4.5⭐️ 3🌶️ 4.5🎧

Relationship dynamic: MF

Tropes/Microtropes/Vibes/Reps:

🏒 Hockey

⚡️ Age gap (she’s older)

👶🏼 Single dad

👠 Workplace (she’s the boss)

❤️‍🔥 Hate to love 

Producer: One Night Stand Studios

Narrators: Angelina Rocca + Sebastian York

Narration type: duet

Writing perspective: 

Standard length: 11:39

Listening speed: 2.2x

Listened via: BookFunnel

ALC provided by: Julia Connors

📖 This was my first Julia Connors book and it won’t be my last! This was such a fun, easy read that I literally could not put down! Once I started I didn’t not want to stop until it was finished. AJ and McCabe were addictive with their “I hate you but I’m obsessed with you” vibe. McCabe was the perfect grump turned simp and such an adorable dad. And I love characters like AJ who kick ass in a male dominated field but are proud to be woman and don’t shy away from things that are seen as womanly. I loved all the side characters and I will definitely be going back for the earlier books in the series! 

🎧 I enjoyed this duet audio with SebYo and Angelina, who compliment each other nicely. SebYo is kind of the ideal grump, he can really turn on that tone well and I can listen all day! Angelina brought her usual depth and emotion to AJ’s character, providing an engaging listen!

5⭐️ 3.5🌶️ 5🎧

Relationship dynamic: MF

Tropes/Microtropes/Vibes/Reps: 

🖤 Mafia

💵 Billionaire

🤫 Hidden identity

⚡️ Age gap

🫱🏻‍🫲🏽 Forced proximity

❤️‍🔥 Bad boy x good girl

🗡️ Touch her and d!e

😈 Anti hero MMC

🪽 Virgin FMC

💊 Disability rep

Publisher: Brilliance Audio

Narrators: CJ Bloom + Dan Anderson

Narration type: dual

Writing perspective: first person, dual POV

Standard length (pages): 313

Standard length (time): 10:52

Listening speed: 2.5x

Listened via: NetGalley

Read via: Kindle

ARC/ALC provided by: VPR + Giana Darling + NetGalley

📖 Giana has done it again! She has made me love all of these characters, and made me equally mad at some of them at the end! That’s a sign that I am fully invested and she’s done the work of some bad ass character development! Raffe and Guinevere have quite the meet cute and things are off to the races from there. They have such chemistry together, physical and emotional. They bring out new things in each other and also remind one another of the good things that are still there deep down. Even over a short time, their bond becomes very strong, but they both know there is an end date when Guinevere intends to leave Italy at the end of the summer. Neither gets the courage to ask about staying together before something big does down, and it changes everything!! That cliffy… I NEED THE NEXT BOOK IMMEDIATELY!

🎧 CJ Bloom sounded amazing as Guinevere! Her enunciation is so clear and her voice so smooth and rich. There is so much depth to her pitch and tone that makes listening to her so, so enjoyable!

Dane Anderson blew me away as Raffe! So often Italian accents can edge toward Dracula sounding, but NOT the case with him! His accent, to my American ears, sounded perfect! It was HOT HOT HOT and I could listen to him read to me for hours! The emotion and warmth in his voice elevated the performance even more, capturing me completely.

4.5⭐️ 2.5🌶️ 5🎧

Relationship dynamic: MF

Tropes/Microtropes/Vibes/Reps:

🏡 Small town

🏈 Football

🎀 Single dad

🌤️ Grumpy x sunshine

🔗 Found family 

🛏️ One night stand

🤰🏼 Accidental pregnancy 

💞 Disability rep

Producer: Lyric Audiobooks

Narrators: Samantha Brentmoor + JF Harding, with special guest Lily D Moore

Narration type: dual (with all Becca’s lines read by Lily D Moore)

Writing perspective: first person, dual POV

Standard length (pages): 398p

Standard length (time): 8:53

Listening speed: 2.5x

Listened via: BookFunnel

Read via: Kindle

ARC/ALC provided by: VPR + MLA

📖 This story was oh so sweet. Becca, Martha, Poppy, and Bowie stole my heart! Becca and Martha started the job and Poppy and Bowie just carried it on home. Becca, Bowie’s sweet as pie daughter with Down syndrome, fell in love with Poppy first, and really put her dad in some awkward (for him) situations, which I loved! Let me just say that Willow did such an exceptional job with this story from a disability perspective, not focusing heavily on it as a plot point, but showcasing Becca’s amazing personality and infectious joy. Poppy’s lack of filter had me absolutely cracking up throughout, she was so honest with Bowie! And Bowie, poor dude, thought he was over the whole “love thing” lol… he just never saw it coming. And I loved how he pretty quickly even fell for Martha… anything for Becca! 

