Pucking Around (Jacksonville Rays, Bk. 1)
by Rath, Emily
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Overview
The TikTok sensation that became an internationally bestselling phenomenon, Pucking Around is the steamy, inclusive, kink-friendly "why choose" hockey romance that has readers everywhere screaming for overtime.
Rachel Price just landed her dream fellowship as a physical therapist with the Jacksonville Rays, the NHL's hottest new team. It's the opportunity she's worked her entire career for, and she is not about to let anything derail it. Especially not a man. Two months ago, she walked away from a single perfect night with a stranger — no names, no strings, no regrets. She figured she'd never see him again. She figured wrong.
The moment those familiar muscled legs walk through her door, Rachel's carefully constructed professionalism takes a hit. Mr. Perfect from that unforgettable night is none other than the Rays' playboy grinder. And he is now, officially, her patient. The sting? He doesn't even recognize her. Not even a flicker.
Now Rachel has to navigate ten months of working side by side with the man she can't forget — who is suddenly very determined to win her over all over again. But he's not the only complication. There's also his best friend, the surly team equipment manager, who is equal parts aggravating and impossible to ignore. And then there's the team's superstitious goalie, who has decided Rachel is his personal good luck charm and refuses to be convinced otherwise.
Three very different men. One very inconvenient fellowship. Rachel came here to prove herself, not to fall for anyone — let alone three someones at once. But secrets have a way of surfacing, and one unexpected revelation is about to test everything she thought she knew about the rules she set for herself.
"An absolutely delightful treat to savor! Relatable, sexy, and beautiful." — Elena Armas, New York Times bestselling author of The Spanish Love Deception
Series Information
Series Name: Jacksonville Rays Hockey Series
Series Reading Order
This series is best read with the main novels in publication order. 'That One Night' is a prequel novella to 'Pucking Around' (Book 1) and is sometimes included in later editions of Book 1. 'Pucking Ever After: Vol 1' is a bonus novella to be read after 'Pucking Around' (Book 1). 'Pucking Ever After: Vol 2' is a bonus novella to be read after 'Pucking Wild' (Book 2). The series is ongoing.
Prequel Novella, 0.5 - That One Night
Book 1 - Pucking Around
Bonus Novella, 1.5 - Pucking Ever After: Vol 1
Book 2 - Pucking Wild
Bonus Novella, 2.5 - Pucking Ever After: Vol 2
Book 3 - Pucking Sweet
Book 4 - Pucking Strong
Book 5 - Pucking Free
Awards and Recognition
Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Readers' Favorite Romance (2023)
Reviews and Author Praise
"Holy puck, folks! If you're looking for a romance that'll melt the ice faster than a Zamboni on steroids, “Pucking Around” by Emily Rath is your ticket to the penalty box of passion. This first installment in the Jacksonville Rays series is hotter than a fresh-off-the-bench hockey player and twice as addictive. As someone who's devoured more sports romances than a team scarfs down post-game pizzas, I gotta say—Rath's debut novel skates circles around the competition. Humor, heart, and heat aplenty!"
— The Bookish Elf
"Ah, the intoxicating combination of athletic achievement and bedroom antics; who could be immune from its charms? In Emily Rath's Jacksonville Rays series, which includes Pucking Around, Pucking Wild, and Pucking Sweet, a new professional hockey team in Florida is the locus for lots of fun flirtation...Jumbo-size mattresses are acquired to contain the filthy but sweet activities that ensue."
— The Cut
"An absolutely delightful treat to savor! Relatable, sexy, and beautiful."
— Elena Armas, New York Times bestselling author of The Spanish Love Deception
Topics and Key Themes
Narrative Tropes
Forced Proximity
Grumpy/Sunshine
Workplace Romance
Second Chance Romance
Why Choose / Reverse Harem
Key Themes
Career ambition versus the heart — Rachel's dream fellowship keeps colliding with three men she can't ignore.
Being seen for the first time — the sting of being forgotten sparks an unexpected journey toward being truly known.
One woman, three very different connections — each man offers something distinct, and Rachel must define her own rules.
Secrets that rewrite the rules — a hidden revelation forces Rachel to rethink the boundaries she built around herself.
Professional identity under pressure — proving yourself in a male-dominated sports world while desire complicates everything.
Who is this book for?
Primary Genre: Why Choose Hockey Romance
Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ 5/5: Extra Spicy
All the spice. Frequent, explicit, and highly detailed scenes take center stage. Best for readers who want high heat and high intensity romance.
Fans of Penny Reid's witty, character-driven romances will enjoy the inclusive 'why choose' dynamic, laugh-out-loud banter, and steamy open-door scenes set against the high-energy world of professional hockey.
About the Author
EMILY RATH is a New York Times and internationally bestselling author whose chart-topping, sex-positive, queer-inclusive novels include the Second Sons Regency romances, the Tuonela Duet fantasy novels, and the Why Choose Tiktok sensation, the Jacksonville Rays Hockey Romances. A former university professor, she holds PhDs in Political Science and Peace Studies. Emily was born in Florida, raised in Kentucky, and now lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, son, and cats. She can be found online at EmilyRathBooks.com, on Instagram @emilyrathauthor and on Tiktok @emilyrathbooks.
Similar Authors
Penny Reid, Kylie Scott, Odette Stone
Reader FAQs
Pucking Around is written for adult readers. It carries a maximum spice rating and contains explicit open-door sexual content involving multiple partners. It is not suitable for readers under 18.
Both feature witty banter and deeply character-driven storytelling, but Pucking Around adds a why-choose dynamic and a higher heat level. Reid's romances are typically one-on-one; this one centers on one woman navigating three distinct romantic connections simultaneously.
The story establishes an existing connection from a prior encounter, so the romantic tension begins immediately. The slow-burn element comes from navigating workplace boundaries and the emotional complexity of three developing relationships rather than a delayed physical connection.
No prior hockey knowledge is needed. The sport provides setting and atmosphere, but the story centers on Rachel's professional ambitions and her relationships with three men. Hockey functions as backdrop rather than a subject requiring specialist familiarity.
Pucking Around contains explicit sexual content involving multiple partners, workplace power-adjacent dynamics, and references to a secret or revelation that reframes earlier events. Readers sensitive to consensual non-monogamy depicted in explicit detail should note the maximum spice rating.
Info
ISBN: 9781496758798
Published Date: April 29, 2025
Publisher: Kensington Publishing
Language: English
Page Count: 595
Size: 8.24" l x 5.50" w x 1.63" h
Category
Fiction