'The Puck Stops Here' delivers a delightful mix of sass, spice, and sports-fueled tension that makes it hard to put down. This book is a fast-paced, trope-filled treat for romance fans who like their revenge plots messy, their banter snappy, and their hockey players hot.

Astrid is a force—clever, bold, and refreshingly unapologetic in her pursuit of payback. Her chemistry with brooding twin Blake brings a delicious twist to her plans, upending everything she thought she was after. The love triangle is handled with humor and heart, with just enough angst to raise the stakes without weighing down the fun.

Blake is a standout love interest—grumpy but sincere, with layers that peel back slowly and satisfyingly. Their opposites-attract dynamic is full of spark, flirtation, and emotional tension that makes every stolen moment sizzle.

The premise is a bit over-the-top at times, and the revenge plot edges on chaotic, but that’s part of the charm. If you’re here for drama, steam, and a heroine who doesn’t back down, *The Puck Stops Here* hits the sweet spot.

A spicy, smart, and wildly entertaining hockey romance with just enough heart to make it more than just a game.

My thoughts:
Though this is Book 3 in The Karma Club Collection, it can certainly be read as as a standalone.
Twin hockey players, Aiden and Blake are the main characters in the story along with Astrid.
The story focuses on friendships, relationships and family. Along with that, we get a fun sports romance with lots of chemistry!
This was a fun read though it wasn’t as spicy as I thought it was going to be.
Definitely a quick read that will keep your interest.

Thank you NetGalley, Boldwood and the author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

As someone who’s enjoyed this series and loves Hockey Romance, I was so excited to read this instalment and it didn’t disappoint.

The Karma Club series follows a friendship group out for revenge. When a group of women serendipitously meet at an airport, friendships are formed and revenge pacts created. Each has a ex that’s seriously wronged them and they decide to get their revenge - each girl will take another one’s ex down.

Here we follow Astrid - her target is Aiden, who left his childhood sweetheart behind for NHL fame and stardom. She plans to get revenge by letting him know exactly how it feels to be left behind, she’s going to make him fall for her and then leave him in the dust. The only issue - his twin brother Blake. When sparks fly with the wrong twin, will Astrid be able to break Aiden’s heart without breaking her own?

Aiden is a good guy who’s made bad choices. Well, bad choices in relation to Sienna and his love life, but what he saw as the only choice for his brother and his mom. Sienna was caught in the crossfire - left behind but not told why. I felt really bad for Sienna - how things worked out for her and what happened in the aftermath of being left behind. He might’ve had his reasons for leaving but he still deserves some sort of payback for the hurt he caused. Just a complicated situation all round!

Blake is a typical bad boy who needs an image reform - or that’s how he makes himself out to be. His outward persona doesn’t match who he actually is - as emphasised in the contrast of how he behaves in chapters in his POV compared to how he acts in others. I just hoped he’d make it out of the book without becoming collateral damage in the revenge plot Astrid is running against Aiden.

Astrid was such a strong FMC - struggling with her own abandonment issues and health struggles. Such a good friend to the girls! She really connected with Blake and struggled with the rising tensions between them, as she has to stay focused on getting justice for her friend. I loved how she was able to read people and see the true picture - really developed the idea that she was a successful journalist.

I just love this series - I can’t wait to see how it wraps up in book 4! Also I need to know how Harvey gets his comeuppance!

ARC copy provided by Boldwood Books & NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Because I read pretty fast, and sometimes struggle with “what to read next,” I love a good series. While I prefer series by one author, I have enjoyed a few by multiple authors. When I read “Settling the Score” by Clare Connelly, I fell a bit in love with all of the characters. I decided to go back to the beginning and read the other books. I found the first two books easily, and really enjoyed them. When I found out the third book wasn’t out yet, I was a bit heartbroken. That’s why I was so thrilled to get a chance to read it a bit early!

If you have read first two books, you are probably aware that they take place during the same timeline. This book is also on that timeline. While I do believe this book could be read as a standalone, it does add to the enjoyment and the understanding of some of the conversations if you have read the other books. I will say that you could probably read the books out of order; however, definitely read book four LAST!

In regards to this specific book, I loved it just as much as all of the other books in the series. Having read book four already, it was a bit nice knowing that everything was going to work out just fine. I am excited to read more books by these authors in the future.

**I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**

This is the least strong of the series so far, but it was fun. There's a type close to the beginning where Aiden's last name is misspelled although I expect that would be fixed by publication. I think I didn't buy the immediate attraction and the rest of the book was colored by that.

If you want spicy hockey, this is the book for you. Rachel Stewart cranks up the heat in The Puck Stops Here and the fun never stops.

This book gets right all the fun, spicy parts of life, as well as the romantic nuances that I come to expect in a hockey romance novel.

I couldn't put this book down and I flew through it, never wanting it to end. The plot may be simple at times, but that doesn't make it any less interesting. I can not wait to see what she writes next. She's made a believer out of me.

