Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

Scored #1

Scoring Her Heart

Rate this book
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?

Scoring Her Heart can be read as a standalone.

302 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 19, 2017

722 people are currently reading
986 people want to read

About the author

Marquita Valentine

75 books1,737 followers
Marquita Valentine is a New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author of contemporary romance.

When she's not writing sexy heroes who adore their sassy heroines, she enjoys traveling, 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.

You can sign up for her newsletter here: https://goo.gl/3XFh3k

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
380 (31%)
4 stars
473 (39%)
3 stars
256 (21%)
2 stars
59 (4%)
1 star
29 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 152 reviews
Profile Image for Alex ♈.
1,568 reviews1,395 followers
dnf
June 24, 2017
DNF somewhere in the middle of the book...

"I’m Dallas Drake. All-American tight end. Got the lightest hands and the biggest dick in the NFL. I know how to use them to my advantage."***

Highly unlikable arrogant male character with light chauvinistic tendencies *shudder*


+

Prude-alarm




I just can’t… today… anymore… sorry…
PMS???

Maybe later.
Edited on 24.07.17 -> Or NEVER!

***I'd like to add a comment from my dear friend Bubu. Girl, you rock! 👏
"
Just did a quick check, as I'm not familiar with NFL team numbers. But according to the quick research I've just made (I may be wrong, though), every NFL team consists of 53 players. There are 32 teams which equals to a total number of 1696 NFL players. How long has it taken him to check out the dicks of the remaining 1695 players, I wonder. That quote is simply idiotic."
Profile Image for Book-Bosomed  blog.
516 reviews257 followers
June 20, 2017
Paige Owen, 26, is a librarian who doesn’t like or follow football even if her sister is the PR rep for a team. But once NFL pro Dallas Drake, 34, catches a glimpse, he’s determined to change her mind if he wants to win a bet and get the good girl.

“‘I asked you out because I liked the way those pink stickers looked on your tits and the fact you allowed a complete stranger to talk you into being cuffed. Seemed at odds with your blushes and conservative outfit, which meant you were…are the perfect naughty librarian for me.’”

Turns out, Dallas has a good heart and is a caring guy. I appreciated that the bet was laid out to Paige from the start, and the story didn’t fall prey to that predicable plot climax. Dallas’s downside though was that he’s a reformed manwhore. While there is thankfully no OW sex scenes or drama, the manwhore characterization has become really tired and overused in the romance market and the plentiful references to his player past grew old fast. For something that was supposed to be history, it was sure brought up a lot in the present.

“‘And if you could never mention that ever again, that would be tremendous.’”

If only you could follow your own advice Dallas. ;-)

On a positive note, Paige wasn’t into players either. She was so refreshing in the opening. This girl had brains and not just book smart brains, but the intuition to decipher when Dallas was speaking from the heart and when he was recycling lines. Heck, even I had to go back and reread what he said because Paige was just that sharp.

“‘I want to take you to bed and fuck you exactly like you want. If along the way, something more comes out of this, I’m fine with that. And if it doesn’t, then what’s the worst that could happen?’”

Paige really makes Dallas work to prove himself, his sincerely, and his interest in her. I liked their banter and the build up in the first half. They had good chemistry and their sex scenes were hot!

I did feel that the story lost some momentum in the last quarter, partly due to relationship development that stalled out, but largely due to a shift in the otherwise likable characters. Dallas became less charming and more caveman; Paige lost some of her spunk; and the purpose of the side characters was a bit murky. I kept trying to figure out where Aiden fit in, and Layton’s approach to tackling a serious potential hitch to her pending nuptials seemed immature.

Told via Paige and Dallas’s alternating first person POV, this is still an upbeat, low angst romance with a devoted hero. And you don’t have to be a fan of sports (I’m not!) to enjoy it either.

Safety recap:

*I volunteered to review this ARC. All reviews written by Book-Bosomed Book Blog are honest opinions. In the interest of transparency and providing unbiased book reviews and to avoid misleading other readers, it is the blog’s policy not to withhold or delay any reviews no matter the star rating. To the best of my knowledge, this title was presented to the blog without any conditions or stipulations.
Profile Image for Michelle.
2,103 reviews1,407 followers
June 22, 2017
ARC provided by author in exchange for an honest review

 photo 6010ff8de5312c861ec70f2229df6c_zpstfwsir7p.gif

Marquita Valentine scores major points with her newest contemporary romance, Scored!!! How could she not when the heroine is a librarian and the hero is an NFL tight end? Yes, we get a Mr. Darcy loving romance bookworm who gets swept away by a kindhearted and sexy hero , who is not your typical cocky jock. Did I also mention that these two are two friggin cute for words? So it’s pretty much given that Marquita has whipped up a fast paced fun and sweet romance that will have you saying TOUCHDOWN.

