Spoiler Alert – it’s a 5!
I just can NOT find a single thing I don’t like about this series. I love The Jacksonville Rays so much in fact I went on to read (almost) all of Emily Rath’s other books!
Now, admittedly, this is her top series. The characters are chefs kiss. The tension, the depth, the love, and damn it I’m a wanna-be hockey fan now.
Authors that give us immersive worldbuilds have a special place on my shelves.
Not only do we have four completed books in the series, averaging nearly 600 pages a piece. WITH A FIFTH BOOK ON THE WAY! We also have a prequel that actually adds to the story, and two novella’s that continue to grow our beloved characters.
I finally got around to reading both novella’s recently after an impulsive Amazon buy. No regrets. When those books arrived in the mail I was bouncing on my toes.
I have been daydreaming about Mars and Caleb since I finished the first book. Talk about delicious tension and the obvious desire to taste his piercings.
Now the novella’s have focused around the weddings, and more specifically the pregnancy announcements and births of the Ray’s babies.
I respect the author so much for putting these highlights in a novella and not the story itself.
The dreaded pregnancy trope is not my fav. Except when Emily Rath writes it in Pucking Sweet- swoon!
However there is a story to be told there and it was done right. Growing the characters and letting us see more than just their bedroom intimacy but their relationship intimacy. How they handle day to day life but still respect and love each other.
Though there are only a handful of chapters in each novella they are loooong. They are tucked in between the folds for the other stories, like a behind the scenes or ‘meanwhile’ styled extension while you continue to read the main stories.
Now Tess and Ryan’s chapters ran a bit long. I love their story but I feel like their wedding was done. They even admit as much in the novella. But reading through their rainy beach wedding was sweet and the spice that followed in their villa was hot.
And Tess has a high risk pregnancy, with an even high risk delivery. The trigger warnings were accurate.
But every time little Emma is on the page in the following books I love her that much more.
But the author knows how to make us wait for what we want.
Up to the last chapter!
But man does she deliver.
Now, the kiss between Ilmari and Caleb in Pucking Strong is that much better.
Seeing Jake and Rachel’s reactions to them finally admitting their feelings out loud was a precious insight to supporting your poly-partners.
Now I do expect two more novellas… hopefully before we get Pucking Free. But I’m not holding any grudges over this series.
Overall ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
| 💕 Would Recommend
| ⚫ R – Restricted / Adult-Only (Ages 21+)
Worldbuilding🗺️🗺️🗺️
Ick Factor 😇
Fangirl Moments 💖💖💖💖💖
Spice🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Errors/Plot Holes ❗
Tropes: Sports Romance, hockey, Why Choose, Reverse Harem, MM, MF, LGBT, Pregnancy, Erotica, Novella, Christmas, Novella, Smut
Title: Pucking Ever After II
Author: Emily Rath
Genre: Romance
Series: Jacksonville Rays
Format: Physical Book
Length: 232 pages
Published: November 22, 2023 by Emily Rath Books
