Second Chance Score: A Surprise Pregnancy Enemies to Lovers Hockey Romance

by Rosie Knox

One minute I’m avoiding my pucking ex in a hospital hallway…the next I’m fake-engaged to him and pregnant with his baby.

Life doesn’t ease you into chaos like this.

One day I’m juggling cupcake orders and my daughter’s hospital bills…
The next I’m front-page news with a ring on my finger I never asked for.

Jaxon Hill is an NHL badboy who needs a redemption story.
I need help I can’t afford to turn down.

So I move in. Play the part. Smile for the cameras.

He fixes what’s breaking around me without a word.
Stays up reading to my daughter until she falls asleep against him.

And somewhere between pretending and surviving, I stop bracing for him to leave.

The attention grows.
The whispers get louder.

Then two pink lines change everything.

Because this was never supposed to be real.
And if the truth comes out, I don’t just lose my bakery or my reputation…

I lose everything.

And the one man I swore I’d never need again becomes the only one I can’t survive without.

Genres: Sports

467 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 11, 2026

About the author

Rosie Knox writes contemporary romance books full of emotionally delicious alpha protectors, heart-racing twists, and just the right amount of spice. She believes every love story should come with a hero who knows exactly how to take control, and a heroine who gives him a run for his money.

When she’s not daydreaming up her next romantic escape for readers, she’s off exploring the mountains, skiing down powdery slopes, biking dusty trails, or soaking up the sun on a patio with her dog and her favorite real-life guy. Want more heat? Follow me on Amazon for exclusive content, sneak peaks and plenty of sizzling chemistry and happily ever after.

Reviews

[Kaitlin Marshall · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️.⭐️I’m always a fan of a good second-chance romance, so this trope was right up my alley. While I enjoyed the story overall, some parts felt a bit rushed and the transitions weren’t always smooth. Still, it was an enjoyable read.

[Aleksandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Second Chance Score: A Surprise Pregnancy Enemies to Lovers Hockey Romance by Rosie Knox is a heartfelt and swoony second-chance romance that blends family, forgiveness, and a touch of fake-dating charm in all the right ways.
This story brings Jaxon and Aubrey back together after young love fell apart years ago—only now they’re both older, wiser, and facing very real stakes. Aubrey is a devoted single mom running a bakery and juggling her daughter’s medical needs; Jaxon is an NHL bad boy in need of redemption. When circumstances push them into a fake engagement (complete with front-page headlines and a pregnancy surprise), the sparks fly—and the walls between them slowly tumble.
What I really enjoyed was the emotional evolution here. Jaxon isn’t just swoony because he’s a hockey player—he’s genuinely good with kids, owns his past mistakes, and works hard to be the man Aubrey once deserved. Aubrey’s cautious trust and fierce love for her daughter make her easy to root for, and watching them rebuild a relationship with honesty and second chances gave the book its sweetest moments.
The fake-dating setup adds fun tension and levity without overshadowing the deeper themes of forgiveness and family. If there’s a tiny weakness, it’s that at times the plot moves quickly—but in this case, the chemistry and heartfelt beats more than make up for it.
Overall, this is a warm, satisfying blend of sport, romance, and personal growth that will have readers smiling through to its lovely happily ever after. Four stars for a story that hits all the emotional goals!

[Micki Jackson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This 2nd chance love story was great. This trope/ plot is one of my favorites. I love when the MMC makes the FMC’s child(ren) “his”. That they their love is that big.

Spoilers: I love that Jaxon came back for her and that Aubrey finally lets him back in. Plus, the loveJaxon develops for and makes Ellie “his”.

However, I’m a nurse and it is always hard to read a book with a central medical story line, when one hasn’t done their research. One example is the public park scene: Ellie should never have been playing at a public park. If she truly “she needs an emergency transplant” kind of sick, her immune system is too weak for public parks. She will acquire an infection that she has no means to fight. Also, her platelets are probably so low that climbing high ladders alone should be prevented. If she were to fall, she would most likely have on uncontrollable bleed (either internal or external).

