Yet another quite enjoyable but, ultimately, just mediocre read for me. Yet another manwhore-jock-meets-good-girl story. I did like the writing though and all in all, this book was pretty enjoyable despite its flaws. Just don't go and expect anything profound. This reads like an in-between a YA and an NA story.

Easy story to get into and lighthearted. Really enjoyed this Cinderella-esque story. The chemistry between the characters was really good. Would definitely read more from this author in the future.

If you’re looking for a story where a prominent sports star, a footballer with the world at his feet, falls for Cinderella who doesn’t exactly trust him, look no further . . . .

Lucas Carter finds his usual cleaner has been temporarily replaced by someone he’s attracted to. Shouldn’t be a problem for a star like him! However, the young woman in question has been burnt by a star before and is determined to resist being attracted to him. Can Lucas win her over? Will love find a way?

This is a light hearted read, a modern version of Cinderella with plenty of twists, especially as communication proves to be a major problem between the two! I enjoyed how Violet resisted Lucas’s charm and he had to work to win her over. I also liked how Lucas wasn’t really a bad boy underneath it all. A fun easy read to escape into when you don’t want anything too heavy to read.

I requested and was given a copy of this book, via NetGalley. This is my honest review of the book after choosing to read it.

An easy story to get wrapped up in, the chemistry between Violet and Lucas is pretty hot, even though she's made her choice when it comes to men who play sports as a career.

A sports love story between football player Lucas and student Violet. Violet is helping her mom so she ends up cleaning penthouse who belongs to Lucas. Lucas is immediately attracted to Violet and is in shock when she doesn't want to go out whit him so he tries to be friend with her. Soon friendship turns into something more. But Lucas is keeping a secret from Violet who can break them or make them. Lucas was an ok character, a person with daddy issues, a football player with not knowing how successful will be his recovery and going back to the field. We can see he has some good friend, a good relationship with the family and priorities set straight, for me he was a likable character. Violet was an ok I did not feel in love with her and didn't find something special in her. Lucas was her teenage crush and what was the odds that her previous cheating boyfriend was also a football player. She is at first shown as an introvert girl but doesn't seem to be one. And her saying no to Lucas and determination to stay away quickly crumbles. There are some other things that were too predictable not great and what bothers me the most was a public conference confession.
I volunteered to review an ARC of this book for Netgelly

Thanks to the publisher for an eARC to read and give my opinion.

This author never fails to deliver a sweet and charming but sexy romance. Violet and Lucas made a fun match as they get pushed and pulled into a dreamy relationship. Of course Violets displays some insecurity dating someone famous but sparks fly between the two.

What did I lke? Charming romance between two consenting adults with a tad bit of drama always makes for a fun book. This author spins a web that just makes you want to finish the book?

Would I buy a copy? Yes, I love this author and she is a go to author when I need a great book that is whimsical. Love her covers and her titles.

Thoughts for the author? Keep on writing. Sincerely can not get enough of these books! Great romance.

Five stars of entertainment!

I think this was my very first book from the author and I enjoyed the story. It found it good - nothing spectacular - but interesting nonetheless.

Once you start to reading this story, be prepared to read to the very end of book. You get so involved with the story that you forget about everything else and just can’t stop reading it till you have completely read from cover to cover and definitely a must read and a re-read in the future book. Well done Christina Phillips for this outstanding story and series so far, can’t wait to see what you write next.

Going into Once upon a Player, I didn't realize that this was the 2nd book in a series. Thankfully I didn't feel lost or that I needed to go back and read book one first.
I did feel like this story had been told before or maybe something similar to it. It was the typical manwhore-jock-meets-good-girl storyline, but I still love those kinds of books!

This was a sweet, fun book that I would definitely recommend to followers if they are looking for an easy NA read!

Once Upon a Player is a Cinderella-esqe story. Girl meets boy. Girl is cleaning his penthouse. Boy is smitten by the beauty...and then begins a different kind of dance.

You see he is smitten but she isn't having it. Once Upon a Player is a chase. He is serious in his pursuit...but to what end?

