Emily Rath has done it again - she has written my favorite romance book of the year!

Pucking Sweet is a spicy hockey workplace romance that starts as a love triangle, and then ends up as a MMF why choose.

I am OBSESSED with these characters. Emily Rath excels at creating well-rounded, lovable characters with real-life flaws and situations. Poppy, Lukas, and Colton all experience so much growth over the course of this book. Rath injects so much humor into the pages. I found myself laughing out loud at the banter not just between the love interests, but the whole Jacksonville Rays team.

As a hockey romance lover, I find Rath's series to have the best depictions of hockey games, team structure/dynamic and pro-hockey lifestyle. Rath writes her romance books with so much vivid plot and fun scenes that you really feel like you are there with the Rays. There is nothing repetitive about her writing, even with the spicy scenes.

AND SPEAKING OF SPICE, oh my GOODNESS is the SPICE SPICY!!! I was living for the scenes of Poppy, Lukas and Colton. What I love about Emily Rath spicy scenes, is they are still filled with so much heart. The scenes work because you really fall in love with the individual characters and you really care about them getting together in the ways they do. This is not just a *insert spice scene here* type book. There are so many heart-felt moments in the spicy scenes that do advance the plot.

Poppy is my favorite FMC of 2024. She's a BOSS in the workplace, while also going through so much turmoil in her family life. I thought she had a personality, was funny, loved HARD, and felt like a woman I would love to be friends with.

I love the way Rath writes queer love. I find her love stories so believable, and I am always rooting for the couple in the end.
I absolutely devoured this book and I cannot wait for the next book in the Jacksonville Rays series!

5⭐️ 4🌶️
- MMF
- Hockey Romance
- Workplace Romance
- Love Triangle Until Its Not
- Bi-Awakening

Emily does it again. If she writes it, I’m going to read it. I’d seriously read her grocery list. But luckily I don’t have to because she blessed us with Pucking Sweet instead.

This book was everything! It was laugh out loud funny with amazing banter and oh so spicy. But that wasn’t enough for Emily. She had to give us amazingly complex characters who were flawed and real and so loveable.

Who hasn’t lashed out when trying to protect themselves like Lukas, or been a total pushover when it comes to family like Poppy, or been a little over the top when jealousy like Colton? But watching them grow and find their footing together was so beautiful! The love the three of them found together was so beautiful.

Of course it wouldn’t be an Emily Rath book without scorching spice. Seriously the mouthes on Lukas and Colton were filth! And I loved every minute of it

I’m already anxious to start a reread via audiobook. I just know Desiree Ketchum, Alex Kydd, and Sean Crisden are going to knock it out of the park.

3.5 Stars

The book is some of Rath’s best writing of the series, in my opinion. This book covers Poppy, Colton and Lukas’ lives through events that span from before Rachel lands in Jacksonville to the epilogue, mentioning Rachel’s pregnancy with her third child. While it covers a lot of time + events that we’ve seen through the eyes of other characters, I wasn’t confused with the contexts / needing to read previous books to remind myself of events.

That being said, while the other books really delve into the backstories of all characters (Rachel’s family, Ilmari’s family, etc), Colton and Lukas’ stories don’t fully unpack everything that is referenced, and I wish that this book would have detailed that further.

A solid book overall, and I can’t wait to read Henrik and Teddy’s book next!

4.5 Stars I'm convinced that Emily Rath laces her books with something because damn these books are addictive! Once you start one you cannot put it down--even if it's over 500 pages! Pucking Sweet is the third book in the Jacksonville Rays series and at almost 600 pages there's plenty of action (both action and action 😉).

Poppy St. James is out to prove herself as the head of PR for the newest NHL team, the Jacksonville Rays. It should be easy, PR is practically in Poppy's DNA, but what's difficult is the hockey players themselves. Most especially defenseman Lukas Novikov, the party boy who seems determined to make Poppy's job impossible. Lukas is constantly pulling pranks and dragging his teammates, like fellow defenseman Colton Morrow, into the trouble as well. When Poppy's life is thrown off kilter, it sets her on a new path that puts her in both Lukas's and Colton's orbits. What starts as a love triangle morphs into more, all together. With the addition of a little blue plus sign on a test, Poppy has no strategy to get her out of this PR mess.

