Parker

Face-Off #1

by Jillian Quinn

I'm Alex Parker, the best defenseman in the NHL, heartbreaker, and troublemaker. My team had the best penalty kill record in the league, thanks to me. I was on a winning team and so close to the Stanley Cup before I hooked up with the wrong puck bunny—the team owner’s granddaughter. Oops! So, they shipped me off to Philadelphia to play for the Flyers, one of the worst teams in the league.

My agent thinks I need to clean up my act. I drink too much. I sleep around too much. He assigns Charlotte Coachman, aka Coach, to whip me into shape. Coach is a sexy as hell sports agent that challenges me, and every time we're around each other it's as if we're having our own face-off. I want her but she has strict rules about dating clients. And I like breaking them.

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

222 pages, Paperback

First published February 14, 2017

About the author

Jillian Quinn is an international bestselling author of contemporary romance. Her books are light and funny but also on the steamy side. So, don’t be surprised if you have to fan yourself with your Kindle.

As a lover of coffee and a collector of book boyfriends, you can find Jillian most days, thinking about her next romance novel as she pours another cup.

For more information about Jillian and to get a free novella, visit JillianQuinnBooks.com.

Reviews

[Dilek VT · Rating 1 out of 5]

Uninteresting and cliché.
Couldn't hold my attention...
Also, didn't feel the chemistry between the characters as there was none...

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

All of my reviews can be found on www.novelgossip.com

So, confession time for me. I’ve never read a sports themed romance in my life. (Sorry Jill!) But when my friend and fellow blogger Jillian Quinn told me she was releasing the first book in yet another new series for her, I couldn’t resist. I loved her debut, Corrupt Me and couldn’t wait to read another one of her hot and sexy romances! This one had a similar style to it, her writing really has a groove and flow to it that appeals to me and for a girl who doesn’t watch sports much less read about them, I was surprisingly interested in that aspect.

When I read a romance, more than with any other genre, I want characters that speak to me on some level. In a thriller I can hate most or even all of the main players and still enjoy a book. But in a romance? I want a connection and I easily felt one with both Parker and Charlie. He’s a typical bad boy, but man does he have some serious charm. Did you guys see that cover?! I may have kept flipping back and forth just to get another glimpse of those abs. Besides having a pretty face I really liked that underneath his macho exterior he was a bit of a softie. His way with kids, especially fans was totally swoon worthy. Charlie was just an awesome character. She’s a bad ass sports agent who takes no prisoners, but she has her own issues and though she doesn’t show her softer side to just anyone, she’s got a vulnerability that made me feel for her.

I’m a sucker for a storyline with people who shouldn’t or can’t be together and Quinn played this one perfectly. Charlie takes her job very seriously and her boss and father figure has a strict no dating policy between clients and agents, so no matter how badly she wants Parker, she can’t go there. The chemistry between these two was HOT and the sexual tension was heavy. Parker is so cocky and Charlie is so flirty with him, it was both adorable and sexy. With all that being said, there’s much more to this book than just sex scenes, the characters are well developed and I really felt like I knew AND liked them both by the end. This was such a fun read, I devoured it in a couple of hours and I absolutely cannot wait to read the next book in this series.

[Coco.V]

💝FREE on Amazon today (10/16/18)!💝

[Karin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Parker!!! It had great dialogue, great writing, it was amusing & light and I loved Alex and Charolette. This is my second book by Jillian Quinn and I adored it and have become a huge fan of her style. She draws you in from the beginning with her characters.

I loved Alex from the beginning and his wtf moment, I was smiling at his the fact he was such a wreck in a amusing way. Alex wakes up not knowing where he is, who he's with or how he got there when he gets a call from his agent telling him his off the ice tactics have got him traded to one of the worst teams in the NHL. Even though Alex is one of the best he's been on a downward spiral ever since his dads death.

Charolette is a kick butt sports agent who is strong, smart, independent and not interested in Alex in the slightest. Even though she's attracted to Alex she wants nothing to do with him cause of his reputation and liaisons found on YouTube lol. Alex can't fathom the fact that he's being rejected and realizes Charolette is not the typical groupie type he's use to.

