Dances with Pucks

Texas Tornadoes #1

by Debbie Charles

Limited time deal at $.99. Price goes up after release!

Cam

Guarding the net is not my only goal

While other players relax on the golf course, my off-season is spent in the ballroom. Dancing keeps me limber and the memory of my mom alive. My father dismissed hockey as a career and moved on to a new family. Joke’s on him. I’ve made it to the NHL, and I’ll clear close to a mil at age twenty-four. The only thing left on my life plan is a family, and I have my eye on the beautiful dance instructor who keeps me on my toes.


Christina

I prefer numbers to people. They’re far more predictable.
Numbers make sense; people don’t.

After a health issue ended my competitive ballroom dancing career, I took over management of my family’s financial empire. Then my brother insisted on bringing pro hockey to Austin, so here I am, co-owner of an NHL team and agreeing to give free financial advice to the players. When a friend needs help at her dance studio, the hottie taking private lessons is more tempting than a macro-enabled spreadsheet, until his headshot pops up on my brother’s hockey roster. Talk about a conflict of interest. Worse, he wants what I can’t give him—kids. Maybe just a fling…

Dances with Pucks is a workplace romance between two incredibly flexible people, which means things get steamy, stretched, and sometimes twisted. It introduces the Texas Tornadoes, the hottest, coolest expansion NHL team in hockey.

hockey goalieballroom dancingbillionaireworkplace romancewants kids / doesn’tsecret romancecompetence p*rn

Genres: Sports, Hockey, Sports Romance, Romance

338 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 16, 2025

Reviews

[Becky (romantic_pursuing_feels) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Note: Some of my goodreads shelves can be spoilers

Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Readability: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥
Humor: Yes, a bit
Perspective: first person from both hero and heroine with alternating chapters
More character focused or plot focused? character
How did the speed of the story feel? medium
When mains are first on page together: Not too far in – 4% (chapter 1)
Cliffhanger: No, this ends with a happy for now for the mains
Epilogue: Yes, a few months in the future
Format: voluntarily read an advanced reader copy from the author in e-book format
Why I chose this book: I have loved Maggie Sims (her historical name) and was eager to try more in her contemporary books!
Mains: This is a M/F relationship between a cishet hero and heroine
(Descriptions found at end of my review)

Should I read in order?
You can start here! But there is a prequel novella that you can get as a newsletter freebie.

Basic plot:
Cam finds a dance course to keep him limber during his off days from hockey – and he’s head over heels for his instructor. Who also happens to be co-owner of his team...

Give this a try if you want:
- contemporary romance
- Texas setting
- hockey romance – Goalie hero
- he’s tall – 6’ 3” – there is a small size difference (heroine is around 5’ 9”/10”) but she is also tall for a woman
- found family
- heroine is a financial investor, hockey team owner, and dance instructor
- endometriosis rep
- he takes dance to stay limber
- he’s younger than her
- celibate heroine
- hero has a dimple
- medium steam – 3ish full scenes (I could be a bit off, so I’d take this as a minimum)

Ages:
- hero is 24, heroine is 30

First line:
The sliding glass doors of the terminal open to a wall of heat, and I stagger back a step.

My thoughts:
Yay for playlists! I love when books include them and this one has one – it was especially fun to check out with the dancing scenes in the book.

I adored this novel so, so much. It was so fun. I loved both our mains right away. Their backgrounds have complex issues, but the way they come together and are so vulnerable and open with each other was so heart melting. There were a handful of forbidden love aspects to their relationship and I adored how they fell for each other so hard anyway.

This book had a great mix to me of character focused interactions. I loved the hockey scenes – especially from a goalie perspective. But I especially adored the dancing scenes – I sometimes have a hard time picturing scenes in books and their practices together were so well done. I could feel their tension building and it’s just such a perfect set up for a romance.

They had real issues on a few fronts, and I loved how they resolved them. This was such a steamy yet sweet read that I utterly loved.

Few random reading stats for this author
# of books read: This is my 2nd for Debbie Charles. If including her HR name, Maggie Sims, then this is 11.
Average rating: 5 stars. If including her HR name Maggie Sims, 4.9 stars
Favorite book: For Debbie Charles pen name, this one! For all books from Maggie Sims/Debbie Charles….maybe Charlotte’s Control?

Endearments
The hockey team calls the hero ‘Prancer’ and he calls the heroine ‘Dancer’

Quotes any typos are my own! I am bad with typos, I apologize

As he’s getting unwanted attention...

