They call me the Ice Dragon but it's really just all for show. —Boris Drăghici, VEGAS CRUSH
The Ice Dragon was traded to Las Vegas for one reason and one reason only.
To bring the Crush another Cup Championship.
But off the ice, there’s something not right with my money.
My financial managers in Russia are probably stealing from me.
So I really need the expert eye of a pro to investigate what's going on.
My money being stolen is problem number one. Having the hots for the genius finance-goddess I just hired to help me out of problem number one?
That's problem number two.
It’s very p#cking hard to keep things professional when the girl of my dreams—the girl who may be the ONE—is saying "no" to crossing the blue line with me.
I guess this means the Ice Dragon will just have to keep fighting until Talia Wentworth understands that I want her for so much more than simply managing my puck money.
**PUCK MONEY is a sexy STANDALONE sports romance about a Russian/Romanian superstar hockey center with money problems and the tantalizing financial advisor he's hired to sort out his p#cking investments. Boris and Talia are in for the ride of a lifetime in Fabulous Sin City as they follow the money trail and fall further in lust for each other. This is definitely not your parents' "Financial Planning"!
Raine Miller has been reading romance novels since she picked up that first Barbara Cartland book at the tender age of thirteen. And it's a safe bet she'll never stop, because now she writes them too! Granted Raine's stories are edgy enough to turn Ms. Cartland in her grave, but to her way of thinking, a hot, sexy hero never goes out of fashion. A former teacher, she's now writing sexy romance stories full time. She has a handsome prince of a husband, two brilliant sons, and two bouncy Italian Greyhounds to pull her back into the real world if the writing takes her too far away. Her sons know she likes to write stories, but gratefully have never asked to read any, thank God! Raine loves to hear from readers and to chat about the characters in her books. You can contact her at raine_miller@ymail.com or visit www.RaineMiller.com to sign up for updates and her newsletter with links to upcoming books. Join us on Facebook at the Raine Miller Romance Readers group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/raine...
Okay, Puck Money has officially become my favorite book in the Vegas Crush series! Boris and Natalia are such a sweet couple together!
I think this couple resonated with me so much because Boris is not your typical hard partying, womanizing hockey player which is a very rare thing. As much as I love reading about those guys, it is so refreshing to read about a guy who really just wants to find that special someone to settle down with and live life. Not a one night stand every night after the game is over and the puck bunnies pounce. He may be known as the Ice Dragon, but he's really just a softie off the ice.
Talia is a kindred spirit - a numbers girl who is fastidious and almost obsessive when it comes to her work and providing the best possible service to her clients. She's a book nerd like me, who likes to come home from work and settle in with her cat and a good book. Okay, in my case it's a dog but all animals are awesome!
I loved watching these two characters try to navigate a relationship, awkwardly at first because Boris is Talia's client, so they know they're crossing that business relationship line, but their feelings are just too strong to ignore.
We also get a little bit of danger as Talia runs into some trouble with some shady Russians. And we get some pretty steamy sexy times. Oh boy, Boris knows how to take care of a woman!!
Puck Money is book four in the series and is a standalone. You don't need to have read any of the previous books first, but I highly recommend you do at some point, because once you meet all the other characters, you're going to want to learn their back stories as well.
This series is just SO much fun to read! I'm super excited for the next book in the series: Smokeshow, about one of the defensemen on the team, Tyler. He has intrigued me from the start and I am dying to peel the layers back on his story.
For all the nerdy ladies out there, you have a Boris waiting for you out there somewhere!! Talia is such a great person, she tells you like it is, curses like a sailor! Boris a bit surprised at first, however it fits Talia. Boris a down to earth kind of guy, gets taken advantage by his own people. Nope, nope, nope! That triggers something in Talia and she calls them out on it. When they aren't constantly saying sorry to each other, Boris and Talia are great together.
This is a cheeky romance...Puck money is a swoon worthy romance between a nerdy girl and hot asf hockey player. Talia is anything but a puck bunny as she helps Boris with his finances. Boris is anything but boring as he falls for his financial advisor.
