What do you think?
Rate this book
Taking Shots #4
Confessions of a Former Puck Bunny
Confession #1: I used to be a puck bunny, but after a hockey player broke my heart, I gave up all things hockey. Now I'm just focused on finding a way to pass my math class so I can graduate college.
Confession #2: Ryder "Ox" Maddox's deep, sexy voice sends fuzzy tingles through my entire body, and I'm powerless to stop it. Which is a big problem since the hot, surprisingly funny hockey player is my new math tutor.
Confession #3: I can't stop thinking about how ripped Ryder is from all his hockey training, and how fun it'd be to cross lines with him.
Confession #4: I kissed a hockey player and I liked it.
Confession #5: If I'm not careful, I might relapse and fall for Ryder, and then I'll be totally pucked.
Confession #2: Ryder "Ox" Maddox's deep, sexy voice sends fuzzy tingles through my entire body, and I'm powerless to stop it. Which is a big problem since the hot, surprisingly funny hockey player is my new math tutor.
Confession #3: I can't stop thinking about how ripped Ryder is from all his hockey training, and how fun it'd be to cross lines with him.
Confession #4: I kissed a hockey player and I liked it.
Confession #5: If I'm not careful, I might relapse and fall for Ryder, and then I'll be totally pucked.
ebook
First published May 8, 2017
About the author
Cindi Madsen
54 books2,179 followersCindi Madsen is a USA Today bestselling author of contemporary romance and young adult novels. She sits at her computer every chance she gets, plotting, revising, and falling in love with her characters. She loves music and dancing and wishes summer lasted all year long. She lives in Colorado (where summer is most definitely NOT all year long) with her husband and three children. She and her family also take their Marvel addiction very seriously, as their one-eyed cat, Agent Fury, and their kitty named Valkyrie can attest.
You can visit Cindi at: www.cindimadsen.com, where you can sign up for her newsletter to get all the up-to-date information on her books.
Follow her on Twitter @cindimadsen
Find her on FB: Cindi Madsen Books
See her inspiration pins on Pinterest.
You can visit Cindi at: www.cindimadsen.com, where you can sign up for her newsletter to get all the up-to-date information on her books.
Follow her on Twitter @cindimadsen
Find her on FB: Cindi Madsen Books
See her inspiration pins on Pinterest.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 237 reviews
May 8, 2017
Happy Book Birthday!
Fun, flirty, sexy... a sweet hockey college romance!
“Just slip.” I reached up and ran my thumb across her bottom lip, my blood pumping hotter at her sharp exhale. “I’ll catch you.”
After wasting too much time pursuing hockey players and one in particular who broke her heart, Lindsay Rivera decided to forsake all things hockey and put school first and now all she has to do is pass her Math class to finish college and move to New York to start her dream internship. Easy peasy, right? There’s only one catch, she’s not good at Math and the only available tutor is a sexy as sin hockey player.
Ryder “Ox” Maddox’s plan A is to go to NHL and break more records than his famous NHL father did, his plan B is to become a math teacher, his plan for now is to give his team and teammates his all to help them win the championship tournament and to use his Math knowledge to get the lovely newspaper’s editor to give him a chance. She’s about to graduate, he’s still got two years to before he finishes college, can they find a way to make it work?
“She was one complicated girl, and I liked solving equations that seemed impossible.”
This is my first Cindi Madsen book and hopefully it won’t be the last. I’m going to make a confession of my own, I added this book to my reading list because of its title and the fact that it was set in a college background. I’ve read my fair share of professional hockey romances and enjoyed them very much, but I hadn’t read one where the hero hasn’t reached that level of achievement and I was curious.
I’m happy to say that my curiosity was rewarded with this very cute, fun and flirty new adult read. I loved getting to know both Lindsay and Ryder as individuals and as a couple who had great chemistry and banter.
“Don’t girls love it when the guy picks up the heroine in those novels you read, too?” I scooped her up and tossed her over my shoulder. “Me man, you woman. We go make paintball now.”
Ryder is a big cuddly teddy bear wrapped up in a magnetically charming and sexy package that also includes a smart, hardworking, determined and chivalrous man. Even though she knew mother loved her, Lindsay grew up with some abandonment and self-esteem issued. During her puck bunny phase she sould self-esteem from other people, but after having her heart broken she picked herself up and took on life by the horns. It was fun to read her confessions and perspective in general.
As Lindsay and Ryder decide to take a chance on each other even when their worlds and goals don’t align, their relationship builds in a very enjoyable way. That’s not to say they have smooth sailing along the way.
The writing was solid, the pace flowed nicely and the main characters where fleshed out nicely. I liked having the characters from previous books as an added layer.
Confessions of a Former Puck Bunny is book #4 in the Taking Shots series by Cindi Madsen. It is a standalone sports romance. Told in first person from both points of view and has a happy ending.
Amazon -> http://amzn.to/2p5Oow1
* I was given an ARC of this book courtesy of the author via NetGalley. The excerpts are from that copy. *
More reviews * Stalk us on FaceBook * As well as Twitter * Pinterest Board for Book Teasers
December 18, 2018
3.75-4 stars
The best book in this series and actually The reason why I read this series.
By the way, it can be read as standalone.
I HATE SL*T-SHAMING!
I LOATHE DOUBLE STANDRADS!
I SUPPORT WOMEN!
I like anti-heroines, I like different heroines and I like “bad” girls.
This one wasn’t bad or really anti.
She was a nice person who made some mistakes in the past,
but acknowledged them and wanted to move forward.
I had NO problem that she was sexually experienced.
ZERO problem and NO judgment.
(She was definitely less sl*tty than the h from the 2nd book! I would even say she wasn’t sl*tty at all!!!)
I didn’t quite like how she acted in the past, the whole puck bunny attitude, but I didn’t hate it either.
Our hypocritical society accepts manwhores but judgessl*ts sexually adventurous women.
F*CK IT!
I wish the heroine would stood up for herself and said something like:
“F*ck you all who judge me!
Look in the mirror and start with yourself!
I’m who I’m am, and I’m proud of myself.
So, f*ck off, you pseudo saints!”
Unfortunately, she wasn’t that fierce. It’s a shame!
I wish she were stronger and less self-critical.
I wish she were more confident and reckless.
Maybe also better hiding of boiling hormones?
She said way too often that she was ashamed of her past and she was afraid the hero would judge her and yadda yadda yadda.
She could have told it one time and !enough!, numerous repeats till almost the end of the book weren’t necessary.
I liked the hero. It helped of course that he chased her and she pushed away – me like men chasing women, so sue me!
And there was no OW-drama and no details about his sexual past. I wouldn’t call him a player, I think he was a decent guy.
He f*cked up a bit toward the end, and he made some mistakes, but the boy was only 20. Looking at his young age I would say he was mature and strong for a 20-year-old man!
And he groveled. Girls, do you hear me?
HE GROVELED!
Nice and long, sweet and lovely.
Me like GROVEL :-) Grovel is good! Yes to grovel! -> But only if a man grovels.
(There is no such thing as woman & grovel – non-existent, never ever, just no.)
Cute epilogue, but HFN. I wanted at least a couple of years in the future!
The best book in this series and actually The reason why I read this series.
By the way, it can be read as standalone.
I HATE SL*T-SHAMING!
I LOATHE DOUBLE STANDRADS!
I SUPPORT WOMEN!
I like anti-heroines, I like different heroines and I like “bad” girls.
This one wasn’t bad or really anti.
She was a nice person who made some mistakes in the past,
but acknowledged them and wanted to move forward.
I had NO problem that she was sexually experienced.
ZERO problem and NO judgment.
(She was definitely less sl*tty than the h from the 2nd book! I would even say she wasn’t sl*tty at all!!!)
I didn’t quite like how she acted in the past, the whole puck bunny attitude, but I didn’t hate it either.
Our hypocritical society accepts manwhores but judges
F*CK IT!
I wish the heroine would stood up for herself and said something like:
“F*ck you all who judge me!
Look in the mirror and start with yourself!
I’m who I’m am, and I’m proud of myself.
So, f*ck off, you pseudo saints!”
Unfortunately, she wasn’t that fierce. It’s a shame!
I wish she were stronger and less self-critical.
I wish she were more confident and reckless.
She said way too often that she was ashamed of her past and she was afraid the hero would judge her and yadda yadda yadda.
She could have told it one time and !enough!, numerous repeats till almost the end of the book weren’t necessary.
I liked the hero. It helped of course that he chased her and she pushed away – me like men chasing women, so sue me!
And there was no OW-drama and no details about his sexual past. I wouldn’t call him a player, I think he was a decent guy.
He f*cked up a bit toward the end, and he made some mistakes, but the boy was only 20. Looking at his young age I would say he was mature and strong for a 20-year-old man!
And he groveled. Girls, do you hear me?
HE GROVELED!
Nice and long, sweet and lovely.
Me like GROVEL :-) Grovel is good! Yes to grovel! -> But only if a man grovels.
(There is no such thing as woman & grovel – non-existent, never ever, just no.)
Cute epilogue, but HFN. I wanted at least a couple of years in the future!
The moral of the story is that everyone deserves a special someone who overlooks their past and their flaws and loves them anyway. That’s the true definition of happily ever after.
May 7, 2017
3.5 Math made Terrific! Stars
* * * 1/2 Spoiler Free
This is a strong entry to the Taking Shots series. We have a young woman who has taken a good look at her life and decide she is making an about face in her behavior. In the past she was a PUCK BUNNY... and now she stays as far away from any Hockey Player as she can.
She is getting ready to graduate and start a hard earned internship in NYC with a newspaper. Only one last class to finish...but trouble is.... her math grades suck... and any tutor she tries to use all talk Math like it is a foreign language...like gobbledygook.....
Naturally, the only person who makes Math make sense is Ryder "Ox" Maddox, College Hockey Player. He is into her. She is fighting her attraction. Let the games begin...
Oh, this ought to be fun, let's see how this plays out.
A gifted copy was provided by author/publisher NetGalley via for an honest review.
For more Reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways
* * * 1/2 Spoiler Free
This is a strong entry to the Taking Shots series. We have a young woman who has taken a good look at her life and decide she is making an about face in her behavior. In the past she was a PUCK BUNNY... and now she stays as far away from any Hockey Player as she can.
She is getting ready to graduate and start a hard earned internship in NYC with a newspaper. Only one last class to finish...but trouble is.... her math grades suck... and any tutor she tries to use all talk Math like it is a foreign language...like gobbledygook.....
Naturally, the only person who makes Math make sense is Ryder "Ox" Maddox, College Hockey Player. He is into her. She is fighting her attraction. Let the games begin...
Oh, this ought to be fun, let's see how this plays out.
A gifted copy was provided by author/publisher NetGalley via for an honest review.
For more Reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways
May 13, 2017
3.5 Bye Bye Bunny Stars
“I’m not afraid of you, Lindsay Rivera. And I don’t give a damn who you used to be—just in case you were worried.”
Lindsay Rivera’s come a long way since her puck bunny days. The college girl who once made aggressive flirting with anything in hockey pads a competitive sport has since been replaced with a studious, hardworking college senior who’s long since given up the college party scene.
And hockey players?
No more hockey players for this lady. Editing her college paper and pursuing her career dreams are going to have to do for now.
Ryder “Ox” Maddox, sophomore starting defenseman and hottie extraordinaire, fell for Lindsay the second he laid eyes on her. Sure there are some minor issues, like the fact she once thought she was in love with his roommate, not to mention her unwavering anti-hockey player declaration, but Ryder didn’t get anywhere in life by giving up. Time to show Lindsay what she’s been missing.
