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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This one was just okay for me. Charlene and Darren were weird and I didn’t think they had much chemistry. The whole cult family and porn star parents was really off the wall.
NO SPOILERS!
I absolutely loved Darren and Charlene’s story in Pucked Love! Helena Hunting took me on a crazy ride full of unexpected surprises and plot twists that were nothing less than shocking, but I couldn’t have loved it more!
The storyline, characters, and author’s writing style and hilarious sense of humor were phenomenal, and I loved everything from beginning to end. I loved seeing all of the amazing and hilarious Pucked series characters again, and catching up on everyone’s lives since the last standalone. Darren and Charlene’s story was epic and unexpected in every way, and I was so happy with the conclusion.
Helena Hunting created something so incredibly special, unique, and unforgettable with the Pucked series, and it has been a crazy, epic, and adventurous ride from start to finish. I’m extremely sad that the series is over, but I will never forget these one in a million characters and stories for as long as I live, and will return to them again and again for a long time to come. Thank you, Helena, for giving us readers such a fantastic fictional world to escape to!
I don’t know if this is the last story in the Pucked series or not. All of the other players that were in the first book have had their own stories. I waited for Darren and Charlene’s book. I was teased from the very beginning about Darren and Charlene’s relationship and the kink we thought was part of their life. The hint of BDSM, the pearls, and the curiosity about Doritos and onions. After all of the hype, nothing was what it seemed.
Can I Say that again? NOTHING was what it seemed. After the prologue, we jumped ahead a t least a year. I thought Darren and Charlene were going to lunch to discuss the NEW situation, and suddenly they were in an established relationship. Both characters were damaged in their own ways, but I thought how they reacted to their pasts was really interesting.
I liked Darren’s aura of calm, his tendency not to become over excited, and his desire to at least think about a problem before he went off the deep end. Charlene, on the other hand, seeing the RV, kind of lost her mind. She didn’t come across as that type of person in earlier books. She always came across as the least goofy, most stable person of the ladies. That was part of the reason she and Darren seemed so well matched.
This book was full of unexpected twists. It was funny in spots. The line “Run away beige ladies…..at Charlene’s birthday party was hysterical. I don’t know if it was meant to be, but, I thought it was tear worthy. LOL!
I listened to this book and thought the narration was great. I wish there had been more story. I thought Darren’s past was mentioned and Charlene’s past was thrust upon us pretty much at the end. I don’t even know if the whole Sex Expo part was necessary. It provided info that could have been provided at almost any other point. I would also like it know if the secret that came out in the bar after Chicago won the cup was only in order to make Charlene feel more insecure.
This book didn’t bump Lance and Poppy’s book from being my favorite, but it was a solid 3.5 stars.
Having been a huge Helena Hunting fan and someone who has not missed a single work of the Pucked series waiting until November 2018 for the official book release of the final book of the Pucked series, Pucked Love was not one I could let be out there in the universe and not have read. So I bit the dust and crossed over to the other side of traditional reading and accessed Audible and downloaded Pucked Love on the only format released July 10, 2018.
Now I am not going to go on praising the reading and where has it been my whole life because quiet frankly its been a struggle. Especially when the male parts read female parts and vice versa but sometimes we have to do what we have to do and after some adjustment period and the concept of someone reading to me and letting my imagination come alive I settled in.
I was able to escape into the world of Darren and Charlene in the much-anticipated story of their oddly depicted relationship from previous books in the Pucked series. Once I fell into the humor and hardships that these characters endure, I did forget I was being read to and again was enthralled at what the next chapter would bring.
I do have to say that hearing characters with what voices I previously only heard in my head come alive and deliver some one liners you forget where you are when listening. There was one particular line delivered by Miller that I just burst out laughing. Not sure I would have if it was in print but I do admit I had to replay that over a few times. It has resonated with me and just made the experience fun. Unfortunately for my seat mates on a flight when this line was delivered…they really missed out on only what I could hear.
As in true Helena fashion she has definitely proven she can deliver on yet another Pucked standard. It’s a personal sadness that this is the end of Pucked but hopefully the characters of the series will continue to speak to her and we will still get some short stories. After all we can all use a little Violet foot in mouth humor from time to time.
Congratulations to Helena on delivering a very heart warming story with some serious undertones from these characters back stories. It is so lovely to see some happiness be rewarded after overcoming some truly scaring childhoods.
