New Hope, South Carolina is my home. It’s where I grew up, got into trouble, and fell in love for the first time. Scarlett Kincaid was more than the girl next door, she was my best friend, until she decided that small town life wasn’t for her. One minute she was here, and the next she was gone.The girl I used to fish with down at the creek is now the biggest name in country music. She headlines … headlines world tours, has won four Grammy’s, and I haven’t seen her since. Until today when she sped through town in her fancy car. One look at her big brown eyes was all it took to stir up a whole slew of emotions. Emotions I’d long ago buried and sure as hell don’t have time for. It’s the aftermath that’s hard¿There are two things in my life that matter. My music, and my dad. Twelve years ago, I packed a bag and chased my dream. Leaving New Hope and escaping the gossip mill was the easiest decision I ever made. I never planned to return, but my father needs me, and he always comes first. So, I did what I had to do. I cut my tour short and came home, despite having a sister who hates me, and a community that doesn’t trust me. And then there’s Tucker Andrews.When he propped an arm on the roof of my car, pulled down his sunglasses and flashed his police badge, I nearly swallowed my tongue. Gone is the lanky boy who used to throw rocks at me and pull my pigtails. Tucker is now a six-foot package of brawny, sexy man wrapped in more muscle than I have hit singles. Did I mention he’s a cop and a single dad?My goal was to help Dad, and get back to my life. But what am I supposed to do when the life that used to strangle me suddenly fits like a glove, and makes me dream of things I never thought I’d have?
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Oh. My. Days!! Where do I start?!! I finished this last night after not being able to put it down! Can I first say though, what a writing team!! Absolutely seamless, I could not tell you who had written what in this book it was that that smooth!
Anywho! On to Tucker and Scarlett, holy moly! Scarlett is one sassy, independent, kicka$$ country music star. She left her hometown and didn’t look back, or so it seemed. Fast forward 12 years and she rolls back into town but not before she gets pulled over by the local cop.
Tucker gets the surprise of his life when he pulls over the red sports car as it speeds into town……but will she be speeding out as fast…..with his heart in tow?
This couple melted my heart, so much and I loved the other characters too, although a certain sister made my blood boil on more than one occasion. Scarlett handled herself with poise and grace on those occasions!
Absolutely loved this story, may be we will see more of New Hope, SC?
Already Gone is a second chance at friendship and a first shot at romance for Scarlett and Tucker.
This book is a mix of sweet and sexy all rolled into one wonderful story. Scarlett is a small town girl who left and never looked back to follow her dream of being a famous country star, but now she has returned temporarily to help her dad. Tucker, her best friend growing up is back in her life again and there is so much more between them this time. When they were young they had friendship but now they are grown up and the attraction and chemistry between them cannot be denied, but in order to make this relationship work so they can have a future together, they each have to find a way to compromise to find the balance between small town life and her fame.
I have always been a fan of Kristen Proby. And KL Grayson has been a more recent discovery, but I have really enjoyed everything I’ve read from her. So when I heard that these two authors were going to do a co-write? Sign me up! Already Gone is a whole new set of characters and setting, and I couldn’t love this more!
Scarlett left New Hope, SC as soon as she could. She left behind her father, sister, and her best friend, and didn’t think twice about it. But she is brought home when her father becomes sick. There, she has a lot to tackle, including a resentful sister, a niece and nephew that she doesn’t know, and a best friend who has some pent up anger as well. Tucker has been on his own as a single father to Chloe for the last eleven years. When Scarlett comes back to town, things only become more complicated with feelings that are finally faced.
I loved the characters in Already Gone. I loved the depth that they all had, and because of that, they all felt so real to me. I particularly loved the complex relationships that Scarlett had with her sister and Tucker, and the growth that she made throughout the story. Tucker was such a wonderful father, and the situations that he had to deal with with Chloe were real-life. And he cared so so much for her. The bond that Scarlett and Chloe formed was just incredibly touching.
Kristen Proby and KL Grayson have written such a wonderful and touching story! Their styles of writing came together so seamlessly that I couldn’t figure out who wrote what. I hope that this is not their only foray into writing collaboratively! I so look forward to more!
A wonderful book filled with love and humor. Scarlett’s been away for over 12 years, but her memory is long. Will she and Tucker rekindle their friendship? Can the years really fade away to a distant memory? Or will careers rule their future dynamics?
I loved the easy pace and the writing was seamless.
For those that love a standalone and HEA…this is a must read!
When her father has a stroke, Scarlett must put her country star status on hold and go back home to New Hope, SC to help her father recover. Besides an ornery younger sister who has a chip on her shoulder, Scarlett is also reunited with Tucker, the friend she grew up with but shunned at school. Now as a cop and a single father Tucker still has feelings for Scarlett. But will he risk his heart to her again? Or will the fans and the limelight call her back to Nashville and away fromthe family she could call home? With beautifully written characters and a storyline that had me locked in from the opening pages this was an awesome read. This was a great collaboration between two authors I have extremely enjoyed and is a book I highly recommend.
These two authors wrote a fantastic book. I couldn’t put this book down. Finished in a day! This is a friends to Lovers book. But when Scarlett came back to town after being gone for over ten years, Tucker wasn’t so friendly. But after talking it out, their friendship was still there. Tucker was hurt and angry when Scar just up and left, and never looked back. It took him a little time to remember how much he missed her. Scar always had missed Tucker, but really didn’t realize just how much until she saw him again. Once these two got their friendship back on track then the two became to mean so much more to each other. The chemistry between them was hot! The banter between them was funny. Scar had to figure out what she really wanted out of life. Her career away from Tucker or stay in town and be with Tucker?? You’ll have to read the book to find out how these two ended up. Highly recommend this book!
