Kelly

Oh my goodness. What an end to Lina and Nord's story. It was fantastic. We get our questions answered, an epic battle, and so much love. There were moments that had me gasping and thinking the worst had happened. Thankfully, Me Anne decided to take it easy on me. Just when you think there is nothing else this couple could possibly endure Meg gives us this final instalment and puts them through the wringer one more time, but in true Nord and Lina fashion they come out stronger. I was finally turned to the dark side and started to like Crombie...maybe we'll see more from him in the future?

A beautifully written series that is a must read.

The next book is for Quinn and Finley, and I am so thrilled. Tension has been building for the past four books. I'm so excited to see that come to a head, and see where their story takes them.

Stella Hunter and Shane East have been brilliant throughout this series, and this book is different. They fill immerse me in the story they are telling. Giving each character a unique voice. The production was wonderful.

Quinn and Finley's story is finally here. And it was nothing like I expected. Throughout Lina and Nord's story we could count on Quinn and Finley to lighten the mood and give us the fun banter, what we didn't know is what was lying underneath. In Bound by Danger, we find out everything. It is a lot deeper and emotional than we could ever have imagined. Meg Anne had done such an amazing job of weaving these stories and making us love these characters so much that any hurt they feel we react to. One chapter in particular is incredibly emotional, and you can't help but feel for Finley and what he was going through. We've had the tension building for what feels like forever between these two and in this book, it finally explodes and man, what an explosion it is. I thought my phone was going to melt.



Stella Hunter and Shane East perform this book in duet, and they're both fantastic. Both captivating the listener and taking them on a wild ride. However, I have to give credit where it is due, and Shane East absolutely blew me away with an incredibly emotional scene that he just nailed. The raw emotion he performed was outstanding and really grabs the listener by the heartstrings.

I really enjoyed this story, just not as much as I did the first book in the series. It is a funny and entertaining listen. Samantha Brentmoor and Lee Samuels were brilliant. I really regret not listening to them sooner.

Kim Loraine is a one-click author for me, and this book just shows why. It is fun and sweet and steamy. It grabs your attention from the start and keeps you enthralled until the last page.

I loved this story. I loved the execution. I loved the characters—okay, there were some I wanted to sucker punch! Everything about it filled my heart with happiness. It was just what I needed.

Shane East and Stella Hunter perform this book in duet, with J.F. Harding popping in every now and then. Shane has really improved his Scottish accent and it shows in this book. It was a joy to listen to him. J.F. Harding was great and put a smile on my face hearing some familiar characters from previous books. Stella Hunter is stellar! I just love her voice and the way she performs all the different characters. Together, these narrators made this a fantastic listen. The production was brilliant with no issues.

Why did it take me so long to find this series? Smart girl romance is my jam. I loved so much about this story. The characters. The writing. The humour. The narration. Both Samantha Brentmoor and Lee Samuels were new to me, and I throughly enjoyed listening to them.

I am crossing my fingers for a Rose book because I loved that girl so much.

A sleeping beauty retelling that is an MFM and contains dragon shifters from K. Loraine? Yes please!

This novella did not disappoint. It was everything I wanted and more. I loved how the retelling played out and made it original.

Stella Hunter and J.F. Harding perform in duet. I'll be honest, I had worries over their not being a third voice for this MFM, but I didn't need to. J.F. Harding is fabulous and made both voices so distinct that it was clear who he was voicing and when. Stella Hunter was brilliant as always. She never ceases to amaze me.

The book I have been waiting for. Rose finally gets her own story and it did not disappoint. I absolutely loved it. It was sweet and funny and steamy. With emotion and heart. I loved that their was also some diversity in this book. Samantha Brentmoor and Lee Samuels were fantastic and have done such a wonderful job with this entire series.

Erin Mallon never fails to entertain me. Every book...or play is filled with layered in thought-provoking subjects with the comedy, and she does it so well. Sharkbait was no different. I loved every second of this book. It was funny, as we have come to expect from Erin, it was charming, sweet, and steamy. I loved Louise and James's journey. I went through the gambit of emotions with this book. I laughed. I swooned. I was even brought to tears.


This book is slightly different to the others in the series. A little more serious and has POVs from the heroine and the hero, which is my favourite, so I loved that change. Without doing a disservice to the previous two books, I do feel this book had more depth to it. There is still the comedy elements, but with more. It works. Trust me.

Teddy Hamilton as James was genius casting. The way James is written is how I imagine Teddy to be in his personality. Erin brilliantly voiced Louise...it is always a joy to listen to her. Together, Erin and Teddy are superb and a joy to listen to. A+

The queen of the cliffhangers is back! Meg Anne never fails to pull me in. I keep saying I don't do cliffhangers and then here I am, pressing play on another of her books.

If you love epic fantasy romances. This is the series for you. The twists and turns keep you listening well after you should have hit pause, you know, to sleep, or care for your family...I'm not saying I almost forgot to pick my child up from school, but I was transfixed while listening.

This guy. The things he's doing. The reasons. I just can't, my heart. I love him so much.

Although this is the start of a series, it is a spinoff from another series. You don't need to have read/ listened to that as you are given all the information you need. However, what happened to me was I wanted to know all the things, so I went on a buying spree.