5 Chilli Peppers
5 Stars
For Sure!!

Another great read in this series. I must admit I don’t ordinarily enjoy stories about hockey players and avoid them. However, because this was part of the Karma series, which I have loved so far I gave it a go. I’m so glad I did because this was another great read which once again fitted flawlessly with the other books I had already read about characters I had already fallen for. I cant recommend this series enough, strong female lead characters, misunderstood men, complicated lives and hot romance. What more could you ask for? Looking forward to the final book

Astrid meets Sienna at Christmas along aside Paige and Bella and they create karma club where they teach exs a lesson.

Astrid is a journalist so doing a article on the Aidan (siennas ex) and Blake (Aidan’s twin) is her way in but as she gets closer to Blake and pulls some great pranks on Aidan.

How will Blake react when he finds out the truth about what Astrid has been doing and why?

I absolutely loved this book and can’t wait to read more

A cute, slightly spicy revenge pact going wrong sports romance. (Ice Hockey 🥵)This is the 3rd in the series but can be read as a standalone. Personally, I want to go back and read the other books in The Karma Club series to delve into the other's relationships. I also feel reading out of order as I have won't spoil anything as the book doesn't contain spoilers for the other characters.

This installment of the Karma series has completely won me over. This novel is easily my favorite so far. The story follows Astrid, who is determined to seek justice for her friend Sienna after Aiden, her ex-boyfriend, shattered her heart. Astrid sets her sights on revenge, ready to give Aiden a taste of his own medicine, but things take an unexpected turn when she meets his twin brother, Blake. Despite being labeled a bad boy, Blake is anything but a bad boy and Astrid can’t help but be drawn to him. As emotions swirl, she realizes her heart has made its choice, and suddenly, her carefully planned scheme feels impossible to carry out.

What truly impresses me about this series is how seamlessly the group of authors weave connections between each book. The authors have collaborated so well together and I am SO impressed. This is my favourite series of the summer. Each novel only gets better and I’m beyond excited to dive into the fourth book!

I really wanted to read The Puck Stops Here because I’ve read the first two Karma Club books and loved the idea of four women bonding over a wild karmic revenge plan. Book one was a hit for me, book two a little less so. Since I’m not a fan of ice hockey at all, I wasn’t sure what to expect with this one, but I was curious.

I really liked the writing style, it made the characters come alive. There was great chemistry between Astrid and both of the twin brothers. There were some super sweet moments and the romance built up slowly, which I loved. The tension was just right, playful and flirty with an undercurrent of real emotion that made the connection feel both fun and meaningful.

Also, can we talk about that spilled custard scene? Iconic.

This book is part of the Karma Club world, but it doesn’t really add anything new to the overarching story. You recognise the characters and setting, but it doesn’t go much deeper. You could easily read it as a standalone, which I think is a bit of a missed opportunity.

Overall, a fun and spicy slowburn. If you're a romance lover looking for a light and sweet read with a bit of steam, this one’s for you. No need to care about hockey, just bring your love for love.


also shared on GoodReads, Storygraph and Fable.

Having read & loved the first two books in the Karma Club series, it was inevitable that I’d want to read the latest book in the series. I haven’t been disappointed!!

It’s the turn of investigative journalist Astrid to exact a little karma on Sienna’s ex, Aiden Carter. What Astrid hadn’t bargained for was that Aiden was one half of the famous Carter twins who play ice hockey for the New York Titans, so it requires all of her ingenuity to find a way in to start her campaign for such a high profile person. She successfully pitches to write an in-depth profile of the twins, which turns out to be good timing for the team as Aiden’s twin Blake has recently been involved in a fight & needs something to help clean up his image.

From when they first meet, the sparks fly between Blake & Astrid. The temperature between them starts out hot & continues to rise!! He’s a bad boy, who doesn’t believe he can be anything else. She likes bad boys, maybe they can have fun together then go their separate ways & no-one’s hurt. But her questions challenge him & his conception of who he is - could he actually be worthy of her? Whatever is happening between them cannot distract her from her task to exact some form of revenge / karma on Aiden for her friend, after all that’s what she came here to do, right? The only problem is, she’s starting to understand why Aiden did what he did, & maybe he doesn’t deserve karma after all?

It’s a great story, well written with plenty of humour & some great dialogue - I loved the banter between the twins - typical brothers! I really liked Astrid, Aiden & Blake, & the way the dynamic between the three of them continually shifted so that there was always an element of doubt about how the story would develop- even with the ever hotter situation developing between Blake & Astrid. I had wondered how the series would work with each book written by a different author, but I needn’t have worried as it was seamless & the characters remained as I remembered them from the previous book.

It’s a really enjoyable & entertaining read. I loved it & can’t wait for the next in the series!! It’s a book I’d enjoy reading whilst travelling or on holiday.

Thanks to Netgalley & Boldwood Books for the opportunity to read an ARC of this book.

3.75 ⭐️

ARC review - The Puck Stops Here by Rachel Stewart ✨️


‘Hey Twinkle Toes, good of you to join us.’


The way he calls her Twinkle Toes does something to me. I am swooning.
A lighthearted story, with an emotional background, as each of the characters has their own battles behind closed doors, but they're slowly finding together, sharing their experiencesand finding comfort in each other.

