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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!!

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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.

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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!

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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.

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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.

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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 :)

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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.

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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!

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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.

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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.

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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!

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While I thought this book was fun and enjoyable, I wish that there had been more character and relationship development. The romance aspect just fell flat to me.

Thanks to Avon and NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book.

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This is honestly tied for one of the worst books I have ever read. Who let this get through editing? Is this a social experiment to see if we won’t notice that a woman is running with the backs of her hands against her cheeks? Tell me how do you do that?
Why are we switching POV in a third person?
Why is the cancer never advised to us prior but don’t worry is easily curable?
This author has never watched hockey, heard players speak or well maybe even heard a man speak because this is not how hockey players act. This is so bad. The inconsistencies, the grammar, the sentence structure, the odd desire to fill a word quota by adding in unnecessary information and descriptions. You know most of us if not all know what a corset does to a woman’s bust. We don’t need to be spoon fed. Please this is the outline right? This isn’t the final book? I can’t. Giving it one star is generous

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DNF @ 39%

I thought that I would enjoy this book, for obvious reasons. I tried not to take it too seriously, (I don't know how it could be meant to be taken too seriously), but I just couldn't stop noticing all the anachronisms. I also didn't like the portrayal of Jane Austen, and this lacked any and all of the wit and humor that make her books so enjoyable.

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Feeling a bit whimsical and yearning for some time travel? I got you! 𝗣𝘂𝗰𝗸 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝗷𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗰𝗲 is the latest offering from Lia Riley who’s written some of the cutest romances I’ve read.

Hockey player, Tucker’s in England visiting his sister. He’s not with the team at the moment because he’s recovering from major surgery, and focusing on his health. He’s involved in a car accident on the way home from a pub, and wakes up in Jane Austen’s time. Lizzy Woodash comes across him, and after some convincing to prove that he’s from the future, she offers to help. I don’t want to give anything away so I’ll stop it there.

I enjoyed it. Yes, I suspended all disbelief, and was glad to! This story was a splendid reprieve - cute, funny, and steamy, too! While Tuck’s a hockey player, it doesn’t factor as much. It’s really more about him getting accustomed to the social etiquette and hierarchy of the regency period, and seeing with his own eyes the challenges women faced then. And Lizzy finally meets someone who doesn’t view her as a commodity, but as a person.

Highlights:
* Time travel
* Regency romance, marriage of convenience
* Spicy, open door
* Jane Austen
* Social commentary

I know it sounds whacky, but it was just such a fun read. The ending makes sense for the characters and the story. If you’re looking for a regency romance but with a twist, try this one!

Many thanks to @avonbooks for my ARC in exchange for an honest review. 𝗣𝘂𝗰𝗸 & 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝗷𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗰𝗲 is out November 12th.

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*I did not finish this book. I read to the 42% mark. My review reflects only the portion that I read.*

Puck and Prejudice by Lia Riley is a time-travel romance about a hockey player falling in love with a Regency era woman. Tucker Taylor is in England visiting his sister after being benched for the season due to health issues when a freak accident lands him in the year 1812. Lizzy Wooddash is eight and twenty years, practically a spinster, when she happens across Mr. Taylor on her daily walk. Taken aback by his clothing and uncanny way of talking, she believes his ridiculous story of being from the future and enlists her friends help to get him back to his time. However, her friends' suggestion isn't exactly the help she'd intended.

I really wanted to love this book. I've enjoyed all of Riley's books to date. However, I struggled with this one, and that is no fault of the author's. It's mine. I had a hard time suspending belief to account for Tucker being in 1812 with Lizzy. It bothered me, especially when it was suggested they elope so Lizzy could be a wealthy, independent widow when Tucker goes back to his time. It didn't sit well with me. The romance and chemistry felt forced and more lust was involved than love. I did stop reading at 42%, but was curious enough to skip to the end to find out how everything was settled.

Overall, this one just wasn't for me. If you are able to suspend belief and believe Tucker is somehow transported to the past, I believe you will like this one. The banter is fun, and I loved the addition of Jane Austen as an actual character.

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If an author writes a book that is themed around Pride and Prejudice there is a VERY high chance that I will read it. This is one of those books. Sometimes the books are amazing, and I'm astounded...other times, they're just okay. This is one of those books.

Things I liked about the book included the quotes from Pride and Prejudice that were interspersed throughout the story - it felt very much like a, iykyk kind of situation and I'm here for it. I also liked the idea of time travel, and that Tucker "unwittingly" gave Jane Austen the title for her new book...Pride and Prejudice.

Things I didn't like about the story - I honestly wasn't a fan of the ending. I get that the author was trying to ensure that Lizzy could "have her cake and eat it too", but it just didn't do it for me. I'm a sucker for a good, traditional HEA, and this wasn't that. I also think there should have been trigger warnings for the repeated mentions of cancer especially as that plays a large part of the story. Also, at one point, Lizzy has a "spell", if you will, but nothing more is ever mentioned about it...kind of felt like a loose end.

All said, this book wasn't terrible to read. It was quick, easy enough to get into, and was fun. It's worth giving a read if you're at all interested.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and Lia Riley for giving me the chance to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

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I very much enjoyed this steamy time travel, marriage of convenience dual POV romance that sees NHL goalie Tucker Taylor getting stuck mysteriously in 1812 where he is rescued by aspiring woman writer, Lizzy Wooddash, a friend of Jane Austin.

With dreams only of being a spinster writer, Lizzy sees Tucker's arrival as an opportunity to become a wife in name only and later secure her independence as a widow when they manage to get Tuck back to his own time.

Unfortunately things don't quite go to plan and the two fall in love. This was funny, full of heat and heart and highly entertaining. It was also good on audio and perfect for fans of books like the Outlander series or A highlander for Hannah by Mary Warren.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review. I'm excited for the next book in this new hockey romance series!

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I’m having such a hard time giving this book a star rating because it has so much I love (hockey and pride and prejudice) and one of the things I usually hate in novels - time travel. And honestly, the book is super fun and the time travel aspects mostly work. The explanation for it anyway.

What took me out of the reading experience was that there was even more suspension of disbelief than I expected. Both characters just accept the idea of time travel way too easily, especially Lizzy. She just goes along with all this major info about stuff that should be wild to her and barely has an issue. But her chemistry with Tucker is sweet and swoony at times, so I was on board for most of the book.

I personally didn’t love the ending, and I know that’s just my preference. Some people might love it. There was nothing wrong with it, just wasn’t what I wanted or expected.

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Thanks to NetGalley and the publishing company, I was able to read an arc copy of this book!

I truly enjoyed this book! Time travel romances are usually not my cup of tea, but the entwining of hockey and classic literature had me requesting this arc immediately. I will say that the title in and of itself was slightly misleading - I wanted more hockey and Jane Austen initially - but it certainly did not disappoint. This was cute, adventurous and spicy!

My only complaint is that, like most romances, the romantic feelings seemed rushed. I did not feel like either one of the characters were falling for the other when that plot line developed.

That being said, I enjoyed their journey and was very pleased with the ending!!

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