Stella Hunter, Shane East, and James Joseph narrate this book in duet, and it is an amazing example of why duet is my favourite narration style. Each of them brings something so unique to the story and the characters. There is a whisper-off between Shane and James that I thought had been over exaggerated until I heard it. Credit worthy just for that.

love Ava Hrrison's writing. She is one of the best at blending twists and turns and emotion together, making you keep turning the page long into the night, and this book is no different. I was hooked on Drew and Bailey's story. I laughed. I cried. I shouted at my kindle. I swooned.

Bailey has an addictive personality, so putting herself in a situation where she could be tempted isn't the best option but the only one she has. Enter her soon to be brother-in-law setting her up at a bar with renowned club owner, Drew Lawson. Drew has demons of his own and although he has his own reasons for hiring Bailey. Soon they realise their attraction is undeniable. Sparks fly when they are around one another and although they try to fight it, soon they are having delicious encounters that can only be described as kindle melting. There is a fair amount of angst in this story so if that isn't your thing, you may want to pass on this one. But if you love all the feels and seeing twists and plots comes together, you will love it!

Andi Arndt and Joe Arden are fantastic. They were the perfect voices to bring this story to life. They both carried so much emotion in their voices that it felt palpable. That they were enduring these trials as the characters. I was beautiful to listen to. The production was great with no issues.

Merged review:

love Ava Hrrison's writing. She is one of the best at blending twists and turns and emotion together, making you keep turning the page long into the night, and this book is no different. I was hooked on Drew and Bailey's story. I laughed. I cried. I shouted at my kindle. I swooned.

Bailey has an addictive personality, so putting herself in a situation where she could be tempted isn't the best option but the only one she has. Enter her soon to be brother-in-law setting her up at a bar with renowned club owner, Drew Lawson. Drew has demons of his own and although he has his own reasons for hiring Bailey. Soon they realise their attraction is undeniable. Sparks fly when they are around one another and although they try to fight it, soon they are having delicious encounters that can only be described as kindle melting. There is a fair amount of angst in this story so if that isn't your thing, you may want to pass on this one. But if you love all the feels and seeing twists and plots comes together, you will love it!

Andi Arndt and Joe Arden are fantastic. They were the perfect voices to bring this story to life. They both carried so much emotion in their voices that it felt palpable. That they were enduring these trials as the characters. I was beautiful to listen to. The production was great with no issues.

Do you like A-hole characters? Do you like books that hit you in the gut? Do you like having your heart ripped from your chest and then pieced back together again? Yes? Then this is the book for you. The book deals with some very difficult situations and ultimately it's a book about saving and forgiving yourself. It's a book about realising that you have to do that in order to keep living and providing for the people in your life. Admitting to yourself about how you feel and letting the guilt go, allowing yourself to grieve. I thought it was handled beautifully. It's raw, and hard to read at times. But, ultimately it's uplifting and healing.

These characters are amazing, not necessarily amazing in the sense that I loved them the whole time, but in the sense that they made me react. Not always in a positive way, but that's okay. I'm intrigued by Preston, and I shall be diving into his story next, I'm on the fence about Evie - so we'll see how that goes.
Jace is an a-hole. First class a-hole. The things he says and does are just ball-punch worthy, but, the guy is grieving and guilt-ridden, so although I don't excuse his behaviour, I can understand it to an extent. He was so broken. As the book progresses he improves, you can see him falling for Sydney and in essence, his kids...it was like they were rediscovering themselves as a family and that was beautiful to experience. Of course, just when you think he's getting to good guy territory he goes and says something that makes you gasp and consider throwing your kindle. He comes good, in the end, he seeks help from the people that matter to him...the people that had always wanted to help, but he never let. I can understand why some people would have issues with certain things he does and says, but, it's so obvious that it's the guilt talking that I was able to forgive him.
I struggled with Sydney to begin with. She was a little too much of a fixer, to the point where she was pushing herself onto Jace and his family, saying and doing things that she really didn't have any right to. But, as time went on I did start to understand her more and become more attached to her. I did get a little frustrated that she didn't tell Jace about her ex and what he was doing, especially when the opportunity arose. I also felt for her, she was always picking the wrong guys and that stemmed from her childhood, and knowing the type of guys she'd been with in the past, I just wanted her to be happy. I wanted to shake her a few times, but again, she came good when she stood up and made the decision to do the right thing for her and basically say, ‘you know what, I'm worth more than this, I deserve better.'
Logan and Avery are just the sweetest kids, they've experienced such a huge loss in their lives and it was almost like they'd lost both their parents because Jace was so withdrawn from them, I mean, he still ensured they had someone, but it wasn't him, and they felt that, so getting to see them opening up to Sydney and doing fun things together was heartwarming.
I liked that Jace and Sydney's relationship was built on friendship and it was that friendship that started to break through Jace's grief and guilt to make him look at his life and his decisions and start making better ones. The connection they had was palpable and the sexy times were off the charts sexy. I need to check my Kindle for scorch marks. I loved that this was not just about Jace and Sydney, but also the children, they played a big part in their relationship and the healing process, for so long Jace had pushed them away because he didn't think they needed him, that he felt he was the reason their mother was gone, and watching him slowly start to do more with them, and reconnect as a family, well, it was beautiful.