When Charolette and Alex really get to know each other they find the similarities they have and Charolette starts to see the real Alex and what's behind the facade.

I loved seeing the change that Charolette brought in Alex, he wanted to make her proud and it was sweet to read.

I voluntarily reviewed a arc of this book

[Ursula · Rating 1 out of 5]

This guy is a crude, loud-mouthed jock and his agent is a relatively nice girl, although she is as susceptible to the sex-obsessed, muscle-bound sportsman as every girl in these sports romances seems to be. They are an odd couple, and I really did not like him for the first half of the book. I also view with great suspicion the my- mother-was-a-lying-cheating-whore- (Parker’s words, btw)-therefore-I-will-treat-ALL-women-like-they-are-the-same trope. It is simply no excuse for being a giant, disrespectful, sexist douche with a massive double standard, which is what Parker was.



But the biggest issue I have with this book is Parker’s immaturity. He constantly fucks up and doesn’t learn from it. And how a pro hockey player can regularly drink himself into a coma, still manage to have sex (I presume he uses a condom, but if he is always so totally wasted, not actually sure about that) and still play well is just unrealistic. He is a border-line alcoholic and acts like a stupid adolescent. Hard to take these male MCs seriously!
I guess the whole story was very NA, including the language, but poor NA.
Of course, thanks to a good woman, Parker turns over a new leaf. From man-whore adolescent to responsible adult? Like, in a few days???



I have also just about had it with America and its strip clubs. I am so fucking over it.
I just don’t want to read about them anymore.

[The Book Lover · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this book! It really blew me away! While we have a cocky hockey player hero, we get a side of him that is downplayed underneath his facade, and we also get to see how the right person can help you overcome that facade and be the persona you really are! I loved coach and Parker! A wonderful and deep story! I hope to see more of this series!

[🦉Maggie Whitworth · Rating 5 out of 5]

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
💋💋

Loved this , great start to this sports romance series.
Characters are great and have brilliant chemistry, the storyline is so good you don’t want to put it down x

[Jackie (Jackie's Book World) · Rating 5 out of 5]

***Review can also be found at Jackie's Book World. :)***

Not having read any other works by Jillian Quinn before, I was really impressed with Parker. The story was sweet and entertaining, it's one of those stories that will leave you wanting for more. At the beginning we get to meet Alex Parker, his success at hockey is what has made him famous among his peers and among the ladies. He is playboy who just wants to have fun after work, but his drinking problem has gotten him in trouble this time around, and his manager doesn't know what to do with him other than switch him to another league hoping he'll get his head together. Little did Parker know that he was about to be rescued by Charlotte Coachman, aka Coach, and that his life will never be the same again.

For Charlotte Coach or Coach being able to taker care of her clients is her top priority, she has work hard to be where she is today and she is not going to disappoint boss no matter what. Yet when she meets her newest client, the famous Alex Parker, she feels a pull toward him that she can't explain. Coach knows not to mix business with pleasure, but she just can't seem to say no to Parker. He is not only handsome, but very persuasive and that could get them in trouble if they don't be careful or get caught. The last thing she wants is to lose her job because of Parker, so they have to learn to hide their relationship as much as they can.

I loved reading Parker!!!! Quinn did an amazing job describing both of the characters very well. There are things in both of their pasts that they'll ultimately have to solve if they want to move on with their relationship while hiding it at the same time. Parker is caring and totally swoon worthy in the book, no wonder Coach couldn't resist him. He just pulls you in with his looks and personality. On the other hand, Coach is a hardworking woman who knows what she wants and values her career. Things change after the two met, and we get to see them develop as well throughout the book. The ending will leave your heart melting and will also leave you wanting for more. I would highly recommend reading this book, it's definitely one of my favorites of this year so far. :)

***ARC provided by for the blog tour in exchange for an honest review.***

[Courtney · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an OK read, but I just had a hard time connecting to it. Some parts were a bit over-the-top cheesy and ridiculous, and I really didn't like either of the MCs. Overall, it felt like it was trying too hard and didn't seem that polished.

