Sports romances have been something I’m really in the mood to read lately, so the arrival of my eARC of The Final Score came at the perfect time. I’ve read romances by Lana Ferguson before and had a good time, so I had a feeling this one would be a good time.
A big thank you to Netgalley and Berkley for providing me with an eARC to read and review for this blog tour. This doesn’t affect my opinion in any way.
A hockey player and a grad student are on thin ice until they meet their match in this sexy romance by USA Today bestselling author Lana Ferguson.
Jack Baker is on top of the world now that he’s back on the rink where he belongs. But the high comes crashing down when he reinjures his arm immediately following his return to the ice, and this time, he might never be able to play again. After a lifetime as the strong, happy hockey guy whose sister needed him, Jack is left questioning everything he knows about himself.
Abigail Thompson feels like she’s hit rock bottom. It’s only been a few months since the massive scandal that finally severed the cord between her and her narcissistic father. And now, in her last weeks of grad school, she’s been kicked out of her building with very short notice. The last thing she wants to do is ask her half-brother for help after what she’s put him through, but it’s looking like his best friend’s spare room might be her only choice.
Jack is flighty, flirty, and a little full of himself—all the things Abby’s learned to avoid in men. However, spending every day together breaks the ice between them, and she starts to realize that Jack might not be who he seems. It’s possible that maybe, just maybe, he might be struggling as much as she is. Soon, confiding in each other leads to falling into bed, and this fling will either play with their hearts—or score them the ultimate goal of love.
Review
Lana Ferguson writes romances that I love with banter, spice, and that often hit you in all the feels before you realize it. This was the case again with The Final Score and I’m so glad I curled up with this book. I loved the characters, the mental health rep. forced proximity, and our characters just trying to figure their lives out.
Abigail is dealing with a family scandal, a brother she doesn’t know well, and an apartment that isn’t safe to live in. Jack is a hockey player dealing with a possible career ending injury and the feeling like hockey is all he has and that’s the only thing that makes him important. Both of these characters are so raw and aren’t even thinking about love. Life has other plans though. When these two are forced together we start with banter and maybe even a bit of hostility. Then it turns into tiny moments that mean more to them than the other realizes (like ugly keychains, IYKYK) and helping the other get out of a panic attack. Abigail and Jack were really the person the other didn’t know they needed.
The Final Score was the perfect balance of humor, serious stuff, character growth, side characters, and some spicy scenes. I feel like Lana Ferguson knows how to put everything we need into sports romances and I can’t wait to see what she gives us next.
The Final Score was a fun time! Hockey romances really tend to be my favorite of the sports romances. Do you have a certain favortite sport for romances? Let me know in the comments! I’d love to hear from you! I’m always on the lookout for more sports romances.