This is the first book I've read by Ava Harrison. It definitely won't be my last. Ava's writing is phenomenal - it is gut-wrenching, emotional, and raw. She destroyed my heart and slowly and surely mended it. It did take me a little while to get into the swing of it, there was a bit too much repetition for my liking at the beginning, (I think it was mentioned three times about Sydney's ex and why he's her ex,) but, once I got hooked, I was hooked hard and nothing could pull me away. I was captivated by these characters and this story. I had guessed one of the plot turns, and I knew the reactions to it were going to be bad...but, OMG, I never expected it to be that bad, I actually gasped. One of the best books I've read this year. I switched between the eBook and the audiobook, which isn't something I do often and it actually worked really well, I listened more than I read. Sebastian York and Grace Grant were wonderful as Jace and Sydney. More about the narration later on. Single parent is one of my favourite type of stories and this one has blown almost all of the others out of the water. The angst and feels just captured my heart and wouldn't let go. This cover, oh my word. You can keep all your shirtless guy covers, this right here is where it is at. This is what gets my attention, this is what hits my sexy radar. I looked into this book because of the cover. And, after finishing the book - it IS Jace. 1000%. This is a standalone, however, I personally feel readers would benefit greatly from reading Transference first. Not because Absolution doesn't stand on its own, but because they interconnect, I'm about to start Transference and I know part of what happens and I think it takes away the guesswork, and I love the experience of reading a book for the first time and trying to figure what's happening, what is going to happen, and if they're going to get a HEA. But, of course, that is just personal taste.


I thought this audiobook was perfectly cast, Sebastian York was Jace. I think it's the best performance I've ever listened to him do - of course, I've not listened to them all. His voice was deep and rather gruff...not how I'd normally describe him. The emotion he conveyed was astounding, you felt the pain the character was experiencing bleeding through the earbuds. The character and the performance were the three S's - sexy, sweet, and swoony. Don't get me wrong, the character is an A-Hole, but, he has sweet moments. He really does nail the single father aspects and his child's voice is never over-compensating. Grace Grant was fantastic as Sydney too, she really gave that character life. It's amazing how each emotion Sydney felt was conveyed in the tone Grace used...you believed that she was hurt, or unsure, or happy. It's amazing to have that come through, not in words, but in tone and for the listener to be immersed. Grace is always so skilled at that.
Grace and Sebastian's voices blended really well together in this book. Their performances mixed with Ava Harrison's words at times brought tears to my eyes. They really nailed this story and these broken characters...they breathed life into them. It was wonderful to listen to and one of the best audiobooks of 2018.
I enjoyed the production and didn't notice any issues. I'm still getting used to not having the chapter PoV said at each chapter announcement...which is especially jarring when you're switching between reading and listening, but that is just a personal thing and I'm sure the more I listen to books that are like it, and it appears that it's being done that way more and more, the more I'll get used to it.

arrison has once again written an incredibly angst-filled, emotional rollercoaster of a story that will leave you begging for more. Let's take a minute to just thank all the higher powers that this woman decided to become a writer. And that she writes all the words. I'm going through her back catalogue because her words just affect me so much and I need them all. The new releases hooked me, but I need more. It's rare that I read a book by Ava and don't cry, don't laugh, and don't have those connections to the characters. Having that sort of reaction is fantastic, and it's such a testament to her skill as a writer. That it makes a person want to read and listen to all her work. Her stories always have a deeper meaning/ theme running through them and no matter what it is they are always amazing and hit you right in the gut. Squeezing every ouch of feeling from you. I swear, I'm giving her a jar of my tears to savour. 

Are British accents your thing? If they are Deceit is for you. It's a wonderful story. It has a British character, obviously. Oliver Blackthorn. And an American, Addison Price. When we met Olly in Intention (very briefly, and not needed for this story) I was intrigued and jumped for joy when I realised Deceit was about him. It's amazing how a little peek at a character can grab your attention and make you want more. And more we got. Oliver is so much more than I ever thought he'd be. Deceit was everything I never knew I wanted in a book. As I said above, I'm going through Ava's back catalogue and recently finished Clandestine, (also not needed for this story) where I met Addison, I gotta say, I wasn't enamoured with her...which is what makes this book so good. Because I adored her. She, like Olly, was so much more than I ever anticipated. 

I thought Olly and Addison were perfect together, I got so frustrated at parts where I just wanted to bash their heads together. But that's what makes it such a great book, that you become invested in the story and the characters. Olly is charming as anything, no lie. This guy could charm the pants off a nun. Honestly, he is so good. You are going to love him, even in his deceit you can't help but love him because you know, he has a reason for his actions you just don't know fully what they are. Other than an obligation to his family. But on top of that you also know that it's not something he truly wants, he doesn't want to deceive her but it's a means to an end. Addison, I wasn't sure I was going to like, but actually, I thought she was lovely. She's this strong independent woman that is letting her emotions rule her and I don't think she truly realised how much she was until the deceit. And seeing her come to the realisation that actually, she's strong and better than this. That she needed to focus on what's good for her. I think once she realised that, she makes the decisions that are best for her. I liked the banter between Addison and her brothers, I mean, they drove me crazy, at one point I was like, just tell them to mind their own bloody business you're a grown arse woman. lol. But, that's just me. I'm hoping we see more from them. 

