My confession: I couldn’t get enough of Lindsey and Ryder
A fabulous addition to a kick-ass series about the the hockey players of Boston college and the girls who steal their hearts. Though perfectly suited to be read out of order or as standalones, as always, fans of the series will love how the lives of the other couples featured in the Taking Shots series feature in each new story.
Lindsay and Ryder have a wonderful, complex love story with lots of baggage from their histories that rears its head to make for a rich telling that feature both MCs POV and a plethora of Lindsay's Confessions that add so much flavor to her backstory and her personality. Fans of the series or of Cindi will already know that they don't want to miss this new installment, but new fans and hockey/sports romance fans should know that this book is not to be missed.
This is the story of a girl who never saw real love in her world so she became a Puck Bunny so as not to chase it, convinced that was her lot in life, and then renouncing her Bunny ways when she went and fell anyway. And the story of a boy whose whole life consisted of hockey and math and living up to his parents' impossible expectations with no real desire for more until he ran across a girl he couldn't figure out and certainly couldn't get enough of. Watch as their worlds collide in a most spectacular fashion

Really cute NA sports romance featuring one hot hockey player. I really liked the banter between Ryder and Lindsey. i love how he keeps pursuing her when she pushes him away. He's so adorable and endearing as is Lindsey. I loved both of their back stories and how their own family drama comes into play and has shaped them so far. Overall, a very entertaining and sweet read. (review posted on goodreads May 8, 2017)

Confessions of a Former Puck Bunny is the fourth book in the adult sports romance taking shots series by Cindi Madsen. This book was a lot of fun. Each of the books in the series can be read as standalones. I have not read the first three books, but I have a feeling that I will really enjoy them after reading this one.

Confessions of a Former Puck Bunny has everything I am looking for in a sports romance. Great characters, witty dialogue, hot hockey players and a wonderful romance woven throughout. This novel twisted all kinds of tropes for me. There is a tutor, but in this case the tutor is the hockey player and the former puck bunny is the tutor-ee. I love a college romance.

Lindsay and Ryder jumped off the page for me. I love Cindi Madsen's romances because they seem to come alive before my eyes. I have a confession to make along with Lindsay...I loved reading about all of her hockey player kisses. Confessions of a Former Puck Bunny was everything I was looking for in a romance...and more.

5 Stars

Lindsay is a reformed girl. After spending her life competing for men's attention - specfically hoickey players - she's done and on her way to finding her dream job in NY City. But Ryder, he has other plans. She knows Lindsay has a bone to pick with hockey but he likes a challenge so he becomes her friend in the hopes that she will see him as more than a friend.

Problem is that no one is more determined, and no one is more stubborn than Lindsay and with the odds not in their favor thanks to the horrible set of parents they were both given, it's going to be a tough ride.

Lindsay got to me. We are all, at the end of the day, reformed. We go through things in life and one day we wake up after Karma bites us in the kaboosh and then and there decide we want to be better. So cheers, to all my reformed peeps out there. It's never too late to be a different person. As long as you are breathing, youan always reform yourself.

Review by Laura

This was a fun, dramatic, funny story. Predictable story line with the usual drama. Good read for sure. Told in dual POV
Thanks Netgalley for the Arc

Told from dual first person points of view (Ryder and Lindsay) CONFESSIONS OF A FORMER PUCK BUNNY follows Lindsay as she struggles to pass her final class of university math. Enter rookie hockey sensation Ryder Maddox, Lindsay’s latest math tutor, and the man with whom Lindsay will fall in love. What ensues are Lindsay’s attempts to keep her distance from everything hockey, hoping to heal her reputation and forget about the past.

Lindsay Rivera is a former puck bunny whose reputation with the players precedes our heroine’s introduction including her failed attempt to seduce then destroy team member Hudson Decker and the BC hockey team (Anatomy of a Player #2). As a rookie, Ryder Maddox is unaware of Lindsay’s reputation, or her previous one-night stands with the members of his team. Ryder’s attraction to Lindsay will be complicated when the past reveals more than either one knew.

The attraction between Ryder and Lindsay is immediate but Lindsay struggles with her past reputation, staying clear of all things hockey related including the members of the team. One year ‘clean and sober’ from the world of hockey Lindsay fears falling back into old habits when Ryder Maddox enters her life. Ryder intends to prove to Lindsay that the past is in the past; his pursuit of our story line hero is sweet and romantic. The $ex scenes are intimate and provocative without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

All of the previous couples play secondary and supporting roles including Lyla and Beck, Whitney and Hudson, Megan and Dane. We are introduce to Ryder’s parents: his father, a former professional hockey player, and his long suffering mother who struggles with sins from the past.

The world building follows the BC hockey team as they vie for the playoffs towards another championship season. Ryder and Lindsay’s relationship continues to build although Lindsay struggles with her previous behavior and reputation.

CONFESSIONS OF A FORMER PUCK BUNNY is a predictable story line with a couple of twists that add some outside conflict into an already struggling relationship. The premise is realistic and engaging; the characters are spirited, colorful and animated; the romance is fated and passionate. CONFESSIONS OF A FORMER PUCK BUNNY is an enjoyable and welcome addition to Cindi Madsen’s TAKING SHOTS new adult, romance series

Such a fun book! I loved watching Lindsay try to resist Ryder, and how he kept pursuing her. What college girl wouldn't want help from a tutor that hot? Lindsay and Ryder had to overcome her past and both of their parents' shortcomings to try to make their relationship work. I loved this book because the story was very believable, and the characters had just the right amount of flaws and doubts, and both of them had their own goals and passions, but they recognized that being together made them happier and more complete than being apart. This was the first book I read by Cindi Madsen, and while it's fine as a stand-alone, I'm headed to read the first three in the series now.

This review is of an ARC provided by Entangled Publishing.

Ryder aka Ox is the quiet one of the guys on the Hockey team. Always making sure he and everyone else makes it to workouts. He's driven in both work ethic and learning. But when he helps his teammate, Hudson in Anatomy of a Player get his girl Whitney back, he's blindsided by his attraction to the school paper's editor, Lindsey.

But Lindsey want's nothing to do with Hockey players. Since she fell for and realized it was a one-sided thing with Hudson a year ago, she's changed her puck bunny ways. She also doesn't want to end up like her mother, relying on men to take care of her going from one wealthier than the next in order to survive.

It's been a years since she's been to a Hockey game and whenever Ryder is around her, he not only talks more than he does any other time in his life, but he goes all out to try to get Lindsey to relax, have fun, and consider him as a dating option.

Since Ryder is younger and never really spent much time partying, he doesn't know Lindsey's former reputation, until he talks her into going to the quad with his buddies and their girls. Lindsey is approached and all of her past spills out.

Ryder doesn't care, and as they get to know each other, Lindsey finds herself falling for him. That is until his parents get involved and a past connection with their families is revealed.

Ryder will have to decide if he's the type of guy who can defy his parents and do what's best for himself and Lindsey will have to decide if she's willing to take and give a second chance to a hockey guy who's broken her heart... again.

I really enjoyed this one. I liked that Lindsey was a bit older and that ultimately they were both willing to make sacrifices to make the other happy.

A reformed puck bunny is now a roving college reporter. Desperate to pass math she'll need help from the one man who she swore she needed to stay away from.

Will history repeat itself? Can she overcome her past?

Dive into this hot hockey adventure.

Let me start by saying that this is the first I've read in the series but it's a standalone so I had no problems keeping up.
It's a good story and I liked the characters, even the secondary characters like the couples, friends of Ryder.
Lindsey is a former puck bunny, but she is not shallow in the least. She is a great student, editor of the paper, lover of words and hockey players..but she decided she didn't like who she was so she changed , going cold turkey except a few slips here and there.
Now tho she has a big problem..Ryder! He is the guy that offers to help her with maths..but he is also a hockey player, a sexy beast ;) and an intense one at that, but very funny and humble too.
She tries her best to keep her distance but you know how it goes..He’s persistent and she can’t really resist him.
There are a few twists that add a bit of drama and although you could see where the story was going, it was still charming and fun!
I will def read the previous books in the series!

