This was a great read from Emily Rath, the winter is the perfect time to read hockey romances.

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for providing me with an arc for an honest review!

Thank you Netgalley and publisher for this ARC.

As much as I dislike hockey romance books I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

The spice was chefs kiss.

The characters, I mean come on!🫠♥️

I just wish the books in this series were a bit shorter.

This book was such a great addition to the series. I loved this one. I think the characters were well written, and the story was plotted so good. The spice was definitely nice! I can't wait for more from this author.

Thank you Net Galley ARC

like this series and all the regulars and was looking forward to thsi story and it was fun and good and steamy but also not as satisfying.

I read all the books in one week. This one annoyed me a bit because I got a little tired with all the spicy scenes which take about 87% of all books. I feel like Poppy liked them both, and Colton was the one who truly loved them both; Lukas was the one I thought didn't like or love either Poppy or Colton enough. The pregnancy plot was so bad we didn't need it, to be honest. But overall, like the other ones, this is an easy read; it is just too long and full of smut rather than plot points.

A really well done twist on the pregnancy trope. Rath has a way of taking spicy "taboo" tropes and making them beautiful. I think every romance reader should expand their horizons and try an Emily Rath book on for size. Looking forward to what she writes next!

This was phenomenal - unsurprisingly, Emily Rath has again written something perfectly smutty and heartwarming. I will forever be an Emily Rath fan and Jacksonville Rays reader! It was so fun to get to know Poppy better in this installment!

I thought this book was alright... there wasn't that much of a plot. There was SO MUCH spice. Fr like every chapter.
Lukas I felt like had good character development towards the end. He felt like a closed book to me and I just couldn't understand him at all in the beginning.
Colton was soooo sweet towards everyone unless he had a reason not to be... he was a very strong character and I felt like he was just a typical hockey player and nothing really stood out to me. What I mean by typical is when they are hurt they refuse to stop playing unless something life changing happens because most of the time all they know in life is hockey.
Finally Poppy. Such a strong women. I related to her the most because she keeps busy so she doesn't have to focus on real life. And I respect that because life is HARD there is so many walls you have to break down in order to build back up again.
She really grew as a person as well because she finally got the guts to stick up for herself.

Poppy is dedicated to proving herself as the new PR Director at the Jacksonville Rays hockey team, but she doesn't count on being attracted to not one, but two, of the players: bad boy PR nightmare Lukas and sweet Colton who she knew from her old team. But why should Poppy have to choose between them...

This book is not for the faint of heart--it's SPICY in capital letters. It's also incredibly well done, with significant backstories, character development, and emotion mixed in with the also artfully penned steam. This MMF why choose romance is LONG though--which to fit in the numerous intimate scenes in addition to the emotional development makes sense, but makes for a thicc paperback and lengthy ebook. If you're looking for a polyamorous, spicy read with heart (and hockey players!) then look no further, as this is one of the best books of this kind that I've read.

Thanks to Kensington for my eARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

5 stars - 9/10

4.5⭐ 4🌶️

It’s been a hot minute for me, but it was nice to be back in the Jacksonville Rays universe. I’m not typically a contemporary romance reader, but Emily always manages to make me giggle, sweat, and feel a little fuzzy inside–this series is definitely an exception in my book. I loved all three of our MCs in very different ways and the love triangle angle starting out was all the angst I typically crave…until it wasn’t and then I was swooning as these three navigated their relationship together. This was a rollercoaster ride full of emotions and I went from laughing straight out loud to tearing up more than once. I really enjoyed this one and I’m sure I’ll be back for more with Pucking Strong in the future.

This very spicy addition to the Jacksonville Rays series by Emily Rath does not disappoint if you’re looking to get to know more of the characters from the Rays world. Great for fans of more graphic romance.