This story is full of angst and emotions. The book is called Deceit...so that kinda gives it away. You know, I don't really like books where I feel a character is being manipulated, I don't know what it is, I have a very visceral reaction to it. I'm like, this book isn't for me, I don't like that they're being manipulated and misled, it just makes me feel wrong. And that the characters aren't being treated as they should. That wasn't the case with this book, I think because we had Olly's PoV as well, we kind of understand more about what was going on. If you enjoy stories that have a hard-fought happy ever after, this is the book for you. They fight, they go through a lot of ups and downs, where they just can't seem to resist one another, even though they should. Ultimately, they have a lot of outside influence where they do what they need to rather than what their hearts want and are telling them. I think once they start listening to their hearts it's over. And I thought that was great. There is a big reveal towards the end that pulls everything together and explains things, it was shocking. All the things I expected, that wasn't it. I love that. I often figure out twists and what not, so when I don't and it just comes out of left field, I just love it. It's such a great feeling to know you can still be surprised. That is really something that worked really well and how it fed into the story worked fabulously, often you don't really see it. This book hit me in the heart and gut. It made me laugh and shed a few tears. Yeah, it totally made me swoon too. This was everything I wanted in a book. It was a joy to listen to and I loved every second of it. 

As stated previously, each book has a theme running throughout it and maybe Ava has her own idea of that and it might differ to mine, but this is how I interpreted it. , I felt this book was very much about learning to stand on your own two feet, and realizing that you can be strong and vulnerable at the same time. That the mistakes of our past shouldn't define us. We make mistakes and it's learning from them that shows the type of person we truly are. Another key point is about the lengths we'll go and what we're willing to give up for our family ties. Definitely a five star must listen. Let's talk a minute about the Britishness of the story, I know I've said this before, but it bears repeating. Ava does such an incredible job of making it believable. We live in a very multicultural world these days, language has and is evolving, whether that's through books, tv shows, movies, knowledge, who knows, but the limitations that we once had have lifted and words are used worldwide that once was very much based on location. Ava does an incredible job of making it obvious the character is British without overselling it. She has a very good balance and I love the attention to detail she has. The cover of this book is Olly. No doubt about it. I'm not a huge fan of shirtless men covers, but this one is just, insert all the heart eyes. I love it so much, and all I see is Olly. 

Shane East was perfection as Oliver. Ava just needs to write all British heroes from now on. So that Shane can narrate ALL THE BOOKS. He has such a wonderful tone that it's easy to listen to, and it really works well for the story and the alternating between charming, funny quips and emotion are done with such ease. Shane's accent is fantabulous. There is a reason he is the number one go-to for British characters. He just nails it, with every single performance. As someone that doesn't swoon over the accent, and will even avoid it, at times, I seek out Shane performances, and that should tell you a lot about how good he is. Not only that, but it's not just his voice, it's how he performs it. This story has emotional moments, it has swoon moments, it has angst-filled moments and he delivers each and every one of those emotions, so well, that you believe it. And I think that's the difference. It's believable. You believe that this character is experiencing these things. You can feel the conflict through the performance. I've already read the book, so I know what happens and what's coming and listening to it gives it a whole new feel. 
I struggled a little with Lucy Rivers' performance. I ended up having to increase the speed as the words were drawn out and it was difficult to stay focused on the story and not get distracted by the narration. The British accent was not as I'd hoped, perhaps because I'm British and I'm always harder on people doing the accent, as opposed to it being their accent, or maybe it was because not only was she having to do the accent but in a male voice too. I don't know. I just know I really struggled but it did get easier to listen to once I increased the speed. I hate having to say this, but at the same time, I'm always going, to be honest about what works for me and what doesn't (emphasis on ME) I will say that the emotion she put across in the Addison scenes, especially when the deceit came to light, and she was upset and dealing with the betrayal was really well done. I thought that came across really well. That was probably the highlight of the performance for me - the emotional connection. I cannot stress enough that this is a personal preference and that anyone reading this might think something completely different. I'm a firm believer in that we all hear things differently, and we all interpret it differently, and we all have different likes and dislikes. I've listened to Lucy in other books and enjoyed them, so I think this must just be a case of wrong time/ mood and wrong book. 
The production was great, with no issues, a line did repeat twice on one occasion, although, in all honesty, I'm sure most wouldn't even notice. I'm just weird like that. Other than that, it was a typical top-notch Lyric Audiobook production.

Merged review:

arrison has once again written an incredibly angst-filled, emotional rollercoaster of a story that will leave you begging for more. Let's take a minute to just thank all the higher powers that this woman decided to become a writer. And that she writes all the words. I'm going through her back catalogue because her words just affect me so much and I need them all. The new releases hooked me, but I need more. It's rare that I read a book by Ava and don't cry, don't laugh, and don't have those connections to the characters. Having that sort of reaction is fantastic, and it's such a testament to her skill as a writer. That it makes a person want to read and listen to all her work. Her stories always have a deeper meaning/ theme running through them and no matter what it is they are always amazing and hit you right in the gut. Squeezing every ouch of feeling from you. I swear, I'm giving her a jar of my tears to savour. 

Are British accents your thing? If they are Deceit is for you. It's a wonderful story. It has a British character, obviously. Oliver Blackthorn. And an American, Addison Price. When we met Olly in Intention (very briefly, and not needed for this story) I was intrigued and jumped for joy when I realised Deceit was about him. It's amazing how a little peek at a character can grab your attention and make you want more. And more we got. Oliver is so much more than I ever thought he'd be. Deceit was everything I never knew I wanted in a book. As I said above, I'm going through Ava's back catalogue and recently finished Clandestine, (also not needed for this story) where I met Addison, I gotta say, I wasn't enamoured with her...which is what makes this book so good. Because I adored her. She, like Olly, was so much more than I ever anticipated. 

