Scoring Chances

Heatwave Hockey #4

by Anne Martin

My celebrity crush asked me to be his nanny.
Now this playboy's teaching me how to kiss… and more.

Joshua Hicks is a hockey superstar who hired me for one
To help him with three kids that landed on his doorstep.

Day one, he’s shirtless and working on his car.
It takes everything in me to look away, but he soaks me up like the sun itself.

When he finds out I’ve never been kissed–he offers me a proposition.
I live with him as his nanny for the summer; he’ll teach me all about dating.

His lessons leave me breathless… a touch here… a kiss there.
It doesn’t mean anything… right?
Until I crave him like the air I breathe–and he finally gives me everything I need.

But a position opening up for him elsewhere means this can never be real.
Will I score the goal of my dreams, or is this game rigged from the start?

Scoring Chances is a spicy, pro hockey, nanny romance. It’s the fourth book in the Houston Heatwave series and can be enjoyed as a standalone with a guaranteed happily ever after.

Genres: Hockey Romance, Sports, Hockey, Audiobook, Sports Romance

250 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 29, 2024

Reviews

[Tish Richardson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Story literally fell apart.

Story was good at first; even though mmc is an emotionally immature jerk; room to grow right? But the end of this book left me scratching my head wondering if I was missing chapters. We go from kidnapped child (brother of mmc) being returned, to fmc leaving mmc supposedly to protect him from blackmailers, to them being together somehow, to her graduating college, then getting married and having babies. No explanation on blackmailer caught (or not), how they wound up together even though they were hundreds of miles apart. We get one chapter of them having a FaceTime date and then an epilogue three years later with the hea.
It truly felt like rush job to meet a deadline. Story ended, just not well.

[MILEY · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was by far the worst out of the series. It needs editing and proofreading. The epilogue is even choppy with a time jump from one sentence to another. I was looking forward to reading Hick's story, but with poor editing and a rushed ending, it didn't go well. This story has a lot of gaps/holes in the plot. I would not recommend buying it. Only recommend reading if it's part of your subscription.

[MLG · Rating 5 out of 5]

love it

I hope we are getting Rina and K love story!!
I have read all 4 and love all of them

[Meredith Richardson · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've really enjoyed this series and have hyped it up often, but this book was such a letdown. It feels like it was a skeleton copy that accidentally got published. So many pieces were missing and the amount of errors drove me insane. I don't know if the author was rushed, if there was just a major lack of editing , or if the whole release was an accident, but I'm hoping the next story in the series is a major improvement.

[Aimee Moss · Rating 2 out of 5]

left too much out

I had high hopes for this one since I have loved the other books in the series but this story felt rushed. Too many details left out. Could have been so much better.

[Deborah Kinate · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just an okay read for me. Predictable storyline and no steamy sex scenes.

[Char (1RadReader59) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Joshua Hicks is a hockey player who just helped his team win their first Stanley Cup for the Triple H–Houston Heatwave Hockey. Before he could bask in the win, the next day he gets a call saying he is being traded to Georgia’s “Thunderhawks.” He thought the universe was “F’n” with him. But, oh no not yet.

Because of the knock on the door. You see they were looking for "Mr. Joshua Anderson-Hicks?" He knew that was never good, and he was right. He had put his DNA into a register, to see if there were any relatives. Who would have guessed, that it would change his life forever? This was such a good book in so many ways that I hate to admit how disorganized this author's mind is in writing it. I didn't know any better as I was reading it. However, when it had gaping holes in the story, and the ending was rushed with no explanation.

In a lot of people's minds, the kidnapping was unnecessary except it was. That single moment in an experience of waiting, worrying, praying, pain, sheer pure love for Parker, and fear that Joshua surrendered. He gave into the fact that he was indeed now a father. That pain in his chest sealed it. He had bonded, unfortunately, a little earlier after the press conference announcement for the trade to Georgia. When they all heard about what his mother had done. (Another unknown: How Cole & Maddie received his mom after that.)

Then, after the resolution of the kidnapping. She needs to bolt per orders of the kidnapper, yet no resolution at the end for anything. But they end up together????

Things I loved:

The trip to the mall to dress Cassidy. The bonding moment for the sibling. Amigos.

Colt and Joshua working on the car or driving a car. Their bonding.

Cassidy just seemed to be the balm to heal what they all needed.

I would give this 🌟🌟🌟.8 if I was going to score it. Conflicted.

