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Fantastic Narration

Overall
4 out of 5 stars
Performance
4 out of 5 stars
Story
4 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 06-12-25

The Unplanned Wedding is book 3 in The Davenport series. While it can be read as a standalone, I recommend starting from the beginning.
The Unplanned Wedding is Knox and June’s story. Knox, much like the other Davenport men, is the ultimate alpha male. He is broody and possessive but has a soft spot for June. June is naive but fiery, she is not going to back down from Knox’s grumpiness, making for some great banter.
I enjoyed this book, it wasn’t my favorite of the series, but it was an easy read with high heat. The narration was wonderful, Shane East is so good at portraying the grumpy, alpha hero which made him a great fit for Knox. Evelyn Rose portrayed June’s innocence and curiosity so well. I look forward to learning more about the Davenport family.

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Fantastic Performances

Overall
4 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Story
4 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 05-20-25

Being the first female GM in the league isn’t easy, Alessandra Jones aka AJ can attest to that. It can be even more challenging when you have a turbulent history with your team captain, Ronan McCabe. AJ is poised and maintains the level of professionalism needed though to keep her interactions with McCabe cordial. McCabe is a newly single dad and when his nanny cancels on him on a game night AJ volunteers to look after his daughter, Abby. When a couple of fans start fighting at the game AJ is pushed down while wearing Abby, she doesn’t hesitate to protect Abby and as a result she sustains some of her own injuries. Now that she is unable to do a lot of basic tasks on her own, McCabe volunteers to help her, it’s the least he can do, right? Now that the two are spending more and more time together it’s abundantly clear there is a connection between them. Will that be enough for them to risk their careers and pursue this connection or will they let the “what ifs” keep them from creating a happy family together?
I have enjoyed this entire series. Julia Connors was a new author to me when I first started this series with Center Ice but I have quickly fallen in love with the Boston Rebels. Reverse age gap isn’t typically my jam, but I loved this one. Despite Ronan being younger he was fiercely protective and a swoon worthy caregiver for both AJ and Abby. Ronan is determined to treat AJ like she deserves and I couldn’t get enough of his acts of love towards her.
Cross Checked is narrated in duet by Angelina Rocca and Sebastian York. Angelina can definitely rock a strong, powerful, confident female role which made her the perfect fit for AJ. I also enjoyed the way she portrayed AJ’s more vulnerable side. Sebastian captured McCabe’s grumpy nature so well, but I loved the way he voiced his protectiveness and even the softer sides of him that were reserved for AJ and Abby.

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Heartfelt with Heat

Overall
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Story
4 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 03-31-25

Lauren Rowe is a new author to me and I totally get the hype now! I couldn’t get enough of this heartfelt story.
Caleb aka C-Bomb is the drummer for a popular rock band, Red Card Riot. Caleb has been living the life of a rockstar, which has now landed him in a court ordered rehab. While in rehab he learns about the unexpected passing of his daughter’s mother, Claudia. He is also made aware that Claudia’s vile father is going to petition for custody of Raine, Caleb’s two year old daughter. This turn of events has Caleb stepping up and ready to be the father his daughter deserves. However, he was not expecting pushback from Aubrey, Claudia’s childhood best friend who is also determined to make sure Raine stays far away from her grandfather. Aubrey is an evid rule follower, and kind to her core, but she is fiercely protective over Raine. Although these two were butting heads at first, their mutual goal to keep Raine safe brings them together. It’s clear there is chemistry from the time the two meet and the more time they spend together taking care of Raine, it’s inevitable that they are going to give in to their undeniable attraction to each other.
I adored this story. The way Caleb stepped into his role as Raine’s father was precious. His character growth was such a treat to read. He went from selfish to selfless and it wasn’t an overnight process, it felt organic and unrushed. I loved Aubrey, although she wasn’t Raine’s biological mother, you wouldn’t have known that based on her actions with Raine. She didn’t make it easy for Caleb either, she pushed him to be the best version of himself and supported him the entire time.
Finding Home is narrated in duet by Andi Ardnt and Sean Masters and they did a wonderful job bringing this beautiful story to life. I was already in tears by chapter two because of Andi’s emotional performance after Claudia’s passing. Sean did a great job capturing all of Caleb’s emotions, from frustration to his awe of his daughter and Aubrey. Both Andi and Sean also did a wonderful job capturing the unique personalities of all of the side characters and performing them with their own unique voice.