There was so much to love in this one! From the characters--Poppy the actual badass PR Barbie, Colton the possessive sweetheart, and Lukas the secret cinnamon roll--to the shifting dynamics between the three of them. I love that the author went from two MF relationships, to MFM, to MMF. Lukas and Colton getting together was the cherry on top of their poly relationship. There's so much happening in this one and we get to see what these characters were up to during the same timeline as the first two books in the series. If you are a fan of hockey romance and/or why choose, you will love Pucking Sweet!

Emily Rath books are fun and emotional and expansive.

I loved getting to know the Jacksonville Rays team throughout this trilogy.

From the Why Choose romcom in the first book, to exploring age differences in the second book to this final book in the trilogy.

We've met and loved Poppy St. James in all the prior books and now it's time for her story. It's a why choose romance, but on a smaller scale.

Poppy and Lukas and Colton's story is sweet and sexy. I love in Rath's books that she realistically opens your mind to different kinds of love and relationships. This book is no different.

It's also so interesting reading scenes from previous books through a different perspective.

Her books are a definite recommendation.

I swear this series just keeps getting better. I stayed up all night to read this book and I don’t regret it for a second. I devoured this book and couldn’t put it down. I loved everything about it. This is full of banter, spice, tension, love, and laughter. I’m obsessed with all 3 of these characters. Poppy is a strong/badass fmc. Colton is so sweet and loves with his whole heart. Lukas was so funny but we also got to see a different side of him. I just wanted to hug him because he deserves the world. These 3 were perfect together and I loved watching them grow individually and together. Overall this series is everything and I will never stop recommending it.

Pucking Sweet is book three in the phenomenal series Jacksonville Rays by Emily Rath.
I am loving this series so much and was so excited to read Poppy, Lukas, and Colton’s story.
This really was a fantastic addition to the series.
This book was legit so good. I did not expect it to be as consuming as it was for me.
I couldn’t stop once I started.

Thank You NetGalley and Kensington for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

Listen. Are the books in this series too freaking long? Yes. Do I still rate them 5 stars and devour them in 24 hours or less? ALSO YES. I contain multitudes.

I think Emily really shines in her poly work the most and I am so so glad that she decided that this book needed to be MMF because man did I eat it up with a freaking spoon. The characters here are all really well rounded and complex and I just love seeing how they'll all come together (hehe) and make a relationship work. And boy do they!

I hate myself a little for loving this series but man, I really do. As long as Emily writes it, I will read it!

Cannot believe I just read the 3rd book in the 𝘑𝘢𝘤𝘬𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘷𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘦 𝘙𝘢𝘺𝘴 series. It was fantastic and gave readers a fun twist on the love triangle trope when it turned into a full on why choose situation. I loved it 👏🏼 𝙋𝙪𝙘𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙎𝙬𝙚𝙚𝙩 was a highly anticipated book for me. With all the easter eggs Emily Rath has left in previous books I was beyond ready to have Poppy, Lukas, and Colton’s story. It tugged right at my heart strings. These three had the sweetest relationship and I loved watching them navigate life together. The chemistry between them was explosive, the banter had me cackling, and the spice was hot. I really enjoyed this book and absolutely cannot wait for the next 𝘑𝘢𝘤𝘬𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘷𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘦 𝘙𝘢𝘺𝘴 book. Especially after that ending 👀

ᴛʀᴏᴘᴇꜱ:
🏒 Hockey Romance
💘 MMF Why Choose
💼 Workplace Romance
🔺 Love Triangle (until it’s not)
🤰🏼 Surprise Pregnancy

Thank you to Emily Rath, Kensington Publishing, and NetGalley for the review copy of 𝙋𝙪𝙘𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙎𝙬𝙚𝙚𝙩!

4.5 ⭐ 3.5 🌶

I wasn't so sure how I was feeling in the beginning of this story... To be honest, I wasn't feeling Poppy, Lukas or Colton... But as the book went on and I truly got to know them, I fell so hard. And as their relationship grew and their love bloomed, I melted into a puddle at this throuple's feet. They were so dang amazing and their story was too.