I started this series a few months ago not really knowing anything about Hockey “Ice Hockey” or the attention it receives and how popular it is and also the Players themselves. I was introduced to a whole new world, “Puck bunnies” lol another word for groupies, I had no idea this actually went on.
I was completely enraptured straight away, hooked line and sinker.
As the series went on we were introduced to the relationships of characters already in “Pucked” Vol 1, concentrating on 1 particular couple but with the rest still very much part of each book.
I think by far Pucked Love was my favourite of all. Even though Pucked is right up there with it.
Darren & Charlene, the mysterious couple that we see weird interaction happening in all the previous books and we think yep maybe they are just a hook up, “friends with benefits” as to say.
But there is so much more to this couple that I fell for Darren straight away, maybe it was the fact he was older, in his 30’s, already knew what he wanted, which in the end was nothing what he thought and ended up being exactly what he did need, a relationship, love, someone to share his time with.
I loved how he just wanted to spoil Charlene, bring a sense of normality to his life.
Helena Hunting once again added all the laughter and camaraderie of the “group of friends” and the parents of this bunch of Hockey Players and their partners was hilarious.
This book was such a great ending for the series, that I am now quite sad it has finished.
I am now a converted Hockey Romance girl, I am also loving the Rom Com aspect of this series. Thank you HH, this “Pucked Series” is now firmly in my vault as definite rereads, and I am sure like all good rereads, we learn and read something new every time.
I am also going to buy this series in PB. I only have a few PB of a couple of authors, I deem worthy of having, and I really now want these.
Definatly a Pucked Fan “always” (less)
5 star Review Pucked Love (Pucked #6) by Helena Hunting
I have been waiting, not so patiently for Darren and Charlene’s story and it was well worth the wait.
The Pucked series is one of my favourite hockey series ever and I loved catching up with the whole gang in the final book of the series.
I fell hard and fast for Darren and Charlene, both separately and together. Charlene is feisty, sassy and a woman I could easily see as a friend, whilst Darren is alpha and swoon worthy.
Their relationship is complicated and at times confuses not only themselves but also their friends.
This is my favourite of the series and it was bittersweet as I listened knowing it was the last. However the epilogue was wonderful and I felt it did justice to this fabulous cast of characters that I have come to know and love.
The narration was great and kept me riveted; Sebastian York and Stella Bloom did an amazing job bringing Darren and Charlene to life for me.
More from this great series. This one featuring Charlene and Darren. Updates from all the other players in the series too. I listened to the audiobook.
*5 Stars*
Darren and Charlene are the couple that everyone who has read, or is reading this series, is waiting for right from the start. The glimpses of these two throughout the books, from all their friends POV’s have made us want to know them and find out the truth about their relationship.
Let me tell you, this starts off with a bang, and it never really stops after that. Darren and Charlene, or as I like to think of them, Daz and Chaz (because, Straya), have so many layers to them. Both of them have been through quite interesting upbringings, and because of this, they’re both a bit broken.
Darren was just hopelessly clueless for much of the book, even though he realised, or was starting to realise the depth of his feelings for Charlene. And Charlene herself was right there with him, but they both had so many things holding them back. They both need to face their fears and reality.
I love that whilst we got everything we wanted with these two, we also got so so much of all our other favourite couples. This was the perfect book to end this series, because it showcases how much of a family this circle of friends really are. They all have their own quirks, but they all love each other no matter what. It was great to see the progression of everyone else, as well as Darren and Charlene.
A lot of big things happen in this book, and Helena kept throwing me for a loop, with all these unexpected events and revelations. But honestly, I wouldn’t have it any other way. Move over Lance (and Poppy), Darren and Charlene might just be my new faves.
P.S. I will never have enough of this series, so Helena, feel free to write more of these fabulous characters 😉
Audiobook Review
Story: 4
Narration: 4
Overall: 4
I’ve read a majority of the Pucked series and wasn’t quite sure what to expect in Darren and Charlene’s story. This couple has been together for a few years now, so what could this story possibly be about? I should have known that Helena Hunting will always surprise me in the best of ways. I loved the story about how Darren and Charlene came together and their respective backgrounds that make them just who they are.
