A review by smutbook_cami
The Player by Nikki J. Summers

challenging tense

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

This was a gritty story of survival and and revenge. 2 people who were skirting around their attraction and feelings for one another. Then circumstances forced them together by The Taskmaster. 

Will was strong and became the rock Bryony needed. He was able to calm her fears and prove that he will always be there for her. 

“Will was just… Will. Loose with his tongue, but you knew he meant well despite it all. An act first, think later kind of guy. To some, he was a villain. To me, he was a guy who’d lived through awful circumstances. That didn’t make him a bad guy, just a tainted one. And at the end of the day, weren’t we all tainted in some way?”

Bryony was always guarded and protected her heart. Fierce and gave it back when prodded. She knew how to protect herself. There was always something there Will. 

“She was the one wearing a leash, but I was the one who felt collared. I’d have followed her anywhere, she had my total and undivided attention.”

Their journey of discovering each other and the evil games they played were very well written. I throughly enjoyed this one! The twist and turns, Ma’am, I need answers. 

Looking forward to more from The Soldiers series. I NEED MORE. 

“I raged. I just didn’t show it like other people. The Taskmaster wasn’t the only one who could wear a mask. I had many of them, all stored deep inside.”

“Will?” I muttered under my breath. “I noticed you. I’ve always noticed you.”