The Wrong Pucking Number by C.R. Jane

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INITIAL THOUGHTS

I picked this one up for a spicy hockey romance and was expecting a morally grey, possessive hero with some wild texts and a swoony ending. The blurb promised obsession and danger, and I was in the mood for something dark but fun. I didn’t expect how far that darkness would go and how uncomfortable it would make me sometimes.

WHAT IT IS ABOUT

Monroe answers a text from an unknown number, and the flirtation quickly spirals into a full-blown obsession. That number belongs to Lincoln Daniels, a famous hockey player determined to make Monroe his, no matter the cost.

MY REVIEW

Writing Style

C.R. Jane’s writing is fast-paced and super-readable, especially during the text exchanges and flirtier moments. However, the length felt excessive for a smutty romance. This could have easily been 100 pages shorter without losing anything important.

Themes & Messages

This book explores obsession, control, trauma, and what happens when “alpha” veers into something darker. The author intentionally leans into red flag behavior, but that doesn’t make it easier to stomach. There’s also a theme of healing from toxic families, but the execution felt lopsided. Monroe’s trauma was deeply explored, while Lincoln’s felt shallow and forced.

Characters

Lincoln is a textbook morally gray antihero with a savior complex and major control issues. He was hot and intense at times, but his actions, especially drugging Monroe and chaining her up, crossed a line. Monroe had real depth, shaped by her painful past, and I wanted better for her. I loved their banter and texting, but not so much the power imbalance that grew later.

Vibes, Settings, and Tropes

• Wrong number texting
• Hockey player love interest
• A dark romance with red flags
• Possessive and obsessed hero
• Fast attachment, high heat

The hockey bits were digestible even for someone who doesn’t follow the sport. The romance leaned hard into the “this is toxic but hot” trope, and whether that works depends on your tolerance for moral ambiguity.

Favorite Quotes

“And it was then that I noticed the dark black cursive script etched on the pink skin, the outline of the letters an angry red color that bordered a new tattoo. “What?” I murmured, leaning forward so I could read it. MONROE. His cock was tattooed with my name.”

“If you ever wear another man’s jersey, I will kill that man. So be careful, sweetheart.”

“When something feels this fucking good, you don’t fight it. You just follow it to the ends of the earth, no matter where it takes you.” “I’m scared,” I admitted, and he nodded. “I’ll show you how good it can be. Until you’re not scared anymore. Until trusting me is as easy as breathing.”

What Worked For Me

• Their flirty texting and banter were genuinely cute and addictive.
• “Dream girl” as a pet name? Yes, please.
• The spicy scenes almost made up for the chaos.
• I love a good, unhinged antihero when he’s balanced with consent and emotional depth.

What Didn’t Work For Me

• Lincoln’s actions crossed several moral and legal lines. Drugging and chaining Monroe to a bed was horrifying.
• The pacing dragged, and it was too long for what it was.
• Only one of the many sex scenes really hit the mark.
• The “tattoo on his dick” moment was more terrifying than romantic.

Final Thoughts

This is not your sweet sports romance. It’s dark, twisted, and filled with behaviors that should never be romanticized. But if you like dangerous obsession packaged with steamy tension and hockey vibes, this might hit your niche. For me, the story was more red flags than red-hot. Proceed with caution, and definitely read the author’s warnings.

Let’s Talk

Would you stay or run if your “dream guy” tattooed your name after a week and showed up uninvited to your apartment? Asking for a friend.