Learn that no strings relationships can often come with big bows instead. 😆

3.5 stars

This was a cute story about a hidden love that come to fruition. Violet wasn't expecting to be cleaning the house of the man who was allover her walls as a teenager. And Lucas is trying to figure out why a young beautiful woman is cleaning his house. The beginning was all sorts of awkward, but funny.
Only issue I had, was it seemed to stall out about mid way through and I had to fight to keep going. Otherwise, it was an enjoyable read and will gladly read this author again.

This was my first Christina Phillips novel, but I don't think it'll be my last! It was a fun, breezy, immersive contemporary romance about a interior design student falling for a famous footballer (er, soccer player...). Is he *really* a player? Nah, not really--maybe in the past, but most definitely not ever on any of the pages in this book. But that doesn't matter--this is a refreshing romance!

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book! Never read this author before and now it has me running off to amazon to see what else she has!

Violet has sworn off athletes, especially after what her ex-boyfriend did. However, there's something about Lucas Carter that's hard to ignore. Yet, cleaning his apartment is all she's ready for. But Lucas has other ideas and is determined to win her over. Will happy ever after be possible for these two?

Having really enjoyed the first book of this series, I was looking forward to more of it and I've got to say that this second book of Ms. Phillips British Bad Boys series was absolutely engaging, fast-paced and was a story I loved right from the beginning due to the heroine's reaction to what she's walked into and whether she can play nice with the hero considering his profession and the fact that he's a total player who has set his sights on her. Can Violet handle the hero's charm without giving in like so many other women do?

As for the dialogue, it was intense due to the main characters back stories and it's understandable why the heroine doesn't want another relationship with someone that plays the same sport as her ex because look how much of a disaster that was due to what her ex did. How could she trust that Lucas wouldn't stray when a better offer came along? However, in saying that, I liked that Violet finally got a little revenge against those that hurt her. Moreover, the heroine is resilient, courageous, hard-working when it comes to her studies and her job and I liked that she took a chance on Lucas, even though it isn't easy for her. Can she trust him? I also liked the close bond she shares with her family and her best friend, as they're really good at giving advice and helping her whenever she needs it.

While the hero, he's confident; charming; has a tight bond with his twin brother, even though they're as different as chalk and cheese; and I liked how determined he was to win the heroine over, which is more difficult than he thought it would be because he's used to women being into him the moment they meet him. I also liked the hero's determination to get back to the game he loves, even though there's every chance he might not be as good as he once was because of his injury.

Overall, Ms. Phillips has delivered a fantastic read in this book where the chemistry between Violet and Lucas was intense; the romance was satisfying and had me loving that the heroine took a chance on Lucas because he's a good guy; and the ending had me cheering for this couple's happy ever after, especially after how things go awry in their relationship. Luckily, both are determined to make things right between them and I liked how one of the main characters went about it. However, it was the epilogue that wrapped this story up perfectly, as I liked the choices these two made in order to be together. I would recommend Once Upon a Player by Christina Phillips, if you enjoy the opposites attract trope, the enemy to lovers trope or books by authors Robin Bielman, Lexi Lawton, Jen McLaughlin and Cindi Madsen.

