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Player Next Door
From fake relationship to friends with benefits? No problem. But friends with benefits to true love? No chance.
Reese Beresford’s life seems perfect. She’s a former champion figure skater with an exciting new business and the love of thousands of fans. But that gets turned upside down when a rival from the past makes stunning accusations against Reese. Overnight, she has been canceled.
With her life in shambles, she needs to save her image, her business, and her sanity. Her agent has a shift the focus from Reese’s current scandal to a glamorous new romance.
Enter Grady Radcliffe, the super-hot pro hockey player who just happens to live next door. He’s not looking for a real relationship, but he doesn’t mind helping Reese with her reputation rehab. Being seen holding hands and sharing intimate meals? That’s not much of a hardship.
Reese can fake a romance in public, enjoy Grady’s friendship in private, and work to prove the truth about her nemesis. She can even give into their scorching attraction and add benefits to that friendship. But she can’t allow feelings into the mix. Reese has learned all too well not to trust her heart to anyone.
As Reese delves into her past, she’ll have to confront her present. She can't help the feelings she’s having for the sexy hockey player, but giving in means risking her reputation, her business, and the man of her dreams. Can relationship-shy Reese keep their friends with benefits deal? Or will she lose everything?
Reese Beresford’s life seems perfect. She’s a former champion figure skater with an exciting new business and the love of thousands of fans. But that gets turned upside down when a rival from the past makes stunning accusations against Reese. Overnight, she has been canceled.
With her life in shambles, she needs to save her image, her business, and her sanity. Her agent has a shift the focus from Reese’s current scandal to a glamorous new romance.
Enter Grady Radcliffe, the super-hot pro hockey player who just happens to live next door. He’s not looking for a real relationship, but he doesn’t mind helping Reese with her reputation rehab. Being seen holding hands and sharing intimate meals? That’s not much of a hardship.
Reese can fake a romance in public, enjoy Grady’s friendship in private, and work to prove the truth about her nemesis. She can even give into their scorching attraction and add benefits to that friendship. But she can’t allow feelings into the mix. Reese has learned all too well not to trust her heart to anyone.
As Reese delves into her past, she’ll have to confront her present. She can't help the feelings she’s having for the sexy hockey player, but giving in means risking her reputation, her business, and the man of her dreams. Can relationship-shy Reese keep their friends with benefits deal? Or will she lose everything?
294 pages, Paperback
Published March 28, 2023
34 people are currently reading
120 people want to read
About the author
Anna Albo
18 books116 followersAnna Albo was born and raised in Canada. She’s a prairie girl who loves the city. Anna is second generation Italian-Canadian, which means two things: she has a fiery temper and loves to cook. Both those qualities can be found in her books.
From new adult to chick lit and everything in between, Anna writes contemporary romance and women’s fiction that makes people laugh and love.
When Anna isn’t writing her latest book, she’s blogging about dogs, or healthy living, or enjoying a cup of tea while attempting to create a culinary masterpiece.
She lives with her partner, his cat and her dog.
From new adult to chick lit and everything in between, Anna writes contemporary romance and women’s fiction that makes people laugh and love.
When Anna isn’t writing her latest book, she’s blogging about dogs, or healthy living, or enjoying a cup of tea while attempting to create a culinary masterpiece.
She lives with her partner, his cat and her dog.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
March 30, 2023
Reese is a former figure skater who is trying to launch a new sportswear brand, but her dreams are threatened by bullying allegations, a betrayal by someone close to her, all this takes a toll on Reese and she does something that makes the situation worse. To try to rescue her dreams,Reese is given the opportunity to get close to her neighbour, Grady, can this new relationship with Grady and proving that she was also a victim of bullying put her dreams back on track?
I loved this book, I loved the way that Reese and Grady’s relationship developed. The storyline in this book proves that there are two sides to any story and both sides are needed before thinking negatively of someone.
I loved this book, I loved the way that Reese and Grady’s relationship developed. The storyline in this book proves that there are two sides to any story and both sides are needed before thinking negatively of someone.
March 29, 2023
Remember betrayal never comes from a stranger. but who could be the mole?
Her life’s in shambles, her mom could care less, her boyfriend is a dud and that’s putting it politely. Oh, and let’s not forget she has to make a mea culpa to an enemy… what else could go wrong?
Maybe it’s time to make a change. Reese Beresford, the gold winner pairs ice skater has had enough of has-been skater Jennifer Brennan. Ruthless and jealous, ‘Jen’ is making Reese’s life a living he11. It’s time to fight back. Ohhhh, and returning Jennifer’s favors never felt so good, especially when three hot hockey stars come to her aide … and one of them is the new ‘boy’ next door.
And Jennifer? Well, it’s almost impossible for a leopard to change its spots…. poor loser. Oh, remember that dud of a boyfriend…. Uhhh, ex boyfriend now. Let’s just say it’s a good thing he’s an ex. But just who can be so ‘Lowdown’ to blab all the hurts and pains of Reese’s past? Remember, betrayal never comes from a stranger.
🤔 OBSERVATIONS:
✒︎ And just how could anyone be so ‘Lowdown’ to tattle to a gossip rag?? Hmmm, you’ll get it when you read the storyline, but don’t be surprised if it keeps you guessing. It sure did me.