Poppy St. James is the PR Director of the new Jacksonville Rays hockey team. She is determined to prove herself and make herself indispensable to the future of the team. Her job certainly won't be easy dealing with Lukas Novikov, he is a star on ice but his personal life is a PR nightmare. He flirts with anything that moves and has a special skill of getting under Poppy's skin. Colton Morrow is a dream to work with, he is polite, considerate, and the definition of a loyal Leo, and when you become one of his people you are one for life.

Poppy's family leaves her in a tailspin, and it may push her into making a bad decision, or two. Those decisions lead to a surprise pregnancy that threatens everything she has built in her life.

I honestly devour the books in this series. Emily has a true winning formula with these books. she has a beautiful balance of romance, intimacy, and more hard hitting topics. There was a chapter in his book when Colton won't let Lukas wallow any longer that honestly had me laughing from start to finish. Emily writes such witty banter, the back and forth between Lukas and Poppy was *chefs kiss*.
These books are really long, and though I never get bored I do think the more serious aspects of the story could have more to it. The smut is so detailed and plentiful, but I feel the characters could have had more relationship building through conversation.

My love letter to Emily Rath, I love you.

You write books that make me forget the world exists. Every reader wants an immersive book, but with the3 events of the last week, your words and characters made me feel like there is still good in the world. Poppy reminds me that there is still good people out there and how to treat the world better than it treats us. Colton showed me how to live life with arms wide open, cherish those we love, and to not be afraid. Lukas showed how to love fiercely, even when the world is cruel, and protect the ones your love.

Emily does an amaing job of intertwining her sexy hockey boys with "baggage" and making you become so attached to the characters that you are flushing one minute and sobbing the next.

Steamy hockey polyamourous romance with numerous subplots that keep things interesting. Definitely MMF as described, and a good bit of diversity on the team. Longer than most romances and cover a range of family dynamics.

This romance novel delivers a heartwarming and beautifully crafted story about love blooming in unexpected places, with characters who feel endearing and real. The chemistry between the leads is palpable, creating moments both charming and intense as their relationship unfolds against a vividly depicted backdrop. With a blend of wit, emotion, and engaging plot twists, it’s a perfect escape for readers seeking a feel-good love story.

I made it through the book but barely and after taking a break for a while. I hated the names but its fine I give up on this series at this point. I liked the first books but now its odd.

This book had me laughing one minute and fighting back tears the next. I freaking LOVE Poppy- she is my new hero. This one is very spicy, and there are several TWs at the beginning of the book, so please be sure to check them before reading. That said, I think Emily does a great job of showing/celebrating unconventional relationships/love stories. The plot of this one was great with some twists I didn't see coming!


I can't wait for Teddy and Henrick's story!





Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for an advanced readers copy of this book.
#PuckingSweet #NetGalley.

I am obsessed with Emily Rath’s ability to create and express traditionally unconventional relationship structures completely and totally normal. She makes every character so lovable you never think twice about not rooting for their every happiness. Love is love is love is love. No one does it better than Rath.

Emily Rath Does. Not. Miss. I have been impatiently waiting for Poppy, Lukas, and Colton’s story since Pucking Wild and it was even better than I could have imagined. This book had me in tears more than once as the characters’ pain was relatable and hit close to home. Lukas Novikov now holds a special place in my heart and is by far my favorite of the Rays(sorry Mars). I loved how Colton was so steadfast in his love for both Lukas and Poppy and the way he refused to let Lukas self-sabotage. Poppy’s battle to prove herself in both the male dominated world of Hockey and with her own family had me cheering for her(when I wasn’t crying of course). Everything these three went through to get their happy ending really had me falling in love with them over and over throughout the book. I also loved the little glimpses of the Price family and the development of their story throughout the book since the timelines overlap. I genuinely love these characters so much and I cannot wait to get more glimpses of them in future books.

HOLY SPICE.

I cannot look anyone in the eye if they knew I read and enjoyed this but I really did. I love queer lovestories being told in a way that is the norm, not the exception. Colton has a heart of gold and is my #1 in this book - I love this guy!

If you're into sports romance and pure smut - this is the book for you!