As an NHL player, relationships haven’t been my thing. Shrouded in secrecy and speculation, they never last very long. But then that’s what happens when you require an NDA before the first date.Until Charlene. She’s like a firefly. She’s elusive, and if you catch her she’ll burn bright, but keeping her trapped dulls her fire and dims her beauty.I caught her. And as much as I might want to keep … might want to keep her, I’ll never put the lid on her jar. Not at the risk of losing her. So I’ve let her set the rules in our relationship.
But as long hidden secrets expose us both, I discover exactly how fragile Charlene is, and how much I need her.
We’re all broken. We’re all messed up. Some more than others. Me more than most.
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Audio Review
I loved the narration. It was perfect. It geld my attention and I absolutely hated people for trying to distract me from my book. The story was great, but so many times I wanted to shake Charlene. I just wanted her to let Darren love her. I loved the epilogue. There’s a lot of tying of loose ends. I’m really not ready to let this series go, but considering everything that’s happened since the beginning, I can see how everything must come to an end.
Audio Review from 2018
This book was so worth the wait!!
I love Helena’s writing and this series has been amazing!!
I sooo cried during the epilogue! Partly because of the words and partly because it’s the end of this particular series!!
Another one that I was not prepared for. I was not expecting all the tears from this one. Maybe it has been awhile since I read Pucked but I don’t recall Darren being this stiff. He felt so formal when ever he was talking. It felt weird. That being said I really enjoyed Darren and Charlene. I loved how their story unfolded and they finally figured out that they were forever. I really liked that even after two years they were still learning about each other. Despite their troubled backgrounds these two were really sweet and endearing. I really loved this one.
I was excited for Charlene and Darren’s story because she’s been a great supporting character in this series. Darren’s been pretty mysterious throughout and all the hints and suggestive references to their kinky sex life really piqued my interest. Theirs is an interesting story but I just didn’t get into it like I did with the others. I love Charlene but Darren is still kind of an enigma to me even after reading it. It’s a good book but his character just isn’t developed enough for me.
Darren’s nothing like the other guys, all of whom seemed familiar and real despite being superstars but he’s sort of one-dimensional for me. This was disappointing because I expected Darren to come to life on the page like Lance, Alex, Miller and Randy all do in their stories but it didn’t happen. He’s sweet and his love for Charlene is deep and true, I just didn’t get much of a sense of personality for him. He does have a sad, damaged backstory that explains some of his weirdness but it doesn’t compare to Charlene’s because holy mother of god, her story is crazy.
She’s such a happy-go-lucky person and wonderful friend, she’s been the perfect foil for Violet while managing to have a distinct personality, which isn’t an easy feat. A lot of writers get that wrong or even get it right but can’t keep it up, so it’s refreshing to see it done well here and continue through the series without faltering. Charlene has worked hard to give her life the stability she never had as a child and even her closest friends had no idea she lived every day in fear but she has to repress those fears in order to live her life. When the past catches up to her, Charlene seems to struggle briefly with the worry that her carefully-crafted world is just an illusion and nothing has really changed but thankfully, that’s an empty fear. Not only does her life withstand the earth-shattering revelations of her past, that life, her relationships and Charlene herself are all better for it and stronger than ever.
Darren and Charlene’s story is crazy but it’s also funny, happy and sweet like all of the others. They’ll never unseat any of the other couples in my heart but I enjoyed it and like knowing everything that went into making them both the quirky people they are today because I never would have guessed what shaped them.
Darren & Charlene may be my favorite couple yet! They definitely give Randy & Lily a run for their top spot. I went through this entire Pucked journey learning about all the side characters and I feel Darren & Charlene were the most mysterious. Making them one of those couples I just had to find out about.
Pucked Love is a whole lot deeper than the other stories, but it’s needed in ways to understand why Darren and Charlene are the way they are. While they have similar backgrounds, their childhoods are still polar opposites. It made me understand so much more why they are the way they are. Darren is such a sweetheart though. From the very beginning, he’s calm and collected. Doesn’t fly off the handle where some guys would, especially those NHL players! He’s just so loving to Charlene… even though he doesn’t quite realize yet that he loves her. Those little things he does for Char just makes you swoon so hard.
Charlene is an independent girl, and we now know why. I love that she’s able to finally open up to Darren. It takes the big shake down for that to happen, but it shows her strong she really is.
And that epilogue, Lordy, that was beyond perfect for them. And may have been one of the cutest proposals EVER! Even if you don’t read through all of the previous books, you can read this as a stand-alone and love it and this couple. But I highly recommend starting at the beginning. You’ll grow to love these characters even more.
