The Player Next Door by K.A. Tucker

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.

MY REVIEW

4 Stars

➖Exes, love to hate ✔️
➖Small town romance ✔️
➖Awesome side characters ✔️
So…I was a K.A Tucker virgin before this book landed on my kindle. I think I have some of her books on my TBR, but I’ve never gotten around to reading them, which was a big mistake because K.A Tucker is da bomb! Wow, what a book. But I’m going to be honest with you, the heroine did get on my nerves for the first 30-40% of the book, but after that, I started to like her.

Our heroine, Scarlet Reed, has moved home after fifteen years. She has bought the house she always wanted and has her dream job as a teacher. Everything is looking up for her…until she sees her neighbor. The boy who broke her heart senior year, Shane Beckett, now a grown man with smug smiles and flirtatious personality. Scarlet is adamant about keeping distance between her and the boy who broke her heart, but that seems impossible when he’s always there, helping with the house, rescuing her from broken pipes and stoves that set fire.

What bugged me a bit was Scarlet’s inability to let go of the past. I mean I understand that he broke your heart, but that was so long ago, let it go woman! Oh and her jealousy when other women approached Shane after she rejected him.

Therefore I settled on four stars for this book because when she finally started to forgive Shane, I couldn’t put down this book.

If you’re looking for a steamy summer read, pick up The Player Next Door!