Nikita Navalkar

Take me to church

Reviewed: 05-31-22

Okay let me get real about this book for a sec. There was no good reason for me to be affected by this book; I have a fairly uncomplicated, if an unstrict relationship with God and faith and organized religion, and I definitely do not relate to Tyler Bell. Who is somewhat of a petulant man child and not my type at all. This was further cemented in Midnight Mass, but that’s a topic for another day and I did just realize they did need that sort of healing and HEA after the HEA that that novella provided. I love the taboo of it and the sheer impossibility of their odds, but that’s not just it. Poppy is the hero of this story (for me) and the true genius lies in Sierra’s writing and storytelling prowess that didn’t let me question for one second as I fell in love with the book the first time. Yes, I read it (listened) a little more critically this time around, but I still came out completely head over heels with the story. I even understood Tyler and his actions a bit more. So yes, I may not like Tyler Anselm Bell overmuch but I am a little bit in love with him nonetheless. And when he calls Poppy his Lamb? I dissolve completely into nothingness every single time. I’m not even going to discuss the utter and complete eroticism and skill in the steamy scenes because I previously did and I can’t do it justice anyway, no matter how many times I mention it. Just know Sierra is the archbishop of erotic romance and that’s all I have to say about that.

Note about the narration. Both Jacob Morgan and Elena Wolfe nail it absolutely.

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A Rock-your-world, knock-your-socks-off, ravage-your-soul Masterpiece

Reviewed: 01-31-22

This was a reread and the audio was flawless, and I may have cried almost as much as I did the first time. Who am I kidding, I just spent the last 3 hours of the booking sobbing so much I have a headache. I think the book got better on the reread? I say this a lot but maybe this is objectively SJM’s best book?

The beauty of it lies in that it’s fantasy but modern and it just intensifies the stakes that much more. We haven’t even scratched the surface of Ruhn yet but I love him and just relationship with Bryce is just chef’s kiss. I love Hypaxia and Tharion and Syrinx is probably one of my favorite literary pets of all time. My heart broke further for Bryce and Danika and Connor and the pack, but I love Danika’s presence in the book so much it hurts. I want at least one death to be reversed but I know that’s a fool’s wish. And if Hunt and Bryce aren’t what I think they are, I’d be very very surprised. Gods I’m so ready for HOSAB to wreck my soul.

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Devastating and spectacular

Reviewed: 10-31-21

An excellent narration of one of my favorite books in the series. My heart hurts and my soul is scarred but I love it regardless

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Excellent production

Reviewed: 10-18-21

What an excellently produced audio with the music, the sound effects, and most importantly the narration. The narrator did a fantastic job with all the voices and accents and made me fall more in love with a book I loved already; she even does a sexy Wrath 🔥

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Dungeons and Daggers

Reviewed: 04-19-21

I loved this book so much already, and the narration just added to the experience. The narrator is emotive and gives her all, especially that accent for Hawke? It’s a gift 😍

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Intensely emotional

Reviewed: 04-05-21

I wasn’t sure about the narrator at the beginning, but I soon realized her gritty intensity was just right for Nesta’s character, and especially the steamy scenes came alive in her voice. Her portrayal was so strong it was almost uncomfortable at times, and that really worked for this story

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6-The Grumpy one loves the Sunshine one-stars

Reviewed: 08-31-20

Reread (this time on audio): can report that this book is exactly as supercallifragilistically fantastic as the first time, if not better. My heart is all sunshine and rainbows. Again. And the narration is equal perfection, especially the female narrator does a bangin’ job.

Stick a fork in me, coz I. Am. Done. Where has this author been all my life? Ok that’s probably on me for not reading her sooner. I’m so in love with this book I want to ask it to marry me. Because this is how you write a romcom, without making it farcical; this is how you write an enemies to lovers romance, with heat and tension for days; this is how you write a boss-employee office romance, without making it a cringey boring cliche. This is how you write an iconic romance novel, period.

It’s The Devil Meets Prada (with a nicer Miranda Priestly) meets Cinderella, with a sprinkling of Project Runway. A book that made me smile like a lunatic, giggle like a school girl, laugh like a maniac, and also cry a bit dammit. Tears of joy that is, with just the right hint of heartbreak.

Dominic Russo is the yummy, forty-something scion of a fashion house, he’s like if Mr. Darcy and Ron Swanson had a baby that looked like David Gandy, aka Grumpy Grump Face, aka man of my dreams, with a ton of hang ups and heart of pure solid gold. He is also the single most adorable drunk man ever written. My ovaries could barely handle all that swoony hotness. Ally Morales is the outspoken, vibrant, sunshine girl to his grumpiness. Her realness and spirit and tenacity in the face of the dumpster fire that is her life is inspiring. But she’s no simpering miss half his age, this is a story between two older adults hanging on by a thread, not looking for love but getting smacked in the face by it nonetheless.

Everyone loves her, everyone is intimidated by him, and they bring out the worst (or best IMO) in each other from their very first meeting. Every one of their interactions is foreplay, whether it’s their childish bickering or outright fights or the low key flirting or the playful emails (my kryptonite) or the longing glances. They’re made for each other, even when they hurt each other, and oh how they hurt each other. However the industrial strength groveling more than makes up for it.

All the hilarity is interspersed with surprising moments of raw, sizzling intensity. One moment they’re petty and squabbling, the next they’re utterly, profoundly swoony. Every line is a gem, the dialog is snappy, the banter is crackling; now tell me how do I highlight the entire book? It’s not often that a book leaves me with this giddy, delirious feeling of joy. I’m left nothing but a gooey puddle of melted heart stuff. The entire story, right down to the dog and the secondary characters and the extended epilogue is sheer perfection.

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The narrators breathe new life into these characters

Reviewed: 07-11-20

This is a breathtaking narration of one of my already favorite books. I loved every single thing about it, from Alex and his mates’ sexy accents to Indie’s breathy, husky tenor. Such excellent work!

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All the stars

Reviewed: 03-01-20

I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve read and reread this book over the years, but I can never get enough. This time was my first time listening to it, and it was no less amazing. One of my first forays into romance, I love, love, LOVE this book, and it is one of the reasons why romance novels are such a huge part of my life.

Dr. Isabel Favor is the self-made self help guru of America, but her life has come crashing down around her ears because of a series of unfortunate events. Ren Gage is a Hollywood heartthrob, known for playing the villain on the silver screen, and a little bit in real life. Their paths cross and keep crossing in the breathtaking Tuscan countryside, Sparks fly, hate and eventually love ensues. But it’s absolutely not that simple. Polar opposites, Isabel is the only one with the guts to confront Ren’s demons, and Ren is totally up for teaching Dr. Favor a thing or two about living, while getting rid of her sexual hangups. There’s local mysteries, crazy townsfolk, a secondary love story (as was a feature in many SEPs), a passel of kids, and all the drama! It’s funny and sexy and even cheesy and weird in parts, but it’s all part of the charming package of this book.

While old school for all intents and purposes, this one holds up remarkably well. And is a fabulous showcase of how SEP is the OG queen of so many tropes we read and love to this day; enemies to lovers, opposites attract, the redeemable alpha jerk hero, A plus banter, and sparkling, heady chemistry between the leads. Seriously, I may be a bit biased as regards this book, but I maintain that every romance reader must give this book, and SEP a try.

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Opposites attract and Sparks fly

Reviewed: 01-24-20 Listener received this title free

This is short, sweet, and dirty. And the narrator’s voice was sheer perfection. The voice really clinched the story for me

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1 person found this helpful