Violets mom had Crohn's disease and she had one of her episodes where she could barely move sp Violent went to the rich person’s place to clean it in her mother’s place. Then Violet realizes she is not alone when Lucas Carter- the star striker of Harrington United and also the hottest Premier League football player walks into the living room in his black boxers that she was working on cleaning. Lucas had played for United since he was seventeen. Lucas was also Violets teenage crush when Violet was fifteen and her bedroom walls had his posters all over them. Lucas hadn’t played football for months due to a knee injury but he is still always on TV and in magazines advertising cars and cologne. Violet couldn’t help but admire Lucas but she couldn’t let Lucas know that. Her cousin was his agent. Lucas asked her if she needed help with anything. Lucas tried to figure out who this girl was. He didn’t remember her from last night when his friends had stopped by and there were a bunch of girls with them. Lucas asked Violet out three times during the day but each time she said no. The last time he invited her to go out to get coffee with him and Yolanda who is a famous model. Yolanda brought up the fact Violet was the first girl to say no and Lucas added in seven years. Violets best friend is Katey. Violet is going to college for Interior Design she only had a year left. . Violet refused to date a football player she had already done that. She had been hurt and humiliated by her first boyfriend Geoffrey who had been a rising star in his league but he never made it to the major league. Violet and Geoffrey had dated for fourteen months. Violet let Katey know she would take the part time job Katey had offered her whereas a few days before she had turned the job down. Violet was tired of being afraid of running into Geoffrey and Monica who Violet had caught together when they were still together. Lucas and Violet are very attracted to each other but Violet was sticking to her vow of not dating anymore football players. Lucas had the rep of being a player anyway. Lucas had bought the penthouse and the furniture came with it but Lucas hadn’t had a chance to make the place his own. Violet offers to give him some pointers and he asks her for her number so they could converse about the place. Lucas agreed to Violet taking pictures and a testimonial from him for helping him redo his new place.When the shook hands Lucas’s touch went right through Violet but she wasn’t going to let him know how much his touch affected her. He also made sure Violet knew he really wanted her help. Lucas wondered what Violet would say if he told her he was tired of casual and open relationships were the only relationships he was ever offered. Lucas had a twin- Harry- who was a genius but hated socializing. Although since he had been going out with Alice his people skills were improving. Lucas invites Violet to go to a small birthday celebration for him and Harry and she accepts as friends. Harry, his girlfriend Alice. his sister, brother and a couple of close friends will be there. What Violet doesn’t know is other then Yolanda who was strictly a friend she is the first girl Lucas had brought home to his family. Then as a gift Violet invited him to a picnic lunch as she didn’t know what else to get him and he loved it. Then Violet decides to have a summer fling with Lucas. On their first official date Geoffrey and Monica comes to their tabel but Lucas lets it be known he is on a private date and doesn’t want to be bothered.
I loved this book. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and didn’t want to put it down. I loved Violet and ucas together and how they interacted with each other. I loved how Lucas held himself back to give Violet time to make the choice if she wanted to give him a chance after really getting to know him and not the public”face”. I loved that Violet was the first true girlfriend he took to a family event. I loved the relationship Violet had with her family especially her stepfather. This was an easy, fun, romantic read. I was so happy lucas and Violet didn’t jump right into any relationship and/or bed and took time to know each other. I happily found nothing to criticize in this book. I loved the pace as well as the plot. I also loved the characters and the ins and outs of this book and I highly recommend.

That was a pretty good read!

Lucas is a british football star player, currently in leave because of a knee injury. Violet is his maid daughter. They meet when Violet goes to clean his penthouse because her mother is ill. They are both attracted to each other, but Violet wants to keep her distance. Instead, he asks her to help him rededign his penthouse and that's how their friendship starts. However the sparks between them are flying and they can't deny them.

Lucas and Violet are so cute together! I really enjoyed their story :) I was so frustrated with Lucas for being so insensitive and I was glad when they worked thinks out!!

Lucas and Violet are both very likable. The story was just so, so. Nothing really unexpected happened. The drama that was in the story was predictable. This would be a good read if you need to just relax and enjoy it.

There was nothing life-shattering about the plot here, but the familiarity of the bad boy sports star meets down-to-earth girl and they fall for each other trope was still enjoyable. Violet was strong enough to handle Lucas's persona, and they fit well together.

This was a standard NA romance. Good enough heroine, hero and premise to keep the reader interested, but nothing that stands out from others in the genre. If a reader is looking for a typical head NA romance, this one will work for you.

copy received for honest review
I liked the story but it was a little slow. It was a sweet story and I liked both Violet and Lucas. Violet was a little gun shy due to her past relationship. I loved how she did finally step up and invited Lucas on the picnic. It was cute and sweet, just like Violet. Lucas is a bad boy player, at least in the media sense. He is also a sweet guy. I am not saying he did not take advantage of all that was offered, but he is so much more than that. He had his own issues and insecurities. I liked them together. The story was easy to read with a few twists and secrets. The character of Lucas's brother, Harry, did make we want to go back and read his story. I would recommend.