Dallas Drake is one NFL sexiest bachelors. He has fame, money, and has no problems with the ladies. He also has an ego to match the size of his bank account but what people fail to realize that there is more to Dallas Drake, than the pretty boy football star. First, he has a kind and loving heart especially when it comes to his family and his charity that helps children with medical needs and financial assistance. While Dallas is trying to stay away from unwanted and unnecessary scandal or anything that will upset his publicist, he fortunately meets a nice girl that likes him not Dallas the star athlete.

Scored

Paige Owens is a romantic at heart and how could she not be as a librarian. She loves books, happily ever afters, and her friends and family. As for her love life, well it’s pretty much nonexistent that is until a drop dead gorgeous man walked into her library. Right away, Dallas didn’t waste anytime asking Paige out but she was hesitant to agree since he is a client of her sister’s and rumors about his playboy ways.

Well it didn’t take long for Dallas to finally finagle a date out of Paige. Soon one date led to several more dates. And soon Dallas and Paige were officially a couple but never in the public eye since their relationship was kept a secret from Paige’s sister, Finley. But what happens when they hit a little speed bump in their relationship and Dallas wants everyone to know that he is in a serious committed relationship? Is Paige Owens ready for the world and her sister to know that she is dating Dallas Drake?

I can always count on Marquita Valentine to deliver swoonworthy and charming romance. I think it’s practically embedded in her nature to write these type of love stories. Scored was another perfect example of a love story that was fun, playful, sexy, and charming. You just can’t help but fall in love with her characters. So if you are looking for a perfect summer romance book then I highly recommend you to read this book.

P.S. Marquita… Is Layton and Aiden getting a book? Please say, yes!!!

 photo MICHELLE1_zps3515xymk.jpg Marquita Valentine

 photo goodreads_zpsjhd2zbrk.png  photo facebook_zpsh8xm6gum.png  photo twitter_zpsjwohhyxy.png  photo instagram_zpsdgilh5ur.png  photo networked-blogs_zpszuxyzuzw.png
Profile Image for Coco.V.
50k reviews113 followers
Want to read
November 3, 2018
💝 FREE on iBooks today (11/3/2018)! 💝

Blurb:
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?
Profile Image for Radd Reader.
985 reviews603 followers
May 13, 2020
3.5 stars.
“The world doesn’t have the final say in defining you. Only you have that power. Don’t let your fear take that away.”

Do you think I could be your kryptonite?”

Characters
Dallas (33, pro football player (tight-end)):
The following words/phrases were used to describe Sexy, charming, funny, cocky, good guy

Three things about Dallas:
- He's close to his family and they mean the world to him.....especially his brother.
- Even though he’s a famous NFL player, he doesn’t have a big ego
- Dallas is a swoony hero!! ❤️

Some quotes about Dallas:
“I’m a risk/reward type of guy. The greater the risk, the greater the possible reward.”

“That’s always been a goal of mine—find a nice girl to settle down with, have a couple of kids, and eventually coach in the NFL.”

“I like my kink on the vanilla side. A good, old-fashioned fucking between two horny people never hurt anyone.”

Paige (26, librarian):
The following words/phrases were used to describe Paige: adorable, quirky, sassy, smart, happy, flirty, nerdy

Three things about Paige:
- Somewhat of a Southern Belle "I’ve got the manners, the accent, the love of country music, and the occasional monogram on my purses and clothes”
- Her mother is on husband #7
- Her mother’s excessive love life has caused Paige to be very gun shy about being in a relationship.

Some quotes about Paige:
“I didn’t want to be like my mom, in love with love so much that men took advantage of her. I didn’t want to be like my sister either, jaded and unwilling to let any man get close to her.”

“That’s what I’m afraid of—falling wherever love leads me like my mother, only to end up dried up on the ground.”

“That’s the kind of love I want—one that lasts beyond the grave.”

“Your fear of abandonment and of turning into your mother is going to push away the man who wants to hold you close and never leave you.”


My Thoughts:
The following are my thoughts about this book:
- I like the snarky humor of the heroine
- I'm glad they are like "normal" people...😂 “Instead of executing the perfect catch, like in a Hollywood movie, her elbow nails me in the kisser, one of her heels just misses puncturing my junk, and the back of her head slams against my windpipe.” Nailed It! Haha
- I liked that they were honest with each other in the beginning. Dallas was upfront with Paige about the bet. I was glad to see that the bet wasn’t used in the predictable way (I.e. one party doesn’t know they are part of a bet).
- I leaned a new word....Snoogle. “I Snoogled you.”
- “You what me?”
- “Snoop and Googled.” I mime pushing the words together. “Snoogled.”