Really loving this series by Cindi so far. Sure, some I like better than others but overall it's a great series.
I really liked the characters and I'm glad

Great romance. And good characters. I liked Lindsay and Ryder. They went well together.

I loved this book for the title originally and how it was different than most of the college pro athlete and girl. Lindsay wasn't a "nerd" or "weird girl". She was a reformed punk bunny. She freely admitted it. So when Ryder "Ox" Maddox, hockey player extraordinaire started flirting with her, she wasn't having it. She wasn't that girl anymore and she wasn't looking to go back there.

Except Ryder isn't your typical male college athlete, at least how books portray them. So yeah, Lindsay doesn't want to be a puck bunny, but Ryder just might sway her to become a 1-puck bunny.

A good, NA book that defies the stereotypical college athlete/puck bunny genre. And for that I am truly appreciative!

I Enjoyed reading. Funny, laugh out loud moments when reading. Lindsey is determined to not date a hockey player. Ryder is determined to change her mind. Love the tactics he used. Of course there are challenges; her past reputation, his family and her mother's reputation. Secret revealed that they have more in common than they thought. Loved the book could not put it down. Recommended read.

I've been around the hockey romance book block a few times and have never seen a former puck bunny's perspective. What a fresh and fun story! Sweet and sexy, Confessions of a Former Puck Bunny is a slow burn of a romance that oozes angst and pounds with passion!



Ryder and Lindsay's explosive electricity was unstoppable! I felt their chemistry fused with angst combust! The passion fanned those flames of fire, sparking even more desire. How could I not fall for this amazing alpha who has a sweet side buried beneath all the sexy?!? With a hot, charming, caring, wealthy, and sweet alpha of a hero, Confessions of a Former Puck Bunny felt like a Cinderella fairy tale.

Like some of the most powerful drugs, all it took was one hit to be hooked—because I was definitely already addicted to the way Ryder Maddox kissed.


As much as their attraction is off-the-charts hot, Lindsay needs a delay in the game before she gets hurt like in the past. Her heart needs to be protected like a hockey puck, or Ryder will never score in this game of love.

What if we crash and burn?


I SWOONED HARD, my soul soared high, and my heart was hit like a hockey puck over this sweet and smoldering story. Cindi Madsen thrust me into the thrilling hockey world, painting a vivid picture where I was at the games feeling the ache of these characters and the adrenaline rush of hockey, and it was one enthralling experience. I WAS ALL IN AND IT WAS SO PUCKING GOOD!

"If things were different...I could really see myself slipping."

"Just slip." I reached up and ran my thumb across her bottom lip, my blood pumping hotter at her sharp exhale.

"I'll catch you."

🌟🌟🌟🌟 Pucking Good Stars

Cindi Madsen is an author that I've come to enjoy; with her sweet New Adult romances, passionate characters and her addictive storylines. The Taking Shots series has become a fave of mine since I picked up Getting Lucky Number Seven back in 2015. I love any sort of sport romance, so I was intrigued to see how Ryder was going to win over Lindsay after she had sworn off all men who play hockey!

From the opening chapters, I was amused by the way Lindsay avoided Ryder! Only to get stuck with him tutoring her in math! I could see that he was clearly interested in her, but she was determined not to step in that world again after being hurt previously. She classed herself as a puck bunny, because she had an unhealthy desire to be with and/or pick up ice hockey players. It was sad to see how her mother's ways had rubbed off on her. I liked seeing all her Confessions, to understand the depth of why she wanted to stay out of that world. But what I loved was seeing the change in herself! She put all her former ways behind her and became her own person, despite Ryder pulling her back in.

Ryder really was a sweet guy, and he constantly made me swoon. He was keen to get under Lindsay's skin, despite her pushing him away. He helped her every chance he could, and encouraged her to have a little fun every now and then. I liked seeing their friendship grow, and for them to fall for one another. But of course there is something that gets in the way!

I love being back in this world and Cindi Madsen allowed me to visit all the guys and gals that I adore once again! Ryder and Lindsay were so good together, and I enjoyed watching their story build! Ryder's parents were pushy though, and I wanted them to back off and let him live his life. But these two lost souls, who had two different upbringings were so perfect together. If you enjoy a good sports romance, get this one today!

