From bestselling romance author Xavier Neal comes a sizzling new standalone in the series that’s being called a MUST READ for any sports romance fans!Once upon a time, the Vlasta Vipers hockey team was so incredible — on and off the ice — they were almost mythical.Unfortunately, seasons passed and things changed for the worst, like a curse the team didn’t know how to break.The champions became … know how to break.
The champions became chumps.
The envied became envious.
And the playboys…well, they continued to play, because puck bunnies are always willing to hop into the bed of a guy who knows how to handle his stick.
Several years and one new head coach later, the legendary reputation that was previously lost has finally been restored.
Every other university wants to beat them.
Every chick who crosses their paths wants to claim them.
Adrian Stratton, the team’s left winger, is ready to enjoy another flawless year on campus, when his ex-girlfriend unexpectedly transfers to his beloved school, threatening to ruin his highly respected reputation.
Easiest way to prove he’s moved on is to show off his new girlfriend.
The fake one he immediately pretends to have.
The fake one he convinces his sister’s best friend to become.
The fake one he accidentally starts to fall head over blades for.
Will this left wing Casanova score one for true love, or will he hesitate to make the most important shot of his life?
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This is a story about two opposites that are attracted to each other. A hockey God and a math nerd. They inter into an arrangement of convenience, he needs a girlfriend and she’s his sister’s best friend. They both become attracted to each other and see the true person behind the facade they present to the world. It’s a great book, great romance and I love the chemistry between Tatum and Adrian.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy
Book 2 of the Hockey Gods series is even better than the first. Adrian Stratton is a left winger for the Vlasta Vipers college hockey team and best friend to goalie, Ren Rutledge, who we met in book 1 and is still hilarious. Adrian was born and raised to play hockey, like his legendary father, but Adrian has another passion – one he keeps a secret. When his ex-girlfriend, the one who dumped him five years ago, returns to Vlasta to represent the charity committee, Adrian is forced to work with her to collaborate on charitable events for the community. This causes Adrian to decide he needs a steady girl, and he enlists the help of his sister’s roommate, Tatum Rojas. It’s not exactly an easy partnership at first, but along their journey, they end up helping each other in more ways than one. It’s a journey I enjoyed being on with them. Adrian and Tatum are meant to be, and I loved how their relationship evolved. It’s definitely a “follow your heart” kind of story, with steaminess added in. I truly loved Adrian and Tatum and know you will, too.
Well this new to me author has got me hooked!
I can honestly say that this can be read as a standalone, because I haven’t read the first book in the series, but I will be rectifying that soon!
This story is a fun twist on the Pygmalion story of so long ago, with a new edgier theme.
This is Adrian and Tatum’s story.
I could really empathize with Tatum’s story, how she felt the need to hide from everyone and found comfort in numbers. Numbers don’t lie, people do. This is the statement that has carried through the years until a crazy opportunity comes at her fast.
Adrian, oh how I love this hero! I too felt empathy for him. The struggle to keep the shiny facade of his public face. The inner torment of his struggles with what he really wanted versus what was forced upon him to want.
The lines blur between Tatum and Adrian and it was a wild ride to read! The chemistry was fantastic and the dialogue between all the characters was witty, fresh and sometimes oh so swoony!
I can’t wait to read the next books in this series to see how the other mighty hockey gods are going to fall!
Adrian Stratton is on a mission to show his ex that he ha smocked on with his life and is happy. What starts our as a friend helping a friend with a fake relationship takes a turn.
Adriana and Tatum are great characters that have some baggage that they are trying to deal with. They are so good for each other and this story is a great addition to the series.
This is book 2 in the Hockey Gods Series. This is a fun, great opposites attract romance! Adrian and Tatum, have wonderful chemistry and banter! Great writing, and just an overall fantastic read!
Adrian Stratton finds himself being nominated to be the team liaison for the school’s charity committee. Which he all too soon finds out that means he will have to work right next to his ex-gf who cheated on him and broke his heart. In order to safe face he tells his ex that he has a new gf when we all know he has been man-whoring it up. So he enlists the help of his twin sister’s roommate, Tatum, to be his fake girlfriend.