✒︎ It’s hinted that someone is behind Jen’s threats and blabbing, but who? Did I miss that? And what did they have to gain?
✒︎ Grady’s mom, Julia, was a hoot when she first met Reese.
✒︎ Will the woman who accosted Reese at that charity event ever see her own stupidity? Maybe she needs to teach her son to get all the facts before making assumptions.
✒︎ UGH! Why does everyone say ‘padded’ instead of ‘walked’? Sorry, but this is a pet peeve of mine…. You walk, not pad across the room, to the kitchen, to the bathroom etc.
Since I was given an advance copy, I assume all typos and copy corrections are edited in the final copy. I freely leave my review with my personal thoughts and opinions.
April 2, 2023
Reese’s life was perfect but now it’s in one heck of a mess.
Her reputation has been tarnished, her relationship burned and betrayals everywhere.
Her agent makes a plan to rebuild her image with a fake relationship with a “good guy” hockey player who is her new neighbour.
Intriguing, entertaining, romantic, heartwarming and a HEA.
Highly recommended.
I received a free copy from the author and this is my honest review.
Her reputation has been tarnished, her relationship burned and betrayals everywhere.
Her agent makes a plan to rebuild her image with a fake relationship with a “good guy” hockey player who is her new neighbour.
Intriguing, entertaining, romantic, heartwarming and a HEA.
Highly recommended.
I received a free copy from the author and this is my honest review.
July 20, 2023
First let me start off by saying I read this book on accident lol. A friend of mine suggested the name of this book and meant a completely different one. However, This book was okay and I don’t regret reading it. tbh it was a slow start and I hated that it was wrote from 3rd person. I wouldn’t rate this super spicy because there were only a couple spicy scenes, but before I got to those scenes, I would’ve guessed this as a YA novel. The ending felt rushed after such a slow start.
April 1, 2023
Love these characters. Reese has a lot going on and while she's been successful professionally, her personal life is a mess. Enter Grady the hockey player who has moved in next door. He's trying to fix his own life. And without spoilers, they both need some good karma.
Reese and Grady are refreshing. She's not perfect and he's not the typical bad boy.
Reese and Grady are refreshing. She's not perfect and he's not the typical bad boy.
April 19, 2025
Love love love. This book has everything, relationship troubles, family issues, HEA, friendship, mystery and romance. I had a very hard time putting it down!
Great book and it makes it even better that she is a local author and Canadian!!!
Great book and it makes it even better that she is a local author and Canadian!!!
April 2, 2023
Loved Grady and Reese’s story! Just as I love all Anna Albo’s books- she’s a great story teller who puts you right in the middle of the action. Five stars all the way down the line.
April 4, 2023
good
Reece has it all but due to bullying claim is on the verge of loosing it all. Grady is seen as a move to help her image. Will it be enough
Reece has it all but due to bullying claim is on the verge of loosing it all. Grady is seen as a move to help her image. Will it be enough
April 30, 2023
Player next door
It was cute. It barely qualifies as a hockey romance. We never ever saw them on the ice, and I think it was a missed opportunity. I was craving some skating time between the two of them.
The story focuses on Reese, and her issues with her old bully accusingly of being a bully herself.
I really liked how it was approached. Reese had said some shitty things but given that was lashing out and fighting back after relentless verbal abuse, it was hard to blame her 100%. A good reminder also that cancel culture is dangerous and that people are deemed guilty without a chance to give their side of the story. Innocent until proven guilty is becoming a thing of the past. Anyway.
The romance was okay… Nothing steamy or earth-shattering. They were cute but once they started getting naked together, their story took a drastic step-back and focused again on Reese dealing with her old bully and sussing out the mole who’s been feeding intel to that gossip blog.
Was a bit of a shame though, I felt robbed. I wanted to see their relationship develop as well as their feelings. A bit of domesticity. They started as fake-dating for the media but we barely see them out together. That was a bit hit and miss.
Overall a nice book that I’m glad I read but not as intense as I usually like them, but that’s a me problem 🤗
It was cute. It barely qualifies as a hockey romance. We never ever saw them on the ice, and I think it was a missed opportunity. I was craving some skating time between the two of them.
The story focuses on Reese, and her issues with her old bully accusingly of being a bully herself.
I really liked how it was approached. Reese had said some shitty things but given that was lashing out and fighting back after relentless verbal abuse, it was hard to blame her 100%. A good reminder also that cancel culture is dangerous and that people are deemed guilty without a chance to give their side of the story. Innocent until proven guilty is becoming a thing of the past. Anyway.
The romance was okay… Nothing steamy or earth-shattering. They were cute but once they started getting naked together, their story took a drastic step-back and focused again on Reese dealing with her old bully and sussing out the mole who’s been feeding intel to that gossip blog.
Was a bit of a shame though, I felt robbed. I wanted to see their relationship develop as well as their feelings. A bit of domesticity. They started as fake-dating for the media but we barely see them out together. That was a bit hit and miss.
Overall a nice book that I’m glad I read but not as intense as I usually like them, but that’s a me problem 🤗
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews