Stacey

I loved this story!

Reviewed: 11-19-24

It was so wonderful to return to this world. Brynne Asher does such a great job of maintaining a balance between the action/suspense and the fun of her stories. Maya was such a lovable heroine. Grady was a perfect hero. I love the safety they both found in each other, and they way their worlds together healed both of them. Can’t wait to read more from this author! I listened to the audio, Jason Clarke and Kit Swann were absolutely fantastic!

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I was not ready for this one! Next level on so many different fronts!

Reviewed: 04-15-24 Listener received this title free

When Claire announced her Haven series I was thrilled. When she revealed the dive into romantic suspense I was intrigued. I loved the first story, a standalone in Obsession Falls, but holy moly I was not ready for this one. Something about Storms and Secrets was next level on so many different fronts. This story truly felt like post feud Tilikum. It felt like an overall lap (in the best way) from the Bailey’s series without being distracting. I think it also shed some light on the relationships of the Havens. It helps build such a great separation and a new family dynamic from what we have seen before from this author.

Now, Marigold Martin. I love her. She is a romantic. She loves love and everything to do with it. Unfortunately she has not been lucky to find her love. When a perfect gentleman, the handsome stranger, comes to her salon for a hair cut, and then asks her out, it seems like it has finally happened. Now, Zachary Haven, the Hero of the story, will have nothing to do with that! I love that he had to work for it and prove himself. I loved both characters so much when they were apart and even more when they were together. Marigold, for all the sweetness she possessed, she was not a pushover and did not allow herself to be put down. I love that. Strong woman goals! Oh Zachary, what can I say? When he was in, he was all in. Who would have guessed that from the trouble maker? He was sneaky swoony for me. I didn’t see him coming.

Claire also includes another storyline, the suspense piece, that leaves you wondering how on earth she will connect everything. It weaves through the story, and influences how you feel about the main storyline. It’s intriguing and very unexpected. I loved it.

This book was fanastic. I loved it. Gave me everything I want in small town romance, and may even be convincing me that romantic suspense might be my thing.

When it comes to the audio, the casting is perfection. Teddy Hamilton is so well suited for the balance of Zachary’s bravado and his charm. He was great. I believe Samantha Brentmoor may actually be Marigold Martin. She was absolutely perfect. Her timing and tone makes you feel like you are listening to your sweetest friend. The addition of Desireé Ketchum was so good. She was a perfect balance of the other narrators for the additional storyline throughout the book. Bravo! This audio is so good!!

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Take me to Jetty Beach!

Reviewed: 02-29-24 Listener received this title free

This story is such a great romance. I am so impressed that this is Claire Kingley’s first published romance novel. The detail of this story presents her as a seasoned romance novelist. It is no wonder that is exactly what she became. She created a beautiful town in Jetty Beach, two wonderful and complex main characters, some fabulous side characters (many whom are future story leads), and a storyline beyond just the romance.

Nicole and Ryan have known each other since childhood, but moved away and lost touch. When they run into each other again in town, they both have complex pasts, but find something in the other they have needed. They struggle to find the right path, but when they do it really is beautiful. I love this story on so many levels.

This audio! It’s so good. Samantha Brentmoor is Nicole perfection. She adds so much dimension to the character. Jacob Morgan as Ryan could not have been any better. His ability to vary his tone and delivery was so good. Both are such wonderful actors and made this a top notch audio.

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Hopeless is perfection!

Reviewed: 10-19-23 Listener received this title free

This series was something else. Something magical. Elsie Silver has taken me by storm. It started with Reckless. With each story in the Chestnut Springs series I fell deeper in love with these characters, this world, and this author’s writing. She has a gift, and I am so happy she shares it with us. Hopeless is perfection!

In this novel, we get the story of Beau Eaton. He has always been the fun loving, jokester military man, but now, he is broken. He is good at putting on a show, but it is getting harder to do. Bailey Jansen has always been around town, casual interactions, but the way their paths cross in this story is so freaking good. The way these two leads gave each other support and tough love was perfection. They gave the other the space to grow into the best versions of themselves. They were everything.

This story captures everything you want in a romance novel, and everything you love from the series itself. The way Elsie pulled in the previous characters and gave them a role in the story was amazing. Typically I feel sad at the end of a series, but honestly it was so perfect I can’t want anything else!

The audio, wow. Jason Clarke is always so good, but he was perfection as Beau Eaton. His acting abilities and range was exactly what was needed for this complicated character. Angelina Rocca was new to me, but I really liked her. She captured Bailey exactly as she should be. I’m so happy I chose the audio for this story.

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Loved spending this time with The Havens!

Reviewed: 10-14-23 Listener received this title free

All is right in Tilikum, order has been restored. Family feuds put to rest. New friendships formed. What’s an author to do? Well naturally, it’s time to enter her romantic suspense era. The Haven Brothers series has been my most anticipated new series for some time now, and I cannot express how worth the wait it was.

Romantic suspense is new for this author, but it didn’t take away from all the things that make Claire Kingsley so great. She continues to wow me with her ability to create main characters that I can’t help but connect with. I know this was Josiah’s book as his last name is the series name, but it felt like Audrey (and Max) was the star, her story, and I loved that. Audrey was a ray of sunshine and the version of upbeat you aspire to be. Josiah was stoic and self admitted bad with people. Because of the way he was with Audrey, I didn’t feel like he was all that bad at people-ing. He was perfection.

If you are new to the town, you will quickly learn how much you love it. Claire Kingsley catches you up quickly to the town’s antics in a way that doesn’t make you feel left out. If you are returning, welcome back home. This one pulls out all the right Tilikum nostalgia from the Bailey Brother’s series. Claire does such a fabulous job setting the scene, making you feel part of the town. This story is a true standalone even if in a familiar world.