“If things were different…I could really see myself slipping.”
“Just slip.” I reached up and ran my thumb across her bottom lip, my blood pumping hotter at her sharp exhale. “I’ll catch you.”
I went into Confessions of a Former Buck Bunny expecting a fun hockey romance and for the most part that’s just what I got. Lindsay and Ryder’s push and pull, back and forth was a given but the character reactions to the drama life threw at their relationship was a little unexpected.
Lindsay broke the norm of whiney NA female characters (thank gawd!) and managed to endear herself to me by the way she chose to handle her life. Growing up, she knew she wanted to be nothing like her mother who flitted from rich man to rich man with the hopes of finally catching one. When she realized her puck bunny ways were emulating her mother’s way of life a little too close for comfort, she buckled down, got serious and realized she needed to be the one to make her dreams a reality, not rely on any man to make her happy. Hell yes to that! I loved the fact that she had the self-realization at that point in her life to take responsibility for her choices and make her own way.
On the other hand, I enjoyed Ryder’s character but he didn’t exactly wow me. He pursued the hell out of Lindsay but when faced with parental and hockey outside pressures, was never quite sure what to do with her once he got her. I know that realistically this dude’s only twenty and should probably be given some slack, but this is fiction we’re talking about and I never really felt like Ryder actually cared enough about Lindsay to be the man she needed in the long run.
Confessions of a Former Puck Bunny is part of a series but can be read as a standalone. I should mention I felt at times like I was missing out on part of the story because I haven’t read the other books in the series (mainly Hudson’s book) but it didn’t really detract from my overall enjoyment.
ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
“I’m not afraid of you, Lindsay Rivera. And I don’t give a damn who you used to be—just in case you were worried.”
Lindsay Rivera’s come a long way since her puck bunny days. The college girl who once made aggressive flirting with anything in hockey pads a competitive sport has since been replaced with a studious, hardworking college senior who’s long since given up the college party scene.
And hockey players?
No more hockey players for this lady. Editing her college paper and pursuing her career dreams are going to have to do for now.
Ryder “Ox” Maddox, sophomore starting defenseman and hottie extraordinaire, fell for Lindsay the second he laid eyes on her. Sure there are some minor issues, like the fact she once thought she was in love with his roommate, not to mention her unwavering anti-hockey player declaration, but Ryder didn’t get anywhere in life by giving up. Time to show Lindsay what she’s been missing.
“If things were different…I could really see myself slipping.”
“Just slip.” I reached up and ran my thumb across her bottom lip, my blood pumping hotter at her sharp exhale. “I’ll catch you.”
I went into Confessions of a Former Buck Bunny expecting a fun hockey romance and for the most part that’s just what I got. Lindsay and Ryder’s push and pull, back and forth was a given but the character reactions to the drama life threw at their relationship was a little unexpected.
Lindsay broke the norm of whiney NA female characters (thank gawd!) and managed to endear herself to me by the way she chose to handle her life. Growing up, she knew she wanted to be nothing like her mother who flitted from rich man to rich man with the hopes of finally catching one. When she realized her puck bunny ways were emulating her mother’s way of life a little too close for comfort, she buckled down, got serious and realized she needed to be the one to make her dreams a reality, not rely on any man to make her happy. Hell yes to that! I loved the fact that she had the self-realization at that point in her life to take responsibility for her choices and make her own way.
On the other hand, I enjoyed Ryder’s character but he didn’t exactly wow me. He pursued the hell out of Lindsay but when faced with parental and hockey outside pressures, was never quite sure what to do with her once he got her. I know that realistically this dude’s only twenty and should probably be given some slack, but this is fiction we’re talking about and I never really felt like Ryder actually cared enough about Lindsay to be the man she needed in the long run.
Confessions of a Former Puck Bunny is part of a series but can be read as a standalone. I should mention I felt at times like I was missing out on part of the story because I haven’t read the other books in the series (mainly Hudson’s book) but it didn’t really detract from my overall enjoyment.
ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
May 5, 2017
3.5 Jock/Tutor trope with a twist :) stars
ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Imagine your celebrity crush, be it Theo James, Jesse Williams, or one of those smoking hot Hemsworth brothers. Now say you meet them in real life and they actually hit on you. That's the insane, tempting level of attraction i found myself trying to resist, and prolonged exposure would be setting myself up for failure
Now, I debated giving this book more, because it probably deserves it, but based on my personal enjoyment only, I had to lower it to three and a half stars.
Now, on paper, this book is everything I want in a NA sports romance. We have a bit of initial push-and-pull, nothing too angsty, a hot hockey player with a possessive streak, an heroine with an interesting past and really good writing. Check, check and double check.
[Ryder, when a guy bothers Lindsay]"You're sorry? He was the one being a prick. I swear if he touches you again, I'll break his fingers one by one -- I don't even care if he misses the rest of the season. He's not as important to the team as he thinks"
and again
"If you cry, I'm going to go back there and beat the shit out of him. That's just a fact."
So why didn't it work for me 100%?
1- It was too predictable. Sometimes I enjoy predictable books, sometimes I find them bland. Now, in romance, you usually know how everything's going to end. Yet, I'm getting more and more frustrated by the standard plot arc consisting of:
- one small bump in the relationship, easily solved
- a bigger bump around the middle, less easily solved
- a happy stretch until the three quarters of it
- worst bump caused by a misunderstanding or by a MC's stupidity
- separation
- big gesture
- HEA
Having read my fair share of romance novels and finding this same pattern so many times over, I've come to expect it, so when the shit hits the fan I'm like: "yeah, whatever. I called it twenty pages ago".
2- The overall emotional charge of the story. It's not that I didn't eventually swoon for Ryder or rooted for them, and I enjoyed their scenes together, but especially in the first third of the book my heartbeat didn't accelerate upon seeing his name on the paper or having them talk to each other. It took me a while to warm up to them and I never saw the fireworks.
3- It was hard sometimes to understand Lindsay's situation. I couldn't truly relate to her Superman-kryptonite relationship with hockey players. But maybe I'm too rational.
All in all, these are not mortal sins, so I'd still recommend this book. I guess it was a case of "it's me, not you". I wasn't hooked.
Now to the good part.
What did I enjoy?
1- How the author added some funny scenes like the gym and paintball ones. It was different and it was fresh.
2- Ryder. He's such a sweetheart. What I loved the most about him was how he chased Lindsay throughout the book, how he was the first one to see them long-term, how he always believed in how amazing they'd be together. Also, he destroys the dumb-jock stereotype, graduating in math as a back up plan if hockey falls through.
"You're doing the intense thing again," Lindsay whispered.
"This is my preparing-to-math-so-hard face."
"When I tried to say never mind earlier, you didn't let me get away with it."
"Yeah, but I'm bigger than you."
I crossed my arms. "And I'm scarier."
Ryder studied me for several seconds, as if sizing me up for scariness, so I put on the best stand face I could, which only made him laugh. "That's it," I said. "You and me. Thumb wrestle, right now."
The way he'd do anything for her warmed my heart. Hockey is his life, and yet when the guys want to go out to watch some game tapes and Lindsay doesn't seem like she wants to tag along, he's ready to drop his bros and just stay with her. Also, in the epilogue I fell for him even more because of how he again put her in front of everything else.
3- Ryder's parents. It's a guilty pleasure of mine and one of the distinguishing traits of NA: awful parents. The author tried to shine a beam of humanity on them, or at least on Ryder's mother, a couple times, but it didn't really work and they both come through as seriously horrible people. Still, this is the kind of external force I adore to see in a relationship, for how surreal as it is. And I especially love to see the H stand up to his parents to defend the h.
4- How this book tried to not be judgmental. Since it's told in 1st person, sometimes Lindsay thinks back to her life as a puck bunny and I liked how she gives you the insight in that world. It was clear she was trying not to judge other puck bunnies, which at times seemed forced, but it also made for an interesting POV, because she's human and now that she's crossed the line from Bunny to Normal Studious Girl she's conflicted about her two personas.
We wanted to be noticed even if we weren't flashing cleavage and a lot of leg. The problem was that guys noticed cleavage and legs, and they sure as hell noticed someone willing to pressed said assets up against them while having an "innocent" conversation. When you decide to be one of the girls in the mix not doing those things, it's about a hundred times harder to snag guys' attention.
All in all, the style was humorous and fun, the characters were good, although without anything "more" to make them exceptional and the plot was predictable but enjoyable. With a few more twists and a bit more depth into their relationship, it would have easily been a 4 stars. As I said, I'd totally recommend it. Just because it didn't rock my boat doesn't mean it won't rock anybody else's!
"And if you want, I'll make sure you're on my team, and I'll cover you at all costs."
"Like you'll take a bullet for me?" She fanned her face with her hand. "Swoon."
"Don't girls love it when the guy picks up the heroine in those novels you read, too?" I scooped her up and tossed her over my shoulder. "Me man, you woman. We go make paintball now."
ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Imagine your celebrity crush, be it Theo James, Jesse Williams, or one of those smoking hot Hemsworth brothers. Now say you meet them in real life and they actually hit on you. That's the insane, tempting level of attraction i found myself trying to resist, and prolonged exposure would be setting myself up for failure
Now, I debated giving this book more, because it probably deserves it, but based on my personal enjoyment only, I had to lower it to three and a half stars.
Now, on paper, this book is everything I want in a NA sports romance. We have a bit of initial push-and-pull, nothing too angsty, a hot hockey player with a possessive streak, an heroine with an interesting past and really good writing. Check, check and double check.
[Ryder, when a guy bothers Lindsay]"You're sorry? He was the one being a prick. I swear if he touches you again, I'll break his fingers one by one -- I don't even care if he misses the rest of the season. He's not as important to the team as he thinks"
and again
"If you cry, I'm going to go back there and beat the shit out of him. That's just a fact."
So why didn't it work for me 100%?
1- It was too predictable. Sometimes I enjoy predictable books, sometimes I find them bland. Now, in romance, you usually know how everything's going to end. Yet, I'm getting more and more frustrated by the standard plot arc consisting of:
- one small bump in the relationship, easily solved
- a bigger bump around the middle, less easily solved
- a happy stretch until the three quarters of it
- worst bump caused by a misunderstanding or by a MC's stupidity
- separation
- big gesture
- HEA
Having read my fair share of romance novels and finding this same pattern so many times over, I've come to expect it, so when the shit hits the fan I'm like: "yeah, whatever. I called it twenty pages ago".
2- The overall emotional charge of the story. It's not that I didn't eventually swoon for Ryder or rooted for them, and I enjoyed their scenes together, but especially in the first third of the book my heartbeat didn't accelerate upon seeing his name on the paper or having them talk to each other. It took me a while to warm up to them and I never saw the fireworks.
3- It was hard sometimes to understand Lindsay's situation. I couldn't truly relate to her Superman-kryptonite relationship with hockey players. But maybe I'm too rational.
All in all, these are not mortal sins, so I'd still recommend this book. I guess it was a case of "it's me, not you". I wasn't hooked.
Now to the good part.
What did I enjoy?
1- How the author added some funny scenes like the gym and paintball ones. It was different and it was fresh.
2- Ryder. He's such a sweetheart. What I loved the most about him was how he chased Lindsay throughout the book, how he was the first one to see them long-term, how he always believed in how amazing they'd be together. Also, he destroys the dumb-jock stereotype, graduating in math as a back up plan if hockey falls through.
"You're doing the intense thing again," Lindsay whispered.
