Strung Along

Cherry Peak, Book 1

By: Hannah Cowan

Narrated by: Stefanie Kay, Zachary Webber

Length: 11 hrs

Publisher's summary

Love. Sucks.

I don’t know where I went wrong. Whether it was letting a man convince me that suddenly, the things I’ve never wanted are right for me, or if simply believing the best in the person who I wasted three years of my life on was what lead me here.

To Cherry Peak. A small town nestled in the heart of Alberta, Canada.

The hometown of rising country star, Brody Steele.

It only takes one brief encounter to mark him as a broody jerk. An all-knowing, arrogant celebrity with a complex I don’t have the energy for.

But if I truly dislike him the way I’ve convinced myself I do, then why am I always looking for him in crowded rooms? Why are his surprisingly thoughtful gestures melting the wall of ice I’ve stuck between us?

Cherry Peak was supposed to be my fresh start, a place to heal and rebuild. Yet, just as I begin piecing my life back together, Brody’s preparing to leave, as if he hasn’t become a vital part of that journey.

The thought of losing him keeps me up at night. I don’t know if we’ll ever be able to find our footing, or if we were just stringing each other along the whole time.

©2024 Hannah Cowan (P)2024 Hannah Cowan

Loved this narrator pairing!

When Anna finds her fiancé in bed with another woman (on her birthday!), she's done! She packs up and leaves to Cherry Peak, a town she and her sister picked by throwing a die on a map. She's finding joy there, making new friends, working as a hairdresser. When her sister tells her she has to text a picture of her dress to be approved by the bride in a wedding she's merely a guest, she's confused and surprised, by she complies with the weird request. That's when a "You've Got Mail" situation starts. She texts the picture to a wrong number... they start exchanging texts. Banana and Bo. 

Her new friends invite her to a night at the bar and there she meets rising country star, Broody Steele, who treats her like crap. The nerve! You see, Brody thinks she's some sort of groupie looking to hook up with a celebrity. Anna's done being mistreated by men and lets him have it, which makes Brody see her in a completely different way. Besides, he's actually a gentleman. He's been a grumpy because he's in town for medical reasons (vocal rest) and he's dealing with family stuff now that  he's back in the family ranch So, he lashed out, but he's trying to make amends. 

Soon, they both realized that Bo and Banana are very similar to Brody and Anna...

I think at this point I need to add a disclaimer when I review anything Zachary Webber narrates. He can do no wrong in my book and his Brody is swoony. To make this even better, all you needed to do to make this a home run was to add my girl Stefanie Kay and I am in heaven! She kicks serious narration butt in this one too!

This is also a "different" book: a rock/country star book but not really, a cowboy book but not really, while giving you enough of a taste of both. It's small town all the way! It's also a slow burn but when things ignite, they burn bright. Dirty talking Brody ain't playing...

This was my first Hannah Cowan book and won't be my last.

Country Singer meets the new town hair stylist

When Annalise catches her fiancé cheating on her, she decides she’s taking back her life and going to be independently strong. Moving to a small town, she starts working and ends up making friends. First time having someone she can depend on. One day she’s trying on bridesmaids dresses and she to the wedding she’s attending had a strict outfit policy, she sends a picture of her in the dress to the wedding planner. When she gets a message back she realizes she sent it to the wrong number. (Annalise ends up becoming friends with the guy she texted and they banter off of each other.)

Brody is back and helping on his family’s property while he’s healing his vocals, due to injuring them. He’s grumpy and his friends take him to the local bar. At the local bar, he is introduced to Annalise. She’s star struck but Brody is a jerk and she’s instantly turned off.

Brody one day spots Annalise at the store and offers her a ride home. She gives in because she’s freezing and doesn’t want to walk the snow. He offers to bring and pick up every day for work. Over time Brody and Annalise realize the person they’re texting is the each other!

I loved that when the walls between these two came down, their true pure feelings were able to shine!

A FIVE STAR SMALL-TOWN SLOW SIMMER

I loved this slow burn from a new to me author I’m now happily following because of this sweet enemies-to-lovers small town romance. It was always going to get there for Brody and Anna.. but hearing their banter change and charge, watching their walls slowly lower and witnessing their love blossom into a tight partnership was heartwarming. A damaged woman trying to make a new life for herself in Cherry Peak with dreams of owning her own Hairdressing Salon one day. An upcoming Country Music Star torn between the Ranch he was raised on by his Grandma and Grandpa or the music in his blood he can’t deny. It’s sweet, touching, sexy and hot at times, romantic and choc full of swoons as both finally get everything they want. The excellent voice acting by Zachary and Stefanie fit the lovable characters perfectly and together they delivered a heartwarming five star listen.

Worth a credit? Yes, I loved the story, the growth in their affections, the texting and confiding to a stranger they didn’t know was each other and the flow and pace was all great. I also loved that there was no ’third act break up’ too.

need myself a down bad country star

the story was really good! loved brody and the growth we saw from anna. the side characters were all amazing and has me excited for catching sparks!

the narrators were really good! i just didn’t love stefanie kay’s male voice. it took me out of the story a bit.