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Short But Packed With Spice

Overall
4 out of 5 stars
Performance
4 out of 5 stars
Story
4 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 03-14-25

I never realized I needed an erotic Mothman retelling in my life until Flare! This was my first K.T. Maddan book and she did a fantastic job setting the dark tone for this story. Her descriptions of the scenery made it feel like I was in the story. The storyline was unique and kept me intrigued.
Flare is short, but packed with spice and I can't wait for more K.T. Maddan books in audio!
The audio was a little fuzzy at times, but M Woods was a great fit to narrate this story. Her tone and performance were exactly what I would've imagined to bring this to life.

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My Favorite In The Series

Overall
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Story
5 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 03-14-25

Harper went from super mom, saving her son’s face from a foul ball with her bare hand, to the most hated woman in Boston thanks to Kyle Bosco and his blunt post game interview. Now once again it’s time for the Boston Revs PR team to step in and turn the situation around. The last thing Kyle and Harper want is to smile for the cameras, but reluctantly they do. While working on turning this PR nightmare around, Harper’s struggles as a single mom with two kids, including a daughter with ASD, become apparent to Kyle right away. Kyle understands the struggles of caring for someone with ASD and is ready to step in to help Harper. Harper is hesitant to take Kyle’s help but he doesn’t let that deter him. He is consistently there for Harper and her kids and eventually the two form a connection. The chemistry was already there, but their connection is so much more than physical. The only problem is, Kyle is keeping something from Harper. When she learns that their lives were more entwined than she thought, will she be able to forgive him?

Kyle Bosco is officially my favorite Boston Rev! I didn’t think it would be possible to top Daddy Wilson, but Kyle did. I loved his cocky charm and his devotion to Harper, Piper and Sam was incredibly sweet. Despite Harper’s attempts to distance him, he was persistent and eventually he was able to help Harper balance being a mom and just being herself.

The narration was fantastic! The Foul Out is narrated in duet by Erin Mallon and Stephen Dexter. Erin captured Harper’s struggles so well. She voiced her doubts, struggles and pure exhaustion in such an emotional way that I was tearing up at times. Stephen was the perfect fit for Kyle, his voice was smooth and confident. Kyle was playful, confident, a little cocky but also passionate and protective and Stephen did a wonderful job bringing that to life.

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This Series Just Gets Better

Overall
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Story
5 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 02-13-25

1 Last Shot is book 4 in The Fight Game Series by Nikki Castle. Once again I was mesmerized by Nikki’s writing!
When Isabella sustains a career ending injury, she is ready to leave New York to find who she is without ballet. When she moved to Philadelphia she definitely didn’t see herself falling for her angry and distant neighbor, Kane. Isabella saw something in Kane that others didn’t though.
We were introduced to Kane in the previous books, he is the new guy at the gym that refuses to form a connection with any of the other fighters. Kane is using MMA as his coping mechanism to battle the demons from his past. Kane has never wanted to let someone close to him due to his troubled past, but Isabella is determined to show him that he is worthy of so much more than he gives himself credit for. Will Kane be able to overcome his past for a future with Isabella?

I loved this book! I have been intrigued by Kane since he was first introduced, it was clear there was a story behind his broody ways and I was ready to find out what it was. His past was raw and emotional, it made his anger justifiable. I loved Isabella’s persistence in opening Kane up and gaining his trust. Their relationship development was beautiful and such a treat to listen to. Plus there was no shortage of spice in this book!
The audiobook was exceptional! 1 Last Shot is narrated in duet by Gideon Frost and CJ Bloom. Gideon also narrated 5 Rounds, book one of the series and his performance as Kane was completely unlike it was in 5 Rounds which is a testament to his vocal range. CJ did a lovely job capturing Isabella’s innocence and her kindness. There is such a gentleness to her voice that was perfect for voicing Isabella.