"This is my preparing-to-math-so-hard face."
"When I tried to say never mind earlier, you didn't let me get away with it."
"Yeah, but I'm bigger than you."
I crossed my arms. "And I'm scarier."
Ryder studied me for several seconds, as if sizing me up for scariness, so I put on the best stand face I could, which only made him laugh. "That's it," I said. "You and me. Thumb wrestle, right now."
The way he'd do anything for her warmed my heart. Hockey is his life, and yet when the guys want to go out to watch some game tapes and Lindsay doesn't seem like she wants to tag along, he's ready to drop his bros and just stay with her. Also, in the epilogue I fell for him even more because of how he again put her in front of everything else.
3- Ryder's parents. It's a guilty pleasure of mine and one of the distinguishing traits of NA: awful parents. The author tried to shine a beam of humanity on them, or at least on Ryder's mother, a couple times, but it didn't really work and they both come through as seriously horrible people. Still, this is the kind of external force I adore to see in a relationship, for how surreal as it is. And I especially love to see the H stand up to his parents to defend the h.
4- How this book tried to not be judgmental. Since it's told in 1st person, sometimes Lindsay thinks back to her life as a puck bunny and I liked how she gives you the insight in that world. It was clear she was trying not to judge other puck bunnies, which at times seemed forced, but it also made for an interesting POV, because she's human and now that she's crossed the line from Bunny to Normal Studious Girl she's conflicted about her two personas.
We wanted to be noticed even if we weren't flashing cleavage and a lot of leg. The problem was that guys noticed cleavage and legs, and they sure as hell noticed someone willing to pressed said assets up against them while having an "innocent" conversation. When you decide to be one of the girls in the mix not doing those things, it's about a hundred times harder to snag guys' attention.
All in all, the style was humorous and fun, the characters were good, although without anything "more" to make them exceptional and the plot was predictable but enjoyable. With a few more twists and a bit more depth into their relationship, it would have easily been a 4 stars. As I said, I'd totally recommend it. Just because it didn't rock my boat doesn't mean it won't rock anybody else's!
"And if you want, I'll make sure you're on my team, and I'll cover you at all costs."
"Like you'll take a bullet for me?" She fanned her face with her hand. "Swoon."
"Don't girls love it when the guy picks up the heroine in those novels you read, too?" I scooped her up and tossed her over my shoulder. "Me man, you woman. We go make paintball now."
May 8, 2017
This was my first read from Cindi Madsen, and it won't be my last!
Confessions of a former puck bunny, was a fun hockey romance with characters that were fun and easy to like! Lindsay is a girl who spent most of her first years of college worried about guys, and hockey playing guys to be more specific. Needless to say life as a puck bunny didn't go well for her, and now she considers herself a "former puck bunny." She's doing whatever she can to avoid the draw she has toward hockey players! She's the editor of the school paper, and since she's avoiding fun and guys, that's what she is focused on. Unfortunately, as good as she is in English she isn't very good at Math. So she needs a tutor
Enter Ryder, starting defenseman on the hockey team at her school, and surprising math whiz. Ryder has had a little bit of a crush on Lindsay since he first laid eyes on her. The more he persists in pursuing her, the less interested she acts. Of course he doesn't know all the details of her puck bunny past. When she reluctantly gets tutoring help from him and they click... it's all down hill from there. Well until they hit a few bumps, and a couple of tiny rocks, and maybe even a few holes in the hill. Ok so they don't have it easy, but easy is boring.
Lindsay and Ryder have to open up to each other, go outside of their comfort zones, and learn to be the half of another person. Reading about their journey is fun!
This is book four of the Taking Shots, standalone series. You spend some time with the couples that were in the first three books, but nothing about their storyline is given away in this except who they end up with. I don't think you need to read the others to enjoy this one, but it'd probably help you better understand when those characters pop up! The naughty bits are pretty tame so if you're looking for super smut, this isn't it. It's more about the actual romance of the couple! I'd consider this a moderate angst new adult romance. If you like those, read this book!
May 16, 2017
HOCKEY ROMANCE. Seriously, need I say more?
Lindsay Rivera is no stranger to hockey players. In fact, she spent the beginning of her college career hanging all over them. When she meets her first heartbreak, though, Lindsay realizes she doesn't want to be anything like her mom and depend on men her whole life. Instead, Lindsay has decided to swear off hockey, including hockey players, and focus on graduating, editing the college newspaper, and finding a career she will love after college. But when a math class threatens her ability to graduate, Lindsay knows she has to find help. To her dismay, that help lies within a very hot, very off limits hockey player. Ryder Maddox wants Lindsay from the moment he sees her and has no idea why she hates hockey players so much. Ryder isn't one to back down from a challenge, though, and is determined to show Lindsay that this hockey player is here to stay.
Ummm, can Ryder just be a real person? And fall madly in love with me? Because I fell madly in love with him. While I didn't read any of the other books in the series, I had no problem diving into this book and loved how sweet and determined Ryder was. And can we talk about how amazing he was at hockey? While we didn't get that much hockey in the beginning of the novel (since Lindsay was dead set on staying away from him), we got tons near the end and I was loving every minute of the action.
Now that I've read this book, I definitely want to read the previous books in this series to see the couples that showed up in this story. I loved the support system Ryder had and how Lindsay fell in love with them too. And let's not forget about that chemistry! I loved the chemistry between Ryder and Lindsay and how hard Lindsay tried to resist him. While there were some slower moments, I loved the romance and the hockey this book delivered.
If you can't tell, this was an awesome hockey romance that I just gobbled up. It was fun to see someone like Lindsay who had changed so much and wasn't throwing herself at the hot hockey player who showed her interest. Um, is she crazy? If you want an addicting sports romance with a sweet, irresistible love interest, you have to pick this up!
Lindsay Rivera is no stranger to hockey players. In fact, she spent the beginning of her college career hanging all over them. When she meets her first heartbreak, though, Lindsay realizes she doesn't want to be anything like her mom and depend on men her whole life. Instead, Lindsay has decided to swear off hockey, including hockey players, and focus on graduating, editing the college newspaper, and finding a career she will love after college. But when a math class threatens her ability to graduate, Lindsay knows she has to find help. To her dismay, that help lies within a very hot, very off limits hockey player. Ryder Maddox wants Lindsay from the moment he sees her and has no idea why she hates hockey players so much. Ryder isn't one to back down from a challenge, though, and is determined to show Lindsay that this hockey player is here to stay.
Ummm, can Ryder just be a real person? And fall madly in love with me? Because I fell madly in love with him. While I didn't read any of the other books in the series, I had no problem diving into this book and loved how sweet and determined Ryder was. And can we talk about how amazing he was at hockey? While we didn't get that much hockey in the beginning of the novel (since Lindsay was dead set on staying away from him), we got tons near the end and I was loving every minute of the action.
Now that I've read this book, I definitely want to read the previous books in this series to see the couples that showed up in this story. I loved the support system Ryder had and how Lindsay fell in love with them too. And let's not forget about that chemistry! I loved the chemistry between Ryder and Lindsay and how hard Lindsay tried to resist him. While there were some slower moments, I loved the romance and the hockey this book delivered.
If you can't tell, this was an awesome hockey romance that I just gobbled up. It was fun to see someone like Lindsay who had changed so much and wasn't throwing herself at the hot hockey player who showed her interest. Um, is she crazy? If you want an addicting sports romance with a sweet, irresistible love interest, you have to pick this up!
May 18, 2017
This is my first time reading Cindi Madsen and I found this book to be overall pretty cute. Maybe a little predictable with the drama at the end, but it has a good guy hero which always makes me smile. This read pretty good as a stand alone although I did feel like I missed out on some supporting character development.
Lindsay is almost ready to graduate college and go out to the real world to try her hand at editing. She is going to start in the newspaper business but hopes to become a book editor one day. To graduate, she must pass her math class and it's giving her a lot of trouble. She decides to go to the school tutoring center, and she runs into the one guy she has been drooling over, and avoiding for some time.
Confession #2: Ryder Maddox's deep, sexy voice sends fuzzy tingles through my entire body, and I'm powerless to stop it.
This guy, Ryder, is a star hockey player for the college team and she has sworn off hockey, and hockey players for almost a year now. Lindsay grew up with a mom who relied on men for financial and emotional support. Going from one guy to another, their family life was never stable and Lindsay swore she would never turn into her mother. But when she started college, she found herself drawn into the hockey world..and the hockey men. She became a "puck bunny" fighting for the players attention and becoming very competitive with the other girls that were hanging around. After a year or two of this, Lindsay decides enough is enough, and quits cold turkey with everything to do with hockey. But now she has the hots for Ryder.
Ryder was handed a hockey stick when he learned to walk, as his dad was a NHL player and now wants his son to be a star. His parents marriage is a farce, and his father is never proud of him - always there with a critique on how he can play better. But despite all of that, Ryder turned out to be a decent, good guy. He is very attracted to Lindsay, and when he confronts her in the tutoring center, she admits she needs help with math and he admits he is very good with math - so he starts to tutor her. Lindsay is somewhat standoffish, as she is terrified of going back to shaming herself with begging for male attention in the hockey world. But as she gets to know Ryder, her feelings deepen for him and her trust of him grows into love.
While Lindsay can be a bit prickly in this book, I enjoyed her journey from scared to death to even talk to Ryder, to truly becoming his friend. The romance isn't rushed in this one. Decent sexual tension leads to a solid foundation for a friendship before they attempt romance. Lindsay has no problem hanging out with Ryder, it's going back around his teammates and the other women that she finds intimidating. Knowing she slept with some of the guys, and got in fights with some of the girls, it takes a while for her to gain the confidence to be around them. Ryder is made aware of her past and just keeps it all in the past, which I liked. Lindsay realizes the women she now hangs around with at the games, truly want to get to know her and be her friend, which is nice to see.
As I said, this is a bit predictable as Ryder's rotten dad, causes rotten trouble at the end, which you can see coming. This causes a fight, and a break up and eventually a reconciliation and the HEA. I wish there had been less drama at the end, and more quality page time with Ryder and Lindsay together. But overall a cute, new adult read.
Grade: B
Lindsay is almost ready to graduate college and go out to the real world to try her hand at editing. She is going to start in the newspaper business but hopes to become a book editor one day. To graduate, she must pass her math class and it's giving her a lot of trouble. She decides to go to the school tutoring center, and she runs into the one guy she has been drooling over, and avoiding for some time.
Confession #2: Ryder Maddox's deep, sexy voice sends fuzzy tingles through my entire body, and I'm powerless to stop it.
This guy, Ryder, is a star hockey player for the college team and she has sworn off hockey, and hockey players for almost a year now. Lindsay grew up with a mom who relied on men for financial and emotional support. Going from one guy to another, their family life was never stable and Lindsay swore she would never turn into her mother. But when she started college, she found herself drawn into the hockey world..and the hockey men. She became a "puck bunny" fighting for the players attention and becoming very competitive with the other girls that were hanging around. After a year or two of this, Lindsay decides enough is enough, and quits cold turkey with everything to do with hockey. But now she has the hots for Ryder.
Ryder was handed a hockey stick when he learned to walk, as his dad was a NHL player and now wants his son to be a star. His parents marriage is a farce, and his father is never proud of him - always there with a critique on how he can play better. But despite all of that, Ryder turned out to be a decent, good guy. He is very attracted to Lindsay, and when he confronts her in the tutoring center, she admits she needs help with math and he admits he is very good with math - so he starts to tutor her. Lindsay is somewhat standoffish, as she is terrified of going back to shaming herself with begging for male attention in the hockey world. But as she gets to know Ryder, her feelings deepen for him and her trust of him grows into love.
