Sterling Streak

Sterling Falls, Book 3

By: L.B. Dunbar

Narrated by: J. F. Harding, CJ Bloom

Length: 9 hrs and 59 mins

Publisher's summary

Love was a losing battle for this country music darling and a single dad, baseball star until one night brings them together and one small town sets the playing field for a possible winning streak.

They call me Lady Boss. Maneater. Queen. But beneath the makeup, blond wig, and glitzy costumes, I’m just a country girl who likes to sing. I don’t hate men, I’m just struggling to find a good one. I’ve learned my lesson. Fool me once, and it will never, ever happen again. So I’m baffled when I meet Ford Sylver.

A superstar in his own right as the centerfielder for the Chicago Anchors baseball team, plus a single dad to three adorable little girls, we share a moment when I save his firm backside and pretend he’s mine. Something that he can never be.

Only, when he suffers a season-changing injury and I need a place to disappear, we both end up back in Sterling Falls, where I’m suddenly his roommate. There’s danger in having a wild side. I’ll try anything once. However, forced into close quarters with Ford, acting as his personal nurse, and caring for his three little ones might backfire. Because I’m staring at all I ever wanted and never thought would happen for me.

After losing at love in the past, could I finally be on a winning streak?

©2024 L.B. Dunbar (P)2024 L.B. Dunbar

Let me be your safe place

Absolutely love the the duet performance by these two narrators. They had me in tears. This is such a well written, emotional book about life lessons and second chances. Ford and Cadence have instant chemistry and meet before realizing their family connection. Two broken souls find healing and safety with each other. I love how these two forge a bond that includes the whole family and Fords beautiful little girls. This book gave me all the feels and I couldn't stop listening once I started. Highly recommend this book and series.

I was sent a free audiobook from HCB and am voluntarily leaving this honest review.

Dunbars mature character stories are where it’s at

I’m a fan of Dunbar’s books, especially because they all feature mature characters. I’m a bit … over? 20-something’s fake drama, when I’m twice that and in a completely different mindset from people that age. I definitely relate far better to all the characters she writes.

The Sterling Falls series is my newest obsession! I’m loving the few brothers we’ve met so far. This time we have more family coming together for the wedding of the first couple (book 1, Sebastian and Enya), so Ford comes home to Sterling Falls from his illustrious baseball career in Chicago. He brings his three young daughters with him. His family notices his wife is missing… and he’s become oddly familiar with the bride’s famous country singer sister, Cadence (a comparison made to the current TayVis relationship happening in reality, though this was written before that occurred). You have to read to find out the twisty details!

The audio is absolutely brilliant - narrated by my favourites CJ Bloom and JF Harding! Both did beautiful jobs and were perfectly cast in the roles of Cadence and Ford. I don’t think anyone else would have been better as these characters! They each suited the parts so well… and I’m always excited to pick up any book with CJ narrating (I just adore her voice)!

I definitely enjoyed the baseball star, suddenly single dad going through something crazy in his personal life, and the insanely famous country pop star trying to get away from a terrible situation in her personal life as well, hiding out in his hometown, Sterling Falls, for their sibling’s wedding. An excellent story that mimicks, sort of, some reality that came after writing, and I’m completely here for this book - I loved every word and recommend it to everybody! So perfectly steamy, and perfectly written, and just such an amazing storyline!

I received an advance listen copy from Home Cooked Books PR, and this is my honest opinion.

Great series

What a marvelous book. New-to-me author that will now be on my auto-buy list. Third book in a series that I will catch up on and start from the beginning, and since there are seven Sylver siblings I am hoping for at least seven books.

Sterling Streak is about two people who are hurting. Who obviously feel a strong attraction to each other, and beyond the attraction even tender and protective, but who each say the exact same thing: I’m never giving my heart up again. One devastating heart-wrenching heart-shattering experience is enough.