What did I like? The nerdy yet young interaction between these two is playful and intriguing. Something in the water in Sin City as all the guys on the Crush team are falling in love and having babies. I like how Boris and Talia fit each other.....Yowsa. Both were hesitant towards a relationship because of their financial connection but love conquers all.
Would I recommend or buy? Yes, this is my second book in the series..I picked up Red Rocket last month but both books are amazing. Such a cute cover too. If you love hockey romances, then this is a beautiful story.
Thoughts for the author? Congratulations on your new release! Stunning second novel for me. I love being on this review team. I received a copy to read and give my opinion. Boris and Talia were a five star amount of fun.
Boris and Talia's slow burn romance in Puck Money sucked me in from the first page straight through to the last!
Boris is not what you may expect from a star athlete. He definitely has skills on the ice, but off the ice he is not really into the party scene or puck bunnies. He keeps his private life private, and he is looking for someone to spend his life with that will see the man, not the star persona.
When he first meets Talia, they both feel the attraction but Talia's last experience with a man is what landed her in a tiny office just off the Vegas strip and away from her family in LA. She is very intelligent and graduated both high school and college a few years earlier than everyone else her age. Unfortunately that also led to a lack of connection with her classmates and she is more than a bit socially awkward at times with very little experience relating to the opposite sex. She missed some cues in her last relationship (if you could call it that) and she is determined to never cross the line with a client again. Boris makes that determination more than a little bit difficult to hold on to though!
They share a connection from the start, but mixed signals abound as they slowly move closer and closer to where they both want to be. The tipping point finally arrives when some very dangerous people decide to prove a point to Boris using Talia, and he instantly flips the switch from easygoing nice guy to borderline Hulk-worthy rage ready to rip apart the world to keep her safe. When they finally do both get on the same page, they steam up the page and everything else around them before one last final piece of drama lets Boris prove how much romantic game he really has!
Puck Money was wonderfully fun, hot and quick read that I really enjoyed. I am looking forward to whatever comes next in the series, and I am hoping it is Tyler's story because that player needs to meet his match and go down hard after all the garbage he has given the other guys along the way so far!
Puck Money may be my new favorite book in the Vegas Crush series. Boris and Talia are the sweetest, most endearing, down to earth couple of the series. Puck Money follows the no fraternization pattern of the other books, but not because Crush policy this time. Talia is a young, nerdy, super smart, financial advisor new to Las Vegas. Her company moved her to Vegas to start fresh after she had an affair with a married client (she didn't know he was married,BTW). Borris is new to the Crush after a recent trade from Austin. He is excited to play on a team with a great lineup, and is looking to settle down, not take advantage of the crazy night life and puck bunnies Vegas has to offer. The two meet when Borris' agent recommends Talia as his new financial advisor. The chemistry is instant for both of them, but Talia has been burned by a client before and is very hesitant to jump in. Borris sees this and holds back. A lot of sweet and steamy romance ensues, as well as some intrigue and danger. But it all ends with a nerdy, swoon worthy HEA that captured this nerd's heart. I recieved an ARC of Puck Money in exchange for an honest review.
5 star Review Puck Money (Vegas Crush #4) by Raine Miller writing as Brit DeMille
The fourth book in the series and can definitely be read as a stand alone, although all the books are so good I recommend you one click all of them, you won’t be disappointed.
Boris Draghici, what a hot and sexy hockey player this man is. I think I may have a new book boyfriend, he really ticked the boxes for me and the woman that tamed him, Talia was his destiny.
I loved everything about Boris and Talia, both separately and together. I loved how feisty Talia was and Boris, there is so much more to him than just a hockey player, he made me swoon.
Seeing familiar faces just added to my reading enjoyment. The banter and the chase as Boris and Talia dance around their feelings was riveting.
I loved Puck Money and cannot wait for the next book in the series.
