Title: The Score
Series: Off-Campus #3
Author: Elle Kennedy
Release Date: January 11, 2016
He knows how to score, on and off the ice
Allie Hayes is in crisis mode. With graduation looming, she still doesn’t have the first clue about what she's going to do after college. To make matters worse, she’s nursing a broken heart thanks to the end of her longtime relationship. Wild rebound sex is definitely not the solution to her problems, but gorgeous hockey star Dean Di-Laurentis is impossible to resist. Just once, though, because even if her future is uncertain, it sure as heck won’t include the king of one-night stands.
It’ll take more than flashy moves to win her over
Dean always gets what he wants. Girls, grades, girls, recognition,girls…he’s a ladies man, all right, and he’s yet to meet a woman who’s immune to his charms. Until Allie. For one night, the feisty blonde rocked his entire world—and now she wants to befriends? Nope. It’s not over until he says it’s over. Dean is in full-on pursuit, but when life-rocking changes strike, he starts to wonder if maybe it’s time to stop focusing on scoring…and shoot for love.
Hear that? It's no big deal—just the sounds of my heart-breaking and my weeping echoing through my house. I'll be fine. Really, I will—*sobs*
I expected a lot of things from The Score. I mean, Dean Heywood-Di Laurentis is manwhore who finds himself fascinated with a feisty, dramatic blonde who is not interested in him. At least, not for a second time. Fun, right? Because, Allie Hayes doesn't fling—and she's just out of a long-term relationship, so her logic is solid. She's looking to get over her ex and get on with her future. One night with Dean…just a lapse in judgment.
Except, she can't stop thinking about him and when his perfect world is rocked, the time comes for them to decide whether the future is there for both of them—together.
I like said, I expected lots from this book. And I got it all, and then some. It was laugh-out-loud funny. Seriously, side-splitting, don't look at me, I'll start laughing again funny. I was utterly amused on more than one occasion—Twilight references, Wayne Gretzky paperweights, Winston, oh, my! It was also hold-the-phone HOT. As in, panties disintegrating, ovaries exploding, temperature rising S. E. X. Y. I need a cold shower, a fan, a man, something. Because, whoa!
But then, it was shattering. Heart-dropping, you're killing me, I can't go on sad. That's what I mean. I was so invested in this story and these characters, and what happened? Did. Not. Expect. It. Oh, and add Can. Not. Handle. It to that, too. Because I cried. Oh, yes, I surely died. And even now, writing this review, I have a pit in my stomach and a feeling like I might not be okay again.
Except I will. Because while Elle Kennedy effectively stomped on my fucking heart (thanks for that, Ms. Kennedy), she also healed it. With a sweet, hopeful, funny and scorching, sizzling, sexy hot ending. With a surprising bombshell to boot. Eek! I can't say I was expecting that, and I am reserving the right to hold judgment until book four, Tucker’s book, comes out, and we can see how it plays out. Right now, I'm excitedly apprehensive. And intrigued. And desperate for more. Oh, and in need of some more damn tissues. *Sobs*
~ Review by Beth
Dean Di-Laurentis is a manwhore—rich, privileged and accustomed to getting what he wants, Dean lives the high life and the high life is good to Dean. When Allie Hayes blows into his life like some kind of hurricane, she's a force to be reckoned with and Dean has no idea what he's in for. One wild night of the hottest sex Dean has ever known, and he's convinced that he needs more.
Allie's not like other girls. She doesn't roll over and just give Dean whatever he asks for. She's not really interested in a relationship with him so much as she's interested in using him as a rebound and then moving on with her life. The fact that the sex is amazing is just a bonus—a bonus she's not entirely inclined to walk away from just yet, despite the fact she's a "nester" and Dean doesn't do commitment. Still, they navigate their way through their unorthodox relationship and before long, they're both in over their heads.
I LOVED Allie and Dean. They were playful and fun and fucking hysterical. I laughed—loudly, and for a fair amount of time—like a crazy person at my Kindle. They were also Kindle melting hot; the fun and playful nature of their relationship translated to their bedroom activities in a way that was sexy and a little bit wild, but with so much heart—sometimes it took my breathe away. There were scenes...*sigh*, I'm still recovering from some of those scenes. Dean was unexpectedly sweet and smart, and Allie was so strong and plucky. I loved them. I loved...everything. It all just worked for me.
And then it broke my heart. Like, seriously broke my heart. I was distraught. I ached for Dean and then, later, for Allie. My heart felt so bruised and shattered for them but I could not have been more proud of both of them as they rallied. They showed so much growth and character. So much fucking heart. God, I loved them so much!
If I haven't already made my point clear, allow me to spell it out for you: READ THIS BOOK. Emotional and hilarious, heartbreaking and heartwarming—it's a rollercoaster ride for your feels but it's worth every peak and valley.
~ Review by Shelly
Gorgeous, hockey player, man whore: Dean Heyward-Di Laurentis is all about living the college life, and that means getting into as many woman as he wants. Literally. He was happy with the life he lived, until Allie knocked him on his ass and changed the way he lived.
All Allie wanted to do is keep living her life despite having to make one of the hardest decisions of her young life, and yet, what she found instead was comfort in the last guy she ever thought of…Dean.
These two had me sighing, laughing, clenching my thighs, rolling my eyes and wanting to smack some sense into them at times. I loved their chemistry!! Allie's determination to not fall into the pit called Dean again was hilarious! Dirty Dean, as I like to call him, left no stone unturned in trying to convince Allie to give him a second chance. His dirty, racy text messages had me dripping and wanting to get my phone to respond to his texts and say, ‘Hell yes, Dirty Dean!!’
Allie and Dean have their highs and lows, they come to realize their goals in life have changed and, at some point, they will have to make decisions that will definitely change their relationship. Will they be able to survive it? Will they be able to prove to the world that they have what they need in each other?
Hang on to your panties because Dean will charm them off if you're not careful...He's a total expert at that! And let me say, I. Need. Tucker's. Story!!!!
~ Review by Kara
A USA Today bestselling author, Elle Kennedy grew up in the suburbs of Toronto, Ontario, and holds a B.A. in English from York University. From an early age, she knew she wanted to be a writer, and actively began pursuing that dream when she was a teenager.