“No.” I fold my arms and of course her gaze goes to the bulge of my biceps against my ribs. That’s the only bulge she’ll be seeing.
---
In the next moment, my mouth goes dry. I swallow.
In the front of the house, a woman in a leotard and dancer’s wrap skirt is demonstrating a pivot to a pair of dancers. She’s my perfect...everything. I’d guess she is five-nine or -ten, wearing dance shoes with straps across the inset and a two-inch heel that would bring her to nose height on me.
---
He’s wearing dance shoes. Yes, please. Dance with me.
But social hour is almost over. Clearing my throat, I step toward him. “Can I help you?”
“I hope so. Christina?” He holds out a bear-paw-sized hand. At my nod, he adds, “I’m Cam.”
I shake his hand, my breath stuttering at the warm dry calloused skin engulfing mine.
---
He pulls my arm, stepping into a close hold and circling us in a tight position.
I lose my breath at the sensation of his length against me. And I do mean his length.

---
YES. Nod to HR

I’m starting to understand those bodice rippers’ references to heaving bosoms.
---
I grin. I can hold a squat for two hours – most of my game time is spent in that pose. I widen my feet and drop low.
Standing, she rotates one leg from the hip in a circle, toe pointed and knee straight. Her foot is on par with her head at the top.
I mirror it, my foot also even with my considerably higher head at the top.
Her mouth drops open.
I arch a cocky brow.
---
I’ve never been full-length against him like this. I close my eyes and enjoy his post-practice soap and deodorant scent. Under my hands, his back muscles shift and flex. His pecs are like steel against my cheek and I want to bite them, but they’re so hard I probably couldn’t get purchase.
He sucks in a huge breath, and his shirt and muscles rasp against my leotard-covered breasts.
---
I can’t remember a single one of the many reasons I thought this was a bad idea. All I can process is this magnificent mountain of muscle under me.
I sigh against his lips. They’re lush and plush and I really, really need to stop with the rhyming.
---
My mouth goes dry as her luscious peach of an ass passes my head. I want to bite it. Then I want to lay her on the desk and worship her with my lips and tongue. Or play teacher and naughty student who she takes to his knees. Or -
She’s back around the desk and tilting her head. “You seem flushed. Are you warm?”
---
I am shameless and over this lesson almost before it’s begun.
I don’t spin around and instead shimmy my ass against him.
His hand tightens around my waist as he pulls me even closer. We breathe in unison. My back brushes his chest with every inhale.
“Christina?” he asks into my hair. I’m sweaty and horny and I don’t care about resisting anymore.
I whisper, “Cam. Please.”
Spinning me around, he responds with a husky, “Thank fuck,” as his hands go to my head and his lips meet mine.



Content warnings: These should be taken as a minimum of what to expect. It’s very possible I have missed some.

- infertility / child free as a possible choice due to pain discussed
Author content warnings? Didn’t see any


Locations of kisses/intimate scenes, safe sex aspects, consent, pregnancy/child in the story:

Safe sex: Condoms used, and then discussion on BC
How’s the consent? It’s good
Pregnancy/children in story? There is the talk of the possibility of adoption in their future, but the heroine has had painful endometriosis and cannot have children due to it – she has tried accepting being child free.
31% - kiss in the dance studio
40% - 🔥 fingering/oral for her, her on top
He twists his finger inside me a fraction, then bends it and shortens his pistons as his tongue speeds up.
“Cam!” My shout echoes off the glass and wood.
“Yes, baby. Let go for me,” he hisses against me.
47% - 🔥 sex on a couch
“You don’t need to be slow tonight. Seeing you play made me so hot I could barely wait the hour for you. Changing into this didn’t help. The cool fabric sliding against me when I waned the roughness and heat of your hands? Please, Cam.”
57% - 🔥 kisses, mirror sex while squatting at the barre
He squats with his legs behind mine to align our hips. Those delicious hockey quads allow him to hold me rather than the barre, pressing his naked chest to my back above the low scoop of the bodysuit. I stare at us in the mirror.
His eyes are hooded as his gaze roams over me, and his hand is massive over my lower ribcage and stomach. “You’re gorgeous.”
I’m sucking wind like I just tried to race him on skates. “Cam. Please. Your skin feels so good against mine. I need more.”
“You’ll get it,” he promises.
68% - the start of a scene that is short and kind of fades



Extra stuff like what my review breakdown means, where to find me, and book clubs


