Victoria Denault’s SCORE is the perfect start and name to the San Francisco Thunder Series. Hockey star, Jude Braddock, is given a second chance with his childhood crush, Zoey Quinlin. This contemporary sports romance is suitable for adult audiences. I love Victoria Denault’s Hometown Players series. I was thrilled when I discovered she was coming out with another hockey romance series. I was not disappointed. I loved this book.

The characters are skillfully developed and likeable. Jude and Zoey had both crushed on each other in their youth in Maine. Zoey’s family moved, and they lost touch. She was the one that got away. Eleven years later, they run into each other on the other side of the country in San Francisco where they both now live. Zoey is going through a divorce, and Jude is going through women like they are going out of style. Both characters grow through this story, especially Jude, whose social life majorly transforms.

My heart went out to Zoey. Her ex-husband, Adam, was a piece of work. I love how Jude always defended Zoey around him. Jude’s situation with his best friend and team captain, Levi, was interesting. I can understand why things were strained between them. Different life circumstances altered their dispositions. I appreciated how Zoey and Jude brought back the positive aspect of their personalities.

I love Jude’s relationship with his family. It cracks me up that he calls his three sisters the sorority. I love that Zoey babysat his sisters, and that were so defensive of her.

I enjoyed the plot. Zoey and Jude have some interesting obstacles to overcome. The ending was perfect and felt well concluded. I’m looking forward to Jude’s sister Dixie’s and Eli’s story in the next novel in the series, Slammed. I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book. ( )

Received an ARC for my fair review for netgalley. I enjoyed book, I am a follower of Ms. Denault, and I absolutely love hockey, but am not a puck bunny! The only thing that I do not like, is the manwhore thing, why, why, must we almost always have this, but anyway, you do end up liking Jude. The relationship developed between Zoey and Jude was nice, I always love to read about past crushes, who eventually get a chance because they belong together. Jude realized something was missing from him life, and Zoey was it. I loved his sisters they were hilarious, especially Dixie, can't wait to read her story next. ( )