Book 4 in the Vegas Crush Series of Stand-alone’s although I’m sure once you pick up one of these great hockey reads you will hooked on the guys from the Vegas Crush...... Boris Draghici may be known as the Ice Dragon but that’s for show this hot hockey player has a heart of gold and he is waiting for his soulmate to come into his life, could his new financial advisor Talia be the one ......... I don’t think I have the words that can describe how much I love Boris and Talia, their story took over my night and I was up half the night reading because I needed to know if this adorable couple got the HEA they both deserved. Boris made me swoon and Talia made me laugh so for me that’s a match made in heaven when it comes to book characters. The banter they shared flowed so naturally and that left me smiling and giggling as the hot sexy hockey player pursued the fun feisty financial advisor and her adorable cat Lulu. Can’t wait for book 5 because this is fast becoming one of my favourite series and I know these books will be read and re read so all that’s left for me to say is I highly recommend any lovers of romance one click this gem of a read.
Boris Draghici is not your typical hockey player. I think that is what has made him my favorite. His imperfections make him the perfect book boyfriend. He is exactly the guy that every girl would love to call her own.
Talia is the smart, insecure beauty that finds just the right way to reach the gentle gain that Boris is.
Their love story is a steamy, exciting road that I enjoyed traveling. It was fun visiting friendly faces from other stories along the way. It just made Puck Money that much more of a fun read. Can’t wait to read the next one!
Ummm - I just wanna know what rock I’ve been living under to only just find this hockey series. Now having said that, as I am late to the party I can definitely say that this book reads as a stand-alone. I also believe that some of the characters that make appearances happen to be the main characters from the previous books. I was going to go back and read them anyway but after finishing Boris & Talia’s story I am even more determined. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced readers copy of this book.
Author Raine Miller has me totally in love with Boris! He is such a big teddy bear that I want to keep for my very own. I loved Boris and Talia. Boris is not your typical hockey player and I liked how he is such a sweet and very romantic guy. He totally stole my heart like he did Talia. Talia is such a smart, funny woman who is totally the opposite to Boris. When they get together, its is full of tension and angst and chemistry that can not be denied! Loved the push and pull between these two! Go get this book and enjoy a fun hockey romance that will have your heart melting off the ice! Go One Click it! **ARC kindly provided in exchange for an honest review*** 5 🍒🍒🍒🍒🍒popped!
"Ummm - I just wanna know what rock I’ve been living under to only just find this hockey series. Now having said that, as I am late to the party I can definitely say that this book reads as a stand-alone. I also believe that some of the characters that make appearances happen to be the main characters from the previous books. I was going to go back and read them anyway but after finishing Boris & Talia’s story I am even more determined. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced readers copy of this book."
Well Raine Miller (writing as Brit DeMille) has once again managed to make me fall in love with yet another Russian hockey player Boris in Puck Hockey. This is the fourth book in the Vegas Crush series and let me tell you if you didn't like hockey before you definitely will now with Boris and Talia's beautiful story.
Puck Money is one of the sweeter stories as Boris is not your typical single hockey player who is all about partying and one night stands with many different women. On the contrary, the Ice Dragon as he is known as on the ice, is a sexy one woman man who leads a simple life until he sets his sights on the nerdy, smart, sexy Financial Advisor, Talia. Boris hires her to review his investments that he believes have gone wrong in the hands of shady Russian Advisors. They are instantly drawn to each other, their attraction is instant and real but both try to fight it off and keep it professional without 'crossing the line'. But they soon realize that their hearts are beating for each other and can't deny their feelings, work or no work.
Boris and Talia's story is heartfelt, sincere and full of adventure with a whole lot of sexiness in between. They both have 'secrets' that they have to overcome but their determination, fight and love for each other is so endearing. You will all feel both the heartache and love from Boris and Talia in trying desperately to make this relationship flourish.
I applaud Raine Miller on this series and I encourage you to read the other standalones as it is nice to see the characters intertwine and reappear in each others books. You will no doubt fall in love with this fun story seeking more of Raine Miller's words as she captivates you with each sentence from start to finish.
Totally in love with Boris and Talia the hero and heroine of Puck Money, the fourth standalone book in the Vegas Crush series. I loved that Boris is not the typical hero, that resonated with me and made me love him even more. Talia is a fierce protective young woman who is trying to make it on her own and give herself a clean slate after a big mistake from her past. As always, Raine Miller gives us lots of romance, sexiness with lots "woo-worthiness" and her usual super happy ever afters.