Sweet Home Alabama vibes! Scarlett left home at eighteen and never looked back, working hard to be super successful and live out her dreams after feeling she never really fit in. Over ten years later, she gets a call that her father had a stroke and immediately returns home. Upon returning, the first person she runs into is her best friend Tucker, and while she’s happy to see him, the sentiment is not returned. Scorned by Scarlett’s leaving years ago, while Tucker is still much in love with his childhood best friend, he is still bitter about her leaving and never reaching out again. As the pair gets to know each other as adults, their friendship forms into more while she’s home taking care of her dad. Through her time at home, she starts to learn what exactly she is capable of and what life is really like while also building and repairing relationships with family and friends. When business calls though, Scarlett is stuck between continuing to live her dreams but also create a life with the man she loves. Wow, this story is just amazing, and really gives to the comparison of a plot similar to Sweet Home Alabama. The writing and storyline are great, and I couldn’t get enough. So glad this pair got a HEA and can’t wait to read some more from Kristen!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
Scarlett Kincaid hightailed it out of New Hope, SC twelve years ago to follow her country music dreams. And she has achieved success and fame, but barely has time for a social life. But one phone call makes her realize she has no choice but to return home and help her family.
Tucker Andrews used to be her neighbor and best friend…and he crushed hard on her. But she left him when she left town, and she never came back. He has grown from nerd to buff, popular, town cop and single dad. And her rolling back into town sends him for a tailspin.
She has to make amends and it makes her realize how much she has missed while pursuing her career. She is sassy, spirited, and stubborn, but has a big heart. He is still somewhat bitter and hurt. These two definitely have some things to address to get over past pain and begin to rekindle their friendship. But she never expected the chemistry and attraction from her old friend. And she has always been his fantasy. So things are about to get heated at home.
But what do you do when your happiness relies on someone else that lives in a completely different world?
This is an angsty, sexy, heartfelt, second chance, coming home, celebrity, friends to lovers romance. These two had some communication issues and plenty of opportunities for growth. They still had issues, fears, and triggers that made things more complicated. Any chance at happiness will require compromise and sacrifice, but are these two stubborn people willing to bend? Can they find a way to make all of their dreams a reality?
I loved the community and extended family they created in this one. The dynamics between them all added depth and it really made the whole story come to life. I could not tell who wrote which parts and it flowed well in dual points of view.
ARc provided in exchange for an honest review
If you want to read something great this summer I highly suggest Already Gone by Kristen Proby and K.L. Grayson. Set in South Carolina this story is as sweet as southern tea and as hot as a July day. Wonderful characters fill the pages of friends to enemies to lover’s book and the working dynamics of those characters is over the top. I laughed and loved all the drama that flowed from the pages and couldn’t put it down. I devoured this book in one day! 5 gold albums….stars for Already Gone.
Scarlett Kincaid left New Hope, SC and didn’t look back. One day she was there the next she left to make a name for herself in Nashville, and she did it in a big way. Now twelve years later Scarlett’s daddy needs her to come home and she’s determined to be there for him. She had an idea of what was expected of her when she got there but she had no idea about her former best friend Tucker Andrews. He’s big and muscular and gorgeous and he’s the cop that is writing her a ticket as she drives back into town. Scarlett and Tucker have some old unresolved hurts that need to be worked out but when it comes time for Scarlett to be there again for him and his little girl, he’s afraid that she’s Already Gone.
* A review copy was provided by the authors *
Well, well, well….I have found another writing duo that I absolutely LOVE!!!! I have read all of Kristen Proby’s books, but K.L. Grayson is a new author to me. I knew the minute Kristen announced this book that I was going to read it no matter what. I am so glad I did. Now I have a new author to check out and hopefully fall in love with.
Already Gone is a friends to lovers standalone novel. It is told in Dual POV and I thought it was totally swoony and sweet. This book flow effortlessly and you won’t be able to tell who wrote what part. I think Kristen Proby and K.L. Grayson write flawlessly together and I hope that they continue to collaborate on books in the future. (I wouldn’t mind a book about Dean or Scooter in the future….just a thought 😉 ) I also loved the small town feel of this book. It’s written so well I wanted to be in New Hope SC myself.
In this book we follow Scarlett and Tucker’s story. Scarlett and Tucker have known each other since they were kids. They were best friends as kids, but Scarlett always knew that small town living wasn’t for her. So when she had the chance to leave New Hope, she took it without looking back!!! Now it’s a decade later and she is coming home to take care of her father who is sick. Can these two best friends find away to forgive each other?? Will Tucker be able to find happiness with Scarlett?? Read this book to find out.
I have to say I loved Tucker and Scarlett’s story so much, I couldn’t help but root for them to get their HEA. I thought they were the perfect match. I also liked the secondary characters we meet in this story. Rick, Chloe, Dean and Scooter were great additions to the storyline. Lexi on the other hand, I wanted to throat punch her a couple of times. I am glad to see over the course of the book she was able to change her ways though and open up to her sister.
If you are a fan of rock star romances or friends to lover stories, then this is a book you should definitely read!! I found this story to be absolutely a delight to read and it is perfect for a beach day. This was entertaining, swoony and sexy all rolled into one. Make sure to add this book to your TBR list!!!