I was laughing so hard throughout parts of this book (as I did with all of the other past books). But I also loved Darren’s reserve and his need for privacy and his quiet manner. His depth of love for Charlene was so so sweet and I loved those moments between them. Charlene is the perfect bubbly to his stoic and they made such a great couple. Charlene and her mom cracked me up, but I also admire everything that she had to get past to become the woman she is. I also loved revisiting with past couples and characters. It’s always sad to see a great series come to an end, but I enjoyed all of these books so much.
I listened to the audiobook version of Pucked Love and I really enjoyed it. Sebastian York and Stella Bloom were wonderfully cast as Darren and Charlene. When I was listening to the book, I could easily imaging all of the scenarios playing out and I had no problem differentiating the different characters. Sebastian York was such a perfect unwavering Darren and I couldn’t imagine anyone else narrating that role. Stella Bloom did a great job with Stella and had me cracking up with all the scenes with the girls and her mom. This was such a great audiobook to listen to and I flew through it.
Pucked Love was highly entertaining!! It had the honor of being my very first full length audiobook. It was strange for a while listening to the book when I’m so used to reading it, but I got used to it more as I kept listening. I thought the narrators did a great job with it. I particularly loved whenever Lance spoke and Sebastian did the accent for him. I’ve been waiting for Darren and Charlene’s book since Pucked and I’m so happy that they finally got their story. They definitely have a unique and interesting relationship that everyone wonders about. We finally get our answers to the many questions we have asked about them throughout the series. Both Darren and Charlene have a lot of issues from their past that hold them back. I enjoyed learning about their intriguing backgrounds and how that has affected their relationship. They both grow a lot throughout the book and it’s great to see their progress. I absolutely loved how clueless Darren was with typical relationship things like flowers and favorite colors, that was hilarious! He is one of the sweetest guys underneath all his gruff and it was so nice seeing that other side of him. He’s definitely swoon worthy! Charlene is a hoot and you can definitely tell why Violet’s her best friend. The storyline was slow at times, but was definitely filled with entertainment and surprises along the way. The epilogue was unbelievably cute and the perfect end for Darren and Charlene. I’m so sad to see this series end, but I think they are the perfect couple to end the series on given that they’ve been there from the start. I’m still gonna hope that there will be a few short stories or scenes written here or there to give me my Pucked fix
5 STARS
An EPIC ending to an incredible series!!! I waited a long time for their story and I was so happy to finally read about the mysterious couple, Darren and Charlene. #DarLene
Pucked Love is the sixth and final book in the Pucked Series by Helena Hunting. This book is seriously laugh out loud funny!!! I read this book at work and couldn’t put it down. I’m sure my co-workers were thinking I was absolutely crazy because I couldn’t stop laughing. Darren and Charlene both have had quite interesting childhoods and their families both have that individual flair to them that have you thinking…umm, that explains it all. Nevertheless, I can’t say this enough, but I absolutely LOVED this book!
I’m sad that this is the last book of the series, but thank you Helena for taking me on this EPIC and PUCKED up journey with you and all these crazy characters! Pucked Love by Helena Hunting will join the ranks of the BIBLIO-ARISTOCRACY!!!
5 FIREFLY stars!!! Fantastic!! My favorite of the whole series. I absolutely loved Darren and Charlene’s story. Did not want it to end! Stella Bloom and SebYo nailed the narration.
Loved this book. Great characters and wonderful chemistry between the main couple! Perfect story for a quick, fun read.
This final installment of the series was worth the wait. For 6 books I’ve been speculating about these two characters and now that I know I can tell you I couldn’t have been more wrong!
This is the first book I have read/listened to in this series but definitely NOT the last. Darren and Charlene are everything! They are two broken people who found each other because of their best friends and they are perfect for each other! They work because they do everything to be better for the other. I’m not going to tell you anything else except, GET THIS BOOK OR THE ONES BEFORE IT AND THEN THIS ONE! *sigh* now I have to go get the rest of the series. YAY ME!
I have love the Pucked series since the beginning, I think it was my first romance book where I spent the majority of the time cracking up with Violet’s antics. Some of the stories have been better than others, but I will say I was most interested in finding out more about Charlene and Darren! There has been so much mystery around their relationship that my mind was running wild with all the options.
The beginning of the book starts when they first get together way back at the beginning of Alex and Violets relationship, then it jumps to 2 years later. Both Charlene and Darren have secrets they’ve been keeping not just from each other, but from everyone. Even though they have been together for 2 years, Darren is starting to realize he doesn’t know Charlene very well and he wants to change that. The secrets they both have were really unexpected, I never would have guessed them but they worked perfectly with the story! Charlene and Darren are more quiet and private than the others which led this to be one of the more serious books of the series, but with Violet as a best friend and Charlene’s mom making a great entrance there was still plenty of laugh out loud moments.
Darren and Charlene were such enigmas going into this book. There was all this secrecy around them, with coy smiles and little hints dropped. I looked foreword to finding out what all those secrets were about, and I loved what I read.
These were two completely broken characters who had trouble seeing through all their broken pieces to realize how well they fit each other. I loved how sweet Darren was with Charlene, and I loved how quasi-adventurous she was before she calmed down and realized what she really wanted. This book was full of all the laughs that the previous books held, but also so many memories and feelings. Seeing all the Pucked characters, especially towards the end of the book, felt like family, like coming home.
While I loved this book and this series so much, I’m so very sad that this is the end.
It’s over and that makes me so sad! I didn’t have the best start with this series and then it took me a while to give it a chance again and then even longer to continue on but trying this series in audio format was the best decision ever. I’ve even come around on Violet. I really enjoyed Charlene and Darren but readers are sort of led to believe their relationship may be one way and then it isn’t delivered in this book. So that is disappointing. I think if that hadn’t been done then this book would have been 5 stars. I wouldn’t have minded things being exactly as they were if it hadn’t been for the deception. That’s just my personal feelings though… others may love the bait and switch. I did think Charlene and Darren were very unique characters with a little less than conventional relationship and I liked seeing how they became the way they were. I also liked seeing them discover more and accept more of themselves. I also wouldn’t mind an extended epilogue of all the characters and where they end up. But overall, this was a sweet little ending to a series that I grew to really love. I love group of friends and family. And I would recommend this series to anyone looking for fun and spicy and sweet series because this series has a little bit of everything for everyone!
Oh sweet baby Jesus! Darren is EVERYTHING!
I was dying to know more about Darren and Charlene’s mysterious relationship. I definitely was not expecting what I read about their pasts. This book made me laugh. It was beyond crazy at times, but oh so sweet. The way Charlene and Darren love each other to the outside world might seem unconventional, but it is perfect for them. There were so many moments my heart ached for these two and how their pasts shaped them.
I loved everything about Pucked Love! I’m sad to see this series come to an end, but also absolutely loved getting more of the previous Pucked characters. The Pucked family is one I want to be a part of. They have each other’s back through thick and thin. What a great ending to a great series!
Even though this is the last book in this series, it’s my first read in the series and I am embarrassed that I haven’t been exposed to the Pucked gang before now. But I will be changing that IMMEDIATELY!
So, this book has the whole gang in here and, in my reading experience, I feel like the last couple of the group usually has more support and input from their friends because they want them “Last of the Mohicans” to be happy, too. The “Last of the Mohicans” just so happen to be Darren Westinghouse and Charlene Hoar. Due to less than ideal childhoods, these two broken characters fit together but they are at a standstill in their “relationship”.
Darren is Alex’s teammate on their Chicago NHL team, his wingman on the ice, and the oldest player on the team. Darren is hotter than sin, but he’s sweet dependent, and private about his personal life. He’s so serious about the public staying out of his life that he has women in his life sign a NDA and that works for Charlene. Darren loves Charlene with all his heart and he knows that she has the tendency of flying the coop if pushed too much. So, Darren let’s Charlene be with him at her own pace based on her own rules… and this is their “relationship” (If you can call it that). Unfortunately, Darren thinks he might be considered for being traded to another team that needs players, but he wants to take his relationship with Charlene to the next step so that he knows where they stand.
Charlene is an accountant like her BFF, Violet, and she is a fun, quirky, independent woman and she likes to keep a low profile in the relationship department. Unfortunately, she has anxiety when it comes to men and being in a relationship, but she has been in a “relationship” with Darren for years. But after a really revealing incident happens the “cat is out of the bag” and their relationship is confirmed.
Helena Hunting did a wonderful job incorporating all of her past characters into this finale of her Pucked series. There were some real LOL moments and I fell in love with the other couples and I gotta read their stories. Helena had me hooked from page one and I read through this story in one seating.
** I voluntarily left a honest review after reading an advanced review copy of this book **