I’m all about the new author experience in 2020 and even tho I read a very short story by this author about 3 years ago as part of an anthology, it’s the only one I’ve read so she’s new to me right now. So far, I am winning at the new author experience and this story is part of it! The chemistry of not only Boris and Talia but that of the story had me hooked and reading in one sitting! GAH, I loved Talia and Boris so damn much you guys! I could totally see myself having them as friends in real life and that just made me smile thru the entire book! I’ve downloaded the first three books in this series just now and I can’t wait to dig in!!!
Sidenote (because I just cannot help myself lol): someone please explain to me what is happening with Talia’s eyeballs on the cover. did no one see that? i can’t unsee it!! #sendhelp
Raine Miller gives us another Hot Russian hockey player to fall in love with. Boris is a smoking hot more laid back hockey player who has been traded to the Crush. Not happy with his finance advisors in Russia he seeks help and is introduced to young, fiesty, strong, smart and beautiful Talia. There is a connection between these two but both fight it because they don't want to mix business and pleasure. I swear I just keep falling for each hockey player she writes. When Boris says Can I pleasure you. OMG. Swoon. Love the banter between these two. I love how laid back Boris is but how fierce and protective he is when Talia get into trouble with some Russians. Love this series and hope to read more in the future.
I received an ARC and volunteered to leave a review.
As soon as Puck Money hit my kindle, I couldn't wait to start reading. I love hockey romance but most off all I love Raine Miller. She's one of the most talented and versatile authors in this industry. No matter if she writes historicals, contemporary or hockey romance, she always manages to make my heart soar. It's impossible to not fall in love with her heroes and heroines. Especially when they are as sweet as Boris and Talia, who were refreshingly very different from the previous couples in this series but very charming and likeable in their own way!
When Russian/Romanian hockey center Boris Drăghici moves from Arizona to Las Vegas to join the Vegas Crush hockey team, he soon realizes that there's something special in the air there. Three of his team mates Evan, Georg and Viktor are already taken and in a happy relationship with their women. One of them with two kids, and the other with one on the way. Boris is very excited for them, since he's never been a hockey playboy but a one-woman man looking for his soul mate. He never thought that he's going to find her in Talia Wentworth, the smart, sweet and super nerdy financial advisor he's hired to sort out his financial investments. Both will try to stay professional, but the strong chemistry between them can't be denied. When Talia realizes that there's something shady about Boris' former Russian advisors, she will do everything in her power to help her Ice Dragon to get out of that mess. Though both will never see it coming what fatal consequences this will bring!
Boris was such a dreamboat. He was nothing like the typical NHL players who are only interested in partying and puck bunnies. He was a sweet, romantic and protective man who was looking for true love. He didn't want to settle for less. I loved that about him! Especially how much he respected and admired Talia for her beauty and intelligence.
Talia was such a dorky, adorable and nerdy heroine. She was super smart, brave and funny too. I loved that she wasn't intimidated by Boris and complemented him in many ways. My favorite part was when she read Harry Potter to him and when he sent her all the roses with handwritten notes. They were really perfect for each other and made such a cute couple!
If you're looking for a great hockey romance with two amazing main characters that will make you swoon hard, then you definitely need to read this book! I strongly recommend this series and can't wait to read Smokeshow, Tyler's story, next.
This is the first book I've read in the Vegas Crush series by Brit DeMille (aka Raine Miller) and I can honestly say you can most definitely read these books as standalones. This book was about a Russian hockey player named Boris that just got traded to the Vegas team. He is a sweet and honest sort of man that just wants to be a one woman man. He's not like the normal womanizing athletes that always seem to be portrayed in the romance books. He's a "boring" (his words) athlete that likes to get the job done and prepare for his future. Enter Natalia. She is a whip smart (perhaps a bit awkward and nerdy) financial advisor that just got 'traded' to their Vegas office after a bit of problem with a previous client. She is looking to keep her nose clean and succeed at the new office, bringing in good clients. So what happens when Boris walks in looking for someone to manage his finances?
