Scored is a
brand new sexy and fun contemporary romance between a cocky football player and
the quirky librarian who catches his eye.
*It's a complete
standalone and not part of any series.*
Dallas
Drake has a big salary and an even bigger…ego…and he’s not afraid to use either
of them to his advantage. As infamous as he is attractive, Dallas has all the
equipment necessary to bring home the win.
The first
time I met him, I was in handcuffs.
The second,
he saved me when I fell off a ladder.
Now? Now
we’re working together to plan a charity event.
I may not
be interested in what Dallas has to offer, but as the game goes on, I’m
becoming more open to his passes.
Is he
looking for the win, or just determined to score?
Release Date: June 20, 2017
Contemporary Romance
Valentine Publishing, LLC
Review copy provided by publisher
Liza’s Review:
Marquita Valentine has been an auto-buy author for me from
the moment I found my first book by her. Not sure if it is a Southern thing or
what, but I get her voice in every single book and each one becomes my new
favorite release. Scored was another
winner from Ms. Valentine.
Let me just say I fell for Dallas Drake from the moment he
appeared on the page. I love a sexy football player, and add in a football
player who actually wants to help others, and you had me at hello. I also
loved that Paige didn't immediately jump to be with Dallas, which obviously was
something new for the football stud. I think part of it was because her older
sister Finley had always told Paige to stay away from sports guys, but part of
it was just who Paige was. I love that she is all about the romantic hero
thanks to all the romance books she has read.
I loved that Dallas accepted that Paige needed to take
thinks somewhat slow. No it wasn't his usual style with women, but it was
different with Paige from the very beginning. Paige makes Dallas keep their
relationship under wraps, which is so not the norm for him. I fell in love with
Paige and Dallas as a couple long before either one of them admitted to being a
couple. They had amazing chemistry and their lovemaking steamed up my
kindle screen.
I also love that Dallas puts the final decision about them being
a couple in Paige's hands. She had to be strong enough to be open with their
relationship with her family and friends. I loved Paige visits her mama to talk
things over and she finally asked Finley for help with everything. While
everything didn't happen exactly how Dallas wanted it to, it was
perfect the way Paige found her voice and courage to own their relationship.
Scored is a
stand-alone book from Marquita Valentine, though I really want books from a few
of the characters we met. Scored was a fun, sexy and fast read and I highly
recommend it to readers who love contemporary romance.
Rating: 5 Stars (A)
Excerpt:
The one good piece of advice my mom gave me concerning men
is that their egos are huge yet fragile and it takes the delicate, yet strong
touch of a woman to handle them.
Leave it to a man I know only by reputation to drive that
point home.
Dallas sits in my office, an ice pack on his lip and the
back of his head. To be nice, and since it was my fault he’s in pain in the
first place, I’m holding the one on his head, so he can have at least one hand
free.
“Sorry,” I say for what has to be the tenth time in the
past twenty minutes. “I didn’t get to explain myself before, but I wasn’t
laughing at you…well, it was at you, but not your pain. Pain is not funny. When
I fell out of a tree and broke my wrist at the growth plate, I laughed the
whole way there because that’s the only way I could deal with the pain. Finley
didn’t order to me stop either.”
Dallas glances at me, his normally warm eyes icy. “Not
sure how that helps.”
“Hopefully, it lets you know that I’m not laughing all
willy-nilly.”
“Willy-nilly,”
he mutters. “Who says willy-nilly?”
“I do, and to be honest, you’re not that soft. It actually
hurt to fall on you.”
He arches a brow. “You weren’t exactly a pile of
feathers.”
“Yeah… that’s not helping either.” I take the ice pack
away and gently inspect the back of his head. “There’s a tiny,” he hisses,
“bump here, but um, I’m sure if you
go to the doctor that you’ll get fixed up in time for your next game.”
“You do realize that if I have a concussion, I can’t play
this week.”