Full break down on what my ratings above mean here:
Overall: How I felt about it everything considered!
Readability: How ‘readable’ was the book? Did I fly through it? Did I have to tell myself to pick it back up repeatedly? Were any passages confusing? (I will probably score like (1) is literally unreadable due to formatting/typing errors, etc (2) There were lots of errors that made it difficult to read OR It was extremely confusing and I had to reread passages to make sense of it OR I disliked it so much I had to bribe myself to keep reading (3) I didn’t really want to keep reading and would have preferred to abandon the read and start something else OR some minor continuity issues/confusion (4) I liked it fine, maybe a minor error or 2. I was happy to pick it up when I had time. (5) I never wanted to put this down. I thought about it when I wasn’t reading it. I hid in the bathroom from my kids to read. I threw inappropriate food at my children for dinner so I could read instead.)
Feels: Totally subjective to each person but did the book give me any tingles? Any butterflies? Did it rip my heart out (in a good way?)
Emotional depth: How well do I feel I know the characters at the end? How much did I feel their emotions throughout the story?
Sexual tension: Again, subjective, but how strong was the wanting and longing to me between the characters? A book might have strong sexual tension without a single touch.
Romance: Was there romance? Did romantic things happen? This can be actions/words/thoughts of the characters and again is subjective.
Sensuality: This is how the intimate scenes are written. Kisses and sexual scenes – how sensual were they? Were they on the mechanical side? Was there emotional pull tied in? Were the details explicit or flowery? These are subjective but generally (1) too short to get a good judgement (2) not all what I'm looking for - very vague or flowery prose (3) either not explicit enough or not enough emotional pull (too mechanical/physically descriptive without the emotions) (4) what I love in a scene (5) absolute perfection - perfect balance of emotional longing and explicit descriptions
Sex Scene Length: How long the bedroom scenes are (generally (1) is 1-3 sentences (2) is a few paragraphs to a page-ish (3) is about average, a few pages (4) more well developed scenes, quite a few pages with descriptions (4) the majority of the book takes place in the bedroom. This is always hard to tell for me on audio!
Steam Scale: Generally, each flame is a scene. If scenes are super close together I sometimes combine them. If a scene is super short or so vague I don’t know what’s happening, I don’t count it. There’s some levels of grey but generally the number of flames is how many sex scenes there are (I max out at 5 so I’ll put a + after if there’s more than that)


Find me
Instagram || The Storygraph || Bookbub ||

Book Clubs
The Ton and the Tartans (Historical Romance)
Upturned Petticoats and Undone Cravats (Historical Romance with Steam Requirements)
A Love Less Ordinary (Science Fiction, Paranormal, Monster, Fantasy)
Modern Manuscripts (Contemporary Romance)
Words for the Wicked (Contemporary Romance with Steam Requirements)
Vintage Romance (Old School Romance – published 2000 and prior)

[Kate W · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had me turning pages and just wanting the happily ever after, meanwhile salivating over a super hot hunky hockey goalie. Debbie you have a way with words and the emotional twists and turns had me wanting to be in the stadium cheering on or on the dance floor sideline applauding. I would thoroughly recommend this book.

[L KQ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dance and Hockey

Riveting and surprisingly fantastic, this story was enticing from the beginning. I could not get enough of the plot and its characters. Banter, spice, and adventurous fun rolled up into a well written and well blended read. Dancing and hockey were an absolutely amazing mesh of complexity that added intrigue to this book.

I am voluntarily leaving this review.

[Merilu Keenum · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow!! I have a new favorite sport and will definitely be watching the goalie warm ups!!! Cam is remarkably thoughtful and goal oriented for a young man, but his attraction for Christina is intense and so caring. She is mesmerized by his character, his talents, and his personality. I love the details of their dances: exquisitely sexy and the desire they feel for each other is palpable. Debbie Charles brought out their emotions, their fears, and their chemistry with beautifully written dialogue that is realistic and compelling. She dealt with their hurts and insecurities in a positive way that shows how communication and honesty can build trust in a relationship. I’m looking forward to reading more Texas Tornadoes books!! Loved it!!

[Gracie Cooper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let’s just say I will never think of a plié the same way again! Holy hotness!

D. Charles has a way of drawing you into the sports world of hockey and sultry elegance of dance. What starts off as a slow burn, heats up once these two get their naughty hands on each other.

I loved the build up, internal dialogue and side characters. Plus the age gap where she’s older is just chef’s kiss!

[April More · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved Cam and Christina’s love story. I also enjoyed the plot and the character growth in this book. Cam is a Hockey that has moved to Texas to play on a brand new team in the NHL. He also has some family trauma and trust issues, so in his spare time he has taken up dancing so he can be close to his mom after she passes away. Christina, is one of the owners of the new Hockey and is a dance instructor. She has health issues that has caused her to close herself out emotionally. I really enjoyed this book.

