The Puck Stops Here by Rachael Stewart kicks off with a clever premise: journalist Astrid Sinclair meets her new best friends in a snowed-in airport, and together they hatch a plan to serve a little karma to each other’s exes. Astrid’s mission? Write an exposé on NHL superstar Aiden Carter, who famously broke her friend’s heart. Armed with charm, wit, and a press pass, Astrid dives into the world of professional hockey, only to find herself caught between Aiden and his equally talented twin brother, Blake Carter. The chemistry sizzles, the banter is sharp, and the emotional stakes rise as Astrid’s plan becomes more complicated—and much more personal—than she ever expected.

What makes this novel shine are its layered characters. Astrid is smart, determined, and vulnerable in all the right ways, while the Carter twins are both intriguing, each with their own secrets and appeal. The supporting cast—especially the Carter brothers’ warm-hearted mother and the lively hockey teammates—bring humor and heart, making the world feel lived-in and real. The writing is immersive, witty, and perfectly balances laugh-out-loud moments with genuine emotion. The romance is slow-burn with a few steamy scenes that are both tasteful and intense. As part of the "Karma comes to play" series, this book absolutely makes you want to pick up the next installment.

4.75/5 stars

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this arc in exchange for an honest review!

This is the second book I’ve read from this series. It is so unique, I love how each book is about a different friend but also wrote from a different author. The girls make a pack to get back at their friend’s ex. I really enjoyed the forbidden concept as they don’t want to hurt their friend.

The romance between the characters is so good! The mmc is a hockey player who is widely known as part of the titan twins.

Overall I would recommend this series, it’s got such a lighthearted feel that also focuses on friendships.

Great light romance, perfect for a day by the pool or an afternoon at the beach.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review

Many thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood for providing me an e-arc in change for a honest review.
This is the third instalment of the Karma Club, really enjoying this series so far!
Enjoyed reading this book, although found the starter a little hard to get into, once the story got flowing it was a really good read and I loved watching the relationship develop, loved the ending - hope we get Siennas and Aiden’s story soon!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood for providing me an e-arc in change for a honest review.
This is the third instalment of the Karma Club, really enjoying this series so far!
Enjoyed reading this book, although found the starter a little hard to get into, once the story got flowing it was a really good read and I loved watching the relationship develop, loved the ending - hope we get Siennas and Aiden’s story soon!

I came for the hockey, the heat, and the hint of revenge but stayed for the slow burn, banter, and a broody twin I did not expect to fall head over heels for.

Astrid is a member of the Karma Club who have one goal: make the men who broke their hearts wish they hadn’t. Her target? NHL golden boy Aiden Carter. Love that for her. Problem is… he has a hot broody twin who is exactly her type. Enter Blake Carter: emotionally unavailable, smouldering with come-here-but-go-away energy, and somehow one of the only men in fiction who can make brooding look sexy without owning a motorcycle.

The plan? Make Aiden fall.

The reality? Trip over her feelings, fall face-first into Blake’s arms, and forget every girl-coded revenge rule in the book.

This story has:
✔️ Enemies-to-“oops, I kissed you”
✔️ Hot twin confusion (bless)
✔️ A girl gang with spreadsheets and petty energy
✔️ One man with jawline trauma and emotional walls
✔️ Enough sexual tension to melt the ice rink

That being said, there were a few grumbles that made me not enjoy this as much as I would have liked to.

I did struggle to read this without having to go back and check who was from where and who had dated who and where the connections lay. I also didn’t relise this was book three in the series and I feel it would have been beneficial to read the first two books as there was a lot of crossover and context that would have been useful to have especially with the connections as mentioned.

As a Brit, you can tell this was written by a British author as even though there were international characters, they all spoke British English, which I think added to it being hard to distinguish between the characters and their connections at times.

I also would have liked to have seen more of Blake’s character arc outside of the love interest. He could have had a lot more emotional depth which would have driven the plot further.

However, did I rush to request the fourth book in the series…? Yes, yes I did!