What didn’t work for me – No real flaunting of the fake gf in front of the ex which was supposed to be the whole point. I think that was a missed opportunity for hilarity. Then did I miss the conversation that they had about their relationship not being fake anymore? I think it was a huge missed opportunity to not see their conversation about the relationship being real. We didn’t see that at all – were just told that they had only just said it was real not too long ago or something to that effect. It was slightly disappointing.
What worked for me – Although we never saw the conversation about them being real, I felt it between them from the very beginning. These two were on fire and so freaking cute. I adored how much Adrian adored Tatum and how he always made her feel beautiful when that was something that she struggled with. It was very obvious that he didn’t see her flaws the same way she did, and man, did it make me love him for that. I loved that Tatum saw the real Adrian, that he saw that too and felt comfortable opening up to her – letting her see what his true passion was. And when she learned that, even though should could give two shits about it, she supported him 100%, encouraged him in this path and would always follow his lead in this aspect. Super vague because spoilers. I also loved that Tatum was was another quirky and imperfect girl that wins over one of the big men on campus. She had what most saw has flaws but Adrian saw those flaws, loved them, worshiped them and loved Tatum because of them. Ugh, he was just so swoony. I am loving these Viper boys so much.
Always and forever
Watery eyes and a happy smile are a direct result of Adrian’s math at the end of the book. Now wait, before you go and flip through to find it, realize it won’t matter to you if you take it out of context. So crush the urge, one click and start at the very beginning.
My Fair Puck Bunny is funny, sweet, and surprising in it’s secrets. It has over the top conversations, exciting misuse of words, and an undeniable pull. Adrian and Tater Tot are not what people expect and yet everything romance lovers swoon for. The heartbreak is real and the love is everything.
Take a chance on the King of Selfies and do some not simple math to find that Adrian plus Tatum is …always and forever.
It is nearly impossible nto to fall in love with Adrian and Taytum. Both characters have grea depth. As with the first book in the series, Adrian’s character has a duality that he isbattling in order to find his true self. Taytum’s Analytical side is adorable and I love how she breaks everything down to equations and transactions. Both of them show such vulnerability in their journey that it is truly beautiful. I love that the suporting cast does that, they support the story and remind you of reconnecting with old friends. It’s great to still have the interactions and it helps to showcase them each in their own light. I love the ups and downs in this one because they are subtle like those in life, just little bumps along the way. I have really come to love this series and I can’t wait for book 3.
5 Stars
Review by Lisa
Late Night Support Group
Up All Night With Books Blog
This is my first Xavier Neil story, My Fair Puck Bunny and I just loved it!!! I have to be honest and was a little skeptical about the name and thought it was going to be another sports story, BUT I was so wrong!! This story is so much more than I could have imagined. Being book 2 in the Hockey Gods series, I will be going back and reading book 1.
What drew me into this story is that there is so much more then what you see. Just like the saying “don’t judge a book by the cover” well this is case in point and so happy that I read it. You should read it too!!!
I laughed, wanted to smack someone upside the head and swooned throughout this story. The thing that drew me was the depth of these characters. What they as individuals were dealing with. That we at some point can relate to them on a real level. To feel their pain, insecurities and so much more.
Adrian or a/k/a Stratton and Tatum have that instant chemistry that they both just want to ignore. But Adrain needs Tatum because he got himself into a pickle and needs a fake girlfriend. What could go wrong? exes get jealous, feeling start to change or maybe it’s ok to be yourself or not?
This story is so well written that you will flip right through the pages and be left in a book hangover because it’s done. I thoroughly enjoyed the realism of situations through this story that is so worthy of 5 plus stars.
This was a sweet hockey romance about Adrian and Tatum. Loved their interaction and banter. The witty back and forth kept me on the edge of my seat. I couldn’t stop reading until I finished this wonderful, sexy, beautiful sports love story. Adrian was such a great guy and fully supported and uplifted Tatum. This was a great addition to this awesome series and I can’t wait to read more by Xavier Neal.
