themes of sports injuries and workplace drama. Always check content notes if you have preferences or triggers around kink or non-traditional relationships.

Tagged As

hockey romance, why choose, polyamory, bisexuality, mm romance, sports romance, found family, open-door romance, kinky romance, steamy romance, workplace romance, team dynamics, multiple pov, strong heroine, grumpy hero, sunshine hero, Finnish hero, explicit, consent positive, slow burn, fast burn, series, indie romance, kindle unlimited, emotional growth, queer rep, contemporary romance

Steam Level

The spice scale is maxed out—this is not just steamy but wildly explicit, with varied group and kink scenes scattered throughout. The heat is detailed, constant, and not for the faint of heart. Every scene is woven into character and relationship growth, so it never feels empty or just for shock value.