For one thing, it all felt incredible rushed. Just a bit too insta-love for me. Alex goes from alcoholic man-whore to devoted boyfriend in a week?



And the timeline in here is just all sorts of messed up. First, despite Alex and Charlie both being super close to sports agency boss Mickey, they've never met. You're telling me that Charlie, who is supposed to be like Mickey's adopted daughter, and apparently met Alex's dad, Mickey's best friend, several times, didn't go to that man's funeral?



Then, when Alex and Charlie finally do meet, the very next day, Charlie is rescuing him from his drunken stupor, forcing him to live with her so she can watch over him, and is already worried about how much she cares about him and how it could mess with her career if they got together.



Then throughout the rest of the book, the author forgets how long they've actually been together. Like, Parker spent one week with Charlie, then two weeks traveling, then a few days with Charlie, then one week away, and somehow that equals two months....



Inconsistencies like that drive me bonkers. Not to mention that after dating for all of "two months" Mickey makes Alex do the most ridiculous thing ever to prove that he actually wants to date Charlie, which supposedly takes two months to plan and set up, during which time, him and Charlie only see each other passing in the hall or elevator and don't talk, but they're ridiculously in love with each other? So much so that Alex says he would give up his hockey career if he had to?



So besides the rushed, weird insta-love stuff going on, what really bothered me about this book was all the "not like other girls" garbage. Seriously, it's so cringy bad in here.

At one point, Charlie sits with the hockey wives at one of Alex's games, and she is so rude and judgmental of these women that it was actually painful to read. She thinks it's terrible that they don't know anything about the game, and she assumes that all they ever do is get manicures or whatever, which obviously makes her better than all of them /s. And of course there's the whole "I like hanging out with guys because they talk about important stuff like sports and women are so silly and just talk about makeup" internal monologue that is typical of these I'm-not-like-other-girls girls.



And even after the women are all super nice to her and listen to her explanations during the game and seem really interested in what she's saying, Charlie still mocks them in her internal monologue. There sure was a stuck-up-b*tch in the stands, but it's not the woman Charlie thinks it is.



Added to this is Alex's stupid monologuing about how Charlie's not like other girls, and he's so happy that she doesn't wear makeup or super short skirts or whatever other stupid slut-shaming crap the author decided to rant about. Sorry, just not a fan of that. Women can wear makeup if they want, and it's fine. Women can wear short skirts if they want, and it's fine. Alex had sex with multiple chicks barely over the age of 18 and woke up after being black out drunk in a dorm at 27 years old. If anyone should be shamed, it's that guy.



So, just kind of meh for me. Perhaps some potential in here, but the cheesy plot points and slut-shaming pulled it down.

[Ess · Rating 2 out of 5]

Parker's potential was surmountable, until Dear Reader had gotten past the synopsis. 
Parker himself was a full-fledged alcoholic who needed a consistent rehabilitation program for at least a year before taking care of a plant, let alone entering into a romantic relationship with another human being. 
The build up between the two protagonists was lacking in new dialogue; the conversations seemed to be regurgitated throughout the story and was deficient in newness and intrigue. There were pages lay to waste focusing on this circular drama.
The characters' development needed more buildup to make it a more realistic connection. This is an unfortunate circumstance, considering Coach, the female protagonist, had a compelling childhood backstory that did not jive with her adult miasma of circuitous thought.
In all, the bluster of Parker was lukewarm and wanting.

[Gina *loves sunshine* · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love these little fun palate cleansers!!!! You know when you've read something heavy, long, etc and you just want to switch to a story that's flirty, simple, with good catchy banter - well this was it. Bonus for the sports romance!!!! Parker was your typical cocky hockey player and Coach was the sports agent who doesn't date her client...until she does. It was so fun I downloaded the next one in the series!! Audiobook narrated by 2 of the best and available on hoopla.

