SO MANY great tropes in this book that I loved! Grumpy x sunshine, he falls first, forbidden, small town… and hockey! Honestly I couldn’t ask for a better book. I haven’t read a lot from this author but I will now!

loved this romance and how the reporter and hockey player did a fake dating and then eventually fell in love. love this town also and seeing the other couples.

While the premise appeared a little cringe-worthy, this book ended up being one of the funniest things I have read in a long time. Joy is everything you want to be. A minority absolutely kicking it in her chosen field and Dalton is a gorgeous yet slightly weird goalie man-mountain. The slow burn with the speed bumps along the way made this a delightful romance read. I love the self-love aspect and the vulnerability of sharing that with someone else. I read this as a standalone but I am super keen to go back and read the first in the series and I look forward to further books in the series.

Big thanks to NetGalley, Montlake and Lauren Landish for a copy of this book. This is my honest review.

I was excited about this one as I love a hockey romance. Unfortunately I found this one slow going and it didn't grab my attention. Perhaps it's a case of right book at the wrong time, either way I've decided to not finish this one.

4.5⭐
2.5🌶️

TPP was such an entertaining read, I literally devoured it!

Under bizarre circumstances, Joy becomes a good luck charm to Dalton and insists on their 'ritual' before every hockey game. Joy discovers beneath the cocky playboy reputation Dalton upholds, there's a sweet man there too.

It's not long before feelings start getting involved but Joy has vowed never to fall for an athlete ever again. She holds Dalton at arms length, despite him going all-in for her.... But will Joy ever be able to let go of her past and fight for her one true love?

Joy and Dalton shouldn't have worked, but they just did... I adored them so much! Joy is such a likeable character, who's fun and a right ball-busting bish, trying to make herself seen in a male dominated field (she's a sports event reporter). She definitely doesn't make it easy for Dalton who just wants a chance with the only woman who's made him want to settle down. He was so sweet for Joy (albeit scared of her 😂) and wasn't going give up until he won her heart. Their banter was on point and the amount of times I was waiting for them to give in... Gah!!! 🙈

I definitely preferred this over Hope's story, but also can't wait to see what Lauren brings us with Shep's book!!!

Thank you Lauren, Montlake and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book! All opinions are my own 🫶🏼

This story wasn't really for me, the conflict and plot to get the two together was good but it didn't connect for me how quickly they went into it

I had a great time with this! I am a sucker for a hockey romance. I’m also a big fan of a tough guy melting for the right woman. I am in love with Joy’s parents. They were amazing and I wanted more. This definitely contained an unconventional meet-cute but I thought it was hilarious. This was full of humor, family, friendships, and spice. I love these characters and look forward to more.

I couldn't focus on this book for some reason. The premise sounded cute but it was also the 2nd book in an interconnected series (I think??) so maybe that's why I didn't finish it. I'm unsure if I'll reread this book.

Book 2 in Maple creek series - with a slight instalove, but then a slow burn which is worth the wait. This one was such fun and I wanted to know what would happen next throughout. I adored Joy and Dalton was so much fun. I know need to go and read book 1 of Maple Creek

This sports romance delivers exactly what it promises: a fun, steamy, and undeniably entertaining read. If you're a fan of forbidden relationships – in this case, the classic "best friend's sister" trope – and crave a healthy dose of humor and undeniable chemistry, you'll likely find yourself enjoying this book.

The story centers around Joy Barlowe, a sports reporter, and Dalton Days, a hockey goalie, whose unexpected encounter sparks a winning streak for the team. Driven by superstition, Dalton convinces Joy to continue their "arrangement," leading to a predictable but enjoyable progression of their relationship. While the plot doesn't stray far from familiar romance tropes, the engaging characters and witty banter keep the pages turning.

However, the book does have a notable drawback: the relationship, while physically charged, lacks substantial emotional depth. The connection between Joy and Dalton felt primarily rooted in attraction, leaving a desire for a more profound connection. Despite this, the book successfully delivers on its promise of lighthearted entertainment and a good time. If you're looking for a quick, enjoyable, and steamy read, this book fits the bill. Just be prepared for a focus on physical chemistry over deep emotional connection.

Get ready for a wild ride! The Pucking Proposal is a fun, small-town hockey romance that delivers on humor, chemistry, and spicy goodness! This book is perfect for anyone who enjoys their love story served with a dose of good laughs. While the instalust is immediate, the story beautifully builds Joy & Dalton's relationship out with a slow-burn pace. The banter and tension are fantastic, keeping you hooked from start to finish. This was my first Lauren Landish book, and I'm already eager for more!