- Nothing overly angsty about the book. Pretty light hearted and easy to read. I had stuff going on in my life and definitely appreciated the lighter tone.
- How much did I love Dallas??? A lot!❤️😍 “I want to get married. Have kids. Live in a nice neighborhood like this one and have BBQs. Walk my kids to school. Fuck my hot wife every night and make dinner sometimes.”
- Paige’s behavior toward the end of the book irritated me. It was a bit predictable and a little frustrating

Overall:
Overall this was a cute read. There was no drama, no angst, no real depth to the story itself, but it was just light and airy and fun. Characters were likable and supporting cast was relevant to the story. There were a couple times where I laughed out loud so it definitely had a bit of a humor factor. It was relatively short, so a pretty quick read.
———————————————
- POV: dual POV
- Tropes: athlete, secret relationship, starts out as a bet
- H likable? Yes
- h likable? Yes
- h virgin? No
- First time they kiss: 39%
- First time they sleep together: 57%
- steamy? Yes
- OW/OM drama? No
- H/h cheat? No
- Did I skip pages? No
- Big secrets? No
- Did I cry? No
- Did I laugh? Yes
- Cliffhanger? no
- Epilogue? 1 week later
- Recommend? if light and no drama is what you are in the mood for, then yes.

Quotes
“he’s more forbidden than wearing white after Labor Day.”

“I asked you out because I liked the way those pink stickers looked on your tits and the fact you allowed a complete stranger to talk you into being cuffed. Seemed at odds with your blushes and conservative outfit, which meant you were... are the perfect naughty librarian for me.”

“Guys dig quirky. It’s the new sexy.”

“I like dinner.”
Her mouth drops open in mock surprise. “Me, too. I wonder what else we have in common?”
“Do you enjoy eating lunch? Breakfast?”
“Oh yeah, we are twins.”

“There are tingles when we touch. The good kind. The swoony kind.”

“Your hair is glowing, like a light bulb.” Shit. That did not come out right.
“That sounded a lot different and better in my head.”

“He’s drunker than a raccoon in a whorehouse on a Friday night.”
Profile Image for Fanny.
2,395 reviews50 followers
February 14, 2018



Scored es mi primera lectura de Marquita Valentine, la cual narra la historia de Dallas y Paige.

Esta novela fue justo lo que necesitaba : una historia divertida, refrescante y muy entretenida, es cierto que no se sale de lo comun con lo que narra pero destaca al tener una pareja protagonista distinta a la habitual.

Paige y Dallas son una pareja muy graciosa y autentica, quizas su relacion no es la mas sentimental pero son tan expontaneos y naturales que me ganaron desde el primer capitulo.

Si te gustan los libros con deportistas, estoy segura de que disfrutaras esta lectura, no solo porque Dallas es un amor sino tambien porque la autora no cae en los tipicos cliches, definitivamente no sera mi ultima lectura suya.

En resumen, Scored no es un libro inolvidable pero es tan agradable y ligero que es una delicia leerlo, si te apetece algo sencillo pero que no sea superficial esta es una muy buena opcion.

3.5 Estrellas!
Profile Image for Melinda.
853 reviews10 followers
June 17, 2017
Scored by Marquita Valentine
4-4.5*

It's been such a long time since I read this authors work and now that I've read Scored, it's served as a reminder of why I used to devour her books and stalk for new releases religiously. This book had me engrossed from the prologue and had me fully invested in the couple.

Dallas is the tight-end for the Raleigh Renegades and is your typical playboy. He meets quirky librarian, Paige when he goes to scope out the potential space for a fundraiser that's close to his heart. Paige, as it happens, is in handcuffs and immediately catches the keen eye of Dallas. However! Not only is Paige uninterested in Dallas because he's a player in every sense of the word, she's also been warned off him (and all players, really) by her sister who is also publicist for a few members of the Renegades, including Dallas.

What did I like about this book? Pretty much everything! The characters were so very likable; I loved the strong sense of family on Dallas' part and I enjoy reading about strong women with good friends behind them. There was some truly laugh out loud moments and some seriously hot sexy-times. I enjoyed Paige's personality and really loved Dallas with his dirty one-liners and his gorgeous heart! What did I dislike? This is very minor but I don't care for characters who let siblings have too much control over their lives and decisions. I get that it adds an element of forbidden when there's someone who doesn't approve of a relationship and while this wasn't exactly a matter of control, I was a tad annoyed that Paige was making decisions based on her sister. However, I liked Paige so much that I got over it easily enough.