[Patty Betancourt · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first time reading from this author a friend recommended her to me from now on I will read anything she write. Cam is the perfect gentleman making me love him even more. I love Cam and Christina relationship so much. The spice was spicing. I love Cam that no matter Christina’s reason of not wanting babies and him having her back 100% is chef kiss. I felt Christinas pain of not being about to have babies. I loved how Christina encouraged Cam to build a relationship with his half brother and sister making him want family first.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 🌟s!

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sports romance where both mc's are athletes? Sign me up! One of them being a ballroom dancer? Say no more, let me just gobble it up. But wait, the fmc isn't only a retired pro dancer, but one of the owners of a new hockey team?! *faints*

This story starts off great and the chemistry these 2 have is amazing. The moment when that first kiss happened? *chef's kiss*, when these two dumbdumbs finally have a horizontal dance (hehehehe), sparks fly all around.
While the story has a little trouble during the middle part pacing wise, the last 30% of it had me crying happy tears. And let me tell you, when a book makes me cry, it's a good one.
Surprisingly this doesn't mean that this story has a lot of angst, it's actually the opposite and it was so refreshing to read. Thinking the conflict is going one way, but then throwing you a curveball (or should I say puck?) and digging deeper into personal trauma was something I didn't expect at all.
The conflict between the mc's was handled so great and it's all about what a family 'should look like', and flipping it all around.

Thank you so much to Debbie for providing me with an ARC.

[Reading by Deb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cam stepped out of the airport into the sweltering Austin heat. He was in Austin to play for the new hockey expansion team, the Texas Tornadoes, and he is one step closer to his dream of a multi-year, multi-million-dollar contract. Now he just needed to land the position as starting goalie.

After meeting with the realtor and getting rid of his bags, he changes clothes and heads to scope out groceries, coffee, and a dance studio. Careful to make sure nothing signifies that he is a hockey player, wanting to fly under the radar as long as he can.

He would watch dance competitions with his mom and when he had read about his hockey idol dancing in one of the reality shows he started taking yoga and ballroom dancing classes. The classes kept his body limber and able to make the demanding splits needed to block the pucks from passing the goal line.
He finds a dance studio near his home and sees they have a social dance hour the next day. When he slips into the back of the class to stretch and change into his dance shoes, he is mesmerized by the instructor. She is perfect.
Christina was talking with her brother and sister at the gala celebrating their new expansion hockey team when she is asked to dance. She turns in shock to see her dance student standing before her, but is even more shocked to find that he is one of the players. She is his boss.
I loved this book! It is very well written and the characters are fully developed and relatable. Cam is a huge hockey player with agile moves on the dance floor. Christina is more than a dancer, she is also co-owner of the hockey team.
This book is action-packed and full of spice. This is a reverse age-gap, taboo boss romance that is reminiscent of Dancing with the Stars and since I have read this book, every Instagram dance reel has me placing these characters as the dancers. Both Cam and Christina have personal hurdles to work through on top of the taboo owner/player issue that could put a halt to Cam's dreams.
I love the camaraderie and friendships in this story and look forward to reading more by this author. Highly recommend!

[Veronica Turner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dances with Pucks by Debbie Charles is book one of the
Texas Tornadoes Hockey Romance Series following Cam and
Christina. If you like a workplace secret romance and reverse age gap (only by
6 years) with HEA, then this one is for you.
Our MMC, Cam Hill, is charming, hot and newly hired as goalie for the expansion NHL team by Greg Donovan and his sisters in Austin, Texas. He not only plays hockey but during his off time he does ballroom dancing to remain flexible. Once settled in his new rental home he locates a dance studio with a teacher willing to work with his crazy schedule since he travels so much during hockey season. Not only is she drop dead gorgeous, but she just so happens to be a Donovan sister which happens to be one of the co-owners and his new boss.
Christina Donovan, our FMC, a beautiful and talented dancer who at one time did competitive ballroom dancing until she had to retire due to health complications. So now she teaches part-time at her best friend’s studio and works with her siblings as the new owners of the Austin, Texas expansion NHL team. She is a hardworking woman despite being a billionaire and she is very attracted to her new dance student who is tall and hot. While reviewing the hockey player list to start scheduling appointments to go over their finances, she comes across a name she recognizes. It cannot be a coincidence that she is looking at the name Cam Hill, so she pulls up his picture and sure enough it is one and the same. Cam Hill, her very attractive new dance student, is also her new goalie for the team she owns. Things may get tricky!
This was such a cute story; I had never read a Hockey Romance because I thought they focus on the games and that is not the case at all. Sure, there is some hockey talk but focusing on romance took priority. Christina’s best friends made me laugh out loud every single time she had dinner with them, I cannot wait to see how the rest of this series turns out.

