The Player Next Door by K.A. Tucker ~ Review & Teaser (@kathleenatucker)

K.A. Tucker is one of those authors that I love. She writes books that are so emotionally addictive, that I can't get enough! The Player Next Door was exactly what I expect from her... an emotionally charged read.
The Player Next Door
Title: The Player Next Door
Author: K.A. Tucker
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: June 16th 2020

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From the international bestselling author of The Simple Wild and Ten Tiny Breaths comes a new second-chance, hate-to-love romance.

Scarlet Reed has returned to Polson Falls, convinced that twelve years away is long enough to shed her humiliating childhood identity as the town harlot's daughter. With a teaching job secured and an adorable fixer-upper to call home, things in her life are finally looking up.

That is, until she finds out that Shane Beckett lives next door.

Shane Beckett, the handsome and charismatic high school star quarterback who smashed her heart. The lying, cheating player who was supposed to be long gone, living the pro football dream and fooling women into thinking he's Prince Charming. Shane Beckett, who is as attractive as ever and flashing his dimples at her as if he has done no wrong.

Scarlet makes it abundantly clear that old wounds have not been forgotten. Neighbors they may be, but friends they most certainly are not. She won't allow herself to fall for the single father and firefighter again, no matter how many apologies he offers, how many times he rushes to her aid, or how hard he makes her heart pound.

But as she spends more time with him, she begins to fear that maybe she's wrong. Maybe Shane has changed.

And maybe this time she's the one playing herself—out of a chance at true happiness.

I'm on a bit of a K.A. Tucker streak at the moment and I actually read two books back to back, both being such incredible reads. The Player Next Door was a fantastic second chance romance, as Scarlett and Shane try to let go of the past and form something special in the present!

When I started this book, my heart broke for seventeen year old Scarlett, seeing that she had been so heart broken over her summer romance with Shane. He moved on quickly and she was left to deal with the bullies in the school.

Jump to the present, and Scarlett is doing a lot better, securing her own place and a full time teaching role while returning to her home town. She didn't keep in touch with anyone from high school, so imagine her surprise when she moved into a house next-door to her former flame.

I liked seeing the spark between Scarlett and Shane rekindle as they spent more time together. Scarlett did find it hard to let go of the past, but I understood why she wanted to shelter herself from that heartbreak. Shane was willing to reveal everything to Scarlett to help her understand and was persistent in trying to win Scarlett over. But there were constant road blocks that tried to keep them apart.

Once again K.A. Tucker has written such an incredible read that had me eagerly flipping the pages. I liked watching all characters forming connections, and even though some had issues, it was interesting to see how it affected Scarlett and Shane's relationship. Scarlett was a selfless character and was willing to put everything on the line for her future happiness. I was honestly blown away once again by such a moving read.

The emotion from these two was incredible. I loved how they were willing to put it all on the line.

“I guess you better get back inside to what’s easy.” My voice cracks as I turn to walk home.
He grabs my hand, stopping me in my tracks. “Who says that’s what I want?” He tugs me gently toward him. Truthfully, it doesn’t take much—nothing at all—to lead me into his broad chest. “I’m not a seventeen-year-old kid anymore.” He leans in to press his forehead against mine. “And ever since you came back, I can’t get you out of my head.”
I close my eyes and revel in the feel of his nose grazing mine, of his lips so close to mine, of his shallow, ragged breathing. Right now, the only thing I’m sure of is that I am so far from being over Shane Beckett, and I don’t know why I keep fighting it.
He shifts and suddenly we’re kissing again after all these years, in the middle of this desolate side street with the rain falling over us. It’s everything and nothing like I remember.

Kindle Page 123


“Are you crazy?”
“In love with you?” The corner of his mouth curls. “Completely.”
I take a few long moments to calm my erratic pulse. Shane Beckett just told me he’s in love with me. He basically told all of Polson Falls and the surrounding area too. “Everyone will know.”
He studies my lips intently. “Good. I want everyone to know.”

Kindle Page 325

K.A. Tucker
K.A. Tucker writes captivating stories with an edge.

She is the internationally bestselling author of the Ten Tiny Breaths and Burying Water series, He Will Be My Ruin, Until It Fades, Keep Her Safe, The Simple Wild, Be the Girl, and Say You Still Love Me. Her books have been featured in national publications including USA Today, Globe & Mail, Suspense Magazine, Publisher's Weekly, Oprah Mag, and First for Women. She has been nominated for the Goodreads Choice Award for Best Romance 2013 for TEN TINY BREATHS and Best Romance 2018 for THE SIMPLE WILD. KEEP HER SAFE made Suspense Magazine's Best of 2018 list for Romantic Suspense.

K.A. Tucker currently resides in a quaint town outside of Toronto.



Other reviews featuring K.A. Tucker
Ten Tiny Breaths series
Burying Water series
Surviving Ice #4

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