While Lindsay can be a bit prickly in this book, I enjoyed her journey from scared to death to even talk to Ryder, to truly becoming his friend. The romance isn't rushed in this one. Decent sexual tension leads to a solid foundation for a friendship before they attempt romance. Lindsay has no problem hanging out with Ryder, it's going back around his teammates and the other women that she finds intimidating. Knowing she slept with some of the guys, and got in fights with some of the girls, it takes a while for her to gain the confidence to be around them. Ryder is made aware of her past and just keeps it all in the past, which I liked. Lindsay realizes the women she now hangs around with at the games, truly want to get to know her and be her friend, which is nice to see.
As I said, this is a bit predictable as Ryder's rotten dad, causes rotten trouble at the end, which you can see coming. This causes a fight, and a break up and eventually a reconciliation and the HEA. I wish there had been less drama at the end, and more quality page time with Ryder and Lindsay together. But overall a cute, new adult read.
Grade: B
June 13, 2017
I absolutely love this series! Definitely one of my favorite hockey series right now. It has those awesome feels. It always reminds me of Elle Kennedy’s Off Campus book, which are also fantastic. Anyway, this is Linday and Ryder's book, if you read Anatomy of a Player, you’ve met Lindsay and you probably wanted to know what’s her story (I know I did!). Lindsay Rivera has left her past puck bunny days behind and has turned around her life. She now concentrates on her studies and graduating.
Enter Ryder “Ox” Maddox! Talk about swoony! We’ve also met Ox in the previous books so I have been looking forward to his book as well. He’s a sophomore and a defenseman for the hockey team. He was mesmerized by Lindsay since the moment he saw her and nothing was going to stop him from going for what he wanted.
“I’m not afraid of you, Lindsay Rivera. And I don’t give a damn who you used to be—just in case you were worried.”
I loved them both. I think Lindsay was cool and strong and an overall great heroine. And Ox, well I loved the heck out of him like all the other previous heroes in this series. I totally wish these hockey boys were real (and that I was 15 years younger, lol).
There’s some minor drama and some complications of course. Lindsay is older than Ox. Also, if you’ve read Anatomy you kinda know some of Lindsay’s um past history with Ox’s teammate. And some other underlying family drama that overall will keep you interested till the end.
Like I said, this is one series I absolutely adore and this one absolutely didn’t disappoint. If you’re looking for a cute, light fun summer read, I absolutely recommend!
**An ARC was generously provided by Entangled Publishing in exchange for an honest review**
JOIN THE SISTERHOOD! FIND US ON: FACEBOOK / INSTAGRAM / TWITTER / BLOG
Enter Ryder “Ox” Maddox! Talk about swoony! We’ve also met Ox in the previous books so I have been looking forward to his book as well. He’s a sophomore and a defenseman for the hockey team. He was mesmerized by Lindsay since the moment he saw her and nothing was going to stop him from going for what he wanted.
“I’m not afraid of you, Lindsay Rivera. And I don’t give a damn who you used to be—just in case you were worried.”
I loved them both. I think Lindsay was cool and strong and an overall great heroine. And Ox, well I loved the heck out of him like all the other previous heroes in this series. I totally wish these hockey boys were real (and that I was 15 years younger, lol).
There’s some minor drama and some complications of course. Lindsay is older than Ox. Also, if you’ve read Anatomy you kinda know some of Lindsay’s um past history with Ox’s teammate. And some other underlying family drama that overall will keep you interested till the end.
Like I said, this is one series I absolutely adore and this one absolutely didn’t disappoint. If you’re looking for a cute, light fun summer read, I absolutely recommend!
**An ARC was generously provided by Entangled Publishing in exchange for an honest review**
JOIN THE SISTERHOOD! FIND US ON: FACEBOOK / INSTAGRAM / TWITTER / BLOG
April 26, 2017
I had to get this book partly based off of the title but also because I really enjoyed the other books in this series.
So the very beginning of this book has me all smiles. Lindsay's has sworn off the Hockey men and is focusing on her schooling, Ryder has other ideas and he was relentless in his pursuit of Lindsay.
I think so far this is my fav of the series. The books have both POV's so we really get to see what each other is thinking. These two are so effing cute, there's a little bit of resistance on Lindsay's part but seriously how can one resist Ryder and his charms. Not only is he hot, he's focused, he's smart. Not your dumb stereotypical jock.
The gestures that Ryder makes towards Lindsay are SWOON worthy !!! These two manage to build a a bit of a friendship and eventually that friendship grows. I love the banter back and forth between them both and this book had me constantly smiling.
Both of them coming from completely opposite sides of the track but both have issues that are so closely similar. At one point in this book I thought my heart was going to drop but thankfully Cindi Madsen comes out with a gesture so sweet that my heart swelled.
I am actually going to quote one of the lines in this book because the it is just sooo fitting to not only how I feel about books in general but how I felt about this book.
This book made me gush, made my heart swell and made me smile from ear to ear.
A fantastic hockey romance that will leave you buzzing.
So the very beginning of this book has me all smiles. Lindsay's has sworn off the Hockey men and is focusing on her schooling, Ryder has other ideas and he was relentless in his pursuit of Lindsay.
I think so far this is my fav of the series. The books have both POV's so we really get to see what each other is thinking. These two are so effing cute, there's a little bit of resistance on Lindsay's part but seriously how can one resist Ryder and his charms. Not only is he hot, he's focused, he's smart. Not your dumb stereotypical jock.
The gestures that Ryder makes towards Lindsay are SWOON worthy !!! These two manage to build a a bit of a friendship and eventually that friendship grows. I love the banter back and forth between them both and this book had me constantly smiling.
Both of them coming from completely opposite sides of the track but both have issues that are so closely similar. At one point in this book I thought my heart was going to drop but thankfully Cindi Madsen comes out with a gesture so sweet that my heart swelled.
I am actually going to quote one of the lines in this book because the it is just sooo fitting to not only how I feel about books in general but how I felt about this book.
The characters inside the pages didn't judge me, the endings were almost always happy, and if they weren't, they left my heart ripped out in a way I craved to repeat, as illogical as that was.
This book made me gush, made my heart swell and made me smile from ear to ear.
A fantastic hockey romance that will leave you buzzing.
May 18, 2017
ARC provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review
Sweet, endearing, and fun!!! Confessions of a Former Puck Bunny b Cindi Madsen was your feel good book that made you laugh, smile, and swoon. I really enjoyed the story line of this book as it explores a young woman finding her way and carving out her future as she embarks to life after college.
Lindsey Rivera is a former puck bunny, who decided that she didn’t want to be just like her mother. And so when she was set on her goals to study and finish college while avoiding hockey players, she never intended that a rising hockey player who is two years younger might be the new game changer. Ryder Maddox likes Lindsey a lot. In fact, he likes her so much that he wants to show her that she isn’t just a puck bunny to him but someone that he actually cares for. So will this former puck bunny discover that Ryder is worth taking a shot?
Like I said earlier, this book was fun and cute!!! Readers would instantly like Lindsey as you can see the growth and maturity of her choices as she tries to get her life on track. So if you are looking for a sweet read that was fast paced and satisfying then I suggest you give this book a shot!
Cindi Madsen
Sweet, endearing, and fun!!! Confessions of a Former Puck Bunny b Cindi Madsen was your feel good book that made you laugh, smile, and swoon. I really enjoyed the story line of this book as it explores a young woman finding her way and carving out her future as she embarks to life after college.
Lindsey Rivera is a former puck bunny, who decided that she didn’t want to be just like her mother. And so when she was set on her goals to study and finish college while avoiding hockey players, she never intended that a rising hockey player who is two years younger might be the new game changer. Ryder Maddox likes Lindsey a lot. In fact, he likes her so much that he wants to show her that she isn’t just a puck bunny to him but someone that he actually cares for. So will this former puck bunny discover that Ryder is worth taking a shot?
Like I said earlier, this book was fun and cute!!! Readers would instantly like Lindsey as you can see the growth and maturity of her choices as she tries to get her life on track. So if you are looking for a sweet read that was fast paced and satisfying then I suggest you give this book a shot!
Cindi Madsen
April 30, 2017
3.5 stars
If you haven't follow me or our blog for long, you might not know of my prior life as a puck bunny. Now, before you freak out about that revelation, let me be clear that my puck bunny life, follows the innocent definition of the term, a woman who enjoys hockey and finds the players attractive. I haven't been close enough other than a posed picture or two, so no grand stories to tell.
This book follows the more blunt definition of the term:
A female ice hockey fan whose interest in the sport is primarily motivated by sexual attraction to the players rather than enjoyment of the game itself.
I've heard plenty of stories of these puck bunnies, particularly in the Canadian junior leagues. And for the most part, these women are looked down on by anyone outside the sport. Basically considered slutty. So this story was of interest because a woman, Lindsay Rivera, learned from her mistakes and wanted to move on, far far away from the sport and its players. Only problem was, that one, Ryder Maddox, wouldn't leave her alone.
This guy is persistent, that's for sure. Lindsay turns him away time and time again. However, desperation required her to reach out to him, or potentially fail her math class. So Ryder became her tutor. This was pretty shocking to me, as from my knowledge of hockey players at my college, they do everything they can to not actually study. Sure there are exceptions, and I guess Ryder was one. And for the purposes of this book, it gave him the desired opportunity to spend more time with this woman he couldn't get out of his head.
There were some interesting complications to this story:
Lindsay is actually two years older than Ryder and about to graduate.
Lindsay has slept with some of Ryder's teammates.
Lindsay's mom is a well-known gold digger.
Ryder's dad is a former NHL player, all too familiar with puck bunnies.
While Lindsay fights her own attraction to Ryder, for some of the reasons listed above, he does eventually wear her down. I liked the connection between the two of them and felt the progression of their relationship worked well for the story.
"If things were different . . . I could really see myself slipping."
"Just slip." I reached up and ran my thumb across her bottom lip, my blood pumping hotter at her sharp exhale. "I'll catch you."
Can a player with impossibly high expectations put on him by his parents ever find happiness with a girl like Lindsay?
Can Lindsay outrun her past and make a go with a player that makes her willing to give up her heart once again?
Without spoiling things, it is a rocky road, but the path to happiness comes with time and a little begging.
I was totally and utterly pucked.
This was a sweet story and I thought the author did a good job covering the sport at the college level. As this was the fourth book in the series, but my first read from this author, I'll definitely look into the other books in the series, which feature the couples featured within this story.
*An ARC was received for an honest review.
For more reviews, visit
If you haven't follow me or our blog for long, you might not know of my prior life as a puck bunny. Now, before you freak out about that revelation, let me be clear that my puck bunny life, follows the innocent definition of the term, a woman who enjoys hockey and finds the players attractive. I haven't been close enough other than a posed picture or two, so no grand stories to tell.
This book follows the more blunt definition of the term:
A female ice hockey fan whose interest in the sport is primarily motivated by sexual attraction to the players rather than enjoyment of the game itself.
I've heard plenty of stories of these puck bunnies, particularly in the Canadian junior leagues. And for the most part, these women are looked down on by anyone outside the sport. Basically considered slutty. So this story was of interest because a woman, Lindsay Rivera, learned from her mistakes and wanted to move on, far far away from the sport and its players. Only problem was, that one, Ryder Maddox, wouldn't leave her alone.