Absolutely love this book. Love the story and characters. I love Helena’s books. Love the Pucked series.
“I couldn’t even recognize love until it punched me in the face.”
JUST WOW!
Darren and Charlene really surprised me , in the best possible way.
Their relationship was anything but conventional .
Their dynamics and unspoken rules , and how they acted towards each other was really fascinating .
“She’s everything. She’s all the missing pieces I need to feel whole.”
They are two broken souls , with some really deep personal issues that forced them to be the way they are now. And somehow they found each other, like they recognized the pain in each other’s eyes .
On one hand Darren never had a real classic relationship , he always dealt with them through contracts . But then something changed . Charlene happened , she challenged him form the beginning . Making her own rules.
And now after 2 years together , something started to change. Darren finally opened his eyes , and realized that maybe he was doing something wrong . Maybe this was more than just fun.
“I waited my entire adult life for you to come along and make sense of my world. I’m prepared to wait as long as I need to for you to accept that”
And when some problems emerged , treating their relationship, it was time to make a play.
The chemistry and the passion all mixed with some comedy made this story explosive .
I simply loved it!
I gave it 5 stars!
I hope you’ll enjoy it like I did!
Wow! Pucked Love was an emotional rollercoaster and I loved every minute of it! Before I read Pucked Love, I binge-read a bunch of the books in the Pucked series so that I would mostly be caught up for this one and I’m glad that I did! I loved getting to see all of the couples come together in each of their books, and when it came to Pucked Love, I loved getting to see them all again. I loved knowing their inside jokes, and I loved all of the build-up before we got to see the truth behind Charlene and Darren’s relationship!
While Charlene and Darren aren’t my favourite of the Pucked couples (that’d be Randy and Lily in case anyone was wondering :P), I still really loved finally getting their story! I loved getting to see the mystery behind Darren, and getting to see more of Charlene! I always loved Char’s moments whenever she and Vi would get into their crazy antics in the other books, so it was wonderful to get to see her take centre-stage for once. 🙂
The Pucked stories are definitely on the ridiculous and dramatic side, in the most hilarious and fun of ways, and Pucked Love wasn’t any exception to this. It starts with one of the most awkward scenarios, and things totally snowball from there…zany sex-related conversations are had and some of the most awkward parental situation ever occur in Pucked Love, and it sure was a blast to read!
Overall, I absolutely loved Pucked Love!
I thought it was wonderful to finally get to know more about the most mysterious of the Pucked couples, Darren and Charlene, and I adored all of the moments between each of the couples from the previous books, too. I love how in this series we get to see all of the characters come together as friends, and we get to see each couple grow with each additional book. I’m a little sad that this is the final book planned in the series, but I really, truly hope that Helena Hunting plans to visit all of the Pucked couples again…I’m definitely not tired of them yet! 😉
I’d recommend this series if you’re a fan of zany rom-coms, especially if you like them on the sexy side. You could definitely read Pucked Love as a standalone, but I do think you’d enjoy the antics between all of the friends more if you’ve read at least some of the previous books…however, you could always start with this one and work your way backwards if you want. 😉
Another mind blowing story from Helena Hunting and a perfect edition to this Amazing Hockey series.
Darren and Charlene were a bit of a mystery in the other books we didn’t actually know much about them or what exactly their relationship was with one another.So Pucked Love lays it all out for us and we get to know them and what happened to both of them when they were growing up and how it shaped them as adults.
Charlene hates to be tied down but also wants to stay close to the people she loves…she wants to keep her childhood a secret…But secrets have a way of blowing up in your face.
Darren is the quiet one and Alex the captains best friend and he doesn’t like to be in the spotlight and people assume he is unapproachable because he stays in the background.He is more than happy for his team mates to take centre stage.
Darren and Charlene are an ideal match and I Loved reading about their budding Romance,I swooned more than once and I thought it was so sweet How understanding and patient Darren was towards Charlene when things got scary for her.
This is an incredible book and I enjoyed every single word,it was unique,funny and sexy and a must read.
I cannot get enough of the Pucked family and Pucked Love was everything I could have hoped.
I Loved it.
5 Fabulous Stars.
Perfectly performed by two of my favorite narrators. This was my first read/listen by Helena Hunting. Although I have not read the rest of the Pucked series, I didn’t feel like I’ve missed a beat. Helena introduced and recapped each character perfectly. I’ll be reading this series from the beginning, believe me.
I loved Charlene and Darren’s story. There was so much intrigue about their past. It kept me wanting to keep reading. They had the most beautiful HEA. That each of their broken pieces is what made them complete was the most beautiful part of the book.
