This was a difficult book to get through for me. I enjoyed the writing and found the banter, for the most part, to be witty and fun. The subject matter, however, was barely one step above porn and really had no story. It’s all sex; there’s no real story. Maybe it gets better later on but I just couldn’t get through it. I tried reading it and then switched to the audio, which didn’t make it much better. Plus, they mispronounced Patrick Roy’s last name, which annoyed me.

Joy is a sports reporter. She loves her job! After an incident in her past, she has sworn off all athletes. She never expected to become Dalton’s good luck charm! Dalton is a minor league hockey player. He loves his job! He understands that Joy is off limits because her brother is one of his teammates. He couldn’t in his wildest dreams imagine having Joy as his lucky charm! Can two people who have a secret relationship end up becoming a real relationship?

Joy was introduced in her sister, Hope’s. story. I like that Joy likes her hometown. She wants to do the best local sports reporting she can. She loves her family. It might sound like she doesn’t have any goals but she is happy with her life and she has goals in her local job. Dalton is getting older and he worries that he’ll never make it to the NHL. He grapples with a lot of emotions and self-doubts as part of the story. I can understand why he thinks showing his “stuff” to Joy brings him good luck. The author does a good job showing how they develop a real relationship as a side effect of their big, dirty secret. d

This story has a silly set up but it isn’t a silly story (if you read book 1 in the story you’ll understand that has a silly feeling throughout). This is a contemporary hockey, best friend’s sister romance. Both of the main characters have demanding careers. I will definitely read more from this author in the future.

The Pucking Proposal is the second installment in the Maple Creek series, and I'm happy to say you don't need to have read the first book to dive into this one. While Joy's sister from the first book does make a few appearances, her backstory isn't important in this book. I was thrilled to finally read Joy's story after enjoying her character in the first book, and I was not disappointed. I absolutely loved the witty banter and humor throughout the story. However, I have to admit, the third-act breakup in romance novels is starting to feel like a trope I could do without. It's more of a personal preference, but it does tend to frustrate me when the story is going so well. Despite that minor gripe, I found the book to be a thoroughly enjoyable read.

This plot was bonkers and I loved it. He accidentally flashes her while in the shower and proceeds to have good luck winning hockey games. Flashing her becomes apart of his pre-game ritual until attraction comes into play.

A fun hockey romcom! While I panic read the first book in the series, this is very much an interconnected stand alone.

When Joy and Dalton accidentally share a, uh, moment and he ends up playing a killer hockey game the hockey superstition roars it's head and Dalton makes a play for having the moment be repeated prior to every game. Amongst the late night calls and hallmark movie nights, it was only a matter of time before feelings start to become real and they start to fall in love.

This was a quick enjoyable read but at the same time I wanted more, the glimpses of Joy and Dalton we got were more physical and it felt like there was a lack of depth that we should have expected based on what we know of the two characters. Overall though, a good read for those who are in their hockey era!


Thank you Netgalley and Montlake for the ARC in exchange for my review!

Not great. The whole plot is penis; the first three chapters are a non-stop focus on a guy's junk. The two main characters are very immature, certainly not thirty, and the way they both talk about women is pretty gross. He doesn't want to give any woman a real relationship or she might believe she's a "perfect pussy." She comments on women being "ripped and ruined" by him. There is no chemistry, but definitely some red-flag jealousy and violent interactions.

The plot is non-existent but it still could have been enjoyable if not for the internalized misogyny. The perfect line from the book to sum it up: "It's absurd and offensive."

eARC provided via NetGalley for review.

The Pucking Proposal is the first book that I have read by Lauren Landish and unfortunately it will probably be the last. I liked the overall storyline and the characters, but the language is more crude than I was expecting and like to read. I thought it was going to be a fast funny romance, but it wasn’t funny at all and there were too many curse words for my taste. Unfortunately for that reason I can’t recommend this book.

Local sports reporter Joy Barlowe is no stranger to locker room flashers. So catching the star goalie Dalton Days in the buff before the game opener is no shock and neither is his shutout win. Dalton is a big believer in superstition and pregame ritual, but he knows asking Joy's help is risky, especially since she's so of limits as his best friend and teammate's sister. She reluctantly agrees to the awkward pregame peep show, but it soon leads to long conversations and friendship, and then much more.
I was laughing at each absurdly awkward encounter and their fun banter, and I enjoyed watching their relationship evolve. I was wondering how Joy's past would come into play. Overall it was a great hockey romance.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I loved this book!! I love a good forbidden love, brother’s sister and best friend trope.

Lauren always writes the best banter, the best sassy, strong FMCs and she can bring the spice.

The whole reason that Dalton and Joy hook up is because of his pre game ritual getting added onto because she saw his man junk one time before his game. So, naturally, she has to keep doing for the team! From there, they start sharing lots of personal details and how they have been hurt in the past. The walls around their hearts start crumbling and they know they have progressed from a superstition to so much more. But there is a lot at stake including big brother Shepard’s rule of NO ONE messes with his sister.

There is a third act break up that is resolved quickly and perfectly for a hockey romance. Enjoy the reading - Peace ☮️ and Love ❤️ my friends!!