Then, there is all the inaccuracies in whole transplant donor process. Who is most likely to be a donor. Though they are tested, parents are usually not the best donor match (they can be, but it is very low probability). Followed by an instantaneous transplant success? The actual infusion process can be a success (as in she didn’t have an hypersensitivity reaction), but it takes up to 2 weeks, at the earliest, to see if a transplant has grafted. It is a great story, but as an oncology nurse, it was hard to read. This could have been more believable if had been just an organ transplant or if further research had been done.

[M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jaxon & Aubrey's story is swoonworthy... they were together young... he left because he was young & didn't know how to be someone who stayed... so for them to have a second chance many years later... is so sweet.

Of course, it takes Aubrey a while to learn to trust him again (understandably)... but it's a sweet story of them learning to forgive & learn how to be a couple that is better than before.

I love how Jaxon is great with the kids... and willing to own up to his mistakes.

I love Grams & how her grandson Lucas plays hockey with Jax.

Spice level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

*hockey romance
*sports romance
*second chance
*secret baby
*fake engagement
*forced proximity
*single Mom
*custody battle with her ex

Thank you to the author (Rosie Knox), publisher & Booksprout for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

[Wendy Livingstone · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book in this impressive series, and this is Jaxon and Aubrey’s story.
Jaxon is the bad boy of NHL who needs to redeem himself, while Aubrey is a single mom and running a bakery. When Aubrey and her daughter at the hospital for tests, she spots Jaxon and tries to avoid him, and the next minute she is front page news, and fake dating.
This is a well written story which family, friendships, emotions, tension, challenges, fake relationship, forced proximity, enemies / lovers, surprise pregnancy, humour, second chances, undeniable chemistry, and love, which leads to an entertaining, heartfelt, and fun hockey romance.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Karen Lathbury · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jaxson, pro hockey player, is in trouble again. He needs to clean up his act and his agent zeros in on Jaxon’s vulnerability of still having feelings on the girl he left behind 9 years ago. He wants Jaxon to portray to the public that they are an item.

Aubrey is struggling, her little girl is suffering from leukemia, and her bakery is slowly sinking. Jaxson shows up with his fake dating, she’s not having it. Still reeling from him leaving her and her daughter’s father leaving, not wanting responsibility, she is no way entertaining Jaxon’s proposal…until it becomes her only life line with Jaxson helping with the hospital bills.

I enjoyed the book, it kept me interested to keep turning the page. Plenty of drama, good characters and a second chance that became a HEA.

[Ruth R · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aubrey is a single mom , her daughter is sick , the father’s is not on the picture,when she called for the marrow test he doesn’t answered.
One day she received a call from the hospital saying that her next appointment will be at Seattle . Because there are better equipment.

Jaxon is a hockey player , he is in Seattle wolves team, he was benched because he hit a guy to defend a waitress and the video went viral . He was sent to children hospital and charity events for his image .
Days before he dreamed about Aubrey, he thought what she was doing,he went to the hospital, while he was talking with kids he imagined that he saw her, but when he looked again she was looking at him.
When he called her name she ran away.
An amazing book that I really liked
I highly recommended

[Kaylee Lynch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jaxon got into a little bar fight- for good reason but of course that reason is never out in the public so he just looks bad. So now he’s off the lineup and has to fix his reputation. Part of that is doing an event at a children’s hospital. The same hospital that Aubrey and her daughter just happen to be at for tests. Jaxon walked away from her almost a decade ago to move to Seattle for hockey. But he takes seeing her as a sign. He hasn’t been able to stop thinking about her all these years. I did love the fake engagement. I’m always a sucker for a hockey romance and a fake dating. I’m not the biggest fan of second chance but I actually really liked this one.

[The Book Ssirren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Awwwww, I loved these two ❤️ Jaxon and Aubrey agreeing to a fake engagement that turns into a second chance romance. The way he cared for her daughter, helps get her out of debt. Needing to fix his reputation, and a hockey career, these two agree to a fake engagement. But things change so quickly for them. I feel like that love was always there but when they got together the first time it just wasn’t the right time. Now they’re older, wiser. And it shows with the way they are towards one another. Especially those two pink lines…this was a really sweet and steamy story.