Cindi Madsen's new adult college hockey romance series Taking Shots has showcased a variety of characters but this is the first one that takes a twist on the expected by featuring a hockey player in pursuit, instead of the other way around. Lindsay has 'been there, done that' – played the adoring hockey fan and gotten her heart crushed along the way. She's sworn off hockey players for good, not ashamed of having had several hookups with different players in the past but turning over a new leaf and avoiding the game, and the players. But math is one thing she can't avoid, and when handsome and attractive hockey player Ryder turns out to be a volunteer tutor at the resource center she reluctantly agrees to let him help her. Ryder's payment plan is simple – let him take her out and they'll call it even. Lindsay needs to get a B in math to graduate so she's got no choice. But when the attraction between them threatens to spill over into something more serious, will she be able to resist temptation?

I really appreciate the sex positive heroine in this story, a young woman who has had her fun but also knows that playtime doesn't last forever and that being a 'puck bunny' and a party going gal isn't going to get her a serious job after college. Hockey players are her kryptonite so avoiding them is her best bet until Ryder comes along and wreaks havoc on her plans. I love Lindsay's 'confessions', spread throughout the story where she is honest with herself about her faults and her previous life choices. Ryder is the nice guy hero throughout, a man who sees Lindsay not as a conquest but as a smart, feisty and likable woman. When her previous reputation from the locker room rears its head, he's quick to defend her and her choices – no slut shaming from him. It's the last year of college for them both, and career opportunities mean tough choices as well as guarding hearts from getting in too deep to prevent them from being broken. There are several sexy scenes with this couple, and the resolution to the main conflict gives them a happy ending suited to their romance. Friendships play a big part in the story, and several characters from earlier in the series make an appearance. As a hockey romance, it's got the required on ice scenes, locker room chats and after game parties that make up the rest of the story. Confessions of a Former Puck Bunny is an entertaining and fun story, a fitting end to the series.

This review has been posted at Amazon, BN and Kobo. It has been posted at All About Romance and feedback updated with the link.

I absolutely love this series! Definitely one of my favorite hockey series right now. It has those awesome feels. It always reminds me of Elle Kennedy’s Off Campus book, which are also fantastic. Anyway, if you read Anatomy of a Player, you’ve met Lindsay and you probably want to know what’s her story (I know I did!). Lindsay Rivera has left her past puck bunny days behind and has turned around her life. She now concentrates on her studies and graduating.
Enter Ryder “Ox” Maddox! Talk about swoony! We’ve also met Ox in the previous books so I have been looking forward to his book as well. He’s a sophomore and a defenseman for the hockey team. He was mesmerized by Lindsay since the moment he saw her and nothing was going to stop him from going for what he wanted.

“I’m not afraid of you, Lindsay Rivera. And I don’t give a damn who you used to be—just in case you were worried.”

I loved them both. I think Lindsay was cool and strong and an overall great heroine. And Ox, well I loved the heck out of him like all the other previous heroes in this series. I totally wish these hockey boys were real (and that I was 15 years younger, lol).

There’s some minor drama and some complications of course. Lindsay is older than Ox. Also, if you’ve read Anatomy you kinda know some of Lindsay’s um past history with Ox’s teammate. And some other underlying family drama that overall will keep you interested till the end.

Like I said, this is one series I absolutely adore and this one absolutely didn’t disappoint. If you’re looking for a cute, light fun summer read, I absolutely recommend!

"If things were different . . . I could really see myself slipping."
"Just slip." I reached up and ran my thumb across her bottom lip, my blood pumping hotter at her sharp exhale. "I'll catch you."

Confessions of a Former Puck Bunny was one of the best stories I have read this year. Holy smokes that book was amazing.

Lindsay is a former puck bunny which is a person who is super attracted to hockey players. Lindsay fell in love with one and her broke her heart and so now she’s sworn off everything to do with hockey, which definitely includes Ryder; a very sexy hockey player. Lindsay takes one look at Ryder and knows he could be her downfall and she doesn’t want to give up her dreams for a man like her mom did. Too bad she’s terrible at math and Ryder is the only one who can help her.