Astrid is such a fierce woman, always holding herself up. And there is more to Blake than what he wants (or is scared of for) everyone to see. The two of them are really quite the pair, and i loved the dynamic between them ❤️

📚 Synopsis:

When Astrid Sinclair, 2x Journalist of the Year, meets her kindred spirits at a snowed-in airport, she knows she’s found her ride-or-die circle—women with a lot to love and an ex they'd sooner hate. But hating's no fun, karma is! So they hatch a plan to go after one another's ex...

Astrid's target? NHL superstar Aiden Carter—the man who traded his childhood sweetheart for the bright lights of fame, tearing her new BFF's heart in two. Astrid's plan? For the punishment to fit the crime!

She’s got the charm, the wit, and all the right moves to get under Aiden’s skin. She's capable of winning anyone over, from the most meretricious of models to the most sullen of celebs. She would get to the truth. But there’s a snag—brooding, maddeningly irresistible Blake keeps getting in her way.

Astrid is here to break a heart, not lose her own. But when sparks fly with the wrong twin, she’s playing a dangerously different game…


📚 Tropes:
🏒 Revenge pact
📰 Hockey romance
🏒 Forbidden romance
📰 Celebrity romance
🏒 Reputation redemption

Thank you, Boldwood Books and Rachael Stewart, for this arc! ❤️

A story that didn’t click at first… but ended up surprising me

When I first started reading this book, I just couldn’t connect with it. At all. I’m not sure if it was my mood, how tired I was, or maybe it just wasn’t the right moment to dive into the story. I ended up putting it down and going to sleep.
But the next day, I gave it another shot — and thank goodness I did. That’s when the magic happened. Suddenly, I was hooked. Everything started to flow, and I finally got into the story.

Blake, Astrid, and that not-so-lovable love triangle
The dynamic between Blake and Astrid was a bit hard to follow. Not because it didn’t make sense, but because there was a “semi-love triangle” situation that threw me off. I’m not really a fan of that trope, so it took me out of the story a little. That said, their relationship did have its moments, and by the end, I think it wrapped up in a way that made sense within the bigger picture.

That epilogue, though…
Now that epilogue caught me off guard. It wasn’t what I expected at all, especially after the way the story had been unfolding. It left me feeling a little stunned. But after thinking it through, I realized it actually worked. It didn’t ruin the experience — it added a twist I wasn’t anticipating, and somehow, it fit.

Would I read more from this author? Honestly… yeah.

Even though this book didn’t fully win me over, there’s something about the author’s style that makes me want to keep exploring. I feel like I need to read more of their work to truly get into their storytelling rhythm. So yeah — I’m curious, and I’m definitely open to giving their other books a try.

Mixed feelings about this book. I struggled through the first few chapters because it was like the author was trying to prove that Astrid was British. The slang is so thick that she sounds like a teenager, not a top tier journalist. I would have put the book down except that I wanted to read this series as a whole. Thankfully, that falls away after a while, and she starts to sound normal. But that was about the time that Blake started flipflopping on everything. He changes his mind constantly, and it is hard to keep up with.
I did enjoy the comedy in this book. Astrid has a bit of a clumsy streak that makes for some entertaining situations. Aiden is very nice, and Blake is supportive of the people around him. It ends nicely. Overall, the book is okay in plotting, but the details were annoying.

I just loved this book so much! Once I started reading this book I just couldn’t put it down. I loved the story and I especially loved all the quirky characters. This book was such a heartbreaking and heartwarming read, it just made me sad but also it made me smile and happy as well. I was sad to finish this book as I just loved the way Blake and Astrid were with each other. I would love another book about these two.

I would highly recommend reading this book and the other books in the Karma collection as they are all wonderful books.

I would like to thank Boldwood Books and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book early.

The Puck Stops Here is a steamy sports romance that delivers on heat, chemistry, and emotional chaos. Rachel Stewart doesn’t shy away from bold, sensual scenes—this book is seriously spicy, and fans of high-heat romance will not be disappointed.

This book was not really doing it for me. I have a hard time with third person stories so right off the bat I knew it was going to be a tough read.

It’s not that I didn’t like Blake and Astrid - I guess I just didn’t enjoy the whole premise of seeking revenge on ex boyfriends that the girlfriends came up with. It’s the whole premise of the series so that was another thing that I didn’t enjoy very much.

I know it is one of those that ends well, but it was just a lot to get there that wasn’t really in my favorites column. If you like revenge rom coms then you might really like it.

Knowing this is the third book in a series by four different authors bumped my rating up a bit. I was extra confused as Rachel Stewart didn’t have any other books here - but now I understand!
Very interesting choice to have four different authors write and reflect on the four different characters with staggering release dates on a few months apart.
I was hooked on the story, although I wish we, the reader, could have seen the final *work* of Astrid’s journalism.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this ARC in advance of it’s release!

I haven't read a sports romance in awhile and I forgot how much I enjoyed it. I also didn't realize this was part of a series (albeit all standalones) so I'd really like to pick up the first two books as well.

I absolutely love a good revenge plot and this one didn't disappoint. Astrid is a great FMC and I can see BookTok going wild over this one.