Cadence, world-famous country singer, is a woman in charge. Strong, vibrant, loves to perform. And sadly once she steps off stage and the glamourous costumes and makeup and bright blond wig are removed, she’s still performing. She’s really just a girl who loves to sing, a girl who wishes she could meet a boy and find true love, a girl who in the deepest part of her heart just wants to be Caitlin. But that’s unlikely to happen and she’s discarded that dream. The always-disappointing daughter growing up, still treated cruelly by her parents, and the victim of a terrible man who lied and betrayed her. And is now stalking her. All Cadence has is her sister Enya, who is marrying into the Sylver family. They’re close, but have very different lives.

Ford is part of that Sylver family. He’s a successful, famous baseball star, but right now that doesn’t count for much. Just divorced, blind-sighted, betrayed, and left with three little girls. He loves those little girls more than anything, but he has no idea how to be a good father to them, how to get beyond the confusion and hurt and feeling like the last ten years of his life have been a lie. Not to mention his childhood, when the Sylver siblings lost their mother and their father changed into a monster and Ford couldn’t wait to escape. Yes, Ford is strong and masculine, grumpy and short-tempered with that jaw-ticking thing going on, but there is something about him that makes Cadence want to take care of him, to feel in her bones after just a few minutes of watching him that he needs to be taken care of. She doesn’t understand why she feels like she does, but she can’t fight it. She demonstrates that care again, and again, and again, but maybe after yet one more emotion-filled outburst from Ford it’s finally too much; maybe she needs to walk away and stay away. But can she? Will he even come after her?

This story will grab you from the first sentence and keep you frantically listening to the end. The narrators of the audiobook are superstars, too. J. F. Harding, with that little growl in his voice, always sounding a bit breathless and angsty, sorry but not knowing how to express it, becomes Ford. CJ Bloom hits the perfect note (sorry) as Cadence: quirky, stubborn, resilient but scared and afraid – and afraid to show any of that.

Sterling Streak is sweet and swoony and scorching and sometimes very sad, with villains that you can truly hate, little girls you can’t help but love, siblings that are aggravating but have your back. Parts of the story are almost too funny and too cute for words and you won’t be able to hold in your smile: writing “MINE” in mustard on a hot dog sounds pretty corny, but in context it makes you sigh in delight; so do rubber ducks and friendship bracelets. And the emotion? I was so involved in this book that I found myself repeatedly talking to it – Oh no! Stop! Don’t! - especially when Ford is hurt. The many, many baseball references are sometimes subtle and sometimes hit you over the head (or with a bat?) but are all delightful.

Thanks to Home Cooked Books and author L. B. Dunbar for providing an advance listening copy of Sterling Streak. I absolutely loved it. Got to listen to two of my favorite narrators, found a new author, a new series, and suspect this is a book that will be one of my favorite re-listens. I voluntarily leave this review; all opinions are my own.

Best Sylver Yet

And Ive loved them all so that's a feat! I love that Dunbar writes about adults getting their srcond chsnce!

Enjoyable Single Dad Romance

CJ Bloom and JF Harding did a great job bringing Ford and Cadence’s single dad romance to life. Their complicated journey had so many outside obstacles that I wondered if they’d ever get a happily ever after. I enjoyed watching Ford step up to the plate for his girls. Those three little ducklings stole my heart and the show.

Loved it

It was wonderful being back in Sterling Falls having read and enjoyed the previous books in the latest series from L. B. Dunbar. Her characters are engaging and so easy to relate to; probably because her characters are more mature.

From the first chapter, I was engaged in single dad Ford and country singer Cadence’s story.

These two are meant to be together. I loved the relationship that she forged with Ford’s daughters, absolutely heartwarming. They haveboth been through so much and really deserved to find lasting love and happiness.

This is a beautifully written, witty, emotional story that ticked all the boxes for me. There are equal amounts of passion, romance, and angst in this emotional story which had me tearing up and smiling, sometimes at the same time.

