4.5 “Shane Effing Beckett” “complicated” Kisses
Wow. Wowowowowow. I am freaking blown away by how much I loved everything about The Player Next Door. I was super excited to get my hands on it – I love the title, love the cover and that blurb just screams read me now! From the moment I met Scarlet and Shane I was totally sucked into every aspect of their story and it just kept getting better and better. From the emotions to the characters to the writing, everything about this book was just beyond amazing. I had a great feeling it would be, K.A. Tucker is one of my all time favorite authors and I cannot stop loving what she did with this book.
Scarlet Reed… I absolutely adored everything about Scar. I related to her in some aspects...her independence...being an only child and...unfortunately/fortunately her stubbornness. She completely and totally impressed me in so many ways though. The way Scarlet grew up was...unique. Her absent father and lack of reliability in her mother forced her to grow up early. Her maturity definitely showed with a lot of her decisions and really shaped her whole life. She’s learned to be very guarded...almost a little jaded but I couldn’t fault her for it. There are very few people that she can rely on and she has her walls up at all times. There is one guy who over a decade ago scaled those walls and brought them down for a little while...and he’s looking to do it again.
‘He shakes his head. “Look at me, standing out here in the rain, still trying to convince you that I’m not trying to use you,” he mutters more to himself. “You’re still so eff-ing complicated, Scarlet.”
“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?”’
Shane Beckett….Shane Effing Beckett…just oooooooomg! This man is unreal…it’s almost not fair how perfect he is. And I mean that in every sense of the word. Obviously there is some physical perfection involved...he’s a former football player/current fire fighter - the boy has a nice body, but that’s not all he has. But his looks aren't the best thing about him...not by a long shot. This man is so sweet...so kind...so thoughtful. He has the kindest heart and I loved it when he turned that affection and that care on Scarlett. There is so much more to love about Shane…he has so many layers and he blew me away so many times with his actions and the things that he would say. I loved that he learned from his past mistakes and strived every day to be better and not only for himself, but for his son.
“We were all young and dumb once, right?” Young and dumb and in love.
“Some of us dumber than others,” Shane agrees. “I know I made some bad, wrong calls back then.”
“Yes, you did.” I smile sweetly. You were an idiot to leave me for her.
“I’m doing my best to fix one of them.” He watches me intently, as if trying to convey unspoken words through a look.
I take a slow, calming breath. Shane is nothing if not determined. “And maybe you can.”
Shane and Scarlett have my biggest kryptonite - HISTORY!!! I am such a sucker for a couple with a past and Shane and Scarletts past is juicy! I loved the little tastes of it that we got throughout because it was also a big part of what shaped their present situation. I totally understood Scarletts hesitation - regardless of how long it had been, what happened between her and Shane really affected her and I stood in solidarity with her grudge. But I can’t say it was a hardship watching Shane work his way back into her good graces. Their relationship took effort but it was worth every ounce that they put into it. They clicked just as well as they did all those years ago if not better because they both had the sense that no 18 year old ever has. If anything I lived for seeing them happy...they both had their baggage and bad experiences and they deserved so much to be happy and I loved that they found that with each other.
“I’m not going anywhere.”
“Even if this is getting complicated?”
“The more complicated, the better.”
K.A. Tuckers writing just goes straight to my heart and I live for it. I’ve been a fan of her books from the first time I read her writing 8 years ago and I don’t see that changing any time soon. I cannot get over how quickly she sucked me in with The Player Next Door. It was just the perfect combination of everything I loved topped off with her classic style. The characters were real and genuine...I loved falling in love with them. I loved the pacing and the flow...I never wanted to put it down and I couldn’t stop thinking about it when I did have to stop reading (which was never voluntary mind you!). But of course the thing I love the most was the emotion...K.A. Tucker can tap into my feels so well it’s not even funny. I felt every moment...the good, the bad and the ugly and I loved every second of it. It’s one of the many reasons why I will always come back to K.A. begging for more. I just flat out love her style.
‘I stare up into his eyes, a deep, rich amber that sparkle in this moment. “Are you crazy?”
“In love with you?” The corner of his mouth curls. “Completely.”’
The ending was….good, solid…but I was also left wanting a little more. I always feel like there has to be a little bit of balance with the ending, especially if there is drama/angst toward the end, just to balance things out. I’m not saying there wasn’t great stuff at the end…there was…but I needed just a little bit more. It wasn’t rushed per-say but it was quick. It didn’t stop me from loving the ending or how everything was resolved. It was everything Shane and Scarlett deserved and I loved that to bits and pieces. I am so excited that K.A. is turning this into The Polson Falls Series. I’m already in love with most of the characters…I know Justine (Scarlett’s bestie) is up next, I kinda hope she ends up with Shane’s best friend Dean, but I guess we will see. And there is also Becca, Scarlett’s friend from school that she reconnected with – I think there is a fun story brewing their with her history. Either way, I’m loving that I’ll be hooked on another K.A. Tucker series!
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Popular Highlights in this book
“Are you crazy?” “In love with you?” The corner of his mouth curls. “Completely.”Highlighted by 586 Kindle readers- “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.”Highlighted by 464 Kindle readers
- “You had your chance with me, Shane Beckett, and you blew it.” With that, I disappear into my house.Highlighted by 346 Kindle readers
About the author
Will be recommending to my book friends
I love me some KA Tucker & this book did not disappoint. I was in a book rut & this book got me out of it. It was by far my best read of the summer. KA Tucker did it again!
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- VivienReviewed in the United Kingdom on July 16, 2020
Has met his match!
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Leyendo ForeverReviewed in Mexico on June 18, 2021
Second time reading it and I love it
Format: KindleVerified Purchase - Hannah MurrayReviewed in Australia on May 18, 2024
Sweet small town romance
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