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Face-Off Legacy/Campus Kings #7

Most Desirable Player

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If you’re reading this, I could use some help. My best friend just grabbed my paddle at The Player Auction… and now, I have to go on a date with my ex-boyfriend.

Julian Rivers is everything a girl could want—rich and smart, with abs you can bounce quarters on and the cutest dimple I want to touch every time he smiles. But after our breakup, there’s no way I’m letting him back in my life.

There’s just one problem…

Julian's a hockey player who loves a challenge. He always shoots to score and plays to win… and this time, he’s playing for keeps.

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First published October 10, 2019

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About the author

Jillian Quinn

62 books1,081 followers
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.

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5 stars
233 (36%)
4 stars
224 (35%)
3 stars
128 (20%)
2 stars
34 (5%)
1 star
17 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 73 reviews
Profile Image for Dora Koutsoukou .
2,223 reviews718 followers
October 24, 2019
2,5 🤔🤔⭐️s

Although the blurb caught my interest wholly, the story felt as it was in all directions, like it was missing the focus.
It had potential but it wasn’t adequately developed. And there were so many characters with details, even their family trees!! Briana was kind of a tiresome character, due to her past she had trust issues and was very indecisive concerning her relationship with Julian.
It wasn’t bad but I didn’t enjoy it as much as I wanted to.
Profile Image for Jillian Quinn.
Author 62 books1,081 followers
Read
October 4, 2019
If you like the Face-Off Legacy Series, then get ready to meet the last four players in the house in The Player Auction.

Julian's book, Most Desirable Player, is coming out on October 10th and is available now for pre-order.
Profile Image for Gladys.
13.9k reviews163 followers
October 8, 2019
I thought that this was a great read and a solid start to this new series. I felt that the storyline offered a good blend of emotions, drama, tension and heat. This second chance romance focuses on Julian and Briana. I found Julian immensely likable but it took me a while to warm up to Briana. This I think was simply because to start you do not know enough about her or the history she shares with Julian, plus as often happens when someone is hurt their pain comes out as pettiness and immaturity. A very entertaining, emotional romance.
Profile Image for 🦉Maggie Whitworth.
3,254 reviews113 followers
February 8, 2021
❤️❤️❤️❤️
💋💋

Great fun and tension with the hockey boys and their chosen ladies.

Excellent reading, characters are brilliant, storyline is enjoyable and entertaining and the fun is outstanding.
Profile Image for Meghan Hecht-Brooks.
1 review1 follower
November 9, 2019
Love this series but this one was a bust

I love the books in this series and Jillian's books in general but this one was a total bust for me. The story line was ok and I liked Julian. Yes he was a jerk when he first "broke" Bri's heart but the fact that she continues to hold this over his head the whole book gets old. And Bri in general made me want to scream. Her insecurities with herself and money were out of control. She was the most judgemental women but yet hated to be judged. It was a struggle to finish.
9 reviews3 followers
December 23, 2020
DNF. I had no interest or connection. This is supposed to the the last book in the series so it's not a good time to introduce two completely new characters with nary a mention of anyone else we're familiar with until maybe a third of the way through.
This relationship felt very off as well. A little too much of the power and control was placed in Julian's hands. I'd rather read about a healthy relationship rather than something skating on the edge of domestic violence.
Profile Image for Misty (Reds Romance Reviews).
3,401 reviews6 followers
March 9, 2021
Julian Rivers is the big man on campus, the guy every girl wants to be with... but he only has eyes for one girl in particular. Unfortunately though, he screwed up big time with this particular girl and she won't give him the time of day. And he desperately wants her time and attention again...

Briana Bloom despises Julian Rivers, once upon a time he was her everything, but now he means nothing to her. He did something unforgivable and broke her heart, and now she avoids him at all costs, which is a little tricky when you attend the same college. Just a few more weeks until they will graduate and then she will be able to move on and leave him behind forever...

What I found between the pages of this perfectly penned tale completely exhausted my emotions, the heartbreak almost smothering, and the love and passion so intense... I felt every ounce of it. The words grabbed me instantly, an addiction settled in, and I had to see it through even if it meant staying up all night.... and it was SO worth the lost hours of sleep!! I feel like no matter what I say about this book it just won't do it justice, Ms. Quinn really up'd her game with this one, her words taking me by surprise, and leaving me deeply moved. This is by far my favorite from her to date, the words were perfect, and her the characters unforgettable and painted so vividly that I felt like I was watching a movie, one that wrecked my heart in the best possible way. I highly recommend you get your hands on this one, what you find waiting for you between it's pages is certain to touch your heart!