The narration by J.F. Harding and C. J. Bloom was spot on in my opinion. Not only are their voices easy to listen to but they brought all the passion, drama, and romance to life with their performances. Justice was done to the characters as they brought the story to life.

Wonderful story

Ford and Cadence get to find their way together in this addition to the Sterling Falls series. The narration was great. by J.F. Harding and CJ Bloom

4.5 out of 5 stars!

Ford Sylver didn't leave a good impression the first time he encountered Cadence Calloway. Then again he had no recollection of what happened. His first priority was getting home to his three girls. So color us all surprised when Cadence happens to be Enya's country music star sister. Ford and his girls are reeling from his divorce and his ex's exit from all of their lives. How does he juggle fatherhood and playing baseball and trying to keep his girls happy? When she's not performing as Cadence, she's Caitlin and she feels this distinct pull toward Ford and his girls. She hasn't felt the need for a relationship or a family, but seeing her sister's contentment with Sebastian and their baby Adara puts a little bit of want in her soul. But they both have things to work through. The author brings us the HEA we always crave with her own unique spin on single parenthood and juggling big careers.

CJ Bloom and and JF Harding were amazing narrators for this story! They brought the characters to life, really digging into their personalities and quirks.

I received an advance copy of the audiobook at my request and voluntarily left this review.

A famous musician and professional baseball player

Story Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (0-5)
Narration: 🎧🎧🎧🎧🎧 (0-5)
Overall: 4.5/5
Steam: 🔥🔥🔥 (0-5)

What I’m Starry-Eyed Over:
🤩 Captivating meet-cute right away. And the meet-again (the next day) is a little cute and a little ugly and so entertaining.
🤩 A famous singer/song-writing/music artist and a professional baseball player, yes please!!
🤩 We get some real singing in action and some real time on the baseball field.
🤩 I fell in love with the MCs early on. I love how Ford gets protective and stands up to Cadence’s dad right away, in the best snarky way. I love how Cadence is a gentle care-taker.
🤩 The narrators are fabulously cast and make me adore and lust over the MCs even more.
🤩 It just feels so good each time Cadence shows up.
🤩 I love a little jealousy, both ways.
🤩 The forced proximity, their chemistry, and the sneaking around—all worked on me.
🤩 You guessed it—Cadence Calloway and Ford Sylver are are hot!! The steamy moments are intimate and detailed and fabulous.
🤩 Family, found family, and all that goodness.

What I’m Wishing/Dizzy About:
💫 Some steamy details after the outdoor concert & make-out session would have been so right.
💫 Miscommunication can feel annoying, especially when it seems a little out of character for Cadence. She’s usually pretty good at communicating and getting answers.
💫 Ford could probably use some therapy. Maybe all of them could, actually.

The book boyfriend I didn't know I needed!

Sterling Streak is book 3 in the Sterling Falls series by L.B. Dunbar, and continues the true excellence in small-town romance with mature MCs! Ford is a professional baseball player and single father devoted to 3 adorable girls! After being burned he is rightfully focused on his girls, even in the midst of career upheaval. His daughters are adorable, and he is an excellent father who is struggling and doing his best. Returning to his small town and reconnecting with family is the backbone of this story, and is very well done. His brothers are all scarred in some way by their past, but I really like how they work through their flaws to find common ground. Cadence is a super star with serious abandonment issues. Her sister is marrying Ford’s brother, so they are thrown into each other’s orbit and gravity takes over. This story is sweet, fun, and has a very nice evolution for realistic characters and all of their flaws. Plenty of steamy moments as their attraction takes focus! There is also a suspenseful plot point that adds to the story and character development.

Narration by two of the best is my favorite part! J.F. Harding is perfect casting for Ford and beautifully brings all of the characters to life in his chapters. C.J. Bloom is wonderfully talented and I just love her dreamy voice with the perfect inflections for the snarky smarta$$ery, emotional moments, and all of the various characters in her chapters. If you like small-town romance with plenty of steam, lots of heart, and excellent performances this is a solid choice!