I saw that this is a standalone: this is so unacceptable!!! I really hope that Valentine eventually writes the stories of some of the characters we met in this book because to say I'm eager for more is an understatement.

*arc received in exchange for honest review.

**Reviewed by Melinda for Joandisalovebooks Blog.
Profile Image for Emma .
2,506 reviews388 followers
June 21, 2017
Scored has just the right blend of sweet to go along with the HOT with a capital H. 

Marquita hooks the reader with a stunning mike-drop moment at the very beginning. Witnessing the events from the back to the beginning provided a unique perspective for the plot. There are moments when you can't help but wave the Team Dallas flag to alleviate any doubts as to the outcome of the cliffhanger moment mentioned in the prologue ♥

Dallas is a superstar football player with the ego to go with it, however, it is quickly apparent that is far more to him than a giant ego. Dallas is dedicated to the charity he has established to help benefit children with special medical requirements. His commitment to the charity stemming from his own experience growing up with a brother requiring life saving medical treatment. Dallas is a family man at heart, loyal and devoted, however, his true personality did little to gain publicity for both his career and his charity. Being practical, Dallas carefully crafted his bad boy playboy image in order to get the notoriety required to maintain the interest of the press/social media, although he wasn't particularly upset at embracing the perks this type of lifestyle included ;) 

Paige is utterly adorable, a cool librarian but socially awkward outside her comfort zone. I absolutely loved her. Paige is an utter romantic at heart although she carries a lot of baggage with her stemming from her mothers attitude to love and marriage. I've got to be honest I didn't totally get the A League of Their Own reference but could only surmise that Paige's mother somehow marries baseball players as a way of helping their career then letting them go when they are successful *shrugs*. Adding to her avoidance of sports players is her sister's warning to stay away from jocks with her own failed relationship and career in sports PR, Paige takes her advice very seriously. Especially as her sister, Finley, basically raised Paige rather than their mother.

Dallas and Paige have a sizzling attraction from the beginning, which Paige is absolutely determined to ignore, resulting in some fabulous wooing on Dallas's part. Unable to resist his charms, Paige agrees to date Dallas in secret believing she will be able to compartmentalise her emotions if she believes the relationship between them is purely physical. 

There are some interesting additions to the plot with Paige's best friend, Layton's upcoming marriage and Finley's ex and Dallas's teammate Aiden, which have left me extremely intrigues and wishing for more details and a possible story of their own. 

The best part of Scored for me was watching the way in which the relationship between Dallas and Paige developed, altering their perception, making them face their fears in order to move forward with a fuller, richer life together *SWOON* 
Profile Image for Cheryl O'Harney.
1,269 reviews21 followers
June 16, 2017
*This book was reviewed for Summer's Eve Reads*

Title: Scored
Author: Marquita Valentine
Genre: Contemporary Sports Romance
Rating: 4/5

This was a quick feel good romance that had me smiling from ear to ear and laughing away at the banter between the characters.

Marquita has done a great job she's given us a book where the words just flowed effortlessly and it was the perfect mix of humour, sweetness and hotness all rolled into one perfect package.

Professional football player and ladies man Drake and sassy librarian Paige get together in what initially starts a bet but soon becomes so much more, both were clearly attracted to one another and they shared an amazing chemistry which Marquita portrayed brilliantly throughout their blossoming relationship. I loved how this book was free from all the stereotypical chaos there was no interfering exes, no baby momma drama and no cheating like I said at the start it was a genuine feel good romance with witty banter and hot, hot sex. The secondary characters were brilliant too I know this was a standalone but I reckon there will be many others like myself wanting and hoping Marquita writes more.

One last thing I will never be able to look at pearls in the same light again after reading this the "pearl necklace" talk between Paige and her bff was pure genius 😂😂.
Profile Image for Maddy's Reading.
437 reviews2 followers
June 20, 2017
I love love love this author and once again she has given us a dreamy hunk of a hero and a feisty memorable heroine.
This is the story of Paige, the quirky librarian and Dallas, the cocky NFL player. He asks her out the first time they meet but she's wary of him and doesn't respond. It's when he can't get her out of his mind, that he initiates a pretend relationship with her. He's sexy, funny and honest with her and she takes a hell lot of time warming up to him.
I loved Dallas Drake and his personality. He's so honest, loves his family and his charity and is absolutely bestowed with Paige.
Paige is sweet, loyal, funny but too scared of love. He past has given enough reasons for her to doubt her own feelings. I loved her dynamics with her best friend and I am hoping for another story in the pipeline between her best friend and a certain quarterback 😉
All in all loved the book and do recommend it!
*~*~*ARC generously provided by the author in exchange of an honest review *~*~*
Profile Image for Ester.
551 reviews
February 9, 2018
I LOVE IT!!!!!!