This guy is persistent, that's for sure. Lindsay turns him away time and time again. However, desperation required her to reach out to him, or potentially fail her math class. So Ryder became her tutor. This was pretty shocking to me, as from my knowledge of hockey players at my college, they do everything they can to not actually study. Sure there are exceptions, and I guess Ryder was one. And for the purposes of this book, it gave him the desired opportunity to spend more time with this woman he couldn't get out of his head.
There were some interesting complications to this story:
Lindsay is actually two years older than Ryder and about to graduate.
Lindsay has slept with some of Ryder's teammates.
Lindsay's mom is a well-known gold digger.
Ryder's dad is a former NHL player, all too familiar with puck bunnies.
While Lindsay fights her own attraction to Ryder, for some of the reasons listed above, he does eventually wear her down. I liked the connection between the two of them and felt the progression of their relationship worked well for the story.
"If things were different . . . I could really see myself slipping."
"Just slip." I reached up and ran my thumb across her bottom lip, my blood pumping hotter at her sharp exhale. "I'll catch you."
Can a player with impossibly high expectations put on him by his parents ever find happiness with a girl like Lindsay?
Can Lindsay outrun her past and make a go with a player that makes her willing to give up her heart once again?
Without spoiling things, it is a rocky road, but the path to happiness comes with time and a little begging.
I was totally and utterly pucked.
This was a sweet story and I thought the author did a good job covering the sport at the college level. As this was the fourth book in the series, but my first read from this author, I'll definitely look into the other books in the series, which feature the couples featured within this story.
*An ARC was received for an honest review.
For more reviews, visit
May 26, 2017
This was a cute couple. I liked how Ryder wore Lindsay down without being a stalker or all in her face. The drama was predictable and unnecessary, I felt.
Again, I did miss a bit more hockey.
Again, I did miss a bit more hockey.
June 5, 2017
É diferente.
Aqui, a h que era a pegadora, conhecida por ser safada, um pouco mais velha que o H.
Ryder é jogador de hockey e decide investir em Lindsey, uma ex-puck bunny que se deu mal ao apaixonar-se por um outro jogador de hockey e não ter sido correspondida. Ela decidiu que não mais insistiria nesse tipo e focaria na universidade. Ryder vive sob o microscópio dos pais e passa pelo processo de libertação, às custas de alguns vacilos.
Aqui, a h que era a pegadora, conhecida por ser safada, um pouco mais velha que o H.
Ryder é jogador de hockey e decide investir em Lindsey, uma ex-puck bunny que se deu mal ao apaixonar-se por um outro jogador de hockey e não ter sido correspondida. Ela decidiu que não mais insistiria nesse tipo e focaria na universidade. Ryder vive sob o microscópio dos pais e passa pelo processo de libertação, às custas de alguns vacilos.
May 8, 2017
This is book four in the Taking Shots series, but all books including this one can be read as a standalone. It helps to know all the people in the world of college, hockey and life that Cindi Madsen so wonderfully created.
We have met Ryder and Lindsay in previous books and now finally get their own story.
While I loved all books in the series I must say this one was my favorite one so far.
I really enjoyed Lindsay and her backstory, even the not so fun parts of her past, but it made her to what we know and love now.
Ryder. Oh My Swoon. He has his eyes on Lindsay and is pulling out all the stops to win her over.
Their journey was sooo much fun to read. Though, of course not all is rainbows and unicorns for them and they are hitting a rough spot. I love how Cindi Madsen always finds the most sweetest and romantic ways to make it up not only to the characters but also the readers.
Overall, great funny, sweet, romantic but also heartfelt and sexy read. I really enjoyed it.
Rating 5★
May 8, 2017
I really enjoyed Crazy Pucking Love so I jumped (several times) when I saw this book was available on NetGalley.
Lindsay Rivera used to be a Puck Bunny, chasing after any and every ice hockey player for meaningless hook-ups until she got burned and realised that, despite her best efforts, she was emulating her mother by seeking validation from men.
Since then Lindsay has turned over a new leaf, in fact she pretty much hates hockey and everything to do with it, including the players, devoting herself to her classes and being the editor of her college newspaper. Lindsay is trying to rise above her less than stellar beginnings.
Ryder 'Ox' Maddox is two years younger than Lindsay but he has been smitten ever since they met. Lindsay is equally smitten but determined to avoid making the same mistakes, until she needs help with passing her maths classes and the only tutor she can remotely understand is Ryder.
I liked this, I'm a sucker for American college romances, especially ones featuring hot sportsmen and reformed bad girls, I love the college books of Elle Kennedy and Sarina Bowen (other authors are available) and I think Cindi Madsen is up there with them with this series.
Ryder was such a nice guy, he liked Lindsay and he pursued her despite her brush-off attempts, he helped her with her maths classes and he wasn't bothered by her previous reputation. He was just the most perfect boyfriend ever. Although he came from a wealthy background his parents were difficult and needed him to be there for them all the time, Lindsay was the one who helped him come out of his shell.
Cindi Madsen is fast becoming an auto-buy author for me, she writes great characters and plots without too much angst and with great humour, I loved the "This is my preparing-to-math-so-hard face" comment from Lindsay.
If you enjoy YA/NA college romances with sports heroes, humour and low-angst, without the god-awful trappings that often accompany YA/NA (eg lip biting, detailed hair and clothing descriptions, abusive childhoods etc) then I highly recommend this series and this book.
I received a free copy of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
Bumped for release.
Lindsay Rivera used to be a Puck Bunny, chasing after any and every ice hockey player for meaningless hook-ups until she got burned and realised that, despite her best efforts, she was emulating her mother by seeking validation from men.
Since then Lindsay has turned over a new leaf, in fact she pretty much hates hockey and everything to do with it, including the players, devoting herself to her classes and being the editor of her college newspaper. Lindsay is trying to rise above her less than stellar beginnings.
Ryder 'Ox' Maddox is two years younger than Lindsay but he has been smitten ever since they met. Lindsay is equally smitten but determined to avoid making the same mistakes, until she needs help with passing her maths classes and the only tutor she can remotely understand is Ryder.
I liked this, I'm a sucker for American college romances, especially ones featuring hot sportsmen and reformed bad girls, I love the college books of Elle Kennedy and Sarina Bowen (other authors are available) and I think Cindi Madsen is up there with them with this series.
Ryder was such a nice guy, he liked Lindsay and he pursued her despite her brush-off attempts, he helped her with her maths classes and he wasn't bothered by her previous reputation. He was just the most perfect boyfriend ever. Although he came from a wealthy background his parents were difficult and needed him to be there for them all the time, Lindsay was the one who helped him come out of his shell.
Cindi Madsen is fast becoming an auto-buy author for me, she writes great characters and plots without too much angst and with great humour, I loved the "This is my preparing-to-math-so-hard face" comment from Lindsay.
If you enjoy YA/NA college romances with sports heroes, humour and low-angst, without the god-awful trappings that often accompany YA/NA (eg lip biting, detailed hair and clothing descriptions, abusive childhoods etc) then I highly recommend this series and this book.
I received a free copy of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
Bumped for release.
July 18, 2022
Inhalt:
Nachdem ihr das Herz gebrochen wurde, hat Lindsay Rivera die Nase gestrichen voll von Eishockspielern. Von jetzt an zählt nur noch ihr Job bei der Collegezeitung … gäbe es da nicht diesen Mathekurs, den sie unbedingt bestehen muss. Die einzige Lösung? Nachhilfeunterricht mit Eishockeyspitzenspieler Ryder „Ox“ Maddox. Doch je mehr Zeit Lindsay mit Ryder verbringt, desto mehr gerät ihr Entschluss ins Wanken …
Quelle: luebbe.com
Meinung:
Vielen Dank an den Verlag für das Rezensionsexemplar!
Erster Satz: Das Folgende ist ein wahrer Bericht darüber, was passiert, wenn ein ehemaliges Puck Bunny auf einen entschlossenen, sexy Eishockey-Spieler trifft und vom Weg abkommt.
Das Cover ist wieder passend zum Rest der Reihe gestaltet. Ich mag es, dass am Rand alles recht verschwommen ist, das gefällt mir.
Der Schreibstil der Autorin war wieder sehr gut und einfach zu lesen. Geschrieben ist das Buch abwechselnd aus Sicht von Lindsay und Ryder, wodurch man beide Protagonisten besser kennen lernen kann.
Zu Beginn lernt man Lindsay kennen, die ihrem Leben als Puck Bunny abgeschworen hat. Blöd nur, dass der Eishockey-Spieler Ryder gerne mit ihr ausgehen möchte und nichts unversucht lässt.
Der Einstieg in das Buch ist mir sehr leicht gefallen, was sicherlich auch dem tollen Schreibstil geschuldet ist. Es war schon einige Zeit her, dass ich ein Buch der Reihe gelesen habe, daher konnte ich mit vielen Charakteren zuerst nichts anfangen, aber da man die Bücher unabhängig voneinander lesen kann macht das gar nichts.
Lindsay war mir irgendwie unsampathisch, nicht die ganze Zeit, aber doch recht oft. Vor allem wenns um Eishockey ging. Ich weiß nicht, ob es in der Realität auch so schlimm ist und Puck Bunnys fast schon wie Süchtige sind, aber Lindsay hat sich oft so benommen, als wäre sie auf einem argen Entzug und für mich war das nicht immer ganz verständlich. Ansonsten war sie ok und ist mit der Zeit auch anderen Leuten gegenüber aufgetaut.
Ryder hingegen mochte ich richtig gerne. Er erfüllt ein paar Klischees von Eishockey-Spielern, aber insgesamt wirkte er immer wie ein ganz normaler Kerl, der einfach sehr gut in Mathe ist. Ryder ist allen gegenüber nett und gibt sich bei Lindsay richtig Mühe. Ich fands echt süß, wie hartnäckig er war und wie er sich nicht von ihrer harten Schale und ihrer Abweisung abschrecken hat lassen. Er war definitiv mein Liebling in dem Buch.
Ich muss sagen, dass die Geschichte zwar nett für Zwischendurch war, aber keinen richtigen bleibenden Eindruck hinterlassen hat. Es ist erst drei Tage her, dass ich es beendet habe und schon weiß ich gar nicht mehr, was da alles passiert ist. Trotzdem hat mir die Geschichte beim Lesen ganz gut gefallen, auch wenn ich Lindsays Verhalten oft als übertrieben empfunden habe. Wie ich schon sagte verstand ich einfach nicht, wieso sie immer so tat, als wäre es das Schlimmste für sie mit Eishockey in Berührung zu kommen.
Die Geschichte dreht sich also darum, dass Ryder sich bemüht Lindsay von sich zu überzeugen, er ihr bei Mathe hilft und sie sich langsam wieder dem Thema Eishockey annähert. An sicht hört sich das doch recht gut an. Der Teil mit der Mathe Nachhilfe hat mir super gefallen. Da gab es viele Möglichkeiten, wie sich die beiden näher kommen können und dadurch war die Uni nicht nur irgendwie im Hintergrund da, sondern man hatte wirklich das Gefühl, dass die beiden wirklich studieren. Oft ist es bei Uni-Büchern so, dass die Uni keine Rolle spielt und die Protas genauso gut arbeiten könnten, es würde keinen Unterschied machen. Hier ist das nicht so und das fand ich klasse.
Eishockey kommt natürlich auch nicht zu kurz, ich bin ein totaler Fan von Büchern, in denen der Sport vorkommt und so habe ich mich auch hier darauf gefreut. Ich wurde auch nicht enttäuscht. Man besucht zusammen mit den Protagonisten Spiele, steht mit Ryder auf dem Eis und fiebert mit Lindsay mit. Das Feeling in dem Buch hat auf jeden Fall gestimmt.
