Author: Sarah Blue
Series: Pucked Up Omegaverse Series book #2
Category: Sports Romance
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
"It's not that I think Alexi is out of my league, I think that if I let myself indulge in that tall, big, future silver fox that I wouldn't be able to walk away." - Piper
I was uneasy going into this because, while clearly set in the Omegaverse, this book is about a female alpha unlike 99% of these stories centered around female or male omegas. I can say that I was pleasantly surprised with how the characters of the story were portrayed, both with their perceived stereotypes based on the world and also by pushing the boundaries of what is normal for anyone.
Piper was such a strong character, but insecure and deeply affected by her father's neglect and conditional love. In the first book of the series, Piper basically held her best friend together in times of crisis, but book two explored who she was outside of the best friend of an omega and what she truly wanted out of life. There are definitely things that Piper needed to work on about herself but once she finally decided to stop using avoidance as a coping mechanism, she was 100% committed to the men she initially held at arm's length.
"Alexi is a one way ticket to domesticity I'm not ready for, so I do what I do best; I run away and don't take another glance back." - Piper
Everyone needs an Alexi in their life, this man was so confident and steady. Seriously, any problem that came up, his answer was 'I'll take care of it' and that is the type of loyalty and love everyone needs in a partner. I adored his methodical maneuvering in bringing his pack together, one step at a time, with never-ending patience. He was sneaky, but with only the best intentions, and while he did overstep sometimes he was quick to recognize he pushed too far and apologize.
"But I'm not really sure who is going to be the hardest to convince. The good thing is, I love a fucking challenge." - Alexi
Owen was a breath of fresh air in the Omegaverse, a male omega who was hiding who was he so he could follow his dreams. There was a lot of introspection for the character as he grappled with who he was and society's expectations. Owen fit in so well with Piper and Alexi, his energy a good balance with their more intense personalities.
Even through miscommunications and mistakes, the three of them had the best relationship. Constantly checking in with one another, owing to their faults, and working to improve their communication, I loved this pack! They had chemistry, sexual tension, and outright lust in spades, and really enjoyed the different storyline of a male omega in a pack.
"'So you're what? The house fuck toy?' Owen says, and I laugh. I grin. 'Damn right I am.'"
Don't Puck With My Heart was such a sweet book and hopefully, this review pushes everyone to give it a chance. While there were conflicts, most of them centered around work and avoiding feelings, not the pack's relationship once they decided to be together. I highly recommend reading the first book in the series to get more background on some of the side characters, but the second in this series definitely lived up to its hype.
Tropes and Themes: Omegaverse, Why Choose Romance, Fated Mates, Sports Romance, Hockey Romance.
Blurb
Having a pack isn’t even on the radar for Dr. Piper Blake. Her focus is strictly on her surgical residency. There’s no time for dating when the standards you set for yourself are sky high.
Unfortunately for Piper, the captain of the New Haven Foxes has a different idea. Alexi Badnin is ready to make this his best season yet, by winning the Cup, and building his dream pack in the process.
The larger-than-life Alpha is playing his own matchmaker when it comes to the stubborn Piper and the team’s new broody goalie, Owen. He becomes obsessed with the three becoming a pack, and will do just about anything to make them both his.
The three have to unpack insecurities, self-doubt, and secrets to make this work. Time will only tell if they can make it to the end of the hockey season in one piece, or completely shattered.