Me encantó de principio a fin... espero que muy pronto una editorial lo saque en español... tendrá un lugar asegurado en mi estantería!!!!

Amé los personajes, la trama, el drama... amé que la autora lo mantenga el mínimo y no lo alargará insoportablemente... eso fue woooow! detesto cuando alargan el drama solo por rellenar con más capítulos!

Me encantó la paciencia de Dallas... eso fueee... I.N.C.R.E.I.B.L.E porque cualquiera se volvería loco con las inseguridades de Paige... bastante comprensivo!!!

Sin embargo, si fue un chiquitin poco creíble que Dallas de repente dejará de ser un don Juan... pero bueno, supongo que todos jodemos con los limones o mandarinas hasta que encontramos a nuestra media naranja jajaja XD

En fin... recomendadisimo para pasar un buen rato!!! Y muero lentamente por leer la historia de Layton y Aiden... yep!!! no le veo futuro a ese matrimonio... mis instintos aracnidos de lectora loca sonaron como la sirena de un bombero cuando llegue al final del libro... y si hubo boda... pero nah!!!! es solo el principio del caos... lo presiento!!!!!!!
Profile Image for Letícia.
229 reviews4 followers
June 26, 2017
ABSOLUTELY new love !! 5 stars but cant seem to stop obsessing over the next possible book with Layton and Aiden the dickhead FOR SURE ?? Because their story is going to come next right??
Profile Image for Yamina -Women Who Stare at Books.
828 reviews71 followers
June 26, 2017
When the librarian meets the NFL player…
One day Paige meets Dallas when he comes to the library to see if it could be a potential venue for an event that he has planned.- Dallas is as much attracted to Paige as she is to him …you know where this is going. However, Paige did not recognised Dallas and that is one of the reasons why he was attracted to her straightaway, he loved the way she treated him as he is so used to have women at his beck and call.
When they decided to start seeing each other, things got a bit complicated… far from easy: the schedule, the easy girls, the away games but most importantly the Fame, were difficult for Paige to deal with.

“He’s not a bad guy... just full of himself. Big ego. Likes to party and loves women. He is single, so maybe I can’t blame him.”

She refused to be considered as one of DRAKE’s DOLLS
Her fears and insecurities don’t let her get too involved knowing that there’s a chance of getting hurt. As much as Dallas wants her and tries to get past her barriers, Paige does not make things easy. Can she take the big plunge and have a relationship with Dallas? Can she forget about his reputation and give him a real chance? Will Dallas accept to have a relationship with Paige… a secret one?

“I suck at true romance, but I’m willing to try, Paige.” “I’m not asking you to change for me.” “That’s what makes it so right.”

DALLAS is everything a girl dreams of. I loved him!! I can’t believe how patient and loving he was. There was a lot of moments that even I would completely understand why he was losing patience (I was so frustrated!!!), because in some moments Paige completely deserved it. I liked her vulnerability to start with but at some point she was too hard with Dallas in my opinion! But she eventually grew on me and ended up redeeming herself. The chemistry between them is obvious and they are cute together. Dallas is a big romantic at heart and his gestures/ behaviour made my heart melt!

“I like that. You can Snoogle me anytime you want... or you can get to know the real me in person, direct from the source. That’s what librarians like, right? First editions... rare finds.”

Great sporting, romance book that put a big smile on my face!! I am really looking forward to read more from Marquita Valentine!

“You have just put Mr. Darcy and every other book boyfriend I ever had to shame.”
*Arc kindly provided for an honest review.
Profile Image for Tanja OMGReads.
2,425 reviews54 followers
June 13, 2017
This just might became my favourite book by MV...the story is fluid...banter between Dallas and Paige it's sweet, funny and HOT!I wish I could put all my thought about this book in more sentences but I just can't so TRUST me when I tell you - you need to buy and read this book!
It's another 5* read by Marquita for me!!

She laughs again, then sobers a little. "I like you even more when you don't use lines on me." I wait a beat before replying. "I like you so much that I don't want to use any.".....
and a whole lot of HOT!
" You are the one with the no-casual-sex rule. That's pretty fu#&ing restrictive." I purse my lips. " You make that sound like a bad thing." "It's inconvenient." "All things worth wait are."

LOVED IT💖
Profile Image for Three Chicks.
2,630 reviews420 followers
June 18, 2017
Review by Trinette Dungee

There are certain authors where you don’t even need to read the synopsis; you just know you want to read the book. Considering I’ve read about 23 or Marquita’s 30-some books, I guess could say she’s one of those authors. Every once in a while you read one of the books and it doesn’t quite move you or grab you the way you expected it to….this is most definitely not the case with Scored. As a matter of fact, I think this might be my favorite Marquita Book! And Dallas and Paige are my favorite Marquita couple.