Leider gab es mir einfach zu viel hin und her zwischen den beiden. Im Mittelteil des Buch empfand ich es schon als zu viel und war leicht genervt davon, dass Lindsay sich einfach nicht festlegen kann. Das war für mich einfach zu viel. Am Ende gabs dann auch noch richtig viel Drama, was zwar verständlich war, aber mir persönlich ebenfalls zu viel gekünstelt war. So viel Zufall kanns gar nicht geben. Diese Hindernisse wurden dann recht schnell gelöst, was ich aber sagen möchte ist, dass das größte Problem der beiden, dass sie bald mit dem Studium fertig ist, einen wirklich guten Ausgang hatte. Die Lösung, die die beiden da gefunden haben hat mir echt gut gefallen.
Fazit:
Für Zwischendurch ist es wieder ein tolles Buch, aber hinterlässt, zumindest bei mir, keinen bleibenden Eindruck. Außerdem war mit im Mittelteil das hin und her zwischen den beiden einfach schon zu viel und auch das Drama wirkte etwas zu gekünstelt. Dennoch hat es beim Lesen meist Spaß gemacht und wenn man eine leichte College-Romanze sucht ist man hier richtig.
Nachdem ihr das Herz gebrochen wurde, hat Lindsay Rivera die Nase gestrichen voll von Eishockspielern. Von jetzt an zählt nur noch ihr Job bei der Collegezeitung … gäbe es da nicht diesen Mathekurs, den sie unbedingt bestehen muss. Die einzige Lösung? Nachhilfeunterricht mit Eishockeyspitzenspieler Ryder „Ox“ Maddox. Doch je mehr Zeit Lindsay mit Ryder verbringt, desto mehr gerät ihr Entschluss ins Wanken …
Quelle: luebbe.com
Meinung:
Vielen Dank an den Verlag für das Rezensionsexemplar!
Erster Satz: Das Folgende ist ein wahrer Bericht darüber, was passiert, wenn ein ehemaliges Puck Bunny auf einen entschlossenen, sexy Eishockey-Spieler trifft und vom Weg abkommt.
Das Cover ist wieder passend zum Rest der Reihe gestaltet. Ich mag es, dass am Rand alles recht verschwommen ist, das gefällt mir.
Der Schreibstil der Autorin war wieder sehr gut und einfach zu lesen. Geschrieben ist das Buch abwechselnd aus Sicht von Lindsay und Ryder, wodurch man beide Protagonisten besser kennen lernen kann.
Zu Beginn lernt man Lindsay kennen, die ihrem Leben als Puck Bunny abgeschworen hat. Blöd nur, dass der Eishockey-Spieler Ryder gerne mit ihr ausgehen möchte und nichts unversucht lässt.
Der Einstieg in das Buch ist mir sehr leicht gefallen, was sicherlich auch dem tollen Schreibstil geschuldet ist. Es war schon einige Zeit her, dass ich ein Buch der Reihe gelesen habe, daher konnte ich mit vielen Charakteren zuerst nichts anfangen, aber da man die Bücher unabhängig voneinander lesen kann macht das gar nichts.
Lindsay war mir irgendwie unsampathisch, nicht die ganze Zeit, aber doch recht oft. Vor allem wenns um Eishockey ging. Ich weiß nicht, ob es in der Realität auch so schlimm ist und Puck Bunnys fast schon wie Süchtige sind, aber Lindsay hat sich oft so benommen, als wäre sie auf einem argen Entzug und für mich war das nicht immer ganz verständlich. Ansonsten war sie ok und ist mit der Zeit auch anderen Leuten gegenüber aufgetaut.
Ryder hingegen mochte ich richtig gerne. Er erfüllt ein paar Klischees von Eishockey-Spielern, aber insgesamt wirkte er immer wie ein ganz normaler Kerl, der einfach sehr gut in Mathe ist. Ryder ist allen gegenüber nett und gibt sich bei Lindsay richtig Mühe. Ich fands echt süß, wie hartnäckig er war und wie er sich nicht von ihrer harten Schale und ihrer Abweisung abschrecken hat lassen. Er war definitiv mein Liebling in dem Buch.
Ich muss sagen, dass die Geschichte zwar nett für Zwischendurch war, aber keinen richtigen bleibenden Eindruck hinterlassen hat. Es ist erst drei Tage her, dass ich es beendet habe und schon weiß ich gar nicht mehr, was da alles passiert ist. Trotzdem hat mir die Geschichte beim Lesen ganz gut gefallen, auch wenn ich Lindsays Verhalten oft als übertrieben empfunden habe. Wie ich schon sagte verstand ich einfach nicht, wieso sie immer so tat, als wäre es das Schlimmste für sie mit Eishockey in Berührung zu kommen.
Die Geschichte dreht sich also darum, dass Ryder sich bemüht Lindsay von sich zu überzeugen, er ihr bei Mathe hilft und sie sich langsam wieder dem Thema Eishockey annähert. An sicht hört sich das doch recht gut an. Der Teil mit der Mathe Nachhilfe hat mir super gefallen. Da gab es viele Möglichkeiten, wie sich die beiden näher kommen können und dadurch war die Uni nicht nur irgendwie im Hintergrund da, sondern man hatte wirklich das Gefühl, dass die beiden wirklich studieren. Oft ist es bei Uni-Büchern so, dass die Uni keine Rolle spielt und die Protas genauso gut arbeiten könnten, es würde keinen Unterschied machen. Hier ist das nicht so und das fand ich klasse.
Eishockey kommt natürlich auch nicht zu kurz, ich bin ein totaler Fan von Büchern, in denen der Sport vorkommt und so habe ich mich auch hier darauf gefreut. Ich wurde auch nicht enttäuscht. Man besucht zusammen mit den Protagonisten Spiele, steht mit Ryder auf dem Eis und fiebert mit Lindsay mit. Das Feeling in dem Buch hat auf jeden Fall gestimmt.
Leider gab es mir einfach zu viel hin und her zwischen den beiden. Im Mittelteil des Buch empfand ich es schon als zu viel und war leicht genervt davon, dass Lindsay sich einfach nicht festlegen kann. Das war für mich einfach zu viel. Am Ende gabs dann auch noch richtig viel Drama, was zwar verständlich war, aber mir persönlich ebenfalls zu viel gekünstelt war. So viel Zufall kanns gar nicht geben. Diese Hindernisse wurden dann recht schnell gelöst, was ich aber sagen möchte ist, dass das größte Problem der beiden, dass sie bald mit dem Studium fertig ist, einen wirklich guten Ausgang hatte. Die Lösung, die die beiden da gefunden haben hat mir echt gut gefallen.
Fazit:
Für Zwischendurch ist es wieder ein tolles Buch, aber hinterlässt, zumindest bei mir, keinen bleibenden Eindruck. Außerdem war mit im Mittelteil das hin und her zwischen den beiden einfach schon zu viel und auch das Drama wirkte etwas zu gekünstelt. Dennoch hat es beim Lesen meist Spaß gemacht und wenn man eine leichte College-Romanze sucht ist man hier richtig.
November 27, 2018
4 stars
This was a pleasant surprise! I'm a fan of premises with switched roles, like this one with the heroine being the one who has a "promiscuous" past, but it's not often done well (those same heroines slut-shaming other women and things like that). Here the double standards and judgements were handled well.
The heroine was cool, I liked her. But the hero was awesome. He was such an amazing book boyfriend! (Except towards the end, but all things considered his actions made sense.) I LOVED how he chased her (I love a good chase!), determined but unsure he was doing well, almost walking on eggshells around her. The pursuit felt natural and their attraction real. The banter between them was great and effortlessly funny. It was also kind of refreshing that the hero was a bit younger than the heroine.
The ending was a bit lacklustre, though - especially considering this is the last book in the series, with recurring characters from the previous books! I expected a bigger jump in time with everything wrapped up nicely.
--------------
POV: 1st person (dual)
story: 4
writing: 4
heroine: Lindsay, 22y, college senior and aspiring editor. 4.5 stars. I liked her a lot. She was hard-working and honest.
hero: Ryder, 20y, college sophomore and hockey player. 5 stars. I loved him! He was considerate, attentive and devoted to the heroine.
secondary characters: 4
couple/romance: 4
instalove? No, although there is instant attraction.
steam: Moderate. I wanted a bit more steam, to be honest. :p
angst: Moderate.
enjoyment: 4
ending:
This was a pleasant surprise! I'm a fan of premises with switched roles, like this one with the heroine being the one who has a "promiscuous" past, but it's not often done well (those same heroines slut-shaming other women and things like that). Here the double standards and judgements were handled well.
The heroine was cool, I liked her. But the hero was awesome. He was such an amazing book boyfriend! (Except towards the end, but all things considered his actions made sense.) I LOVED how he chased her (I love a good chase!), determined but unsure he was doing well, almost walking on eggshells around her. The pursuit felt natural and their attraction real. The banter between them was great and effortlessly funny. It was also kind of refreshing that the hero was a bit younger than the heroine.
The ending was a bit lacklustre, though - especially considering this is the last book in the series, with recurring characters from the previous books! I expected a bigger jump in time with everything wrapped up nicely.
--------------
POV: 1st person (dual)
story: 4
writing: 4
heroine: Lindsay, 22y, college senior and aspiring editor. 4.5 stars. I liked her a lot. She was hard-working and honest.
hero: Ryder, 20y, college sophomore and hockey player. 5 stars. I loved him! He was considerate, attentive and devoted to the heroine.
secondary characters: 4
couple/romance: 4
instalove? No, although there is instant attraction.
steam: Moderate. I wanted a bit more steam, to be honest. :p
angst: Moderate.
enjoyment: 4
ending:
May 10, 2017
Confessions of a former PB (Puck Bunny) is book 4 in the Taking Shots series but you can read it as a stand alone. The former PB is Lindsay, the editor of the school paper. The hockey player is Ryder aka 'Ox'. Lindsay and Ryder are pretty different. She is about to graduate; he is a sophomore. She is all about words and language; he loves math. His dad was a pro hockey player; her mom is a gold digger. And Ryder is pretty much the only guy who doesn't know she slept with half the hockey team...
I liked Lindsay's approach to treating her addiction to hockey players. She didn't like the person she was becoming and she really does treat it similar to a drug addiction! She decides that she must quit cold turkey. However, like most addicts, she slips every once in a while...by looking at pro hockey players photos online! She wants to be different; she fears turning into her mother. So, when Ryder starts to show her some attention and interest, she panics and tries to bolt on him repeatedly. Ryder is determined though and makes a deal with her: he tutors her in math so she can pass the class and graduate and in return, she agrees to do fun things with him. I kind of loved Ryder's tenacity when it came to Lindsay. However, I could see the writing on the wall as to how this would play out...eventually he is going to find out she was a PB. Eventually his dad is going to find out Ryder is giving his time and attention to something other than hockey. Eventually Lindsay's mom will do something awful.
I have enjoyed this series a great deal! Anatomy of a Player was my favorite and ironically, the hero from that book, Hudson, is the hockey boy who broke Lindsay's heart and is now the reason for her former PB status. You get cameos from Beck and Lyla, Hudson and Whitney, and Dane and Megan which always makes me happy to see in a series. I didn't expect to like Lindsay quite so much. PB have a terrible reputation in any book about hockey players! They are always the sluts trying to steal away other girls' boyfriends. They are the sleazy girls who show up to a hockey game (where there is ICE) in tiny skirts that show their ass cheeks and hold signs letting every player know they are willing to 'ease their pain' after a game. So, picking up a book where the heroine was one of those girls? Yeah, I was skeptical that she would come across as vapid and narcissistic. However, Lindsay has realized the error of her ways. She still admits that she is physically attracted to the look of a hockey player but she doesn't want to be 'that girl' any more. Her struggle to 'stay clean' was actually a fairly enjoyable twist on the PB trope. My biggest issues with the story stemmed from the overall predictability of the plot.
