Trying to Score is an enthralling look at two people getting a second chance.  When a young Fallon Parker gave her heart to hockey star Lucas Brooks, she gambled on love and losing spectacularly.  Time has passed and she’s working hard to make a good life for herself … then Lucas skates back into her life again.  Lucas has spent years hiding his troubles and it cost him the love of his life.  But he’s determined to show Fallon that he’s changed.  Can they overcome the past and find happiness together again, especially when Lucas learns Fallon has been keeping a big secret?

I have to admit that I put off reading this one because I knew it was going to hurt.  While reading Taking Shots, I got so involved that when things went sour it broke my heart.  Of course it had a happy ending, as does this one, but the road in both books was a hard one.  So be prepared to get a little worked up …

I absolutely love Lucas.  He’s big, bad and macho.  Cocky and arrogant, but vulnerable, sweet and so very much gone over Fallon.  He’s definitely not perfect and he made quite a few mistakes but he’s worked hard to turn his life around and he so very badly wants a second chance.  His vulnerability, his dyslexia and his love for the son he just met touched me.

Although there were times that I didn’t like Fallon, I love that Lucas loved her, faults and all.  She might be difficult, short-tempered and unwilling to let go of the past, but she does have her reasons.  Maybe she should be willing to forgive a little earlier than she does, but I’m very satisfied with the way it all turned out.

Since this is the second book in a series we get a fun little update on Shea and Ellie, and of course we get to see more of those sexy Assassins.  Fallon’s sister Aubrey is going to be the star of the next book and we get a look at her as well as her hero.  Considering what Aleo has put her people through so far, and the glimpses we get here, Empty Net is going to be another heartbreaker…  And I can’t wait.