The Pucking Proposal starts immediately with the spice and doesnt let up the whole time, beware of that, this is not a sweet and sappy slow burn rom com. I enjoyed it and read in one sitting, its a fun sports/hockey romance, but a little light on the actual intimacy and connection between the main characters. I will read the third in the series when that comes out.

Love Lauren Landish’s fun banter in all her novels, and this was right on par with the others. Love the concept and the tie to sports romance (especially hockey romances, which are still super hot). Great development of the relationship between the main characters as well.

Joy Barlowe Sports Reporter and Dalton Days hockey player start off with a bang of a proposal and end up having to attempt to cover up them falling in love. Such a hilarious story and so sweet too.

This book is a fun and steamy sports romance for anyone who loves a good forbidden relationship (she’s his best friend’s sister!) with a lot of humor and chemistry.

The story follows Joy Barlowe, a sports reporter who ends up in an unexpected situation with goalie Dalton Days, and it somehow leads to the team’s winning streak. To keep the good luck going, Dalton convinces Joy to keep helping him with his "superstition," which leads to them getting closer.

Despite having a predictable plot, I had fun reading it. The characters were good and witty. The only “complaint” was that there wasn’t much depth added to their relationship, felt a lot like physical attraction mainly and therefore, lacking a bit of connection in more ways. But I was still entertained and had a good time.

Thank you NetGalley, the publisher and author for providing me this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

The Pucking Proposal by Lauren Landish
Maple Creek series #2. Contemporary sports romance with erotica elements. Best friend’s sister troupe. Can be read as a stand-alone.
Joy Barlowe is a sports reporter in Maple Creek with behind-the-scenes locker room access.
Hockey players are not shy and have been told to treat all reporters the same. Joy has questions for goalie Dalton Days and finds him in all his unabashed glory. Joy makes a couple of uninterested remarks, asks her question and escapes the locker room. Dalton has a fantastic game after their encounter, and superstition being a huge part of sport preparation, he asks Joy to take a peek for all of his upcoming games. They start a private and provocative pregame tradition that starts as hands-off but escalates as the season continues.

Whew. Hot and steamy! Lots of funny banter and then more steam.
Delightful and seductive.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley.

Juuuust the book I needed for something light, silly and steamy.

I read this as a standalone but looking forward to going back and reading the first book in the series!

This would be the perfect read for lovers of Meghan Quinn and Lauren Blakely. I loved Dalton and Joy's personalities and the whole plot was just outrageous and funny.

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC. I love all things Lauren Landish and I love all things hockey so this read was absolutely perfect for me!!!

Sneaking around is never a good idea, but it sure makes for an amusing and compelling read.

This was most certainly an unusual arrangement to satisfy a hockey player's new superstition. And it kept evolving as Joy and Dalton spent more time together and their intimacy grew. They were both confident, driven characters, and they brought out the best in each other. These two jumped into this secret pact with both feet and it was clear that they enjoyed each other and this experience. Despite all the intensity right off the bat, this was still a fairly slow burn. And that made it extra satisfying when Joy and Dalton finally gave in to the insane attraction between them.

The overprotective brother is not my favourite, but Shep was a very likable character and even I (as the reader) cared about his opinion. Apart from this obvious roadblock, Joy and Dalton had plenty of other personal demons to slay. Dalton handled Joy's issues like a pro, even if his delivery could've used some improvement.

I enjoyed the straightforward writing style and the witty dialogue. The author quickly established a tone and personality for Joy and Dalton that stayed consistent throughout. Their edges softened up a bit as they became more comfortable with each other.

This is book two in a series, but it stands well on its own. I can highly recommend this if you like a steamy hockey romance, with a decent amount of actual hockey playing.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

⭐⭐⭐💫 (3.5/5 stars)

This book was high on spice and low on plot. One of those books that you reach for as a palate cleanser from thrillers or emotionally heavier books. It pulled me in right away though. The book is about a sports journalist/news caster, Joy Barlowe and the goalie for Maple Creek, Dalton Days. Hockey players are very ritualistic/superstitious and after Joy walks in on a naked Dalton in the locker room, he realizes that the only way he can play well and win games is he and Joy replay that moment before every game. The kicker is that Joy, is the younger sister for Dalton’s best friend and teammate. The brother who would lose it if his sister dated one of his teammates. What starts as Dalton’s superstition/ritual evolves into a friendship, lust and love for each other. This was a fun book that I devoured in a day. I can’t wait to read more from Lauren Landish.

Hocker romance
Small town romance
Forced proximity
Forbidden romance


Thank you NetGalley & Montlake for the eARC in return for my honest review.