[Lucia · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5☆ - emotional read with a unique twist for a sports romance mixed with a little bit of forbidden/off limits

Parker is my first read by Jillian Quinn and while I am a sucker for sports romances generally, I really enjoyed this emotional read with a unique twist for a sports romance between an off the rails bad boy hockey star and a feisty sports agent. The book mixes in a little bit of a forbidden/off limits theme to add an extra dimension to make this a hot and sexy sports romance!

Told from dual point of view, Coach (Charlie/Charlotte) and Alex have an irresistible chemistry that is instant but develops in a fairly fast but at the same the same time steady pace as secrets of darker past issues of troubled childhoods (although for very different reasons) rise to the front and must be faced. It’s fairly easy as a reader to connect and like Charlotte and Alex, especially as their stories evolve and we get to know them. I loved the mix of dirty talk and sports between the characters as it really added a quirkiness to these characters (and leaves you feeling rather flush!). The sub-characters added some variety to show different sides to both characters further.

Parker has a great writing flow that made this an addictive read. The plot is a little predictable but has plenty of heart and emotion that keeps things fresh and intriguing from start to finish. The issues raised Issues are handled with a nice sensitivity. In terms of the sports elements, it isn’t too heavy so even novices can easily follow along. The book can be read as a standalone read with a HEA.

Definitely would recommend this to any sports romance fans.

*I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. I was not compensated for my review, and I was not required to write a positive review. The opinion expressed here is my own.

[H. M. · Rating 1 out of 5]

I DNF this book. It started out great and then it slowly went down hill about halfway through. As the book went on the authors time table started to get screwed up, one minute the couples been together two weeks and then they’re saying they’ve been together 2-3 months before they split and then that was from 3 weeks to 2 months without a long period of time and no real change around the dates in the book. I felt like the author just rushed through it when this could have turned out a lot better if she thought it out more.

[Kog · Rating 1 out of 5]

Has this author ever watched a hockey game? As mentioned in another review the reference to Russia and Canada is just plain ignorant. Many of the top players in the league are from both countries. Hockey is sexy?? Maybe if you are into spitting. This could have been an interesting book but it's just lazy.

[Ptiteaurel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Parker a tout ce que j'aime dans les romances sportives sexy: des sportifs arrogants et une femme de caractère pour ébranler l'égo surdimensionné du mâle de service

j'ai adoré ce premier tome et je suis très curieuse de découvrir les prochains tomes. Je me demande si Jillian Quinn va proposer un prochain tome sur Jamie ou un autre joueur de l'équipe. L'auteur nous propose une romance sportive sexy avec des personnages qu'on va vite adorer. Même si l'intrigue est cousue de fil blanc, j'ai passé un très bon moment de lecture

Chronique complète http://thelovelyteacheraddictions.blo...

[Nicole P · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't completely enjoy this book. Alex Parker is the best defenseman in the NHL but his personal life is a mess. Excessive drinking. Partying. Puck bunnies galore. He also made the mistake of sleeping with the team owners granddaughter and then receive his marching orders. His agent, and long time family friend, gives him over to another agent, Charlotte Coachman. She was very good at her job. Tough as nails, and working in a man's world. She has one rule: don't sleep with clients. She didn't count on Alex. Now the thing that made this unbearable and annoying was the constant repetition of their personal problems and issues. Over and over you heard about Alex's failure to deal with his father's death and Charlotte's childhood issues. Pages and pages on this and it started getting annoying. Doubtful that I'll read the other books in this series.

[Veronica LaRoche · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Parker. Parker is a cocky hockey player and lost his way after the passing of his dad and now is being traded to the Philadelphia Flyers ( which is my fav team). Charlotte (Coach) is a sports agent and now is in charge of Parker, they never thought they would have a connection but both of them having lost someone special has bonded them in a way that they now need each other. Parker & Charlotte are so good together and love how Parker proved how much Charlotte meant to him. Really great story with great characters and can't wait to read the next book in this series

I voluntarily reviewed this Advanced Reader Copy of this book

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

GONE BANANZA! WOW WOW WOW

[Meggy Chocolate'n'Waffles · Rating 4 out of 5]

Do you know anything about sports? Is every rule of every sport tattooed in your mind? Do you always watch the games? Yeah, me neither. Except for Rugby games involving France where I eat Big Macs and almost throw up every five minutes because it’s hard to stuff your face and scream at the screen at the same time.

