Blog Tour: The Player Next Door by K.A. Tucker

So excited to be part of this Blog Tour for the newest book by my favourite author!!

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

The Player Next Door by, USA Today bestselling author, K.A. Tucker, is now live!

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.

Download today or read for free in Kindle Unlimited!
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2B2QTuD
Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/ThePlayerNextDoorKAT
Goodreads: https://bit.ly/2YJOXRC

Excerpt:

I sigh as I sip the last of my cold, burnt gas station coffee. This is a fresh start, even in an old world full of familiar faces. Besides, it’s been more than a decade since I last roamed the halls of any school here. Those painful years and cruel people are far behind me.
The peaceful midday calm is disrupted by the chug of a garage door crawling open, followed by the deep rumble of a car engine starting. A long, red vintage muscle car backs out of the garage next door and eases into the open space beside a blue Ford pickup. I can’t tell what kind of car it is, but it’s old and in pristine shape, the bright coat of paint glistening in the August sun.
I never asked Iris about the neighbors. The two times I’ve been here—once during the open house and once after I’d signed the paperwork for the offer—nobody was home on either side. Both properties look well maintained, though. The bungalow with the muscle car has new windows and a freshly built porch off the front. There isn’t much in the way of gardens—some shrubs and trees—but the lawn is manicured.
I watch curiously as the driver’s side door pops open and a tall man with wavy, chestnut-brown hair steps out, his back to me as he fusses with his windshield wiper. Coffee pools in my mouth as I stall on my swallow, too busy appreciating the way his black T-shirt clings to his body, showing off broad, sculpted shoulders, muscular arms, and a tapered waist. He’s wearing his dark-wash jeans perfectly—not so baggy that they hang unflatteringly off his ass, but not so tight that cowboy boots and a wide-brimmed hat come to mind.
Damn.
I hold my breath in anticipation, hoping my neighbor will show me a beautiful face to match that fitness-model body. What a stroke of luck that would be, to live next to a gorgeous man. A single, gorgeous man, I pray.
Finally, my silent pleading is answered as he turns and his gaze drifts my way.
I struggle not to spew coffee from my mouth as my keen interest turns to horror.
Oh my God.
Someone, please tell me this is a mistake.
Please tell me I’m not living next door to Shane Fucking Beckett.

About K.A. Tucker:

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

She is the USA Today bestselling author of 17 books, including the Causal Enchantment, Ten Tiny Breaths and Burying Water series, He Will Be My Ruin, Until It Fades, Keep Her Safe, and The Simple Wild. Her books have been featured in national publications including USA Today, Globe & Mail, Suspense Magazine, First for Women, and Publisher's Weekly. 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. Her novels have been translated into 16 languages.

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

Connect with K.A. Tucker:

Facebook: http://bit.ly/2MYEDhK
Instagram: http://bit.ly/2MZEk6A
Twitter: http://bit.ly/2FqzR8K
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2QPwJZs
Goodreads: http://bit.ly/36Ga0W8
Pinterest: http://bit.ly/2MXBLSf
Bookbub: http://bit.ly/2rZkYXP
Website: https://www.katuckerbooks.com/

Let's Make...Blended Coffee

I am not a daily coffee drinker, but I am known to enjoy a coffee based beverage from time to time. I hardly say no to a frappuccino, especially on a hot day. I am currently living in rural Ontario and while I love it here frappuccino and other blended coffees are a bit harder to come by. So, I've spent the past few weeks experimenting and I think I have finally mastered a good blended coffee recipe!!

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup brewed coffee
• 1/2 cup of milk
• 1 tablespoons of white sugar
• 2 tablespoons of chocolate syrup
• 1 cup of ice

To make:

• Combine all ingredients in a blender
• Blend well
• Enjoy!

Notes:

• I have been using chocolate milk in place of milk and chocolate syrup
• I will sometimes add a tablespoon of vanilla extract
• I've tried two tablespoons of sugar, but found it too sweet for my personal taste
• 1 cup of ice cubes works out to be 6-7 ice cubes

Hope...Anger...Courage

There is so much going on in our world right now, and it's not good. You should be aware of the protests and riots happening due to racism. The awareness being brought forward is important and there is a lot of work to be done. But you (should) already know that. 

I'm taking steps to be aware, to move forward in a positive and productive way, to be more intentional, to use my voice for good, to listen, to be educated. I acknowledge my white privilege, and I acknowledge that racism- something I don’t personally face- is a serious issue in our society. I acknowledge that I need to take time to listen to those who are personally impacted by racism on both small and large scales. I acknowledge I need to continue to use my voice to show support to those who face racism and to speak out against those who are racist or who do not see racism in our society. I need to use my privilege, my voice to spread support, awareness, and love. It’s not enough to say words, I need to show actions as well. Anti-racism work never stops, I’m committed to not stopping. 

My heart hurts for the world, for what's going on, for the innocent people, the families and friends. Justice needs to be served. Racism needs to be addressed and dealt with. Racism is very much still an issue in society, and an issue that we all need to work to eliminate.

We need to do our part. We need to be aware of situations and circumstance. We need to use our voices for good, to speak up, and help those who are not heard be heard. We need to acknowledge the injustices in the world.

We need to have hope that things will improve. 

We need to use our anger to motivate us into action, to hold people accountable.

We need courage to do our part to make the world a better and more justice place.

We need hope, anger, and courage to stand up to racism, to be educated on racism, to listen to those who face racism, to do what we can to eliminate racism.