Puck Money is a Cute, fast paced and quick read. I hadn't read a Brit DeMille book previous to this one, but you can tell the difference in how the stories are written between these books and Raine Miller. Nothing bad, just different. More light, with a small side of drama/action. The characters definitely fit their actions and I liked seeing them build on what they had. Almost a slow burn book, if it would've been longer. Love the "nerdy" aspects of both these characters and the way they balanced each other. Boris and Talia are a good fit and good for one another. I just may go back and read about the other players that 'drank the water' and found themselves in love.
Puck Money is the fourth installment in Brit DeMille's highly addictive and entertaining sports romance series Vegas Crush. I truly enjoy reading this genre, especially hockey books. Although I'm hands down no expert in this field I always enjoy watching the hulky, tough and sexy players fall in love with fierce, beautiful and smart women. I was sold on the blurb as soon as I saw that there are going to be some sexy Harry Potter readings. My romantic heart and nerdy mind were ecstatic. I absolutely adore this talented author and her writing. She's well known for being very versatile.
Boris Drăghici is a Russian/Romanian hockey player whose nickname is the Ice Dragon. He is a hard-working, disciplined and accomplished sportsman. After playing successfully for Arizona he moves to Sin City in order to join Vegas Crush. Boris might be a beast on the ice but outside of it he is a very down to earth, quiet and simple guy. While other players love the attention by media and especially puck bunnies he is more of a one woman man. Since he is hiding an embarrassing secret he is in dire need of a competent financial advisor who Boris can trust. Natalia Wentworth is a genius when it comes to sorting out her client's investments. She came to Las Vegas in order to run away from a scandal and start anew. When she's hired to help a super hot and sweet hockey player with his money problems Talia definitely isn't aware of what she is getting herself into. Both know very well that any other relationship than a professional one between them is a very bad idea but the temptation is too hard to resist...
Boris is a total dreamboat. Not only is his accent yummy but his protective and caring side makes him truly swoon-worthy. What I loved about him was that he was turned on by Talia's intelligence and impressed with her knowledge and he didn't hide it. Boris wasn't looking for a cheap and easy lay, he wanted a committed relationship. In Talia he found someone who looked out for him and didn't take advantage of his good-heartedness. I admired her for being such a wonderful person. Natalia's a nerd and bookworm which made it so easy for me to connect with her on an emotional level. She was also brave and a straight shooter who didn't let men intimidate her. The chemistry between her and Boris was absolutely palpable.
I've very much enjoyed this story and can't wait to see what Brit DeMille has in tow for naughty Tyler - the notorious womanizer. I simply can't get enough of her delicious hockey players. If sports romance is your jam then you need to pick up this series and give it a try. Trust me, you won't be disappointed. I'm giving Puck Money 4 stars.
Book 4 in the Vegas Crush series. Once again this story can be read and enjoyed as a standalone. Boris and Natalia’s story is a heartfelt, funny and swoony story between a hot Russian hockey player and brainy, beautiful and sassy Talia. Working together to help his finances these 2 opposites realize there’s more to them. As they struggle to fight their sexual tension what develops is a swoony and delicious read. Their chemistry was undeniable. Their banter was snarky and adorable. Well written, this book will make anyone a sports romance fan!
Boris is a professional hockey player who isn’t interested in the social aspect that goes along with it. What he really wants is to fall in love and have a family, but it hasn’t happened yet. When he needs a second opinion regarding his investments the team suggest that he meets Talia and from their first meeting he knows that she has been the one he has looking for.
Talia is very book smart but the same can’t be said when it comes to her judgment with men. After her last relationship she is very cautious around men especially when it comes to her clients. There is something about Boris that draws her in, and she is about to find out that there is no one she would rather have in her corner.
Talia’s fiery personality is a perfect match for the protector in Boris and the chemistry between them is intense. Fun and flirty I really enjoyed this story and it is a great addition to the series.
I received this book as an arc and I was so excited because I’ve never read this author before! But now that I have I know I’m a fan, Puck Money was a beautiful story of love and trust and of course heated scenes that make you want more Boris, especially when his romantic side comes out, ladies it’s swoon central. Boris makes me believe in love, that’s how powerful this character is and don’t get me started on Talia, SHE was everything. Strong, nerdy, smart, everything that makes a good heroine, this book will not disappoint!
Boris is my favorite! Oh, what a swoon fest Puck Money is and Talia she a firecracker and a half.
