Set in England in the early 1800s after time traveling, Tuck meets Lizzy and her friends. When the best course of action is a marriage of convenience, Tuck and Lizzy start an adventure in trying to find a way for Tuck to go home.

This was a romp! What delightful escapism!

What I loved:
✨ Regency with time travel (the combo we didn't know we needed)
✨ hockey player hero – goalie (American from Michigan, living in Texas)
✨ author heroine (English spinster)
✨ road trip + one bed
✨ Jane Austen herself

4.5 / 5 stars (rounded up)

Open door / very spicy!

Many thanks to NetGalley and the author for providing an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

2.5⭐️ for me unfortunately. I loved the idea but expected a bit more of a Darcy and Elizabeth relationship. The romance was super sweet at times as Tuck was very protective of Lizzy. Love that. But then the spicy would be very awkward. Lizzy’s character was a mix of Charlotte need to not burden her family and Elizabeth’s bite. Tuck felt like a regular guy but with a backbone when someone devalued Lizzy. Overall, think it could have been a stronger story.

When Tucker Taylor is almost back on the ice, he gets a shock after falling into an icy pond only to come out in 1812 England. A woman is surprised to find Tuck there in very strange clothes. Lizzy Wooddash doesn’t want to be trapped in a marriage, and Tuck may be exactly who she needs. They come to an agreement to marry. Lizzy will help Tuck find out how to go back and then she will be “widowed”. All the widows she knows can enjoy freedom and lower expectations. But the more time they spend together, the more they find a growing attraction. Maybe going back won’t be necessary.

You’ll find: Marriage of convenience, spicy teaching, Jane Austin vibes, and time travel.

Thank you to @netgalley, Avon and Harper Voyager, and Lia Riley for the advanced reader copy. #netgalley #puckandprejudice #advancedreadercopy

If a Regency Romance and a Hockey Romance got together and had a time traveling baby, Puck and Prejudice by Lia Riley would be it! I was cautiously optimistic about this book when I started reading it; I knew the combination of these tropes could come off kitschy if not done well. But Riley nailed it! The different types of family drama in the two eras resulted in wonderfully layered character development, and the societal standards of the day pushed along the plotline. With lots of slow-burn anticipation and several well-written spicy scenes, the marriage of convenience/forced proximity trope was integral to the storyline as well. The unique time-travel rules of this particular literary world made for a unique resolution that I didn't see coming.

Many thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the chance to read and review this unique new romance novel.

This was such a fun book! I love the contemporary hockey romances and regency romances. This was a unique take on combining MMC hockey player and a regency FMC. The romance was intriguing and I tried to not dwell on the time travel logistics. I was very excited for this book after reading other reviews and it lived up to the hype. Looking forward to trying out more of this author’s work.

Thank you to NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyager for the ARC of this book!

Tucker Taylor, a 21st century professional player, just drove into a body of water and ended up...in 19th century England?!? Thankfully, Lizzy Woodash is there to help him. They have to figure out how to get him back to his time, and in the meantime, they decide their fast friendship can benefit her as well. They decide to get married so that upon his return to the future, she'll have all of the benefits that a widow can enjoy. Sounds like the perfect plan! BUT, neither of them plans on falling in love. What can they do if they both belong to different times?!?

I REALLY enjoyed this fanciful escape of a book. It was funny. It was interesting, too! I've read historical romances for years, and LOVED seeing someone from my time try to understand chamber pots, dental care, and so much more. It just seemed so REAL, exactly how someone from our time would react to being in a time two hundred years earlier. There are also intriguing history lessons peppered throughout. One of the characters? THE real-life Jane Austen! The spice was excellent, too!

There were many highlightable lines that made me think! Alternately, the writing occasionally felt a bit clunky, but that's to be expected in conversation between a present-day hockey player and an 1800s writer. I felt like the amount of science fiction regarding how to time travel was adequate for a story like this, though the way it impacted the ending might make the ending a bit less satisfying for some. Overall, though, I found this super light and entertaining read, and will be one I'll recommend!

Trigger warnings: near-drowning in a car, cancer, recovering from cancer

I'd like to thank Avon & Harper Voyager and Netgalley for the eARC of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

Puck and Prejudice is a fun mashup of contemporary and historical romance with a side of time travel and fated mates.

The MMC, Tucker, is the goalie for a professional hockey team and is totally focused on his sport. While visiting his sister in England, somehow, after a car accident that lands him in a frozen pond, he wakes up to be confronted with Lizzy, the FMC, an independent minded 27 YO Regency era spinster. They quickly confirm that the year is 1812 and Tuck has zero idea how he got there or how to get back to his own time.

With the help of Lizzy's older cousin and her best friend, Jane Austen, Tuck and Lizzy come up with a plan to to enter into a marriage in order to explain his presence (he'll pose as a dry goods merchant from Baltimore), while simultaneously trying to figure out how to return him to his own time. This has the advantage of leaving Lizzy as a widow who will then be free to live her own life as she sees fit without the interference of her controlling family. However, neither of them expect to catch serious feelings for each other!

