Get a load of his...

Dalton is 30, an aging hockey goalie with one last shot at winning big. He's also superstitious. When his buddy's sister and sports reporter, Joy Barlowe get a look at his, appendage, a new tradition is started. When he starts winning, she comes and takes a look see at his...appendage. His impressive appendage even with shrinkage happening. They are fun, flirty and steamy times in the locker room and beyond.
Recommend.

1⭐️ Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake for an advanced copy of The Pucking Proposal.

Joy is a woman sports reporter and she has to fight to be taken seriously in her role. Her brother plays hockey and she reports for the team. One day she walks in on the goalie Dalton in a very compromising position and he thinks it gave him luck for his game. They start making it a pre game ritual but they cannot seem to stay away from each other.

I love a hockey romance but this was not it at all. There was no real storyline and the writing was so cringey. I was not a fan.

This book was funny, heartwarming, and romantic. It had me rooting for Joy and Dalton from the start of their unconventional beginning. They had amazing chemistry that was impossible for them to ignore. I absolutely adored them together. This was a quick read that I thoroughly enjoyed!

This was a fun read filled with lots of banter throughout! The characters were very likable and I found myself hooked immediately on this one. FaceTime, well I’ll never look at it the same. IYKYK. I thought this was an overall great second novel in the Maple Creek series.

I was provided and ARC courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley.

Oh how I loved this one, it’s a hockey romance, where Dalton is Joy’s brother’s teammate and she accidentally walks in on him naked, and well that starts a game winning superstition that is hilarious in every which way, especially when Dalton shows up at Joys house to ask if he can give her a peep show. I’ve never read a book like that and I was hooked from that moment for sure. No questions asked, I was also smiling and laughing like the best thing ever just happened.

I also loved how it transitioned into more than a weekly peep-show but that’s like a decent way to become friends because you need small talk to make it less awkward and with the tension the only thing to do is give in, and they don’t for a while. Dalton fights it until Joy is ready for a relationship and Joy fights it cause she isn’t ready for a relationship due to her past.

The conflict in this one was perfect…chef’s kiss 💋. Dalton called Joy out and said he deserved more and he was right. And I loved it, I love books where the girl is called out for being in the wrong cause we so rarely see it (this is one of my biggest rants I can go on about romance books) so I was ecstatic but also felt so bad for both of them.

I loved every moment, but really want Shep’s book cause now I’m hoping it is him and June but we shall see!

Dalton’s not so small problem!

Joy Barlowe loves to report the local sports news especially the Maple Creek Moose even though her brother Shepherd plays for them. But she never expected to see goalie Dalton Days in all his glory in the locker room because she thought everybody was finished at practice.

Dalton like many hockey players was extremely superstitious and when he had one of his best games, he wanted to make sure it happened again. So figuring out a way to keep flashing Joy and continue his streak of great games was going to be tricky since her brother was one of his best friends and they played together.

I how they decided to solve Dalton’s not small problem without letting anybody know especially when their hearts started getting involved.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from the author and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

<b>The Pucking Proposal by Lauren Landish is so deliciously hot and adorably sweet with so much entertainment throughout the romance. Joy and Dalton's story started with a strange pregame superstition of peeka-c0ck-boo but it soon progressed to scorching hot times and then inevitably to complex emotions. This hockey romance was so much fun to read but it also delivered so well balanced heartache and angst!</b>

🏒 Hockey romance
🏒 forbidden romance
🏒 team captain aka best friend's sister
🏒 Workplace Romance ( goalie and reporter)
🏒 he falls first

Maple Creek Moose's goalie Dalton Days is anxious about the season because he feels if he doesn't perform good, his last chance to be called by AHL or NHL will be gone. When he tanks a game after playing fabulous in last game, he thinks a lot and realises the only thing missing is....The team captain's sister Joy accidentally having a look at his c0ck in the locker room. So he has a proposal for Joy. She is a ball buster and is a bada&& b1tch as she have to be to survive in sports world and so she doesn't mind doing it. But she also gets insanely hot after each peek because Dalton is well endowed. What supposed to be a pregame ritual turns into heart opening conversation and banter in between. Joy has been hurt by an athlete before and she doesn't date them. But will she let Dalton in? Will their secret dating harm the team?