I received an ARC for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily

[Lis Angus · Rating 5 out of 5]

This smart, satisfying romance brings together two seemingly opposite worlds—professional hockey and ballroom dancing—and makes them spark. At its heart are Cam and Christina, two ambitious, passionate people whose chemistry is impossible to ignore.

Cam is 24, newly signed to the Austin Tornadoes, a fresh NHL franchise owned by the wealthy Donovan family. Off the ice, he’s a serious amateur ballroom dancer—a hobby that kept him agile and flexible through his years in the minors. One of his first stops in Austin is a local dance studio, where he signs up for lessons with Christina, a former champion who’s filling in part-time for a friend.

From their first dance, it’s clear they move beautifully together—and they are highly attracted to each other. Christina tries to keep things professional, especially since the studio forbids fraternizing with clients. But what neither of them initially realizes is that Christina is part of the family that owns the team Cam has joined. A relationship with Cam could put his career—and her reputation—on the line.

Told in alternating points of view, the novel skillfully weaves together the rhythm of hockey games, the sensuality of dance, and the emotional tension of a high-stakes romance. The supporting characters add texture, and the Austin setting feels vivid and fresh. For readers who enjoy heat, the chemistry between Cam and Christina pays off with a few well-placed steamy scenes. But the story is just as much about personal growth, ambition, and the pressure of living in the public eye.

Whether you're here for the hockey, the dance, or the romance, this book delivers. It’s fun, fast-paced, and full of heart—and I couldn’t put it down.

[Lb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Likes:

This was a cute hockey romance with some humor and some spice, it did take me a bit to get into but both of our leads are likeable and I did root for them to give each other a chance to make things work. Both characters have their individual struggles --> FMC with health issues and infertility, and MMC with an absent/distant father/family.

Good chemistry between our leads. Love a handsome hockey goalie!

I liked the interactions with Cam and his team mates and everyone should have a group of girlfriends like Christina's. I'm looking forward to reading the next in the series and have pre-ordered the 3rd book.

Dislikes:

I did find that some of the book seemed to focus more on positioning of their dance moves (kind of like an instruction manual), or lengthier descriptions on hockey positions and financial management and I think those portions could have been trimmed to add additional scenes with our couple getting to know each other better.

Took awhile to get to actual spice for the amount of inner monologue from both sides about how their body was reacting to each other...

Book Blog: https://elbyslibrary.blogspot.com/202...

*Hockey Romance *Sports Romance *Dual POV *Spice *strangers --> more *dealing with grief (MMC loss of mom) *workplace romance *reverse Age Gap *Goalie MMC *position of power (female owner) *Dance partners *forbidden romance *complicated family relationships (MMC) *secret relationship *millionaire/billionaire romance *slow(ish) burn *State Challenge: Texas
*Indie author

[iReadBooksNSchit · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who Said Black Girls Don’t Do Hockey? Lies. All Lies.‘Cause this sista does. And Dances With Puck was smooth on the setup, strong on the follow-through, and had me hooked like I was watching rinkside.
Finally—a hockey romance that actually gives you hockey. Not just mentions and locker room vibes, but real games, on-ice action, and all the behind-the-scenes drama that makes the sport feel alive. Pair that with the elegance and intensity of dance? Whew. The blend was smooth, fresh, and so damn goooood.

This story hits all the right beats. The pacing stays tight, the spice is just right, and the romance? Bold, grown, and deeply satisfying.

Christina’s life is locked in—teaching dance, helping run a hockey team, and keeping everything in perfect rhythm. Then Cam walks in—24, fine, focused, and trying to stay light on his feet to level up his game. He signs up for class, but neither of them is ready for the spark that hits. What starts off professional quickly turns charged, with tension that builds into something deeper—respect, vulnerability, and moments that feel way too real to ignore. On paper, they shouldn’t work. But the way they move around each other? Pure magic.

Their story gave grown-folks romance with heat, heart, and a whole lotta rhythm. From the rink to the studio, every moment felt intentional and full of fire. So yeah, I said what I said: Black girls DO hockey. And this book? This one’s a whole hat trick.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

𝑴𝒚 𝒐𝒘𝒏 𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒐𝒏𝒂𝒍 𝑻𝒐𝒓𝒏𝒂𝒅𝒐 𝒄𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂 𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒎 𝒐𝒇 𝒑𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒖𝒓𝒆𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒆𝒎𝒐𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔.

