Reviewed by Valerie

TITLE: Shameless Puckboy

SERIES: Puckboys #3

AUTHORS: Eden Finley & Saxon James

PUBLISHER: Self Published

LENGTH: 279 pages

RELEASE DATE: October 27, 2022

BLURB:

OSKAR

After a little mishap in an alleyway with CCTV, my public image needs fixing. Oops?

It might have been a stunt to get the attention of Lane Pierce, San Jose’s new PR manager, but I didn’t realize what the consequences would be when I did it. I’ve got Lane’s sole focus now in all the wrong ways.

He has designated himself as my babysitter, and while it’s fun messing with him, being bound by curfews and rules has never worked for me.

The more I push back, the more I realize what’s really on the line. My career, my future, and maybe even my heart.

LANE

Being appointed head of San Jose’s PR department was a dream come true … until I met Oskar Voyjik.

He may be San Jose royalty, but with the stunts Oskar’s been pulling, the team owner is down to his last thread of patience. Which puts me in the firing line. If I can’t turn Oskar’s entitled party boy image around, we’ll both be shown the door.

I have free rein to do whatever it takes, and it turns out whatever it takes is Oskar.

Only, the more entangled our lives become, the more I see the Oskar he’s buried deep down. The one who hurts, the one who’s sensitive and kind, the one … the one I think I’m falling for.

I can’t have him and my career, and if rumors of the professional lines I’ve crossed get out, it’s not only my dream job I can kiss goodbye; I’ll be disgraced from professional sports completely.

REVIEW:   

Shameless Puckboy is a lovable story and the third book in the hockey-oriented Puckboys series. Amidst the sharp banter and sarcasm is a tale of a forbidden romance that arises from forced proximity. There’s a mix of humor, sexy times, hockey, friendship, falling in love and … exhibitionism.

NHL defenseman, Oskar Voyjik, is a force to be reckoned with on the ice, but off the ice he’s an unapologetic, outrageous playboy. After a sex tape of him in an alley with two other men goes public, his San Jose team management needs him to be reined in because he’s a public relations nightmare. After the second PR liaison fails, head of the department, Lane Pierce, is sent in to contain Oskar’s acting out. He decides the only way to do it is to be with him 24/7 for weeks to keep him out of the public’s eye. It’s a little preposterous but who cares? It’s a great set up.

Oskar has little to no self-worth. He puts on a façade of shallowness as a defense because he’s constantly hurt by people who think he’s superficial. No one has ever wanted to look deeper than his appearance. It’s a self-fulfilling prophecy. When everyone just wants him for his looks but he’s still left alone, he surmises that it’s his personality at fault and he’s not worth the time and trouble to befriend.

Oskar realizes he needs to change his image – how he’s perceived off the ice – if he wants to save his career. He’s been careless and he’s aware that if San Jose cuts him for his embarrassing antics, he’ll be too much of a liability for another team to sign him. But he’s no longer sure he knows who his true self is. His wild behavior is a coping mechanism to keep people at arm’s length and if keeps up the act, he can control the narrative.

He’ll always be alone, something he accepted long ago. He’s never had a relationship so his heart can’t be broken. He doesn’t allow himself to get close to people with the exception of the Queer Collective, the tight-knit group of NHL queer players who have become close friends. Even they think Oskar lacks substance.

Since all else has failed, Lane decides to keep Oskar in line by … sleeping with him? He thinks giving him sex under his control will keep Oskar from going elsewhere to satiate his sexual needs. Lane is drawn to protect Oskar because he believes there’s a vulnerable man inside. He’s willing to risk his own career by standing up for him. He wants Oskar to open up and trust him. He wants to bolster his self-image, comfort him, care for him, and show him he’s worthy of love. But Lane needs to do all that without becoming emotionally invested. Lane wants a relationship but he’s always drawn to guys who use him. He’s been hurt by young playboys like Oskar before and he won’t let it happen again. Falling in love is off the table.

This is a fun book and Oskar’s behavior is at times hilarious. I particularly liked the appearance of all the Queer Collective members, including Ezra and Anton and Tripp and Dex. They are all their true, lovable selves. I got a kick out of Lane assuming the “collective” was a sex or orgy group. The banter is delightful. Overall, this is a great addition to the series.

RATING:

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