See Jane Score (Mass Market Paperback)

~ (Author) "The locker room was thick with trash talk as Luc "Lucky" Martineau tucked himself into his cup and strapped on his gear..." (more)
Key Phrases: dumb dodo, goalie coach, Honey Pie, Luc Martineau, Darby Hogue (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Setting: Seattle, Washington
Sensuality: 8

At long last, Seattle Times columnist Jane Alcott has a shot at a full-time assignment. She badly needs the income, but unfortunately, the opening is for a sports reporter traveling with the Seattle Chinooks hockey team and she knows nothing about the game. To add to her difficulty, the team doesn't want her, especially Luc "Lucky" Martineau, the Chinooks $33 million goalie. The team stonewalls when she tries to interview them and they haze her mercilessly; it isn't until the superstitious Luc decides that she brings good luck that Jane gets a shot at being a real journalist. But when her acceptance by the team leads to spending more time with Luc, Jane finds, to her dismay, that he’s more than a handsome, empty-headed sports jock and her heart is in danger.

For his part, Luc learns that behind "plain Jane's" boring dark clothing and black-rimmed glasses lies a quick wit, nerves of steel, and a personality that charms him. And when Jane appears at a team banquet with a new haircut, makeup, and a killer red dress with matching sexy stilettos, Luc's affection fast-forwards into a major case of serious lust. But if Jane lets herself fall in love, she'll have to find a way to explain the secret she's hiding before it becomes public knowledge and Luc's passion turns to hate. Can she bring herself to tell him the truth? And if she does, will he forgive her?

Set in the rough and tumble world of professional hockey, See Jane Score features an intelligent, likable heroine and a hero with depth beneath his sports jock façade. The layered characters, intriguing setting, and the novel's compelling emotional plot all add up to an excellent contemporary romance. Don’t miss this one. --Lois Faye Dyer

From Publishers Weekly

Anyone who has ever salivated over a sports pro or mooned after a movie star will relish this fanciful romance between brainy Seattle Times columnist Jane Alcott and hockey player Luc Martineau. Luc, nicknamed Lucky for his ability to score with women and keep his opponents from scoring on the ice, is less than thrilled to hear that Jane will be reporting on the team's games and digging into his unsavory past. Still, he can't help feeling attracted to the pint-sized writer, despite her drab clothes and unfortunate profession. For Jane, the assignment is the perfect opportunity to stop writing fluff and break into serious reporting. But following the progression of the puck turns out to be less challenging than getting the players to talk, particularly Luc, whose lusty looks make her want to ditch her black clothes and wear red. The two eventually wind up in bed together, but Luc's fear of commitment and Jane's fear of abandonment may keep them from taking the next step. Readers will find themselves cheering for the charming couple with the fervor of frenzied hockey fans. Like most fairy tales, this one involves an unlikely transformation (a red dress turns plain Jane into a seductress), but the minor contrivance won't dim readers' enjoyment of this witty, warm-hearted tale.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Avon (January 28, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060009241
• ISBN-13: 978-0060009243
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.1 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (92 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #36,353 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Block out your day - you won't want to put this one down!!, April 15, 2003

By	baltimore0502 "Hon!" (BALTIMORE, MD USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

This is my first Rachel Gibson book and I just loved it! Fast, funny, realistic and full of chemistry.

Aspiring journalist Jane Alcott is game to take on just about any job to gain experience and fill out her resume. She writes a "Single Girl in the City" column and she also secretly writes a steamy serial for a men's magazine. Now, she's been given the opportunity to add sports reporter to her repertoire when she's assigned to cover the Seattle Chinooks hockey team. The guys are less than enthusiastic about having her travel with the team and, boys being boys, you can imagine the hazing she has to endure! I must have laughed "Poor Jane" out loud hundreds of times! But winning over the guys is just one problem when you're a sports reporter carrying "Hockey for Dummies"!

Hunky goalie Luc Martineau initally ignores her, since he famously doesn't do interviews anyway, but he finds that he enjoys annoying and sparring with her. She may be short, but she's spunky, tough and can talk trash with the best of them! Luc's had a checkered past that he'd like to forget and he is trying very hard to put his "bad boy" image behind him. And now he has become responsible for a 16 year old sister he barely knows. The last thing he needs is some reporter snooping around.

The verbal sparks soon turn to a sexual attraction that neither really wants. His life is so crazy with career pressure, his awkward, difficult relationship with his sister, not to mention that Jane is hardly his type - short, small chested and smart are not usually qualities he looks for, and yes, he knows what that says "aboot" him! And Jane's bad boy radar is working over time. The last thing she wants is to be seduced then dumped or worse have her heart broken by a jock who normally dates empty-headed Barbie Dolls. Hormones being what they are, though these two wind up together.

I won't go into more, but suffice it to say that complications arise and Luc's trust in Jane is threatened. Personally, I think Luc let her off a little too easily, but that's how love is, I suppose.

A terrific read, highly recommended! Rachel Gibson along with Julie Ortolon are contemporary authors converting this formerly historicals-only reader!

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great read!, January 30, 2003

By A Customer

I really loved this book, couldn't put it down until it was finished.

Jane is a reporter who also writes a continuing story for a men's magazine, Luc is a hockey player with a dislike of reporters who has recently become the guardian of his teenage sister. Jane is assigned to travel with the team and cover all of the games. The guys are not thrilled (they do a little bit of harassing). Romance blossoms in the least expected place for Jane and Luc.

It's a very well-written, entertaining story. The situations are very believable, which I always like. It makes me laugh, makes me a cry, makes me shiver, and go how will she/he fix this?! I love a book that lets me run the gamut of emotions.

I always enjoy Rachel Gibson books, and John and Hal (retired from the Chinooks, they were in a previous book) make a small appearance with Georgie and Mae in this one.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars rachel gibson just gets better and better..., February 10, 2003

By	L. G. Schilling "aaronssweetheart" (SPRING HILL, FL United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

with every book she writes. I think Gibson's talent lies in her ability to write sweet, light hearted romatic stories where the humor comes across as effortless and does not feel forced at any time.This book is an excellent example of her incredible talent. Jane Alcott's average looks and unasumming personality make her the least likely candidate to catch the eye of professional hockey player Luc Martineau. Luc is a hunky millionare playboy and the star goalie of the Seattle Chinooks, Jane is the short, plain reporter assigned to them.Lead by Luc the players do their best to make Jane's life miserable. They're driven by an irrational fear that a woman's presence might jinx their season (it seems hockey players are an extremely superstitious lot) and just plain ol' machismo. However, they have underestimated pint sized Jane, who gives just as good as she gets, especially to that annoying, sexist, conceited but oh-so delicious Luc. Can Luc get over his predilection for empty headed blonde Amazons and discover the beautiful woman that lies beneath Jane's fuddy duddy exterior? Maybe so but you'll have to read to find out!

This is definetely a keeper for me. Gibson knows how to write the ultimate alpha heroes and Jane is no slouch in the character department either. She represents the average modern working woman. She is you and me and boy is it satisfying to watch the average girl finally get her man!
Highly recommended!