In that case, you might rightfully wonder what a book like Parker does on my reading list. I was the first surprised. Remember when I said romance was not really my thing? Well, it is when they come from Jillian Quinn.

It is hard not to be biased when abs are involved, but I promise the following review was written without any pressure from the author, our relationship or our love for Italian food.

I don’t know a single think about hockey. Their games don’t even get aired on TV. But Alex Parker is a player. A player tangled up in bad sheets. Literally and figuratively. Since his father’s death, this top of the game hockey man has been rolling down the wrong side of the valley, trying to fill a never-disappearing void with perky tits and booze (Never thought I would use perky tits in a review.) Except it is a terrible idea and totally not working. If he manages to stand on the ice and pretend to be good enough, once on real ground, anything is good to replace feelings and memories by emptiness and blankness.

One too many mistakes lands him in Philly, between the expert hands of Coach. Charlotte Coachman, former player and now top-notch sports agent. If Alex thought he was going to be pampered by a young and naive young woman ready to answer to his every need and demand, he got it all wrong. Coach did not get an A-list client by rubbing them the right way, but by working twice as hard as anybody else to make herself a place in the sun.

So far, a regular story of two characters bumping each other thanks to life’s twists.

Comes the first break. (Are they called breaks in hockey???)

Both characters carry a strong and devastating background luggage. The difference is one is fighting the weigh to stay afloat while the other one is drowning.
What first looked like the story of a professional relationship turned hotly wrong suddenly became the take of how meeting the right person at the right time can save your life, in more ways than one.

I am not used to women in sports, except for an old teacher who actually looked a lot like a guy… So I was curious about Coach. Navigating between sharks to get her clients the right deals in a world led by testosterone is scary, at least for me. I have no idea what it entails but the author does know what she’s doing and allows you a glimpse of what life looks like in the shadow of athletes. Meeting Coach was a delight, she is not your nice and cute girl and this is refreshing. Yet, she is confident enough to not overdo it and play it like a guy. She’s just a woman with a single rule and a strong sense of loyalty. You don’t sleep with clients, and you don’t screw over the man who believed in you when everyone thought you were over. She likes to sweat and she gets the work done. My favorite kind of girl. Yes, she is hard-boiled and won’t hesitate to tell you with a straight face that you’re a pain in the ass, but underneath this very professional side, there is so many emotions and layers to Coach that you cannot help but find something to resonate with you. She is not afraid to lose the mask with her friends, to let people know she cares, she is resilient but soft. A real gem and someone I’d love to have as my friend. She could explain all sports rules to me while I drool on the players and try not to choke on popcorn.

Parker is not the usual bad guy. Actually, he is not a bad guy at all. He is your regular (well, very muscular for a regular but still) young man trying to make a living from his passion. He hasn’t always had it nice and easy and you can feel it from the start. I was not convinced by his bad-boy attitude, I could feel his behavior was unusual and I started praying someone who see it too, shake the hell out of that sexy guy and bring him back on the right track. It was painful to see Parker drowning so I was rooting for him all the way. There might have been some swooning along the way, I blame my ovaries and Valentine’s Day advertisements.

Sparks between Coach and Parker fly before they even meet in the flesh and their chemistry springs off the pages despite the rules and hardships. Don’t expect insta-love from Jillian Quinn, she’s the queen of insta-lust turned into so much more. Watching their relationship blossom in ways you don’t expect from what seems to be a light read is tremendously enjoyable. Even my prude side took pleasure in reading about their … adventures.