🎧 This audio was everything!! Samantha and JF are incredible and I love everything they do, this was no exception. They slayed as Poppy and Bowie! But I want to really focus on Lily D Moore. I LOVE that Willie and Lyric prioritized representation for this audiobook. And Lily was absolutely incredible in this performance! Her sunshine personality and smiling face came right through with her performance and she completely brought Becca to life. This audiobook would not have been nearly as amazing without her stellar performance! Keep casting Lily!!! 🫶🏻🫶🏻🫶🏻

5⭐️ 5🎧

*check content warnings*

Relationship dynamic: MF

Tropes: 

🖤 Dark

🥹 Angsty

❤️‍🔥 Slow burn

🔗 Found family

👩‍❤️‍👨 Childhood sweethearts

❤️‍🩹 Hurt/comfort

⏱️ Now and then timeline

🔓 Traumatic pasts

💘 Soulmates

🪽 Virgin MCs

🧠 MH rep

👌 ASL rep

Producer: Blue Nose Audio

Narrators: Shiloh James + Sean Masters

Narration type: duet

Writing perspective: first person, dual POV

Standard length (pages): 563p

Standard length (time): 16:53

Listening speed: 2.5x

Listened via: Blue Nose App

ALC provided by: Blue Nose Audio

📖 I NEED PART TWO RIGHT NOW! Omg I just finished this and I don’t know how I will wait for more 😭😖 This book was so freaking good. I knew early on this was going to be a painful one, and oh it hurt so good. The past was so masterfully revealed from our two MCs perspectives in a now and then timeline. *Something* happened 7 years in the past that deeply affected both of them and tore them apart, but we don’t know the full truth of that event for QUITE a way into the book… and BRAVO! And woahhh I was really worried there was going to be more of *him* but noooooo, that cliffy 😭😖😫 

This is one of those books that if you have no triggers, going in blind leads to a wild ride, and I thoroughly enjoyed it! But it’s heavy, so if you do have triggers I would highly recommend checking out the content warnings for this book. 

🎧 This audio was absolutely incredible!! It was an intense, emotional journey that Sean and Shiloh delivered with such dynamic and passionate performances. I talk a lot about how much of a Sean fan I am, but this performance was really next level. He did a phenomenal job playing 17 year old Linc and a grown up Linc (7 years older), who has developed a fairly severe stutter and suffers from anxiety and panic attacks. This was my first time listening to Shiloh and she was amazing! She brought so much energy and emotion to her portrayal of Paige while keeping such a natural cadence that makes you feel like you’re listening to a real conversation. I can’t wait to listen to more of her work!

4.75⭐️ 3.5🌶️ 5🎧

Relationship dynamic: MF

Tropes: 

💵 Billionaire

❤️‍🔥 Ex boyfriend’s brother

⚡️ Age gap 

🙅🏻‍♀️ Forbidden

🤝🏻 Forced proximity

👩🏻‍🍳 She’s his private chef

🫠 He falls first, and hard

⛳️ Set in the Hamptons

Producer: Lyric Audiobooks

Narrators: Erin Mallon + Connor Crais

Narration type: duet

Writing perspective: first person, dual POV

Standard length: 10:01

Listening speed: 2.2x

Listened via: BookFunnel

ALC provided by: Kat Singleton

📖 So if I weren’t happily married, and if I didn’t hate cooking… I’d be seriously considering how to become Lucy, if I could get my own Cal 😍🥵 I love a man who is new to love and just does it fast and hard and over the top! He wanted to dote on her and spoil her and give her all the attention, so he did… swoooon. I loved watching Lucy come out of her shell and open up. And seeing characters from past books was so fun! Lucy’s convo with Margo after the pool house scene was perfection 🤣 And as usual Kat writes some impeccable spice 🔥🔥🔥

🎧 Ok y,all, listen up! I need you to immediately go download this audio, because you NEEEEEEEED to hear Connor Crais say “Lucy baby”. It is a must. IT IS A MUST! I have listened to many audiobooks narrated by Connor, but this one felt different. He obviously changes up his timbre and tone for different roles, but this was one I haven’t quite heard from him before and it was PERFECT for Callahan Hastings. Connor sounded perfectly authoritative and almost arrogant at times, but turned on that warmth and seduction for Lucy. Erin Mallon also did a fantastic job playing Lucy. She sounded youthful and fun, but also mature and responsible. Erin brings a lot of energy and emotion to her performances, always keeping me engaged with the character she is portraying. 