College Romance and Sports Romance are a weakness for me. I’m a puck-head, season ticket holder to my local AHL team, the San Diego Gulls; hockey Romances are like pizza; I never get tired of consuming them.
The Vlasta Vipers are university heroes. Champions who have played hard on the ice and harder in the sheets. Puck bunnies and jersey chasers are menu items, and Adrian Stratton has a taste for women and poutine. He’s much choosier about his poutine than his company. Sticking with his strengths: scoring, being pretty, and setting trends. Stratton is the first to admit that he’s not very smart and downright dumb compared to his family and friends.
One of the highlighting moments of boneheaded behavior is when he claims a girlfriend he doesn’t have to spite an ex-girlfriend who believes she is the only woman to own his broken heart — an ex who destroyed him publicly, and joyfully.
His solution is obvious–Tatum, his sister’s roommate, who hides her shine under an unfortunate wardrobe and lack of trying. She is reliable, discrete, and a blank canvas he can mold into the envy of every person on the Vlasta campus. It is a bonus that Tatum is smart and sweet, she’s the antithesis of his ex.
I thought this was cute, and it reminded me of Cindi Madsen’s Getting Lucky Number Seven. Adrian is no Beck, and he takes a while for the icky man-ho persona to flake off. He is charming, but he doesn’t become likable until Tatum saves him from himself.
And Tatum–Xavier Neal sent me down a Google rabbit hole because I don’t know off the top of my head of interracial hockey WAGs where the woman is dark-skinned. And that seems wrong to me in a HUGE way. Hockey players tend to have a template for WAGs: blonde, fit white-girls with spray tans, and Colgate smiles. Tatum is the anti-WAG template and more beautiful to me because she was. A witty math wizard who knows when to stand-up and when to stand down. I love her because she is compassionate and considerate.
This is why it drives me creepers that Adrian is sleazy enough for me to cringe well into the middle chapters.
Xavier Neal does a great job with characterizations. Her characters have the room to grow into being comfortable with themselves. I appreciate her putting a spotlight on learning disabilities. And I am so happy she made me look harder into the racial dynamics in the sport I love. It’s becoming more embracing of diversity, but the WAGs don’t express that progressiveness.
But I have to acknowledge that there was one thing that felt wrong with this story; too many times, I felt the author’s voice was forcing plot points. One of the themes is the vocabulary issue Adrian suffers, but countering it with a hard push toward fifty-cent words and SAT terminology is unnecessary. A writer doesn’t need to overproduce to keep readers on track. I would have enjoyed the story more for the less ambitious goal of throwing in words readers will have to look up.
I’m going to be one-clicking Ren and Poppy’s story to find out how Adrian’s BB4L and goalie got his girl.
Getting Lucky Number Seven
Can’t Block My Love: A New Adult Romantic Comedy (The Hockey Gods Series Book 1)
Another amazing book by the incredibly talented Xavier. Each time I think I found my new hockey God…Boom!! Xavier delivers one better. Stratton and Tatum are brilliant, they are funny, quirky, witty, lovable and really interesting. Adrian has always been treated as a God, due to his hockey skills and good looks, to say he is spoiled and conceited would be an understatement. Along comes Tatum, down to earth, incredibly clever and normal girl with all the insecurities a normal girl has and fireworks start to sparkle. I loved this two but mostly I love the two different sides to Stratton, he has this macho persona he displays day in and out on the hockey rink and with his friend and a sensitive, caring fashion conoceur and passion. I loved how both of them found a way to bring the best of them out and accept what and who they truly are. This book is entertaining, sweet, witty, funny and has enough angst to keep you totally captivated…did I mention is sexy as hell too!!!!
This was my first book by Xavier Neal, I love sport romance and hockey is on my top trope to read. Adrian and Tatum are an amazing couple. Kind of opposites attract, fake relationship with amazing chemistry that turns out into more. I will read the rest of the series.