[Jaeann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Title: second chance score
Author: Rosie Knox
Pages: 467
Star Rating: 3
Genre: romance
Fav Character: Sarah
Spice Level: 1
Series, Duology, Standalone, Novella: standalone
Favorite Thing About this Book: Ellie! I love when kids are in the story!
Would Recommend / Would Not Recommend & Why?:I do think I would rec this to anyone who loves a single mom with a down bad guy wanting her!! The only thing I didn’t like was how it surrounded his PR dude - I was getting tired of him. Give me more Sarah/ Lucas and Grams moments!!

[Merry Jelks-Emmanuel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This second chance romance drew me into Aubrey and Jaxon. They shared a past and has reconnected that leads to a fake relationship. Moving in and close proximity has feels building and steam rising. Will their reconnection finally lead them along the path to a second chance happiness. This heartfelt story had me glued to the characters.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Angee Owens · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful fake engagement turned second chance romance between Jaxon and Aubrey, who are great together. He needs to fix his reputation as a bad boy hockey god, and she needs help getting out of debt as a single mom. They agree to the fake engagement, but it changes quickly. It’s not instantaneous trust on Aubrey’s part. She must learn to trust him again. They both learn to forgive, love, and trust each other this time around. Overall, a good read.

[Amanda Frye · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an emotional boom about second chances. Jaxson was trying to do what he thought was right for his image he just didn’t expect to run o to his past he left behind 9 years ago. Aubrey was left heartbroken and moved on. On the present her daughter is fighting for her life. Aubrey’s pasta walks in and nothing will be the same. Jaxon and Aubrey try to fight thier connection but it’s strong we than they thought. What happens when they give in to a second chance?

[Nicole Barkman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jaxon starts off as a cocky hockey player and evolves into a family man that he should have always been. I feel like he should have groveled more but to each their own. Aubrey tries so hard and she got thrown the book with bad luck it seems. Ellie is the cutest character. I wanted to take Aaron and throw him in a woodchipper. He is a horrible person. They storyline was cute but I think it would have been better if the story was longer and drug out a little more.

[Debdutch · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Second Chance Score” by Rosie Knox
-Jaxon, a hockey player, reconnects years later with Aubrey, the woman he once left behind. I received a free copy and am voluntarily sharing my honest thoughts.
Old wounds, trust issues, and a complicated fake-dating situation force them to confront their past. A sweet, spicy second-chance romance with heart, healing, and a satisfying emotional ending.

[Paige Whitecotton · Rating 5 out of 5]

amazing

I absolutely love this book. I wasn’t sure the two of them were going to get it all figured out, but in the end they both Jaxon made some very very bad decisions and Aubrey just wasn’t gonna let him forget that which I do understand but it did turn out great and it was a wonderful book to read. I absolutely loved it.

[Courtney Stanhope · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story was decent, but there was so much back and forth about the same thing it got predictable and a little slow. I found myself skimming some of it. There are also a lot of errors in grammar and the structure of the paragraphs that had me rereading a couple things to make sure I knew who was actually talking.

[Amber Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was really good 😊 it had me excited to keep reading it . Who doesn’t love a fake dating trope . This story just makes me happy 😊. He is a hockey player and she is a single mom that owns a bakery . Her daughter is sick and would do anything for her child even if it is to fake date her ex

[Shannon Binegar-Foster · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every book in this series touched my heart in some way. This one completely grabbed a hold and took up residence. I just can’t express how profound the story was. It really tugged at my heart strings. I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book.

[Marilyn Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great romance,hockey story

I liked the characters and their reactions to each other but didn't like how His agent Chris expected him to just dump Audrey and put his career first. Loved the ending.

[Mary Mccormack · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honest review

The characters and storyline keep you on the edge of your seat and also ready to smack stupid people! Really liked the journey and would love to see where it goes from here.

[Shawna D · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a beautiful second chance love story. Jaxon and Aubrey where the ultimate what if...

[Kathy Lindsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you so much to Rosie Knox for the ARC Copy of Second Chance Score! This was my first ever hockey romance and I enjoyed it. I would def read the rest of series. Ms Knox is a new favorite of mine

[Nate · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed second chance score which was Jaxon and Aubrey’s story. It was an engaging second chance read. And voluntarily leaving my review.

[Joanne Marie Blas]

Dnf at 47%

[Mandy Stutesman · Rating 3 out of 5]

💋😡🤔😱😩🤰🏻🥀💍