I requested an advanced copy of this title from the publisher, and I am leaving my honest opinion.
Profile Image for Karen.
382 reviews1 follower
May 18, 2020
Meh

I felt like I was reading a checklist of past happenings. Briana and Julian lacked charisma and were 1 dimensional. Not much personality -Briana constantly stating she hates rich people doesn't jibe with her choosing an ivy league school of billionaire offspring and being besties with a few. Julian is also flat.
Profile Image for Nicole.
1,052 reviews5 followers
May 30, 2021
Dating an ex is never a fun prospect, but Quinn pulls this up and does well.
I think it's a solid end to the series, and I really enjoyed it.
They are quick reads. And the over-arching story tends to stick with readers.
Profile Image for Emma Roberts.
1,007 reviews14 followers
May 5, 2020
Fab

Another amazing book from Jillian! I just love all these hockey player hooks and great to read Julians story.
Great book and highly recommended
11 reviews
January 18, 2020
I couldn’t even finish reading it. I LOVE both Face off series. I was looking forward to read this one. I get the girl has issues she hasn’t completely dealt with yet but I can’t deal with her. I felt like she was constantly screaming at Julian.
42 reviews
October 6, 2019
I really enjoyed this book. When the book starts, you find Briana fighting with her friend who wants to go to a Player auction. At this point, I found Briana to be a little much with her resistance to go. We don't understand her story at this point and it seemed like she was a little too resistant for really no good reason. It's not until we learn more about her that we understand her more. It took me a while to warm up to Briana. She seemed so harsh in the way she treated the situation with Julian. It isn't until you understand her passed and her passed with Julian that you understand her more. It seemed like she had a rough up bringing but sometimes I felt her up bringing wasn't bad enough to warrant her attitude towards life. There wasn't anything really bad in her past, that we learn, that would make her so un-trusting of others, at least I didn't think so. And I didn't see anything in her past that would make her so self conscious of her image. Maybe I missed something, but I didn't see it.

Julian was your typical rich kid. He didn't know how to not be rich. I loved how he did everything he could to get back in Briana's good graces. Although, I thought Briana might have forgiven him for the wrong reasons. I am glad that Julian grew as a person through out this book and by the end was a much better person than he in the beginning.

Over all I found this to be a really good book and can't wait to read the next book. The author did a great job of setting up the series for the rest of the books. This book also made me want to go back and read the Face-off Legacy series.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Jennifer.
123 reviews7 followers
October 10, 2019
This is a wonderful second chance romance between the wealthy and popular Julian and the financially struggling orphaned Briana. They dated and were in love their sophomore year at Strick U but broke up after a misunderstanding. With graduation looming, Julian schemes to get Bri give him another chance by ensuring she wins him at a charity auction.

This is the first book in a new series featuring more hockey players from Strickland University, this is a spinoff from the Face Off Legacy series. It’s not necessary to have read that series (or the Face Off series featuring the parents of the Legacy heroes) but if you have read those series you will definitely want to read this. It is set in Philadelphia and you can tell the author is familiar with the area.

I really enjoyed this story. Briana is insecure and has issues due to being orphaned and living in foster care. She is in therapy and Julian is supportive of that. She is insecure about not being wealthy and can never understand why Julian would want to be with her, she does not fit in with his friends. Julian is estranged from his wealthy family who have neglected him his whole life. This is a hockey romance and it’s nice to read about a “second string” player. Usually we are reading about the stars that are the best. It was refreshing to have a hero recognizing he’s not a superstar and may not make the pros. I can’t wait for future stories in this series featuring Julian’s friends. I will read any hockey romance Jillian Quinn writes.

*I received an early copy of this book and am posting my honest opinion.*
Profile Image for Heather Miller.
1,478 reviews48 followers
October 23, 2019
In this book we continue with the Face-Off Legacy Series house members.

Julian grew up with the rest of the guys in the Face-Off Series, all going to the same Prep School, and now the same college. Julian is on the ice hockey team also.

Briana and Julian dated a few years ago, but broke up. Briana couldn't deal with all the women that were always around Julian, and always feeling second best compared to them. Briana had been in the foster care system growing up. She knows what it feels like to go hungry. She works two jobs to make her tuition payment, and to eat. She's not use to being in the 'rich' crowd. Briana has a lot of hostility towards the 'rich' crowd at her school. But, her best friend / roommate, is just as rich as Julian's family, if not more so.

Briana doesn't seem to care that Julian wants to be with her again. She brushes him off time and time again. Julian never stopped caring for her. He never dated anyone after her either. Briana never dated after she and Julian broke up. She went into counseling sessions to help her handle her stress that she developed.

Will Briana give Julian another chance? Will she see that he loves her, and never stopped loving her?