[Daki Crow · Rating 4 out of 5]

Scoring Chances delivers a swoony blend of sports romance, surprise parenting, and first-love sweetness. When hockey star Joshua Hicks finds out he’s not only being traded but also unexpectedly responsible for three kids, his world flips overnight. Enter Cassidy, a shy, soft-hearted nanny with zero dating experience and a huge crush on the man whose posters once lined her bedroom walls.

The setup is golden: a live-in arrangement, sizzling tension, and a slow-burn education in all things romance. Joshua may be known for his charm and talent on the ice, but his vulnerable side shines as he learns to navigate fatherhood and feelings. Cassidy, for her part, is a breath of fresh air—innocent but strong, uncertain but determined.

Their chemistry builds naturally through stolen touches, teasing lessons, and heartfelt moments, all while juggling the chaos of three kids and the looming uncertainty of Joshua’s future in hockey. This is a feel-good story with just enough heat, a lovable cast, and a final chapter that wraps everything up with a smile. Perfect for fans of nanny romances, found family, and reformed playboys who fall hard.

[Trina Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh WOW this was amazing book. It was a steamy page turner and the suspense was intense. I was on the edge of my seat and I couldn’t even put it down. The chemistry between them was captivating as the physical attraction was electrifying of drama and romance. And this romance was breathtaking and chaos of love.
I definitely recommend this book and you won’t be disappointed. I am voluntarily leaving my honest opinion. Trina Jones

[Mona Makhlouf · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really am enjoying this series and I loved Hicks in the other books so I wasn't surprised that I loved his book with cassidy the only negative I can come up with was the ending was too rushed. I would have loved more details for their ending. Cassidy was such a lovely MFC who adored Hicks and Hicks was a usual player or fell unexpectedly which I always love just sad he was drafted to another team as I have fallen in love with their team and friendships.

[Jillian Riley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet and Funny!

It was great to finally let Hicks get his book! He is such a fun character and he deserved a HEA of course after he went through necessary growing pains. Sad to see him leave Houston because I have enjoyed all the characters growing together after their time in the spotlight in their own books. But I am ready for Rina and Lando!!!

[Rebecca Jameson · Rating 4 out of 5]

unexpected twist

Classic case of a playboy falling for his nanny. 3 half siblings have landed in his lap just as he is about to be traded. What to do but get a nanny to help sort everything out? Some great moments. Unexpected twist near then end that was good. I wasn’t expecting and definitely enjoyed it.

[Dorian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Score!!

This book was good. Anne knows how to keep readers entertained. I noticed some misshaps in the story- like wrong word placement, extra words and wrong names being used. The story was great and I hope Keelan and Rina's story is next.

[Staci · Rating 2 out of 5]

just ended

I like the story and the leads. I’ve loved the whole series. But this story, just ended. It’s like there are chapters missing. Took it from a 4 star to a 2 star for me.

[Kim Gauger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nanny story

I loved this story. Had a good twist of a bad nanny vs good nanny. Brother gets his siblings he didn’t know he had. I loved everything about this for sure. Was a really cute story

[TanyaKeven Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great tead

All 4 books, great quick reads. Well written. Kept me interested the whole time. The author does a wonderful job with the characters.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Plot yes Ending…NO

Thought the plot was spot on!!!! But was totally lost at the end. Felt like I skipped a chapter or two filling in the entire ending. It was disappointing.

[sandra silliman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good

I enjoyed this book and the characters in this book a how they grew how they had to overcome trails

[Olivia · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 🌟

[Heather White · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story

I love these two and the story of how they came to be. My heart hurt during some parts of this one. They went through a lot to be together, but they finally got there.

[Chaotic Nexus · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute

Sweet story. It's so cute. I really liked this. I'm just disappointed that it didn't have more action and the stroy seemed lacking a bit

[Rebecca Cartwright]

Big time gaps that aren’t linked well leave a confusing ending. Punctuation still needs a lot of work to improve the flow of this story.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy quick read. Couldn't put it down today. Steamy with some mystery.

[Kathy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had to keep reminding myself that the lead characters were only 20 and 25. So dumb. I'm not a fan of outlandish lying so this wasn't a hit with me.

[Ariel Sprinkle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another awesome Romance!

Anne Martin you make each day better because of your books. I am so addicted to romance books. Thank you

Linda Windsor
lindacwindsor@gmail.com

[Emely · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s a ⭐️⭐️.75! It wasn’t giving what the other books gave but it had so much potential so I’m disappointed.

[Elizabeth Valentin · Rating 3 out of 5]

too many plot holes

I wanted to like this story. Reformed players are some of the best characters. But this story had too many plot holes to be truly entertaining.