If I had to choose one favorite element of this story it would be the surprise. Parker is a Kinder egg. You expect an easy and sweet story about hot as hell people and you get complications, dark nights, happy days and difficult choices. You get the whole package of a realistic love story, with the luggage, the well-thinking friends, the problems, the pain, the uncertainty, the hope. The author made the choice to add different and unusual sides to this story and they hit you right in the gut, my emotions were all over the place as I learned to love all the people living through the pages.

Thankfully, once again, I did not get stuck with two lovers in their own little world. Friends, teammates, bosses, you get them all, and with them their nosey sides and their needed (or not) help. Because no matter what we say, a relationship rarely involves only two people, it reflects on every person close to the lovers, it influences friendships, it strengthens bounds, it challenges ties. I never believed in the say that people in love are on their own. People are more than just a couple, they are a planet with satellites all around and life is a game in which you have to align them all (and keep them this way) to make it work (work in progress for your entire lifetime but that’s the rule of the game!) Juggling with it all it what makes it all worth it in the end. Jillian Quinn knows that and makes sure her characters learn the lesson.

The spicy and unique writing prevents this story from falling into the pitfall of looking like coming straight out of a soap opera episode. You can count on fantastic one-liners and the right balance between what makes a relationship so good: Jillian Quinn gave intimacy a chance to show all its faces and it resulted in one of my favorite love stories and a couple I won’t forget. 

You can now find Parker available HERE. Also, if you're a lucky Kindle Unlimited member, you can read it for free! Just jump on those abs already!

I would like to thank Jillian Quinn for trusting me with her work and allowing me to review her second book. 

[BookAddict · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alex Parker is a professional hockey player who has had one too many indiscretions that get him traded to a new team when his dalliance with the owner’s granddaughter goes public. Charlotte “Coach” Coachman is the sports agent who gets charged by her boss and father figure, Mickey, with babysitting Parker and keeping him out of trouble. There are only a few problems with this. Parker has been in a downward spiral of women and alcohol since his father’s death and his addiction issues hit too close to home for Coach, whose parents’ addictions landed her parentless and in foster care. Not only does having Parker staying under the same roof stir up old feelings, but it makes it almost impossible to deny their growing attraction to each other, despite Mickey’s unbendable rule about no fraternizing with clients.

The advance copy I read of this book is my first by this author and I was really excited to read it. I love sports romances, and Ms. Quinn did a terrific job with Parker and Coach’s story. She managed to paint a sad, unsavory, desperate picture of a damaged Parker while still eliciting sympathy and making him loveable so he easily burrowed into my heart. Charlotte wasn’t without her own issues, but she was such a strong, kick a** role model that the issues she had overcome made her that much more admirable. The storyline kept me glued to the pages and I flew through the book desperate to find out what happened next. I loved not only the main characters, but also the secondary characters who were all engaging, endearing and larger than life. I especially loved Rosario and her son, Rico, who I can easily see having his own book once he becomes an adult and a professional basketball player.

Parker and Coach together were amazing, from the very beginning of their relationship where she put Parker in his place, to their palpable passion, and through various challenges they faced. When it came time for a grand gesture on Parker’s part, it was epic, original and just a little mortifying, and left no question for anyone that these two were perfect together. Every aspect of this book was fantastic, from the humor to the heart and the sweet to the sexy. This is a truly awesome read that you won’t want to miss, and I can’t wait to read more from this author!

[Brittany from Can’t Quit Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has been on my TBR for awhile, and I am so mad that I waited so long to read it.

Coach is a sports agent who has proved you can be a successful woman in a man's world. She is amazing at her job and doesn't take crap from anyone.

Alex is a hot shot hockey player who has had one too many nights out on the town. He has made so many mistakes and now it is starting to affect his career.

These two feel the attraction, but Coach's rules, pride in her career, and her past hold her back. Being with Alex will not only make her lose her credibility, but he represents her past...a past that she doesn't want to revisit anytime soon.

I loved Coach. She was a no nonsense type of girl who was treated as equal. She had built her life from the ground up, and she was bound and determined to help those around her.