All in all, if you don’t mind a 3rd person POV, like your heroines unapologetically fierce, and your book boyfriends a little broody with a heart of gold then this could be a book for you.

𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨:
❌Enemies to lovers
😏Revenge plot
🔺Love triangle (but not really)
✈️Forced proximity
🌞Grumpy x Sassy Sunshine
🧑‍🧑‍🧒Found Family(ish)

𝙏𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨:
Plot: 💜💜💜
Characters: 🤩🤩🤩
Spice:🌶️🌶️
Writing: ✍🏼✍🏼✍🏼
Overall: 🌟🌟🌟.5 (rounded up)

Thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for this ARC opportunity.

This is book 3 in the Karma Club, an interconnected standalone series written by four different authors. Follows a group of four women who become friends at an airport and decide to assist the others in exacting revenge.

📚 forced proximity
📚 grumpy hockey player
📚 dual POV

🌶️🌶️

|Thoughts|
I can never go past a hockey romance and this one delivered. Hard not to fall for the broody hockey player who just needs someone to break down his barriers.

“He wanted to be better than his brother to get her, too. And he’d never been better than his brother. Not ever”

This was a bit of a slow burn and I’m here for it. There was a moment where it felt like the story was going to go in another direction (see twin brothers), but felt Astrid & Blake complimented each other well.

The bond between the twin brothers was a highlight, especially how they went about ensuring the other had what they needed, even going so far as to play matchmaker.

Some things didn’t quite hit for me though. It does end fairly abruptly and a little cliche however, I suppose their story does continue in the next book, even if they aren’t the main characters.

Plan to pick up some of the other books in the series.

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for an extensive eARC in exchange for my honest review.

A fun read that had an interesting plot which I enjoyed reading as it was not like a plot I had read before the characters in this book were so much fun and I loved their friendship and how they interacted with each other and helped each other out. Astrid was a character that went through alot of growth. Blake was such a brilliant character and I enjoyed him and how he and Astrid acted like adults and used communication to overcome difficulties in their relationship.

If you love a hockey romance, you will LOVE this. Just dive in and thank me later. This has every element you want in a sports romance - this was electric and entertaining!

I appreciate the opportunity to read this title, but unfortunately it didn’t quite capture my interest. While the premise was promising, I found it difficult to stay engaged. That said, I’m sure it will find its audience with readers who connect more strongly with the writing style or pacing.

⭐️⭐️⭐️½ – Spicy, Dramatic, and Unexpectedly British

[Spoiler Warning – Mild plot elements discussed below]

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.

The central love triangle adds a heavy dose of romantic tension. At times, the dynamic felt a bit messy, but it worked to keep the emotional stakes high and the plot moving. Readers who enjoy some drama alongside their steam will find plenty to sink their teeth into.

One thing that stood out was the distinctly British tone woven through the narrative, despite the American setting. The characters and world are firmly U.S.-based, but the dialogue and phrasing often lean into a UK dialect. It gave the book a unique voice, but it occasionally felt slightly jarring and might distract readers looking for more regional consistency.

That said, the story is addictive, the pacing is strong, and the emotional payoff is satisfying. A solid pick for fans of sports romance who love a confident, sexy heroine, complicated relationships, and a bit of international flair.

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

ARC review

"The Puck Stops Here" by Rachael Stewart is the 3rd book in "The Karma Club" series of interconnected standalone romance books.

I received an ARC from Boldwood Books (via Netgalley).
Opinions from this review are completely my own.

This book became fast my favorite in the series.
Tropes:
🏒 Revenge pact
🏒 Hockey romance
🏒 Forbidden romance
🏒 Reputation redemption
🏒Love triangle (almost)

Astrid is supposed to make Aiden fall for her and then break his heart, just like he did with Sienna 10 years ago.
What she did not expect was to be so attracted to his twin, Blake.

I liked that the characters are complex and the story was more about the connection between them then about the revenge plan.
This book is more emotional and I enjoyed the way Astrid managed to find out more about the brothers, by spending a lot of time with them while working on an article about them.
Even if it felt like this could be a love triangle, at least in the beginning, I liked that only one of the brothers had feelings for her.