Most woman fall all over themselves to get to know Dallas Drake and he’s never really had a problem with that, for the most part it comes with the territory of being one of the best tight ends in the NFL. This is not the case with Librarian Paige Owens, not only does she not know who he is but she’s falling all over herself to get away from him and that fact that he slipped her his phone number and she hasn’t made an attempt to contact him is refreshing but yet completely baffling to him. When the opportunity to work with Paige on his upcoming fundraiser and a bet with a teammate presents themselves Dallas jumps at the chance. He just hopes his interactions with Paige work in his favor.

Paige Owens hasn’t had the best luck with men and when her encounter with Dallas Drake leaves her hot, bothered and very interested she’s more than a little hesitant to get to know him. Especially after she googles him and sees the lifestyle Dallas leads. That’s why she shocks not only Dallas but herself when she agrees to help him by pretend dating him to win his bet. While Paige has agreed to this charade she has a few stipulations, the main one being that Dallas can in no way reveal publicly dating her. She’s not willing to be ripped to shreds by his millions of adoring female fans and she most definitely does not want her sister, whose PR firm represents him to know. Dallas agrees and so begins the fake relationship, but soon the relationship is nowhere near fake and the two start a real romance but Paige still has her same stipulations.

Dallas is more than ready to make things public with Paige. He’s found someone truly genuine, she knows nothing about sports, she sees him for who he is not the personality or celebrity. He moves mountains to show how interested he is in her. First the time in his life he’s with a woman that makes him think about the future and settling down. But Paige is digging in her heals and not without reason, she’s been cheated on, lied to and she watch her mom chase one man to the next trying to obtain that dream lifestyle. So to say she a little fearful of relationships is putting it mildly, especially considering she is nothing like the women Dallas is known for dating. She could easily see herself falling for him but she can’t see someone like her holding his attention for long.

I loved the characters in this book, the humor, the banter, and the connection was amazing from the start. What I loved most about the Dallas and Paige was neither turned out to be what I initially thought of them. While Dallas was a bit cocky he was also open about his feelings, nothing was hidden with him when it came to Paige. He pretty much put it his heart out there immediately. Although the perception of Paige was that stereotypical “quiet as a church mouse” Librarian, she was anything but. She was sexy, sassy and bold. As with any romance story there are ups and downs but it wasn’t drawn out in the book. In this storyline, the characters were truly getting to know each other, like each other and falling in love with each other. The drama was minimal and the laughter and fun was abundant. I laughed quite often in this book. And Dallas grand jester was amazing.

The only thing that didn’t work for me in this book was mention of snakes. I hate those things and quite often when Paige encountered something unpleasant, that was the comparison…so I’m assuming she hates them too. The other thing was the “P” word. It’s just one of those words that I hate so every time I read it, I cringe. Those were my biggest complaints, which in turn are minimal.

So four stars for Marquita; and a great beach read for this summer.
Profile Image for Amy Rangel.
54 reviews5 followers
July 18, 2017
Dallas Drake is not your typical Jock. Ok, he is sexy as hell, confident like no other and “Cocky” might be an understatement, but he this man stole my heart with his honesty and straight shooting (No pun intended, well maybe a little).

He first meets Paige with her hands cuffed behind her back, she was not your typical Librarian. That is one of the things that intrigued Dallas, the fact that she didn’t know a thing about his profession or even who the hell he was, was definitely a turn on as well. Their second encounter made me laugh so hard, and it hurt so good. Paige really gave it to Drake good!

These two, tried to stick to the rules, yet broke a few along the way.

The way Paige took a chance on a relationship with a known “player” took guts, yet something about Dallas made her feel safe. I loved that she was willing to risk her heart by agreeing to this bet and seeing where this relationship could go, especially after the disaster break-ups she had to endure.

The banter between these two were not only hilarious, but hot as well. Let me tell you the hot and steamy scenes were off the scales.

You will love these two as they both step outside of their comfort “End Zone” to discover what they found was love even when they weren’t looking for it.

Yes I would recommend this book to my friends, Yes I would recommend this Author and I loved the references she made to past books, it just brought it all together. This author never disappoints with a great compelling story, amazing steamy hot and yet funny romance. Family that gives new meaning to NORMAL, and I loved it all.

Scored played Hardball and came out a Winner for me!
Profile Image for Sharon Moritz-rosenthal.
2,267 reviews29 followers
June 20, 2017
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

This story is a brand new series and I beyond LOVED it. I cannot wait for more in this series.