I thought Olly and Addison were perfect together, I got so frustrated at parts where I just wanted to bash their heads together. But that's what makes it such a great book, that you become invested in the story and the characters. Olly is charming as anything, no lie. This guy could charm the pants off a nun. Honestly, he is so good. You are going to love him, even in his deceit you can't help but love him because you know, he has a reason for his actions you just don't know fully what they are. Other than an obligation to his family. But on top of that you also know that it's not something he truly wants, he doesn't want to deceive her but it's a means to an end. Addison, I wasn't sure I was going to like, but actually, I thought she was lovely. She's this strong independent woman that is letting her emotions rule her and I don't think she truly realised how much she was until the deceit. And seeing her come to the realisation that actually, she's strong and better than this. That she needed to focus on what's good for her. I think once she realised that, she makes the decisions that are best for her. I liked the banter between Addison and her brothers, I mean, they drove me crazy, at one point I was like, just tell them to mind their own bloody business you're a grown arse woman. lol. But, that's just me. I'm hoping we see more from them. 

This story is full of angst and emotions. The book is called Deceit...so that kinda gives it away. You know, I don't really like books where I feel a character is being manipulated, I don't know what it is, I have a very visceral reaction to it. I'm like, this book isn't for me, I don't like that they're being manipulated and misled, it just makes me feel wrong. And that the characters aren't being treated as they should. That wasn't the case with this book, I think because we had Olly's PoV as well, we kind of understand more about what was going on. If you enjoy stories that have a hard-fought happy ever after, this is the book for you. They fight, they go through a lot of ups and downs, where they just can't seem to resist one another, even though they should. Ultimately, they have a lot of outside influence where they do what they need to rather than what their hearts want and are telling them. I think once they start listening to their hearts it's over. And I thought that was great. There is a big reveal towards the end that pulls everything together and explains things, it was shocking. All the things I expected, that wasn't it. I love that. I often figure out twists and what not, so when I don't and it just comes out of left field, I just love it. It's such a great feeling to know you can still be surprised. That is really something that worked really well and how it fed into the story worked fabulously, often you don't really see it. This book hit me in the heart and gut. It made me laugh and shed a few tears. Yeah, it totally made me swoon too. This was everything I wanted in a book. It was a joy to listen to and I loved every second of it. 

As stated previously, each book has a theme running throughout it and maybe Ava has her own idea of that and it might differ to mine, but this is how I interpreted it. , I felt this book was very much about learning to stand on your own two feet, and realizing that you can be strong and vulnerable at the same time. That the mistakes of our past shouldn't define us. We make mistakes and it's learning from them that shows the type of person we truly are. Another key point is about the lengths we'll go and what we're willing to give up for our family ties. Definitely a five star must listen. Let's talk a minute about the Britishness of the story, I know I've said this before, but it bears repeating. Ava does such an incredible job of making it believable. We live in a very multicultural world these days, language has and is evolving, whether that's through books, tv shows, movies, knowledge, who knows, but the limitations that we once had have lifted and words are used worldwide that once was very much based on location. Ava does an incredible job of making it obvious the character is British without overselling it. She has a very good balance and I love the attention to detail she has. The cover of this book is Olly. No doubt about it. I'm not a huge fan of shirtless men covers, but this one is just, insert all the heart eyes. I love it so much, and all I see is Olly. 

Shane East was perfection as Oliver. Ava just needs to write all British heroes from now on. So that Shane can narrate ALL THE BOOKS. He has such a wonderful tone that it's easy to listen to, and it really works well for the story and the alternating between charming, funny quips and emotion are done with such ease. Shane's accent is fantabulous. There is a reason he is the number one go-to for British characters. He just nails it, with every single performance. As someone that doesn't swoon over the accent, and will even avoid it, at times, I seek out Shane performances, and that should tell you a lot about how good he is. Not only that, but it's not just his voice, it's how he performs it. This story has emotional moments, it has swoon moments, it has angst-filled moments and he delivers each and every one of those emotions, so well, that you believe it. And I think that's the difference. It's believable. You believe that this character is experiencing these things. You can feel the conflict through the performance. I've already read the book, so I know what happens and what's coming and listening to it gives it a whole new feel. 
I struggled a little with Lucy Rivers' performance. I ended up having to increase the speed as the words were drawn out and it was difficult to stay focused on the story and not get distracted by the narration. The British accent was not as I'd hoped, perhaps because I'm British and I'm always harder on people doing the accent, as opposed to it being their accent, or maybe it was because not only was she having to do the accent but in a male voice too. I don't know. I just know I really struggled but it did get easier to listen to once I increased the speed. I hate having to say this, but at the same time, I'm always going, to be honest about what works for me and what doesn't (emphasis on ME) I will say that the emotion she put across in the Addison scenes, especially when the deceit came to light, and she was upset and dealing with the betrayal was really well done. I thought that came across really well. That was probably the highlight of the performance for me - the emotional connection. I cannot stress enough that this is a personal preference and that anyone reading this might think something completely different. I'm a firm believer in that we all hear things differently, and we all interpret it differently, and we all have different likes and dislikes. I've listened to Lucy in other books and enjoyed them, so I think this must just be a case of wrong time/ mood and wrong book. 
The production was great, with no issues, a line did repeat twice on one occasion, although, in all honesty, I'm sure most wouldn't even notice. I'm just weird like that. Other than that, it was a typical top-notch Lyric Audiobook production.