I gobble up hockey romance and I have to say that I fell for Boris and Talia right off the bat. Boris is the gentle giant and Talia is a guy's girl as she has no problems with eating or telling people what she thinks. The two have an instant connection and you can cut the sexual tension with a knife. But Talia is starting over after an affair with a client in San Francisco that went wrong and so even though she's totally attracted to Boris - she maintains that they must remain professional and it can't go any further than that.
The book is fast-moving and fun. A great way to pass time while quarantined LOL.
This is book 4 in the Vegas Crush series and can read as a standalone, but I highly recommend that you read them since they are all fantastic. This is the story of Boris and Natalia, and this might just be my favorite book so far. The chemistry between these two is amazing. I truly loved Boris who calls himself boring, since he is not a hard partying jock. And Talia, she is smart book nerd with a foul mouth an affinity for big meals and a klutz but so lovable. Together they are the sweetest couple and perfect for each other.
This is fourth book in the series, and I totally loved it. The heroine Tally was genius and so clumsy in the same time. I really could identified myself with her eating habits :D The hero was gentle giant with heart on the right place. And Lulu, was adorable plus in the mix. I laughed many times during the reading and was so touched with the sweetness of Boris. And Tyler intervention was unforgettable. The book was another marvellous love story from hockey world between financial genius and booklover and one sweet hockey player.
I usually like sports romance, but this one wasn't for me. I didn't like the FMC, she was all over the place and not super likeable. Boris, the MMC, felt flat and not very fleshed out. He plays hockey and has dyslexia and that's about it. I would have liked him to be a more three dimensional character.
I thought the climax of the book was over too quickly and was hoping for a bigger showdown with the bad guys. Then we had the stereotypical short break up where the man grovels for the woman back even though he didn't do anything wrong. I'm not saying this is a bad book and people who've read the other books in the series will probably like it, but I was not a fan.
Hello everyone, my name is Talia, and I am in love with Boris. lolol .... Ok my name might not be Talia, but I am totally her... Except the blonde hair, and the brain for finances.. lol.. but otherwise I am bookworm, I wear thick framed glasses, I love to snuggle up on a chaise with a great book and my cat, and I constantly get food all over my tops, be it a shirt, a T-shirt, sweater, and I was totally awkward when it came to boys or men, first dates, or just dates in general. I think this is the closest I ever felt to a book character, and I loved that. Talia and Boris are not what we are used to read about. I loved the fact that Boris wasn't the usual womanizer, full of himself jock. Instead he was all swoony, waiting to find the woman who could be the love of his life. He was like a simple, regular guy next door. He has a secret, which is a real problem in reality, and I loved the fact that Raine addressed it, offering solutions. She just made Boris real. There some steamy scenes in the book, and although Talia and Boris were attracted to one another I didn't quite feel their chemistry. Still it was a good read and I loved these two. Mainly Boris... you need to read his love notes ... now those melted me. And oh boy .. seeing the other boys again.... yes please more ...
Vegas Crush, the hockey love story series, has quickly risen to the top tier of my Favorite Series List. These stories are fun-filled, fast-moving, intense, and extremely engaging, much like the game of hockey, itself. There is also enough heat in these stories to warrant a time out in the sin bin.
Puck Money, the fourth installment of the series is by far Raine Miller's finest offering. She has fully embraced her Brit DeMille persona and set her free to adorn these pages with a story that will have you smiling, laughing out loud, and swooning in your favorite reading spot.
Talia and Boris are separately two of the most loveable, irresistible characters I have ever met. Together, they are pure magic. Their story will make one not only believe in love, but also yearn for its embrace in the most beautiful of ways.
These new characters are surrounded by the vixens and scoundrels who are the stars that make up the Vegas Crush Hockey Family. For those who have met them in previous books, it is like a reunion. For those who have not met them, it will create a need to go back and do so. While Puck Money can be a satisfying reading experience by itself, the knowledge of what happens in the previous books takes the Puck Money experience to its highest level.
Those readers looking for a feel good straight up romance with a short walk on the dark side, Puck Money is the book to read. It has me eagerly anticipating the next book in this Vegas Crush Series.