Christina is just helping out at her friend’s dance studio when the most gorgeous man she’s ever seen walks through the door. The real twist? She’s not only about to dance with him—she’s also his boss. As the co-owner of an NHL team alongside her brothers, Christina knows there are strict no-fraternization rules… but resisting Cam is easier said than done.

The chemistry between these two crackles from the very beginning. You can feel the tension, both of them clearly want more, but Christina fights her feelings hard. When they finally give in? Absolute fireworks. The spice was chef’s kiss.

Cam is young and craving a sense of family after losing his mom. Meanwhile, Christina is facing serious health issues and is adamant about not wanting children. Watching her start to question those beliefs as her connection with Cam deepens was both heartwarming and heartbreaking because of the pain she lives with.

I loved the scene when Cam's team talked him into dancing with Christina, leaving out who she was. Cam's reaction when he realized who she was, was so funny! I loved their text conversations. I felt awful for Cam when the issues with his Dad came up. The fake Instagram part was cute, but I loved when his step mom called him out.

This was a great read. I love hockey romances. This was the perfect blend of emotional and spicy.

Huge thanks to Debbie Charles for the copy of her book!

[Smut Report]

Heat Factor: It definitely has steamy scenes but it’s not STEAMY

Character Chemistry: They’re well-matched but not on the same page at the same time

Plot: Cam, a hockey player who takes dancing lessons as a hobby and training tool, meets Christina, a dance teacher and part owner of Cam’s hockey team; they end up working together as dancing partners while secretly having a sexy romance that can’t go anywhere because power dynamics

Overall: This one has a very slow build of tension, and the tension had a lot of interruptions which was rough—but the relationship was interesting and the characters were complex

Read our full review at The Smut Report

I voluntarily read and reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. We disclose this in accordance with 16 CFR §255.

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[BookishMya · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story combines the excitement of a new hockey season with the anticipation of forbidden romance. We have goalie Cameron Hill and dance instructor/team co-owner, Christina Donovan. Not one, but two no-fraternization rules put the taboo in their electric chemistry. As the lines blur between colleague and love interest, things heat up in delicious ways and we begin the taboo relationship, the sneaking around and the secrecy. I love how Debbie Charles handled the communication and health issues within this story. These are two grown adults having a grown-up relationship, with doubts and insecurities but also respect. Toss in a greater amount of sports detail and this sets this story apart from many other sports romances on the shelf. I am not a sports enthusiast by nature, but have jumped head first into my sports romances era. As a Canadian i really appreciated the Canadian fan appreciation. We are definitely a hockey country and we are loyal to our teams, but Canadians go hard for the sport in general and this shows as a game audience. I enjoyed this story and cant wait to see where we go next with the Texas Tornadoes.

The audio was done for this one by Letty Bee. She is a new voice for me and handled the story with great enthusiasm. She was great at handling both feminine and masculine voices. A fun story to listen to.

[Diane Lynch Lynch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Debbie Charles gets a standing ovation for DANCES WITH PUCKS (Texas Tornadoes #1). In this story, hockey goalie Cameron (Cam) Hill gets traded to the Texas Tornadoes expansion team. When he arrives in Austin during the offseason, he signs up for private ballroom dance classes to keep himself limber. He has amazing chemistry with his dance instructor, Christina Donovan. Unbeknownst to either of them, they have another connection. Cam is the hockey goalie for the team that Christina is part-owner of, and there is a no-fraternization policy.

Debbie Charles does a great job with this story. The characters are dimensional and likable. Cam is younger than Christina. He longs for a family after his mom passed away and his father left to start a new family. He has trust/abandonment issues. Christina is a fun heroine. She used to dance competitively. She is a financial analyst, managing her family's wealth. She suffers from endometriosis. The characters face interesting situations and challenges throughout the story.

DANCES WITH PUCKS is the perfect start to the Texas Tornadoes series. I am looking forward to the next book in the series, NET PUCK AND CHILL. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book.