There was a lot of tension and chemistry from the start, but there was a good balance between spice (romance overall) and the plot.
I like that we managed to get to know both brothers better and understand why Aiden acted like that 10 years ago.

The ending was great and made me want to read the next book as soon as possible.

I really enjoyed The Puck Stops Here! It was fun, spicy, and had a great mix of romance and tension. The story follows Astrid, a journalist with a bit of a grudge, as she joins a revenge pact where her target is Aiden Carter, a pro hockey player who apparently dumped his high school sweetheart when he made it big. The twist is that she ends up connecting with the “wrong” brother, Blake, instead. Their chemistry was hot but also surprisingly sweet.
There’s a lot of flirty and fun banter, and some nice spicy scenes. I thought this story had the perfect dose of drama, especially when Astrid’s real motives come out. I was glad that the book didn’t drag that part out too long, and both characters had to deal with their own baggage in a believable way. Blake and Astrid’s relationship felt real and earned. I always appreciate when the author touches on more serious topics in a tasteful manner.
If you like sports romance with a strong female lead, and tons of fun and tension definitely add this to your TBR.

A fun, flighty and oh so perfect sports romance! I loved the banter, the strong female characters and all the romance. Definitely one to watch!

When I requested this book I hadn't realised that it was book 3 in a series. I haven't read the previous books so don't know if I have missed some of the background but it didn't stop my enjoyment of this book.

I am a bit of a sucker for a sports romance book. The premise of the book was really interesting Astrid and her friend Sienna make a pact to get revenge on their ex boyfriends who made their lives a mystery. Astrid is a journalist and decided the best way would be to get close to the Titan twins and embarrass them with an expose. However she realises she has feelings for one of the brothers Blake.

I did enjoy the book but it took a while for me to get into it and the writing style. I found myself having to re-read sentences as I was struggling to understand them. I think sometimes there were more words used than was needed. But that is just a personal thing.

Thank you to Netgalley for a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

First of all thank you for approving my request!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! The authors writing style had me hooked throughout this book.

I didn't want it to end, a book I really couldn't put down.

A cute sports romance, plenty of smut and a cast of fun, likable characters. This is a great light read with a few hard topics that's are discussed but not shown in the book.

4 star read, enjoyed the writing style from this author and is my go to type of books that I enjoy to read.

The third book in the karma club series and loved it again. This karma club has so many vibes it’s brilliant.
This one follows astrid and Blake’s story. I just loved it. The banter the romance it was all a perfect mix. Cannot wait for the next one.

Had so much fun with this story!!! I'm not gonna lie, I was a bit scared at the beginning that it would be too close to "John Tucker must die" and that I would compare both stories too much. It does have a lot of similarities, but I ended up getting sucked in this "Karma Club" universe and enjoying the hell out of it!!

I liked Astrid, Aiden and Blake so so much. Loved the duality of Aiden being the perfect golden boy and Blake, the bad boy with a soft heart. And having Astrid flirting, trying to navigate her feelings and accomplish her mission through it all. The tension between Blake and Astrid made me EAT this book so fast. I might have said "just one more chapter" one too many times. Now on my way to get the next book 🏃🏽‍♀️🏃🏽‍♀️

Thank you Netgalley for an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion 🫶🏽

All I can say is that this book had me addicted! I believed Blake was cold and just a player who only cared about hockey, but by the end I was in love with his sweet teddy bear side. I also loved the tension and the connection that Blake and Astrid tried to fight for most of the book. It really made the climax hit.
The reason it’s not 5 stars is because there were a few things that didn’t work for me. First, the beginning was slow and full of British language which was sometimes hard to get at first being an American. Second, the group of girls had just met for a few hours at an airport and all of a sudden they are the closers of friends and know everything about each other. I have no doubt they could be friends but the quickness at which they became each other’s absolute best friends seemed odd. But overall a solid read that kept me engaged.
Special thanks to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for the arc in exchange for a honest review.