I thought this book was super sweet! Dalton and Joy were fun characters and I liked the way the narrators brought the two to life.

There were definitely times I was laughing out loud at some of the superstitions Dalton had and how fiery Joy was. I loved her independence but seeing her open up may have been one of my favorite parts of the story.

A witty temptation that breaks all the rules and ends up owning your heart. Dalton and Joy are a sassy satire wrapped within a pocketful of sunshine. Landish brings the heat to a humorous, heartbreaker.

The Pucking Proposal is a small-town hockey romance full of humor, chemistry, and steam! This story was so much fun and completely out there; the bright and silly romance would be perfect for fans of Meghan Quinn and raunchy rom-coms. The connection and love between Joy and Dalton was so sweet. While the instalust was prominent to the plot, I loved that their romance and relationship was a slow burn. Not to mention all the banter and tension drew the story out perfectly and left me engaged from beginning to end. This was my first Lauren Landish story but it will absolutely not be my last!

Read If You Like:
🏒Grumpy x Sunshine🏒
🏒Brother's Best Friend🏒
🏒He Falls First🏒
🏒Forced Proximity🏒
🏒Suggestive Superstitions🏒
🏒Secret Relationships🏒
🏒Small Town Festivities🏒
🏒Forbidden Romance🏒

Joy is the sister of Dalton's best friend so should be off limits, but after she get caught up in his pre game routine things change. Will she give him a chance though? Looking forward to the next book in the series.

Grab this one and fall in love with Dalton and Joy. There is a ton of humor! The romance is sexy, sweet, and has just the right dose of angst. I was completely invested in this one. This author never disappoints!

Spicy, male female, 1st person dual point of view, contemporary romance. This is has big brother’s best friend and hockey tropes. I'm not a fan of third act break ups, but there was a happy ending. Overall, this was a fun, steamy, quick read.

I'll start by saying that I think this book just wasn't for me. The characters weren't very well-developed; I wanted to know more about what made them tick, the conceit of Dalton's proposal felt really strange, and I had a hard time with their banter, which felt very juvenile until we got into the spicy scenes. The pacing and main conflict also didn't work for me. That said, I think if you like your humor a little more on the stand up side and you love some bonkers plot developments, this could be fun for your hockey romance repertoire!

The Pucking Proposal is book two in Maple Creek Series by Lauren Landish.
I love reading I Do with You. And was so excited to jump into the second book which did not disappoint.
Joy and Dalton were the perfect main characters. Their chemistry was off the charts and the banter was just amazing.
A great read with humour, steam and great characters.
A fun sports romance!

Oh my gosh was this a fun read!!! The hockey is accurate, the players are accurate to actual hockey players and the story there is nothing short of energetic, exciting and fun!

And FINALLY the miscommunication trope is done in reverse. FINALLY I’m reading one where it’s different from the usual trope! I usually hate the miscommunication trope but this was done amazingly! I will 100% read more!

We first got to meet Joy in book 1 in the Maple Creek series, she absolutely needed her own story.
Joy's whole family love Ice Hockey, her brother Shepherd is the captain of the local team, its no wonder has such a passion for her job as a sports reporter. She's privy to behind-the-scenes locker room activity and stumbles into goalie Dalton Days in all his glory!
When Dalton goes onto play better than ever but only after their run in, he puts 2 and 2 together and concludes Joy is his good luck charm, he therefore proposes another peek before his next match and Joy accepts. It works, and their tradition and secret is born, Dalton knows that his best friends sister is off limits but its just a bit of fun and no-one needs to find out but falling in love is going to be much hard to hide.
I finished Hope's story "I Do with You" in the early hours of this morning and immediately started The Pucking Proposal, all my plans for today went on hold, I curled up for hours just devouring it.
The banter between Joy and Dalton is brilliant, they shine as individual characters but together they are fantastic. Dalton has a typical "one night stand" reputation which Joy is well aware of but she didn't expect to find his softer side. Who falls first, I think its a close call tbh but one of them is most definitely holding back, I won't give any spoilers as that's then fun of the read.
Lauren is the queen of spice, this is hot, in anticipation and every scene after, the shared bath experience will stay with me and the reason Dalton is top tier for me.
I'm now praying for book 3, Shepherd needs his HEA please!
Thank you NetGalley, Lauren Landish and Montlake for this ARC, all opinions expressed are my own.

A hockey romance that will melt the ice. The set up is simple sports reporter Joy Barlowe walks in on Dalton Day in the locker room in all his glory. As a reporter she is used to such sights. But when his game improves after the encounter and then is off the next game he gets superstitious. To improve his game he suggests she get a look before every game. Her brother being his best friend and on the same team she understands the mentality behind the request. What starts off perfunctory gets flirtier, with every meetup. And if he’s on the road FaceTime works just as well.

For such a silly premise the book is hoot and half. Of course they are becoming friends as they talk and get to know each other. Could there be a little more depth, sure. But this delivers a spicy good time with good natured sparring, leading to feelings. I read this easily as a stand alone. But Joy’s sister’s romance is covered in “I Do with You” (Nov 2024).