[Noreen Hussain · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love a good hockey romance and Dances with Pucks was great.
An age gap forbidden romance between Cam and Christina.
Loved both of them.
Cam is a hockey player who takes lessons in ballroom dancing so he can be more flexible on the ice.
Christina teaches dance since she had to give up her proffessional dancing career.
Cam and Christina meet when he ends up at her friends dance studio looking for a dance teacher.The chemistry between them is instant.
Christina's brother owns the Texas Tornados,the new hockey team,which Christina is also part owner of.
When Cam's headshot appears on the roster,Christina tries to keep her distance from Cam.
They end up deciding to have a secret casual fling,but the feelings between them grow and they want more.
They have a few ups and downs,they also have to work through their past issues and the no fraternisation rules before they can get to their happily ever after,but they get there in the end.
Loved the chemistry,the dancing,the team banter,the friendships,the emotions,romance and the happily ever after.
Cannot wait for the next book in the series.
I recieved an ARC of this book via The Indie Pen PR and am voluntarily leaving my review.

[Ally · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was my first Debbie Charles book. I was intrigued by the combo of dancing and ice hockey. I found it very difficult to get into it. If I hadn't been gifted an advanced copy, I probably would have DNFed the book at 15%. But I wanted to give this book a chance. In the end, I never connected with the characters. I felt there was a lack of growth seen on the pages. A lot was left off the pages. Time, character growth, background, etc. Things just happen without explanation or background, and we're just supposed to accept it. Bad previous bf? No context? No problem. Bad childhood, limited explanation of dismissive dad, good to go. Stalk stepmom on Instagram, and she figures it out, no questions here. One meeting, and you're all connected as if you've been family forever. Okay. The author is too quick to provide a solution to a problem. I did get the ick on the weird relationship the MMC has with his step sister. ummm...is there more chemistry there than with the FMC?

One last thing, when reading it, didn't feel like I was getting two different perspectives. Both main characters' speech and inner monologs felt like the same person was talking.

[Claire Purkis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having never read a Debbie Charles book I was pleasently suprised at how good this was. Sold on the blurb and love of a good sports romance I dived in to a character driven story centering around Cam and Christina in a dual pov. Cam is our hero having moved to the NHL is his rookie year finds solice and the ability to keep limber in dancing. After moving states he enrols in a new dance school and his induction is taken by Christina. Sparks fly and when Christina turns out to be a joint owner of his new team Cam is not sure what direction to go especially when it becomes obvious both have issues created in the past that they are having trouble working out.

Its nice to see a goalie being used as the main male lead and using a reverse age gap (he is 24 and she is 30). Real world issues are tackled and obsticles are overturned. Cam and Christina are well written characters and their love comes across on the page. There isn't alot of spicey scenes and I did find the beginning of the book very slow and hard to get into but I persevered. Can't wait to see where the author takes this series next.

I received this as an ARC and am leaving my own review

[✨Zoraida✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you love Hockey Sports Romance, age gap (reverse, she is older by six years), secret romance like I do, then this book is for you! I loved this story from page one.

Dances with Pucks is book 1 of the Texas Tornadoes Hockey Romance Series. This story follows Cam and Christina. Cam Hill newly hired as a goalie not only does he plays hockey, he also does ballroom dancing during the off season to remain flexible. he finds a studio and meets drop dead gorgeous Christina, who is the part time teacher of the studio.

Christina Donovan, a beautiful and talented dancer, who at one time was a competitive ballroom dancer, had to retire sue to health complications. She is a hard working woman, despite being a billionaire and the co-owner of the Texas Tornadoes NHL team. She is attracted to the new student in her studio, but once she finds out the he is the new goalie of her team, things get tricky because of the no fraternization rule at work.

This story is so cute,emotional at times, but at the end, they overcome obstacles and dance their way to their HEA. Definitely recommend reading this book 100%.

[Vilma · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this romantic tale about a dancer and a student which turns into so much more than ballroom dancing. When Cam Hill moves to Austin, TX for an expansion hockey team he seeks out ballroom classes to maintain his goalie flexibility. As he is thrust into Christina Donovan’s world, he has no idea of her connection to his new team… and she doesn’t know who he is either.

As the couple dance closer to the season opener, a fundraiser dance outs them both to each other as owner and employee, and a non-fraternizing clause hangs in the air.

But Chris and Cam, affectionately called, Dancer and Prancer, continue to dance and eventually embark on a no strings, clandestine affair. Yet each of them have a deep trauma they must work thru before moving forward into a serious relationship.

Oh, and did I mention the whole reverse age gap, cinnamon roll hero vibes.
The romance is a solid 4, closer to a 5 but just a bit drawn out for my tastes.

And there is a clear happy for now ending

[Kass · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dances with Pucks is book one in the Texas Tornadoes series and is the story of Cam amd Christina. This is a workplace romance with a six year reverse age gap that has a satisfying HEA.