If you like both contemporary and historical romances, you'll find this to be a fun romp. The tone was definitely contemporary, yet the action was all set in the Regency period. Lizzy was strong and independent, too much so for her own time, while Tuck was a pretty typical 21st century guy who, because society has in fact evolved since the 1800's, seems like a dream come true in how he treats Lizzy with care and concern for her thoughts and her agency.

My only niggle with the book was that the ending was a bit of a cop out in terms of resolving the central conflict of them existing 200 years apart from each other. I don't read much time travel romance precisely for this reason, but I did enjoy this book and would definitely recommend it. My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions in this review are my own.

RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
SPICE: 🔥🔥💥

Well, that was certainly a book that I can confidently say is like nothing else I’ve read recently. It’s got Pride and Prejudice vibes, hockey and a time traveler, and while the concept is insane, I absolutely had to read it! And parts of it really worked…and parts of it….. well let’s just say, I’m glad it was a hockey player that got sent to the past and not like a scientist or mathematician. 😂

I did like Tucker and Lizzie bit separately and together and honestly their banter and the spice saved this book. Their relationship was adorable and I really enjoyed them together.

💙 Hockey Player MMC
💙 Regency Romance
💙 Marriage of Convenience
💙 Time Travel
💙 Banter and Spice

Look, I really applaud the author for bringing these two ideas together. They were fun and while this isn’t really a hockey romance persay, Tuck was the right kind of character to dump into the past. Lizzie was very much not like the other girls, but her with and quick thinking made her an endearing character.

The spice was great, pretty much the best part of this and the tension up until they gave into their feelings was fantastic.

I just didn’t care for the ending (don’t worry. It’s a HEA) and really just have to turn off the logical part of my brain to fully enjoy this. But, it’s fun, it’s quirky and if you love P&P and look forward to seeing Jane Austen cameos, this one is worth the read!

A modern day professional hockey player Tucker accidentally time travels back to 1812 England where he meets Lizzy. I loved this book…I didn’t want to put it down! I love the idea of a man traveling back in time and being out of sorts. And Lizzy, a very sheltered lady of Mayfair London, had an awakening when she met handsome Tucker after he appeared in a cow pond. Not to mention that Jane (as in THE Jane Austen) is Lizzy’s best friend. Ugh this book was just so cute!

Some spicier scenes, but I loved how it added to Lizzy going on this adventure with Tuck.
CW for cancer as Tuck is in remission and on medical leave from hockey (not really a spoiler as this is addressed very early in the book.)

Thank you to Lia Riley, Avon, and NetGalley for an ARC of Puck and Prejudice. All opinions are my own.

This was a fun and generally light-hearted romance that, while being a little silly/ridiculous at times (like sending a hockey player traveling to Regency Britain), it was an enjoyable read. Lizzy is a strong woman who doesn’t quite fit in the standards of her own time, so Tuck’s presence felt very much like she had found a kindred spirit. I was also genuinely unsure how the ending would turn out. I knew there would be an HEA, by virtue of the genre, but I think the author did a good job with keeping the reader on their toes

POV: dual third person

You can expect: hockey goalie MMC, aspiring author FMC, time travel, marriage of convenience, traveling companions, forced proximity, only one bed, “my wife”.

Rep: Hodgkin lymphoma (past, recovered), infertility (male), lesbian side character

Spice: 2/5

CA: cancer, car accident, homophobic parents (implied), sexism (not by MCs)

4.25⭐️ 2🌶️

This probably has the best and most ridiculous mash up of romance genres and tropes all in one delightful and hilarious package:

Hockey romance? ✔️
Regency era romance? ✔️
Time travel/magical realism? ✔️
Marriage of convenience? ✔️
HER BFF IS JANE AUSTEN??? ✔️

Okay sure why the fuck not?? Put me in coach! 🤣

If you grew up loving the 2004 movie adaptation of Pride & Prejudice, and enjoy a sprinkle of magic in your romance, I implore you to give this deliciously campy romp of a book a try!!

This is one of the most ridiculous books I've ever read and I loved every second of it. What do you mean her best friend is the Jane Austen?! Going back in time to 1812 and almost immediately being in a marriage of convenience is so funny. They were really cute together and navigated the time travel thing well. It's so interesting that they choose to have a long distance relationship instead of one of them moving to a different time period.

I received an arc through netgalley.

This is a time travel romance everyone needs in their life!

“Puck & Prejudice” follows Tucker Taylor, a pro hockey player who accidentally travels back in time to Regency Era England. Once there, he stumbles upon Lizzy Wooddash, the brazen contemporary of Jane Austen. The two enter into a marriage of convenience for their shared gain. Yet as sparks ignite, they soon realize that matters of the heart rarely adhere to carefully laid plans.