POV: dual 1st
Tears: no
Trope: hockey; college
Triggers: none
Series/Standalone: stand alone within an interconnected series
Cliffhanger:
HEA:
The Score by Elle Kennedy, The Hook Up by Kristen Callihan, Rookie Move by Sarina Bowen...then you will probably like Confessions of a former Puck Bunny!
Confessions of a Former Puck Bunny
November 26, 2017
After reading this I have to make a few confessions myself:
Confession #1: I didn't realize this book was the last in a series when starting this.
Confession #2: I'm glad I didn't know! If I had known, I would have probably read the other books first and would have for sure hated Lindsay.
Confession #3: I chose this book because of the title and what it implied - a heroine, who (at least at some point in her life) slept with a lot of different men. I already mentioned it in some of my reviews, but I'm kind of sick of all the menwhore in romance books and I thoroughly enjoy to see a woman being just the same. There are more than enough virgin-heroines waiting around for mister right to take their v-card. And while we are at this topic: why is it such a big deal for girls to lose their virginity and no big deal at all for boys? Yeah, it hurts, but other than that? I don't really get it, but I guess that's something everbody has to decide for him/herself.
Confession #4: As I went into this book without any knowledge about the characters, I loved it! Ryder and Lindsay made a great couple!
Confession #5: The story was somehow predictable, but I guess after reading God knows how many college romance novels it is really hard to still surprise me. Nevertheless I was hooked.
Confession #6: Though this one was great, I don't think I will read the rest of this series. It's not that I didn't like the other characters, but they didn't really blow me away either. I guess for me I already read the best book in this series with the most relatable characters and I'll just leave it at that. Maybe someday I will change my mind when I need my college-hockey-romance-fix, but until then...
Confession #1: I didn't realize this book was the last in a series when starting this.
Confession #2: I'm glad I didn't know! If I had known, I would have probably read the other books first and would have for sure hated Lindsay.
Confession #3: I chose this book because of the title and what it implied - a heroine, who (at least at some point in her life) slept with a lot of different men. I already mentioned it in some of my reviews, but I'm kind of sick of all the menwhore in romance books and I thoroughly enjoy to see a woman being just the same. There are more than enough virgin-heroines waiting around for mister right to take their v-card. And while we are at this topic: why is it such a big deal for girls to lose their virginity and no big deal at all for boys? Yeah, it hurts, but other than that? I don't really get it, but I guess that's something everbody has to decide for him/herself.
Confession #4: As I went into this book without any knowledge about the characters, I loved it! Ryder and Lindsay made a great couple!
Confession #5: The story was somehow predictable, but I guess after reading God knows how many college romance novels it is really hard to still surprise me. Nevertheless I was hooked.
Confession #6: Though this one was great, I don't think I will read the rest of this series. It's not that I didn't like the other characters, but they didn't really blow me away either. I guess for me I already read the best book in this series with the most relatable characters and I'll just leave it at that. Maybe someday I will change my mind when I need my college-hockey-romance-fix, but until then...
April 14, 2017
Original review: A Novel Glimpse
Note: I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review.
I couldn't resist reading Confessions of a Former Puck Bunny. The title and the idea of a former puck bunny confessing her sins really appealed to me. Plus, the book was from an author and series I enjoy, so I knew it was going to be a lot of fun.
Confessions of a Former Puck Bunny stars Lindsay and Ryder. Lindsay is a former puck bunny who fell in love and got burned. Since then, she's done everything she can to stay away from hockey and its players. That worked well until she needs help passing math class. The only tutor she can understand just happens to be the hottest guy on the ice. Ryder would do anything to get a chance with Lindsay including giving up some of his precious time to tutor Lindsay in math. He's hoping that spending time with him with show Lindsay that he's not just another heartless hockey player.
Out of all the Cindi Madsen books I've read, Confessions of a Former Puck Bunny is my favorite. I loved the first person dual points of view, and the direction the story took. All of the little confessions sprinkled through the story were cute and fun.
Ryder, or "Ox" as some people call him, was a sweetheart. He knew what he wanted (Lindsay) and went for it. I loved how he didn't let anything or anyone stand in his way. The way he treated Lindsay was really special.
Lindsay had so much inner strength. She wanted to change her life and did everything she needed to make that happen. I couldn't blame Lindsay for wanting to stay away from hockey players, but I'm so happy Ryder weaseled his way into her heart. They were perfect for each other. I loved their romance.
I also loved seeing my old friends from the previous Hot Shots books. Catching up with them was fun, and I loved what they added to Lindsay and Ryder's story. And I can't leave out the hockey. There were some very fun hockey scenes in this book!
Confessions of a Former Puck Bunny was everything I hoped it would be based on its title. It was a great college hockey romance that fans of sports romances will love. I did.
Note: I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review.
I couldn't resist reading Confessions of a Former Puck Bunny. The title and the idea of a former puck bunny confessing her sins really appealed to me. Plus, the book was from an author and series I enjoy, so I knew it was going to be a lot of fun.
Confessions of a Former Puck Bunny stars Lindsay and Ryder. Lindsay is a former puck bunny who fell in love and got burned. Since then, she's done everything she can to stay away from hockey and its players. That worked well until she needs help passing math class. The only tutor she can understand just happens to be the hottest guy on the ice. Ryder would do anything to get a chance with Lindsay including giving up some of his precious time to tutor Lindsay in math. He's hoping that spending time with him with show Lindsay that he's not just another heartless hockey player.
Out of all the Cindi Madsen books I've read, Confessions of a Former Puck Bunny is my favorite. I loved the first person dual points of view, and the direction the story took. All of the little confessions sprinkled through the story were cute and fun.
Ryder, or "Ox" as some people call him, was a sweetheart. He knew what he wanted (Lindsay) and went for it. I loved how he didn't let anything or anyone stand in his way. The way he treated Lindsay was really special.
Lindsay had so much inner strength. She wanted to change her life and did everything she needed to make that happen. I couldn't blame Lindsay for wanting to stay away from hockey players, but I'm so happy Ryder weaseled his way into her heart. They were perfect for each other. I loved their romance.
I also loved seeing my old friends from the previous Hot Shots books. Catching up with them was fun, and I loved what they added to Lindsay and Ryder's story. And I can't leave out the hockey. There were some very fun hockey scenes in this book!
Confessions of a Former Puck Bunny was everything I hoped it would be based on its title. It was a great college hockey romance that fans of sports romances will love. I did.
May 8, 2017
Lindsay used to be a puck bunny, but after being hurt, and really taking a serious look at herself, she decided to swear off hockey, and hockey men, to concentrate on graduating college. Of course, this had made her a person who never lets herself have fun anymore, and she's okay with that. Her world is shaken up again when a hockey player named Ryder, takes an interest in her, and no matter how much she tries to keep him away, he's slowly putting cracks in her wall. But can she trust herself with another hockey player? I really loved Confessions of a Former Puck Bunny, and couldn't turn the pages fast enough. First of all, the well placed humor kept me laughing hard throughout, especially Lindsay's inner confessions. Ryder was a super sweet, and HOT man, who never came off like a man whore, which made me love him instantly. Their push and pull kept me anxious, which had me on the edge of my seat for the majority of the book. Cindi Madsen has a talented writing style that I can't get enough, and her hockey men are mouth watering hot! A few angst filled moments, and a big twist, had me yelling many colorful metaphors. I cannot wait for her next story, but in the meantime, I HIGHLY HIGHLY HIGHLY RECOMMEND this awesome story!
May 18, 2017
[image error]
When I saw the title of this book I knew it would be right up my alley. I love reading books about a character that is usually deemed as a bad person/slut in other books.
Lindsey is a former puck bunny she lived and loved the lifestyle until she fell and got hurt by a player she also found herself turning into her mother which she did not like. Lindsey swears to never go out with another hockey player again in order to protect her heart.
Ryder's only focus at this moment is hockey. That is all he is allowed to think about. But when he sees Lindsey she starts to become his obsession. He starts to pursue her but she keeps turning him down. Since she struggles with math, Ryder offers to help her study. This is his in and he is going to make it count.
I loved reading this book it was super sweet I loved how Lindsey helped Ryder out of his shell. They really had each others back. Also loved how Ryder never judged her on her past.
Definitely loved these confessions
When I saw the title of this book I knew it would be right up my alley. I love reading books about a character that is usually deemed as a bad person/slut in other books.
Lindsey is a former puck bunny she lived and loved the lifestyle until she fell and got hurt by a player she also found herself turning into her mother which she did not like. Lindsey swears to never go out with another hockey player again in order to protect her heart.
Ryder's only focus at this moment is hockey. That is all he is allowed to think about. But when he sees Lindsey she starts to become his obsession. He starts to pursue her but she keeps turning him down. Since she struggles with math, Ryder offers to help her study. This is his in and he is going to make it count.
I loved reading this book it was super sweet I loved how Lindsey helped Ryder out of his shell. They really had each others back. Also loved how Ryder never judged her on her past.
Definitely loved these confessions
September 19, 2022
3.25
Confession #3: I am still ridiculously attracted to hockey players and sometimes in my free time I google images of famous ones to get my fix.
Girl, me too.
This book is adorable! After having a little bit of a hard time getting into this book, I was able to get into it around 30%..
Normally any other book I would have given up, but this one had something different that made me want to keep reading, now if that is Ryder's determination to get Lindsey or Lindsey's determination to not let Ryder get under her skin, is up for you to decide.
I absolutely loved their relationship and getting to know them!
If you like sports romance, quick reads, witty MCs this is the book for you!
Confession #3: I am still ridiculously attracted to hockey players and sometimes in my free time I google images of famous ones to get my fix.
Girl, me too.
This book is adorable! After having a little bit of a hard time getting into this book, I was able to get into it around 30%..
Normally any other book I would have given up, but this one had something different that made me want to keep reading, now if that is Ryder's determination to get Lindsey or Lindsey's determination to not let Ryder get under her skin, is up for you to decide.
I absolutely loved their relationship and getting to know them!
If you like sports romance, quick reads, witty MCs this is the book for you!
April 12, 2017
The story, told in dual POV, follows former puck bunny Lindsay, who has curbed her puck bunny ways for the last year and has no intention of relapsing. Everything hockey is off limits. Sadly Ryder "Ox" Maddox, defensemen for the college hockey team did not get the memo, and he is relentless in his pursuit of Lindsay. It took me a while to warm up to Lindsay, but by the end of the book I was fully invested in her happy ever after. Ryder I was fully invested in from the beginning, no breaking me in gently with him, he was pretty much my ultimate book boyfriend. As well as been super hot he is so so 'nice' on the inside too, truly swoon worthy. Both Lindsay and Ryder have parental issues that leak into their would be relationship and even though we have quite a bit of family drama the story is a fun, lighthearted read. I lovely hockey romances and this did not disappoint. I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
April 13, 2017
Love Cindi Madsen's writing, which is smart and entertaining. This fourth installment in the series didn't work as well for me though. I got impatient with Lindsay throwing so many obstacles in the way of Ryder when he was such an all-around perfect guy. To be fair, I generally don't like plots that center on "reformed" heroines -- it's too easy to veer into slut-shaming, though at least Ryder didn't do that in this book. So maybe the description should have steered me away from this one, but I was so tempted by Madsen (and Lyla and Beck, of course!).
