The Diamond Puck-Up (Dirty Puckers 1) by Lauren Landish-review
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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date February 10, 2026
NHL enforcer Griffin Mahoney has spent years protecting his team on the ice—and his heart off it. The one woman who makes his stone-cold exterior melt? His best friend’s sister, Penny Lee. But when a stolen ring entangles her with the Mob, Griffin’s protective instincts override his promise to stay away.
As a custom jewelry designer, Penny transforms family heirlooms into modern treasures. She’s always thought her brother’s best friend was grumpier than a bear with a hangover—until she discovers the brooding hockey player’s hidden soft side. Their undeniable chemistry catches them both off guard, even as danger circles closer.
With Stanley Cup playoffs looming, Mob threats escalating, and her overprotective brother ready to cross-check them both into the next season, Griffin and Penny’s path to happiness is anything but smooth. Together they’ll discover that true love, like diamonds, can withstand any pressure—and shine even brighter for it.
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REVIEW:THE DIAMOND PUCK-UP is the first instalment in Lauren Landish’s contemporary, adult DIRTY PUCKERS erotic,hockey romance series. This is twenty eight year old, Ice Hawks’ defenseman / enforcer Griffin Mahoney, and twenty-five year old, jewelry designer Penny Lee’s story line.
Told from dual first person perspectives (Griffin and Penny) THE DIAMOND PUCK UP follows in the aftermath of a robbery. Penny Lee is a jewelry designer and having purchased a large and expensive diamond ring at a local shop, Penny will become the victim of a theft, and with the help of her brother’s best friend and teammate Griffin Mahoney, Penny will go on the hunt at the local pawn shops for a ring that was never supposed to have been sold. Griffin Mahoney has been in lust with his best friend’s sister for close to five years but when the diamond was stolen, Griffin felt guilty, and pledged his help to uncover the truth but when mobsters come searching for the ring that was lost, Griffin refuses to tell Penny about the possibility of the ring as something more.
The world building focuses on the search for the diamond ring, a diamond Penny was hoping to use in another design but when Griffin discovers that the mob is looking for our story line heroine, Griffin decides to keep it a secret, believing Penny would be safer if she never knew.
The relationship between Penny and Griffin is a forbidden relationship; a best friend’s sister affair in which Penny’s brother Dominic declared Penny off-limits, and in doing so instigated a five year hatred between our story line couple. Griffin’s attraction to Penny is squashed by his teammates’ refusal to allow Dominic and Penny together but when the truth is revealed Griffin may not have only lost the girl but his best friend as well. Working together to locate the missing ring, Penny and Griffin are pulled together, acting on their mutual attraction and sexual desire but our couple is often TSTL, as they go in search of the people who stole the ring. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.
We are introduced to Penny’s brother and Griffin’s teammate Dominic Lee, as well as several players on the Ice Hawks team.
THE DIAMOND PUCK-UP is a story of secrets and lies, crime and fear, family and relationships, acceptance and love. The character driven premise is entertaining and captivating; the romance is seductive; the characters are determined and charismatic.
Copy supplied for review
Reviewed by Sandy