This story stars Dallas Drake, a hotshot sports star and football player and one day his PR person, Finely sends him to the local library to see if the venue would work for an event he is planning. That is how he sees Paige for the first time. Paige and her bestie, Layton work at the library and the second Dallas sees Paige he falls hard. But remember the PR person, well that is Paige's sister, her OLDER sister Finley who brought her up and who she promised she would never date a sports star.

Meanwhile Dallas has this really bad rep but he wants his teamates Aiden's help with a rookie and so Aiden agrees to help if Dallas agrees to get a nice girl to date him exclusively. He decides that is Paige and so he tells Paige the truth and she agrees to quietly date him as long as Finley does not find out.

This story is HOT!! Beyond HOT!! and Dallas well he is super sweet and he and Paige are super cute together. I really fell hard for these two and while I am not a fan of the secret romance. Here the romance was only a secret from the media and Finley. Everyone else knew.
Profile Image for Kathi.
387 reviews17 followers
January 29, 2020
Scoring Her Heart (or Scored) is the first book in the Scored Series by Marquita Valentine. It's about Dallas Drake, a player in the NFL. He meets Paige a Librarian in order to discuss a charity event taking place in the library she is working at. Both are immediately attracted to each other, but Paige does not want to have a boyfriend that is as famous as Dallas. They agree on a private exclusive relationship that has its ups and downs.

I honestly don't know where to start. In some points I really enjoyed the book. It was a light read, hot and sexy in some points, but that was it. When you read through all the steamy scenes, they did not feel as steamy as they should have. For me, it felt kinda awkward to read them and I am not new to reading this kind of books! They did not feel right and did not set you in the right mood (if that makes sense). There was no real sexual tension to say so.

I do like Paige in most ways. She is very concerned about her family and values her privacy. She also does not want to let things move to quickly and takes her time. And then there is Dallas. Honestly, I did not really like him... He always pushes Paige, but at the same time says he accepts her boundaries. And he focuses on her boobs just too much. Dallas is too self-confident and sees him as the best in everything. Another thing that annoyed me so much about him is that he praises himself for accepting Paige's boundaries and not pushing her or forcing her to do things she does not want to. This is not an achievement. This is what every human being should do: accept the boundaries of others. And it also did not feel like there was any chemistry between Paige and Dallas.

I just did not really get along with the book, but I enjoyed it in most parts. But I am really interested in the story of Paige's friend Layton.
Profile Image for Teresa Lara.
3,411 reviews51 followers
July 1, 2017
I loved Dallas and Paiges love story.Cant wait till the next book, recommend
Profile Image for Ellen Anderson.
1,251 reviews
November 27, 2017
Scored

It's been quite a while since I have read a Marquita Valentine book. While this didn't seem like one of her usual books, it was still very enjoyable.
Profile Image for Nanda .
304 reviews2 followers
August 4, 2017
Cute!

Took one star off because I tend to not like when there's the famous grand gesture in the end and then the book just ends. There's a conflict keeping the couple apart, so I want them to talk about it, you know, cross the t's and dot the i's, but when you just throw the 'grand public love declaration' and a HEA, I feel like I'm missing something. Other than that, a fun and sweet book, recommended!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Susan Swiderski.
Author 3 books39 followers
December 5, 2018
The one thing I enjoyed about this book was the clever banter. Some of it is laugh-out-loud funny.

But the rest? The story itself was okay, and I liked some of the characters. I mean, the whole concept of a librarian who knows absolutely nothing about football hooking up with a football star with a naughty reputation made for some amusing situations. (And banter.) However, the filthy language and gratuitous sex were a bit over the top.

Yeah, I know, with a title like that, what did I expect, right? However, neither the overabundance of F-bombs and gross names for various body parts, nor the graphic details of their sexual encounters isn't why I only rated this book with two and a half stars. In my opinion, this book was rushed to publish before it was polished. For example, in one blatant error, our heroine's sister says her good-byes and leaves in one paragraph and then in the next paragraph...Oops! Wait! She's still there... and then a paragraph or so later, she leaves again. Also, some of the dialogue was attributed to the wrong character, which can be a bit confusing. The misspellings and careless grammatical errors were annoying, but plot snafus like that were worse. This book could've been so much better with some decent editing.
Profile Image for Isha Coleman.
8,616 reviews164 followers
June 14, 2017
Dallas is an incorrigible flirt with a winning streak on the field. His personality is big, but his heart is even bigger. The perpetual playboy has depths that not many get to see. Paige is the only thing that stands in the way of his carefully crafted image. The one person he lets in to his deepest thoughts and most painful secrets. She makes him a better man. Too bad he had to screw it all up. Ms. Valentine makes a touchdown with Scored. The appeal lies in the tale itself. Love, loss and mistakes are subjects everyone can relate to. By adding the delectable humor, Ms. Martin gave a larger than life character a vulnerability that humanized him.
Profile Image for Sangria.
583 reviews1 follower
June 25, 2017
I haven't read a great sports book in a while. I haven't read a great actual dating one either. This was a fun one. I read it at the beach while all the kids swam all day, and never lost my happy spot.