I really enjoyed seeing Lukas and Coley fall for each other. I wasn't sure how Emily was going to get us there, but it started falling into place and I was giddy as heck. The shower scenes were so dang hot. And I loved how they each were with Poppy too. They definitely complimented different parts of her and made this perfect little triangle of true love.

The third act and ending had me choking up a bit. It was an emotional ride on so many fronts as two of our three MCs discovered what family truly means. And when the little chaotic lentil made their way earthside, I was a bit of a mess... But it was the happiest of endings. Plus, that little sneak into Pucking Strong has me so excited for what's next. In the meantime I'll be impatiently waiting for PEA Vol III.

I’d like to thank NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

My oh my this book was such a ride. The amount of stuff that happened in this book blew my freaking mind.. the story between these 3 was honestly beautiful. I never read about poly relationships, but when i do I really enjoy how the authors write about the connections the 3 of them end up having. It’s beautifully written in this book. You feel every emotion between these 3 and all they went through. But don’t get me started on the spice!!! God it was so hot. But soooo hot. I very much enjoyed this one😉

Emily Rath knows how to write a great romance! I loved Pucking Around, so I had high hopes for this one and It didn’t disappoint, it was a great edition to the series! I loved Poppy, Lucas and Colton, there relationship was written and developed so well. All the characters were written well, and had great personal growth throughout the novel. Emily also knows how to write spicy scenes! Honestly, I loved everything about this book, and dare I say I might have loved it just as much as Pucking Around! I eagerly await the next book in the series!

4/5 stars! I absolutely adored this book! I loved all the characters and thought they were relatable and well developed, which can be hard in a poly relationship. The spice scenes were amazing! The personal growth of all the characters was also great. I want the next book in the series already!

The way I screamed when I saw this in Netgalley!!! This book focuses on Poppy St. James, Rays PR Rep Extraordinaire, Lukas "Novy" Novikov, unserious prankster with some pretty serious childhood abandonment issues, and Colton Morrow, Mr. Sweet and Sincere. Poppy really likes Colton, whom she has known for several years, even before the Rays--he's sweet and genuine and also really cute. He's been head over heels for her since he met her and sees and wants forever. Poppy also can't help her chemistry that she seems to have with Novy-- even though he causes her never-ending PR crises and never stops teasing her, there is a very strong spark between the two of them.

After a 3-year drought, she has encounters with both of them individually within a week, and her feelings are even more mixed up. What if she can have her cake and eat it, too? Would the boys be on board for sharing her? They're already best friends, would they ever want to make it something more?

I found the navigation of the beginnings of a throuple relationship for people who have never been polyamorous to be really interesting-- I had such a soft spot for both Novy and Coley that I was rooting for them the whole time. Did it feel as natural as the Jake/Caleb relationship? Not necessarily, but I still enjoyed the ride. Get it girrrrrrl!

Whooooaaaaa. Emily Rath packs a ton of plot into Pucking Sweet—part of me sometimes wishes these Jacksonville Rays books were just a little bit shorter, but then the characters draw me in and I want the story to keep going. Poppy, Colton, and Lukas weave together for a complicated, unexpected, and fulfilling romance, and Poppy’s family drama provides a satisfying side story.

While I’ve enjoyed reading the first three books in this series as a trilogy, I’m also glad that the Pucking Sweet epilogue indicates there will be a time jump for the fourth book—it will be fun to move on and get a fresh infusion of characters and events to work with.

This is one of those books where you kind of buckle in for the ride and step off the 'coaster at the end kind of punch-drunk! In a good way! Since Pucking Sweet's timeline runs parallel to the previous two novels (Pucking Around and Pucking Wild), it's definitely worth reading those first, as you get a real kick from seeing the events of those books from a different angle. But I'd also say it's not a deal-breaker if you're coming to this as a newbie to the Jaxonville Rays world.