Cam is a goalie for the Texas Tornadoes expansion team and in the off season he does ballroom dancing to stay flexible and to keep his mother's memory alive. New to town, Cam finds a dance studio with a teacher who is willing to work with his travel schedule and who is also the most beautiful woman he has ever met. Little does either know but Christina is also Cam's boss, as she co-owns the hockey team.

As Cam and Christina navigate their workplace romance, there is banter, some spice and they must deal with their past issues and work towards the future that they both desire.

Dances with Pucks is book one of the series and sets a bar for the rest of the books to follow. A good storyline with fun banter, teamy scenes as well as depth and dimension to the characters.

[J.L. Sullivan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cam arrives in Austin after finally making it into the NHL. He doesn’t know anyone in Texas, but since he enjoys ballroom dancing during the off-season, he finds a local dance studio. There, he meets Christina, a former competitive ballroom dancer who is working part time as a dance instructor at her friend’s studio. The two have instant chemistry but soon realize Christina is a co-owner of Cam’s team, which prohibits any relationship between them. Charles’ hockey romance alternates between its two main characters’ points of view, offering unique insights into each one’s complex backgrounds, which create as many heartwarming encounters as steamy ones. But the charm of the first novel in her new series is the vivid detail with which Charles immerses readers in the complexity of hockey games and ballroom dancing in a way that effortlessly transports even the most novice of dance or hockey fan into the middle of the action.

[Janna Roznos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set in the vibrant city of Auston Texas, Christina Donavan and Cameron Hill meet in a dance studio. She being a dance instructor and a former retired professional dancer and part owner of the latest NHL expansion team the Texas Tornadoes. And, Cameron the newly signed goalie of the for the new team. Sparks fly on the dance floor between these two, but it's not until they discover that they are on the opposites sides of a labor contract that they must keep their building romance under wraps. They try to 'act natural' but their attraction is just too strong and rumors begin to fly faster than a puck can skid across the ice. This is a great read with two really strong independent characters who, as the reader you know are destined for each other, if they can just work it all out. A steamy, hot romance that definitely will not disapoint.

[Polli.p · Rating 4 out of 5]

Getting up close and personal on the dance floor is nothing new to hockey hunk Cam. But having a young and attractive teacher is a different matter. As Cam trains with Christina, their attraction grows and despite their relationship being forbidden it seeks its natural conclusion.

Full of dancing and hockey. A absolute treat for the sports lover! Delightfully detailed and thoroughly researched, this wonderful story will pirouette you across the dancefloor and drag you into the ice rink as the two MCs face their pasts, presents and their future.

Lovely romance, peppered with spice, nicely paced plot, full of wonderful characters. Great to see endometriosis getting some page space, (feel for you fellow sufferers)!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Brittany · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC in exchange for an honest review

Dances with Pucks was such a refreshing hockey romance. We follow Cam, a goalie for an expansion team and Christina, dance instructor and co-owner of said expansion team. Cam meets Christina at a dance studio when he first gets to Austin. Cam uses ballroom dancing to keep his flexibility up. At first, neither one knows their lives are intertwined beyond dancing. They quickly realize that fighting their attraction may be harder than they think.

This story was refreshing. We don’t always get to see the goalies stories, and if we do- not first in the series. I thoroughly enjoyed the ballroom dancing aspect because it goes to show that athletes may have non conventional hobbies. This book made me laugh and smile so many times! I can’t wait for the next one!

[Lena · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was my first story about Debbie Charles, and honestly, it took me a little while to get into it. I did like Cam and Christina together and individually. Each had their own goals and struggles to get overcome. This aspect of the story made it believable. Some parts of the story dragged on unnecessarily and didn't really add to the plot. It seemed like it talked more about hockey and dancing instead of them really getting to know each other, but I understand it was supposed to be casual. I would've liked more of the latter since the love of hockey and dancing is what connected them. The moments where they had genuine conversations were good though and helped me connect with them more. Overall, I'd recommend this book.

[Stacy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cam and Christina meet when he hires her as a private dance instructor - something he does to stay flexible as a NHL goalie. But he soon finds out she is also a co-owner with her siblings of the new hockey team he plays for. They keep dancing together which is a great cover for keeping their romantic relationship a secret since it could be bad for both of their careers. Family is really important to both of them and they have experienced it in different ways. When their visions of the future seem to clash, can they find a way to forge a new and different path together?

This is the first book in the series - looking forward to more of them! The two main characters in this book are fun and kind and people you would want to know.

I read an Advance Reader Copy of this book.