I did reeve a free ARC copy of this book from the author. I am freely leaving an honest review.
Profile Image for Susan McClintock.
889 reviews11 followers
October 6, 2019
The Player Auction is a spin off of the Face Off Legacy series that centers around the rest of Strickland University’s Hockey Team. While the Legacy series is about the sons of Hockey Legends, this group are the B team and played together in a military prep school. Julian Rivers and Briana Bloom dated through their Sophomore year, and it ended badly. Briana has done everything in her power to avoid golden boy Julian. Her roommate Sadie convinces her to go to a charity Player Auction, where Sadie uses Briana’s paddle to win a date with Julian. It’s been two years since their breakup, and Julian doesn’t want to lose his second chance to win her back. Overall, I really enjoyed this book. Julian is a really great guy, despite his awful parents and you really want him to get his happily ever after. What kept this from being a five star review was Briana. I had a difficult time warming up to her. For the first half of the book, she was whiny and immature, but she eventually came around. If you like Jillian Quinn’s previous hockey romances, you will enjoy this book. I received an ARC of this book from Booksprout and the author for my honest review.
Profile Image for Diane Lynch Lynch.
1,883 reviews51 followers
October 12, 2019
Jillian Quinn scores with Most Desirable Player. Briana Bloom’s roommate grabs her paddle and wins Briana a date with her ex-boyfriend, Julian Rivers, at Strickland University’s Player Auction. She has been avoiding Julian for two years; now she is forced to go on a date with him. Meanwhile, Julian wants a second chance, and he will do anything to earn Breana back. This contemporary sports romance is suitable for new adults.

Most Desirable Player is a heartfelt second chance romance. Briana and Julian come from very different social circles. Briana grew up in the foster system, while Julian came from money. This causes a few interesting issues for the couple. Briana has trust issues, and Julian has difficulty standing up to his father. They never stopped loving each other. They have great chemistry and are good for each other.

Jillian Quinn does a commendable job with this novel. It is skillfully written and thought-provoking. This story is a great example of how money cannot buy everything. I recommend this story to people who enjoy second chance sports romances. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book.
1 review
January 25, 2021
Bri goes from having a borderline panic attack whenever she sees Julian to going to 3rd base after she gets a concussion. There is so much wrong with that.

Her best friend sets her up to go on a date with Julian when she knows that Bri hates him and sees a therapist due to how he acted in their breakup.

Julian didn't block Abby who was sending him naked pictures of herself, he also never said anything to Bri about Abby and his former relationship which would have solved a lot of Bri's problems with Julian/Bri's first relationship.

There is quite a lot wrong with the relationship. I'm a sucker for second chance romances but this was a terrible version of that trope.
Profile Image for Sarah (lou_reads_romance).
1,281 reviews2 followers
October 7, 2019
More Delicious Players😉
It’s great to be back on campus with these hockey hunks and to start a new spin off series. In this book we are introduced to the other occupants of the hockey ‘w’house. If you followed the Legacy series then you will already be familiar with the set up. It’s not completely necessary to have read them but it is totally worth your time.
I loved Julian and the efforts he went to in order to get Briana to speak to him again....despite some of her comments to him. I think she was very lucky that he had a somewhat stubborn streak!!😉
Briana... she was a tricky one.... I totally got her insecurities etc, I appreciated the fact that she wasn’t a doormat but I found she had a tendency to be a bit all over the place. I did warm to her towards the end and I loved the epilogues from both points of view. Looking forward to these new stories and following these hockey hunks 😊
I received an arc via booksprout and I am choosing to leave a review
2,010 reviews17 followers
October 5, 2019
I can’t get enough of Jillian Quinn’s books. I have read just about every one if them and they are all exceptional.
Sports romance novels are my favorite genre, and luckily for me Jillian is a standout author in this genre.
I adored Julian in this book. On the surface Briana and himself come from two very different worlds. But once the story unfolds they are more similar than what Briana ever realised. He let outside influences destroy their relationship two years ago and after a second chance he wasn’t going to let her out of his life again.
I loved how he loved Briana. It was beautifully written and I didn’t want the story to ever end.
The epilogue completely the book so well, and I cannot wait to read the next book in this new series.
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced readers copy of this book
2,082 reviews31 followers
October 7, 2019
I really enjoyed Briana and Julian. When Julian and Briana broke up, let’s just say less than friendly, she’s tried to move on and up and forget about Julian and avoid him at every turn. Only Julian wants another chance with her, she’s all he thinks about. When the chance comes and Briana is in his sights and with a paddle no less at the Player’s Auction, he’s not going to let this opportunity pass him by. So many things ruined their past relationship and he let it happen and now he will move heaven and earth to get his second chance with the woman he loves. Briana is a stubborn woman with insecurities that I don’t know if Julian can break through the walls she’s put up, but he’s determined and we all know what happens with a determined man, yep that’s right! No spoilers here, loved the book and it’s a great read! I received this book through BookSprout.
Profile Image for Melinda Swaine.
2,389 reviews13 followers
October 10, 2019
Felt like I was reading about friends than just characters!!