This is seriously spicy hockey romance where the author isn't afraid to go for a deep dive into characterisation, and while that perhaps makes the book longer than it strictly needs to be, I can't be mad, as I enjoyed these characters and their story so much. Poppy, Lukas and Colton may be my new faves in the series, and I loved that each of them have a fully developed arc, and that their respective relationships also receive equal billing. Emily Rath's books have a warmth and humour to them similar to other 'grown up' (rather than college) hockey books, but they also bring the angst in a way that sets them apart from the more rom-com takes of (for example) Helena Hunting or Meghan Quinn; in this respect they have a similar drama quotient to some of the college series, but, like, with the spice level dialled up to 11, and a lot of it, too. (Basically, read the content warnings and treat them as either a promise or a threat, depending on what you're looking for!)

Having read this, I'm definitely inclined to go back and re-read the others in light of the new developments (new character POVs unlocked, like) and I'm definitely looking forward to more to come in the next instalment, Pucking Strong. That seems like it's going to be set a few years on from the first three, so in a way Pucking Sweet draws the 'phase 1' of the Jax Rays to a conclusion, while teasing what's to come.

5 ⭐️ 4 🌶️

This book was genuinely fantastic from start to finish. I loved Poppy’s character from the beginning of the series in Pucking Around and I think the men she ends up with are perfect for her in every way. I loved Poppy’s fierce and loyal character. She was confident and didn’t hesitate to ask for what she wanted and I envied that self confidence and assurance. I loved seeing her be utterly herself without shame.

Novy is this impulsive, reckless, jokster player that never wanted to settle down with a woman. He went from one night stand to the next until Poppy. She turned his world upside down in the best way. She brought out the best in him and truly supported him from their first intimate interaction. He had some growing up to do, but he eventually realized his worth and became who he was always meant to be and teaching us the lesson that even with trauma we can overcome our past and be worthy and deserving of love.

Then there’s Colton Morrow. He is this sweetheart hockey player with a dirty mouth and I loved him. I loved seeing his relationship with Novy develop and the start of the MM had me unwell. I also loved how he was the calm to their storm. He knew what they each needed and provided it without hesitation.
Seeing them work through their struggles was hard at times, but so worth it. The relationship between all three of them was so messy, chaotic and beautiful. And don’t even get me started on the smut. It was top tier and I was unwell for almost every scene 🫠😅

The side characters in this book were a range of fantastic to the worst from old faces to the new faces. I hated all of Poppy’s family from her sisters to her mom to her terrible ex, but I loved all the Jax players and seeing the comforting familiar faces of Rach, Ryan and Tess and Shelby had me smiling and TINA was seriously the best 😊

I truly loved the way Emily wrote this story. Teddy and Henrik are next and I CANNOT WAIT 🙌🏼‼️

OMG, soo excited to be back in the Jacksonville Rays world, and "Pucking Sweet" did NOT disappoint!!

Have been craving and maybe even a bit of lusting for Poppy, Colton, and Luckas's story especially as we see them in "Pucking Around", "Pucking Wild", and the novellas. Throughout the first half learning more about our main characters' backstories I kept wondering how is this thruple going to work, will someone get spurned, and will the boy's friendship survive?? So many questions thankfully Emily Rath delivered the best and sexiest outcome possible.

Sidenote read most of this book and finished while on the train to Jacksonville, FL let's just say I was a little disappointed forcing my mid back to reality that the Rays don't actually exist, oh the power of storytelling wishing we could live in our books.

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

4 stars.

This book just HIT. I enjoyed Pucking Around and Pucking Wild but I think I'm obsessed with this one. Poppy, Colton, Lukas; you have my heart.

I loved almost everything about this book. I liked the characters and the dynamics between them. I love the way that we see three different relationships form at the same time. Poppy was just a delight of a character. I thought she was adorable and fun, even if she did wholly lack a spine. The friendship we saw between Colton and Lukas was my favorite and I loved how it blossomed into more. I also enjoyed the plot and the serious themes in shed light on, but it really felt at times that the plot took a backseat to the romance and spice. All in all, this book was just a fun time. I am very excited to see what comes next for the Jacksonville Rays.

Spicy and fun, always a good time when it comes to Emily Rath. Such a fun read, I really enjoyed it!