Book Boyfriends and Booze

In Pucking Around, hockey meets romance in this extremely spicy, unconventional sports story. When single and independent Dr. Rachel Price moves to Florida to start her new job with a pro hockey team, she expects the heat, both on and off the ice. She never anticipated catching the eyes of not one, but three very different men—each with their own charm, quirks, and undeniable chemistry. As she navigates her new life, her career, and the tangled web of relationships with these three irresistible hockey stars, Rachel finds herself in a game where the heart of each of them is the ultimate prize. But if you think you’re diving in to read Rachel’s story, you’re wrong. The dynamics between all four of these individuals, as well as each of their character’s growth is what makes a compelling storyline that leaves you caring about each of these men just as much, if not more, than our leading lady.  With humor, heat, and a bit of locker-room spice, Pucking Around is a romance for readers who crave bold characters and love that breaks all the rules.

Characters and Chemistry: Bringing the “Why Choose” Dynamic to Life 

The story picks up after That One Night, the 75-page prequel novella that introduces us to Rachel and her connection with Jake Compton [later known as the Mystery Guy].  Sidenote: You do not need to read the prequel to enjoy Pucking Around. As Pucking Around unfolds, we meet two other key individuals: Caleb Sanford, Jake’s best friend, and Ilmari “Mars” Kinnunen, the team’s goalie. Each relationship brings something unique to the story: Jake’s established chemistry with Rachel, Caleb’s easygoing, openly queer personality, and Ilmari’s undeniable attraction to her. The polyamorous dynamics and character growth that Emily Rath builds among the four are compelling, and we really appreciated how naturally each character’s role evolved within the group.

The Story’s Pacing, Rachel’s Self-Doubt, and More Pages Than We Expected!

Alright, let’s be clear—Pucking Around by Emily Rath brings the heat, and it brings it in spades. This is easily one of the spiciest, most smut-packed books we’ve ever read. At over 700 pages, it’s a marathon of a story that really tries to balance plot and passion. While there’s a lot of heat and some creative, blush-inducing scenes, we have to be honest: the book’s length was both a blessing and a curse.  We’re used to a lengthy novel – especially those with heavy plot development, such as those in fantasy novels, but where the entirety of the story is just the relationships involved, this page count felt borderline offensive.

As much as we love a spicy scene (and this book has plenty of them), the pacing started to feel sluggish with Rachel’s continuous doubts about her worth in this four-way relationship. With all three men showing her full commitment, her repeated self doubt dragged the story along, especially when she’d push them away only to draw them back in. The main conflict doesn’t even emerge until the final stretch.

The Surprising Standout: Jake and Caleb’s Relationship 

Unexpectedly, the real emotional core of the book for us came from the dynamic between Jake and Caleb. Their bond had a rawness and authenticity that shines, with Caleb’s strength balancing Jake’s big heart. Their relationship is about more than just physical attraction—it’s grounded in a natural and heartfelt love that, by the end, stole the spotlight for us. We have to give props for this beautifully developed connection that kept us reading, especially in the last 250 pages.

A Polyamorous Dynamic That Works 

We have to hand it to Emily Rath for exploring a MMFM [term: male male female male] relationship dynamic with such clarity and respect. We’re not new to polyamorous relationships (take a read at our post on Give Me More linked below), but it’s still always worth reading a new author’s take. The polyamorous arrangement in this book made sense, and it’s clear everyone in this group genuinely wanted to be there. While this story took its time, Pucking Around is a unique “why choose” romance that ends with everyone feeling truly fulfilled in their four-way relationship.