I wondered what sort of story we would get for Ren and Scarlet seeing as they were already in love...from those little mentions of them in the previous Corium university books. This is nothing I could have imagined. If you want to read something unique, dark, sexy, and intriguing, this is the book for you!

You know, some books you need to reread again to remind you of what happened when you are about to dive into book two. That wasn't the case with this book. More with You was engraved on my heart, and I was able to dive right in and remember everything...including how I felt.

I sit here having just finished listening to Evermore with You with the biggest smile on my face. It was such a beautiful story about grief, living with it, and carrying on with your life. If you read/ listened to More With You, you will know that book tore at the heart. And this one does too, in a different way. But this one gives us the happy ever after we were craving. Although, there was a moment there when I thought Erin Spencer was seriously trying to destroy my heart. Thankfully, she pulled me through, as I knew she would. Erin's writing is raw, beautiful, and captivating, and to know it is based of her real life makes it that much more special.

Ava Erickson is back and joined by Jason Clarke. I don't think I could have picked two better voice actors for this story if I tried. They were both fantastic but Ava steals the show. The way she conveyed the grief the character was feeling, especially the scene in the water, was enough to have me crying in public. But they also brought a smile to my face.

The epic conclusion to the Bayshore University trilogy is finally here. Join Harlow, Oliver, Banks, and Sullivan as they fight for their HEA!

Oh, my days! This final installment in the Bayshore series is all the things. But, just because it's the final book, don't let that fool you about it being all hearts and sweetness. This book is hard on the heart. J.L. Beck and C. Hallman stick to the theme of this series and bring all the angst and all the heartache. I cried, I laughed, I swooned...man, did I swoon. They bring the sexy too. Answer all those pesky questions and even make me change my mind about a character or two. It was a pleasure to spend time with these characters and it's going to be strange now that their story is complete.

I cannot wait to see what they write next and have my fingers crossed for a certain character getting a story.



—-
The trilogy is complete. Must be read in order.
Book One: hyperurl.co/WhenRivalsFall
Book Two: hyperurl.co/WhenRivalsLose
Book Three: hyperurl.co/WhenRivalsLove

Sometimes you have to dive into the dark side of romance and this book is definitely that. Please pay attention to the trigger warnings in this book...if you need more specific info, please ask!

Honestly, I saw the trigger list and thought this book wasn't going to be for me. But I gave it a whirl anyway because I'm a firm believer in trying things...we can always DNF, right? But I didn't need to. I was completely hooked by this story and these characters. Alana has such a tragic backstory, and we find out about that through what she implies and flashbacks. It is not an easy subject for sure. The scenes with Reid and JD had me feeling all the emotions. And Mav...I just can't.

This is a great first book, which focuses on setting the groundwork and introducing all the main players and their connections in this twisted tale. Although there are several spicy scenes, the why choose doesn't really show up. So be prepared for that going in. I loved how we got to see the changes occurring in the characters as they reveal more about each other and their motives. I see fun things afoot.

If you're anything like me, you'll get to the end and that cliffhanger and be itching for the next book.

4.5

This book was such a joy to listen to. It felt like a warm blanket on a cold day, wrapping me up in all the goodness and giving me a toasty hug.

The characters were fun and entertaining. I loved the communication between Seth and Everly and how they went after what they wanted and supported each other. The side characters were engaging and made you want to know more about them and their stories...those told and those that hopefully will be coming in the future.

This was my first Amy Knupp book but it will not be my last.


Tim Paige and Stacy Gonzalez were enjoyable to listen to with this story. The only down point for me was that some of the female side characters (in Stacy's chapters) sounded a little whiny and it was a bit tough to know if they we're supposed to be likeable. That aside, I enjoyed the main characters and would listen to this book again. This was my first Stacy book, and I would listen to her again.

3.5 stars.

This small town, single dad romance (although it is listed as a nanny romance, it is more a babysitter romance) is a cute easy read. It does drag on a little longer than I thought the story needed and then seemed to rush at the end. Everything happens on such a short amount of time. But overall, it was an enjoyable book. I loved Megan and her relationship with Kennedy was really lovely. Chase was okay, but he won't be zooming to the top of my book boyfriend list, although part of that could have been due to the narration. I am intrigued about Chase's brothers and would definitely consider checking their books out.


I thought Maxine Mitchell was fantastic, and I throughly enjoy her performance. Unfortunately, Tor just didn't work for me. And I did find myself wondering if I should just read the hero's chapters because it was quite distracting. The production was great with no issues of note.

I was excited to head back to Dragonfly Lake, and it did not disappoint. This second chance romance will keep you listening until the very last page and will leave you with smile on your face. This series is such a feelgood series, even with the grief the heroine experiences.

Cash and Ava have been apart for 17 years. It wasn't a pretty breakup but when she comes back to town for her aunt's funeral, they quickly rekindle their friendship and, soon after, relationship - it has a short shelf life, but when do things ever go as planned?