5⭐️ 3🌶️ 4.75🎧

Relationship dynamic: MF

Tropes/Microtropes/Vibes/Reps:

💍 Engagement/marriage of convenience 

🌤️ Grumpy x sunshine

🤝🏻 Forced proximity 

🔗 Found family

💞 Single guardian

😮‍💨 My wife

❤️‍🔥 Slow burn

❤️ Curvy FMC

🥷 She tries to rob him

Producer: Lyric Audiobooks

Narrators: Amy Hall + Alex Kydd

Narration type: dual

Writing perspective: first person, dual POV

Standard length (pages): 416p

Standard length (time): 12:02

Listening speed: 2.5x

Listened via: NetGalley

Read via: Kindle

ARC/ALC provided by: Hannah Cowan + NetGalley

📖 This series is EVERYTHING. I absolutely adore Hannah’s writing and this entire family and I’m so sad it’s over, but she gave me everything I could have ever wanted for this last book. I am a Noah girlie through and through, give me a moody broken boy and I’m hooked. BUTTTT Hannah’s golden retriever sweeties have been working their way under my skin and into my heart… between Johnnie and Jamie, I’m wondering if I’m a changed woman lol! Jamie is absolute perfection. He is kind, generous, compassionate, friendly, loyal, and he just so happens to be a HOT as sin football player. Blakey is also fabulous! I adore grumpy/black cat FMCs, and she’s a gorgeous mid size girl which I LOVE! She is guarded for a good reason and has a ton of responsibility on her young shoulders. Her and her brother have the best relationship, and I love how Jamie interacts with Nathan. I had a smile on my face for so much of this book!

🎧 Amy Hall was the PERFECT Blakely! She absolutely nailed the grumpy demeanor and self consciousness that Blakely felt throughout the story. Her deeper pitch and smooth timbre are so easy to listen to and unique to her. 

Alex Kydd sounded fantastic as Jamie! He really does an incredible job delivering the high energy required for golden retriever characters like Jamie. His Canadian accent and warm timbre are perfect for the character. I also think Alex has really elevated his female voices!

3.5⭐️ 4🌶️ 4.75🎧

Relationship dynamic: no true relationship, but there is MM and MF spice

Tropes/Microtropes/Vibes/Reps:

⏳ Prequel

🪦 Set in the 1800s

📖 Origin story

🌶️ Spicy

Producer: Blue Nose Audio

Narrators: Sean Masters, Joe Arden, Maxine Mitchell 

Narration type: duet

Writing perspective: first person

Standard length: 

Listening speed: 2x

Listened via: Blue Nose app

ALC provided by: Blue Nose Audio

📖 I’m really enjoying this series overall, and had to check out Axl’s origin story. I will say that I think the problem is me on this one. I don’t tend to love novella’s, and this is even shorter. I felt like I needed/wanted more. Alastair/Axl felt so different to me in this than the Axl we know now, and I know this was to show how much he’s changed and grown over the years, but I kind of didn’t like him in this. I do love him in the main series and seeing how he is with Ophelia now is so nice. 

🎧 The audio for this was amazing, as expected! This whole series has been phenomenal on audio. Sean, Joe, and Maxine were wonderful and the production quality was spot on.

4.5⭐️ 3🌶️ 4.5🎧 

 

Relationship dynamic: MF 

Tropes: 

🏡 Small town 

🫱🏻‍🫲🏼 Forced proximity 

🚫 Forbidden 

🪓 Workplace 

⚡️ Age gap 

❤️‍🔥 Man obsessed 

🏔️ Grumpy MMC 

🫶🏻 Curvy FMC 

💦 Comes in his pants 

 

Producer: Lyric Audiobooks 

Narrators: Erin Mallon + Connor Crais 

Narration type: duet 

Writing perspective: first person, dual POV 

Standard length (pages): 

Standard length (time): 

Listening speed: 2.5x 

Listened via: BookFunnel 

ARC/ALC provided by: VPR + SJ Tilly 

 

📖 Anything SJ Tilly writes, I will gobble up happily! Her turn to mountain men is mmm mmm good! Sterling and Courtney come face to face when she shows up to work for him. A clear miscommunication means he’s expecting a male maintenance man, not the young and beautiful Courtney… and oh do those sparks fly! Courtney isn’t great at speaking up or advocating for herself, and Sterling is pretty good at coming off as a complete a-hole, so tensions build, and build, and build. But oh are we rewarded! And there’s obviously Spike and Lady Bear for cuteness points! 

 

🎧 Connor and Erin were awesome as Sterling and Courtney! Connor as the grumpy boss was a fun listen and Erin really sold it as the younger, more innocent employee. I loved that this was in duet, especially with the banter and shorter chapter length!