I almost stopped reading this as soon as I started when the heroine began speaking to her feminine parts. I’m not a fan of this type of writing but instead of stopping, I forced myself to keep reading and surprisingly, it got better. There were still some times when the heroine and her friends really got carried away and there were several places where this had what I consider immature humor, but the romance and the evolution of this couple’s relationship kept me engaged. In the end, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I actually enjoyed this book.
I think every single person who has read the Pucked series wanted to know about Charlene and Darren. This novel was even better than I thought it would be, and my expectations were very high. If you thought the super MC was funny… You have never met Charlene’s mom!
During the entire series, we kind of understand that there might be some sort of dominance/BDSM aspect to the relationship, but it’s actually much more complex than that. I think that we do not get a lot of information in the other books because they are so secretive about their relationship, which made this one an even bigger surprise (I’ll not say much more to avoid spoiling anyone).
What I love about this book is that even though they have been together for two years, they still have so much to learn about each other, their feelings and what they want in the future. Darren is so different than what I thought he was going to be, so so sweet and sentimental. Charlene is still her sassy and kinky self, but she is absolutely not the submissive girl that I believed her to be. My favourite scenes were the ones which prove that it is all the small things which make a relationship and now I dream that a guy would buy me a reading chair. Charlene’s mom is absolutely amazing, I was laughing so bad during the first part of the book thanks to her, this added a really funny side to the sweet one. And though it was not the BDSM story I thought it was going to be, it is still a main subject and also the sex industry in general.
I think this was the perfect closure to the series. I absolutely loved every single book, and even if Lance and Poppy will always be my favourites, Darren and Charlene are still in my top 3! I hope that we will still get a few novellas to see what all those couples are up to.
5 “want or let?” stars
Pucked Off was way more serious and dark than I had anticipated. The very first chapter jumpstarts the intensity of this story and begins the journey of healing and love. But before you can get the HEA, you have to deal with all the heartache along the way and though it’s painful, by the ending, my heart was full and my smile was bright.
We met Lance in the previous books and though we don’t know much of what he was going through at the time, we know enough to understand that there are things in his life that are far from positive. Tragedy in childhood can do a number on someone and poor Lance was affected so completely by tragic circumstances in his past. He’s a tortured soul and a complex person. Filled with guilt, he has trouble accepting the good things that come into his life.
Poppy met Lance when she was young and one particular interaction was ingrained on her heart. She hadn’t seen him in a decade when she ran into him a year ago. The hopeless romantic in her thought she’d finally have chance at being with Lance when it goes terribly wrong. Now, a year later, they meet again and as his massage therapist, she wants to remain firmly in a professional relationship. Will she be able to resist her desires when Lance has other plans that may result in crossing the line?
“I’m suddenly terrified of the mistake I’ve made in giving him my number.”
Because now I’m not sure what’s going to be worse: him finally remembering who I am and how we know each other, or me realizing I never left enough of an impact to warrant being remembered at all.
I loved this book! It’s sweet, sexy, swoony, and funny with angst and seriousness to add depth to the story. The storyline was surprising and the characters wonderfully complex. Lance and Poppy make a wonderful pair while also being amazing individually.
I absolutely loved funny, flirty Lance. He was fantastic in every way. He is sweet, sexy, and totally swoony. He was completely different than what we usually saw of him but it turns out it is his true self we are seeing and I loved it. For as tightly closed up as he is, I loved watching him trust Poppy enough to open up to her, and that he was honest and vulnerable around her. I adored how kind and sensitive he was with her, and when he remembers the past, OMG my heart swelled. That first kiss – it was perfect, he was perfect.
Poppy is gorgeous inside and out. She is a breath of fresh air and down to earth, likable and super friendly. She is funny, sweet, and has a beautiful heart. I loved the patience and understanding she had for what Lance was dealing with and I think she was the perfect person for him.
The banter is wonderful and every interaction between Poppy and Lance is laced with a sexually charged electricity. Being with Poppy is unlike anything Lance has ever experienced and I loved how she made him feel. Situations that usually make him very uncomfortable don’t when they include Poppy.
“I get it now, that this is the way it’s supposed to be. This feeling is what I have been missing.
…
For the first time in my entire life, I understand what it means to be with someone who will give and not just take.”
Tash is toxic- a poison that infects Lance no matter how much he fights it and I hated her. I seriously hated her and all the things she put Lance through. I knew she was gonna mess with his life and the angst in this book made my heart beat erratically and my stomach coil tightly. When the inevitable confrontation went down, it hurt but I loved the way Poppy reacted. The maturity of her response was astounding and her levelheadedness just verified her feelings for Lance.
