My Pucking Crush: A Dark MM Hockey Bodyguard Romance

Such a great story. I would’ve never thought putting a hockey star together with a bratva member would work, but these two were magnetic. The storyline was well timed and exciting with non-stop drama that will keep you glued to the pages. We get a lot of hockey action which I really appreciate in a sports romance. There was an air of suspense and a heavily traumatic backstory that will have your emotions in a tailspin. Ten out of ten would recommend (after checking content warnings of course!)

I’ve read hockey romance and loved it. I’ve read mafia suspense and loved it. I’ve read MM romance and loved it. Now, Tori Chase combines all three into a seamless, thrilling, and emotional story that absolutely delivers. My Pucking Crush was one of my most anticipated reads of the year, and it exceeded every expectation. I was already hooked when the cast was announced—Joe Arden as Max Ryan, the self-proclaimed GOAT hockey player, and Teddy Hamilton as Luca Sheppard, the mafia member turned security guard with a soft spot for hockey (and specifically, Max). The action isn’t just on the ice. While the hockey elements are perfectly woven into the story, Tori makes sure even non-sports fans feel immersed without getting lost in the details. The gameplay and teamwork are as engaging as the personal drama. But this book is so much more than a sports romance. There’s a gripping mafia suspense plot, a surprising connection I didn’t see coming, and the emotional weight of Max and Luca’s painful, tragic pasts. Their relationship evolves beautifully, taking readers on a journey of patience, discovery, and unconditional love. The chemistry is undeniable, but Tori doesn’t make things easy. Just when you think the story is heating up, she throws in twists that keep you on the edge of your seat. The last few chapters were a heart-pounding and emotional rollercoaster. Max and Luca’s story is one of resilience and acceptance, proving that love can overcome even the most daunting…

My Pucking Crush by Tori Chase ★★★½ (3.5/5) Hockey sticks and mafia tricks should be a match made in romance heaven, but this book is more like purgatory with occasional flashes of paradise. Let's be honest: I wanted to love this forbidden MM romance where a brooding ex-Bratva enforcer falls for the hockey star he's protecting. The premise practically screamed "READ ME!" But much like a hockey player who can't quite stick the landing after a fancy move, this story stumbles where it should soar. Luca and Max have chemistry on paper - the whole "dangerous bodyguard meets vulnerable athlete" setup creates natural tension. But their connection feels rushed, like someone fast-forwarded through the emotional development. When Luca thinks, "I look at the love in Max's eyes and I know, I'll never return here, not without my boo," I nearly choked on my tea. Boo? From our hardened mafia man? The dialogue occasionally veers into territory so cheesy it could stock a Wisconsin gift shop. The mafia elements add a welcome edge, and Luca's struggle to redefine himself beyond his violent past provides the book's most compelling moments. His protective instincts toward Max create genuine friction that kept me turning pages, even when other aspects fell flat. But for every raw, authentic moment, there's a clunky line like "He's the most winningest man in professional hockey" that yanks me right out of the story. Joe Arden and Teddy Hamilton's narration deserves credit for breathing life…

This MM dark hockey/romance gets a standing ovation from me. Tori Chase is a new-to-me author, and I’ve listened to enough Joe Arden and Teddy Hamilton to know they were well suited for this story and characters. What I didn’t expect was to have an audio hangover every single time I had to pause or stop listening for the day! Max is our hockey playing hero with a few secrets he has had to keep close to the chest. Joe gives an impeccable performance as a vulnerable, lost, and tortured man in the prime of his hockey career. He has so much yearning for the life he craves, and is so resolute in wanting to keep aspects of his life guarded. Joe shines in this role; a striking balance of longing, sensitivity and desire. Enter Luca. Teddy Hamilton is the gold standard as the broody, alpha, protector assigned to Max. Teddy commands your attention in every scene. The way Luca intuitively takes care of Max physically, emotionally and mentally is categorized in Teddy’s performance. It’s all there. Joe and Teddy are a balance of power, agility, and sensual tension in this audiobook. All of my emotions fired at full force. I was entranced by the storyline, and enamored with both characters equally. Bonded by festering trauma, but resolute in their feelings for each other; Max and Luca triumphantly carved an infinity symbol on my heart.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 🌶️🌶️🌶️ Tropes 🏒MM 🖤Hockey Romance 🏒Mafia Romance 🖤Force Proximity 🏒Forbidden Love 🖤Groveling 🏒Secret Obsession 🖤One Bed 🏒 Touch Him and Died “He’s all I want. All I think about. Obsess about.” This book was impossible for me to put down. As soon as I picked it up, I became obsessed with it. Did get the audiobook after I completed it, yes. An audiobook featuring Teddy Hamilton and Joe Arden is something I can't resist. Who doesn't enjoy a good hockey or mafia romance novel? When you combine the two, you get the ideal combination, and I'm all for it. After seeing mixed reviews, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I simply assumed it would be a spicy MM book with not much to it. There was spice; however, the storyline I thought was good. It was more than I had anticipated. After finishing this book, I'd like to go back and read more of her books. I am looking forward to the next book.Check your TW as always. Hot Hockey God Max is searching for his identity; all he knows is that hockey is his life. He is aware that he is attracted to men, but because of certain traumatic experiences as a child, he feels compelled to conceal that aspect of himself. That is, until he meets Luca. When Luca is forced to live with Max and work as his bodyguard full-time. Max finds that he can't resist the pull and attraction he has for Luca. Luca was part of the Russian mafia; that is, until he was forced into hiding. Now he is working as a security guard for Max's…