4
I love Adrian and Tatum. Tatum allows Adrian to be himself while He encourages her to love herself and be a bit more bold.
Their “fake” relationship was never a sham to me. There were real feelings that burst from the pages of this book. The emotions I felt during reading were straight from the characters and I love that feeling.
This book was great.
Adrian and Tatum were gorgeous together. Talk about chalk and cheese.
Loved the way their relationship developed as Adrian was willing to give more of his real self… not so much the hockey legend persona he created.
Very easy read with quite a few laughs.
Loved Adrian’s quick wit and attitude.
Definitely worth the read.
I was given an arc for an honest review
Woaza.. I loved book one, but HOT damn…. this author knows how to keep her readers on their toes, this book was fun to read, it has it all just like a roller coaster, ups,downs,sideways and all in between lol! Adrian and Tatum are the perfect couple the chemistry was there, but when things get tough Adrian needs to deal with his demons and fight for what he wants. Tatum.
a must read. I cant wait to read more of this series.
I freaking LOVE Adrian and Tatum! The banter between Adrian and Tatum had me smiling like a crazy person and kept me turning the page to see what they will do next. The chemistry was sizzling hot, having me fan myself. I absolutely loved how Adrian made Tatum feel beautiful despite herself and how much Tatum understood Adrian’s passion went beyond hockey and made him feel like he could be himself with her. This book is the 2nd in this series but can be read as a standalone.
What an incredible read that will pull every emotion you have out and break your heart in the process, but ever so slowly put it back to together again. Tatum and Adrian will have you laughing out loud, crying, and falling for them and what they both need. Amazing read about the social akward and the ever popular and a few other twist that will have you wanting more and more. Can’t wait to read what she has next
Another wonderful story in what’s shaping up to be a don’t-want-to-miss series from Xavier Neal!
Adrian and Tatum’s relationship may have started as a diversion, but I don’t think Adrian expected it to become so much more. Watching their evolution from beginning to end was a fun, though sometimes tough journey. The two compliment each other and turn everything around.
Great, real characters with an amazing story behind them, you won’t want to miss this one.
Hockey might be becoming my new favorite sport.
My Fair Puck Bunny by Xavier Neal was the highest point of wit, sarcasm, banter and hilarious moments. At the same time it was heartfelt awesomeness and all kind of warm fuzzy feelings. I had such a blast while reading it. At the same time I admire the author for including some very important social issues in this light hearted sports rom com.
Adrian and Tatum’s story started with two stereotyped individuals. Adrian is the loud mouthed, obnoxious, arrogant, sexy as sin and a bit cute idiotic ice hockey player who is worshipped by all females with a libido. Aka PUCK BUNNIES. Tatum is the super smart, intelligent, adorably nerdy and sassy girl who dresses casual and prefers to stay away from limelight. But even hockey gods have hearts and the hearts get broken. And Adrian needs Tatum to play her fake girlfriend when his heartless and cruel ex returns to town. But this thing gets complicated as they soon find out hidden secrets about each other. Can a jock and a nerd really have a happily ever after?
I feel so many emotions about this story. Adrian and Tatum both have so many heartbreaking burdens in their souls. Adrian is actually a very sweet and compassionate and charming guy behind his overtly sexualized and crude image. He actually loves fashion and he has a hard time being accepted by his father who only wants him to be a successful hockey player. Tatum is shy and socially awkward as her early life experiences are not very favorable. She is sharp and smart but has insecurities and body image doubts. They complement each other so much. Tatum embraced and accepter every side of Adrian. And Adrian made her feel beautiful and cherished and loved. But she always had doubt and fear that Adrian will not be with her for long and ironically Arldrian had the same thoughts. So came the misunderstandings and pain and tears. But every love story needs them. And it enhanced the story so much. The chemistry was spot on. It was spicy, easy, steamy, funny and everything amazing.
My Fair Puck Bunny by Xavier Neal was the whole package of sweet, funny, sexy and intense. I loved the time I spent with the amazing characters!
Received ARC for honest review