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I Can’t Get Enough

Overall
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Story
5 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 01-31-25

I just want to start by saying, how dare you Giana Darling? If you haven't heard by now The Moon & His Tides ends on an agonizing cliffhanger, but even that wouldn't have kept me from diving into this devastatingly beautiful story.
When Sebastian Lombardi is hired by world famous actor Adam Meyers to chauffeur his wife, Savannah, around he had no idea just how much this job was going to change the course of his life. When Savannah learns that Sebastian is an aspiring actor and has even written his own screenplay she is determined to help him reach his goals. The attraction between Sebastian and Savannah is undeniable and when Adam finally meets Sebastian sparks fly.

The Meyers' proposition Sebastian for a secret affair. This isn't their first time bringing a third into their marriage, but there is something different about Seb, and the more time they spend together the more entangled things become. To the public eye Adam and Savannah are the "it" couple with a perfect marriage but Seb knows that is far from the truth. Can he be the force that restores their marriage or will their secrets and lies ruin him?

I have been in awe of Giana Darling's writing from the first book of hers that I read. There is just something so exquisite about her storytelling. The Moon & His Tides is unlike any book I have read before, I haven't had a book tug so many emotions out of me in awhile. Sebastian was so loyal and tenderhearted, he wore his heart on his sleeve and was such an optimist.

My heart hurt for Adam and his conflicted soul, he was carrying so much baggage around that was preventing him from truly being happy. It was easy to feel irritated with Savannah, on the surface she was cold and aloof, but i know there is more than meets the eye and I am eager to uncover more about her in The Sun & Her Burn.
I can't praise the audiobook enough. This duet narrated audiobook was narrated by CJ Mission, Desireé Ketchum and Shane East. Each narrator fully embodied their role which elevated this already mesmerizing story. This was my first time listening to CJ Mission and his performance blew me away, I couldn't get enough of that Italian accent. I can't imagine a better fit for Adam than Shane, he was fantastic. I've been a big fan of Desireé for awhile now and hearing her in a role like this was new for me and she was amazing.

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This Series Just Keeps Getting Better

Overall
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Story
5 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 01-22-25

Tracing Scars is book 3 in the KORT series by Brandy Hynes. It’s important for the storyline that you read Burning Ivy and Carving Graves first. If you love morally grey, possessive, dirty mouthed men and strong independent women then going back and reading the first two books shouldn’t be a problem.

Tytan Reynolds has been longing for Rena Noire for years now. Ty is no stranger to getting what he wants, except for when it comes to Rena. Rena, the youngest Noire sibling and only girl, has very little freedom. Her brother’s will do anything to keep her safe, that includes declaring her forbidden to Ty. When Rena overhears some life altering news, she goes awol to try and process what’s going on. The only person she wants to reach out to is Ty and he goes running to find her. After feeling like he failed his mother and sister in the past, he is willing to do anything to keep Rena safe, that includes marrying her without her knowing it. The adventure these two go on is not one for the faint of heart, it had me on the edge of my seat the entire time. This story is action packed and mysterious with plenty of spice and some humor sprinkled in as well.

I have been looking forward to Ty and Rena’s story since Burning Ivy. I fell in love with both characters immediately! In the first two books Ty always seemed so sweet and reliable, and he is still those things, but getting to know this other side of him was heartbreaking because of his past but also thrilling because the things this man says and does are HOT! Rena’s always been a firecracker, she’s the fun friend with wild colored hair and piercings all over, but I really enjoyed seeing her in this new light. She was still strong and fierce but we got to see a lot of her demons and vulnerability in Tracing Scars. I was so glad that Ty and Rena were able to find solace in each other. I can’t wait for Charring Bones!