This is my favourite book by this author. I absolutely love this series and was over the moon getting my hands on this new book I absolutely love hockey and I love hockey sports romance. This book delivered just the right amount of hockey and romance. So when I find out there is a new book by Jillian Quinn is coming out I have to make time in my day to make sure I get to read this fantastic story in one sitting. Totally sucked me into the story from the start and didn’t want to put it down at all. Loved the characters so much felt like I was reading about friends than just characters. It’s amazing how this author does this every single time and always has me coming back for more. Can’t get enough of this series or her books. Everyone needs a Jillian Quinn book on the to-read list and library. Happy reading!!!
Profile Image for Jenn.
1,463 reviews25 followers
November 25, 2019
Eh

First they fall into bed too quickly and they don't really work through previous issues. It's like they talk and the minute they do 2 years of disbelief falls away and she instantly believes. Then there's the part where he outright admits she was mentally unstable the first time they dated and somehow that's okay. I'm sorry but someone mentally unstable should be focused on themselves not a relationship. And if she's so beyond poor how does she afford her shrink? There are a lot of that's highly unlikelys for me in this book. Plus despite giving them an emotional background, there were so many sex and foreplay scenes it's hard for it not to seem like that's the whole basis for the relationship to me. The book just didn't do it for me and its not one I'm likely to reread.
Profile Image for Mindy.
1,117 reviews
October 10, 2019
This is a good read, second chance romance, sports romance with a nice pace. Julian is not the big star but not the second string either, son of a rich father he's had everything given to him, well almost everything. Briana has never been given anything, growing up in foster care she's worked for everything that she has. Dating earlier in their college experience Briana took the break up hard, rumors were thrown around, drunken words were said, not pretty and cut deep, so much that Briana avoided Julian for years. With a little scheming Julian and Briana have a date. Fun storyline, and fun characters, my only hold back on a 5 star rating was the fact that Briana was somewhat frustrating in her strong hold on the past, I wanted her to warm up to Julian a little faster.
1,083 reviews4 followers
October 10, 2019
What an absolutely amazing book! Briana and Julian's story was heartwrenching, beautifully written with tons of emotions, steam, and wonderful characters. I could not put it down, even read while cooking dinner lol. Jillian Quinn does such a great job pulling you into the story and making you feel what the characters are feeling and going through. Briana was such a strong young woman in some ways but very insecure in others. Julian realized his past mistake in letting Briana go and is determined to win her back. You really get it all in their story: humor, drama, plenty of steam, second chances, and a fantastic HEA. I can't wait for book 2!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
29 reviews
October 10, 2019
Brianna and Julian: Auctions, Flying Bottles, Good Friends, and Second Chances


Sometimes, the "first time around" doesn't work. Relationships early in college are often complicated. Brianna and Julian, in their last semester of college, tentatively reach out to each other a second time, with serious friends helping along the couple. I liked getting to know these characters in more depth in each chapter. The author gave us a look into the future with Brianna and Julian, something I always appreciate--I want evidence of the HEA!

This book is part of an ongoing series but can be read independent of other books in the series.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
3,385 reviews18 followers
October 12, 2019
This second chance romance focuses on the relationship between Julian Rivers, wealthy college hockey player, and Brianna Bloom, who was Julian’s girlfriend during their college sophomore year until he broke her heart. With graduation rapidly approaching, Julian realizes he still loves Brianna and sets up a plan to win her back. With the help of his friends, Julian is won by Brianna at a date auction much to her dismay and his plan for winning her back begins.
This is an emotional, dramatic, and humorous read with great characters, excellent writing, and a wonderful plot and storyline. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and strongly recommend it!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
180 reviews1 follower
October 16, 2019
One desirable read!
Another truly great spin-off series from Jillian Quinn. The story centers around college hockey player Julian Rivers and his ex, Briana Bloom, and their second chance at love. But even that is not an easy feat, as old wounds and events from two years ago leaves Briana skeptical and leery of Julian’s true intentions. As they fight their feelings and each other, their smoldering attraction reaches a sizzling point of no return in this delightful and endearing page turner. It was also great how Jillian interweaved characters from her other two series and their storylines.
A truly great read filled with amazingly fun characters, sassy dialogue, sizzling heat and their path to love and each other. I can’t wait for the next book in this series!!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 73 reviews

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