I'll admit as I was listening towards the end I was getting a little frustrated at all Ava was giving up, but then as it progressed, you find out her reasons, and I simmered down a tad lol.

Samantha Brentmoor and Patrick Zeller were the perfect combo for this story. The way they conveyed the grief and past heartache, especially Samantha, was beautifully done. But you also had their great comedic timing and lightheartedness of the characters friendship and relationship.

Surprise baby that isn't your standard surprise. Single dad/ nanny romance. Sold! Knox and Quincy are goals. I loved them so much. Their relationship builds in such a wonderful and believable way. I loved how Knox was so clueless when it came to raising a baby and some of the things that happened. The way he didn't just put the responsibility on Quincy but learned from her and grew really made my heart swoon for him. The way that Quincy grew with her family too really put a smile on my face.

Carly Robins and Ryan West were fantastic. This was my first Ryan book and it definitely won't be my last. I love how their voices complemented each other in this dual narration. The way they conveyed all the different emotions was such a joy to listen to.

This was a little different to what I usually read. More paranormal, which I didn't realise looking at the cover.

They say a ghost can't pass over until they settle their unfinished business, Parrish Locke is about to find out that she has a skill set uniquely designed to help. She just needs to embrace it.

It's difficult to talk about this book without giving anything away. It feels like two separate stories that are told in a way to make them interconnect so well. They are interwoven wonderfully and leave you wanting more. If you like mafia stories, books with a bit of suspense and a romantic thread, with a little ghostly effect thrown in, this is the book for you.

The audiobook is performed in duet by David Black and Amanda Stribling. The majority of the story is told from the female POV with only a handful of male POV chapters, but fear not, because this is duet, you hear plenty from David Black and thank goodness as it would have been a mighty shame not to have heard his deep, growly voice throughout the story. He was perfect as Dominick. The Italian was done to a wonderful, convincing standard. I think we're going to be seeing his name a lot in the future. Amanda Stribling did a great job of switch between Parrish and Karlee. It took me a little while to get used to her performance but once I did, it was enjoyable. The production was done well, chapter 13 did cut off early.

I don't know about you, but in these strange times we're living in, I'm more inclined to want a laugh out loud experience than anything else. Well, These Walls Can Talk delivers just that. From the fantastic writing to the incredible performances, it has it all. This audio play is like a love letter to romance audiobook fans everywhere. It's funny, with so many tongue in cheek references that listeners will love. I don't think I've ever listened to an audio play before but when Erin Mallon releases something, I sit up and pay attention. And boy am I glad I did. This book is everything I needed right now. It's a short listen, so easily listened to when you have a couple of hours to spare. I loved that each character is given an arc and their time to shine, and shine they do. I could totally relate to Vera and Cameron's relationship, and I had so many laugh out loud moments with not only them but the entire play. A definite must listen. I think the cover is a fantastic representation of the story within.

Shane East is the voice of Cameron, a “serious writer” and he's so typically British. I say that with the utmost respect for Erin's writing. Not everyone is able to pull off the British voice, but she does it seamlessly, and of course, in true Shane fashion, he performs it perfectly. There were times when I was holding my sides because it was so funny. His interactions with both Andi and Tanya were gold.

Andi Arndt is the voice of Vera, she has a little obsession with a voice actor, hey, we've all been there, right? Right! Her interactions with Shane were fantastic and that first scene, in the kitchen, man, I don't think I've laughed that much in a very long time. My husband came to check on me, and honestly, it just made me laugh harder because how he reacted was so Cameron-like. Andi is wonderful in everything she does and that is showcased well in this audio play.

Emma Wilder is the voice of Jennifer, a new audiobook narrator. I just love Emma's performances, and this one is no different. Her incredulity of the content and the men around her really shone through. I loved her interactions with both Joe and Teddy. Emma is fast becoming my go-to female voice of choice. Anyone else wanting a Nifer story, no, just me? Okay then.

Joe Arden is the voice of Atticus aka the Narwhal, a popular audiobook narrator. I just can't, I love angsty Joe but funny Joe is right up there. He was hilarious and his female voice was priceless. I want to send it to everyone wanting to get into narration with a big sign that says, what not to do. lol. There were also moments of vulnerability that were just fantastic and really showed how multifaceted Joe is as a performer. PSA: Joe Arden actually has a fantastic female voice, do not let his performance colour your decision to pick up a dually narrated book. This is just proof of his amazing, entertaining talent.

Tanya Eby is the voice of Georgia, a bestselling author whose audiobook is being recorded by Jennifer and Atticus. I loved the character, and I loved how she was performed. Tanya's southern is on point. I knew I was going to love Tanya in this role as I've listened to a number of her romcom performances and she always brings the comedy in a skilled way.

Teddy Hamilton is the voice of Neil, the sound engineer working with Jennifer and Atticus. I'm so used to hearing Teddy the nice guy, that it's so strange to hear him be something else. As a “recovering misogynist” he was able to not only showcase the character but enable him to be likeable too. He was such an arse at times, and others, so vulnerable that you just wanted to give him a hug. Which just shows his versatility.

Erin Mallon not only wrote the play that was performed in NYC earlier this year, but she also narrated/ directed the audio play. As always, she is a volcano of talent and it never ceases to amaze me. If only we could all just siphon off a tiny bit of her talent for ourselves.