This book perfectly blends contemporary and regency romance while incorporating some of my favorite tropes of the genres: marriage of convenience, forced proximity, and one bed!

As a fan of historical romance books, Riley captures the era so well and I loved watching Tuck, this giant, lovable, teddy bear of a hockey player stick out like a sore thumb. This endears him to Lizzy and I adored the way she took him under her wing.

I knew that they were perfect for each other from the start. Lizzy is a strong FMC who is very outspoken about her discontent surrounding the societal expectations of women. Because Tuck is from the where women have more rights and he has a sister that he cares deeply for, he is very supportive of Lizzy’s pursuit of freedom and her writing endeavors. The way he uplifts her when her family has put her down her whole life made my heart race!

In keeping with the times, the pair must follow the high stakes rules of Regency courtship, which of course only intensifies the palpable tension between them when fate forces them to share a bed and a carriage to keep up their ruse. The steamy scenes really hit when they could no longer resist temptation and finally let go!

I cannot recommend this one enough and eagerly await another installment from Riley!

The concept of this book was really great. Having a modern man jump back into the Austen era and somehow having it all work out? Fantastic. Love that hockey was a part of it, and the connection between the characters. I also enjoyed the care taken to make sure Lizzy and Tuck didn't "ruin" the future, though I imagine it was a big shock for Lizzy. Overall a really cute, and unique story.

Puck and Prejudice is a delightful blend of Bridgerton and Outlander that sweeps readers into a historical romance full of passion, charm, and unexpected twists. The marriage of convenience trope is executed perfectly, with our dashing hockey player hero bringing a unique and refreshing twist to the genre. The chemistry is sizzling hot, and the spice level is off the charts, making every encounter between the leads unforgettable. If you're a fan of historical romances with a modern, sporty edge and love your romances extra spicy, this book will hit all the right notes.

Ok was this a literary masterpiece? No. HOWEVER, hear me out, this was so entertaining, and literally the perfect escapism book in times like these. We have a hockey player who time travels to England in 1812. So unserious. So campy. Surprisingly romantic. But you absolutely have to go into reading this book with the mindset of fluff and fun.

If the "one of the characters is from a different time period, and they have to adjust to modern/old-fashioned society" trope has no fans, I'm dead. I loved everything about the time traveling. The overall pacing was decent, though the middle part was slower. And I loved how headstrong and sure of herself Lizzy was. Plus the marriage of convenience added stakes and necessary plot.

Though I do wish it went more into Tuck's backstory because he evidently had a sad past and childhood. And it only touched on the latter towards the end. There also wasn't that much hockey in this—I honestly "forgot" he was a hockey player at times since the story was more about their developing relationship, the marriage of convenience, and finding a way back to the present.

Thank you so much to Avon Books for sending me an ARC of Puck and Prejudice. As always, my reviews are one hundred percent voluntary and all opinions are my own :)

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Rounded up from 4.5

I love all things related to Pride and Prejudice, so I knew I wanted to read this immediately upon reading the title, even though I thought the premise seemed silly. Let me tell you, it worked! This was so good! So much love and thought went into this book. Yes, it occasionally felt like a couple of the Jane Austen references were a little heavy handed, and I won’t lie I hated the nickname the MMC gave the FMC, but overall I loved it. The time travel aspect worked really well and never had me questioning or doubting any of it. It just made sense. If you like marriage of convenience books I think you will really enjoy this one.

Posted on Goodreads: 11/8/2024

This time travel romance has definitely delivered. You have the handsome hockey boy, the unconventional regency girl, and propriety at its finest. There's just something about someone being plopped into a different century and having to experience everything with a new set of eyes that just cracks me up every single time. I will say that this book leans more towards historical romance than hockey romance, but for those who read hockey romances, this may be a fresh take on a topic you love. I received an ARC through NetGalley and hope that future readers will enjoy the story as much as I did!

I love Jane Austen. This was just unnecessary. Besides the fact the female romantic lead randomly decided when she wanted to be progressive for plot sake. The hockey aspect seemed forced. Just turn off your brain and you can enjoy it.

I was SO excited to get this one- the plot had so much potential and I liked the characters.
I just wish it had a warning that it was a detailed spicy romance. It also had the F word (often).
If none of that bothers you then you will probably love it. Just not the book for me.

What happens when a guy from the twenty first century falls into a pond and emerges in the nineteenth century? He falls into love of course!
I genuinely enjoyed this book! I was expecting there to be more hockey in it like maybe towards the beginning, there was not so of you want a hockey romance this isn’t going to cut it but if you want a historical time traveling romance this book is going to scratch that itch!
I also love how Jane Austen was a character in this book and at one point threatens our MMC with a gun if he ruins the FMCs reputation. All together this book was great! I enjoyed the concept of it and I would read it again! Thank you NetGalley and the Author for giving me the opportunity to read this book early!