<b>Dalton has a big presence. With his body, his sex appeal, his intensity as an athlete..everything. Getting into the pro league was everything to him till Joy made him feel otherwise. He started enjoying the game more. Joy also didn't let him wallow in self doubt and always pushed him to reach his full potential. He fell hard for her sass and fierceness but also.. for her hidden sweetness. Joy is absolutely amazing!! Her family is awesome too. She fights hard for her career and she has a hard shield around her heart. It is partly from her past relationship experience and partly from the fear of being underestimated for her personal life choices. She tried hard to keep love away. But Dalton proved to be something different. Initially they had this enemies vibes because Joy couldn't stand his arrogance and Dalton didn't want to like the off limits beauty. I loved the transformation to love so much. Joy almost lost Dalton due to her insecurities but she got him back too. This time, grand gesture came from her. The bromance was so good and I would love to read more of the Moose players. It was spicy and sexy. It was swoony and heartfelt. It was witty and entertaining. An absolute must read.</b>

I reviewed an early copy voluntarily

I LOVED this book!! Anything with a strong FMC is always a win with me, and Joy is one of the most bad-a$$ of them all. A woman working in a sports broadcasting. A brother on the hockey team. And an unexpected relationship that could cost them everything.

I loved the growth of both Joy and Dalton. Hers was realizing that her past relationship should not taint the present. And his is becoming not too focused and grumpy. And together they became better.

Oh, and Joy’s parents are just the most adorable!!

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in return for my honest review.

Pub date: 18 February 2025

Superstitious hockey player, Dalton convinces sports reporter Joy to help him with his pre-game rituals, entering a spicy, situationship that leads to more in this latest Maple Creek sports romance. It can definitely be read as a standalone and is sure to appeal to fans of authors like Meghan Quinn or Tessa Bailey. I laughed my butt off several times and really enjoyed it on audio narrated by Teddy Hamilton and Carly Robins. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review!

I love a good puny title normally they are they are the norm in cozy mysteries, it's nice to see they've made into rom coms now. And of course hockey rom com lends themselves to puny titles. What starts as a one time thing between Joy and goalie Dalton turns into something before every game because Dalton is superstitious as a lot of real hockey goals tend to be. But once lust bleeds into more they may have bigger problems. Their relationship may have started as an accident but I loved watching their relationship grow.

Whooo, this one is a spicy one! Lovers of all things kinky and smutty will devour this book. The author, Lauren Landish, has paired her incredibly smutty writing with a hilarious yet serious storyline at parts, and I think she has done wonders with it. Lauren has done a great job of intertwining humour with romance right from the beginning of this novel, keeping me engaged from the very first sentence.

This story follows the main characters Joy, a sports reporter, and Dalton, a hockey player, as they get to know each other through their very unique and absurd pregame hockey ritual that will have readers cheekily giggling for days. Lauren has created not only a unique and funny plot but also characters with great depth and storylines that make for an engaging read. Joy and Dalton have such great chemistry, and there are plenty of spicy scenes between them for readers to enjoy.

I really appreciated the storyline around Joy being a sports reporter and how it showcased the realities of how tough it is for a female to work in a male-dominated industry. I also enjoyed the side characters featured in this story and hope they get their own standalone stories in this series. The plot was well-paced, and the story flowed exceptionally well. This novel incorporates much-loved tropes, such as ice hockey player x sports reporter, secret relationship, forbidden relationship, brothers' best friend, and a whole lot more. I would definitely recommend this book if you are looking for your next spicy read.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy of this wonderful book.

This is my first book to read by Lauren Landish, but I definitely plan to go and read her other books!
Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book!
This is the second book in the Maple Creek series, but can be enjoyed as a standalone. This is the story of Dalton and Joy. Dalton, a professional hockey player and Joy, a dedicated sports anchor for the local news channel. An unexpected encounter, has turned Dalton's losing streak around. Dalton is convinced that Joy is his new good luck charm. What begins as a lighthearted encounter soon takes a deeper turn, as feelings develop between these two. But can Joy and Dalton find their happily ever after when emotions come into play? Both Joy and Dalton are well-written characters with undeniable chemistry, and their journey kept me reading from page one until the end in one sitting.