“I’m messed up, Poppy. I think there are parts of me that can’t be fixed…”
“I don’t need to fix you, Lance. I’ll take you as you are. I just want you to be happy.”
Though it is an intense read, there are plenty of humorous moments that take the intensity down a notch and place it back into the rom com genre of the Pucked series. Overall, Pucked Off is fantastic and one of my favorites in the series.
This was crazy awesome and I loved every second! Charlene and Darren had a heck of a story that was funny, sweet, sexy, and emotional all rolled into one. It was a wild ride for sure and made for a super entertaining read.
It’s the end of an era (and series) as we finally get Charlene and Darren’s story. If you have read the other books in the series, you know these two are someone private about their relationship, both being side characters and not being in the limelight, helped keep it that way. We got small peeks at it, but it always left us wondering. Well, now we get to see what actually goes on behind closed doors… and it’s nothing like what anyone would have guessed. We get to know about both their pasts, what makes them the way they are. And those pasts are not necessarily good ones. This book is a little bit like Pucked Off and a little bit like the rest of the series. There is the humor that we expect but also some of the brokenness and fragility like we saw with Lance in the Pucked Off book. Of course Charlene’s best friend, Violet, whom we all know and love, plays a big role in the book, so there’s all that humor that goes along with her. The rest of the gang is there and all make some appearances. If you are new to the series, you can read this without any issues, but I would suggest to start from the beginning (Pucked) and work your way through, so you can fully appreciate the characters. (Each book features a different couple.) There are a few surprises. There is sexual content (suitable for mature readers.) It is easy to read and reads quickly. It alternates between POVs.
The dedication page for Pucked Love reads: “For my Pucked Series readers: this one is like reading with your seatbelt off.” That statement? SPOT ON!
I was kind of surprised that we waited so long for Darren and Charlene’s story seeing as they met and started dating back in book 1, Pucked. After reading it, I think I understand why she saved this one for last. I don’t want to give anything away for this book because I think everyone should go into this one with a clean slate of what to expect. Their backstories were NOTHING like what we’ve seen with the other books and characters.
They’re both broken and need to come to terms with their past to move forward with each other. They both love the other but are too scared to voice it. Their ending was exactly what they both needed!
I had a blast reading these books and spending time with these characters! Funny doesn’t even cover it…these books are hysterical! From Violet and her Super MC comments to Lily and Randy’s bathroom antics (both funny and hot!), I was completely entertained the entire time! I will definitely be revisiting these characters!
I absolutely loved this story. In addition to this I also listened to and loved the audio version. I was excited to get the details of Darren and Charlene relationship. They have an odd relationship but it works for them. That is why I like them so much. They come together in Pucked and we get to see them together throughout the series but I love seeing who they really are.
Darren treats Charlene like a queen. He buys her expensive leggings, sends her for spa days with the girls and upon finding out the pearls on her necklace are not real he replaces the broken one with real ones. He just wants to look out for and take care of her. I think every girl wants a guy like Darren. Reading/listening to this book had me wanting to put on my pearls and eat Doritos. This book is a great conclusion to the Pucked Series.
Darren and Charlene have an interesting relationship. But I was surprised with why. I wasn’t expecting the back stories for both of these characters. Darren is emotionally stunted, but so is Charlene in her own way. Relationships are a lot of work, but with these two, I feel it is twice as hard for them because their emotional baggage from their past. Together and with the help of their besties they can get through all the ugly to have their happily ever after.
I have been waiting for Darren and Charlene’s story for a long time, and listening to it prior to the book being released was so amazing!!! I loved their story.. It truly is beautiful.
Both of them have massively screwed up childhood’s, which explains their secrets with everyone, and also different secrets with each other. It is so obvious how they feel about one another, but their past is pretty drastic to expect it to be ready to create a future.
Being able to have the entire gang showing their futures, and involved with Darren and Charlene’s lives, just makes it that much better. The audible version is perfect and I can’t wait for the book!!!
Congrats on such a great book!!
4.5 stars
This book was the perfect end to the series. I have been waiting for Darren and Charlene’s story since book 1, but now I understand why it had to be last. Both of these characters had dysfunctional childhoods that affect how they are as adults. They both struggle to trust other people, and the reader learns why as the story unfolds. This was a beautifully written book about two broken people who find that they can match up against each other to create a whole. There are several funny moments to go along with the ones that broke my heart. I just love this couple and I really love the friend support system they created to allow them to have a family that they never had as children. Because of those friendships, their support, and their love both of these characters are able to grow and come together in their own relationship. Their HEA is incredible sweet.