The Player: A Scorching Hot Romance

Emery and Rowan’s enemies to lovers relationship in The Player by Stefanie London, book five in her Close Quarters series, was a hot, sizzling, story of neighbors misjudging one another. Rowan Lively is the neighbor from hell, according to Emery Daniels; with his parade of beautiful women willing to stroke his inflated ego. With paper thin walls between them, she can heard every, single, noise from his apartment, and she does mean every. Instead of fantasizing about her hot neighbor she needs to finish designing her latest board game. Anonymous fun with a costumed guy at a gaming conference gives Emery the distraction she needed from the awful online reviews and the conflicts with her creative team. At least until she discovers herself in a compromising position with her next door nemesis. Rowan is not willing to leave all those sparks and the sizzle behind, instead convincing Emery to join him in setting their sheets aflame with passionate games and working together on a new exhibit for his Melbourne art gallery. Being together, getting to know one another, leads to a journey of self-discovery and confidence building; learning to trust oneself. Will this journey lead them down the path of forever or a short fling and breaking hearts. Ms. London wrote a wonderful, steamy, pleasurable, and emotional story that is not to be missed. She provided a tale rich with sizzling chemistry, amusing banter, and endearing characters, especially Rowan’s brother, giving Emery and Rowan a chance at having a forever love. I highly recommend The Player to other readers. I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

Emory, a game designer, is under immense pressure to design a successful game. The first game her team released was highly successful, the follow up release...not so much. When her next door neighbor’s evening “activities” effect her concentration, she decides to confront him. Rowan is a player with a reputation to uphold. He doesn’t believe in the “white picket fence” or happily ever after. His parents were not great examples! His mom is gone and he doesn’t speak to his father. Rowan’s main focus is ensuring the success of his mom’s art gallery. He and his brother have devoted their life to the gallery, setting aside their own dreams. He’s often seen out on the town with artists to keep interest in the gallery. Hence the playboy persona. But not everything is as it seems... Rowan and Emery’s story was uniquely AWESOME! I loved the witty banter, the chemistry, but also their ability to trust one another with their dreams. Rowan and his brother’s relationship was endearing. Emery was loud, bossy, driven, but also vulnerable. Rowan was a truly gifted artist, but his guilt and honor had him setting aside his dreams. Emery was able to break down those walls and be the person Rowan didn’t know he needed. The chemistry was off the charts! I was hooked from the opening confrontation! Fun times at the game convention were HOT! Best book in the series! I read a gifted copy and all opinions stated are my own.