The bonus content is a nice little extra. It includes bloopers, which were just as funny as the play itself. Even more so in some parts.

I'm struggling to review this book. I have so many mixed emotions. On the one hand, I love when Lauren goes all angsty on us. It's such a departure from her romcom ways, which I love, but she always nails the angst like she was born to write it. I love how she builds it up. Makes her characters work for it. This is a reworked version, and I'm sure I listened to the original because some things where familiar to me. Any how, why I'm struggling, there is a character that I hate. I don't often use that word but honestly, I hated this character with every ounce of my being. And in turn, it made me very frustrated with Harley for allowing things to continue. But, I suppose that is the joy of a good book, right? That it can evoke such strong emotions and reactions from the reader/ listener? I'm looking forward to diving into book two, even if it is the hope that someone gets hit by a bus...don't judge me!

Joe Arden and Vanessa Edwin are pure perfection. Joe performs the troubled Trey with such sincerity that it was a joy to listen to. And Vanessa, good God, this woman is just astounding, I have loved every book I've heard her perform and this was no different, the delivery of this character and her conflicting thoughts and vulnerability was conveyed beautifully. They performed this book so well, they really showcased the angst, and my heart was breaking at times. So I'll admit, I'm not a huge fan of special appearances in audiobooks, especially when you have such talented narrators cast, however, I should have known Lauren wouldn't lead me astray. It worked perfectly having Teddy Hamilton and Erin Mallon pop in to narrate some of the chapters. It really added to the feel of the story. Who knew Teddy could be such a sleaze bag? And Erin's memoirs chapters really added to the overall feel of the book.

This is the start of a trilogy. Books must be listened to in order.

4.5 stars

Oh. My. Days. What a book. What a story. What a cover. What a couple. I just don't have the words to do it justice, any of it. So, I'm just going to try and put into words how I felt.

It's rare that I'll buy a book based solely on the cover, but as soon as I saw this cover, I knew I had to have it. It screams masculinity and vulnerability and love, and I needed it in my life.

I don't think I have been so moved and so captivated by an MM story since listening to Him by Sarina Bowen and Elle Kennedy. This book takes you on a wild, angst-filled ride of epic proportions. I was not ready for the level of emotion. These characters are suffering so much. I just wanted to wrap them in my arms and tell them everything would get better. I loved that this story focused on the journey they were going through, both were at such different stages of their life, yet drawn together by a unifying force. Their grief was so heartbreaking and watching each of them struggle through and grow, coming out the other side, was simply beautiful. The chemistry between them was off the charts and the way Marley incorporated the push and pull of emotions and how they interacted in those moments was truly wonderful. Add in the insecurities and family dynamics and it was pure perfection.

Overall, it's a story of following your heart and accepting what you can and can't change. Doing what makes you happy and finding and keeping love. Even in the most unexpected places. I laughed. I cried. My heart hurt and it soared with happiness. I experienced so many emotions reading this story, but every one of those emotions was worth it to get to their HEA. As a side note, the final chapter just about gutted me.

This was my first Marley Valentine book, but it will not be my last. A definite must read. I cannot wait for the audiobook so I can torture myself all over again lol.

This is Erin Mallon's debut book but it doesn't read like it. It's funny and sweet and a delight to read/ listen to. A must read/ listen for rom-com fans. The characters are fleshed out and likeable. I loved Ralph so much, he was such a sweet hero, who always put others first and helped Calliope in ways I don't think she even realised, by allowing her to see things in a different way. She was so laser-focused that so much passed her by. She was such a fun heroine, though, I loved that she was smart and not looking for love, but at the same time, couldn't dismiss the Ralph-effect and could admit when she was wrong. Their interactions are funny and sweet, the banter is perfection. If you've read any of my reviews before you'll know I'm a huge banter fan and this book has it in spades. I loved Calliope's family, they were a riot, and I could understand Calliope's responses to them but also loved that part of the story and seeing them connect. The museum setting was refreshing and gave a different spin on a workplace romance, and I enjoyed that aspect to it.

This is going on my perfect summer read/ listen list because it's such a delightful story and filled with humour and swooning moments. If heat level is important to you, this is on the low end but don't let that deter you from a wonderful story. Sometimes you read or listen to a book and it just fills you with happiness, that's what this book does. It was such a joy to listen to. I laughed out loud on more than a handful of occasions, I'm sure my colleague thought I'd lost it. It is incredibly funny. Just what you need during these difficult times. It definitely made my nightshift go fast, that's for sure. It's been a while since I've had the time to devour a book in a day, but that's exactly what I did with the audio of Flirtasaurus, once I started it, I couldn't stop. SO much, that I owe it in all versions, eBook, audio, and paperback. I love the cover, it encompasses everything to love about this story.

I'm not a huge fan of authors narrating their own books, but this is one occasion where I not only loved it but doubted anyone else could have done it the justice it deserved. Erin was these characters, she voiced them in a way that just made them come alive - I read the first 20% of the book before going back to the beginning and listening, so I can comment from both perspectives—as a reader and listener. I'll say I'm super glad I didn't have to say all those dinosaur names, and that was a definite bonus to listening lol. The production was well done and there were no issues of note. I did have a little chuckle at the word museum just because I didn't realise that is one of those words that is pronounced differently in the US to the UK—that's not a criticism, but something that I've never noticed before.