In this spicy and humorous sports romance, Joy, a tough sports reporter, has sworn off dating athletes—especially since her brother, Shepherd, plays for the local hockey team. But after a chance locker-room encounter with Dalton, the team’s star goalie and Shepherd’s best friend, sparks fly. Their secret pre-game ritual turns into a steamy, hidden relationship, leading to inevitable drama when the truth comes out. With great chemistry, strong family dynamics, and a fun cast of side characters, this fast-paced read delivers heart, heat, and plenty of laughs.

I enjoyed this fast-paced hockey romance and thought the characters were great. Dalton and Joy have a lot of fun banter and spirit. I liked the way she had to get over her past heartbreak and learn to trust him, and he had the patience to take it slow for her so they could have the relationship they both wanted. I listened to the audiobook and the narrators are fantastic and brought so much life to the story.

This is a zippy love story between a sports reporter and a hockey player that's light on the sports (for those who aren't much on hockey). Joy and Dalton meet in the locker room and then navigate their relationship with good humor and banter. You know there's going to be an HEA so enjoy the ride. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good read.

This was a fast paced, fun romance with likable characters and a humorous, warm tone. I love the brothers best friend, off limits trope and I loved seeing Dalton trying to show Joy she could give him a chance even though she was scared

Landish’s writing is both witty and super relatable, making it so easy to connect with the characters and their journeys. The chemistry between the leads? Absolutely electric! Their banter had me laughing out loud and grinning like a fool. 😆

The plot kept me on my toes with its twists and turns—I couldn’t flip the pages fast enough! If you love a fun mix of sports, romance, and humor, this one’s definitely for you. Highly recommend!

Thank you NetGalley, Montlake and Lauren Landish Bellefleur for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is the 2nd book in the Maple Creek series but can be read standalone.

Joy is a tough, ambitious sports reporter who takes her job and sports seriously. After being cheated on years ago by an athlete she has sworn off dating athletes.

Dalton is a semi professional hockey player and Shep’s (Joys older brother) best friend and teammate. He has a reputation for one night stands and has never wanted to commit to a relationship.

An unlikely encounter and some serious pregame superstition leads Joy and Dalton to get close and much to their surprise they enjoy spending time together.

Lauren Landish writes bold, sometimes vulgar (in a fun way) characters who have flaws but are relatable and have big hearts. I enjoyed this book, it was fast paced. The title and cover are slightly misleading in my opinion but not enough to take away from the book. Sure, the title has to do with the superstition - proposing a solution of sorts but the cover seems like it was created solely based on the title - not the actual book.

I’m crossing my fingers Shepherd and Rayleigh are the next book.

Tropes:
Professional athlete - hockey
Former player
Forbidden love
Brothers best friend
Miscommunication
He falls first/hard

Dual POV

3.0 STARS

The only thing that made me struggle with this story was having to be inside Dalton's head. I found myself skim reading his chapters a lot. I do have a personal gripe with dual POV in romance novels as I rarely ever think its done well.

Other than that, this was a perfectly good hockey romance! Loved the tropes and the overall vibe! Super easy and fun read for any sports romance lover!

I did not realise this was a series?? So I guess you can read them separately but now I'm excited to read 'I Do with You'.

The Pucking Proposal by Lauren Landish is a fun, steamy, and heartwarming sports romance. Joy, a sports reporter, and Dalton, a star hockey goalie, share an unexpected pregame ritual that turns into something more. Their chemistry is off the charts, and their playful banter makes the story even better.

Lauren Landish delivers a perfect mix of humor, romance, and emotion, making this a must-read for contemporary romance fans. The forbidden aspect of their relationship adds extra tension, and watching them fall in love is so satisfying. If you love sports romances with great characters, this one is for you!