April 28, 2017
**My thanks to NetGalley and Entangled Publishing LLC Publishing, for providing me with a free copy for an honest review**
This book is told from both points of view and is the forth book in the series, however as i have not read any of the other books can confirm that it can be read as a stand alone book.
Lindsey has been hurt by a former boyfriend and has therefore sworn off Hockey players (a kryptonite of hers) and it seems of having fun. After a year and with Ryder thrown into the mix, her resolve starts to unravel.
Ryder may be a few years younger than her, but he makes up for it in other ways, and when he has his sight set on something, he usually gets it, and he WANTS Lindsey.
Its a fun read, that had me smiling often and really feeling sorry for Lindsey when things go a little pear shaped.
Another sports romance that seems to have become a favourite of mine.
This book is told from both points of view and is the forth book in the series, however as i have not read any of the other books can confirm that it can be read as a stand alone book.
Lindsey has been hurt by a former boyfriend and has therefore sworn off Hockey players (a kryptonite of hers) and it seems of having fun. After a year and with Ryder thrown into the mix, her resolve starts to unravel.
Ryder may be a few years younger than her, but he makes up for it in other ways, and when he has his sight set on something, he usually gets it, and he WANTS Lindsey.
Its a fun read, that had me smiling often and really feeling sorry for Lindsey when things go a little pear shaped.
Another sports romance that seems to have become a favourite of mine.
June 14, 2017
Cindi Madsen’s new adult college hockey romance series Taking Shots has showcased a variety of characters, but this is the first one that takes a twist on the expected by featuring a hockey player in pursuit, instead of the other way around. Lindsay has ‘been there, done that’ – played the adoring hockey fan and gotten her heart crushed along the way. She’s sworn off hockey players for good, not ashamed of having had several hookups with different players in the past but turning over a new leaf and avoiding the game – and the players. But math is one thing she can’t avoid, and when handsome and attractive hockey player Ryder turns out to be a volunteer tutor at the local resource center, she reluctantly agrees to let him help her. Ryder’s payment plan is simple – let him take her out and they’ll call it even. Lindsay needs to get a B in math to graduate so she’s got no choice. But when the attraction between them threatens to spill over into something more serious, will she be able to resist temptation?
I really appreciate the sex positive heroine in this story, a young woman who has had her fun but also knows that playtime doesn’t last forever and that being a ‘puck bunny’ and a party-going gal isn’t going to get her a serious job after college. Hockey players are her kryptonite so avoiding them is her best bet until Ryder comes along and wreaks havoc on her plans. I love Lindsay’s ‘confessions’, spread throughout the story where she is honest with herself about her faults and her previous life choices. Ryder is the nice guy hero throughout, a man who sees Lindsay not as a conquest but as a smart, feisty and likable woman. When her previous reputation from the locker room rears its head, he’s quick to defend her and her choices – no slut shaming from him. It’s the last year of college for them both, and career opportunities mean tough choices as well as guarding their hearts. There are several sexy scenes with this couple, and the resolution to the main conflict gives them a happy ending suited to their romance. Friendships play a big part in the story, and several characters from earlier in the series make an appearance. As a hockey romance, it’s got the required on ice scenes, locker room chats and after game parties that make up the rest of the story. Confessions of a Former Puck Bunny is an entertaining and fun story, a fitting end to the series.
This review is part of a set of Mini-reviews at All About Romance: https://allaboutromance.com/midweek-m...
A copy of this story was provided by the publisher via NetGalley for review.
I really appreciate the sex positive heroine in this story, a young woman who has had her fun but also knows that playtime doesn’t last forever and that being a ‘puck bunny’ and a party-going gal isn’t going to get her a serious job after college. Hockey players are her kryptonite so avoiding them is her best bet until Ryder comes along and wreaks havoc on her plans. I love Lindsay’s ‘confessions’, spread throughout the story where she is honest with herself about her faults and her previous life choices. Ryder is the nice guy hero throughout, a man who sees Lindsay not as a conquest but as a smart, feisty and likable woman. When her previous reputation from the locker room rears its head, he’s quick to defend her and her choices – no slut shaming from him. It’s the last year of college for them both, and career opportunities mean tough choices as well as guarding their hearts. There are several sexy scenes with this couple, and the resolution to the main conflict gives them a happy ending suited to their romance. Friendships play a big part in the story, and several characters from earlier in the series make an appearance. As a hockey romance, it’s got the required on ice scenes, locker room chats and after game parties that make up the rest of the story. Confessions of a Former Puck Bunny is an entertaining and fun story, a fitting end to the series.
This review is part of a set of Mini-reviews at All About Romance: https://allaboutromance.com/midweek-m...
A copy of this story was provided by the publisher via NetGalley for review.
May 7, 2017
I have so loved this series. It has all the good stuff! Hot hockey players, real characters that make me feel right along with them, and a great story make them all great. But this one...this one had a little more.
So yeah there's a hot hockey player but he's Ryder. And Ryder is just the best hockey player. He plays defense and his muscles far exceed my expectations! Hehe. He may have carried Lindsay and there may have been stairs involved. BUT what I really loved about him had nothing to do with the sexy bod. He doesn't take no for an answer. He feels something for Lindsay and he fights for what he wants. AND he's good at math. Yep, I totally fell in love with him. The hockey player with a back-up plan. The math major who tutors on the side trying to win the editor of the college paper. Yeah, he captured both of my passions in one. (I have a math degree. I was the editor of my high school paper.) Yep, he was just about perfect.
And their story? It's not predictable at all. Lindsay led him a marry chase and I enjoyed every minute of it.
Lindsay is trying to make some changes in her life. I'm really glad because I wasn't a fan the last time I ran into her in a book. She's gone to "former" status on the puck bunny front. And she's doing a really good job of avoiding the hockey scene. Definitely proud of her. Only issue is Ryder has other ideas. He can't seem to get her off his mind.
I enjoyed the banter between these two as tutoring led to fun with paintball and Shakespeare. Hehe...gonna have to read it to get the deets on those games. But I will tell you that it was all so much fun. I enjoyed every page.
While they tried to stay on separate sides of a line, they struggled to actually do that. And because of the struggle, things don't have the same feel as a typical romance. Instead it followed a more natural path that included love and felt oh so real.
I enjoyed seeing all the couples I've read about before (though you can certainly read this stand alone) and I'm sorry to see the series end.
This is the good stuff. Anyone who loves sexy hockey players need this book NOW but really anyone who loves a good romance will want to one-click this one as soon as possible.
So yeah there's a hot hockey player but he's Ryder. And Ryder is just the best hockey player. He plays defense and his muscles far exceed my expectations! Hehe. He may have carried Lindsay and there may have been stairs involved. BUT what I really loved about him had nothing to do with the sexy bod. He doesn't take no for an answer. He feels something for Lindsay and he fights for what he wants. AND he's good at math. Yep, I totally fell in love with him. The hockey player with a back-up plan. The math major who tutors on the side trying to win the editor of the college paper. Yeah, he captured both of my passions in one. (I have a math degree. I was the editor of my high school paper.) Yep, he was just about perfect.
And their story? It's not predictable at all. Lindsay led him a marry chase and I enjoyed every minute of it.
Lindsay is trying to make some changes in her life. I'm really glad because I wasn't a fan the last time I ran into her in a book. She's gone to "former" status on the puck bunny front. And she's doing a really good job of avoiding the hockey scene. Definitely proud of her. Only issue is Ryder has other ideas. He can't seem to get her off his mind.
I enjoyed the banter between these two as tutoring led to fun with paintball and Shakespeare. Hehe...gonna have to read it to get the deets on those games. But I will tell you that it was all so much fun. I enjoyed every page.
While they tried to stay on separate sides of a line, they struggled to actually do that. And because of the struggle, things don't have the same feel as a typical romance. Instead it followed a more natural path that included love and felt oh so real.
I enjoyed seeing all the couples I've read about before (though you can certainly read this stand alone) and I'm sorry to see the series end.
This is the good stuff. Anyone who loves sexy hockey players need this book NOW but really anyone who loves a good romance will want to one-click this one as soon as possible.
April 30, 2017
Lindsay Rivera has decided she'll never fall for another hockey player again, but there's something about Ryder 'Ox' Maddox that dares her to take a chance. Especially since he doesn't give up on pursuing her easily when she's told him repeatedly he'll never stand a chance of winning her over. However, when Lindsay realizes she needs help to pass her math class otherwise she won't be able to graduate, it seems the only person available to tutor her is Ryder. Will she give him a chance or is allowing him to tutor her as far as things will go?
Ms. Madsen's books are fantastic, and this series I've loved from the very first book. It's a series about hockey players falling in love and overcoming tough obstacles to win their heroine's hearts, and certainly, Ryder faces a tough challenge with Lindsay. Since the last relationship she was in with a hockey player didn't work out, and she has a lot of dislike for guys that play the sport because of it. Can Ryder overcome her hang-ups to prove to Lindsay that he's different than the last guy she was with?
As for the dialogue, it was intense due to the main characters back stories, and the obstacles these two face on their journey to happy ever after. Clearly, Ryder's parents have a huge problem with Lindsay, which had me reading quickly wanting to know what their quandary was with her? What is their deal that they're willing to have their son mad at them for interfering in his love life? However, the dialogue wasn't all intense. There were some really good light-hearted moments such as Lindsay's confessions and the teasing dialogue between Ryder and Lindsay. The hero is determined to win the heroine over and isn't afraid to get sneaky about his intentions by involving the secondary characters.
The way this story started had me laughing at Lindsay's antics. Did she really think she could avoid Ryder so easily? Then again, I could understand why she acts the way she does, because she has serious trust issues. Issues that not only stem from her last relationship, but because her mom never set a good example. Sure she did all she could to provide for Lindsay, but she did it by seducing men and that's not the way the heroine wants to live her life. Instead, she wants to be more independent than she already is and focus all her attention on her future career. Those traits made me admire the heroine, because her mom is a real piece of work that thinks what she does to men is acceptable behavior.
While Ryder, his parents aren't the nicest of people with his dad never declaring how proud he is of his son, even though Ryder's following in the man's footsteps and tries his hardest to prove his worth. Will he ever do something that will make his dad happy? Then there's his mother; a woman who thinks appearances are important and I could understand why Ryder tries his best to get along with her, because she's a good ally to have whenever he locks horns -- so to speak -- with his father. Yet, what I liked most of all about Ryder is how smart he is, his willingness to help Lindsay with passing math, and how determined he was to win Lindsay's heart, even though at times -- it seems -- there may be no hope of winning her over. Will his charm eventually work on Lindsay?
Overall, Ms. Madsen has penned a wonderful read in this book where the strong chemistry between these two definitely makes things interesting, as Lindsay is torn between what happened in the past and worried that it might happen again if she's not careful. The way this story ended left me completely satisfied, as Ryder knows just the way to get Lindsay to talk to him. Will his sneaky ways work? However, it was the epilogue that made this story worthwhile, because of the surprise Lindsay has for Ryder. He made her life better by not giving up on pursuing her and she's willing to do the same for him. I would recommend Confessions of a Former Puck Bunny by Cindi Madsen, if you enjoy New Adult Romance, the friends to lovers trope or books by authors Lisa B. Kamps, Lili Valente or Jillian Quinn.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 237 reviews