I liked both the H and h, which is always rare for me. I adored, LOVED our Hs family. It was just a good progressive romance and enjoyable.....but?!?!

What the heck? I want an Aiden and Layton book! Best friends sister, all that history I was eating it up. He was wrecked, what the heck happened! No go back, fix that please! Pretty please!

Great supporting characters, great fun, easy writing. Recommend.
Profile Image for Tania's Book Blog.
1,707 reviews23 followers
June 17, 2017
I voluntarily accepted an advanced reader copy of this book.

Tight end football player Dallas Drake meet southern belle librarian Paige Owens. It was a sweet read with no over the top drama and some real hot sex scenes and funny banter.

This couple were the opposite of others I've read, she wanted to keep their relationship a secret because of his fame and he wanted to be out in public with her. It was a cute read how he pursued her and starting dating each other. Also Dallas had a heart of gold which it made it even more fun to read. Their friends were also fun to read about.
Profile Image for Emma bramley.
2,570 reviews26 followers
June 23, 2020
Another fantastic red from this author. This is a stand alone read. This author has a fantastic ability to bring you stories you can't put down and this book is no exception. Fantastic characters with an amazing story with the perfect mix of humor and hot and steamy. This is a very entertaining read, great summer read. I can't wait to read more from this author in the future.
Highly recommended
I voluntarily reviewed and advance reader copy of this book
https://www.obsessedbookreviews.com/
Profile Image for Maggie.
245 reviews10 followers
June 16, 2017
Up & down
*** ARC KINDLY provided by the author in exchange for a HONEST REVIEW ***


Scored by Marquita Valentine is a hot new sports romance novel coming June 20th
Preorder Exclusively on iBooks

Copy of Up & down.jpg

Let's start with the prologue, because I mean that's normally what a prologue is. Anyways I had feels RIGHT away for this book. Which is a wonderful thing considering Marquita Valentine is a new author to me. It had a heart warming feel to it, which is impressive since it was barely a page and a half. What I loved most is it gave me the Never Been Kissed movie feels. Yes the situation was different because it was the man going to the "press" about it and not Drew Barrymore and also it's not baseball but football. But besides the point the prologue did me in and I absolutely within a doubt knew just KNEW I was going to love this book. Spoiler alert... I was right.



Scored-Teaser3

Dallas. Sweet talking and smooth walking Dallas. My oh my do I want a man like him. Throughout the book I had to calm my racing heart at his kind and confident alpha moments. He just was a perfect add to the book boyfriends list. Add in that he is the tight end in a football league... even yummier. The conversations flow easy between him and Paige and the banters are hilarious. Hell the first chapter had me laughing pretty hard already.


Paige is kind spirited and sweet. Real down to earth girl. A great person and someone you truly would want to be your friend. Although she may be sweet, she definitely isn't innocent. Her dirty thoughts and funny comments or situations make this book a wonderful Romcom! 


I loved this book. Absolutely loved it. I was drawn in from the Prologue. Laughing within a couple paragraphs in the first chapter and trying to calm my racing heart for Dallas by before the second. I have read a lot of books that are hard to put down, and this one without a doubt was just like that. I was desperate and rushing everything just so I could get some time alone to get at least one more chapter in. Damn life always getting in the way.  Never have I read a book that I was so drawn into by the second chapter. It really was that great and perfect. Seriously.


What did I love most about this book... other than all of it? I loved that fact that even though we knew how it probably would end due to the prologue, it was even better than I expected. Was it a little rushed? 100%, but that works for them because the whole entire book it was slow because someone was scared of commitment and being loved and loving someone back.


The book was an addictive read! The story picked up momentum from the prologue and never once dropped in its intensity.  Marquita has done an amazing job in taking a commonly used, but highly sought after plot— football star and a no-body girl fall for each other even when other don't think they would work —and transforming it into something unique and genuine. I fell in love with the characters and the family. So much that I am desperately hoping for a Mike and Charlotte prequel and dare I say Aiden and the best friends baby sister... Yes I know there is a tie of the knot in the way.. but I still wouldn't hate it.


ARC ARC ARC Copy of Book Review.png


For a longer review at this book and others, please check out my blog at Trashy Biblo Blog
Displaying 1 - 30 of 152 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.