It Seemed like a Good Idea

By: Lauren Blakely

Narrated by: Erin Mallon, J.F. Harding

Performed in duet by Erin Mallon and JF Harding! A spicy and hilarious forbidden small town rom com from #1 New York Times bestselling author Lauren Blakely!

He ghosted me once, now he's supposed to protect me?

I don't need a bodyguard—I run a small-town lavender farm, for bee's sake. But when my identical twin sister lands the movie role of a lifetime that's being shot in my hometown I get one anyway. And guess which broody, tattooed protector the studio sends to keep the paparazzi off my porch?

Last month's almost one-night stand. The guy with the wicked mouth and heated eyes who slipped out before the fun even started. But turns out the sexy jerk is excellent at rescuing me from sneaky photographers at the market. Then the coffee shop. I'm trying hard to stay mad after the third time my new bodyguard saves me.

To top it all off, he's staying in the cottage at my farm. With me. And there's only one bed.

Maybe if we finally give in and finish what we started, it'll relieve the tension? But one night quickly turns into another. Then into late-night secrets and soft confessions we shouldn't say out loud. Especially since he's leaving and I'm staying, and there's no way we can be more than a summer romance that ends far too soon...

This is Banks and Ripley's romance. Tropes include small town rom com, bodyguard romance, forbidden rom com, forced proximity, only one bed

©2025 Lauren Blakely Books (P)2026 Lauren Blakely Books

Small Town Romance

I really do like a small town romance. It’s simple, sweet and plenty of loyalty. Banks might have lived in a major city, but he adapted well in Darling Springs on his work assignment. Being a close protection officer is his dream job but little did he know he’d find his dream girl as well. Ripley is the owner of a lavender farm which is about to host a movie crew for the shoots duration. Being the stars twin sister, the production company feels Ripley is going to need a CPO to protect her from the paparazzi and the like. Was she happy she had a shadow, no! Did she try and ditch him at every opportunity, yes! Did she succeed, again no but it was funny her trying.

Banks and Ripley made for a great couple, they attempted to stay away from each other but sharing a cabin with one bed will test the best of us. I liked when they let go and behind closed doors could just be themselves together. I adored how much Banks would do things for Ripley as she is always doing something for others and it was nice to see someone look after her too. Of course with any LB novel there’s always an adorable dog in the mix and Hudson was cute as.

I was happy with all the outcomes with the story. This might be a little tamer in spice for a LB novel but I was on board with it as less is more imo. There’s a bonus scene link at the end, don’t miss that as it’s very special indeed. And if you get the opportunity grab the audio book as these narrators did a fabulous job with these characters. I really loved listening as I read along and JF Harding is so easy to love. His voice is hypnotic and very swoony.

Lauren never disappoints!

This is such a sweet low angst story in duet with great narrators! Loved the bodyguard and twin trope! Highly recommend!

loved the narrators

loved Ripley amd Banks chemisty and banter! Hudson the dog was adorable. could not put down.

Ripley & Banks ❤️

rating: 5⭐️
spice: 2.5🌶️

tropes:
- small town romance
- almost one night stand
- bodyguard x client
- grumpy x sunshine
- only one bed
- forbidden

thoughts:
oh I ATE this one up!!! I was immediately hooked from the beginning when banks stepped in to pretend to be her boyfriend when some guy at the bar wouldn’t get the hint.

I don’t want to dive too much into the premise of how they continue their relationship… its far more fun to experience for yourself but lets just say… it is a roller coaster ride!!!

Banks is a grumpy, broody tattooed bodyguard sent in to watch over Ripley due to filming in her small town… and the fact that her twin sister is the leading star in said movie being filmed in her hometown. I mean who wouldn’t want to share space with THAT MAN!! their banter and tension is top tier and watching this forbidden relationship take root and grow… too fun!!

If you’re an audiobook fan, I highly recommend listening to this one, the narrators did a fantastic job bringing Ripley and Banks to life in our ears

JF HARDING is a god!!!!!

I will listen to anything with JF Harding and he’s great in this! His voice is so playful, flirty and HOT! I’m enjoying the story so far too. The female narrator doesn’t match Hardings intensity. She has an unnatural cadence to her reading that sounds forced; an “announcers voice” not a real person. It’s unfortunate and takes away from the connection between the characters.