Enter Ryder who is…well he is the perfect book boyfriend. No lie. He’s so amazing throughout this whole book. Of course, he has flaws but that just made me love him more. Seriously I love Ryder. He’s super sweet and caring. He doesn’t give up on Lindsay even when she says she can only be friends. He’s super good at math and is so just amazing. Swoon! Seriously for Ryder alone you should read this book. Ryder spends his time with his hockey buddies and trying to get Lindsay to have fun with him, not in a sexual way, at least not all the time. His home life isn’t perfect and he just wants to be the best him he can be to his team.

I loved this story so freaking much. I hadn’t read anything by Cindi Madsen until I read CFPB, but I am a believer now and I so want to read her other books ASAP!

Lindsay was an amazing character. She worked so hard at being the best she could be for her career and trying to grab every opportunity she could so she could be successful. She didn’t want to rely on anyone especially men after the upbringing she had. I so related her Lindsay when she would talk about her mom and her relationship. Not that my upbringing was like that, but just how we fear taking on the somewhat negative qualities of our parents without realizing it. Lindsay could come across as kind of rude sometimes, but I got that too. She’s been hurt and was doing activities she wasn’t proud of. When she finally gets with Ryder their relationship is so cute and she’s so great to him.

Ryder as I said is beyond adorable too. I love how realistic is was that he went from constantly repressing his feelings to not really being able to control them fully because he wasn’t used to properly managing them. Ryders life isn’t perfect even though he has money. A lot of his problems come from his parents which you will see first-hand while reading this story that his parents suck.

Can’t say enough about how I loved this story. The fact that Ryder and Lindsay had an actual relationship not just built on sex, but they were an actual couple. Yes the had super-hot sexy times that I so needed a fan for.

If you’re reading this and you haven’t picked it up by now I will say it again, I loved this book. CFPB was phenomenal. The characters were amazing and compelling start to finish. You feel for them and feel with them. The writing is beyond this world. This is definitely one of my favorite books of all time. The romance is off the charts and the relationship with friends, family and Lindsay and Ryder are just some of the few aspects that had me loving this story. It’s so time for a re-read!

Swoon! This book was so sweet and just angsty enough and sexy! I love stories where the man has to convince the woman to be in a relationship and that was exactly what I got from Lindsey and Ryder! I loved her confessions interspersed throughout her POV. I loved her vulnerability and strength and I loved how the depth of both her and Ryder's character - they were so much more than superficial characters. Their road to HEA was a bumpy one and there were legitimate issues (one doozy of a bump in particular that threw me for surprise) and it made the book such a page-turner for me. I actually fussed at my daughter at the pool a couple times because she wanted to disturb my book reading with trivial things like watching her do a handstand for the umpteenth time (true story, but I'm a good mommy and I watched her EVERY TIME she asked me to). I can't wait to meet the other couples that were a part of Lindsey and Ryder's crew, so I'm going to go back and read the first 3 books in the Taking Shots series as soon as possible.

Lindsay used to be a former puck bunny. She has since retired from that lifestyle and is focused on her last year of college and future goals. I really liked her character because she owned her past. She didn't try to make excuses for what she did and she realized before it was too late she needed a change. She was strong, feisty and determined to make something out of herself.

Ryder wasn't your typical jock. He lived a very structured and controlling life with his parents. When he's around Lindsay he can relax and not have to worry about saying or doing the wrong thing. When Lindsay is with Ryder she's able to let her walls down and let herself be loved the way she should. Ryder was accepting of Lindsay's past and he saw past that and knew what kind of person she was deep down. I really liked this couple because they changed for the better when they were together and did a lot of growing as a couple. Those are the best kind of relationships in my book.

I absolutely adored this book!! I've never read anything by this author before and I devoured it in one day!! This story had everything I enjoyed in a book! It had romance, slow burn, sexy times, funny times and angst. The story was evenly paced and there was no over the top drama. This was a very refreshing storyline because normally it's the guy that is sleeping around. In this case the female lead had a very active prior sex life and I liked the way the author thought outside the box for this story. Even though I didn't read the other books (which I plan to rectify) I felt like I was apart of the gang. Madsen has a special way of creating characters that you can't help but love!!