Alex has a lot of growing up to do and trying to manage his grief is difficult. He has always gotten what he wants and doesn't understand why Coach is different.

The ending was absolutely perfect. If there was anyway to win a girl back, that student would definitely do it!

I cannot wait to continue this series and see the rest of the guys fall!

[Mal ✨ | Tales Of A Bookbug · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'd never read any of Jillian Quinn's books before, so going in I didn't really know what to expect.I was thinking Parker would probably be a run-of-the-mill sports romance.But it wasn't!
It was crazy good with beautiful characters and a lovely story!

Charlotte aka Coach is one of the youngest leading sports agents, and she has gotten here after a lot of hardwork.Many dismiss her because she is a female, but she has gotten this far without trading favors & has made a name for herself and earned respect.She has had a difficult childhood, and her boss Mickey who is like a father figure to her is the one who helped her become a sports agent.So when he asks her for help while dealing with one of their players- Alex Parker, even though she may not like it, she accepts.
Alex has brought a lot of trouble to them time and again.This time after being involved in a scandal with the team owner's granddaughter, he is traded off to Philly.
He hasn't been able to deal with his father's death, which is why he's been drinking heavily and getting involved with many women.When she first talks to him itself, Coach makes it clear that she won't be one of his girls.

But then when they meet each other, they are forced to re evaluate their opinions of each other.Alex isn't just the lazy playboy that Charlotte thought he was.He has a soft heart and helping nature, but he seems to get himself into the stupidest situations because of his grief.So she decides to help him.And Alex also gets to meet the woman under the cold exterior.
But agents can't date players!What will these two end up doing?Resist the attraction or find a way to still be together?

The characters of Alex and Coach were very well fleshed out.I loved reading about their pasts and how they slowly helped each other.The development of their relationship from mutual dislike to friendship and a blooming relationship was really sweet!Their interactions and were also so hilarious!
I loved how independent and feisty Coach was!She didn't take shit from anyone.But at the same time we got to see her vulnerable side too!
And by the end I was so invested in their relationship!The lengths that Alex was willing to go to be with Coach had me going aww!The secondary set of characters like Rico,James,Mickey,etc were also such a great bunch and added so much to the story!
I would really recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a sports romance,but wants something different in it too!
I've added Teach to my TBR as well and I'll be reading it soon! ;)

[Sbell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Alex and Charlotte are cute together,
and this is a quick, fun read.

[Cocktails and Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoying the Legacy series, so I'm going back to read these.

[Duchess · Rating 1 out of 5]

Audible. I tried to get into it, and then it ended. It felt childish. No real chemistry.

[lisas.bookselection · Rating 1 out of 5]

younger me was highly delusional to find that book good

[Diana R. Johnston · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m a sucker

I’m a sucker for a good hockey romance and the first in this series does not disappoint! Alex is awful and then he’s adorable and Coach… she’s just amazing! Definitely recommend the read!!

[Diane Lynch Lynch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jillian Quinn scores with PARKER, the first book from the Face-Off series. NHL defenseman, Alex Parker, is traded to the Philadelphia Flyers due to bad behavior. His agent, Mick Donoghue, asks his toughest employee, Charlotte Coachman (Coach), to get him out of the penalty box. Their encounters are a constant Face-Off. This contemporary sports romance is suitable for adult audiences.

Jillian Quinn does an admirable job with her character development. They are believable and well developed. I like Alex. He is having a difficult time dealing with his father’s death. He’s drinking too much and getting in trouble. He has a good heart. I love how he is with kids. He is persistent and needs some guidance. Charlie is an impressive heroine. She had a difficult childhood. She was an impressive college basketball player, planning on going pro, until her dreams were crushed by an injury. She becomes a successful senior sports agent, with a stellar reputation. I like that she tells it how it is. I love that she coaches youth basketball. I also appreciated her work ethic. Alex and Charlotte have great chemistry and make an intriguing couple that need each other.