Slowly, I shake my head. “I didn’t know that.” Now I feel
even worse for freaking out when I fell off the ladder. The dang thing is only
three feet off the ground. I wasn’t falling to my death or into a pit of
snakes.
I shiver.
Pushing away the thoughts of snakes and pits, I focus on
Dallas. Although, I plan on making it up to him, I do need to say something
about his sneaky ways.
“This could have been avoided altogether if you hadn’t
sneaked up on me.”
His jaw works. “I spoke to let you know I was there, so I
wasn’t sneaking up on you.”
This time, I’m the one arching a brow. “Next time, do you
mind waiting until you’re standing on the ladder with me, or I don’t know… wait
until I’m done with said ladder before scaring me to death?”
Dallas tosses the ice pack on my desk. “I guess you have a
point.”
He’s agreeing with me? From my Google snooping, or Snoogling as I like to call it,
everything about Dallas screams he is a cocky, confident man who has been known
to argue with a referee a time or two. Then again, according to the article I
read, Dallas argued with the ref over not throwing a flag for unnecessary
roughness due to player being tackled after the whistle was blown. That kind of
behavior, the other player’s, I mean, is considered very poor sportsmanship and
worth some sort of penalization.
So maybe he was right to argue… and maybe I’m wrong to
assume the worst about him. Even Finley says he’s not that bad, which for her
is practically an endorsement.
But not for us to date—I’m not that stupid.
Or am I…?
“Is there any way I can make it up to you?” I ask. Yes,
that is a hopeful tone in my voice. I do want to go out with him, try something
new, and see what happens. Besides, it’s not like he’s going to ask me out
again. That ship has sailed based on his grumpiness.
“Have drinks with me tonight at 451,” he says.
The ice pack I’m holding plops onto his head, and he
grunts. “Sorry. Dang it.” I grab the pack and toss it onto my desk, where it
slides precariously close to the edge. “Yes, I’d love to have drinks with you.
My treat, of course, since I’m the cause of your injury and… you can send me
any outstanding bills.”
“Why would I do that? You didn’t make me try to save you,
and I sure as hell could have finessed my approach better.”
“Drinks only, then?”
“Appetizers, too. My
treat.” His infamous grin curves his lips. “Don’t want you to think I’m
trying to take advantage of you due to an empty stomach.”
So smooth. I eye him. “You might want to get your head looked at
first because I’m pretty sure that alcohol and concussions don’t play nice
together.”
He salutes me. “Will do.”
I fist my hands on my hips. “Did you come by here to see
me, or to see the event space?”
He bites the unbruised side of his lip. “Would it bother
you if I said both?”
My stomach flips at his answer. “No. I like honesty.”
“Then you’re going to love this,” he says with a serious
look in his eyes that is in direct opposition of his tone, “because I need you
to help me win a bet so a fellow teammate can get some mentoring.”
Intrigued, I reach across my desk and drag my office chair
around. The floor is smooth and the feet have wheels, so it’s relative easy to
do. Plus, I’m pretty sure Dallas is checking out my butt right now and I kind
of like it.
Plopping down, I cross my legs and lean forward. “Tell me
more.”
“You might not like it,” he warns.
“Do we have to kill anyone?”
His brows shoot up to his hairline. “No, but it’s kind of
scary and insulting that you’d go there first.”
“Had to be asked.” I shrug.
Read Today!
About the Author:
Marquita
Valentine is the New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author of the Holland
Springs and Boys of the South series.
Since
first taking the plunge in July of 2012 to self publish, Marquita Valentine has
appeared on the Top 100 Bestselling Ebooks Lists on iBooks, Amazon Kindle, and
Barnes&Noble. She's been called "one of the best new voices in
romance" (Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews) and her books have been accused
of being "a sexy, fun, and slightly addicting contemporary read" (The
Book Queen).
When
she's not writing sexy heroes who adore their sassy heroines, she enjoys
shopping, reading, and spending time with her family and friends. Married to
her high school sweetheart, Marquita lives in a seriously small town in the
south with her husband, two kids, and a dog.
Connect with Marquita:
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