This story felt like Claire declaring this is who I am. This is the area of romance she wants to create. It was warm and squishy, and felt like she wrote the story for her, and what her heart needed. And I am here for that. Thank you for another wonderful novel. So excited to see what the rest of those mountain men brothers are up to!

Connor Crais, Ava Erickson, and Scott Rose were all fantastic in this story. They balanced each other so well, and added a wonderful extra layer of dimension to the characters.

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I loved this story so much! The audio was so good!

Reviewed: 09-29-23

First of all, that prologue. Wow. What a start. How dynamic. And Jason Clarke in the audio of the prologue was unbelievable. Seriously, full performance right there! Chapter 1, I fell in love with Ollie. Hard core girl insta-girl crush. She’s feisty, quick witted, hilarious, and all sorts of fantastic. Silas Taters is athlete male main character perfection. Sweet, kind, thoughtful, caring, dirty, dedicated, hot, and a beast in the best way!

You can feel the age gap in this story in many ways. One, the playful banter brought on by Ollie. Another way was the maturity of Silas. He apologized when he was wrong, never taking the easy forgiveness. His accountability was so swoonworthy.

This story had all the makings of a Meghan Quinn story including the moment she destroys you. I don’t know what it is, but her 3rd act moments always hit me so hard. I live for the hurt! Despite this, this story made me laugh, a lot. Like really hard! It came from so many of the characters and interactions. I love this world!

This audio was so flipping good. Stella Hunter brought Ollie to life. I couldn’t get enough of her. She’s extra responsible for my girl crush. Jason Clarke feels like a conversation with his narration. His shifting of tones, volume, cadence. It feels as if every conversation is happening before you. This audio blew me away.

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What kind of magic does Lauren Blakely put in her MM novels?

Reviewed: 09-28-23

I don’t know what Lauren Blakely puts in her MM books, but I seriously can’t get enough. Her MM men, they are my favorite heroes, and I get two of them at once! Tanner and Luke are professional athlete friends. They love to give the other a hard time and are so fun as friends. Friends to lovers is not always my favorite troupe, but I absolutely loved the way these two shifted to more. I love when the attraction just can’t be contained. LB fans will see some other character crossovers which adds some extra fun to the story. Fantastic story set in this professional athlete world.

The audio was so good. I don’t think I will ever get enough of Teddy Hamilton and Jacob Morgan narrating together. They both are perfect for these athletes, and for Lauren Blakely’s novels!

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I loved their relationship. Goals!

Reviewed: 09-16-23

A new Melanie Harlow book is a must read for me. Always. This story continues the Cherry Tree Harbor series, but could absolutely be read as standalone. I actually loved the way this story was so different, but in a familiar world. It was fun to have Melanie explore the celebrity role, and I loved that the country singer was the heroine.

The way Kelly and Xander fell for each, quickly moving from not liking each other to not resisting the other was perfection. Everything happened in a matter of days, but it was so easy to see why and how it happened. They were perfect for each other.

Kelly Jo Sullivan was such a wonderful heroine. She was so easy to relate to. She wants to get ahead in her career, and she knows not bucking the system is what works. Unfortunately that wasn’t working for her personally. From early on in the story, I loved the support she got from Xander. There were so many quick check ins with her and her feelings throughout the story. I know the big guestures are fun in books, but Xander felt real and supportive and kind and trustworthy. He made Kelly grow in confidence not because of what he told her, but how he showed her true support. I loved their relationship. Goals!

This was another fabulous one from Melanie Harlow! I can’t wait to spend more time in Cherry Tree Harbor!

I waited for the audio for this one. The book had two new to me narrators, and they really hit the mark for me. Amanda Stribling felt like the country music star. The accent, the attitude, the sass. She was the perfect voice. Patrick Zeller was so good as Xander. His cadence and rhythm to his narration was really believable. You could feel the internal struggle of the character, and his passion. I’m so glad I took a chance on these two new to me narrators.

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I couldn’t get enough of these two!

Reviewed: 09-03-23

I love in a story when the two leads meet early, hit it off, and then can’t be together. There is his fabulous resting tension through the first part of the story. Sarina Bowen does that so well with Gavin and Hudson. While they dance around each other, their individual stories are told, and there is this simmering attraction that is so good!

I like that there wasn’t this drawn out denial of feelings, instead they were honest about how they both felt for each other but knew the score. This was one of those stories that every time you thought the stars were aligning there was a roadblock. I wanted this so bad for Hudson and Gavin. They were such a great pairing. I really enjoyed this story and am excited for more from this world.

JF Harding was really great at Hudson. His softer tone wasn’t what I was expecting, but as his first chapter went on, it made me absolutely love the casting! Teddy Hamilton commanded so much passion in his voice as Gavin. He just oozed feelings. This was a fabulous audio!

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Who doesn’t want a chance at a romance novel type love story?

Reviewed: 06-28-23

Who doesn’t want a chance at a romance novel type love story? When a romance novel is about two romance authors, what else could happen? Hazel Valentine and Axel Huxley wrote together once upon a time, but Axel ended both their working relationship and friendship with no true explaination. Some time later they are forced to spend time together due to work and slowly (re)form a friendship and then more!

I love how LB leaned into her character’s writing style to tell their stories. Having Hazel and Axel play off of their writing was a fun immersive experience. These two were a wonderful pairing and I loved their story.

Something about Lauren Blakely is that she doesn’t leave side characters hanging. In this story she gave us a full love story in one little Epilouge for Jay and Amy. It was a great way to share their story and also move along Axel and Hazel’s relationship.

Vanessa Edwin’s voice is so perfect for Lauren Blakely novels. She has the right balance of fun, sass, and steam for her heroines. Sebastian York is always one of my favorites, and he did so much to bring Axel to life. Great audio.

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