I enjoyed the plot. There were a lot of complicated issues and dynamics that made the story thought-provoking. Jillian Quinn does an amazing job describing the sport scenes. It is obvious she is knowledgeable. I enjoyed the ending. It was clever and well-resolved. This is the first book that I read by Jillian Quinn. I enjoyed her writing style. The story was well laid out and entertaining throughout. I plan to continue following this series and am looking forward to the next book. I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.

[ViolinVixen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alex Parker’s pro hockey career and his life in general, has been set on self- destruct mode since the death of his mentor and his favorite coach – his dad. Drinking to forget about his loneliness and trying to numb himself from the heart-breaking grief, Alex finds himself getting into more and more trouble all the time. It’s bringing unwanted, negative attention to both himself and his team. We all know that when a celebrity does something wrong, there’s 2 million people to tweet, Facebook and you-tube about it. Some nights, the only way he knows what he was up to during his blackout drunk debauchery is to look up the gossip sites and follow the video replay of his wild nights. His team has had enough and he’s being traded immediately. Parker’s got one chance left to stay employed in the NHL and he’s going to need some help towing the line.

Charlotte Coachman is a top sports agent. She’s never met an athlete she couldn’t rein in and she’s never lost a negotiation. She’s incredible at her job and is known for her fierce, take no prisoners attitude. When she’s assigned by her boss, mentor and father figure Mickey to help Alex transition to his new team and to make sure he stops partying hard and causing publicity nightmares, she knows she can’t say no. She wants to. Desperately. She doesn’t want to be stuck babysitting the biggest off-ice trouble maker on the team, but she owes Mickey everything and he’s the only family she’s got.

Forced to work together in order for both of them to keep their respective jobs, is not an exciting prospect for either of them. To say that it gets off to a rocky start is a major understatement. Alex immediately tries to turn on the charm and is instantly shut down by the no-nonsense Charlie. His new teammates get him into trouble on one of his first nights out and Charlotte decides that the gentle touch is not an option with this guy. He needs to dry up and get his life together before he has nothing left to live for.

As they spend more and more time together, Charlotte starts to see that Alex is not the jerk the media has portrayed him to be. Yes, he gets out of control, no one is denying that, but underneath it all – the swagger, the smart mouth and the skills, he’s a good guy. They get to know each other better and start to help each other deal with the demons from their own pasts that are keeping them from moving forward. They start to look forward to spending time together rather than dread it and eventually they start to explore a physical relationship that blows both of their minds.

Two strong, stubborn and passionate people with shattered hearts try to pick up the pieces and put each other back together. Is there enough trust, love and patience between them to make an unlikely match work beautifully?

I absolutely loved this sports romance and as a Canadian girl it is awesome to read a hockey story in amongst all the football stories (not that I don’t love those too  ). This book has deep, complex and relatable main characters, and valuable, entertaining and developed supporting characters. In general, Parker is just a really great enemies to lovers romance set in the world of pro hockey.

My favourite hockey player of all time, Wayne Gretzky, said “You miss 100% of the shots that you don’t take.” I think you should take a shot on this book and on this fabulous new author Jillian Quinn. You can’t miss.

Standalone novel. HEA. No cliffhanger. Steamy sports romance with heart and wit.

[Cheryl Whitty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Parker is a Hockey Player who got caught up in a sex tape scandal with the chairman’s granddaughter while having sex in a lift. Then that’s compounded by somebody filming when he was so drunk he can’t remember how he ended up in a college girl’s dorm. The next thing he knows he’s transferred from Washington to Phillie Flyers, and a less experienced team. As soon as he meets Coach you can feel the attraction between them. Alex lost his father six months before, and been on a downward spiral ever since, his feels lost his anchor.
 
Charlotte takes Alex under her wing to help him detox, and keep him on the straight and narrow. They become good friends, Alex wants more, but Charlotte has a no relationship clause in her contract. Eventually it is impossible for them to resist any longer. They are great together you can feel the sparks flying between them. It not just sex they really like each other, Alex is a sweet guy and really cares for Charlotte. This is a lovely romantic book with an HEA. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. It seemed a quick read, because I read it straight through in one sitting.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review