The narration was top notch! I was already excited for this story, but got even more excited when the narrators were revealed and their performances did not disappoint. Tracing Scars is narrated in duet by Teddy Hamilton and Avery Caris. Ty and Rena were complex characters and Teddy and Avery captured that perfectly. Ty is loyal, possessive, morally grey but also living with some past trauma that makes him vulnerable at times. Teddy’s performance captured the complexity of Ty’s personality so well. Rena has had a strong, self assured personality since we were first introduced to her, but we got to see another side of her in Tracing Scars, her doubts and insecurities were brought to light and Avery performed all of Rena’s emotions perfectly. Both characters had a dirty mouth and there was lots of banter so that was fun to hear in audio. Plus Teddy got to “my wife” the crap out of this book and I certainly wasn’t complaining about that!

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Raw and Beautiful

Overall
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Story
5 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 01-11-25

Lex Gorgon is a smart and beautiful college student. She has little interest in partying or going out. One of her professors takes an interest in her, and they begin to have tea with each other frequently to discuss academics. She enjoys their conversations and even begins to look up to him, that is until he betrays her and attacks her, taking things that she was not willing to give and then leaving her out in the middle of the woods. When she confronts her attacker she is once again betrayed, but this time by the President of the University, a woman that she has idolized and had a good relationship with. She is punished for her accusation and is forced to take a year off. When she returns there is gossip and nasty things are being spoken about her by many of the other students. She doesn’t care though, she is back for revenge and she plans on getting it by seducing Luna pallas, the President’s daughter.

This is a captivating, beautiful, heartbreaking story. What happened to Lex wrecked me, but the fact that she was able to come back and face her attacker and ridicule from other students just shows how resilient and strong she was. I adored Luna and the way she wanted to help others and cared for Lex. The two complimented each other so well, Luna was the light to Lex’s dark. This is the first time I have read a book with a lesbian awakening and it was so well written. Their relationship on both an emotional and physical level developed so organically and never felt rushed. I love that they both found something in each other. Lex gave Luna the courage to stand up for herself and do what she wants vs what is expected of her and Luna helped Lex realize there is more to life than her revenge. She could have love and happiness after all of the pain.

I cannot say enough about how amazing the narration was! I was in awe of Rose Dioro and Quinn Riley’s performances. Rose brought Lex’s pain, anger and vulnerability to life perfectly. This is a Medusa retelling and I swear she was even hissing at the end of some of her dialogue. Quinn was fantastic as Luna, she captured Luna’s innocence and lighter side to life just as I imagined. This was an emotional journey and the emotions both narrators brought to their performance was palpable. There were some intense scenes and I was blown away by the way they performed them.

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Great Way To Kick Off The Series

Overall
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Story
5 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 01-11-25

Center Ice is the first book in the Boston Rebels Series by Julia Connor and it was the perfect way to kick off a new series! Not only was Drew and Audrey’s story fantastic, we were also introduced to some amazing side characters and I am looking forward to their stories as well.

It’s been over 5 years since Drew had a one night stand with Audrey, his college calculus tutor. He hasn’t seen or spoken to Audrey since. That is until Drew is traded to the Boston Rebels. When he runs into Audrey at his agent’s house (who is also Audrey’s brother) he is instantly drawn to her and those secret feelings he had for her back in college are still there. Audrey is a single mom who has been keeping the paternity of her son, Graham to herself for the last 5 years but the cat is out of the bag when Drew meets Graham who is a spitting image of him.

I loved this book! The secret child trope can be hit or miss for me and I am so thankful there wasn’t a long “is he or isn’t he the father”. I enjoyed the relationship development between Drew and Graham as much as I did Audrey and Drew’s relationship. I love that Audrey was fierce and independent and I also enjoyed how much Drew wanted to take care of her and Graham. This book was sweet, emotional and spicy.

The audio was wonderful! Teddy Hamilton is always a favorite of mine and he brought Drew to life perfectly. I don’t listen to Andi Ardent often, but she was fantastic as Audrey! She really brought Audrey’s fierceness to life as well as her dirty talk! This is a dual narrated audiobook and both narrators did great giving a voice to the opposite sex and had great kid voices too!

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